ToonTalk: Recent Episodes
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Relive your childhood as we look back at the history of your favorite (and not-so-favorite) Saturday Morning cartoon, discuss the good, bad and ugly of each series and see how well they hold up today.
Marvel Comics were all the rage in the 1960s and Hanna Barbera got in on the excitement with a Fantastic Four series. So does this iteration of Marvel’s First Family hold up? The guys look at it all, from some impeccable voice acting to whatever it is they were doing with Doctor Doom.
It’s time go back to the Stone Age for more Christmas hijinks. In this episode, the guys one again contemplate a pre-Jesus Christmas with A Flintstones Family Christmas, where an older Fred Flintstone must navigate a young scofflaw in preparation for the arrival of his grandchildren. As one would expect of a holiday special, there is theft, grifting, and a stint in jail. And the gratuitous “Fred is fat” jokes. Merry Christmas!
Hey hey hey, it’s time for some holiday flair with Yogi Bear! In the Christmas special the guys watch Yogi’s First Christmas and learn about important things like hardtack biscuits, the significance of mistletoe, and whether the park is named Jellystone or Yellystone….or both.
In the mid-90s, Warner Bros thought a Superman movie was heading to theaters so they rushed a cartoon onto television. The movie never happened but the cartoon series sure did! The guys sift through the Timm-verse version of the Big Blue Boy Scout and…let’s just say it was well received.
Who’s ready for super feats with a minuscule side of heroics? It’s time for SPACE GHOST! In this episode, we dig into the first go-round for the future late-night talk show host as he battles aliens with his teen sidekicks and their monkey. We also talk about Dino Boy (kind of) because, well, it also happened. So settle in for discussions about power bands, whatever the Ghost Planet is, and whether Jan and Jace really go everywhere that Space Ghost goes.
It’s time for the most daredevil group of daffy drivers to ever whirl their wheels in the Wacky Races! Join the guys as they dig into Hanna Barbara’s attempt at creating a show that more could be spun from. From the antics of Dick Dastardly to the ancestors of Captain Caveman, relive the crazy capers of one of HB’s more unique efforts from the 1960s.
It’s time for Spider Woman - Marvel’s first female character to get her own cartoon series. The guys look at this rather unique series which leaned heavily into interesting supernatural elements (to its benefit) but ignored basic character development (not so much). At least it gave us multiple Star Wars rip-offs and Magini, the David Bowie-esqe villain unconcerned with failure.
Christmas time is here! And so is a staple of the holiday - A Charlie Brown Christmas. Join the guys as they look at the backstory of this animated classic that launched decades of Peanuts specials.
Breakout the pretzels and jellybeans - it’s Thanksgiving! In this Beyond Saturday Morning episode, we dig into A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and discuss important matters like: What kid turn up their nose at popcorn for dinner? Is Linus a force for good or a chaos agent? And is there a dark undercurrent to Woodstock to which we have been blind?
Casper is the friendliest ghost you know. In the Halloween special, we watched the original theatrical shorts of the little spook to find out his appeal. Turns out, it’s a pleasant series of shorts…as long you don’t think too much about the character origins.
What’s up, Doc? How about some spooky Looney Tunes cartoons to set a Halloween mood? In this episode, we dig into 9 shorts that lean into both sinister yet silly plots as only Looney Tunes can. Take a listen and see how many of these classics you remember!
An inanimate cube with no backstory or narrative arc that speaks with a grating voice and inconsistent powers…sounds like animation gold! Or not. Join the guys as they ponder the existence of the cash grab that was Rubik the Amazing Cube and discuss if it is better for a cartoon to be bad or boring.
Get a peek at your future (or, in some cases, present) as we journey to Orbit City in this discussion of The Jetsons original series. From a tough time slot to a Saturday morning staple, the futuristic toon challenged our perception of what makes a classic cartoon. Is there an unspoken timeline connection to the Flintstones? Then, there is the problem with Jane…
It’s time for another Christmas special: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! The annual must-see watch has definite high point and many questions. We examine them all, especially the possible sinister backstory of Santa…
Happy Birthday! It’s another holiday episode as the guys go beyond Saturday morning to watch Rankin & Bass’ Frosty the Snowman and ponder questions like “Why won’t Frosty talk to animals?” “Who really owned the magic hat?” and “Why don’t these kids wear pants in the winter?”
Nothing gives the warm Christmas feels like a celebration of Jesus set 8,500 years before he was born. Join the guys for a Christmas special featuring Hanna-Barbera’s biggest characters full of heart, snow, and a severe lack of footwear. And John’s theory of Bedrock set on a prison planet may just be accurate…
Yabba-Dabba-Doo! Join the guys as they venture back in time (or maybe the future?) to watch the Stone Age hijinks of The Flintstones. How does Hanna-Barbera's groundbreaking cartoon hold up after 63 years? Is the Great Gazoo as obnoxious as you remember? And does the confusing timeline ultimately break John's brain?
It's great to learn, 'cuz knowledge is power! ABC leaned into the educational aspect of Saturday mornings in the 1970s with the introduction of Schoolhouse Rock! Combining catchy music and simple animation with learning, the series left an indelible mark on a generation of kids. So unpack your adjectives and find some elbow room, because, ready or not, here comes a new episode.
At one time the most popular comic book superhero in the nation, Shazam finally got the animated treatment in 1981. The essence of the golden age comics served as the inspiration for the 12-episode run, including an alien worm, a suit-wearing talking tiger, and crocodile men. Give a listen to see how the Marvel Family has stood the test of time. All are welcome! Except for Uncle Dudley - forget that obnoxious huckster.
In 1970, Hanna-Barbera looked to duplicate the success of Scooby-Doo with the theme of "More!" More characters! More songs! MORE ASCOTS! Thus, Josie and the Pussycats began a string of Scooby clones that would pop up repeatedly over the next decade. And it worked! Using Archie Comics characters in the format, they made a good show. Anyone else putting " Voodoo" into heavy rotation in their playlists?
A cartoon created amid the “Satanic Panic” of the 80’s brought a more dangerous tone to Saturday mornings. In this episode we dust off our 20-sided dice and roll a charisma check as we dive into Dungeons & Dragons.
It's our first foray Beyond Saturday Morning as we celebrate Halloween with a look at a holiday classic. Despite Linus' advice, we definitely discuss the Great Pumpkin and what makes this cartoon a yearly staple. Plus, don't the discussion of possibly the worst parenting (or lack thereof) in any animation.
John and Robert discuss their favorite cartoon vehicles live at QuadCon Dubuque, October 2, 2022.
Robert and John are going LIVE!
The ToonTalk Guys will appear at the Dubuque Quad Con Comic and Toy Show at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa, on October 2nd.
Quad Con is Dubuque biggest Pop culture event!
Stop by and see us! And listen in on our first ever LIVE podcast recording.
Get more information at quadcitycon.com
We hope to see you there!
Glamour. Glitter. Fashion. Fame. What more could you want in a cartoon? Quite a bit, actually! A rock star/music mogul/orphanage owner utilizes a hologram built by her dead father (based on her dead mother) to rise to stardom. There is a lot to unpack with this show. But is it truly, truly, truly, outrageous?
Can two supporting characters from a major movie trilogy carry a tv series? George Lucas took that bet when he put C-3PO and R2-D2 at the forefront of Star Wars: Droids. Turns out, the results are mixed, but it does have a heck of a theme song!
Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice, for 16 episodes of Hanna Barbera's Super Friends series, they expanded the hero roster and unleashed real comic book villains into the stories. How did this change hold up in hindsight? The answer may lie in the fact this was only one season. Find out how much the ‘Wonder Woman’ factor affects John’s score.
The Archie Show from 1969 had a significant impact on cartoons that follow over the next decade. What made this show so influential? What songs really held up? And why the heck do Archie and friends hang out with Reggie?
Another greeting card inspired cartoon, this time it is 1983’s Shirt Tales. Cute little animals who live in a tree and have access to a super-sonic transport plane and solve crimes. A cartoon that shone brightly yet briefly before quickly fading away.
Ooh, ooh, Mr. Peevly! Hanna-Barbera reheats a tried-and-true formula for 1975...and it works! Help!...Its’s The Hair Bear Bunch looks and feels like a classic cartoon that could have run for a couple of years, but somehow didn’t.
To quote John, “I may never forgive you for making me watch The Brady Kids.” Just how bad is this show from 1972? Here’s a hint, It makes Superman and Wonder Woman hard to watch. You don’t want to miss this discussion, including whether or not you should watch the spinoff.
What a difference four years makes. John and Robert look at the evolution of The Transformers (1984-87) from a cohesive story to a complete overhaul after the new toys are on the shelves. How does this classic from the 80’s hold up today? Have the guys ever gotten over the trauma of Transformers: The Movie?
Jinkies! An institution of Saturday mornings starts with 1969’s Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and the Toon Talk Guys are here for it. Lots of good, some bad, and maybe a little bias in this episode about a show that was originally rejected by CBS.
Created specifically to sell toys, 1984’s Rainbow Brite is an interesting study of what is and what will never be. Come for the discussion on if the Color Kids matter. Stay for a fun look at government regulations. The guys wonder if a horse can also be considered a jack-ass?
Let us tell you something, brother! The Toon Talk Guys dig into the WWF’s appeal to a younger audience with 1985’s Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. Say your prayers and take your vitamins - you may need them to deal with this show...Hear why Robert likes the intro to this show better than the actual show, and John finds a way to make a JFK/Zapruder Film reference.
For a series consisting of seven-minute shorts, there is A LOT to unpack when it comes to Tom and Jerry. We discuss the historic rise of the stalwart MGM cat and mouse duo from cinema shorts to their first television appearance in 1965 through 1972. AND they won an Oscar! Several actually.
Welcome to Toon Talk! It’s our first episode. The guys talk about the heyday of Saturday morning cartoons and look at the athletic prowess of the Hanna-Barbera heroes and underhanded tactics of the villains in Scooby’s All-Star Laff-a-lympics from 1977-78. Ever wonder why a pig would need an eye patch? John and Robert have an answer for you.