Daffy Duck Awaits His Close Up

A Duck, A Dream, A Powerful Friend, A Dream

 A header most poetic, but here is the old Jack L. Warner footage, dolled up with some modern day editing and closing with a promo for Twin Cities Con, coming up early next month. 

 

John P. McCann Channel 

Jack L. Warner on the Subject of Daffy Duck

Coming Tomorrow 

What Once Was Lost, Now is Found

Found in an old box in VHS form, mangled in the transfer, restored with new images and now presented for your viewing pleasure. The ancient Jack L. Warner footage was part of a pitch to the old WB Network by Paul Rugg, Doug Langdale, and myself. 

 

We thought a primetime Daffy Duck show might be a pleasing venture for Warner Bros. We were incorrect. 

 

However, a portion of the video survives along with a poster for the upcoming Twin Cities Con featuring former Warner TV animation aces Tom Ruegger, Paul Rugg and Paul Dini. I'm listed, but family matters will probably keep me close to home. Stop by Wednesday.

 

Lost Hamster Video Surfaces

'Idaho' Found in Box

 In VHS form from 1997. But now Private Idaho is transferred and ready for 2025 viewing. Under the supervision of Grant Moran, writers Wendell Morris and Tom Sheppard and myself were tasked with preparing a pitch video for a new animated show. The premise revolved around a caged hamster and his dreams of high adventure. Here's what we came up with. According to Grant, "Comedy Central ordered six episodes. WB Animation Business Affairs guy insisted on 11 and wouldn't relent. The deal died. And this was when Comedy Central was half owned by WB. Devastating." I concur.

Goodnight Everybody! Podcast and I

Goodnight Everybody! was gracious enough to invite me on last night for a chat about things Animaniacs, Freakazoid! and other topics animated, as well as spirited discussions about plums and the odd yearnings of farm animals. Listen in for more.

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The Huntsman in "Attack of the Vortex"

On the Freakazoid! series, The Huntsman was noted for his inability to engage with crime due to a downturn in mayhem. As a change of pace, I wrote an episode where The Huntsman found a foe at last, but the studio had other plans.
 

Sea Dentist v.3

 

( From around 14 years ago, a brief example of things I wrote when I wasn't being paid to write—TV animation, that is. I was writing a whopping great amount of marketing copy.)

 (Part one of a Write Enough series on TV animated shows that never quite made it to air.)

With the growing success of "SpongeBob" in 2000, the TV animation industry sought out a nautical-themed show that hopefully would absorb success vapors from the popular Nickelodeon series. The race was on and Cartoon Network appeared to be leading after staff artist Cleve Metapontum pitched a series idea revolving around a rude veterinary dentist who lived aboard ship and serviced various sea creatures—willing and unwilling.

Metapontum had been working as a background artist on I Am Weasel and conceived the idea after an unstable Burbank dentist flung salt water in his face. (There was a law suit, later settled.)

Cartoon Network executive Laudi Krate quickly spotted the potential of "Dentist" and wasted no time calling Atlanta for instructions. A pilot was ordered and Krate told to 'hustle this one along.'

Under pressure, Krate promoted character designer Higgins Benzine to produce. Benzine was controversial. Despite many years in animation, he could not draw an oval head. Worse, he despised Metapontum whom he considered a 'cubicle ape,' lacking the skill to 'draw a game of Hang Man.'

Often great art emerges from a clash of personalities but not this time. After a series of loud arguments and flung pencils, an angry Metapontum produced a dark 22-minute script in which Sea Dentist extracts the teeth of a tiger shark and cements them into the mouth of a harbor seal who then proceeds to kill and eat a wind surfer. Sea Dentist, employed by "The United Nations Sea Counsel," denies having anything to do with the incident and sails to Panama.

Krate was horrified. The script lacked several key elements considered necessary in children's animation. Among them were likable characters, humor, and no wind surfers slashed to pieces. Metapontum defended his script, claiming, "Dentists are really like that. Seriously." More drafts were ordered and eventually the story acquired a child character while deaths were changed to prat falls, and Sea Dentist became 'crusty but lovable.'

Nevertheless, the caustic chemistry between Benzine and Metapontum poisoned the production. Factions formed and artists would lunch with either producer or show creator. So intense was the hatred that artists in the Benzine camp began losing the ability to draw oval heads. Meanwhile, Metapontum supporters voiced a hatred for dentists and oral hygiene in general.

After several contentious months, an episode was completed in which an acerbic but kindly Sea Dentist aids a killer whale by installing a fixed partial denture (or bridge). Later, in a battle with anti-aquatic dental forces, Sea Dentist falls overboard and is saved by the very whale whom he earlier helped. The story and artwork were a compromise enforced by Krate. Metapontum hated having a dentist portrayed in a positive light while Benzine loathed the art work, claiming the oval heads "looked all wrong."

By now, Atlanta was demanding the pilot. In a frenzy, layouts, model sheets, etc. were shipped to a Korean animation house. But no one figured on Benzine. At his own expense, he flew into Seoul and tinkered with the models. As a result, the human characters lacked oval heads. Sea Dentist had a head that was pumpkin-round with what appeared to be a ramp extending out above his right ear.

Krate and Metapontum went ballistic when they saw the footage, but there was no time or budget for retakes. Krate shipped the program to her Cartoon Network bosses with a cover note praising the 'quirky animation that is also iconic in an unspecified way.'

Despite a compelling all-lute music track, the project was mercifully put down. Like The Day the Clown Cried, grainy copies of Sea Dentist circulated quietly throughout the animation world and became the stuff of dystopian legend.

Not surprisingly, Cleve Metapontum, Higgins Benzine and Laudi Crate resurfaced at different studios. And while they would never work together again, this trio was involved with other animated TV shows that managed to miss the airwaves.

Images: fossilsforkids.com and istockphoto

Disney's Prehistoric Business Model

From a few weeks ago, we learn that poor old Walt Disney thought you needed to appeal to parents. Today Disney hires ironwitted wokies and crafts films that appeal to them. A fascinating peek at what no longer exists.

 

Film Threat

'Male and Pale is Stale' Leads to 'Flop Busters'

 

Dream Factory Now a Nightmare for Some

 

h/t: Ace of Spades HQ

 

 

An anonymous member of the Writers Guild of America has posted an open letter to the guild pointing out the hazards of DEI.  (A more nuanced defintion here.) Said writer posted the letter to a movie critic site called Film Threat instead of the entertainment industry press.

The letter speaks of a climate of fear smothering Hollywood as the top-down push for DEI is resulting in discrimination against white males and the hiring of writers for no other reason than the color of their skin or sexual preferences. This leads to the production of expensive 'flop busters' such as The Marvels or the latest Indiana Jones.

Sadly, animation—South Park excepted—was gobbled up by DEI years ago.

There's more in the open letter. Also, if you must watch video, check out YouTube Channel Film Threat's take on the subject. 

The clash between enforced DEI and productivity is being waged across many industries. Now Hollywood must choose between the illusion of fairness and product quality, in addition to appeasing the Chinese.

South Park best summed up the effects of DEI on creativity:

(Language Warning)

 

Joke Lol

Central Florida ComicCon Invites Old Friends

 RUEGGER, RUGG TO CFCC 

 

As Lakeland, Florida USA gears up for their big comic con, old Warner Bros. chums Tom Ruegger and Paul Rugg prepare to meet their public. 

Come this Saturday, Januray 20th, these animation legends will host a panel entitled (and I quote):

The Ultimate Animaniacs and Freakazoid Panel

Tom Ruegger and Paul Rugg talk about the making of Animaniacs and Freakazoid and take questions from the audience in this panel for the Ultimate Animaniacs and Freakazoid fans!

Don't miss it! (I'll miss it, but then I was there.)

 

A Warner Bros. Merry Christmas v.2

 Ten years ago,  posted the below remarks. All the best today to you and your family.

 Inspired by a Facebook post from friend Josh, and plucked from the blog of Tom Ruegger, here are the Warners Brothers (and sister) as shepherds from "The Little Drummer Warners." Back in the day, we showed the episode to Steven Spielberg who joked that we now owed him a Warner Bros. tribute to a Jewish holiday. Hanukkah and Thanksgiving at the same time would have been perfect, but that kind of calender gold doesn't roll around too often. Plus Animaniacs would've needed to be airing for twenty years like Gunsmoke. So we still owe him.

Cracked Magazine Article on the Rise and Fall of Freakazoid

I should know. I WAS THERE!!!

Thanks to Brian Van Hooker for the terrific article on one of my very favorite TV animation shows ever. Tom Ruegger, Paul Rugg and I are interviewed regarding our recollection of those ancient times. 

Go forth and read at Cracked. 

Top Ten Disney Sassy Animal Companions

 ChatGPT compiled the list and added the voice artists. I'm growing fond of that crazy AI.

1. Mushu - from "Mulan" (voiced by Eddie Murphy)

2. Timon - from "The Lion King" (voiced by Nathan Lane)

3. Puss in Boots - from "Shrek" (voiced by Antonio Banderas)

4. Donkey - from "Shrek" (voiced by Eddie Murphy)

5. Iago - from "Aladdin" (voiced by Gilbert Gottfried)

6. Sebastian - from "The Little Mermaid" (voiced by Samuel E. Wright)

7. Abu - from "Aladdin" (various vocalizations)

8. Heihei - from "Moana" (vocalizations by Alan Tudyk)

9. Pascal - from "Tangled" (vocalizations by Frank Welker)

10. Meeko - from "Pocahontas" (vocalizations by John Kassir)

Animaniacs Celebrates 30th Anniversary

 Yes, I recall it well. The 10th or 13th of September, 1993. A big party on the Warner Bros. lot. Free food.

In honor of the event, here's a festive tune from the olden days.

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Wondercon '23 Vid

Cast and crew from O.G. Animaniacs as well as Freakazoid! mingling, greeting, and, in general, being pleasant to the fans at a fine convention.

@John P. McCann Channel

Wondercon '23 Notes

 Great fun. Good seeing old friends and meeting fans of the shows. Here is the original Animaniacs panel:

(l. to r.) Julie and Steve Bernstein, Paul Rugg, myself, and Tom Ruegger

With more onstage the next day for Freakazoid!

(l. to r.) Dan Riba, Steve and Julie Bernstein, Mitch Schauer, myself, Tom Ruegger and Paul Rugg—the voice of Freakazoid!

Lots of laughs as we recalled the old days.  Then we all left early to take our medicine.

I Arrive at Wondercon 2023!

Here's how much the Hilton thinks of me. I'm given TWO bottles of Evian Water FREE. Everyone else, the slugs, the dregs, the nobodies, pay $5 a BOTTLE. Just livin' large in Anaheim, CA.

How Freakazoid Episodes were Made

So THAT'S how they did it.

 There was a formula back then. Follow it and you'd have something to watch . . . something strange and mystical.

John P. McCann Channel

Wondercon '23 Paul Rugg Promo

Coming March 26!!

In Sunny Anaheim, California!

A Freakazoid Panel for the Ages!

It's a Con, but Go Anyway!

John P. McCann Channel

Paul Rugg and I are Hired at Warner Bros. v.6

 

And I Have the Memories to Prove It

Today, December 16, marked 27 years since Paul Rugg and I were offered jobs at Warner Brothers TV Animation. We were over at Paul's house watching Zontar: Thing From Venus, drinking coffee, eating chocolate donuts, and smoking. We'd just turned in scripts for some new show called Animaniacs. (Mine was "Draculee, Draculaa.") Paul's wife was off earning money as a social worker, while my future wife was still employed at the magazine I'd quit two months earlier. Rugg and I were performing improv and sketch comedy at the Acme Comedy Theatre. (Along with cast member Adam Carolla.) Money was very tight. The payment for one script would really help out my Christmas. 

Then Kathy Page, Tom Ruegger's assistant, called to offer us staff jobs and the trajectory of our lives veered sharply into an unexplored cosmos.

We were amazed, stunned, numb. Walking outside, we smoked more and talked it over. Should we take the jobs or would they pollute our comedy pureness by turning it commercial? We would accept the work immediately. 

Now it all seems opaque. If it weren't for the Web and talking to Paul Rugg yesterday, I'd swear the whole experience never happened. But I'm glad it did. (Paul, too.)  So thanks to Tom and Sherri Stoner. (And her husband, M.D. Sweeney, our Acme director, who recommended us.)

Note: After thirteen years of blogging, I'm running out of life events to chronicle.

Notes: 2019

A little hyperbole last year. I have plenty of life events and more on the way. Now then, Paul's episode was about a pet shop, I believe. In 1991 I wrote on a Mac Classic. (They look so quaint now, like a fancy radio from 1938.) Jeffrey Dahmer, Silence of the Lambs, Thelma and Louise, the unraveling of the Soviet Union and the number of computers on the newly commercialized Web reached one million.

Not mine, but similar.

Notes: 2020

What a year! (Wednesday will be 29 years, but close enough.) Pandemics, riots, politics. It's like 1968 on crystal meth. What's new? Well. You can now obtain the Top 5 Dating Tips of H.P. Lovecraft. Yes, that weird horror guy. For details, go to this nifty spot.  Actually, try THIS nifty spot for my mailing list, should such an act spur you. 

Notes: 2021

NOW it's 30 years. After three decades, events merge together into a clot of time. But I'll never forget that day. A life-changer. 

Notes: 2022

Paul has moved to Virginia. I remain in crumbling California. People on Twitter keep the memory of Animaniacs alive. I thank them.

Wedding Bells Have Rung for Paul Rugg's Daughter

L. me and father-of-the-bride.

 

And that's how fast time flies. Away into a new life goes a young lady who once edited a short story of mine. I was quite happy for her and the family. 

Here is a picture of Paul and I at the reception. It appears a large alien craft is landing behind us and we're the last to know.

Ah, well, in the midst of life, interstersteller visitors.