Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company

For most of the network's existence, in regards to children's programming, ABC has aired mostly programming from Walt Disney Television or other producers (most notably, Hanna-Barbera Productions and DIC Entertainment).

History

List of notable programs

Main article: List of shows previously aired by American Broadcasting Company

• The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (1972-1974)
• ABC Weekend Specials (1977-1997)
• The Addams Family (1992-1995)
• The Adventures of Gulliver (1968-1970)
• The All-New Pink Panther Show (1978-1979)
• Beany and Cecil (1962-1968; 1988)
• The Beatles (1965-1969)
• Beetlejuice (1989-1992)
• Bone Chillers (1996–1997)
• The Brady Kids (1972–1974)
• The Bugs Bunny Show and later incarnations (1962-1968; 1973-1975; 1985-2000)
• Bump in the Night (1994–1996)
• Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000–2002)
• The Buzz on Maggie (2005–2006; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• The Care Bear Family (1986-1988)
• The Cattanooga Cats (1969-1971)
• Cro (1993–1995)
• Darkwing Duck (1991–1993)
• Devlin (1974-1976)
• Disney's Doug (1996–1999)
• Droids: The Adventures of R2D2 and C3PO (1985–1986)
• DuckTales (1997)
• Dudley Do-Right (1969-1970)
• Dumb and Dumber: The Animated Series (1995-1996)
• The Emperor's New School (2006-2011; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• Even Stevens (2001–2002; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• The Ewoks (1985-1987)
• Fangface (1978-1979)
• Fantastic Four (1967–1970)
• Fantastic Voyage (1968-1970)
• Fillmore! (2002–2003)
• Flash Forward (1996–1997)
• The Flintstone Kids (1986–1988)
• Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980–1982)
• Free Willy (1994-1996)
• Fudge (1995-1996)
• The Funky Phantom (1971–1973)
• Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles (1996–1997)
• George of the Jungle (1967-1970; 1997)
• Goldie Gold and Action Jack (1981-1982)
• Goober and the Ghost Chasers (1973)
• Goof Troop (1992–1993)
• The Great Grape Ape Show (1975-1976)
• The Groovie Goolies (reruns from 1971-1972 CBS series) (1975-1976)
• Hammerman (1991–1992)
• Hannah Montana (2007-2011; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• The Hardy Boys (1969-1971)
• Heathcliff (1980-1982)
• H.E.L.P.! (1979)
• Here Come the Double Deckers (1970–1972)
• Hong Kong Phooey (1974-1976)
• Hoppity Hooper (1964-1967)
• Hot Wheels (1969-1971)
• House of Mouse (2001–2002)
• Jabberjaw (1976-1978)
• The Jackson 5ive (1971–1973)
• The Jetsons (reruns of the 1962-1963 primetime series) (1963-1964)
• Jonny Quest (repeats of the 1964-1965 primetime series) (1970–1972)
• Journey to the Center of the Earth (1967-1969)
• Jungle Cubs (1996–1997)
• Junior Almost Anything Goes (1976-1978)
• Kid Power (1972-1974)
• Kim Possible (2002–2006; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• The King Kong Show (1966-1969)
• Krofft Supershow (1976-1978)
• Land of the Lost (1991–1992)
• Lassie's Rescue Rangers (1973-1975)
• Laverne & Shirley in the Army (1981-1982)
• Lidsville (1971–1973)
• Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003-2008)
• Linus the Lionhearted (repeats of the 1964-1966 CBS series) (1966-1969)
• Little Clowns of Happytown (1987-1988)
• Little Rosie (1990–1991)
• The Littles (1983–1986)
• Lizzie McGuire (2001–2004; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• Lloyd in Space (2001–2002)
• Madeline (1995-1996)
• Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action! (2001–2002)
• Matty's Funday Funnies (1960-1962)
• Menudo on ABC (1983-1985)
• The Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1959)
• Mickey Mouse Works (1998–2001)
• Mighty Ducks (1996–1997)
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (reruns of the 1993-1996 Fox Kids series) (2010)
• Mighty Orbots (1984-1985)
• Milton the Monster (1965-1968)
• Mission: Magic! (1973-1974)
• Monchichis (1983-1984)
• The Monkees (1972–1973; repeats of the 1966-1968 NBC series)
• Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (1982-1983)
• The Mumbly Cartoon Show (1976-1977)
• My Pet Monster (1987-1988)
• NBA Inside Stuff (2002-2005)
• The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974-1977)
• The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–2002)
• The New Casper Cartoon Show (1963-1970)
• New Kids on the Block (1990-1991)
• Nightmare Ned (1997)
• The Oddball Couple (1975-1977)
• One Saturday Morning (1997–2002)
• The Osmonds (1972-1974)
• Pac-Man (1982–1984)
• Pepper Ann (1997–2000)
• Peter Potamus (new episodes combined with repeats of the 1964 syndicated series) (1966-1967)
• Phil of the Future (2004–2006; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• The Pirates of Dark Water (1991-1992)
• The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (1979-1981)
• Pound Puppies (1986–1988)
• Power Rangers: Dino Thunder (2004)
• Power Rangers: Jungle Fury (2008)
• Power Rangers: Mystic Force (2006)
• Power Rangers: Ninja Storm (2003)
• Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive (2007)
• Power Rangers: RPM (2009)
• Power Rangers: S.P.D. (2005)
• Power Rangers: Wild Force (2002)
• The Proud Family (2002–2006; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• The Puppy's Further Adventures (1982-1984)
• The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991)
• ReBoot (1994–1995)
• Recess (1997–2001)
• The Replacements (TV series) (2006-2011; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• Richie Rich (1980–1983)
• Rocky and Bullwinkle (1959-1961; 1964-1973)
• Rubik, the Amazing Cube (1983-1985)
• Sabrina: The Animated Series (1999–2001)
• Schoolhouse Rock (1973–1986; 1992–2000)
• Science Court (1997–1998)
• All Scooby-Doo series from The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour to A Pup Named Scooby Doo (1976-1986, 1988-1991)
• Skyhawks (1969-1971)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (1993–1994)
• Spider-Man (1967-1970)
• Spider-Woman (1979-1980)
• Squigglevision (1998–1999)
• The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005-2011; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• Super Friends (1973–1986)
• Tales From the Cryptkeeper (1993–1994)
• Teacher's Pet (2000–2002)
• Teamo Supremo (2001–2003)
• Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales (repeats of the 1963 CBS series) (1966)
• That's So Raven (2004-2011; reruns of Disney Channel series)
• These Are the Days (1974-1976)
• Thundarr the Barbarian (1980-1982)
• The Tom and Jerry Show (1975-1977)
• Top Cat (repeats of the 1961-1962 primetime series) (1962-1963)
• Turbo Teen (1984–1985)
• Uncle Croc's Block (1975-1976)
• The Weekenders (2000–2001)
• What-a-Mess (1995–1996)
• Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa (1992–1994)
• Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down? (1970-1972)
• W.I.T.C.H. (2006; reruns of 2004-2006 Toon Disney series)
• The Wizard of Oz (1990–1991)
• Wolf Rock TV (1984)
• The Wuzzles (repeats of the 1985-1986 CBS series) (1986-1987)
• Yogi's Gang (1973-1975)

1973-1997 (the Schoolhouse Rock! era)

The crown jewel of its children's programming lineup was the award-winning Schoolhouse Rock! which aired beginning in 1973 and was finally retired in 1999.

During the latter half of the show's run, and for at most until a year after it was canceled (1995), short 30-second segments from America's Funniest People (known as America's Funniest Kids) ran in commercial breaks during ABC's Saturday morning lineup. These would usually consist of excerpts from longer segments, usually featuring young kids telling jokes or engaging in stunts.

More Cool TV (1991-1992)

Midway through the 1991-92 season, around the same time that ABC's I Love Saturday Night (a block that was inspired by the success of ABC's Friday night TGIF sitcom block) was tried, executive producer/TGIF creator Jim Janicek also brought the hosted programming block format to Saturday mornings, under the title MCTV (More Cool TV). Live action stars of the Saturday morning lineup, most notably including the cast of ABC's Land of the Lost revival, hosted interstitials every half hour. The MCTV segments at times were several seconds shorter than those shot for TGIF and I Love Saturday Night. While an opening sequence and custom last-segment show bumpers were included, the theme music used was the instrumental version of ABC's 1991 America's Watching campaign. Running from January through September 1992, MCTV was soon abandoned, although not as quickly as I Love Saturday Night.

See also

• 1960–1961 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1961–1962 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1962–1963 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1963–1964 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1964–1965 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1965–1966 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1966–1967 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1967–1968 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1968–1969 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1969–1970 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1970–1971 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1971–1972 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1972–1973 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1973–1974 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1974–1975 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1975–1976 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1976–1977 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1977–1978 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1978–1979 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1979–1980 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1980–1981 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1981–1982 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1982–1983 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1983–1984 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1984–1985 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1985–1986 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1986–1987 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1987–1988 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1988–1989 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1989–1990 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1990–1991 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1991–1992 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1992–1993 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1993–1994 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1994–1995 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1995–1996 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1996–1997 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)

Disney's One Saturday Morning (1997–2002)

Following ABC's sale to Disney, the network's content produced by its new owners would increase; this also included the animated and/or live-action children's programming.

On September 13, 1997, Disney's One Saturday Morning was created as a two hour block on the ABC Saturday Morning lineup, and originally featured some of the shows that had aired on it.^[1] It was originally scheduled for September 6, 1997, but due to ABC and all the other networks airing Princess Diana's funeral that day, It was pushed back a week later. In 1999 it was extended to 5 hours. On September 6, 1999 a spin-off, Disney's One Too, aired on UPN and in syndication every weekday in the morning or afternoon and Sunday morning.^[2] One Saturday Morning was last aired on September 7, 2002 (by this time it had simply become bumpers and promos, they had dropped the segments and hosting in 2000). Since Fox Kids was bought by Disney, 4Kids Entertainment took over the block as: "Fox Box" and Disney changed the block from: Disney's One Saturday Morning, to ABC Kids, at exactly the same day when Fox Kids was taken over.^[3]

During the introduction to One Saturday Morning as well as other introductions on the block, a tiny lightbulb icon would appear in a bottom corner of the screen and an announcer would say, "Illuminating Television," stating the programming block's educational programming. The lightbulb's chain would be pulled by a hand and the lightbulb would have an animation (turning into a rocket, falling into a garbage can, jumping in a pool) etc.

List of programs

101 Dalmatians: The Series (TV-Y) The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show (Continued from earlier ABC Saturday morning blocks TV-G, 1986–2000) Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (TV-Y7-FV) Disney's Doug (TV-Y) Even Stevens (on the Zoog hour, TV-G) Fillmore! (TV-Y7-FV)

Hercules: The Animated Series (TV-Y) House of Mouse (TV-Y) Jungle Cubs (TV-Y) Lizzie McGuire (on the Zoog hour, TV-G) Lloyd In Space (TV-Y7) Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action (TV-Y7) Mickey Mouse Works (TV-Y) The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (TV-Y) Pepper Ann (TV-Y, 1997–2001)

Recess (TV-Y, 1997–2001) Sabrina: The Animated Series (TV-Y7) (now shown on Cookie Jar TV) School House Rock (TV-G) Science Court (TV-Y, later-on known as Squigglevision, 1997–1999) Teacher's Pet (TV-Y) The Weekenders (TV-Y)

See also

• 1997–1998 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1998–1999 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)
• 1999–2000 United States network television schedule (Saturday morning)

ABC Kids (2002–2011)

In 2001, ABC began a deal with sister network Disney Channel to air its original programming. On September 14, 2002, One Saturday Morning was rebranded as ABC Kids. The block formally contained new programs, but in the present, most ABC Kids programming are reruns of Disney Channel originals (excluding Power Rangers).,^[3] such as Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens but has since grown to take up the entire lineup. None of Disney Channel's current first-run offerings (other than Hannah Montana, though episodes of that show are only reruns from its first season) air on the ABC Kids block.

Power Rangers

Power Rangers was previously aired on Fox Kids until midway through Wild Force. Starting with the Power Rangers Wild Force episode "Unfinished Business", Power Rangers moved to ABC Kids for the 2002 Fall season following of the Fox Family Channel/Saban Entertainment purchase by Disney, and Power Rangers has since aired on ABC. The remainder of the Wild Force season and all of the following Ninja Storm season were premiered on ABC Kids and then re-run later on Jetix. The Dino Thunder, S.P.D., Mystic Force, Operation Overdrive and Jungle Fury seasons all were premiered on Jetix and then re-run later on ABC Kids. The final Disney season, RPM, aired exclusively on ABC Kids.

With the rise of federally-mandated E/I programming guidelines, some of the network's affiliate groups, mainly Hearst Television and Allbritton Communications, refuse to carry the Power Rangers series in order to instead free up time to air locally slotted programming. However, some stations air Power Rangers episodes time shifted either to very early in the morning Saturday, before that week's "live" block begins, or to Sunday, often before local news or Good Morning America. Power Rangers will end airing on ABC Kids in 2010 after it was announced that Saban bought back the rights to the franchise from Disney and has plans to premiere a new season (not yet named) on Nickelodeon with encores of that new season and the older seasons airing on Nicktoons.^[4]

Aside from counting the yearly changes to Power Rangers, the block has not refreshed its lineup for three seasons, making it the only block to not order a new package of shows for its fall Saturday morning season.

Other scheduling issues

• KITV (Channel 4), the ABC affiliate in Honolulu, and in turn the entirety of the state of Hawaii, airs the first six shows of the ABC Kids lineup over three weekdays (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Two shows are aired each day from 11 a.m.-12 Noon, preceding ABC's soap opera lineup. This is because of ABC's Saturday afternoon sports coverage, which due to Hawaii-Aleutian Time, airs live five hours behind Eastern Time (six hours during Daylight Savings Time; Hawaii is on Standard Time year-round) in the late morning (for instance, a 3:30 p.m. EDT college football game kicking off at 9:30 a.m. HAST) and early afternoons for the primetime game, thus pre-empting ABC Kids and forcing the shows to air elsewhere on the schedule.
• During the college football season, ABC affiliates in the Pacific Time Zone will often realign programming if there is an ESPN College Football game that starts at 9 AM PT, as a noon ET game is often scheduled. Some affiliates will move the ABC Kids programming to Sunday mornings, but ESPN NASCAR Countdown is usually pre-empted; starting in 2010, ABC's schedule on Sunday mornings will have ESPN NASCAR Countdown at 9 AM PT (except for the Fontana (PT), Phoenix (MT), and Charlotte (Saturday) races) as all non-MT/PT races will start at 10 AM PT; the Fontana and Phoenix broadcasts start at 11 AM PT.

Litton's Weekend Adventure (2011–present)

On September 3, 2011, ABC Kids was replaced by a new Saturday morning block titled Litton's Weekend Adventure, the production of which was outsourced to Litton Entertainment.^[5][6][7] Concurrently, ABC sister network Disney Channel launched its own block of Saturday morning cartoons, Toonin' Saturdays, which debuted on June 18, 2011.

Saturday morning preview specials

Main article: Saturday morning preview specials

• 1972 - Preview Special (hosted by The Brady Kids from The Brady Bunch)
• 1973 - Sneak Peek (hosted by Avery Schreiber and Jack Burns)
• 1974 - Funshine Saturday (hosted by Lee Majors from The Six Million Dollar Man)
• 1975 - Funshine Saturday (hosted by Jim Nabors and Ruth Buzzi from The Lost Saucer)
• 1976 - Sneak Peek (hosted by Jimmy Osmond; featuring Chris Kirby, Dick Clark, Kaptain Kool and the Kongs, Marty Allen and The Osmonds)
• 1977 - All-Star Saturday (hosted by Kaptain Kool and the Kongs; featuring Lennie Weinrib, Meadowlark Lemon, Robert Hegyes, Shaun Cassidy and The Krofftettes)
• 1978 - All-Star Saturday (hosted by Jimmy McNichol and Kristy McNichol; featuring Adam Rich, Danielle Spencer, Donny Most, Donny Osmond, Haywood Nelson, Joey Travolta and Maurice Gibb)
• 1982 - Pac Preview Party (hosted by Dick Clark)
• 1983 - (hosted by Dick Clark)
• 1984 - Preview Park (hosted by "Weird Al" Yankovic, featuring Wolfman Jack, Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo)
• 1985 - Saturday Sneak Peek & Fun Fit Test (hosted by Tony Danza; featuring the droids of Star Wars)
• 1988 - (hosted by cast of Mr. Belvedere)
• 1989 - Perfectly Strange Saturday Morning Preview (hosted by cast of Perfect Strangers)
• 1990 - (hosted by Roseanne Barr and cast of Family Matters)
• 1991 - (hosted by cast of Family Matters)
• 1992 - (hosted by cast of Step by Step)
• 1993 - (hosted by cast of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper)
• 1994 - Whole New Level of Fun (hosted by cast of Boy Meets World)
• 1995 - Saturday Morning Jam (hosted by Gary Owens, Marquise Wilson, Raven Symone and Zachery Ty Bryan)
• 1996 - Preview Party (hosted by Melissa Joan Hart from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; featuring Ian Ziering and the casts of Bone Chillers and Flash Forward)
• 1997 - One Saturday Morning (hosted by Charlie, played by Jessica Prunell)
• 1998 - One Saturday Morning on Friday Night (hosted by Meme, played by Valarie Rae Miller and Salem from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch)
• 1999 - One Saturday Morning on Friday Night (hosted by Meme, played by Valarie Rae Miller)

References

1. ^ Grove, Christopher (August 29, 1997). "Webs roll out season geared to kids". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1116678415.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=. Retrieved 2009-08-13. 
2. ^ Pursell, Chris (July 19, 1999). "Mouse brands UPN kidvid". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117743063.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=. Retrieved 2009-08-13. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Bernstein, Paula (September 29, 2002). "Kid skeds tread on joint strategy". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117873477.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=. Retrieved 2009-08-13. 
4. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (2010-05-12). "Saban re-acquires rights to 'Rangers' - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety". http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118019212.html?categoryid=14&cs=1. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
5. ^ ABC to Premiere ABC Weekend Adventure on Sept. 3, Broadcasting & Cable, May 24, 2011
6. ^ Litton Announces "ABC Weekend Adventure", Business Wire, May 24, 2011
7. ^ Litton To Supply Kids Block For ABC Stations, TV News Check, May 24, 2011

External links

• Saturday Morning Cartoons on ABC - Google Image Search
  • Google Video Search