Category: TV

Bingeworthy · Classic TV

Love Classic Disney Animation? Check This Out!

JanetLeave a comment

If you are like me, you probably grew up watching The Wonderful World of Color from back in the 1960s. There was something special about Sunday evenings curled up in front of the TV, most likely with the entire family, watching the weekly adventure. If you were lucky enough to be able to watch the original Disney films, too, even better.

Now, I know that things have changed with the House of Mouse, but the early stuff was magical on many, many levels. Dennis, over at West of Neverland, has created a channel devoted to those classics providing lots of background information.

Forty Seven videos so far! That is quite an accomplishment. If you’ve never checked out the channel, now is the time to do so.

Enjoy!

Cartoons

A Look Behind the Scenes

JanetLeave a comment

As I look back, I’ve been a fan of animation since I was very small. When I was a child, The Flintstones and The Jetsons were on Prime Time TV. Folks gathered the family around the TV every week for the Wonderful World of Color.

As I grew up and learned more about my favorite shows I developed a curiosity about all the things behind the scenes. I am, after all, that person who loves the extras on the DVDs. 😀

West of Neverland on YouTube has been a great place to learn all the ins and outs and back stories of classic Disney animation. Dennis has pulled together lots of great information, putting it in context and providing something more than just dates, etc.

What I love about the channel is the look back at how and why things were done. This was when cartoons were hand drawn and painted. Filmed cell by cell. There is a lot of information about the process and the people behind the camera. You will learn about characters, voices, and some of the oddest issues with censors.

Click on the link above to check out the channel. If you like it don’t forget to subscribe – I think you’ll find it a welcome addition to your feed.

Bingeworthy

The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries

JanetLeave a comment

When I need a good bingeable show to curl up with I tend to look for something that doesn’t really require a lot of thought (mine) but good quality production (theirs). I also love a good animated series and when the Looney Tunes are included I am usually a happy camper.

Over the years I’ve watched several episodes of The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries. For whatever reason it wasn’t when it was originally aired. <shrug> but with the availability on various platforms, I am now able to indulge to my heart’s content.

Tweety is one of those characters folks tend to love. He is tiny, cute, and is smarter than we might suspect.

Sylvester tends toward a single mindedness that would probably be more successful if he took the time to think things through. Sort of like the Coyote in the Road Runner series but without the Acme merchandise. 😉

Granny is, well, Granny. Don’t underestimate her but don’t make the mistake of thinking she is clued in…

I love seeing Cool Cat amble through the episodes and encountering other members of the Looney Tunes universe lends some fun to the mix, too.

Check out the series by clicking HERE. You’ll learn the background and find links to several sources.

Bingeworthy · TV

Ludvig

JanetLeave a comment

Every once in a while you find a gem amongst the pebbles. I’ve been reading a lot about BritBox’s Ludvig. I tucked it on my To Be Watched List…Eventually. Eventually actually became Boxing Day and started before dawn. 😀

One of the unexpected plusses about the number of episodes in a British series is that you can usually binge the entire thing in one day. Ludvig is the standard 6 episodes. The beauty of this particular series is that the initial mystery is … mostly resolved. Mostly because it leaves the door open to a second series. The second season has already begun filming with release expected in 2026.

Ludvig is the pen name of puzzle creator John Taylor. John is a recluse who exists in the world to create and solve puzzles. He has a twin brother, James, who is a police inspector married to Lucy and they have a son, Henry. When James goes missing under questionable circumstances, Lucy calls John to help and things go awry from there.

Quirky (check). Interesting (check). Fish out of water (check). Well written (check). Excellent cast (check).

  • Click HERE to read more about Ludvig on imdb.com
  • Click HERE to read about Ludvig on BritBox.

Series One has some interesting twists and turns and the quirks just add that special touch. Watching John learn to exist in the world, eventually evolving out of his comfort zone, is a pleasure. One might even call it indulgent…as in bring on the popcorn and curl up on sofa to watch the entire season.

I love shows like this. They engage the brain while entertaining. There is a lot to consider as the mysteries unfold.

Add Ludvig to your To Be Watched List and keep an eye out for season 2. You won’t regret it.

TV

The Perfect Line

JanetLeave a comment

A game show that crosses generations.

The Game Show Network recently debuted Deborah Norville’s new show, The Perfect Line and I have to say, I am enjoying this new twist on trivia.

I’ve been watching game shows for decades. Sixty of them. I enjoy games that engage the brain, make use of everyday knowledge and encourage stretching the envelope, as it were.

The Perfect Line takes advantage of those tidbits of information we gather, knowingly or not, from everyday life. In most cases, the topics are more modern but every once in a while (more often than some might like) the timeframe includes things from earlier decades…or centuries. 🙂

For those of us who were quite comfortable with the original What’s My Line but found later iterations frustrating, The Perfect Line provides room for everyone.

The contestants are interesting (and there is Very Little of the ubiquitous request to learn more about them) players of a variety of ages. Ms Norville is just the right touch of engaged and interested.

The topics cover quite a range, too. Surprisingly so.

Interested? Click on THIS link to learn more.

Cartoons · Movies

Classic Animation

JanetLeave a comment

Most of us know Hanna-Barbera as the home of TV cartoon shows but they also made movies. In a slight departure from their generally factory made TV shows, the movies leaned into beautiful color work, creative story lines and some amazing voice casting.

Recently Turner Classic Movies posted the following on their YouTube channel. It brought back quite a few memories for me, did it do that for you, too?

And, yes, when I heard Charlotte I had to check to see if it was Debbie Reynolds’ voice I was hearing. 😀

I would recommend you look for these classics and perhaps add them to your collection for those times when you want a touch of nostalgia…and a good film to watch.

Enjoy!

TV

A Nostalgic Look Back to the 80s

JanetLeave a comment

Because, why not?

For many of us, the shows noted in the video below bring back all kinds of memories. I watched the majority of the list at one time or other and listened to one via a TV Radio that sat next to my desk. (It played TV sound signals in addition to AM/FM bands…)

Twelve Best TV Shows…

Some shows everyone had heard about but not all watched initially…but came around eventually. Other shows had regular viewers – the night just didn’t ‘feel right’ without them.

How many of these classics have you watched? What are your favorites?

Cartoons · Classic TV · TV

Holiday Specials I Was Not Expecting

JanetLeave a comment

MeTV Toons continues to amaze and entertain!

If you are looking for classic holiday cartoons check out MeTV Toons for their November and December holiday specials. Click HERE to see the list.

I admit I was surprised to see what was on the list. I had no idea there were so many Flintstones and Yogi Bear holiday shows!

Then, over on ABC, we have their schedule of specials. Click HERE to see the list. Granted if you have Disney+ all of these are most likely already available or will be soon. 😀

Grab some popcorn and dive in!

Cartoons

Comics & Toons

JanetLeave a comment

One of my earliest memories is sitting beside the stove in the kitchen while my mom read the Sunday Comics to me. I also remember when The Flintstones, and later The Jetsons, played on Prime Time.

Yeah, I’ve been around a long time. 😀

I developed a love for Bugs Bunny that has never wavered. Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester and Tweety, and even Marvin the Martian (& K9) are in that group, too.

Let’s just say Saturday Morning Cartoons have kept me happy for longer than there have actually been Saturday Morning Cartoons. As I once said, ‘Saturday without Bugs Bunny is a waste.’ aka: Thank goodness for DVDs, VHS, and even streaming.

The comics pages have always been packed full of interesting characters, situations, and thought provoking ideas. I still read For Better or For Worse even though I know how the strip ended in 2008. Peanuts, too, has been a staple. There’s no getting around the subtle, and not so subtle, honesty of the Peanuts Gang.

I do read newer strips, but most of my favorites have been around for a while. I recently enjoyed Arlo & Janis’ look back on the evolution of the strip. I haven’t read that one for very long, so this was intriguing.

I’ve been enjoying MeTV Toons, too. Lots of oldies but goodies and some really fun reminders of different directors, writers, designers. It is the perfect place to indulge in my Bugs Bunny obsession. LOL!

I know there are some folks who don’t understand why an ‘adult’ would want to watch ‘kids’ cartoons. And I know several adults who just don’t get it.

For me, there is magic in those drawings, whether or not they are animated or static. And when I take a step back to appreciate the work (!!!) involved, my appreciation grow.

If you get a chance, please take a minute to observe the comic strips and the cartoons you have access to. Listen to the dialog. Watch the movement. Follow the story. Don’t be afraid to chuckle, or even laugh out loud, when something strikes your funny bone. That is what they were made to do, after all.

Enjoy!