Boomerang, the television channel dedicated to serving classic cartoons, is preparing a 10-day marathon, in which 10 cartoon characters will receive special focus. Personalities to be celebrated during the event include: Daffy Duck as Duck Dodgers, The Pink Panther, Tom of the Tom & Jerry cartoons, Dexter of Dexter’s Laboratory, Lu of Mike, Lu & Og, Wednesday of The Addams Family, Richie Rich, Baby Bugs Bunny of Baby Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo of What’s New, Scooby-Doo?, and Batman of Justice League. More details on the marathon, running July 21 – 30, may be viewed by clicking:
Boomerang to Spotlight 10 Classic Characters Over 10-Day Marathon
Ten Consecutive 24-Hour Tributes to 10 Top Cartoon Stars Will Run Friday, July 21, to Sunday, July 30, 6am – 6am
Boasting more stars than there are in the cartoon heavens, Boomerang has blocked out ten consecutive days to showcase ten 24-hour tributes to top stars within its esteemed vaults of classic cartoon characters. The commercial-free all-animation network will feature characters representing the full spectrum of classic cartoons – from hand-painted theatrical shorts of the golden 1940s and ’50s era, to first generation stars of 1960s and ’70s television; from dramatic superheroes representing the very best of modern animated action-adventure, to more recent treasured favorites of the 1980s and ’90s. The mammoth marathon will begin at 6am on Friday, July 21, and will conclude at 6am on Monday, July 31.
“The Boomerang team is excited to present 10 full days of uninterrupted classic cartoons, featuring a wide range of animated stars that represents a fifty-year period of animation,” says Marc Buhaj, vice president of programming and scheduling for Boomerang and Cartoon Network. “For any of our viewers who are simply in search of some terrific classic cartoon entertainment, this 10-day summer special is bound to keep you smiling.”
Following is a day-by-day rundown of Boomerang’s 10-day superstar line-up:
* Friday, July 21 – Daffy Duck as Duck Dodgers: Introduced in 2003, Duck Dodgers (Daffy Duck) is a hapless soul who was accidentally frozen inside a spacecraft in the 21st century and thawed out 351 years later. Through his scheming and lies, Dodgers has convinced the Earth’s Galactic Protectorate that he is a hero from the 21st century. He has been given a starship, the Sisyphus, and a crew including an adoring and eager young Space Cadet (Porky Pig) who is blind to the faults of his captain. Together they form a “galactic force” that must team up against Earth’s major foe, Mars, and its Martian Commander X-2 (played by Marvin the Martian). Note: the kitschy theme song is sung by none other than Tom Jones.
* Saturday, July 22 – The Pink Panther: The egocentric panther was first introduced during the credits of the popular spy spoof, The Pink Panther, named after the jewel in the movie. Director Blake Edwards contracted DePatie-Freleng Enterprises to animate titles for the movie using a sly panther being hotly pursued by a cartoon version of Inspector Clouseau. Its popularity inspired (David) DePatie and (Friz) Freleng to create theatrical shorts for United Artists. Boomerang will present selections from more than 90 fully re-mastered, classic theatrical shorts produced from 1964-1977, including the Oscar*-winning The Pink Phink – as well as 84 animated episodes produced for television sporadically from 1978-1995.
* Sunday, July 23 – Tom of Tom & Jerry: With more than 160 Tom & Jerry theatrical cartoons and nearly 45 hours of Tom & Jerry television programming available from the MGM and Hanna-Barbera libraries, the marathon will spotlight a virtual treasure trove of Tom & Jerry material. Highlights of the eight-day cat-and-mouse tribute include airings of all seven Academy Award-winning theatrical shorts produced at MGM Studios: Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943), Mouse Trouble (1944), Quiet Please! (1945), Cat Concerto (1946), The Little Orphan (1948), The Two Mouseketeers (1951) and Johann Mouse (1952). Also, two newer cartoons from Joe Barbera will be featured: The Mansion Cat, produced in 2000, and The Karate Guard, produced in 2005.
* Monday, July 24 – Dexter of Dexter’s Laboratory: Created by Genndy Tartakovsky in 1995, Dexter’s Laboratory is the story of a boy genius who creates fantastic, world-changing inventions in his beloved, but off-limits laboratory, despite the pesky interference of his pesky older sister, Dee Dee. Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, Dexter’s Laboratory holds the distinction of being Cartoon Network’s highest-rated series in both 1996 and 1997. Memorable episodes include “Mom and Jerry” – when Dexter’s brain is transplanted into the brain of a mouse, Dexter must thwart his mother’s attack; “Filet of Soul” – Dexter’s pet Fishy comes back from the dead to haunt Dexter and Dee Dee; and “Sister Mom” – When Dexter transforms Dee Dee into a duplicate of his Mom, the experiment goes terribly wrong.
* Tuesday, July 25 – Lu of Mike, Lu & Og: Created, written and directed by Chuck Swenson, Mikhail Aldashin and Mikhail Shindel, Mike, Lu & Og follows the adventures of a sophisticated girl from New York named Mike who leaves her home in the big city as an exchange student looking for adventure on the open seas. What she finds is a secluded island populated by some of the quirkiest natives imaginable, including new friends Lu and Og. Mike, Lu & Og originally premiered on Cartoon Network in prime time on Nov. 12, 1999, as part of the network’s initial campaign to claim Friday nights as a viewer destination for original animation.
* Wednesday, July 26 – Wednesday of The Addams Family: Cartoonist Charles Addams’s macabre characters – Gomez Addams, wife Morticia, their children Pugsley and Wednesday, bald Uncle Fester and zombie butler Lurch – enjoy “normal” life in the suburb of Happydale Heights. The 1992 series featured the voice of John Astin, who played Gomez in the original hit television series.
* Thursday, July 27 – Richie Rich: Retaining the authenticity of the famed Harvey comic-book character, Richie Rich (“the richest kid in the world”) starred in the 1996 series made up of 13 Richie Rich comedy-mystery cartoon adventures and selected cartoons from the classic Harvey film library. Updated for modern audiences, series regulars include Professor Keenbean, Cadbury (Richie’s butler) , Dollar (Richie’s dog), Gloria Glad, Reggie Van Dough, Chef Pierre, Bascomb, Mayda Munny, Freckles, Pee Wee and Tiny.
* Friday, July 28 – Baby Bugs Bunny of Baby Looney Tunes: The world’s zaniest and most beloved group of inimitable cartoon personalities, Looney Tunes prove that true character is something with which you are born. Before they became the irreverent stars of animated shorts, television series and movies, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tasmanian Devil and the rest of the gang were tiny (and already tenacious) toddlers, full of wide-eyed innocence and unparalleled curiosity. They live with Granny in a big, wonderful house – fanciful, charming, and decidedly “toonish” – that serves as the starting place for all of their adventures. Baby Looney Tunes (2002) showcases the immortal Looney Tunes cast of characters as “small-fries,” exploring the world for the very first time.
* Saturday, July 29 – Scooby-Doo of What’s New, Scooby-Doo?: Scooby-Doo and the gang find themselves in all-new adventures set in the new millennium. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation in 2002, the series takes the characters of Mystery, Inc. to every international corner of the world. Everyone’s favorite Great Dane and his intrepid cohorts – Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred – stumble upon a new batch of creature-related mysteries. Traveling to exotic locales, they are aided by an arsenal of Internet-age gizmos and gadgets, from laptop computers and PDAs to mobile communicators and GPS systems. Now ghouls and goons face a tougher time than ever trying to get away with their ghastly goings-on.
* Sunday, July 30 – Batman of Justice League: Faced with powerful threats on Earth and from other parts of the galaxy, Superman and Batman join forces with other top superheroes Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl to form the Justice League. The heroes of the Justice League, who gather at their orbiting space station, The Watchtower, may not always agree on the best way to conquer a threat, but they put their personal differences aside to work together to defeat any peril. Justice League, from Emmy-winning producer Bruce Timm, premiered on Cartoon Network in November 2001.
About Boomerang
Boomerang is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s (TBS, Inc.) 24-hour cable/satellite network offering the best in classic animated entertainment. In partnership with Cartoon Network, the service boasts 75 percent unduplicated programming and is available to cable/satellite operators and their customers in Spanish.
About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network, currently seen in more than 88 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11pm – 6am (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.
