Dec 20, 2006

Imagine If . . . I Explained That Section

I know people don't read my regular site like they used to. I think it has to do with the fact that Toonami only has one show worth watching. So, when I relaunched the Opinions section with the creation of BXT: The Flipside of TXB, I know people aren't really checking it out (either that, or they just don't want to tell me it sucks).

One of the flipside moments I have included is Imagine If, something I actually created back in September 2005. The reason I created that section is because I happen to be a history buff.

I know, I know, history can be boring to some people, but I find it fascinating. Animation and entertainment history are so enjoyable and kind of more relevant to my life. For instance, did you know that Nickelodeon and MTV were co-owned by Warner Communications? Did you know that Ted Turner almost bought CBS? Did you know that Hanna-Barbera was almost bought by Viacom and Warner Communications was almost bought by Paramount? Heck, a couple of years ago, Comcast almost bought Disney.

The crux of Imagine If was to think about these scenarios actually taking place. The entertainment world would be drastically altered in many ways.

Ted Turner merging CBS News with Cable News Network to create, well, CNN: The CBS News Network. Warner Bros. using MTV and Nickelodeon's resources to create a general entertainment cable network called The Warner Bros. Channel while Tiny Toons and Batman would make their world premiere on Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon developing a 24-hour animation channel created by Betty Cohen after Viacom buys Hanna-Barbera while producing new episodes of The Flintstones for Nick at Nite after the success of The Simpsons. Warner Bros. and Paramount, now jointly merged after Paramount buys Warner Communications, forming the country's fifth network, the Warner Paramount Network on January 1995.

These are the way things could have been had certain scenarios had taken place. Or at least that's what I would have done if I were in their shoes.

I also looked at what happened if certain events did and didn't happen, like if Saban kept distributing Dragonball Z, DiC continued Sailor Moon (and Fox Kids aired more than one episode of it), The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest had more than one season under its belt, USA continued airing the USA Cartoon Express, Williams Street was actually given their own channel, Fox Kids and Fox Family continued beyond 2002, and if Cartoon Network didn't create Toonami.

Things would be drastically different. Some could be pleased. Some could be disappointed. Huey Freeman said it best. It's fun to imagine.

And that's what I do.

One small postnote to end this post: Imagine if Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo was actually as popular as Naruto. Seriously, the title character alone has the potential to being under our Christmas tree (or as a Hanukkah gift) in the form of a Chia head. Ch-ch-ch-Chia Bobobo-Bo Bo!

1 comment:

Ellen Yu said...

lol chia Bobobo!

It's your website write whatever you want, but if you really need hits put a cute furry animal there for no apparent reason.

Joking aide :p

Some facts you brought up are really interesting, but it is hard to think about the what ifs. In the end it makes me realize networks are a mess lol. It's kind of painful to think about. I use to wake up every morning to watch cartoons on Fox and the WB. Now I feel there is no reason to.

Keep up the opinion section. Just as long as you enjoy writing on this subject, you should be fine.