ToonTalk

The guys discuss QuadCon Dubuque and chat about the "history" of the show, so far...

Robert and John are going LIVE! The ToonTalk Guys will appear at the Dubuque Quad Con Comic and Toy Show at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa, on October 2nd. Quad Con is Dubuque biggest Pop culture event! Stop by and see us! And listen in on our first ever LIVE podcast recording. Get more information at quadcitycon.com We hope to see you there!

Glamour. Glitter. Fashion. Fame. What more could you want in a cartoon? Quite a bit, actually! A rock star/music mogul/orphanage owner utilizes a hologram built by her dead father (based on her dead mother) to rise to stardom. There is a lot to unpack with this show. But is it truly, truly, truly, outrageous?

Can two supporting characters from a major movie trilogy carry a tv series? George Lucas took that bet when he put C-3PO and R2-D2 at the forefront of Star Wars: Droids. Turns out, the results are mixed, but it does have a heck of a theme song!

Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice, for 16 episodes of Hanna Barbera's Super Friends series, they expanded the hero roster and unleashed real comic book villains into the stories. How did this change hold up in hindsight? The answer may lie in the fact this was only one season. Find out how much the ‘Wonder Woman’ factor affects John’s score.

The Archie Show from 1969 had a significant impact on cartoons that follow over the next decade. What made this show so influential? What songs really held up? And why the heck do Archie and friends hang out with Reggie?

Another greeting card inspired cartoon, this time it is 1983’s Shirt Tales. Cute little animals who live in a tree and have access to a super-sonic transport plane and solve crimes. A cartoon that shone brightly yet briefly before quickly fading away.

Ooh, ooh, Mr. Peevly! Hanna-Barbera reheats a tried-and-true formula for 1975...and it works! Help!...Its’s The Hair Bear Bunch looks and feels like a classic cartoon that could have run for a couple of years, but somehow didn’t.

To quote John, “I may never forgive you for making me watch The Brady Kids.” Just how bad is this show from 1972? Here’s a hint, It makes Superman and Wonder Woman hard to watch. You don’t want to miss this discussion, including whether or not you should watch the spinoff.

What a difference four years makes. John and Robert look at the evolution of The Transformers (1984-87) from a cohesive story to a complete overhaul after the new toys are on the shelves. How does this classic from the 80’s hold up today? Have the guys ever gotten over the trauma of Transformers: The Movie?

Jinkies! An institution of Saturday mornings starts with 1969’s Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and the Toon Talk Guys are here for it. Lots of good, some bad, and maybe a little bias in this episode about a show that was originally rejected by CBS.

Created specifically to sell toys, 1984’s Rainbow Brite is an interesting study of what is and what will never be. Come for the discussion on if the Color Kids matter. Stay for a fun look at government regulations. The guys wonder if a horse can also be considered a jack-ass?

Let us tell you something, brother! The Toon Talk Guys dig into the WWF’s appeal to a younger audience with 1985’s Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. Say your prayers and take your vitamins - you may need them to deal with this show...Hear why Robert likes the intro to this show better than the actual show, and John finds a way to make a JFK/Zapruder Film reference.

For a series consisting of seven-minute shorts, there is A LOT to unpack when it comes to Tom and Jerry. We discuss the historic rise of the stalwart MGM cat and mouse duo from cinema shorts to their first television appearance in 1965 through 1972. AND they won an Oscar! Several actually.

Welcome to Toon Talk! It’s our first episode. The guys talk about the heyday of Saturday morning cartoons and look at the athletic prowess of the Hanna-Barbera heroes and underhanded tactics of the villains in Scooby’s All-Star Laff-a-lympics from 1977-78. Ever wonder why a pig would need an eye patch? John and Robert have an answer for you.