Happy Autumn everyone! That's right, today is officially the first day of fall. According to the cosmos, the Tuesday after Labor Day doesn't count.
Today is also, appropriately enough, the first day of the fall broadcast TV season in the US. Get your DVRs ready for your favorite new and returning TV series. But before you do that, check out this blast from the past regarding that long lost institution of broadcast TV, Saturday morning cartoons.
Once upon a time, networks used to have primetime specials promoting their new Saturday morning TV lineups debuting in the fall. I've featured one of these before, and they were a lot of fun. When those of my generation were kids, we got excited for these shows a lot.
Today I present CBS's Saturday morning preview special from the fall of 1983, hosted by Scott Baio, and guest starring Sorrell Booke and James Best reprising their roles as Boss Hogg and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane from The Dukes of Hazzard. Why is this special set in Hazzard County? Because CBS unveiled a Dukes animated series that season. It was a popular trend at the time to create cartoons based on popular primetime shows. We kids of the time didn't know why, but we weren't complaining!
I distinctly remember watching this special when it aired, so it was a delight to see it again, despite how corny it is.
The hillbilly puppets that appear in this special were also on Hee Haw I think, but don't quote me on that.
Enjoy!
3 comments:
The Kroft Puppets were part of Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.
The first season of The Dukes, which aired earlier in the year, featured the replacement actors who took the place of Wopat and Schneider during their contract dispute. This is the second season being promoted here, with the two back in place on the live-action series.
Very off-putting to hear a laugh track during The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show clip. Thankfully, it was only added for this preview and not on the actual program.
That's right, I remember the Mandrell series now! Thanks for the correction!
Thanks also for the note regarding the "fake Dukes." John Schneider did an interview with a local radio station here last month, and he said he was actually a friend of the guy who took over for him. No ill feelings about it, I was happy to hear.
Yes, laugh tracks and Peanuts don't mix!
Ah,the height of the video game era. I remember when cartoons based on popular video games supplanted the traditional shows. That was about the end of my Saturday morning viewing with the exception of Dungeons & Dragons. I did watch The Charlie Brown & Snoopy show and being a huge fan appreciated the opportunity for all the past strips to be put to animation.
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