If you’re a fan of classic cartoons, there’s a new destination to see Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Popeye the Sailor, Scooby Doo, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and more. MeTV Toons.
MeTV, Memorable Entertainment Television, is an American broadcast network, owned by Weigel Broadcasting, that specializes in showing programs from the 1930’s thru the 1990’s. It’s also the home of horror host, Svengoolie.
Since it started in 2003 in Chicago, MeTV has grown, and in 2010 became a national network, available over the air (aerial antennae needed) and cable through local affiliates, DirecTV and various other options, including streaming services FrndlyTV and Philo. It has also spun off six other networks, MeTV+, Heroes And Icons, Catchy Comedy, Movies! (a joint venture with Fox Television Stations), Start TV ( a joint venture with CBS News and Stations), Story Television, and MeTV Toons.
A joint venture between Weigel Broadcasting and Warner Brothers Discovery, MeTV Toons is a brand new channel, started on June 25th, dedicated to classic cartoons of the past. From the classic cartoon shorts of the 1930’s through the 1990’s and early 2000. In addition, there are segments such as Cartoon College, which gives you a quick history of the cartoons, MeTV Toons Tunes, which should be self explanatory, but it features songs from cartoon shorts and shows, and Quick Shticks, just taking a brief clip from a cartoon, that are played during commercial breaks.
Also included is Toon In With Me, an anthology cartoon series, hosted by Bill Bleff as Bill The Cartoon Curator and his friend, Toony The Tuna, as they show classic cartoons based on a particular subject for the episode. Unlike previous anthology series or reruns of these classic cartoons, many of these airings are remastered from their original negatives. Many of these remastered shorts have not been released on home media or streaming, making these airings the first time some of the cartoons are seen remastered and restored in HD.
The new network features shows dedicated to the Looney Tunes characters, Mister Magoo, Casper the Friendly Ghost and other Harvey characters, Popeye the Sailor, Woody Woodpecker, Underdog and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Classic Hanna Barbara shows, like Atom Ant, Peter Potomas, Wacky Races (alternating with The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop), Yogi’s Gang, Top Cat, Scooby Doo, Where Are You, Josie and The Pussycat, The Smurfs, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, and Jonny Quest. Also included is the 70’s prime time series, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home.
For fans of toons from the 80’s and 90’s, The Real Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Police Academy the Animated Series (yes, it existed, it wasn’t a fever dream you had), Captain Planet, Alf the Animated Series, Alf Tales, Inspector Gadget, Challenge Of The Gobots, Mister T, 2 Stupid Dogs, The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley, Freakazoid, and Histeria. Duck Dodgers In The 24 and 1/2 Century is also included.
Fans of classic anime will enjoy episodes of Speed Racer and Marine Boy. And for shows with a few strings attached, Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons, SuperCar, Fireball XL 5, and Joe 90 is on the wee hours of the morning schedule.
And this is just the start. There are plans for more toons to be added. As a fan of all these classics, MeTV Toons has become a favorite since day one. This Grumpy Geek has a smile on his face and can’t get enough of the channel. It is a channel that is well worth having as a favorite.
And Now For The Bad News
Though parent station, MeTV, is available in most television markets, MeTV Toons is currently available in a small number of markets, leaving many fans of classic cartoons out in the cold.
There are two streaming alternatives, however. Philo TV and FrndlyTV. Philo TV’s service is $28.00 a month. FrndlyTV offers three plans, starting at $7.99 a month. Though it seems redundant to pay for a service for networks available for free via antennae or basic cable package, FrndlyTV is an affordable option. Both include a seven day free trial. If you’re a fan of classic cartoons, it’s an option to consider.
Hopefully, everyone will get the chance to watch MeTV Toons. If you do have the chance, stay in your pajamas, pour a bowl of your favorite cereal, and sit in front of your tv. It’s your childhood Saturday morning all over again, only this time, it’s every day.
To see where MeTV Toons is available in your area, click here.
Gary DaBaum, SCIFI.radio DJ, writer, and all around nice guy, can be heard on SCIFI.radio. When not on the air, he can be found in the virtual world of Second Life, or spoiling his grand nephew.
I didn’t know about the new MeTV Toons until I read this article!
I did have fun when my “art” was featured at the end of an episode of *Toon In With Me.* And fun when my comments on my own work were used as a lead-in to the episode’s final joke.
So yeah. For me, it really was “Me” TV!