Lego plans reality TV show

[mvcg66b3r]

After The Lego Movie, watch out for the Lego reality TV show. The Danish toymaker is following the global success of its foray into Hollywood films with a move into TV next year.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/14/lego-reality-tv-show-lego-movie-batman

 

[Avid Listener]

That's just wrong.

 

[CTListener]

That's just wrong.

Not sure how old you are, but I was a kid during the mid-'60s, when a kids game show called "Shenanigans" aired on ABC on Saturday morning for a season or two. The show's whole purpose was to sell Milton Bradley games, including one based on the show. Similarly, "Linus the Lionhearted," a cartoon series, sold Post cereals -- Linus himself was on the Post Crispy Critters box, and a secondary cartoon on the show featured Hashimoto, a Japanese mouse, who also was the spokes-animal for Post's Rice Krinkles. Eventually, that sort of programming was banned. Would the same rules apply if Lego were to try to launch its reality show here? I gather the rules are different in Europe.

 

[JeffM]

Actually, the mascot character for Rice Krinkles was a little Chinese boy named So-Hi, but he did appear on the Linus show along with Sugar Bear (Sugar Crisp, now called Golden Crisp) and Lovable Truly the Post-man (then mascot for Alpha-Bits.)

Hashimoto, who originally appeared in Terrytoons' theatrical movie cartoons from the late 1950's on, appeared in one of Terrytoons' TV packages; either the Deputy Dawg Show or the Hector Heathcoat Show.

Of course in the 80's there were dozens of toy-spinoff TV cartoons, from He-Man and Transformers to Rainbow Brite and My Little Pony.

 

[Unregistered]

It'll probably be picked up by ABC, home of all pop culture gimmick series (see also: "Selfie", "Caveman").

 

[Avid Listener]

Eventually, that sort of programming was banned. Would the same rules apply if Lego were to try to launch its reality show here? I gather the rules are different in Europe.

I don't care much about rules or regulations. I just find mixing animated Legos and a reality show to be one of those things that are purely wrong entirely on their own. There are some things that simply should not ever be, like Kim Kardashian hosting Jeopardy, or a solid body, carved-top Les Paul ukulele with dual humbuckers, or a statue of Mother Teresa made entirely of chopped liver. There is no need to explain why such things are wrong, they're just wrong.

 

[ixnay]

Not sure how old you are, but I was a kid during the mid-'60s, when a kids game show called "Shenanigans" aired on ABC on Saturday morning for a season or two. The show's whole purpose was to sell Milton Bradley games, including one based on the show.

I watched "Shenanigans" (it was on ABC IIRC) and had a "Shenanigans" board game (dunno how many shenaniganzas it cost my parents).

Similarly, "Linus the Lionhearted," a cartoon series, sold Post cereals -- Linus himself was on the Post Crispy Critters box, and a secondary cartoon on the show featured Hashimoto, a Japanese mouse, who also was the spokes-animal for Post's Rice Krinkles. Eventually, that sort of programming was banned.

How Linus the Lionhearted had 1/50th the staying power of Linus the stringy haired, thumb sucking, blanket carrying philosopher (who's preparing for his annual foray to the pumpkin patch), I do not know. But I miss Crispy Critters and Alpha Bits. Don't remember ever having Rice Krinkles, though.

ixnay

 

[CTListener]

I watched "Shenanigans" (it was on ABC IIRC) and had a "Shenanigans" board game (dunno how many shenaniganzas it cost my parents).



How Linus the Lionhearted had 1/50th the staying power of Linus the stringy haired, thumb sucking, blanket carrying philosopher (who's preparing for his annual foray to the pumpkin patch), I do not know. But I miss Crispy Critters and Alpha Bits. Don't remember ever having Rice Krinkles, though.

ixnay

I had the Shenanigans board game, too. In fact, I wrote to Channel 7 in Boston asking if I could be on the show, only to get a form letter back from Heatter-Quigley Productions in California telling me the show originated there. They did send along an autographed photo of the host, Stubby Kaye, though. Alas, it is long gone.

Incidentally, the voice of Linus the Lionhearted was none other than Carl Reiner. My favorite character on the show, next to Linus, was Sasha Grouse, one of the few not associated with a cereal. It was Sasha you saw sweeping up the spotlight during the closing theme and credits. "Lionhearted friendships don't end ... We'll all be back and then ... Linus and his friends will go ... on with the show agaaaaaiiiinnnn!"

 

[JeffM]

Actually, Sheldon Leonard was the voice of Linus the Lionhearted, in his uniquely Damon Runyonesque style. Carl Reiner was Billy the Bird, and I believe also Sasha Grouse. "Linus" had a terrific voice cast, with Ruth Buzzi (notably as Granny Goodwitch in the Sugar Bear segments) and Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara playing various supporting roles.

 

[Avid Listener]

Actually, Sheldon Leonard was the voice of Linus the Lionhearted, in his uniquely Damon Runyonesque style. Carl Reiner was Billy the Bird, and I believe also Sasha Grouse. "Linus" had a terrific voice cast, with Ruth Buzzi (notably as Granny Goodwitch in the Sugar Bear segments) and Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara playing various supporting roles.

It's all on IMDB.