Shows You're Surprised Were Made
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shopping22bubbles
New member
I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned this one yet: TaleSpin. It's definitely in the "good shows I'm surprised were made" category, but just think about the premise.
Pretend you're an executive at Disney and I come to you with a pitch for a show using the characters from Lady and the Tramp, but Tramp is now a truck driver at a company owned by Lady. Trusty runs the local trucker's bar, the beaver is their wacky mechanic, and the rat run a rival trucking company. How long would it be before you gave me the "Don't call us, we'll call you" treatment?
On paper, TaleSpin sounds like worst thing ever. So not only is it amazing that it was greenlit; it's amazing that it was actually good. Compare it to Jungle Cubs, a more standard "characters from the movie as little kids" treatment which never registered as more than a brief blip on my radar. I guess it just goes to show that the easy, "safe" choice - or even the sane choice - doesn't always make for the best television.
Pretend you're an executive at Disney and I come to you with a pitch for a show using the characters from Lady and the Tramp, but Tramp is now a truck driver at a company owned by Lady. Trusty runs the local trucker's bar, the beaver is their wacky mechanic, and the rat run a rival trucking company. How long would it be before you gave me the "Don't call us, we'll call you" treatment?
On paper, TaleSpin sounds like worst thing ever. So not only is it amazing that it was greenlit; it's amazing that it was actually good. Compare it to Jungle Cubs, a more standard "characters from the movie as little kids" treatment which never registered as more than a brief blip on my radar. I guess it just goes to show that the easy, "safe" choice - or even the sane choice - doesn't always make for the best television.
Mr. Meaty.
Who in their right mind at Nickeledeon greenlit that piece of trash. The show has no redeeming qualites to it whatsoever. Ugly, bizarre looking sausage puppets and the most disgusting, inane, idiotic humor i've ever seen. I'm usually not a fan of whining parents but kudos to them for getting that dreck cancelled.
Who in their right mind at Nickeledeon greenlit that piece of trash. The show has no redeeming qualites to it whatsoever. Ugly, bizarre looking sausage puppets and the most disgusting, inane, idiotic humor i've ever seen. I'm usually not a fan of whining parents but kudos to them for getting that dreck cancelled.
alexa07gurl
New member
you must not have been looking very hard.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419331/
that was the first result on google.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419331/
that was the first result on google.
RFC/Romper Stomper
New member
My mistake (though it does qualify as a TMNT ripoff nonetheless).
And yet all Disney had to do was wait two years after that fiasco, and decided to take the "Super Spy thing" and twist it even further...
The Recipie?
And if you thought that was surprising... take a look at this:
Think it's crazy? Here's the deal... The Creators of this show, didn't just promote it to the TV Execs of various TV Companies, just once, or even twice.. but actually... Three times! (and you know the saying... "Third Times the charm".)
That's right... and the third time was the charm.... Now they're pushing for a theatrical movie for Reboot... Let's hope it flies..
And those are what caught me by surprise..
:coyote:
The Recipie?
- Take an average ordinary girl. Make her a cheerleader with athletic abilities, and a brain to match. In fact she's a fast learner... and even knows martical arts.
- Take a loser, a guy who is the 'Inspector Clouseau' of the world, who is totally clueless, loses his pants frequently and make him a sidekick to the girl.
- Throw in one hairless rodent, who's uglier than sin, yet loves cheese nachos and even knows how to talk a little.
- Throw in some wacko villains (including an angry golfer, who even sucks at mini-golf) with 'take over the world on their mind..'
- Stir.....
The End result?:
Kim Possible,
Perhaps one of Disney's finer animations of the 2000's.
Kim Possible,
And if you thought that was surprising... take a look at this:
Reboot
(yes, I'm talking Reboot, the CGI megahit that took the computer world and TV execs and even some folks By storm...)
Think it's crazy? Here's the deal... The Creators of this show, didn't just promote it to the TV Execs of various TV Companies, just once, or even twice.. but actually... Three times! (and you know the saying... "Third Times the charm".)
That's right... and the third time was the charm.... Now they're pushing for a theatrical movie for Reboot... Let's hope it flies..
And those are what caught me by surprise..
:coyote:
Carlitos12345
New member
I laughed when I read this and am now morbidly curious. 
First of all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VDqpVV6eT4
Maybe you SHOULD be explaining why its a bad idea, because from where I stand its an obvious way to get money from the franchise.
Seriously I'm not a fan of Star Wars and even I like The Clone Wars. Its 20 times betters than the prequels and I find it twice as fun as the original movies.
If anything its tapping into new demographics.
The only annoying this is that you know its gonna end badly for all involved.
Maybe you SHOULD be explaining why its a bad idea, because from where I stand its an obvious way to get money from the franchise.
Seriously I'm not a fan of Star Wars and even I like The Clone Wars. Its 20 times betters than the prequels and I find it twice as fun as the original movies.
If anything its tapping into new demographics.
The only annoying this is that you know its gonna end badly for all involved.
rebel yell x)
New member
Oh no no no. I'm not offended. I just don't understand why you think its was bad idea.
Even if I didn't like the show I wouldn't be any more surprised by its existence.
Even if I didn't like the show I wouldn't be any more surprised by its existence.
Starknight
New member
The Marvelous MisAdventures of Flapjack- "Hey guys! Let's make our own version of SpongeBob! It will be a boy sailing the seas inside a whale with his seemingly creepy friend. Also, let's give him the most God awful ear raping voice ever! Canadians will love it!" (You get a cookie if you get the last part.)
Ren & Stimpy APC: After so many years, I would have never expected to see Ren and Stimpy return to TV with new episodes, with the original creator at the helm, and on an adult-oriented network. I was so exited (and finally so disappointed:sad
.
Disney's Doug: I had no idea new seasons for the show were made, and the fact that they were produced by Disney instead of Nick was even more surprising.
Mike, Lu, & Og: An American girl conviving with Pacific Islanders, and some pirates; that's the whole plot. It was so mundane, boring, and unappealing that I can't believe CN thought kids would like it. It even lasted 2 seasons!
Toxic Crusaders: A cartoon based on a TROMA movie, and strangest of all, made for kids! I actually never saw it, but just the idea of it...
Powerpuff Girls Z: I, like everyone else, thought it was an April's Fools Joke.
Family Guy: Why would FOX of all networks want an animated sitcom that seemed very similar to its hit show, The Simpsons?
Boku no Pico (and its sequels): I mean, the fact that a company in Japan decided to spend millions of yens on an anime about... THAT premise, and that it apparently was a HIT, is very disturbing.
.Disney's Doug: I had no idea new seasons for the show were made, and the fact that they were produced by Disney instead of Nick was even more surprising.
Mike, Lu, & Og: An American girl conviving with Pacific Islanders, and some pirates; that's the whole plot. It was so mundane, boring, and unappealing that I can't believe CN thought kids would like it. It even lasted 2 seasons!
Toxic Crusaders: A cartoon based on a TROMA movie, and strangest of all, made for kids! I actually never saw it, but just the idea of it...
Powerpuff Girls Z: I, like everyone else, thought it was an April's Fools Joke.
Family Guy: Why would FOX of all networks want an animated sitcom that seemed very similar to its hit show, The Simpsons?
Boku no Pico (and its sequels): I mean, the fact that a company in Japan decided to spend millions of yens on an anime about... THAT premise, and that it apparently was a HIT, is very disturbing.
Actually, Flapjack was originally going to be voiced by Paul Reubens, but when he didn't show up on the first day of recording, the creator of the series stepped in to take on the role.
Also, I don't see how Flapjack's voice is exactly "ear raping". Except for when he does his "EYAEYAEYAEY!" laugh, his voice doesn't sound high-pitched or screechy at all.
Though, what I'm wondering most is how you think "a boy sailing the seas inside a whale with his seemingly creepy friend" is anything like Spongebob. I've seen probably ever episode of Flapjack and the only relations to Spongebob I can find is general nautical-related phrases and the occasional "disturbing close-ups". The humor itself is different (and darker).
Also, I don't see how Flapjack's voice is exactly "ear raping". Except for when he does his "EYAEYAEYAEY!" laugh, his voice doesn't sound high-pitched or screechy at all.
Though, what I'm wondering most is how you think "a boy sailing the seas inside a whale with his seemingly creepy friend" is anything like Spongebob. I've seen probably ever episode of Flapjack and the only relations to Spongebob I can find is general nautical-related phrases and the occasional "disturbing close-ups". The humor itself is different (and darker).
Muse-ic Lover
New member
On that note, one could also mention Fox's Little Shop (1991). Here's an idea for a Saturday morning cartoon: let's turn Seymour Krelborn and Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors into kids, and make the murderous man-eating plant into Seymour's pal who helps him with personal problems---and raps!
Mike, Lu & Og was at least a promising premise; it could've been a cute, entertaining show in the right hands, but the characters and stories were weak and repetitious. OK idea, poor execution.
In FG's defense, it's not like The Simspons was the first-ever animated sitcom about a family. The suburban nuclear family is an archetype which is instantly recognizable and has been duplicated several times by numerous creators. The Simpsons wasn't the first show of this ilk, or even the second. Similar structure doesn't always mean it's a clone.
Mike, Lu & Og was at least a promising premise; it could've been a cute, entertaining show in the right hands, but the characters and stories were weak and repetitious. OK idea, poor execution.
In FG's defense, it's not like The Simspons was the first-ever animated sitcom about a family. The suburban nuclear family is an archetype which is instantly recognizable and has been duplicated several times by numerous creators. The Simpsons wasn't the first show of this ilk, or even the second. Similar structure doesn't always mean it's a clone.
WynkenBlynkenNod
New member
Phineas and Ferb- Come on, it wasn't really a great idea (good concept) after Disney cancelled their biggest cartoon Kim Possible and (in my opinion) their best cartoon American Dragon.
It is a surprise that Phineas and Ferb got made, considering that Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh had been pitching the show for 16 years and each network network they pitched it to--including Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon--passed on it because they felt the premise and overall structure of the show would be "too complicated" for kids to follow.
The thing is, Star Wars is huge and for the past few decades it's sold all sorts of merchandise including toys, books, tv shows, music etc. The point is it shouldn't be shocking to anyone (fan or hater) that Star Wars made an animated series. (Not to mention there was already one a few years ago).
Mundane? How many American girls on Pacific islands do you know?
I don't really think Japanese shows should count. They always do weird things. Btw I do know of that show (from back in my anime days) and it is disturbing.
Two boys who build stuff during the summer is too complicated?
Mundane? How many American girls on Pacific islands do you know?
I don't really think Japanese shows should count. They always do weird things. Btw I do know of that show (from back in my anime days) and it is disturbing.
Two boys who build stuff during the summer is too complicated?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moi
It is a surprise that Phineas and Ferb got made, considering that Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh had been pitching the show for 16 years and each network network they pitched it to--including Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon--passed on it because they felt the premise and overall structure of the show would be "too complicated" for kids to follow.
I guess the suits felt that the whole premise of the family being blended plus the sub-plots with Perry the Platypus plus the bits involving Candace trying and failing to bust the boys every week was too much plot for kids to follow, I suppose.
Originally Posted by Moi
It is a surprise that Phineas and Ferb got made, considering that Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh had been pitching the show for 16 years and each network network they pitched it to--including Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon--passed on it because they felt the premise and overall structure of the show would be "too complicated" for kids to follow.
I guess the suits felt that the whole premise of the family being blended plus the sub-plots with Perry the Platypus plus the bits involving Candace trying and failing to bust the boys every week was too much plot for kids to follow, I suppose.