Chowder Expired Leaves Greenblatt with Less on his Plate

Photo belongs to foodistablog

A peek inside the cartoon fridge should tell you that while most show items are still fresh and ready to be consumed, one in particular is fast approaching its expiration date. On August 13th, Animation Magazine reported that while Cartoon Network will be ordering a few new series and renewing Thurop van Orman's THE MARVELOUS MISADVENTURES OF FLAPJACK for their upcoming lineups, CHOWDER fans were left in the dark. A blog entry posted by creator C.H. Greenblatt that same day confirmed fans' fears - CHOWDER had been canceled. Though in spite of the cancellation, Greenblatt decided to focus on the positives.

"...it's like being the hot girl who just got out a bad relationship; your phone starts ringing from everyone else who's been wanting to date you. It's nice to hear from other networks how much they enjoy the show, especially when you don't really hear it from your own. Chowder has opened up a lot of awesome possibilities for me, and creatively I'm feeling more inspired than ever. There are some new ideas I'm working on that will hopefully find a good home somewhere in the next year" (Nerd Armada: "The Hot Girl").

So in honor of the little "cat, bear, rabbit...thingie," I'm highlighting my top 5 all-time favorite CHOWDER moments to whet your appetite. Enjoy!

5. I'm Not Your Boyfriend!
-"Chowder's Girlfriend"

Poor Chowder...that Panini just won't let up. A guy's gotta do something to dump his girlfriend, even if they are only going out in her own mind - and a song is just the way to show her exactly how he really feels.

4. Shnitzel's Joke
-"The Sing Beans"

Everybody loves a good joke...especially the other kind of joke. The thought of Shnitzel telling an adult joke is funny no matter what but it becomes even funnier when you realize you're trying to translate it in your head.

3. C.H. Greenblatt Puppet Cameo
-"Shnitzel Quits"

Here he is, the big guy himself. The random stop-motion throughout the show is always amusing, but for some reason there's just something extra amusing about Greenblatt appearing in puppet-form to persuade Shnitzel to come home.

2. Care For a Free Lollipop?
-"Shnitzel Makes a Deposit"

To a kid, the bank = free lollipop. But what's even funnier is how a common expression gets turned around into a seemingly never-ending string of "would 'I's" and "would 'you's". As the first series gag that kept me laughing hard, it never fails to get a few chuckles out of me.

1. Car Wash
-"The Shopping Spree"

Click to watch!

Some of the best moments ever are when the writers break that "fourth wall" in the CHOWDER universe and do something really crazy-creative. Like the whole cast holding a car wash to fundraise for the rest of the episode's animation. Hands down hilarious.

The cartoon fridge will definitely feel a bit colder without CHOWDER, but I'll be looking forward to not only the episodes left to air, but also to what else Greenblatt has brewing for the future. So far, it's been a recipe for success.

7/31/09 - Four Spoonfuls of Laughter

Photo belongs to Miley-Cyrus.nu

Everybody knows laughter is the best medicine. Whenever I get sick, I always prescribe myself a healthy dose of cartoons and sit-coms to make all my troubles go away. And with some sort of strange flu bug flying around in my part of the world, I thought it fitting to spoon out some laughs. Hopefully you're healthy, but here's some sugar to help make the medicine go down a little easier if you need it - the last four hilarious episodes I've seen. And I'm talking gut-busters.

4. "Something's A Miss"
THE MARVELOUS MISADVENTURES OF FLAPJACK (CN)
Flapjack keeps getting mistaken for a girl.

Lately, FLAPJACK has just been the funniest overall on its network, and this episode stands out as one of the best. Gender confusion is always funny, but Flapjack just makes it even funnier, the gags getting better and better as the episode progresses. Plus, by the end, there's a surprise twist that you'll probably be half-expecting, but it's sure to put a smile on your face either way.

Funniest Moment: The girls in the club mistaking Flapjack for another girl.

3. "Family Game Night" - WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE (DC)
Alex uses a spell to switch brains with Harper, but she keeps on getting the spell wrong, including accidentally leaving Harper with no brain. After a girl at school asks Justin out, he devises a plot to keep her away.

There's nothing more amusing than family humor, and the Russos are the best family for it. Between no-brain Harper and Max's oblivious attitude to Justin's dilemma, the little things make this episode great, but what makes it even greater is the climactic scene near the end during "family game night" at the Russo loft. Anybody who's ever had a real family will love it.

Funniest Moment: Jerry and Theresa screaming out on the terrace.

2. "Swiss Family Phineas" - PHINEAS AND FERB (DC)
The family takes a short sail trip out to sea, but a storm causes them to wind up stranded on a remote island. To pass the time, Phineas, Ferb, and Isabella, build a set of treehouses with the most modern conveniences, to Candace's dismay, as she wants to get back home in time to attend Jeremy's party. Meanwhile, Perry the Platypus, who was left behind, must get away from the watchful eye of Baljeet and Buford, so he can go on his mission to stop Dr. Doofenshmirtz's latest plot.

What I love most about this series, and I love a lot of about this series, is that no matter how short or long your laughs are, you never stop laughing during any episode. Ever. Unless you have no sense of humor. And this episode is no exception. Both the main plot and sub-plot are equally hilarious - the Flynn-Fletcher family getting stranded on a deserted island...Buford and Baljeet pairing up to watch Perry...the whole bit with Karl...and then there's always Doofenshmirtz. I guess you have to watch it to completely understand. I highly recommend it.

Funniest Moment: Karl.

1. "He Could Be The One" (pts. 1 & 2) - HANNAH MONTANA (DC)
Miley’s back to dating Jake Ryan, but Robby Ray isn’t so sure he wants her to go there again. In an attempt to get Jake back on Robby’s good side, Miley schemes to feign interest in Jesse, the “bad boy” guitarist in Hannah’s band. But Miley finds herself in quite the pickle when she realizes she’s suddenly attracted to Jesse as well. Now she’ll have to choose between the two boys, and she’s determined to find out who could be the one.

This is actually a bit of a trick-favorite. For one thing, it's technically two episodes. For the other thing, I'm not too nuts about the episodes as a whole, but there was one aspect that set it apart from all the other HANNAH episodes I've seen lately.

Jackson and Rico.

Okay, okay, I admit it. Anybody who knows me knows that, for me, they're always the highlight of any episode. But in this special, they particularly stand out in hilarity. Why? Because nothing gets you laughing with border-line tears in your eyes like Jason Earles and Moises Arias singing and dancing the narration in their own number of song parodies.

These two episodes are definitely worth watching, just for them.

Funniest Moment: Jackson and Rico singing in Hannah Montana garb.

7/23/09 - Paging San Diego Comicans (Your Nick, CN, and Disney Panels Are Here)

Photo ©Tm 2007

San Diego Comic Con 2009 is finally here, and although I won’t be plaguing the San Diego Convention Center as a Comican this year, the show still goes on. So, for any Nick, Disney, and CN watchers planning on attending the world of comics this weekend (or for any who are just plain curious), here’s a schedule of panels you guys might be interested in:

Thursday, July 23

4:15-5:15 Cartoon Network: Chowder! The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack! Adventure Time with Finn and Jake!— This panel celebrates three of the best comedies from Cartoon Network Studios. First up is a sweet treat with Chowder, including special guests C. H. Greenblatt (creator) and Tara Strong (voice of Truffles). Then set sail with The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack and creator Thurop Van Orman (voice of Flapjack) and Steve Little (writer, voice of fan favorite Dr. Barber). Finally, hold onto your seats for a sneak peek of the new series Adventure Time with Finn and Jake with creator Pendelton Ward. It's algebraic! Room 6A

Friday, July 24

12:30-1:30 Nickelodeon's The Fairly OddParents: More Magical Mayhem!— Get an exclusive sneak peek at what's coming up next for your favorite fairy family. Creator Butch Hartman (Danny Phantom), along with story editor Ray DeLaurentis (Shaggy and Scooby-Doo: Get a Clue!), art director George Goodchild (Danny Phantom), and producer Dave Thomas (El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera) present some highlights from the brand new episodes. Moderated by Rich Magallanes, executive director for Nickelodeon. Room 5AB

Saturday, July 25

10:30-11:30 Nickelodeon: Are You Ready Kids? Ten Years of Spongebob SquarePants!— Celebrate 10 years of happiness with the world's most beloved sponge, along with executive producer Paul Tibbitt, creative director Vincent Waller (The Ren and Stimpy Show), and story editor Steven Banks (The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius). The cast, including the voice of SpongeBob himself, Tom Kenny, will perform a live table read of a classic fan-favorite from Season 1. Q&A with the cast and crew follows, and be among the first to watch the yet-to-air episode, "Greasy Buffoons." Moderated by Claudia Spinelli, executive in charge for Nickelodeon. Room 6DE

11:45-12:45 Ben 10— It's all about Ben 10 at this panel featuring director Alex Winter and cast members from the upcoming live-action movie Ben 10: Alien Swarm coming this fall to Cartoon Network. Also appearing are Ben 10 Alien Force producer Glenn Murakami, story editor Dwayne McDuffie, and Yuri Lowenthal (voice of Ben). Make sure not to miss an exclusive look at what's coming next with a sneak peek at Generator Rex and the first images from the upcoming series, Sym-Bionic Titan, by creator Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack, Dexter's Laboratory). Room 6DE

2:00-3:00 Nickelodeon's The Penguins of Madagascar: Making a Splash— Executive producers Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley (Kim Possible), supervising producer Bret Haaland (Futurama), creative consultant and voice of Skipper Tom McGrath (Madagascar 1 & 2), and cast members John DiMaggio (Rico), Jeff Bennett (Kowalski), and Danny Jacobs (King Julien) preview a never-before-seen clip from an upcoming Penguins special and perform a table read from a new episode. Followed by Q&A as they discuss the process of bringing the popular Penguins from the big screen to their very own series. Moderated by Rich Magallanes, executive director for Nickelodeon. Room 7AB

Sunday, July 26

10:00-11:00 Phineas & Ferb— Hey kids, whatcha doin'? Going to the Phineas and Ferb panel, that's what! Creators Dan Povenmire (Family Guy) and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (Rocko's Modern Life) plus the voice of Phineas, Vincent Martella (Everybody Hates Chris) and other surprise guests from the show are on hand to tell you everything that's happening behind the scenes of Disney Channel and Disney XD's #1 animated series. You'll get to see sneak peeks of new episodes, new songs, plus prizes, giveaways, and juggling chainsaws (okay, maybe not that last one). Room 6DE

11:15-12:15 Nickelodeon Presents: SpongeBob, Fairly OddParents, and The Penguins of Madagascar— You won't want to miss this screening of your favorite Nickelodeon shows, including a never-before-seen episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, as Plankton tries yet again to bring down the Krusty Krab. Then be the first to watch Timmy and his fairies in a brand new Fairly OddParents episode. But wait, there's more! You'll also catch the gang from The Penguins of Madagascar on one of their latest adventures in the Central Park Zoo. Room 6DE

12:30-2:30 Zoinks! Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins— Come join everyone's favorite Great Dane as Warner Premiere & Cartoon Network present Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins. The all-new, live-action/CGI film reveals the origins of the Mystery Inc. gang on their first mission together. Be the first to witness the film, then stay for a fun-filled panel featuring director Brian Levant (Beethoven, Snow Dogs), producer Brian Gilbert (Wrong Turn, Skinwalkers), and the all-new live-action cast: Robbie Amell (Life With Derek, True Jackson VP) as Fred, Kate Melton as Daphne, Hayley Kiyoko as Velma, and Nick Palatas as Shaggy. Also expected to attend is Frank Welker, a member of the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! voice-cast, who provides the voice of Scooby-Doo for Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins, which will premiere on Cartoon Network and be distributed by Warner Home Video in fall 2009. Room 6DE

- San Diego Comic Con Official Website

7-13-09 - Cartoon Network, Get Real!

While Cartoon Network thought it was a great idea, it seems many aren’t too thrilled about it. I can’t really blame them, I mean, it is CARTOON Network, after all. Developing live-action reality shows for a cartoon-based channel and expecting people to actually watch is like running down the freeway buck-naked and hoping cars don’t actually run you over. Okay, maybe that’s not the best analogy, but both have one thing in common – the possibility of a fatality.

But let’s imagine, for just a second, that we need not be so hard on CN. Everyone makes mistakes, right? And if you take to heart what I’m about to show you, the switch in programming might make more sense than you think.

I think after invading FLAPJACK, this guy must have threatened the rest of the network with his cartoon-self pitch. I’d take the REAL risk too if I thought this was the future of cartoons:



Then again, if he starts pitching his own reality show, we’re all in trouble.

Thanks goes to ArthurKade.com for the videos and photo (check out his post about his big day at CN here). A big thank you to Thurop for sharing the story.

What Time Is It...?

Photo courtesy of fotologic

Birds are singing, allergies are blooming, you can feel it in the air…no, I’m not talking about love, I’m talking about summer! Time to sweat buckets of Kool-Aid, do monsoon rain dances, and hit the beach (but not too hard). But we aren’t the only ones cooking and chilling for the summer – the three major kid/teen television networks, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel also know how to heat things up to make each channel the cool place to be this summer. And with the hottest season already underway, it’s time to chill with the new summer schedules:

Nickelodeon

New Episodes of:

TRUE JACKSON, VP

iCARLY

Nick at Nite Series Premiere:

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE on Sunday, July 5^th

Cartoon Network

CN This Summer

Wednesdays

CN Real:

SURVIVE THIS

THE OTHERSIDERS

Thursdays

TOTAL DRAMA ACTION

Fridays

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

Saturdays

CN Real:

BRAINRUSH

DESTROY BUILD DESTROY

DUDE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN…

BOBB’E SAYS

Sundays

Cartoon Network Flicks, such as:

NACHO LIBRE

SPY KIDS 3

Disney Channel

Summer of Stars

Fridays

THE SUITE LIFE ON DECK

PHINEAS AND FERB

WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE

Movie Features, such as:

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE

Saturdays

Movie Double Features, such as:

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 1 & 2

Sundays

SONNY WITH A CHANCE

HANNAH MONTANA

JONAS

Disney Channel Original Movie Premieres:

PRINCESS PROTECTION PROGRAM on Friday, June 26^th

WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE: THE MOVIE in August

Disney XD New Series:

ZEKE & LUTHER

But don’t let your eyes stay glued to the tube for too long. Go outside. Sell some lemonade. Play in the sprinklers. Or wish you could still do those things. :)