Agro's Cartoon Connection

Last updated

Agro's Cartoon Connection
Agro's Cartoon Connection.png
GenreChildren's
Variety
Presented by
Country of origin Australia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons9
Production
Production locations
  • Brisbane, Queensland (1990–1996)
  • Sydney, New South Wales (1997)
Running time180 minutes (1990–1993)
150 minutes (1994–1996)
90 minutes (1996-1997)
Original release
Network Seven Network
Release22 January 1990 (1990-01-22) –
19 December 1997 (1997-12-19)

Agro's Cartoon Connection was an Australian children's television show that aired on the Seven Network from 1990 to 1997. Shown on weekday mornings, it was primarily hosted by Agro, a puppet played by comedian Jamie Dunn. It was originally filmed at BTQ7 from 1990 to 1996, after which it moved to ATN7 in 1997.

Contents

History

Over the years the show had a number of co-hosts including Ann-Maree Biggar, [1] Terasa Livingstone, [2] Holly Brisley, [3] Michael R Gibson (who was known to the audience by the nickname "Gibbo") and guest hosts Ian Calder and Stacey Thomson.

It began as Seven's Super Saturday, later becoming The Super Saturday Show, which only aired on Saturday mornings and was originally only broadcast in Brisbane.

It followed on from a show called The Cartoon Connection which had been hosted for many years previously by Michael Horrocks and Alex Wileman, Wileman went on to do New South Wales lottery broadcasts.

The show consisted of playing a variety of cartoons including Samurai Pizza Cats and Magic Knight Rayearth while including small editorials presented between the cartoons in a variety of segments. One such example included Ian Calder appearing in a regular segment acting as a character, one of his more popular being Crikey the Clown where he would walk around the streets of Brisbane in an aggressive manner asking questions to anyone he met.

Other shows presented during the series' run included G.I. Joe Extreme , The Bots Master , Bob in a Bottle , Mega Man: The Animated Series , Sailor Moon (TV series), [4] Mighty Max (TV series), [5] ThunderCats (1985 TV series), [6] The Jetsons, [7] Toxic Crusaders, [8] James Bond Jr., The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo [9] The New Pink Panther Show [10] Ring Raiders, [11] Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater, [12] Scooby-Doo, [13] Magilla Gorilla, [13] Speed Buggy, [13] Space Ghost (TV series), [13] The Smurfs (1981 TV series), [13] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series), [14] Robotech (TV series), [14] A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, [14] ALF Tales, [15] Power Rangers Zeo, [16] The New Yogi Bear Show, [17] Journey to the Heart of the World, [17] Snorks, [18] She-Ra: Princess of Power, [18] Secret Squirrel, [18] The Little Rascals (animated TV series), [18] Huckleberry Hound, [19] The Legend of Prince Valiant, [19] The Brave Frog, [20] Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space, [21] Gargoyles (TV series), [22] Yogi's Gang, [23] The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, [23] Quick Draw McGraw, [23] The Scooby-Doo Show, [24] Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979 TV series), [25] The Little Rascals (animated TV series), [26] The New Fred and Barney Show, [27] The Bots Master, [28] Jin Jin and the Panda Patrol, [28] Casper and the Angels, [29] Captain N: The Game Master, [29] Phantom 2040, [30] Richie Rich (1980 TV series), [30] Tom & Jerry Kids, [31] Tom and Jerry, [32] Bumpety Boo, [33] Top Cat, [34] Galtar and the Golden Lance, [35] The Thirteen Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, [35] SilverHawks, [36] Shirt Tales, [36] The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda, [37] Pound Puppies (1986 TV series), [37] The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, [38] Pancho and Rancho, [39] and The Flintstones. [40]

The show also featured many children's movies including Dot Goes to Hollywood, [41] Dennis the Menace in Mayday for Mother, The Little Troll Prince, [33] Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown, [39] Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears, [42] The Adventures of the American Rabbit, [43] The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound, [44] Yabba Dabba Doo! The Happy World of Hanna-Barbera, [45] Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats [35] and Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers. [46]

Christmas specials included The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible, [47] Silent Night, Holy Night, Mole's Christmas, [47] and Silent Night, Holy Night (film). [47] The Sunday morning edition of the program ran under the name The Super Sunday Show and included skits performed by the regulars, as well as presenting the UK animated program The Dreamstone and the science fiction program UFO .

Notably the show's humour was sometimes provocative but always done in a way that would escape the notice of the show's primary audience of children. The program was criticised in Parliament for including product sponsorship within the program itself, rather than simply running commercial breaks.

From 1995, the show fiercely competed with Cheez TV on Network Ten. In an attempt to boost ratings against Cheez TV, Seven replaced Gibson & Thomson with Brad Hills in 1997. In December of that year, Agro and all of the show's hosts were removed, with the programme rebranded simply to Cartoon Connection and only showing cartoons. Cartoon Connection was eventually cancelled in 1999.

Following the show's cancellation, Seven attempted several experiments to revive its breakfast programming for children. Eventually in 2000 Seven shifted the timeslot's focus towards early morning news, occupied by the Sunrise programme instead.

Co-host Michael 'Gibbo' Gibson passed away on 10 June 2024. [48]

Cast

NameRoleDuration
Jamie Dunn [49] Agro/Host1990–1997
Ann-Maree Biggar [1] Co-host1990–1994
Terasa Livingstone Reporter1994
Co-host [2] 1995–1997
Holly Brisley [3] Reporter1995–1997
Ian CalderVarious characters1990–1992
Crikey The Clown1991–1997
Michael R GibsonGibbo1990–1996
Stacey Thomson Ranger Stacey1990–1996
Brad HillsReporter1997

Awards

Awards and nominations for Agro's Cartoon Connection
YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
1991 Logie Awards Most Popular Children's ProgramAgro's Cartoon ConnectionWon [50]
1992 Won [50]
1993 Won [50]
1994 Won [50]
1995 Won [50]
1996 Won [50]
1997 Won [50]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Scooby-Doo</i> American animated media franchise

Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment and created in 1969 by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears through their animated series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, for Hanna-Barbera. The series features four teenagers: Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, and their talking Great Dane named Scooby-Doo, who solve mysteries involving supposedly supernatural creatures through a series of antics and missteps, while traveling using a brightly colored van called the "Mystery Machine". The franchise has several live-action films and shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Evanier</span> American comic book and television writer

Mark Stephen Evanier is an American comic book and television writer, known for his work on the animated TV series Garfield and Friends and on the comic book Groo the Wanderer. He is also known for his columns and blog News from ME, and for his work as a historian and biographer of the comics industry, such as his award-winning Jack Kirby biography, Kirby: King of Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Messick</span> American voice actor (1926–1997)

Donald Earle Messick was an American voice actor, known for his performances in Hanna-Barbera cartoons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Hanna</span> American animator (1910–2001)

William Denby Hanna was an American animator, voice actor, and occasional musician who is best known for co-creating Tom and Jerry and providing the vocal effects for the series' title characters. Alongside Joseph Barbera, he also founded the animation studio and production company Hanna-Barbera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner Bros. Animation</span> American animation studio owned by Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Animation Inc. is an American animation studio which is part of the Warner Bros. Television Group, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery and serves as the animation division and label of Warner Bros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Barbera</span> American animator and cartoonist (1911–2006)

Joseph Roland Barbera was an American animator and cartoonist, best known as the co-founder of the animation studio Hanna-Barbera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snagglepuss</span> Hanna-Barbera cartoon character

Snagglepuss is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character who debuted in prototype form on The Quick Draw McGraw Show in 1959 and was established as a studio regular by 1961. A light pink anthropomorphic puma sporting an upturned collar, shirt cuffs, and bow tie, Snagglepuss enjoys the finer things in life and shows a particular affinity for the theatre. His stories routinely break the fourth wall as the character addresses the audience in self-narration, soliloquy, and asides. As originally voiced by Daws Butler, Snagglepuss seeks quasi-Shakespearean turns of phrase. Some of his campy verbal mannerisms became catchphrases: "Heavens to Murgatroyd!", "Exit, stage left!", and using emphatic "even" at the end of sentences.

<i>Speed Buggy</i> American animated television series (1973)

Speed Buggy is an American animated television series, produced by Hanna-Barbera, which originally aired for one season on CBS from September 8, 1973, to December 22, 1973. With the voices of Mel Blanc, Michael Bell, Arlene Golonka, and Phil Luther Jr., the show follows an orange anthropomorphic dune buggy who alongside teenagers Debbie, Mark, and Tinker, solves mysteries while participating in racing competitions around the world. The series was produced by Iwao Takamoto, executive produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, and directed by Charles A. Nichols.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Stephenson (actor)</span> American actor (1923–2015)

John Winfield Stephenson was an American actor who worked primarily in voice-over roles.

<i>Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island</i> 1998 American animated film

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is a 1998 American direct-to-video animated mystery comedy horror film based on the Scooby-Doo franchise. In the film, Shaggy, Scooby, Fred, Velma and Daphne reunite after a year-long hiatus from Mystery, Inc. to investigate a bayou island said to be haunted by the ghost of the pirate Morgan Moonscar. The film was directed by Jim Stenstrum, from a screenplay by Glenn Leopold.

James Lawrence Kemsley OAM was an Australian cartoonist who was notable for producing the comic strip Ginger Meggs between 1984 and 2007.

<i>Scooby Goes Hollywood</i> 1979 Scooby-Doo TV special

Scooby Goes Hollywood is a 1979 animated television special starring the cast of Hanna-Barbera's Saturday-morning cartoon series Scooby-Doo. It was originally broadcast on ABC on December 23, 1979 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamilton Camp</span> British actor (1934–2005)

Hamilton Camp was a British-born actor and singer, who relocated to the United States with his family when he was a young child. He is known for his work as a folk singer during the 1960s, and eventually branched out into acting in films and television.

Douglas Michael Langdale is an American screenwriter, producer, film director, actor, and voice director, who mostly works on television cartoons, live action and animated films. He has worked with Disney numerous times, as well as the writing partner of Jorge Gutierrez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartoon Network (Australian and New Zealand TV channel)</span> Australian and New Zealand television channel

Cartoon Network Australia & New Zealand is an Australian pay television channel broadcast as a local feed of its American counterpart. launched on October 3, 1995 and owned by Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific. It primarily shows animated programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Rye</span> American actor (1918–2012)

Michael Rye was an American actor. His decades-long career spanned radio, television, animated cartoons and video games. Aside from his voice over work, Rye also acted in on-screen television roles as well, including parts in Dr. Kildare and 77 Sunset Strip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yogi Bear</span> American animated television and film character

Yogi Bear is an anthropomorphic animal character who has appeared in numerous comic books, animated television shows, and films. He made his debut in 1958 as a supporting character in The Huckleberry Hound Show.

<i>Laff-A-Lympics</i> American animated television series

Laff-A-Lympics is an American animated comedy television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series premiered as part of the Saturday-morning cartoon program block Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics, which consists of 24 episodes, on ABC on September 10, 1977. The show is a spoof of the Olympics and the ABC primetime series Battle of the Network Stars, which debuted one year earlier. It featured 45 Hanna-Barbera characters organized into teams which competed each week for gold, silver, and bronze medals. In each episode, the Really Rottens would try in each event to cheat only to get caught by Snagglepuss each time. One season of 16 episodes was produced in 1977–78, and eight new episodes combined with reruns for the 1978–79 season as Scooby's All-Stars. Unlike most cartoon series produced by Hanna-Barbera in the 1970s, Laff-A-Lympics did not contain a laugh track. Scooby’s Laff-a-Lympics was originally owned by Taft Broadcasting; Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution currently owns the series through its two in-name-only units, Warner Bros. Family Entertainment and Turner Entertainment.

TBS and TNT, the first two cable television networks in the Turner Broadcasting System, aired children's programming for a period of over 20 years, beginning in the 1970s and continuing through 1998.

References

  1. 1 2 Sadlier, Kevin (3 May 1992). "Ann-Maree's double secret". The Sun-Herald . Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 Kibble, Emma (28 June 1998). "Thrill a minute life for traveller Terasa; I'd even fly to – the moon if they asked me!". Sunday Mail . p. A10. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  3. 1 2 Melloy, N (31 May 1999). "Agro's mate in living colour". The Courier-Mail . p. 24. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Green TV Guide". The Age. p. 72.
  5. ↑ "Sunday Age The View". The Age. p. 97.
  6. ↑ "Green Guide". The Age. p. 52.
  7. ↑ "View TV Guide". The Age. 18 December 1994. p. 102.
  8. ↑ "The Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 June 1992. p. 58.
  9. ↑ "The Guide". The Age. 3 February 1997. p. 74.
  10. ↑ "The Guide". The Age. 3 February 1997. p. 74.
  11. ↑ "The View". The Age. 30 April 1995. p. 100.
  12. ↑ "The View". The Age. 30 April 1995. p. 100.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 February 1992. p. 55.
  14. 1 2 3 "Home Entertainment Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 1995. p. 64.
  15. ↑ "Television". The Sydney Morning Herald . 4 January 1991. p. 16.
  16. ↑ "View TV Guide". The Age . 4 May 1997. p. 128.
  17. 1 2 "The Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald . 27 November 1995. p. 68.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Television". The Sydney Morning Herald . 1 January 1991. p. 16.
  19. 1 2 "The Guide Television". The Sydney Morning Herald . 15 June 1992. p. 15.
  20. ↑ "The View". The Age . 29 January 1995. p. 102.
  21. ↑ "Arts and Entertainment". The Age . 30 October 1992. p. 14.
  22. ↑ "TV Guide". The Age . 21 December 1997. p. 140.
  23. 1 2 3 "Television". The Age . 20 September 1995. p. 24.
  24. ↑ "TV Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald . 17 April 1995. p. 71.
  25. ↑ "TV Guide". The Age . 3 January 1991. p. 40.
  26. ↑ "Television". The Sydney Morning Herald . 3 January 1991. p. 20.
  27. ↑ "The View". The Age . 31 July 1994. p. 97.
  28. 1 2 "The Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald . 18 November 1996. p. 71.
  29. 1 2 "TV Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald . 29 May 1995. p. 66.
  30. 1 2 "Green Thursday Guide". The Age . 25 May 1996. p. 76.
  31. ↑ "Green Monday Guide". The Age . 14 March 1996. p. 70.
  32. ↑ "The Guide Television". The Sydney Morning Herald . 27 May 1991. p. 61.
  33. 1 2 "View TV Guide". The Age . 18 December 1994. p. 102.
  34. ↑ "TV Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald . 24 July 1995. p. 70.
  35. 1 2 3 "View TV Guide". The Age . 16 October 1994. p. 98.
  36. 1 2 "Green Guide Friday". The Age . 22 August 1991. p. 47.
  37. 1 2 "Green Guide Friday". The Age . 11 July 1991. p. 55.
  38. ↑ "The Guide Television". The Sydney Morning Herald . 12 February 1990. p. 65.
  39. 1 2 "The View December 29". The Age . 25 December 1994. p. 70.
  40. ↑ "Green Guide". The Age. 14 February 1991. p. 47.
  41. ↑ "Home Entertainment Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 February 1995. p. 68.
  42. ↑ "View December 30". The Age . 25 December 1994. p. 71.
  43. ↑ "View December 28". The Age . 25 December 1994. p. 68.
  44. ↑ "View Dec 27". The Age . 25 December 1994. p. 67.
  45. ↑ "View Monday 26th December". The Age . 25 December 1994. p. 66.
  46. ↑ "The Guide". The Sydney Morning Herald . 27 November 1995. p. 70.
  47. 1 2 3 "Television". The Age . 25 December 1995. p. 20.
  48. ↑ "Vale Michael 'Gibbo' Gibson". RadioInfo. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  49. ↑ Crawford, Anne (5 March 1995). "Ugly Agro caught up in custody tug-of war". The Age . Melbourne. p. 7. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  50. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "TV Week Logie Award Winners 1990 to 1999". Now To Love. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.