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Cartoon Network Dropping Gundam and Bebop? 316

Posted by CmdrTaco from the what-is-going-on-here dept.
Lhadatt was among several who noted unannounced changes in Cartoon Networks' anime lineup. It's easy to speculate that Mobile Suit Gundam and Cowboy Bebop were dropped because of Tuesday's terrorist attacks since each show has a fair amount of violence, but nobody really knows. You can see the evidence on Cartoon Network's Listings. Tonight, episode 5 of Bebop was scheduled to air: one of the best episodes, too.
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Cartoon Network Dropping Gundam and Bebop? More

Cartoon Network Dropping Gundam and Bebop?

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  • ??? (Score:1, Offtopic)

    by Robber Baron ( 112304 )
    And this is news because...?

    • Re:??? (Score:2, Insightful)

      by jayhawk88 ( 160512 )
      It's news because the creator of this web site is a big anime fan, and he felt like posting a story about it. Also because it shows a possible (regrettable) reaction to this tragedy, that may end up spreading to other forms of media, either through the pressure of the public or government regulation.

    • Re:??? (Score:1, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      It's news because we knew it would piss you off.
  • Do they think the terrorists were somehow subliminally influenced by Mobile Suit Gundam??? What's next on the ban list? Godzilla?

    • Do they think the terrorists were somehow subliminally influenced by Mobile Suit Gundam??? What's next on the ban list? Godzilla?


      Evangelion, of course.

      • Somebody on an anime message board pointed out that September 11 is also the date of Second Impact. Is there some kind of religious significance to that particular day?
  • The WB didn't show the last episode of Batman Beyond (ever) on Friday because its content was too similar to the attacks. Friday was the last day they will broadcast the series. All the episodes been sold to Cartoon Network except for the last one. Hopefully they (the WB) will reschedule it for sometime in the near future.

  • Cartoon Network was butchering Bebop to hell and back just to make it suitable for viewing under FCC guidelines. If you're that desperate to see Cowboy Bebop, rent it or borrow it if you can. It's a great series but doesn't deserve to be mangled by censors.

    • What the hell are you talking about? (Score:4, Informative)

      by DragonPup ( 302885 ) on Sunday September 16, 2001 @09:56AM (#2305377)
      I actually watched Bebop on CN, apparently unlike you. I also have the whole series on DVD. The ONLY 2 changes I have seen is the replacing of the word 'shit', and 'covering' the girls in porno mags(there was a porno mag in ep4). Other than that. nothing was changed so far. They even left the nasty messy headwound from episode 1 in.

      Please actually watch the series before acting like you do.
      -Henry

    • Re:Good for Bebop (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Harlockjds ( 463986 )
      eh the first 2 ep's hare very few edits and was edited less than it was when it was first shown in Japan (before it moved to the wowwow pay channel)
    • I have the first 5 episodes on DVD(DUB & SUB) and I watched these episodes immedeately after they were over on CN and the only edit made to episode one was when the old guys were playing cards for the second time in the episode, they edited the "god" out of "god-damn son of a bitch". Episode Two didn't have any edits and Eps 3 and 4 didn't have any other edits from what the above post said.
  • I mean, come on. I don't think the terrorists were watching cartoon network and got the idea to fly planes into various U.S. buildings. I think they're a little screwed up in the head, but it's definitely not cartoons. It's another one of those "Quake made my kid become a killing machine" stories...except this time, way out on a limb.

    • Re:What do cartoons have to do with terrorists? (Score:4, Offtopic)

      by AKA da JET ( 280057 ) on Sunday September 16, 2001 @10:10AM (#2305408) Homepage
      I don't watch much anime stuff. But I think its more out of respect for the victims and their families, not because they think it causes terrorism.
      • Most definately.

        If the tv exec's thought that watching something happen could actually cause someone to follow it, then I imagine we would see quite a different lineup for normal tv shows...

        Its the same way that it would be in bad taste for them to start showing a movie about terrorism and blowing up buildings -- since it just happened so soon... I mean, maybe they feel that they should at least bury the bodies before they get back to "normal" broadcasts..

        Of course, tv execs arn't known for their great morals.. it could also be that they dont want to cause media coverage to single in on their "in bad tastes" tv shows therefor showing negitave publicity.. so one way or the other, they arnt showing them b/c someone (or quite a few people) will be upset...

        ... and even though I love bebop and am anime Otaku I can't really blame them that much.
    • I have serious problems believing that Quake turns anyone into a killing machine, but I've always believed that the only thing I've learned from video games is to shoot the alien in the head three times with the rocket launcher.

      Still, I think this might be more about politeness than trying to warp young kid's minds. It's just bad form to show something like Die Hard the day after something like that. It might offend a lot of people and rightly so.

      Of course, if it's just a one week cancellation, that's fine, now killing a series of something is pushing it.
    • What we're experiencing is the beginning of what made the 1950's so "innocent".

      The horror of WWII made anything that wasn't "wholesome" unthinkable for public consumption. Prepare yourselves for at least a limited resurgence of this.

      I can't say I mind too much personally. I know where to find good entertainment (it's not on network television.)
    • I think that's hardly the point. Someone else already put it better that I can, so at the risk of being moderated redundant...

      It is about avoiding criticism for being insensitive to the viewers that might not really want to see TV shows featuring buildings being blown up right now.

      Scenario A: A network airs a show that contains elements of terrorsts, bombings and/or skyscrapers being destroyed. Lots of people seeing the show feel that the timing of the show's airing is somehow inappropriate given the recent terrorist attack. Many of these people (Moms, etc) call or write the network to express their feelings that the network is insensitive in airing said show right after a bunch of people have died. Network executives are put in a position of either apologizing or explaining why they decided to air the show.

      Scenario B: Network executives decide that airing a show might be considered in poor taste by a substantial number of viewers and decide to postpone showing an episode or two, possible indefinitely. Bunch of guys on popular websites post comments criticizing the networks for pulling shows they like.

      I'm not saying the decision is right or wrong, or that it is this black and white... just that networks would probably rather hold off showing a few episodes than be seen as insensitivly airing potentially inappropriate material.

  • what is this? Suddenly all violence is related to the terrorist attacks? It also might be possible that they're just going to yank these titles temporarily - until all this blows over. I'm sure the majority of the audience for cartoon network (which are kids) probably don't need to be reminded about what happened at this point. Make no mistake, Holywood can't live without violence very long, I mean that's the basis for their movies nowdays
    (sex + violence + pretty special effects + plot/10 = good movie)
    I mean take out the violence and all you have left is a lame porno with cool special effects... which actually might be a nice change of pace now that I think about it.
    • Apparently you don't know jack about the shows you are talking about. A large part of Cowboy Bebop, and this is very true of episodes 4 and 5, is not just about violence, it's about TERRORISM. If Cartoon Network is pulling it off the air, that's why.
  • On adultswim.com's schedule, which is here [adultswim.com]. In the past, cartoon network's whole website never even mentioned bebop due to the fact they didn't want to come in the open and show that they were showing a violent thing like Bebop, or something like that. Hopefully it wasn't cancelled.

    -Henry
  • ..don't quit Johnny Bravo I'll be happy

  • This could be just regular Fall season tweaking. Even though Comedy Central and other cable channels don't have a massive "Fall Season" promotion like the big three networks, they still want to dump the deadwood and get back to those things that have proven viewership. The big three "Fall Season" blitz can be rough on a cable network viewership. Remember, it's a big business.

    Or, as you allude, is this a return to the 1950s and 1960s paranoia about the influence of the comic media on "young minds"? The Comics Code Authority (CCA) was the precursor to music lyric rating labels, video game rating labels, and other industry self-inflicted censorship to avoid the wrath of a Congress who doesn't care to understand freedom. (Of course, the Congress is just an extension of the general population, and the general population doesn't want to understand freedom either.) The CCA had one rating: if it wasn't CCA-approved pablum for toddlers, it wasn't put on the shelf.

  • Now that's really, really disappointing. I was actually proud of CN for having the nerve to show Bebop at all, if they chickened out over this I'll be very upset.

    It was a sign the network was growing up and evolving a spine.

  • Transformers episodes getting dropped, too (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Robotech_Master ( 14247 ) on Sunday September 16, 2001 @10:13AM (#2305417) Homepage Journal
    Some episodes of the new Transformers: Robots in Disguise [transformers.com] anime show are getting delayed, too--for instance, episode 6, in which a skyscraper is blown up and a news announcer apparently makes a comment about "robotic terrorism," was skipped this time around. And I imagine that when the series goes into repeats the first couple of times, probably episode 1 (in which Megatron crashes through a skyscraper) and episode 2 (involving a terrorist bomb) will probably be skipped, too.

    It's a bit of a dilemma, you see. On the one hand, every time we make some change to our daily routine because of this despicable terrorist act--dropping episodes, delaying the premiere of shows [scifi.com], editing the World Trade Center out [scifi.com] of the Spiderman movie altogether--we are in some small sense handing the terrorists a victory, acknowledging that they've affected us exactly the way they wanted. On the other hand, people should have a right to watch TV to try to forget the tragedy for a while and destress from the whole thing without being reminded of it by what's on the set.

    Hopefully the pre-emptions and delays will be only temporary, for just a month or two until such time as people are a little less sensitive. The Buffy episode that was delayed over Columbine was eventually aired, after all. The networks did pay money for these shows, and they'll want to use them sooner or later.

    • Well, maybe they'll take this time to re-mold RiD to make it fit into the Transformers timeline. Ya know, put them on some other planet, change their names back to Fire Convoy and God Magnus [Probably wouldn't go over too well here].. just something where fanboys such as myself don't get pissed off because for the sake of marketing or todays trendy cartoons (i know,i know...its a kids cartoon and needs to reflect the kidsblah blah blah.) they don't mess up the whole transformers timeline - which has been established since 1984! I mean, jeez, even BWTF doesn't fit in with this!

      Its off topic, i know. but i wanted somewhere to vent my frustrations over Car robots [RiD].
    • editing the World Trade Center out [scifi.com] of the Spiderman movie altogether

      They said from the beginning that the trailer wasn't from the movie, but rather a teaser. Having seen it in the theater, it *better* damn well have been a teaser - the effects looked like they were from a USA Network made for TV movie. Not horrible, but clearly underdone and low budget. It also was very self-contained, and had no real dialogue, further indicating it was just made for a trailer on summer features.

      --
      Evan

    • Vs lbh pna ernq guvf, lbh unir whfg ivbyngrq gur QZPN.

      Y'know... I can now read a handful of rot13 without having to translate it... things like "vs", "gur", oddly "ivbyngrq" and especially "QZPN".

      I wonder if *I* will be seized as an "illegal circumvention device" if I get too good at reading it?

      --
      Evan

    • Damn. Even cartoon characters aren't safe from the layoffs.

      I can't imagine the look on Megatron's face when he comes in to work on Monday and finds a pink slip on his dressing room door. Poor guy.

    • I don't see how "editing the World Trade Center out" of a movie is being "sensitive to the recent events". If it's because they've only done part of the filming, and that filming had the WTC in them, and now the rest of the filming won't, then I obviously understand. But if it's just because of the recent terrorist acts, then so what. Keep the WTC in them. Movies and photographs are the only things now that will keep the image of the old WTC alive.
  • Hey, they just brought back Outlaw Star which has a fair amount of violence in it.

    I really think that speculation is wrong.

  • damnit (Score:1)

    by jrs ( 27486 )
    I'm getting so sick of America pussying out over this. Red Alert 2 being pulled from shelves. Rumors of Metal Gear Solid 2 being modifyed.

    America is stronger than ever... yeah, right.

    And how is it different from CNN and MSNBC showing the crash videos over and over?

    America the Pathetic.

  • Homer goes to NY (Score:4, Interesting)

    by mikeboone ( 163222 ) on Sunday September 16, 2001 @10:25AM (#2305443) Homepage Journal
    Makes you wonder what they'll do to the Simpsons episode where Homer's car is parked between the WTC towers. They may never play that in syndication again.

    • Yup (Score:2)

      by Pope ( 17780 )
      A post on alt.tv.family-guy said that Fox had *permanantly* pulled "The City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson (4F22)" from syndication.
      This, to me, reeks of a Stalinist purge. I can see pulling the show out for a couple of months, like the WB did with the Buffy season finale and the "Earshot" episode after Columbine, but to take it out forever is complete and utter overkill.

      Oh, there's also a bin Laden reference in one of last year's Family Guy episodes which I'm sure will be obliterated. Thankfully I have that one on tape!
    • Well, if Greoning was an idiot, he'd leave them out of the Simpsons DVD collection for that season. Hope he doesn't do that, since that was a funny episode.

      Klavklash?

  • The question is : will they be back? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Masem ( 1171 ) on Sunday September 16, 2001 @10:29AM (#2305452)
    It's understandable to drop, in the short term, these shows, given the content about terrorism. But the question becomes now of how soon will they be back , if ever.

    As an example of previous CN dealings, the short-lived but excellent show Freakazoid had 4 episodes with reverences (both satire and just off the cuff) to Princess Di. When she died in the car accident, those 4 episodes were completely pulled from the schedule understandable; however, they did not return to the schedule for at least 6 months. I understand being sensitive for something recent in the current events, but that seems excessively overkill.

    What bothers me more than much else right now is that Hollywood, all aspects of it, seem to be taking steps above and beyond what ought to be done for the short-term sensitivitly. Anything involving the WTC, even if made years ago, seems to be getting some sort of post-censoring. We cannot deny that the WTC ever existed and shows were made about it, and to do so is only giving the terrorists more of a victory.

    • Expect them to be gone forever, if they involve violence _and_ the WTC.

      The second to last Seinfeld episode, it is rumored, to not be available for syndication. During the episode, Kramer (I think) accidentally burns a Puerto Rican flag during the Puerto Rican Day parade in NYC, to the dismay (if not horror) of many viewers.

      During the same episode, Elaine, during some rant, complains that she "went to Tufts [University]" and that it was her "safety." At the time it first aired, I was at Tufts (as a student), watching the episode with about 100 others in an on-campus eatery. Suffice it to say that I would love to see that episode again, and, given a few minutes notice, would tape it.

      But the sensitivities of others have seemingly denied me that opportunity. A local station here claims to be airing "every" episode, from the beginning, starting either this week or next. Will they show the PRDP episode? We'll see.

      The WTC attack is extremely more difficult for a much larger audience. If a show that pulled no punches could be offed by a six minute segment, don't be surprised if network executives choose, for the "greater good," to throw sightings of the WTC down the Orwellian Memory Hole.
    • >>What bothers me more than much else right now is that Hollywood, all aspects of it, seem to be taking steps above and beyond what ought to be done for the short-term sensitivitly

      Like Starz having passenger 57 on the other night...
  • what could this concievably have to do with the attack?
    Space Ghost blew up France, they arent dropping that.
    But this definatly needs to be protested. anybody got one of those online pettition things handy?

    You Can't Cancel Bebop before showing ED damnit! I heard the voice for Ed was actually Good!
    ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED ED
    DAMNIT.
    • Don't get too excited. =P

      The english voice acting cast for Cowboy Bebop is pretty much the same as outlaws. You aren't missing a great voice actor that you haven't heard before.
      • I turned on episode 3 last week during Jet's explaination of the chip, and thought it was an Outlaw opening for a second. I guess his monologue was too long and he slipped into narrator mode.
  • The article says, "You can see the evidence on Cartoon Network's Listings". There is not a press release saying it's a response to Tuesday's Attacks. I have really never been impressed with the decisions of the network anyway and how they decide on what should be shown and when. A lot of networks display sympathy messages in one form or another, but don't assume everyone will. But you still should check out all 4 daft punk videos on www.toonami.com click on the alliance button (requires flash and MP7)
  • this makes no sense. it wasn't americans that bombed the place, it was foreign terrorists whose beliefs forbid the watching of this type of entertainment anyway!

  • Anyone here see Episode 22(Cowboy Funk)? While one of the funniest eps, it also has a bountyhead that's wanted for blowing up tall buildings. And he does in fact blow up some, including a pair of towers that sort of reminds me of the WTC(except with a large sky bridge thing between them). Maybe this ep prompted this? It's sad cause it's one of my favorite eps.

    -Henry
  • But they kept Outlaw Star? I'm not complaining, but this makes no sense?
  • I mean, pointing us to a schedule listing is hardly any shred of evidence that this had anything to do with the bombings. And if it did, and the ratings were good enough, give it some time and it will be back. Perhaps they pulled it because they studied the demograph that watches and it decided maybe they should be something a little more constructive, like watching the news?

    Or, maybe possibly, its just simply part of the Fall schedule shifts that always happen. But nah, even tho we have no real reason to think it, its gotta be the man.
    • "Perhaps they pulled it because they studied the demograph that watches and it decided maybe they should be something a little more constructive, like watching the news?"

      It is not Cartoon Network's place to tell me what I should be watching. Futhermore, I've seen the news. The world trade centers have been hit by a terrorist attack. I know this. The pentagon has been hit by a terrorist attack. I know this, too. Another plane went down in Pennsylvania when the hostages bravely fought back. I also know this. The FBI is rounding up suspected terrorists. Yet another thing I know. Finally, rescue crews are working night and day, on little-to-no sleep, to save as many survivors from the collapsed building as possible. Like all the previous things, I know this.

      So I can tune into the news and watch the plane crash footage for the 2,749th time while analysts argue over the causes and such, or I can try and partially move on with my life. Forget what happened? Certainly not. Stop obsessing over what happened? Yes.

      Entertainment television is one of the few escapes from the non-stop barage of WTC information that I'm being hit with. Taking that away from me only serves to further my cynicism and desensitization. Thank you, mass media, for trying to turn me into a cold, unfeeling monster.

  • Okay.. so this is slightly off topic. (I think Cartoon Network is doing the right thing in remaining sensitive to current events. Would you rather have them not give a damn about what's going on in the world and play it anyway because they paid for the rights of it? Would you rather CNN et al played commercials every 15 minutes on Tuesday? At least this shows the mega-corporations aren't thinking ONLY about profit any more.)

    Basically, Hollywood stands a good chance of coming out as a better group because of this. In the last 10 years, as the cultural decadence and decline of America took hold, Hollywood has been pandering to America's baser instincts at the expense of good old-fashioned American story-telling.

    Moveis have gotten more and more bland, formulaic, and irrelevent to the modern world in the past decade than ever before. The mind-numbing parade of pure crap putout by America's entertainment complex and soaked up by America's pop culture like a kid whose parents are willing to offer him nothing but candy to eat was causing serious damage to America's psyche and attitude.

    While I am deeply sorry for those who lost family members and loved ones in these horrible attacks, there is at least a little bit of a silver lining in this all. America seems to have sobered up from its drunken cultural stupor and re-discovered what's REALLY important in life. If they terrorists had waited another 10 years, I wonder if American society would be watching TRL, Survivor 12, or watching a bland violence-sex-gross-out-comedy movie to care. (Facetious)

    Hopefully America will keep the unifying and sobered spirit it has re-discovered in the aftermath for some time to come. Parents having honest discussions with their children about issues of morality, crime rates in NY at their lowest levels in the history of the city (common enemy), young people not blindly assuming the world owes them something, but being cognisant of their own morality.

    Hell, if the last traces of the ugly racism popping up against Arab-American can be eradicated.... America stands a great chance to come out of this a more responsible, more caring, more serious, more compassionate, more focused, more dedicated, and more selfless nation.

    The point? Hopefully Hollywood will follow and put out entertainment that's more meaningful than another episode of Friends, a pointless prurient movie about sex and violence, or another dumb series about beautiful young 20-somethings whining about nothing.
    • Okay.. so this is slightly off topic. (I think Cartoon Network is doing the right thing in remaining sensitive to current events. Would you rather have them not give a damn about what's going on in the world and play it anyway because they paid for the rights of it? Would you rather CNN et al played commercials every 15 minutes on Tuesday? At least this shows the mega-corporations aren't thinking ONLY about profit any more.)

      Bah! Humans are a violent species, as the violent response by the USA to the terrorist attack will prove. Sex and violence have been an integral part of our entertainment since before Homer.

      Basically, Hollywood stands a good chance of coming out as a better group because of this. In the last 10 years, as the cultural decadence and decline of America took hold, Hollywood has been pandering to America's baser instincts at the expense of good old-fashioned American story-telling.

      What, you mean like _Birth of a Nation_?

      Moveis have gotten more and more bland, formulaic, and irrelevent to the modern world in the past decade than ever before.

      No, they have not, you silly little reactionary. You are simply filtering the bad movies from yesteryear out of your memory.

      Hopefully America will keep the unifying and sobered spirit it has re-discovered in the aftermath for some time to come. Parents having honest discussions with their children about issues of morality, crime rates in NY at their lowest levels in the history of the city (common enemy), young people not blindly assuming the world owes them something, but being cognisant of their own morality.

      Crime rates in NYC (and the nation as a whole) have been on their way down for quite some time.

      Hell, if the last traces of the ugly racism popping up against Arab-American can be eradicated.... America stands a great chance to come out of this a more responsible, more caring, more serious, more compassionate, more focused, more dedicated, and more selfless nation.

      Fallwell has found it easier to assign blame to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, pagans, and the ACLU.

      The point? Hopefully Hollywood will follow and put out entertainment that's more meaningful than another episode of Friends, a pointless prurient movie about sex and violence, or another dumb series about beautiful young 20-somethings whining about nothing.

      So you are saying they should replace _Friends_ with _Leave it to Beaver_? Meaningless entertainment is not a recent development, nor has it recently increased in magnitude. Tex Avery's work is pretty cool, but hardly more meaningfull then Cowboy Bebop.

      --
      I am Jake, artist and geek. check out my photos [uvm.edu] from diver cité!

  • Gundam gone because of poor ratings. (Score:2, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    From what I've been hearing Mobile Suit Gundam wasn't getting very good ratings, and was being considered for cancellation anyway. Perhaps this was simply a coincidence, or maybe all this just accelerated its cancellation.
  • I don't tend to view the Cartoon Network as a place for "Adult" cartoons anyway and the Anime I grew up with (The first 10 years of my life were spent in Okinawa and Hawaii) would make today's Pokemon and Mr Rogers watching youth cry and wet themselves. Though if it makes it onto a US Network, it's not nearly as hardcore as the stuff you could find in Japan in the 1970's (And THEY considered it Children's programming.)

    It'd be nice to see a network devoted specifically to such things but I doubt there'd be enough demand in the US to keep it going. Too bad you can't just get a video feed off the net. I'd love to be able to watch Anime being aired on Japanese TV and catch undubbed episodes of Iron Chef if that's still playing there (Speaking of which, does anyone else thing that dubbing Kaga-san is just WRONG?)

    • The Gundam Project [gundamproject.com] is reporting that the change is due to lower ratings for the original series. And, unless its a WTC reaction, they'll start running The 08th Mobile Suit Team (a pretty good wartime romance) in the Gundam slot.

      If you're into Gundam, the gundamproject.com site is very good.

  • umm.. check it.. at www.animenewsnetwork.com (Score:3, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 16, 2001 @12:15PM (#2305755)
    Cowboy Bebop Off Adult Swim? (2001-09-15 22:47:12)
    According to the Cartoon Network web page, Cowboy Bebop will not be shown for at least the next two weeks (as far the the website lists). See here and here. Toonheads and the Bob Clampett Show will be shown in its place. One Cartoon Network representative has told us that Cowboy Bebop has not been cancelled. However, we've had some conflicting information in this story. We'll continue to update as we receive information from CN and Bandai. [ No More ]
  • Cowboy bebop brought me to the Cartoon Network
    when nothing else it had could. I just couldn't
    get into DBZ or even Outlaw Star.

    Is there somewhere to send e-mail?
  • Just as long as they give me more Dexter's Laboratory, Power Puff Girls, and Spaceghost.
    Although, I did like Gundum Wing, but it could have been better if they *animated* it a bit more.
  • DirecTV's program guide shows that CN is still airing 2 episodes of Cowboy Bebop tonight at the usual time (midnight EST). I didn't expect it to be canceled, since they showed last week's episodes again on Thursday, after the attacks occured. I heard that Mobile Suit Gundam was dropped because of low ratings, not because it was excessively violent. Besides, like other people are saying, if they're dropping violent shows, why aren't they getting rid of Dragonball Z and Outlaw Star? Those two are aimed at children, while CB isn't. (However, DBZ is Cartoon Network's biggest ratings grabber, sooo...)
  • I know a lot of people would be nervous about entering them again, but I think it would be a huge victory for the U.S. if the WTC were to be rebuilt and looked the same as it used to. Think of the moral boost it would bring, "Ha, you stupid terrorists, we're back!" Well, maybe something more inspirational than that.

    Anyway, it would also allow us to preserve our history, both in our hearts and in our "visual arts". People will be able to look at images of the WTC without being so despondent.

    Of course, the new WTC should be designed to handle a similar attack, and should have better escape routes, but otherwise it should look the same.

  • Did Nickelodeon pull "Invader Zim" episodes as well? Supposed to show new episodes Friday nights but another show was on instead.

    Reruns of the previous "season" are shown Sunday mornings but again was not aired today. I had assumed they just changed the schedule until I saw this blurb about Gundam and Bebop. Zim has had scenes of descruction like the giant hamster stepping on buildings, so it might not be too much of a stretch that they pulled this show for the same reasons.
    • Yes they did. There was something in the preview blurb about Zim getting paranoid after seeing the FBI warning on a videotape.

      Guess what adult network execs? Kids know the difference between cartoons and reality.

      I also noticed lots of other self censorship on the movie channels. You'll never see Fight Club air on TV ever again. Deterrence, a movie about a U.S.-Iraqi conflict (where Bagdad gets nuked at the end) was pulled as was Showtime's version of On the Beach.

      All of this is just cover your ass Hollywood hypocrisy at it's finest. I'm sure next summer's movie lineup will include the usual number of explosions, because that's what sells and money is what it's all about.
      • "There was something in the preview blurb about Zim getting paranoid after seeing the FBI warning on a videotape."

        That seemed to be everyone's first thoughts on another message board where this was discussed. The odd thing is that they also preempted the showing earlier today (Sunday, 1pm) -- it was supposed to be the "Parent Teacher Night; Walk of Doom". The latter part does involve Zim wandering around a large city (and even going up in one of the skyscrapers), but I don't see any reason to pull it.

        "I also noticed lots of other self censorship on the movie channels. You'll never see Fight Club air on TV ever again. Deterrence, a movie about a U.S.-Iraqi conflict (where Bagdad gets nuked at the end) was pulled as was Showtime's version of On the Beach."

        That really, really sucks. Deterrence was a great movie that makes you think about a number of the issues. Several times, during discussions on the WTC issue, it would come up as a movie that should be watched.

  • Perhaps they dropped the shows... (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    ...because nobody watched them? The same reason most shows are canceled?


    Blaming everything on the terrorist attack of Tuesday does nothing but increase the already-insane media-induced frenzy among the people. Please stop reciprocating it.

  • Cowboy Bebop still shows up on the Adult Swim [adultswim.com] website, which is the official site for the programming block run by cartoon network; Cowboy Bebop is also still showing on all the Internet television programming guides as well.
  • Send Feedback [cartoonnetwork.com]

    Stand up and make yourself heard. If you are upset about this then you should use the feedback link [cartoonnetwork.com] and let dragonball z network er, I mean cartoon network know exactly how you feel. The only reason I ever tune into that network is to watch mobile suite gundam and cowboy bebop. Cowboy Bebop is brilliant! I've only seen three episoeds to date but each one was amazing. Just my luck, as soon as I start to like something the network drops it. I with I had bland tastes so I could be part of the majority and not have to deal with this stuff.

    The only way dragonball z network will make a change for the better is if everyone uses the feedback link [cartoonnetwork.com] so we can send the message loud and clear that we are pissed off. Adult swim is great but after a bonehead programming move like this I won't be at all surprised to see them drop space ghost next.

    Send Feedback [cartoonnetwork.com]

    The year is Universal Century 0079. The One Year War between the Earth Federation and the Prinicipality of Zeon has deadlocked. Unbeknown to Zeon, the Federation has been working on building its own ultimate weapon: Gundam. The new prototype is to be shipped to Earth from its home on the space colony Side 7. But a surprise attack puts the mobile suit into the hands of a teenager who just might save the world.
  • Cartoon network drops anime at the drop of a hat regardless of world events. I can't even remember all of the different series that they have put out there only to drop 2-3 months later.

    I suppose that they have to pay a royalty for each episode they air and if the ratings aren't high enough they may not get enough ad revenue to at least break even.

    CN is a AOLTW network and I work for AOLTW (not at CN, but close).
    AOLTW missed their projected earnings by a long shot and have been laying off and cutting costs like crazy all year. I don't blame CN for sticking to what is safe and making a profit for now till the next earning report comes out. The more money they save, the less layoffs happen.

    To make matters worse, sponsors have actually dropped from the CNN agencies so there product doesn't get unconsciously associated with it. ("this updated death count brought to you by Acme, the leader in so and so") So Cnn loses money, aoltw tells the other networks to play it safe with sponsor revenue.

    This is all an educated guess mind you, based on what I have heard from different sources.

    • They've already paid for Cowboy Bebop. Dropping them does not save them any money. In this case, it's more likely that the show was suspended for content reason.

      Episode 5, "Ballad of the Fallen Angel" opens with a mobster singing a peace treaty with his enemy, boarding a plane that's promptly blown up. Episode 6 "Sympathy for the Devil" features a long flashback sequence where the 1/4 Moon was accidentally blown up 70 years prior to the show.
    • Cartoon network drops anime at the drop of a hat regardless of world events. I can't even remember all of the different series that they have put out there only to drop 2-3 months later."

      Cartoon Network doesn't exactly "drop" anime for frivolous reasons. Most of the anime they replaced had too few episodes to sustain interest over repeated airings, and often return at a later date. It's easy to keep airing shows like Dragonball Z and Sailor Moon because they have well over a hundred episodes each. Shorter series, like the Big O and Outlaw Star, don't have enough episodes to justify airing them five days per week for extended periods of time.

      • True, but even when there are enough episodes, they still drop it. Sailor moon and all of the Gundams had plenty. Dispite the short number of episodes, Outlaw Star has been played 5 days per week for a long time now. I think its going to go back on at 12:30 after dbz every night. As much as I like db+dbz I would really like to see something different.

        I suggest people use the feedback form here [cartoonnetwork.com] I really like the Adult Swim idea and think that many dubbed Anime's would go great there.
  • The funny thing is that all of these TV shows & movies aren't being pulled to show sensitivity to the victims or the viewers, but for two more primary reasons: 1. Americans don't want to see the ways in which we portray the kind of violence that occurred last Tuesday in our cultural expressions all the time, so the media is white-washing itself. You would think there'd be no better time to put out a Swartzenneger movie about a firefighter who avenges the killing of his family by terrorists, but no... (This is because)... 2. History has shown that Americans want the blandest sh!t possible after major tragedies. For instance, after Kennedy was assassinated, TV turned heavily toward shows like Gilligan's Island & The Munsters. Ironically, before Kennedy's assassination there were many movies that foreshadowed it, like "Suddenly" (1954), where Frank Sinatra is intent on assassinating the president.

    I used to watch Space Ghost & then Insomniac on Sunday nights, but Comedy Central fûcked up & they were both on at the same time. So I stayed with Cartoon Network & watched Cowboy BeBop, which was really cool. That was just last week, too. At least I saw it before they pulled it, now at least I can go rent it--and go to bed earlier. Subtitles are probably better than dubbing, anyway, as it was kind of disturbing to see anime that was so thoroughly white (after Akira & Ghost in the Shell). Was Battletech that white?
  • Nah, they just wanna be able to run DragonBall Z 4 times a day, like they are now. After all. If they did that, they could run through the whole series something like 1.5 Billion times in a year.

    No offense, but just how damn often can you show DBZ? I enjoy the series, but after the hundred millionth running on Cartoon Network, I'd like to see something different. I understand that the lineup is set to market to the kids who are at home at that hour, who would watch that show ad infinitum and never watch another happilly, but there's a lotta geeks like me who just happen to be able to watch TV from 5-7.
  • Hey there, folks. I can't speak about Cowboy Bebop, but the original Gundam series is being dropped, but not for any reasons having to do with the attacks.

    According to Ain't It Cool, it's being dropped for the simple reaon of low ratings. It may a very important anime historically, but visually, compared to, say, Gundam Wing, and 8th MS Team (which is replacing MS Gundam in its time slot) is really dated.

    So, please, stop spreading FUD, people.

  • The Die Hard connection.. (Score:3, Funny)

    by KFury ( 19522 ) on Sunday September 16, 2001 @06:00PM (#2306955) Homepage
    Anyone else notice that the whole thing sounds like a plot hatched from watching all three Die Hard movies in one night?

    You've got your big tall building blowing up from DH1.

    You've got your airplane hijacking and deliberate crashes in DH2.

    You've got exploding everything (including the subway under the WTC) in DH3.

    And of course, as has been reported (too lazy to find the link) there's still several tons of gold buried underneath the WTC rubble, just like in DH3...

    I'm not trying to make light of anything. It's just interesting how Hollywood and terrorism follow similar paths, with Hollywood leading the curve.
  • Well, if all this is happening, then I can kiss my beloved Robotech bye-bye. Why, in one episode alone ("Force of Arms"), the death toll is in the tens or hundreds of billions. In that episode, both Earth and the Zentraedi Main Fleet (4.8 million ships) are destroyed. How this can inspire terrorism is beyond me, but now I'm waiting for the shit to hit the fan...
  • Yep, they cancelled it, and we now get "Toonheads". The first cartoon in the show just happened to be some musical thing where a skyscraper gets built, and at the end a door gets closed too hard and the whole thing comes crashing down. Yeah, real good move on their part.

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