Retro Friday: Saturday Morning Edition

Whatever happened to the Saturday morning animated series based on popular bubblegum bands? (I guess the bigger question remains, "What ever happened to Saturday morning?" The answer: Cable killed it.)

Here, for your enjoyment, two entries from the early 1990s: The "New Kids on the Block" series (above) and the M.C. Hammer-themed "Hammerman" (below). Ahh, those were the days -- and continuing a tradition that reached back to the animated Beatles, Jackson 5 and Osmonds series.

Who would be ripe for a Saturday morning animated series these days? I suppose we'd be seeing a cartoon version of Miley Cyrus; maybe "L'il Kanye"?



Since we're talking about Saturday morning, I can't resist one more clip, for the sheer creepiness of it. Check out this old McDonalds ad, featuring Willard Scott as an early incarnation of Ronald McDonald. Here, Ronald keeps pointing out how the kid in spot shouldn't talk to strangers or accept gifts -- and then plies him with hamburgers!