There should be more anthology series for kids

[Master Toon]

Yes, I Master Toon have returned. Did anyone miss me? *crickets chirp*

Anyway, I was watching Are You Afraid of the Dark? the other night and I thought to myself, why aren't there any series like this anymore? NBC's Fear Itself is ok but it's for adults (and kids who aren't totally sheltered by their parents). Instead of networks casting 1 kid out of 50 for a part on a show, why not give all of the little inspiring actors and actresses their shot at the biz? Not to mention that kids at home will enjoy it as well. There should be at least 2 circulating the airwaves and by 2 I don't mean AYAotD? and Goosebumps, I mean 2 NEW series but that's just my opinion on the matter.

[Blackstar]

First, I had indeed noticed that you've been gone, Master Toon, so let me be the 1st to say Welcome back.

Second, in regards to your question of why they're aren't more anthology series aimed at kids, I would say that one reason could be merchandising. Stand back. I going to try my best to explain this...

Toy companies, as well as companies who produce books, comics, T-shirts, etc., like to glom on to known personalities and may be reluctant to take a chance on one-shot deals. They usually prefer to have shows in which the same actors and characters appear every week so that the viewers at home can adapt and have favorites. One-shots (characters who never return) don't have a lot of merchandising potential.

[Tobias]

How about a youth version of Supernatural? Two recurring characters (or more) taking on famous monsters/myths in every episode?

[NewcomerDC]

How about a youth version of Supernatural? Two recurring characters (or more) taking on famous monsters/myths in every episode?

It would be more of a rehash or a remake than a new series. I don't think that Hollywood feels like we need more anthology series. We already have something like this on CN now: The Secret Saturdays.

[Old Guy]

why aren't there any series like this anymore?

I'm sure Disney is already planning something to showcase their tween stars.

[NewcomerDC]

I'm sure Disney is already planning something to showcase their tween stars.

Aren't they doing it with the Studio Disney: Almost Live projects?

[Old Guy]

Aren't they doing it with the Studio Disney: Almost Live projects?

That's a sketch show not an anthology series.

[NewcomerDC]

That's a sketch show not an anthology series.

Well I think that Disney won't make anything as good as AYAotD. As a matter of fact, what COULD disney do with their tweencom stars if they were to go down this path?

[Tobias]

Well, if they plucked all their *lesser* stars from their tweencoms and made an anthology show, they might have something. I mean, they'll keep all their musical stars (Miley, Demi, Selena, The Jonas Bros.) reserved for *special* appearances, but make an anthology series with Jason Earles, Emily Osment, Brenda Song, The Sprouse Twins, The brothers from Wizards, etc. and they might have something.

[NewcomerDC]

Well, if they plucked all their *lesser* stars from their tweencoms and made an anthology show, they might have something. I mean, they'll keep all their musical stars (Miley, Demi, Selena, The Jonas Bros.) reserved for *special* appearances, but make an anthology series with Jason Earles, Emily Osment, Brenda Song, The Sprouse Twins, The brothers from Wizards, etc. and they might have something.

One thing I don't wanna see is Emily Osment going emo/punk kid like she did in R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It.

Wizards of Waverly Place could've been the place to start but after they added the comedy and took out the magic and wonder since the jokes are a bit 'meh', Disney would have to go through a major upgrade to make Wizards good enough for the anthology series.

[AdamYJ]

Well, what kind of anthology shows would they be?

The thing with Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps is that "horror" stuff, if that's really the right word for shows like those, works rather well for anthologies. Short little tales of terror have worked since the first person told a ghost story at a campfire. The thing is, though, that those shows existed in a period of the '90s in which spooky stuff for kids was all the rage. The Goosebumps books especially, but there was no shortage of other things. AYAOTD? may have come a little before the wave, but I definitely think they rode it when it came. Since then, there have been other crazes that have come down the pike. The competition anime craze started by Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh. The fantasy craze started by the Harry Potter books. I'm not even sure what the kids are crazy about now.

the point is that it would have to be an anthology series that works with what kids are interested in now, and not all interests can be easily parlayed into an anthology show.