Detritus of the Mind

So, in case you wanted some supplemental links and side opinions to go with the Pilot Program, I've created this endnotes page.  It's a little sparse - for some reason, even the internet doesn't care about 80s failed toy-derived cartoons even as its wallows in nostalgia for them - but what I can share is pretty entertaining. For anyone interested in watching the Pilot Program subjects,  I've compiled a YouTube playlist in order of the write-ups.   The only multi-part subject is Poochie , but the rest are the full shows.  Enjoy and then let me know your impressions of the subjects, if you feel like it. In what may be a case of "something in the water", this past month has seen two of my favorite video game related places cover the last two subjects on their respective platforms. First, we have  the Retronauts podcast and a career review of Rare , starting with their ZX Spectrum days as Ultimate Play the Game. As someone who knows little about British...

The Pilot Program is a look at various merchandise-centric cartoons that were released as specials in the 80s & 90s; while they were clearly set up to go to series, they never did.  Every entry will look at a new show, who made it, what it was selling, and whether it would’ve made a good series. BUBSY (1993) SUMMARY: Bubsy is a great hero – just ask him, and he’ll tell you at length.   After inviting his twin niece & nephew over for their birthday gift of tormenting his designated sidekick Arnold the Armadillo, he sees a news story interviewing a scientist who invented a virtual reality helmet that can wish anything its wearer wants into existence.   He wants to test it because the call goes out for someone brave/crazy to try it, but a woman named Allie Cassandra wants the helmet to wish herself up some more swag.   She sends her minions Buzz & Sid to steal the helmet and kidnap the twins as a snack for themselves.   After much wackines...

The Pilot Program is a look at various merchandise-centric cartoons that were released as specials in the 80s & 90s; while they were clearly set up to go to series, they never did.  Every entry will look at a new show, who made it, what it was selling, and whether it would’ve made a good series. BATTLETOADS (1992) SUMMARY: Morgan, Dave, & George are the biggest losers at Oxnard, CA’s Waldo P. Oxnard Junior High; they’re deemed a bad influence on each other, and at the principal’s insistence, they try & fail to find new social circles.  After failing miserably, they retreat to the Stop-N-Scarf to play games; suddenly, the screen glows and out come Princess Angelica & her friend, Professor T-Bird.  Their entire galaxy has been conquered by the vicious Dark Queen, who wants to steal the Galactical Amulet Angelica wears to gain more power.  After asking the boys for help, he sprays them with “the genetic essence of the ancient Battletoads”...