Will Cartoon Network ever find a Spongebob?

[Racattack!Force]

The last successful Cartoon Network Original Series in both ratings and merchandise was The Powerpuff Girls, with over $1 billion sold in retail. But that is no where close to the numbers Spongebob Squarepants helps Nickelodeon get in retail annually. So do you think that CN will ever find a series that will be as popular as Spongebob, or at least close to it?

[Mickialla]

I thought Chowder was going to be it. But it hasn't even been two years yet and they've given it the can.

If Chowder doesn't get renewed, then I have faith in Adventure Time. It looks extremely promising. My opinions have shifted on Adventure Time since I first encountered it on Youtube almost a year ago. It was funny, but I thought it was the most poorly drawn thing I'd ever seen. As I've followed the Frederator updates for the past few months, my like for the series has increased tenfold and there's not a speck of dislike left. So far it seems to have goofy and wacky humor that I think kids and adults are both going to like.

And if Adventure Time gets the Chowder treatment, then I'm sure Cartoonstitute will spit out a series that can at least compete with Spongebob. After all, WAC! launched not only Cartoon Network's first slate of originals, but it's greatest animators who continue to fuel the network to this day.

[DarthGonzo]

I wouldn't count on it. Something just tells me that's never going to happen.

[Marvin Tikvah]

No.

Look at how Nickelodeon has treated SpongeBob from its debut to its current day status. The show was a slow burn at first, then proved itself time and time again to continually get airtime, specials, promotions and other deals. Nick took a risk with the show, and it has payed off. SpongeBob is now pratically synonomous with Nick.

CN's most successful show was quietly swept under the rug after the failure of the movie. Afterwards, it had a couple odd timeslots, a forgettable anime adaptation and one final day in the spotlight. Not exactly the royal treatment SpongeBob gets.

[Silverstar]

Really, it depends on whether CN will allow a show of theirs time to develop and grow into a monster hit. They have a reputation for bringing down the ax on a show if it doesn't light the world on fire right away.

Like Mickialla, I once thought Chowder might've become CN's Spongebob; it was even created by a Spongebob alum, C.H. Greenblatt. But CN didn't even let that one get past 2 years. I'd also like to think that Adventure Time may one day achieve that accolade (again like Mickialla, the original AT short didn't leave a good impression on me, but after reading more articles and interviews and seeing more pics and the character bible, my feelings have turned right around; I'm now aniticpating this show), but again, that can only happen if it's allowed to grow and find an audience.

What these cable channels fail to remember is that Spongebob didn't strike gold right away; it took a season or so for it to become an "It" show.

[DarthGonzo]

The people at CArtoon NEtwork have absolutely no idea about what they're doing. They wouldn't know the next Spongebob if it came up and bit them on the nose.

In a perfect world Bugs Bunny would still be the head honcho of Cartoon Network.

[Gonzales]

Cartoon Network DID have a SpongeBob. It was called The Powerpuff Girls. It was a hit for a long time, until CN decided to let it die rather than keep it around. Real smart.

If I were them, I'd look into trying to bring it back.

[Mesousa]

Actually, it's better for CN to not have a SpongeBob.

You'll understand.

[DarthGonzo]

Actually, it's better for CN to not have a SpongeBob.

How so? Care to elaborate?

[chdr]

Cartoon Network DID have a SpongeBob. It was called The Powerpuff Girls. It was a hit for a long time, until CN decided to let it die rather than keep it around. Real smart.

If I were them, I'd look into trying to bring it back.

Yeah, especially considering how CN acknowledged how well the 10th Anniversary marathon did, even though it got hardly any advertising.

How so? Care to elaborate?

I guess this has something to do with it.

[Blackstar]

The people at CArtoon NEtwork have absolutely no idea about what they're doing. They wouldn't know the next Spongebob if it came up and bit them on the nose.

Given Cartoon Network's propensity to pull the show stopper on any series that doesn't bring in monster sized ratings after a week, I'm inclined to agree.

Case in point, CN canceling Ellen's Acres after a mere 2 weeks on the network and not even airing the reruns anymore. Two weeks is hardly enough time for a new series to find an audience. After all, Nickelodeon's Rugrats did comfortably well in it's debut, but it didin't become an established hit until after the 3rd season, when the series began airing 5 nights a week. Ellen's Acres might have become CN's Dora the Explorer, but CN clipped it's wings before the series even got the chance to fly.

Consider also Chowder, one of CN's more successful series, is now on the verge of ending after only 2 seasons on the air.

It's this kind of bass-ackwards thinking that's kept CN firmly lodged 3rd place for so long. CN really needs to bring in some people who know what they're doing.

[adoptedBatpuppy]

No.

Look at how Nickelodeon has treated SpongeBob from its debut to its current day status. The show was a slow burn at first, then proved itself time and time again to continually get airtime, specials, promotions and other deals. Nick took a risk with the show, and it has payed off. SpongeBob is now pratically synonomous with Nick.

CN's most successful show was quietly swept under the rug after the failure of the movie. Afterwards, it had a couple odd timeslots, a forgettable anime adaptation and one final day in the spotlight. Not exactly the royal treatment SpongeBob gets.

What CN show are you talking about?
I think CN needs to bring something original that everybody (kids and adults) can relate too.

[Dr.Pepper]

Who knows. They might some day, but that is unlikely. They seem pretty cancel happy now.

[Gonzales]

Wow, looking back at that 2001 Nick schedule, they didn't really have that much live-action.

But yeah, CN's problem is that they never give their shows a chance to find an audience.

[Racattack!Force]

CN's most successful show was quietly swept under the rug after the failure of the movie.

Not really. Cartoon Network really supported the series, and it would have gone on even longer if the exec producer wanted to continue.

[Gonzales]

I was under the impression PPG ended because CN didn't want it to exceed a certain number of episodes.

[J!!!]

I think Adventure Time has the potentail to be CN's Spongebob because it has what everyone loved about spongebob........silliness

[Tay the Cat]

I was under the impression PPG ended because CN didn't want it to exceed a certain number of episodes.

Nope. They could've kept it going if they (the crew working on it) wanted to.

[Blackstar]

Nope. They could've kept it (The Powerpuff Girls) going if they (the crew working on it) wanted to.

It seems obvious (to me, at least) that Craig McCracken stopped caring about Powerpuff Girls the moment that Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends popped into his head. PPG's last season noticeably took a nose dive in quality because of this.

[Racattack!Force]

It seems obvious (to me, at least) that Craig McCracken stopped caring about Powerpuff Girls the moment that Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends popped into his head. PPG's last season noticeably took a nose dive in quality because of this.

Also only one person from the original crew was left at that point.