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John P. McCann Sizzle Page
'Twas suggested I post a few episodes of my work in a pleasant spot. I've chosen here. Sadly, not everything I've written has y...
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Twice in the last eight years I've run the Santa Clarita 5k on Independence Day. Back in 2007 it was sizzling hot. Three years late... -
More memories from the boxes . Here's my life at Warner Bros. that year. Cleaned up my office after the Northridge earthquake rearranged...
17 comments:
There is one thing that stands between them, and another Spongebob. It's called creative freedom. They need to let that thrive especialy in their art department. Seriously, I haven't seen a truely appealing character design since the end of the silverage. Sorry, it's my inner cartoonist talking.
You and your inner cartoonist are welcome any time.
To many big corporations more concerned about making money off of scatter brained tweens.
Tweens are spending their parents' money. It's Nick's focus that bothers me -- it's like they won't greenlight anything that won't lead to albums sales and music downloads. Also, the Sketchers thing is just wrong. I remember when that news broke earlier this year that Sketchers wanted to break into the animation market -- I knew it was going to be controversial. It's just not cool to sell shoes that way to kids.
I'm wondering how matters will play out with the Hub, which is partially owned by Hasbro.
There's a possibility that merchandising may drive the shows ala the 80s.
I should watch more animation, but it often interferes with football and zombie movies.
Thanks for the article. It mades me spit up in my mouth just a little bit. But I rinsed and gargled with "Scope," so all is well.
You aren't really missing anything. Animation is not anything like it was fifteen years ago. It's decaying, and decaying faster than ever before. The only animated series I can stand to watch now are Symbionic Titans, and Scooby Doo Mysteries incoorporated. By the way, which episode did you write? You and Paul remain uncredited. Or atleast, I can't read them because Cartoon Network likes playing loud obnoxious comercials over the credits. Anyway, I don't see much progression in animation happening either. Companies aren't willing to expiriment. And anything that looks remotely interesting, is too unsafe, and outdated. Atleast, it's that way as of now. A few years back, there were some interesting shows, all of which were canned. Possibly due to the same problem Freakazoid had, death slotting. And something I'd like to know. What strategising is this woman talking about? I guess if you think playing Spongebob and iCarley for twelve hours is considered strategising then she wins.
Every time I hear the word "branding," I reach for my Lugar.
Luke,
My episode was about a scary gnome.
Paul has written four or five on various mysterious subjects.
I tend to think nowdays that shows like "Freakazoid" were the exception and that what this Nick gal talks about is the norm.
I watch Nickelodean, or, atleast I used to, on a regular basis. I remember when Cat Scratch was made, that it was my favorite show. However, they were nice enough to maybe air the show for an hour the whole week. They did the same thing with The Mighty B. They have no confidence in their shows, and they fail. That's what I get from watching their scheduling "efforts." I could be wrong about the entire ordeal, but I have a feeling that if they'd shown Cat Scratch on more occasions, and on better hours, it just may have turned out more successful. That's just my hunch. But, I guess that whole notion is just too broad for the suits at Nickelodean, and Viacom in general. We need more cigar chomping conservative white men willing to take a chance, in charge of these companies.
But I'm too angry about this, so I drew some woodies to calm me down.
http://lbrown21494.snaplog.com/
:)
Luke,
Jean MacCurdy, my old boss at Warner Bros., was a jumbo chance taker.
I think you need confidence in your artists and writers to create something original.
That seems sadly lacking as of late.
From an outsider looking in, I think the biggest issue is a real push from execs that want personally to see more boy/girl bands,concerts etc. In it's death throes media has started doubling down on what they consider sure things. Advertising agencies and merchandising departments have dedicated most of their resources to that end. Animation and more traditional media are now "passe'". Hell the deterioration of media is in everything now. From the widespread oped punditry of news networks, to the continued proliferation of staged "reality" tv. TV is dead, and the internet killed it. Animators need to jump ship and self produce/distribute online if they want to survive.
Squirrely,
Disney knocked it out of the park with Hannah Montana and High School Musical. Now everyone wants in.
You're probably right about the web. At least you have creative freedom.
And don't overlook sloth and unemployment for out-of-work animators.
John, Hasbro/Discovery got blasted by that advocacy group when they first announced The Hub back in 2009 and they've continued to be under fire ever since. Search "hasbro" on http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/ and you'll find a handful of articles on it.
I believe Hasbro's concession was that they will not advertise toys/products related to the show during the show. In other words, you won't see ads for Transformers products during Transformers, or My Little Pony during My Little Pony.
But the whole network is about selling toys and products related to their various properties anyway. So it doesn't seem to be much of a compromise.
Craig,
Perhaps just enough of a compromise to avoid lawsuit land.
A couple of wise men once told me that the worst thing you can do is condescend to kids through your shows...
With all respect to the hard working writers and producers out there, it feels like that's all they do now.
Troy,
There's nothing like a message club to cudgel the children with.
After all, they never get that from parents and school.
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