For many people, growing up in the ’80s and ’90s meant spending a solid hour or two parked in front of the TV watching cartoons until your parents finally got up and gave you breakfast. But while you were busy living your adult life and being unconscious on Saturday mornings, the supply of channels broadcasting cartoons slowly dried up. Despite years of airing classic “Looney Tunes” cartoons and the like, only the CW was still showing cartoons on Saturdays (Among the non-cable networks. Nickelodeon still shows a few). But as of last weekend, they’re switching to live action programming for that time period. In honor of this sad news, we asked Metro staffers to contribute their favorite Saturday morning cartoons.
Ned Ehrbar, Hollywood Correspondent
I was a particular acolyte of “G.I. Joe” and “He-Man,” as well as knock-offs like “M.A.S.K.” and “Thundercats.” But I still greatly appreciated all the classic Looney Tunes “Merry Melodies” they’d play, and consider Wile E. Coyote an early personal hero. What sticks out in my mind most, though, were the “hanker for a hunk of cheese” ads about eating healthy snacks.
Christina Paciola, City Editor, Philadelphia
Saturday morning at my house in the mid to late ’80s wasn’t complete without Pee Wee’s Playhouse, followed up with some Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Matt Burke, Sports Editor, Boston
1. Pee-Wee’s Playhouse: A cartoon by default. It featured the “King of Cartoons” usually introducing a mildly inappropriate, two-minute cartoon.
2. Garfield and Friends: “Nermal” is one of the more underrated characters in the history of man, IMO.
3. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure cartoon (yes, this was real):
4. Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n Wrestling: Yes, this was a cartoon as well, believe It or not. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was a scary man for a 5-year-old, even in cartoon form, and even though he wore a kilt.
Jill Gadsby, National News Editor
“Loony Tunes”! I loved ‘em all – Bugs, Daffy, Wile E., Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, Marvin the Martian, etc. Plus, my dad did the best Foghorn Leghorn impression ever!
Emily Laurence, Features Section Editor
My favorite Saturday morning cartoons came on back-to-back, “Doug” and “Rugrats.” I can still sing “Banging On A Trashcan” from the episode where Doug was in a garage band and Patty Mayonnaise’s voice is forever ingrained in my head. And “Rugrats” was actually educational! Remember the Passover episode? I feel sad kids can’t enjoy their Eggo waffles while watching some ‘toons on a Saturday morning. Let’s bring ‘em back.
Lisa Weidenfeld, TV editor
“Animaniacs,” hands down. I’m sure I didn’t understand half the vaudeville jokes they were making, but I knew Wacko talked in a funny voice, and that was enough for me. Plus, I don’t think I remember any single episode of a cartoon as well as I remember their “West Side Story”/”Godfather” pigeon parody, “Goodfeathers.” Except for that one “Tiny Tunes” episode where all the ‘toons are babies. That one was pretty cute.
