45TH & 50TH ANNIVERSARIES

 Gen X! These are for you! Continuing our anniversary with the shows turning 45 & 50 this year!

LEO D. SULLIVAN DEAD AT 82

 

You can read the full story here.

He was a pioneer for Black animation that formed Vignette Films with Floyd Norman in the 1960s, which produced educational films about Black historical figures, and started a multimedia foundation to train underserved youth in new media technology. During his 60+-year career, he worked on Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, the “Nanny and the Professor” episode of ABC Weekend Specials, Jabberjaw, Laff-A-Lympics, I am the Greatest!: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali, CB Bears, Challenge of the Superfriends, The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckle, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979), Casper and the Angels, The New Shmoo, The World’s Greatest SuperFriends, The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, Richie Rich, The Flintstones Comedy Show, The Little Rascals (1982), Pac-Man, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs (1993), Taz-Mania and Dumb and Dumber: The Animated Series. He also wrote two Slimer! segments of Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters and directed 3 episodes of C-Bear and Jamal.

KEN SPEARS DEAD AT 82

 

You can read the full story here.

He worked for Hanna-Barbera Productions, where he co-created Scooby-Doo with his partner, Joe Ruby. He also did work for Krofft Television Productions and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises before ABC set them up with their own studio, Ruby-Spears Productions.

 

The shows he’s worked on include Space Ghost, The Herculoids, The Adventures of Gulliver, Cattanooga Cats, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, The Harlem Globetrotters, Help!...It’s the Hair Bear Bunch, The Barkleys, The Houndcats, Bailey’s Comets, Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, Jabberjaw, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Wonderbug, Magic Mondo, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, Bigfoot and Wildboy, ABC Weekend Specials (episodes), Fangface, The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show, Heathcliff (1980), Thundarr the Barbarian, Goldie Gold and Action Jack, The Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour, Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour, The Puppy’s Further Adventures, Saturday Supercade, Rubik, The Amazing Cube, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Dragon’s Lair, Turbo Teen, Mister T, It’s Punky Brewster, Lazer Tag Academy, Superman (1988), Dink, the Little Dinosaur, Piggsburg Pigs!, and Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa.

SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: FRANK WELKER

FRANK WELKER

(March 12, 1946- )

Notable Roles: Fred Jones, Scooby-Doo, Pudge, Wheelie, Chopper, Jabberjaw, Wonderbug, Dynomutt, Buford, Nugget Nose, H.E.R.B.I.E., Impossible Man, Crazy Legs Crane Jr., Dragonfly, Toyman, Dinky Dog, Shmooo, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Droopy Dog, Dingbat, Rockjaw, Dollar, Cosmo, Blip, Mr. Cool, Dirty Dawg, Hefty Smurf, Poet Smurf, Smurfberry Bird, Timber, Wild Bill, Rock ‘n Roll, Marvin, Wonder Dog, Fangface, Donkey Kong Jr., Flash the dog, the General Lee, Smokey, Iceman/Bobby Drake, Flash Thompson, Darkseid, Kalibak, The Joker, Dr. Claw, Brain, Uni, Scoooter, Blaster, Rest-Q, Cap’n O.G. Readmore, Megatron, Soundwave, Skywarp, Dr. Ray Stantz, Slimer, Foofur, Catgut, Tooter Shelby, Occy, Bigtime Beagle, Baggy Beagle, Bubba the Caveduck, Toto, Kermit the Frog, Skeeter, Beaker, Abu, Gogo Dodo, Furball, Barney Rubble, Fall-Apart Rabbit, Dr. Viper, Bo, Booker, Sheldon, Bronx, Ralph the Security Guard, Krypto the Superdog, Father Time

When Welker moved to California, he attended Santa Monica College where he majored in theatrical arts. He received honors for his performance as the Cowardly Lion in the school’s 1966 production of The Wizard of Oz. His career officially started on stage as a stand-up comedian and impressionist, landing his first voice-over role in a Friskies commercial. The producer’s girlfriend encouraged him to audition for Hanna-Barbera while they were casting for Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! He auditioned for Scooby-Doo and Shaggy but ended up with the role of Fred Jones, which he has played in almost every incarnation of the franchise since (he did eventually get the role of Scooby after original actor Don Messick retired). Welker has since led a prolific voice acting career, spanning television shows and films. Along with Scooby, he’s most associated with the Transformers franchise; voicing several characters including primary antagonist, Megatron. Notable for his creature and animal sound effects, Welker is often cast as monsters, ghosts, animals or other inhuman characters. A good range of his vocal effects can be heard with the character Tooter from Snorks, who only communicated via sounds. He has done work for all the major animation studios, including Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, Ruby-Spears, Marvel Productions, DiC Entertainment, Warner Bros., Disney and others. Though rare, Welker has made on-camera appearances in films and television shows. His first on-screen role was as a kid who befriended Elvis Presley in 1969’s The Trouble with Girls. He also appeared in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and its sequel, How to Frame a Figg and Dirty Little Billy. On television, he’s appeared on Laugh-In, Love, American Style, The Patridge Family, Catch-22 and others. Welker made an on-camera appearance in CBS’ 1984 Saturday morning preview special, which showcased his recording an episode of Muppet Babies. In 2016, he was honored with a lifetime achievement Emmy Award.

Saturday Credits:

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

The Barkleys

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie

The New Scooby-Doo Movies

Super Friends (1973)

Bailey’s Comets

Valley of the Dinosaurs

Hong Kong Phooey

Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch

The New Tom & Jerry Show

The Oddball Couple

Jabberjaw

Wonderbug

The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour

Dynomutt, Dog Wonder

What’s New, Mr. Magoo?

The Skatebirds

Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels

Fred Flintstone and Friends

The Robonic Stooges

The All-New Popeye Hour

Fangface

Yogi’s Space Race

The Fantastic Four (1978)

The All-New Pink Panther Show

Challenge of the Superfriends

Dinky Dog

The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckle

Fred and Barney Meet the Shmoo

The New Shmoo

Casper and the Angels

The World’s Greatest Superfriends

The Super Globetrotters

The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show

The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show

The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979)

Heathcliff (1980)

Super Friends (1980)

The Flintstone Comedy Show

The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show

Richie Rich

Space Stars

The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang

Trollkins

Blackstar

The Kwicky Koala Show

The Smurfs

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends

Shirt Tales

The Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour

The Puppy’s Further Adventures

Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour

Pac Preview Party

Pac-Man

Inspector Gadget

Dungeons & Dragons

Monchichis

Saturday Supercade

The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show

The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries

ABC Weekend Specials (episodes)

The Dukes

Alvin & The Chipmunks (1983)

The Littles

SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show

Snorks

The Get Along Gang

Turbo Teen

Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies

Pink Panther and Sons

Back to Next Saturday

Jim Henson’s Little Muppet Monsters

Punky Brewster

Robotix

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo

The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians

The Wuzzles

Challenge of the GoBots

There Berenstain Bears

Galtar and the Golden Lance

Pound Puppies (1986)

The Real Ghostbusters

Scooby’s Mystery Funhouse

Kissyfur

Teen Wolf

CBS Storybreak

Wildfire

Foofur

Lazer Tag and Academy

DuckTales (1987)

Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears

The Flintstone Kids

Popeye and Son

Yogi’s Treasure Hunt

The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley

Superman (1988)

Garfield and Friends

The New Yogi Bear Show

Dino-Riders

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo

Dink, the Little Dinosaur

Pryde of the X-Men

Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue

The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera

The Wizard of Oz

Rick Moranis in Gravedale High

Captain N: The Game Master

Where’s Waldo? (1991)

Yo Yogi!

Tom & Jerry Kids Show

Tiny Toon Adventures

Bobby’s World

The Plucky Duck Show

Darkwing Duck

The Pirates of Dark Water

Goof Troop

The Addams Family (1992)

Batman: The Animated Series

The Little Mermaid: The Animated Series

Marsupilami

Sonic the Hedgehog (1993)

Cro

Animaniacs

Droopy: Master Detective

Gargoyles

Freakazoid!

The Savage Dragon

The Mask: The Animated Series

Pinky and the Brain

Timon & Pumbaa

The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries

Mighty Ducks

Casper

101 Dalmatians: The Series

Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm

Road Rovers

Jungle Cubs

The Legend of Calamity Jane

Waynehead

Superman: The Animated Series

Cave Kids

The Secret Files of the SpyDogs

Hercules: The Animated Series

Histeria!

Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain

Xyber9: New Dawn

Mickey Mouse Works

JABBERJAW

JABBERJAW

(ABC, September 11-December 18, 1976)

Hanna-Barbera Productions

MAIN CAST:

Frank Welker – Jabberjaw

Tommy Cook – Biff

Patricia Parris – Shelly

Julie McWhirter – Bubbles

Barry Gordon - Clamhead

            The world wanted more Scooby-Doo, the networks wanted more musical programs, and, thanks to Jaws, the 1970s was rife with shark mania. Hanna-Barbera decided to give the world the best of everything and produced Jabberjaw.

The Neptunes: Jabberjaw, Bubbles, Clamhead, Biff and Shelly.

            Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, Jabberjaw (Frank Welker) was an anthropomorphic great white shark who sounded an awful lot like Curly from The Three Stooges, complete with all the trademark sounds and catchphrases (including one borrowed from Rodney Dangerfield). He played drums for The Neptunes, which was comprised of the level-headed (though dimwitted) and athletic Biff (Tommy Cook) on lead guitar; vain Shelly (Patricia Parris) on tambourine; ditzy Bubbles (Julie McWhirter) on keyboard; and kooky Clamhead (Barry Gordon) on bass. They all lived in an underwater civilization in the year 2076. The band traveled to various locations to perform and would end up encountering villains intent on taking over the undersea world (which, like The Flintstones did with rocks, often featured places that had some kind of ocean-themed pun in their names).

Jabberjaw is a drummer and roadie all rolled into one.

            Jabberjaw was previewed on ABC on Friday, September 10, 1976 during a cartoon sequence of the Bill Cosby variety show Cos. It made its Saturday debut the following day on September 11; although, the episode “The Bermuda Triangle Tangle” aired on a Thursday as part of ABC’s Thanksgiving Funshine Festival. As with other shows Hanna-Barbera produced in the genre, the chase sequences featuring the cast and the villains were accompanied by music credited to The Neptunes. The music, in fact, was composed by Hoyt Curtin and Paul DeKorte. The series was written by George Atkins, Haskell Barkin, John Bates, Larz Bourne, Tom Dagenais and Bob Fisher. Despite a combination of winning elements, the show only lasted a single season of 16 episodes. It did remain on ABC’s schedule until the fall of 1978, and Welker’s Curly impression helped to increase the demand for his talent for future cartoon productions (including actually voicing Curly in The Robonic Stooges).

Space-age travel under the waves.

            Despite its short run, Jabberjaw received a wide merchandising compliment. Rand McNally released two coloring books, a story book and a read and color book, as well as puzzles; Thermos made a lunch box; Presto Magix printed a dry transfer sheet; puzzles released by Arrow Games; and Avon sold a pendant. As part of a promotion for Marineland, the aquatic theme park briefly Hanna-Barbera had a stake in, they made a Jabberjaw picture viewer. Jabberjaw was also featured as part of the Scooby-Doo Paint With Water set. In 2005, Jabberjaw was released as a Wacky Wobbler bobblehead by Funko. 

Color model sheet/publicity image.

Charlton Comics was set to publish a Jabberjaw comic in 1977, but it was cancelled before an issue ever saw release. He did, however, appear in Marvel Comics’ Laff-A-Lympics series between 1978-79. In 1996, Jabberjaw returned to comics in Hanna-Barbera Presents #6 by Archie Comics, and with the rest of The Neptunes in Cartoon Network Presents #23 by DC Comics in 1999. In 1988, Worldvision Home Video released “Dr. Lo Has Got To Go”, “There’s No Place Like Outer Space”, “The Sourpuss Octopus” and “The Great Shark Switch” on VHS. It wouldn’t be until 2011 that Warner Archive would release the full series on DVD as part of their Hanna-Barbera Classics Collection.

Jabberjaw on Mystery Incorporated.

            Jabberjaw, sans his band, returned to star in Yogi’s Space Race. He bounced around in guest appearances in Hanna-Barbera’s All-Star Comedy Ice Revue (voiced by Don Messick), Laff-a-Lympics, Yogi’s Treasure Hunt, Sealab 2021, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Night of the Living Doo, Johnny Bravo and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. Jabberjaw and The Neptunes reunited and received a modern update as a ska band for a music video set to Pain’s “Jabberjaw (Running Underwater)”, which aired on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. He also appeared with many others for the 2012 MetLife commercial, “Everyone.” In 2018, more realistic interpretations of the characters drawn by Paul Pelletier appeared alongside Aquaman in the second wave of DC Comics’ Hanna-Barbera crossover one-shot series in Aquaman/Jabberjaw Special #1. Written by then-current Aqauman scribe Dan Abnett, the issue saw Jabberjaw coming from an alternate dimension where Aquaman was a cartoon character that inspired their undersea way of life. In the 2020 film Scoob!, The Neptunes were listed as a featured act for the Hex Girls— the fictional goth female group within the Scooby universe —on a poster in the background.

EPISODE GUIDE:

“Dr. Lo Has Got to Go” (9/11/76) – Dr. Lo unleashes a gorgon on the city of Aquahama.

“There’s No Place Like Outer Space” (9/18/76) – Aliens land and begin their invasion in the city of Hydrostan.

“Atlantis, Get Lost” (9/25/76) – Dorsal plans to overthrow the queen of Atlantis in order to become king.

“Run, Jabber, Run” (10/2/76) – Jabberjaw competes in the Undersea Olympics to unmask Z, the leader of a worldwide criminal organization.

“The Sourpuss Octopus” (10/9/76) – The Neptunes end up having to protect Professor Acosta from the Octopus while on his expedition to find treasure in Panaqua.

“Hang onto Your Hat, Jabber” (10/16/76) – The Brotherhood of Evil seeks to obtain the Power Helmet, which grants its wearer’s every wish.

“The Great Shark Switch” (10/23/76) – The Neptunes are accused of kidnapping Commander Shark and it’s up to Jabberjaw to prove their innocence.

“Claim-Jumped Jabber” (10/30/76) – Coldfinger is after the richest mines in Aqualaska, but Jabberjaw stands in his way.

“Ali Jabber and the Secret Thieves” (11/6/76) – Volton, an evil mass of energy, meets The Neptunes when they tour the kingdom of Hydrabia.

“Help, Help, It’s the Phantom of the Kelp” (11/13/76) – The Phantom plots to use a growth ray to raise an army to conquer the Aqua International Corporation.

“No Helpin’ the Sculpin” (11/20/76) – Sculpin steals an unfinished time machine from Professor Thorstein.

“The Bermuda Triangle Tangle” (11/25/76) – Sorceress Madame Sargasso captures The Neptunes when they accidentally enter the Bermuda Triangle.

“Malice in Aqualand” (11/27/76) – Jabberjaw witnesses Dr. Cybron replacing the Rajah with a robot duplicate, prompting Cybron to target The Neptunes before they can stop him.

“The Fast-Paced Chase Race” (12/4/76) – The Neptunes try to win the Trans-Marine Race while attempting to stop Dr. Robek’s evil plans.

“The Piranha Plot” (12/11/76) – The Piranha captures the tanker The Neptunes are sailing on to steal the special rocket fuel it carries for his plans to conquer the Underwater States of America.

“There’s No Heel Like El Eel” (12/18/76) – Jabberjaw must stop El Eel from turning the entire world to stone.

Originally posted in 2017. Updated in 2020.

SMF ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION (PART 7)

We continue our second anniversary celebration!

As we celebrate, we figured we'd also take the opportunity to celebrate the various other programs enjoying anniversaries this year (at least at an interval of 5). Some we've covered, some we'll get to covering sooner or later, but all of them represent Saturday morning. For this installment, we recognize those shows turning 40. The big 4-0.

Take a walk down memory lane with us, and feel free to share your memories in the comments, or over on our Facebook group or Facebook page. We'd love to hear from you!

Now, without further ado, join us in celebrating...