Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 28, 1990 TAG: 9007280429
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Daily News
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Out of the 16 new network series specifically created for kids that will have their debuts Sept. 8 or 15 between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., nearly half are based on characters that originated in films, television series or comic books.
"Children have so many more options in addition to the three networks - to be able to garner interest in the shows and sustain viewership, we need to obtain pre-sold qualities that appeal to them," said Jennie Trias, vice president of children's programs at ABC.
"I've put on a lot of original idea shows, and they have fallen from grace," Trias said in response to why she doesn't promote fresh characters in kids' programs.
ABC's lineup includes "The Wizard of Oz," new animated adventures of the well-known characters, and "Little Rosey," animated fantasy antics of the feisty girl the "Roseanne" character would have been at age 10.
ABC adds a third new series to its lineup - "New Kids on the Block," featuring animation and live-action concert footage - and brings back five existing series for another season: "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," "Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters," "Beetlejuice," "The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show" and "A Pup Named Scooby Doo."
CBS only offers two new Saturday morning series, both drawn from existing productions.
"Movies and TV provide sampling opportunities," said Judy Price, vice president of children's programs and daytime specials at CBS. "It's hard to sell something that's new. It's a greater risk. Our new shows offer the elements that most successful kids' shows have - strong personalities, fantasy and whimsy," she explained.
CBS presents "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," pizza-eating superheroes from the comic books who hit network television for the first time, and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures," featuring the stars from the popular film in animated time-travel adventures filled with historical people and places.
Returning with new episodes are five current CBS series: "Pee-wee's Playhouse," "Jim Henson's Muppet Babies," "Garfield and Friends," "Dink, the Little Dinosaur" and "CBS Storybreak."
Out of five new shows, NBC introduces two series that rely on formerly successful characters.
"The networks copy movies and TV series because it represents something that kids have proven they liked," said Phyllis Tucker Vinson, vice president of children's and family programs at NBC.
NBC follows the copycat trend with "Kid 'n' Play," a comedy featuring the rappers from the hit movie "House Party" in animated antics and live-action performances, and "Saturday Videos," a kids' version of "Friday Night Videos" that features celebrity guest hosts.
NBC also presents three other new series: "Rick Moranis in Gravedale High," an animated show featuring the comedian as headmaster over a high school of monster students; "Captain N and the Adventures of Super Mario Brothers 3," two separate animated series featuring Nintendo characters; and "Guys Next Door," a live-action series featuring five teen-age boys who present music and comedy sketches.
"Saved by the Bell" (a live action teen sitcom), "Camp Candy" and "Chipmunks Go to the Movies" all return on NBC.
"The success of `Saved by the Bell' pointed the way to a new direction," said Vinson. "In prime time, sitcoms are the highest watched programs in the kids' demographic. So we've created sitcoms specifically for them. We're trying to do something new and different.
"We are targeting an older demographic and trying to increase the audience. We were No. 1 for six years, and as the years go on, you get more conservative in your choices. That's where we made our mistake - not taking risks. There's no real formula. Comedy, adventure, storytelling, characters they like - these are all ingredients that kids' shows have to have," said Vinson.
Fox has also joined the pack for the first time with 3.5 hours of original children's programming this year. Fox launches "The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes," based on the cult movies; "Captain Planet and the Planeteers," following five international youngsters and a superhero who combat villains destroying the earth; "Zazoo U," bringing together animals and foreign-exchange students; "Bobby's World," exposing Howie Mandel's off-the-wall adolescent alter ego; "Pig-Out," focusing on a town of pigs; and new episodes of the game show "Fox Fun House."
by CNB