Remember that one day when you could wake up without an alarm? When you would get your favorite bowl of cereal and sit between the hours of 8 and 12? This is a blog dedicated to the greatest time of our childhood: Saturday mornings. The television programs you watched, the memories attached to them, and maybe introducing you to something you didn't realize existed. Updated every weekend.
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Best known for retooling Good Morning, Miss Bliss into the successful Saved by the Bell franchise, for which he also produced and wrote, leading to the creation of the Teen NBC programming block. He also served as executive producer on California Dreams, Saved by the Bell: The New Class (appearing as Murray on an episode), Hang Time (appearing as The Commissioner on an episode), One World, and City Guys (which he created).
Our annual tribute of those we lost this past year that helped bring our Saturday mornings to life. You may not recognize all of their faces and names, but these are some of the people we have to thank. Notice any we may have missed? Let us know.
Jennell Jaquays (January 10) – Game designer, artist
and writer. She worked on the original Donkey Kong, which served as the
basis for the animated series.
Reid Harrison (January 15) – Writer and producer.
Wrote for Pinky and the Brain, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!, Alvinnn!!!
And the Chipmunks, and Sonic Boom.
Martin Forte (January 18) – Background artist. Worked
on Journey to the Center of the Earth (1967), The Superman/Aquaman
Hour of Adventure, The Archie Show, The Adventures of Batman, Fantastic Voyage,
Joise and the Pussycats, The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, The Flintstone Comedy
Hour, Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979), Casper
and the Angels, The New Shmoo, Godzilla (1978), The Super Globetrotters,
The Flintstone Comedy Show, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, The Kwicky Koala
Show, Super Friends, The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show, Space Stars, Trolkins,
The Smurfs (1981), Shirt Tales, The Gary Coleman Show, Pac-Man, The New
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, The Flintstone
Kids, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Captain Planet
and the Planeteers.
Jean-Guy Jacques (January 24) – Animator, actor,
sheet timer and director. He was a supervising director on Zazoo U and
directed an episode of Garfield and Friends.
David Mink (January 27) – Artist. Worked as a layout
artist on Beany and Cecil (1988); prop designer on The New Adventures
of Winnie the Pooh, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987),
Aladdin, Gargoyles and Pinky and the Brain; character designer on The
Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries; and storyboard artist on Detention
and The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries.
Mark Gustafson (February 1) – Animator and director.
Credited with the concept that was turned into The California Raisins
animated series.
Carl Weathers (February 2) – Actor. Played Omnitraxus
Prime and provided additional voices for Star
vs. the Forces of Evil.
Alain Dorval (February 13) – Actor. Provided the
French dubs for Pete in Goof Troop and Lex Luthor in Superman: The
Animated Series.
Kent Melton (February 22) – Character sculptor. He
designed characters and props for The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed
Grimley and character-based sculptures for Tiny Toon Adventures.
Ramona Fradon (February 24) – Comic book artist that
primarily worked for DC Comics. She co-created Metamorpho, Simon Stagg and
Sapphire Stagg, who all appeared in Beware the Batman (with the former
also in Young Justice). She also drew most of the Super Friends
tie-in comic series, an issue of Archie Comics’ Sonic the Hedgehog, and
two issues of SpongeBob Comics.
Richard Lewis (February 27) – Actor, writer and
comedian. He guest-starred as Neurosis in Hercules: The Animated Series
and as Buddy in Pound Puppies (2010).
Janice Burgess (March 2) – Writer, producer and
Nickelodeon executive known for creating The Backyardigans. Once
production wrapped on that show, she transitioned over to the Winx Club
revival as a writer, story editor and creative consultant.
Mark Dodson (March 2) – Actor. Voiced Professor
Moliarty’s Henchmoles in Darkwing Duck.
Gloria Palter (March 8) – Animation checker. Worked
on Men in Black: The Series, Godzilla: The Series and Skunk Fu!
M. Emmet Walsh (March 19) – Actor. Starred as Rocco
in “The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn” episode of ABC Weekend
Specials; Mack in Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot; Jeb in an episode
of What’s New, Scooby-Doo?; and Olaf in Pound Puppies (2010).
Kathleen Barnes (March 20) – Writer. She worked on The
Secrets of Isis, Tarzan Lord of the Jungle, The New Archie/Sabrina Hour, Space
Sentinels, Godzilla (1978), and Space Stars, for which she also
served as story editor.
Mark Blankfield (March 20) – Actor, writer and
singer. Appeared as James the actor on two episodes of Saved by the Bell
(1989) and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.
Eli Noyes (March 23) – Animator best-known for his
work in stop motion using clay and sand. He created the Sand Alphabet
shorts, which taught children letters through stop-motion animated sand, that
aired on Sesame Street from 1973 until 2001.
Lou Gossett Jr. (March 28) – Actor. Played Commander
Clash in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Chiron in Hercules: The
Animated Series, and Lucius Fox in The Batman (2004).
Joe Flaherty (April 1) – Actor, writer and comedian.
Best known for his tenure on sketch comedy series SCTV, where he
originated the parody character of vampiric horror movie host Count Floyd. He
reprised the character in live-action segments of The Completely Mental
Misadventures of Ed Grimley.
Harry Sabin (April 15) – Actor and artist. He was the
key character designer on Camp Candy.
Curtis James Crawford (April 27) – Animator, writer,
filmmaker and producer. He was a supervising director on Doug; animation
supervisor on Dennis the Menace (1986); overseas animation supervisor on
Alvin & the Chipmunks (1983); animator on The Raccoons; and
storyboard artist on Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
Roger Corman (May 9) – Director, producer and actor.
Known as “King of the Bs”, he was notable for making independent films on a
small budget that wound up becoming cult classics and giving many established
actors their big breaks. His 1960 horror comedy film, The Little Shop of
Horrors, was adapted in the 1991 animated series Little Shop on
which Corman served as a consultant.
Peter Bennett (May 17) – Artist. He worked as a
background painter on ChalkZone and SpongeBob SquarePants, and
also became art director for SpongeBob and its spinoffs. He was a
contributing artist to some of SpongeBob’s comics as well.
Dabney Coleman (May 17) – Actor. Voiced Horace Scope
in an episode of The Magic School Bus, played Principal Peter Prickly in
the Recess franchise, and played the mayor in several episodes of Pound
Puppies (2010).
Darryl Hickman (May 22) – Actor, writer, executive
and acting coach whose career began in the Golden Age of Hollywood. He played
Kid Comet in Space Stars; Pac-Junior in Pac-Man; Wags in The
Biskitts; Marbles and Hornet in Challenge of the GoBots; Roadie in Pole
Position; and Steve Trevor and additional voices in Super Friends.
He also provided additional voices for Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979),
Wildfire (1986), A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, and Superman
(1988).
Benji Gregory (June 13) – Actor. Best known for his
role in ALF, he played Andy in an episode of Pound Puppies (1987)
and Biff Jr. as well as provided additional voices for Back to the Future:
The Animated Series.
Étienne Willem (June 16) – Artist. Served as
storyboard supervisor for Dino Squad and Horseland.
Willie Mays (June 18) – Baseball player, regarded as
one of the greatest of all time. He voiced himself in the “Willie Mays and the
Say-Hey Kid” episode of The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie.
Taiki Matsuno (June 26) – Actor. Provided the
Japanese voices for Miguel in The Vision of Escaflowne and SpongeBob
SquarePants in SpongeBob SquarePants.
Martin Mull (June 27) – Actor, comedian and musician.
He voiced Paul Prickly in two episodes of Recess and Governor Kevin in Teamo
Supremo.
Tom Wyner (June 30) – Actor, writer and voice
director. He played the director, security guard and captain in an episode of The
Real Ghostbusters; Bones, Minotaur, Professor, Dark Warrior, Genie,
Spidertron, Frankenstein, TV announcer, Commander Crayfish, Doomstone, The
Plague Sentry and various voices in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers;
reprised The Plague Sentry for Masked Rider; Graxxis and Green Cannon
Machine in Big Bad Beetleborgs; Electrovolt, General Havoc and Goldgoyle
in Power Rangers Turbo; Dark Lord in Flint: The Time Detective;
Furio, Cannonbrawl and a PA announcer in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy;
Devimon, Principal Seiji Kurosawa, Devidramon, Catsuramon, Spikemin, Volcamon
and narrator in Digimon: Digital Monsters; Grimlock in Transformers:
Robots in Disguise (2001); Fatcatfish in Power Rangers Time Force;
and Plugma Org, Samurai Org and Lion Tamer Org in Power Rangers Wild Force.
He also wrote for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Flint: The Time Detective and
Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001).
James B. Sikking (July 13) – Actor. Played a foreman
and Harry in episodes of Batman Beyond.
Richard Simmons (July 13) – Fitness instructor and
television personality. Played Physedipus in Hercules: The Animated Series.
Whitney Rydbeck (July 15) – Actor, director and
cinematographer. Appeared as Professor Rundspock on an episode of Far Out
Space Nuts; Mr. Fenton on an episode of Big John, Little John;
Mr. Android on an episode of the Wonderbug segment of The Krofft Supershow;
a watchman on an episode of Monster Squad (1976); and a man in the
elevator on an episode of Fudge.
John Aprea (August 5) – Actor. Appeared as Mr. De
Luca in an episode of Saved by the Bell: The New Class.
Mitzi McCall (August 8) – Comedian, actor and writer.
She starred as Penny in The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show and The
Flintstone Comedy Hour; Elektra 6000, Shazalle and additional voices in The
Fonz and the Happy Days Gang; Miss Burns in Rick Moranis in Gravedale
High; Talula LaTrane in Yo Yogi!; Ammonia Pine in Darkwing Duck;
Mother Goose in Mother Goose and Grimm/Grimmy; Mame Slaughter in Captain
Planet and the Planeteers; and Golda Meir in Histeria! She also
provided additional voices in Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979), The
Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show, The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries, Snorks,
Bobby’s World and Monster in My Pocket: The Big Scream, which aired
as an episode of ABC Weekend Specials.
Rachael Lillis (August 10) – Actor and writer, best
known as the original English voice for Misty, Jesse, Violet, Darlet,
Jessebell, Yolanda, Tommy, Suzie, Tilly, Maylene, Kenny, Keanu, Alyssa, Gary’s
cheerleaders, Yuko (Hoenn), Vulpix, Goldeen, Jigglypuff, Beautifly, Horsea,
Poliwag, Torchic, Chansey, Blissey, Ditto, Ralts, Caserin, Luverin, Wigglytuff,
Ninetales, Jynx, Clamperl, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Surskit, Masquerain, Kirlia,
Gardevoir, Silcoon, Spoink, Swablu, Luvdisc and various other minor roles in
the first 8 seasons of Pokémon. She also voiced Adena’s Nursmaid and a
fairy in Yu-Gi-Oh!; Danny and a reporter in Sonic X; Tomoe Ame
and Lonae in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003); Ursula, Laura and Dr.
Reece Drake in Dinosaur King; Faragonda, Amaryl and Lucy in Winx Club;
Ms. Globular in Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures; and provided additional
voices in Mew Mew Power.
Peter Marshall (August 15) – Actor, writer and game
show host. Best known as the original long-serving host of Hollywood Squares,
he hosted a Saturday morning version called Storybook Squares in 1969.
Phil Donahue (August 18) – Media personality, writer
and producer credited with revolutionizing the talk show format. He appeared on
an episode of Sesame Street “covering” the revelation that Mr.
Snuffleupagus was real, and in two of their specials.
Nigel Lambert (September ?) – Actor. Played Mr. Curry
in The Adventures of Paddington Bear.
Brian Trueman (September 1) – Actor, writer and
broadcaster. He wrote for Thomas and Friends and Postman Pat.
Emi Shinohara (September 8) – Actor. Provided the
Japanese voices for Ayane/Dr. Abby and Aya in Pokémon; Kaho Mizuki/Layla
MacKenzie in Cardcaptors; and Judy Mizuhara/Judy Tate in Beyblade.
Philip Williams (September 8) – Actor. Played
Toulouse in Cadillacs and Dinosaurs; Banshee and Black Tom Cassidy in X-Men:
The Animated Series; Sailors, Geezer Tree #3, a sea captain, crew members,
Ash and additional voices in The Neverending Story; King’s Advisor and
sailor #1 in episodes of Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend; Ted
and Ant 2 in Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends; and Zell and Yug in Time
Warp Trio. He also provided additional voices for Wild C.A.T.s: Covert
Action Teams and Busy Town Mysteries.
James Earl Jones (September 9) – Actor, best known
for his signature deep voice that embodied Star Wars’ Darth Vader and The
Lion King’s Mufasa. Along with being considered the first celebrity guest
on Sesame Street, he made several more appearances later on, provided
the narration for “The Parsley Garden” episode of ABC Weekend Specials, played
Diablo in an episode of Garfield and Friends; and reprised the
role of Mufasa for The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar.
Tito Jackson (September 15) – Musician. He was a
founding member of the Jackson 5, who went on to have their own animated series
using his name and likeness, and his voice during song segments.
Elliot Field (September 23) – Actor. Played Nagira in
The Incredible Hulk (1982).
Michael Swanigan (September 24) – Artist. He designed
characters and was a supervising producer for The Mask: The Animated Series;
worked on storyboards for The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!, The New
Adventures of Zorro, The Incredible Hulk (1982), Pole Position, Fat Albert and the
Cosby Kids, Galtar and the Golden Lance, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling, Care
Bears, Foofur, ALF Tales, Dennis the Menace (1986), The Real
Ghostbusters, Superman (1988), Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Denver the
Last Dinosaur, Garfield and Friends, Tiny Toon Adventures, Camp Candy, The
Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, The Wizard of Oz, Captain N: The Game
Master, Swamp Thing (1991), ProStars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987),
Wish Kid, Defenders of Dynatron City, Captain Planet and the Planeteers,
Conan the Adventurer, Sonic the Hedgehog (1993), All-New Dennis the
Menace, X-Men: The Animated Series, Spider-Man: The Animated Series,
Darkstalkers, Ultraforce, Street Fighter: The Animated Series, Gargoyles,
Jungle Cubs, The Mask: The Animated Series, Men in Black: The Series, Silver
Surfer, Static Shock, X-Men: Evolution, Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd
Century, Stuart Little, Ozzy & Drix, Loonatics Unleashed, and Tutenstein; and was story
director on Saturday Supercade, Mister T, The Super Powers Team: Galactic
Guardians, and The Flintstone Kids.
Ken Page (September 30) – Actor. Best known as the
voice of Oogie Boogie in the Nightmare Before Christmas franchise, he
provided narration and voiced a man in an episode of All Grown Up!
Bob Foster (September 30) – Animator. He co-developed
Road Rovers; did layouts for Yogi’s Gang, Wheelie and the Chopper
Bunch, CB Bears, Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics, Yogi’s Space Race, Jana of the
Jungle, The New Shmoo, Godzilla (1978), Spider-Man and His Amazing
Friends, Meatballs and Spaghetti, The Incredible Hulk (1982), Dragon’s
Lair and Garfield and Friends; storyboards for Little Muppet
Monsters, The New Archies, Camp Candy, Little Shop, Garfield and Friends,
Superman: The Animated Series, Freakazoid!, Hercules: The Animated Series, Mickey
Mouseworks, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Xiaolin Showdown, Tutenstein, Tom
and Jerry Tales, and Captain Jake and the Never Land Pirates; was
story director for The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley;
and did models for Garfield and Friends.
Doc Harris (October 5) – Actor. He was the narrator
for Captain N: The Game Master; Guiji, Golem, Evil hare #1, Captain
Astro, Battle Rocks, Doctor and Zilla in Monster Rancher; Old Guard in
an episode of Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu; and Grogar in My Little
Pony: Friendship is Magic. He also provided voices for Camp Candy.
Brad Goodchild (October 18) – Storyboard artist,
production manager, director and animator. He was the overseas supervisor on Dog
City, Aladdin, Gargoyles, Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series, Pepper Ann, and
Hercules: The Animated Series; a storyboard artist on Star Wars: Droids,
Pepper Ann, Young Justice, Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, Transformers:
Rescue Bots, Where’s Waldo? (2019) and Hailey’s On It!; a designer
on The Magic School Bus; a unit manager on Beetlejuice: The Animated
Series; and a director on Pepper Ann.
Teri Garr (October 29) – Actor. She starred as Mary
McGinnis in the Batman Beyond franchise, and appeared as Amelia Adams in
an episode of Sesame Street; as herself in an episode of The Weird Al
Show; and Sandy Gordon in an episode of What’s New, Scooby-Doo?
Bob McKnight (November ?) – Animator. Worked as a
character layout artist on Tiny Toon Adventures; model designer and
storyboard artist on Animaniacs (1993); and did storyboards for Pinky
and the Brain and Mickey Mouse Works.
Alan Rachins (November 2) – Actor. Voiced The Clock
King, aka Temple Fugate, in Batman: The Animated Series and Norman
Osborn in The Spectacular Spider-Man.
Quincy Jones (November 3) – Music producer, arranger,
composer, conductor, bandleader and trumpeter whose recordings are credited
with revolutionizing music. He appeared on two episodes of Sesame Street.
Tony Todd (November 6) – Actor. Played Augustus
Freeman/Icon in Young Justice.
George Wilkins (November 9) – Composer. Provided
music for The All-New Popeye Hour and the ABC Weekend Specials
episode “The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin”.
Jan Browning (November 19) – Animation painter, inker
and checker. She worked as a checker on Gravedale High, Tom & Jerry Kids
Show, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures, The Pirates of Dark Water, Tiny
Toon Adventures and its films, Taz-Mania, Batman: The Animated Series
and its films, Animaniacs (1993), The Sylvester & Tweety
Mysteries, Pinky & the Brain, Superman: The Animated Series, Road Rovers,
Waynehead, Freakazoid!, Histeria!, Detention, Batman Beyond and its film,
Static Shock, Jackie Chan Adventures, What’s New Scooby-Doo?, Ozzy & Drix,
Xiaolin Showdown, Duck Dodgers, ¡Mucha Lucha!, The Batman (2004) and
its film, Loonatics Unleashed, Legion of Super Heroes, Shaggy &
Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!, Tom & Jerry Tales, Young Jusstice, Marvel’s
Spider-Man and Teen Titans GO! to the Movies. She was also a
background painter and final supervisor for SpongeBob SquarePants.
Andy Paley (November 20) – Prolific songwriter and
composer. Worked on Digimon: Digital Monsters and SpongeBob
SquarePants.
Earl Holliman (November 25) – Actor. Voiced Milton
in an episode of Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
Jim Abrahams (November 26) – Writer, producer and
director best known as part of the creative team behind the Naked Gun
film series and spoof films like Airplane! He was a writer on Big
John, Little John.
Morgan Lofting (November 27) – Actor. Played Aunt May
and Black Cat in Spider-Man (1981); Vera and Lexa in episodes of Jem;
and Fistina, Yetta and additional voices in Ben 10: Omniverse. She also
provided voices for Meatballs & Spaghetti.
Don Perro (December 1) – Animator and educator. Worked on The
Raccoons.
Daniel Ridgers (December 2) – Artist and animation
producer. He worked as a recording coordinator on Life with Louie and
was an associate producer on Mickey Mouse (2013).
Diane Delano (December 13) – Actor. Starred as Stompa
in Superman: The Animated Series; a cave girl in an episode of The
Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries; Officer Barry in 2 episodes of Saved
by the Bell: The New Class; Miss Berkely in an episode of The Zeta
Project; Ma Vreedle and Pretty Boy #1 in Ben 10: Omniverse; and
Devastation in 2 episodes of Young Justice.
Anita Bryant (December 16) – Singer and controversial
activist. She made several appearances on American Bandstand.
Chris “Dr.” Minz (December 16) – Artist. Worked as a layout artist on Star Wars: Droids, Beetlejuice: The Animated Series, Fievel’s American Tails, The Magic School Bus, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Neverending Story, The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police, and Tales from the Cryptkeeper; and an overseas supervisor on Ned’s Newt.
John Erwin (December 20) – Actor best known as the
original He-Man. He played Reggie Mantle in Filmation’s Archie franchise
based on the comics. He also played Reggie, Cousin Ambrose, Hexter, J.R.,
Humphrey and Hank in Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1970); Dick Tracy,
Alvin, Smokey Stover, Spooky, Gaylord Buzzard and various others in Archie’s
TV Funnies; Q and Slick in The New Archie/Sabrina Hour; Casey
Balloo in “The Horse That Played Center Field” episode of ABC Weekend
Specials; and Ronald Radford III and Clumpley in The Thing. He also
provided voices for Foofur.
Britt Allcroft (December 25) – Writer, producer,
director and actor. Responsible for adapting Wilbert Awdry’s The Railway
Series into the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends franchise; for
which she wrote, produced and acted in through its various incarnations and
spin-off films.
Olivia Hussey (December 27) – Actor. Played Queen
Gertrude in an episode of Pinky and the Brain and Talia Al Ghul in Superman:
The Animated Series and Batman Beyond.
Mike Toth (December 29) – Animator. He worked on The
Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!, Blackstar,
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, and The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro
Adventure Hour.
John Capodice (December 30) – Actor. Played Ceasar
Carlini and provided additional voices in Superman: The Animated Series.
Shigeko Doyle (??) – Ink and paint artist. Worked on Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), Toxic Crusaders, The Mask: The Animated
Series, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, and The Twisted Tales of
Felix the Cat.
Maurice Edwards (??) – Artist. He designed
backgrounds for Men in Black: The Series, Godzilla: The Series, The Batman (2004),
Loonatics Unleashed and Biker Mice from Mars (2006).
