1.) Why has there been three versions of the theme song. And how come the
early one (that began with the line "Friends are there to help you get
started") and the later one (a cool rap version) don't appear on the
reruns airing on Turner's Networks and in sydication?
2.) I found a 1988 TV special called "Happy Birthday, Garfield" hosted by
creator, Jim Davis, to celebrate Garfield's 10th Birthday, and he talks
about a Garfield feature film called "Garfield's Judgement Day" and they
also play a song from the "movie" (if I recall, it is about the care-free
life of pets). What happened ever to it? Will we ever see this?
3.) Where can I find a complete "Garfield and Friends" episode guide? or
doesn't one exist? We'd love to see it.
4.) Any plans to bring Garfield back to CBS Saturdays? CBS pulled the show
off the air this season, but we have our fingers crossed for new seasons!
5.) Any other "Garfield" and "U.S. Acres" animated stuff planned for
release? (like prime time specials, video releases, etc?)
Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide answers.
-Jon
"What would the world be like without humor?" -Orson
"A lot like cable TV" -Wade
I'm a big Garfield fan (as well as Tiny Toon Adventures).
We used to have the great pleasure of Mark Evanier (the writer of nearly all
the Garfield & Friends shorts) participating on this newsgroup. For some reason,
he has been quiet for the past three months. I've heard a rumor that he may be
working an assignment at Warner Bros Animation -- a studio known for requiring
most employees to sign non-disclosure contracts. That is, employees must have
approval from the public affairs dept in order to answer questions and such.
>1.) Why has there been three versions of the theme song. And how come the
>early one (that began with the line "Friends are there to help you get
>started") and the later one (a cool rap version) don't appear on the
>reruns airing on Turner's Networks and in sydication?
I don't know the history of the three theme songs. However, when an one hour
show is repackaged into half-hour shows, the production company will choose one
standard theme and trailing credits for use in the new packaging. This just
makes it easier and allows mixing shorts from various seasons.
>3.) Where can I find a complete "Garfield and Friends" episode guide? or
>doesn't one exist? We'd love to see it.
I would love to see one as well. Mr Evanier had planned to post one awhile
ago, but it looks like we will have to look elsewhere.
>4.) Any plans to bring Garfield back to CBS Saturdays? CBS pulled the
show
>off the air this season, but we have our fingers crossed for new
seasons!
Rumor has it that negotiations are in process for new Garfield
episodes. It is likely they will appear on CBS.
>5.) Any other "Garfield" and "U.S. Acres" animated stuff planned for
>release? (like prime time specials, video releases, etc?)
Negotiations are in process for releasing Garfield episodes on
video in the States. If you have a PAL format capable VCR, you can
obtain Garfield & Friends videos from England. Some of the specials
are available on video.
Cheers - Mike
--
Staying Tiny Toon'd,
Michael Russell, I/T Architect (Multimedia, AS/400, and AIX)
IBM's ISSC Consulting Group michael...@vnet.ibm.com
Orlando, FL mrus...@ix.netcom.com
: >1.) Why has there been three versions of the theme song. And how come the
: >early one (that began with the line "Friends are there to help you get
: >started") and the later one (a cool rap version) don't appear on the
: >reruns airing on Turner's Networks and in sydication?
Manohman, do I miss the Friends song. The second version was OK. The
third song I didn't particularly care for. (And if I remember the
discussions at the time, neither did ME.)
: >3.) Where can I find a complete "Garfield and Friends" episode guide? or
: >doesn't one exist? We'd love to see it.
: I would love to see one as well. Mr Evanier had planned to post one awhile
: ago, but it looks like we will have to look elsewhere.
Yup, I've been looking for one for awhile. I could put together a
listing of all the episodes I have on tape. It wouldn't be complete, but it
would contain MOST of them. It would be a start. =)
: >4.) Any plans to bring Garfield back to CBS Saturdays? CBS pulled the
: show
: >off the air this season, but we have our fingers crossed for new
: seasons!
: Rumor has it that negotiations are in process for new Garfield
: episodes. It is likely they will appear on CBS.
ME wrote in his column in the Comics Buyer's Guide that he was at Disney
with Jim Davis, but never revealed why. I was hoping he was going to
announce something in that column, but instead stuck with other facets of
the trip, including the lost luggage of hell. =)
I would imagine CBS would be announcing its new fall lineup soon, since
ABC just did.
-Augie, misses G&F, too
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Augie De Blieck Jr. - "An army of ninjas versus a Mortal Kombat player
au...@nic.com - who think Emperor Shakhan is an orangutan."
adeb...@drew.edu - "Bet on the boy." -Impulse #11 [Mark Waid]
ME: I'm here. I've been travelling and working hard and having my
house remodelled so I haven't been on-line as much as I used to be.
I haven't signed any non-disclosure contract with anyone. The folks
doing the new SUPERMAN show have asked me to write a few episodes of
the show and I've tentatively agreed to do one or two. We're meeting
for lunch tomorrow to discuss this. That's the only work I'm doing for
Warner Bros Animation.
>I don't know the history of the three theme songs. However, when a
>one hour show is repackaged into half-hour shows, the production
>company will choose one standard theme and trailing credits for use in
>the new packaging. This just makes it easier and allows mixing shorts
>from various seasons.
ME: I don't think they mixed any shorts or even moved any around. The
hours were all formatted as two half-hours from the start so it was
just a matter of changing the opening titles on some, changing the
closing credits on all, and adding or deleting some of the short
blackouts to fit the different time requirements for a syndicated
half-hour. (Incidentally, the voice credits on some of the half-hours
are wrong.)
>Rumor has it that negotiations are in process for new Garfield
>episodes. It is likely they will appear on CBS.
ME: As I said in another message, a new show is being discussed but not
for '96. We'd like to stay on CBS if it's at all possible.
ME: Well, what happened was that a number of folks involved with the
show didn't like the first one so at some point, around about the third
season I think, we came up with the second one. Then, during our
seventh season, the first 73 episodes were put into syndication by the
Program Exchange and they wanted the same opening on all the
shows...and picked the second song. After those 73 shows were all
reformatted and duped for Program Exchange, CBS came back to us and
said, "We don't want the same opening on the new shows that's on the
syndicated reruns." So we came up with the third opening, which I
never particularly liked. Simple?
>2.) I found a 1988 TV special called "Happy Birthday, Garfield" hosted
>by creator, Jim Davis, to celebrate Garfield's 10th Birthday, and he
>talks about a Garfield feature film called "Garfield's Judgement Day"
>and they also play a song from the "movie" (if I recall, it is about
>the care-free life of pets). What happened ever to it? Will we ever
>see this?
ME: Nope. Jim changed his mind about it. I believe the script was
adapted into a book that was released...but "Judgement Day" will
probably not be made. There is a Garfield movie in the works but with
a different plot.
>3.) Where can I find a complete "Garfield and Friends" episode guide?
>or doesn't one exist? We'd love to see it.
ME: I have one and I'll upload it here in the next day or so.
>4.) Any plans to bring Garfield back to CBS Saturdays? CBS pulled the
>show off the air this season, but we have our fingers crossed for new
>seasons!
ME: We're in discussions about a new Garfield series but it won't be on
CBS this Fall. I am, however, doing another show for CBS, which I'll
be able to announce in a week or so.
>5.) Any other "Garfield" and "U.S. Acres" animated stuff planned for
>release? (like prime time specials, video releases, etc?)
ME: Nothing planned right now apart from what's mentioned above...and
there is a deal looming for video releases. I wish they'd hurry,
'cause I could use the money.
Hope this answers all your queries. If you have others, just ask.
I've been on and off the 'net here lately so I'm sorry if I missed any
others.
Mark posted it here in this group just a few days ago.
JOE BEV
joe...@netvoyage.net
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