Back when I was a kid,I used to watch Sunday Morning TV sometimes,but it wasn't until my teen years,when I started watching religiously. And I'm not alone,almost every American enjoyed the various Sunday Morning programming blocks.
Sadly,like with Saturday Morning and Weekday Afternoon Blocks,SunAM programming was a victim of executive meddling. Church-goers contributed to the downfall as well,as Sunday Mass took place at the same time as the SunAM blocks. So by the time Church let out,the blocks would either be over or only have 1-hour left (depending on the block).
And while not as special as it's SatAM or WeekdayPM counterparts,ya gotta admit SunAM TV was damn good.
Anywho,Sunday Morning blocks began with the USA Network's Cartoon Express way way back in 1982 (the year i was born) and was the very first Cartoon Block on Cable TV.
Unlike with SatAM TV,SunAM TV wasn't as big. Each block was 3 hours long (8am to 11am) and there were only 5 Networks that brought the goods,Those networks were UPN,WB (now known as The CW),The USA Network,Fox/ABC Family (now known as Freeform) and TBS.
However,like all good things,SunAM TV came to an end sometime in 2006,again,thanks to executive meddling. ABC Family was the last network to air a Sunday Morning block.
Anywho,let's talk about some of these blocks. Starting with the one that started it all,The USA Network.
===================================================
The USA Network!
Like with it's Weekday Afternoon Block,The USA Network aired stuff from Hannah-Barbera,DiC,and Ruby-Spears. In fact,the Sunday Morning edition of the Cartoon Express aired the same shows as the Weekday Afternoon edition. But,most didn't mind that.
In December of 1993,The block introduced it's very first 2 original series: Problem Child and Itsy Bitsy Spider. Both shows lasted until 1996.
In late 1995,The USA Cartoon Express became a Weekday only block,being replaced on the Weekends by an all action block called the USA Action Extreme
The Cartoon Express was retired in September 15 1996,thus ending the USA Network's Afternoon Block. The USA Action Extreme Team expanded to Weekday Mornings a week later.
In the September of 1998,The USA Action Extreme Team ended and with it's demise came the end of all traditional Morning and Afternoon blocks on the USA Network.
Out of all the SunAM blocks,This is the one I loved most.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TBS!
The Superstation had it's own Morning Blocks,which lasted from the late 80's to the late 90's. There was no difference between them at all. They aired mostly Hannah Barbera shows,as well as Looney Tunes. 1993 incarnation of the block gave us 2 Stupid Dogs and Swat Kats,which would later be moved to Cartoon Network.
All Weekday and Weekend morning blocks on TBS ended in 1997.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPN!
UPN began it's Weekday and Sunday Morning blocks sometime in 1990. The name of this block is unknown,but it would eventually become UPN Kids in September of 1995.
Both of these blocks aired a variety of fun programs. Around 1996/1997,Bohbot Communications bought some time on UPN and started up their BKN (bohbot kids network) blocks every morning.
Both UPN Kids and BKN ended in September of 1999 and was replaced with the One Too block,which was a Weekday and Sunday morning extention of Disney's One Saturday Morning.
Even though One Too was the main block during this Era,UPN would also air some non-Disney shows,such as Digimon.
One Too ended in August of 2003. UPN would continue to air Weekday and Sunday morning programming until early 2004.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The WB (aka the Pre-CW)!
The WB would also air Sunday Morning shows starting in 1990. The block was unnamed and was a seperate block from Kids WB. In 1995,the block would get a Sub-Block called The Power Block,which aired Transformers Beast Wars and G.I.Joe Extreme.
WB would stop airing Weekday Morning and Sunday Morning programming in 1998.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOX/ABC Family (now known as Freeform)!
Tbe Family Channel began it's Weekend Blocks sometime in 1992. First there was an Unnamed Block which lasted until 1998. In 1998,Fox Kids took over the Mornings,and then the Weekday Afternoons in 2002. Fox Kids became Jetix in 2004.
Fox Kids shows would continue to air until 2006,where ABC Family ceased airing Weekday and Weekend Morning programming. For the most part,the Weekend line-ups aired the same shows as their Weekday counterparts. We didn't mind though.
=====================================================
And now a list of shows that aired on these SunAM blocks.
USA Network Cartoon Express (1982 - 1996)
Yogi's Gang
Scooby-Doo
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
Captain Caveman
Wacky Races
Yogi's Treasure Hunt
Laugh-o-Lympcs
Dyno-Mutt
Superfriends
He-Man
She-Ra
Filmation's Ghostbusters
Smurfs
Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling
Mr.T
G.I.Joe:A Real American Hero
The Transformers
The Real Ghostbusters
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Pac-Man
Jem
Voltron
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Dragon's Lair
M.A.S.K.
Garfield and Friends
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
Problem Child: The Series
Itsy Bitsy Spider
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USA Action Extreme Team (1995 - 1998)
Wild C.A.T.S.
The Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog
Savage Dragon
Street Fighter: The Animated Series
Exo Squad
Highlander: The Animated Series
Wing Commander Academy
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unnamed TBS Blocks (Late 80's - 1996) and The Disaster Area (1996 - 1997)
Looney Tunes
Jonny Quest
Popeye
Speed Racer
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron
2 Stupid Dogs
Yogi Bear
Taz-Mania
Scooby-Doo
The Jetsons
The Flinstones
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Tom and Jerry
Cartoon Planet
James Bond Jr.
Pirates of Dark Water
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unnamed UPN Block 1. (1990 - 1995)
Mighty Max
Street Sharks
Double Dragon
Mutant League
James Bond Jr.
Widget The World Watcher
Camp Candy
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice
The Bots Master
The Adventures of T-Rex
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPN Kids (1995 - 1999) and BKN (1996/1997 - 1999)
Teknoman
Extreme Dinosaurs
Skeleton Warriors
Beetleborgs
Sweet Valley High
Breaker High
Bureau of Alien Detectors
The Incredible Hulk (90's series)
Iron Man (90's series)
Fantasic 4 (90's series)
Spider-Man (80's series)
Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends
X-Men: The Animated Series
Jumanji
The Mask: The Animated Series.
The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
Princess Gweneve and the Jewel Riders
Mummies Alive
Skysurfer Strike Force
Street Sharks
Sonic Underground
Roswell Conspiracies: Aliens,Myths,and Legends
Captain Simian and the Space Monkies
Action Man (90's series)
Ultraforce
Extreme Ghostbusters
Mighty Max
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disney's One Too and Misc Shows. (1999 - 2003)
Disney's Doug
Recess
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Hercules
Pepper Ann
The Weekenders
Legend of Tarzan
Sabrina: The Animated Series
Digimon [4th season]
Kong: The Animated Series
Sonic Underground
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unnamed UPN Block 2. (2003 - 2004)
Mummies Alive
Jumanji
Sonic Underground
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unnamed WB Morning Blocks (1990 - 1998)
Dennis The Menace
G.I.Joe [dic series]
Back to the Future: Animated Series
Conan: The Adventurer
The New Adventures of He-Man
Creepy Crawlers
The Hurricanes
Tenko and the Guardians of Magic
Darkstalkers: the Animated Series
Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars
Biker Mice from Mars
The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
Beast Wars: Transformers
G.I.Joe Extreme
Dragon Ball Z [Saban/Ocean dub]
Super Human Samurai Cyber Squad
V.R.Troopers
California Dreams
Saved by the Bell
Mega Man: the Animated Series
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unnamed Family Channel Block (1992 - 1998)
Heroes on Hotwheels
The New Adventures of Speed Racer
Pro-Stars
Wish Kid
The Super Mario Bros.Super Show
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros.3
The New Super Mario World
Captain N
Popeye
Donkey Kong Country: the Animated Series
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fox Kids on Fox/ABC Family (1998 - 2004)
Donkey Kong Country: The Animated Series
Walter Melon
Sam and Max: Freelance Police
X-Men:The Animated Series
Power Rangers[the 1st saban era]
Power Rangers [disney era]
Digimon[the first 3 seasons]
Spider-Man:The Animated Series
The Tick
Mon Colle Knights
Life with Louie
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego
Big Bad Beetleborgs [and beetleborgs metalix]
Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends
The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot
Godzilla: The Series
Monster Rancher
Flint the Time Detective
Mega Man: The Animated Series
Totally Spies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jetix on ABC Family (2004 - 2006)
Digimon[the first 4 seasons]
Power Rangers[the 1st saban era]
Power Rangers [disney era]
Kong: The Animated Series
Spider-Man Unlimited
X-Men: The Animated Series
Spider-Man: The Animated Series
Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends
Legend of Tarzan
W.I.T.C.H
The Tick
I have such fond memories watching Sunday Morning TV (especially the in 90's). Rest in Peace SunAM TV,you are missed.
Well that was a nice Nostalgia trip,wasn't it? So,what's next? I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll make a list of the greatest Cartoon Soundtracks of the 80's,90's,and Early 00's.
Until then,
See Ya,Space Cowboys
SunAM TV
September 21st 1982 - Sometime in 2006
1 comment:
Watching cartoons on Sundays is as nostalgic as watching them on Saturdays and Weekdays. Aww, memories.
Post a Comment