What's a disclaimer for?

[kiddiesunshine]

Kiddiesunhine here, and I recently came across the article about the 12 pulled cartoons from June Bugs . Network execs are so friggin afraid of ignorant people. They were gonna air those cartoons at late hours (kids would be sleep at that time if the parents were really parents) and they were gonna be out of order so one wouldn't be after the next. On top of that, CN was gonna place a disclaimer on the screen to warn all those who may or may not be offended. Call me crazy, but aren't disclaimers supposed to keep easily offended people from watching offensive material? Personally I don't see what's so offensive about it all. I'm a black man, but you don't see me whining whenever a blackface gag slips through the censor's fingers. I view Looney Tunes as humorous historical films that capture the spirit of the time in which the shorts were made. For all those who don't see the cartoons' historical value, answer me this. If WB and MGM cartoons didn't have some kind of historical basis, why are all the newer versions of those cartoons(Tom and Jerry Kids and Tiny Toon Adventures) pretty much forgotten while the "prototype" toons are considered timeless classic masterpieces? Things that make you go Hmmmm. MTV used disclaimers for a couple of Madonna videos and they were able to air without complaint. So what's the deal? Man, forget it! Those yellow bellied scardycats at CN never listen to the fans. Ok. I'm done ranting now. But you people understand where I'm coming from, right?

[dendawg]

Basically, some people are gonna b*tch and moan no matter what kind of disclaimer would be put on. I guess they just think that they couldn't CYA enough.

[Patrick McCart]

It has nothing to do with the content of the cartoons.

The ONLY reason is that Bugs Bunny is in them and they're afraid of losing 10 dollars because someone who was seriously offended by the baboon slur in Frigid Hare resents WB forever and all their merch. for Bugs saying that in a 52 year old cartoon *sarcasm off*

I'm positive that CN could pull off a showing of Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs without any complaints (with a disclaimer explaining that African-Americans provided the voices.)

It's not CN's fault, anyways. WB found out about the programming stunt and...well, you know.

WB will allow them on TV eventually...a marathon of pollitically incorrect cartoons could pull HUGE ratings.:D

[Jack]

I think they should have an weekly hour-long show on TCM (as others have mentioned), or even CN (if they were brave enough....), it would have information, explanations, ect, much like Toonheads and Bob Clampett. The show could run for years (just think of how many PD/WB/MGM un-PC cartoons are out there), already they could show:

all Bosko cartoons WB AND MGM
all Buddy (though not un-PC, CN doesn't seem to like the poor fellow)
assorted Merrie Melodies and Happy Harmonies CN won't show for whatever reasons
all 12 of those "racist" Bugs Bunny cartoons (though, they may still be afraid of hurting Bugs' reputation, so this are iffy)
other assorted WWII/un PC cartoons, like Coal Black, Tin Pan Alley Cats, Angel Puss, all of Inki, Robinson Crusoe Jr., Mammy, ect
All the Superman cartoons
all the Snafu cartoons, even the UPA ones because I think they are PD
all speedy cartoons (he may not be "banned" on CN, but he is so rare...)
other: like So Much For So Little, Orange Blossoms for Violet, Point Rationing Of Foods, ect....
Black and White cartoons CN just doesn't want to show...
Cinemascope MGM cartoons (CN won't do it, they didn't even reply to my e-mails about it:mad: )

There would be 5-6 cartoons on each episode (depending upon how much explanation or history is needed per cartoon, unless they go the cheap route and just show cartoons minus explanations, but with a little disclaimer) . They would be set up in episodes, with a guide, because then you know what you're getting each week.

The show would of course be rated TV-M, or MA (or whatever it is for "Mature Audiences") and put on in the evening or late at night.

and yes, I know this is un-realistic....



Jack:D

[kiddiesunshine]

You wanna talk about ratings? I can tell you about some people who are gonna skip watching the June Bugs marathon through malice for a company that lied and teased them(look at the commercial that had clips of a couple of banned cartoons). More people in the US have the internet and I'm sure they found out about the 12 toons being pulled. I'm also sure they aren't too thrilled. Don't you think if they really wanted ratings they would get them any way they can? Those 12 cartoons were sure to bring in high ratings among LT fans. But I guess it is as the old showbiz saying goes: Leave the audience wanting more. Well, I gotta go. My Toaster Strudel is cooling off.

[Patrick McCart]

I'm not even sure if it's really worth looking forward to...

They're probably going to show the sped prints of What's Opera Doc and Rabbit Of Seville...along with a ton of other sped prints.

PAL to NTSC prints just aren't watchable!

[Jack]

I'm not really looking forward to it as much, I'll watch it to look for the ABC cartoons. I wasn't going to watch it to see" What's Opera Doc?" or "Rabbit of Seville", anyway, I was going to watch it for Bugs "Bunny nips The Nips", or "Herr meets Hare", or Bugs cartoons I've never seen like "Bowery Bugs".


Jack:(

[kiddiesunshine]

Now people aren't looking forward to the special. And why should they? Most of the people who would've tuned in have most, if no all of the previously shown cartoons on tape. Most of us were only going to watch it for the ones that were banned. I personally want to see them for 3 reasons:
1) They provide good historical knowledge.
2) I'm a future animator who likes to study classic animation in all its forms.
3) From what I hear, they are some of the funniest cartoons ever made.

The possible for that is probably because no one makes fun of their enemies better than Americans. It's true.

Side Note: About those blackface gags, what if they weren't making fun of blacks but were making fun of the blackfacers like Al Jolson? I don't know what that could mean but I think all the blackface gags look like a picture I saw of Al Jolson in blackface. Real black people don't look like that and everyone knows it. It's getting so that we can't poke fun at each other anymore. Pretty soon comedians like Jeff Foxworthy and DL Hughley won't have any material to go on because everyone will be so PC.

[Jon Cooke]

Well, while I am disappointed that the 12 cartoons were pulled, I am still looking forward to this year's June Bugs. I am certainly not going to miss out on my chance to get all those ABC Bugs cartoons on tape with full titles and (hopefully) unedited. There are a few I have never seen with their orginal titles before: "Devil's Feud Cake", "Dumb Patrol", and "Compressed Hare" come to mind. Even without those 12 cartoons there will still be plenty to enjoy about June Bugs this year.


-Jon

[Nelson]

Since I'm not really looking foward to this year's "Censored June Bugs Marathon", the ONLY thing I'm really excited about is the upcoming TOONHEADS GOES TO WAR special on July 1st. And don't forget that one the of the censored 12 Bugs Bunny cartoon, "Herr Meets Hare" will air in it's entirety.

Let's just hope the CN doesn't chicken out of this one too...