# Bugs Bunny, 1939-2005; or, Latest New Lows Set By TV Execs. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 17, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489 "2005-02-17T04:50:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/61 "2005-02-18T01:02:50Z")
Speaking of watching the old cartoons of yor-has anyone else noticed the blatant homoeroticism of _He-Man_? Damn, that was one gay cartoon-and the James Dobson types totally missed it! ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/62 "2005-02-18T01:45:08Z")
VH1’s “I Love the '80s” show did a bit about the homoeroticism of He-Man. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/63 "2005-02-18T01:54:22Z")
Those of you who have access to M$NBC need to catch _Countdown with Keith Olberman_ when they rerun it later this evening. I just watched it and he had Harry Shearer and both of them were _livid_ over this descreation (Olberman described “Buzz” as looking like a DeLorean with it’s doors open). Shearer responded to the WB execs comment that “It’s just a cartoon” by saying that he hopes WBs lawyers remember that the next time they want to sue someone for copyright infringement. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/64 "2005-02-18T02:37:48Z")
You’ve all been whooshed. That was _clearly_ concept art from the Saturday morning cartoon version of _Donnie Darko_. The reason that “updates” of classic WB cartoons inevitably disappoint is that they always seem to be designed to entertain _children_, who were never their intended audience. This doesn’t look to be any different. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/65 "2005-02-18T04:05:32Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > You’ve all been whooshed. > > That was _clearly_ concept art from the Saturday morning cartoon version of _Donnie Darko_. Lil Donnie- What do I do? Frank-There’s only one thing _to_ do! Lil Donnie- Cunningham, I challenge you to a TimeBattle Jimmy Cunningham- I _fear_ you’ve made a terrible mistake. But, I’m going to _love_ beating you! Lil Donnie- I don’t think so! I activate my Skeleton Armor and play Grandma Death in defense mode! ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/66 "2005-02-18T05:56:05Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > Bugs Bunny would be a vicious jerk who plays tricks on innocent people, resulting in death and suffering. In other words, he’d be Bugs Bunny. It seems like in postwar shorts he’s kind of passive aggressive, doing very little beyond leaning against a wall while his opponents defeat themselves. He was better when he was actively destroying people for no particular reason. He doesn’t need an American McGee version. I hadn’t seen any mention of this being a “Buzz Bunny” until now. And I’m not buying it. If this is an original character, why is it being touted as an “update of the classic character”? And why is Old Bugs on the same design sheet? And why is he even a rabbit? If you want a post-apocalyptic sadist for a kiddie cartoon star, go ahead, but don’t fuck around with Bugs for it. No, this is supposed to be Bugs, all right. “Buzz” is a fig leaf for Warner Brothers’ horribly deformed genitals. ---
**Author:** ![Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pride_of_the_Peaches)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/67 "2005-02-18T06:51:07Z")
**DocCathode** , you’re forgetting the magical battle cards! [Here](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/civiltwilight/wb_loonaticsposter_350.jpg) and [here](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/civiltwilight/loonaticgroup.jpg) are images of the rest of the cast. Just . . . WHAT THA HECK?!! This is a horrible idea even without the blah blah ruining-the-classics stuff. I don’t think I can come up with a more inappropriate set of characters to transform into EDGY POINTY GLOWY ANIME SUPER HEROES. It’d be like trying to make the Batman series appeal to pre-pubescent girls. Almost all of the good things about Batman would have to be bleached out and dyed pink. It’s all pretty silly, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/68 "2005-02-18T20:03:11Z")
Beautiful, **Doc**. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/69 "2005-02-19T03:58:48Z")
> [@don Jaime](#): > > If this is an original character, why is it being touted as an “update of the classic character”? And why is Old Bugs on the same design sheet? The only photographs I’ve seen of the two wabbits together are in news articles, showing pictures of the classic Bugs Bunny and the new _Loonatics_ character side-by-side. The only place where I’ve seen it stated that this character is supposed to replace the old one is a confused article from the New York [Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/281771p-241321c.html), and possibly other sources. A good majority of the articles quote Sander Schwartz, president of Warner Bros. Animation, who comments on the new characters. Schwartz is quoted in the _New York Post_ as saying “[T]hese are cartoons…the existence of one doesn’t preclude the existence of another” and states in the _Wall Street Journal_ that “The new series will have the same classic wit and wisdom, but we have to do it more in line with what kids are talking about today.” A good majority of the articles I’ve read about the series state that the Loonatics are offspring off the classic Looney Tunes from the year 2772 and that the classic Bugs and company will still be around. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/70 "2005-02-19T04:23:45Z")
What Warner Brothers ought to do is just hire the best writers from The Simpsons sit 'em all down and say we want some new Looney Tunes stories, but in the spirit of the originals. We want to be true to the animation and the original vision. Make a new-retro cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/71 "2005-02-19T09:58:18Z")
Bugs Bunny should go back to what he does best: making horribly offensive racial slurs in war propaganda films. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/72 "2005-02-19T13:50:38Z")
My recent favorites are: The Tick Dexters’ Laboratory Ren and Stimpy Spongebob Simpsons South Park Futurama Animaniacs Space Ghost “late night talk show” I tried watching Drawn Together, and it just wasn’t funny to me. But, I still get a kick out of the classics: 40’s - 50’s Bugs Bunny original Tom and Jerry 40’s - 50’s Popeye I just don’t like the look of this new bunch of characters. If only they would bring back the wise cracking smartass we all know and love. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/73 "2005-02-19T18:54:26Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > What Warner Brothers ought to do is just hire the best writers from The Simpsons sit 'em all down and say we want some new Looney Tunes stories, but in the spirit of the originals. We want to be true to the animation and the original vision. Make a new-retro cartoon. _Simpsons_ writer Larry Doyle was executive producer of a couple of new Looney Tunes that Warner wanted to put in front of feature films. However, they never reallly did anything with them. Only one of them has seen the light of day in the U.S., as a special feature on the _Back in Action_ DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/74 "2005-02-19T19:12:54Z")
Anyone who thinks that Bugs Bunny et al is going to be “ruined” by this after drek like Space Jam and so forth just doesn’t have their head screwed on straight. Bugs has been an empty corporate icon since the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/75 "2005-02-20T06:33:19Z")
Ain’t It Cool News has a promo video for this mess. If I had fast connect, I could comment on it. I’m making it copy ‘n’ paste so we’re not leeching bandwidth too badly: [http://www.aintitcool.com/downloads/LoonaticsPreview.mov](http://www.aintitcool.com/downloads/LoonaticsPreview.mov) And while we are living in the Golden Age of TV toons (and the Silver Age for cartoons in general), we should also remember that most of the shows listed as favorites are either cancelled or, in the cases of _Family Guy_ and _Drawn Together_, not any good in the first place. _Loonatics_ is a sign that the Age is ending. What was the phrase Homer used, “groaning bronze”? I’ll be groaning too, if this is the future. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/76 "2005-02-20T06:39:15Z")
> [@don Jaime](#): > > Ain’t It Cool News has a promo video for this mess. If I had fast connect, I could comment on it. I’m making it copy ‘n’ paste so we’re not leeching bandwidth too badly: [http://www.aintitcool.com/downloads/LoonaticsPreview.mov](http://www.aintitcool.com/downloads/LoonaticsPreview.mov) Ugh. Predictable as the sunrise. Though I suppose the image of black ink pouring over and smothering the sketches of the original WB characters _is_ an accurate metaphor for this series… ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/77 "2005-02-20T18:51:04Z")
> [@don Jaime](#): > > in the cases of _Family Guy_ and _Drawn Together_, not any good in the first place. I disagree rather strongly. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/78 "2005-02-20T20:25:50Z")
> [@don Jaime](#): > > Ain’t It Cool News has a promo video for this mess. If I had fast connect, I could comment on it. I’m making it copy ‘n’ paste so we’re not leeching bandwidth too badly: [http://www.aintitcool.com/downloads/LoonaticsPreview.mov](http://www.aintitcool.com/downloads/LoonaticsPreview.mov) It seems I was the only one willing to give this series the benefit of the doubt… after seeing that promo, it turns out my postition was laughingly unjustified. That sucked donkey balls. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/79 "2005-02-20T21:00:25Z")
Chewed. It _chewed_ donkey balls. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489/80 "2005-02-20T21:14:26Z")
> [@Kaspar Hauser](#): > > It seems I was the only one willing to give this series the benefit of the doubt… after seeing that promo, it turns out my postition was laughingly unjustified. That sucked donkey balls. We tried to tell, you, but you wouldn’t listen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-1939-2005-or-latest-new-lows-set-by-tv-execs/290489.md?page=5)