Getting a cartoon in syndication?

[Xerus]

I was thinking. Does anyone think it's a good idea to try to get a new educational cartoon series on syndicated TV? I've heard that syndicated shows aren't network controlled which gives you a lot more creativity and the FCC does want more educational shows on basic TV channels. A friend of mine believes she can get my cartoons animated and I was wondering if syndication might be the way to go.

 

[Drtooth]

There IS no syndication anymore. You can try, but I haven't seen a syndicated cartoon in years. If you have some cheap to produce nature stock footage show or dry, unwatchable careers oriented program you're in luck. But animation, even if it were flash or some derivative of is too expensive to produce, and not enough profit for lazy station owners to want to try.


You can try, but the industry is so screwed up, I wouldn't hold much hope. Try though. Maybe you'll start a movement and change things.

 

[Starchamberfall]

Sometimes it seems as though direct-to-video is (or, was!) the new syndication.

 

[D'Snowth]

The problem with first-run syndication is that often times, it's hard for the show to develop a following, because different channels air the show at different times (the whole "check your local listings" thing), and sometimes, they'll air them at whenever they don't already have programs planned, which often seems to be in the middle of the night or so. That's been the story with D.C. Follies, an horribly under-rated Sid & Marty Krofft show that was first-run syndication in 1987, it was played at all kinds of different crazy hours, so not to many people knew about it, even though it was awesome.

On the other hand, if you're lucky, such a show CAN be a hit during first-run syndication if it's handled properly by the channels that air it; didn't I read that The Great Space Coaster ran for four or five seasons?

 

[Xerus]

Thank you all for your tips and warnings. I guess I should prepare for all those things if I do enter syndication.

I'm just trying to figure out what type of network or place would Rebusquest work on. My friend thinks Rebusquest is too intelligent and would scare network executives.

 

[D'Snowth]

Network executives are almost always scared of a new show if it's "different". One thing that lacks with execs today is a trust level; getting back to Sid & Marty Krofft, Marty said in an interview once that the reason they were able to sell their shows like they did was because the network executives actually trusted them enough to deliver good shows. NBC knew they created the costume characters and such for The Banana Splits, and wanted them to do their own show, which is how Pufnstuf came to be, and after that was so successful, each of the three networks then knew the Krofft could deliver. Nowadays, the execs want to mold the shows in their own fashion and liking, and often times steering it away from it's original premise; I read on Ken Levine's blog awhile back that one time he and his writing partner David Isaacs (both of whom wrote incredible episodes for such shows as M*A*S*H, Cheers, Everybody Loves Raymond, etc) wrote a pilot script for FOX -- FOX said they liked it, but they kept sending them note after note after note after note, saying things "Well, we want a scene to take place in a bar", "We want the two leads to have these kind of personalities instead", "We want a hot chick in here, it doesn't matter who she is or what she does, we just want a hot chick", and finally something like, "We're passing, this is more suited for an NBC comedy".

But, what really scares me about networks today is how they almost never have any faith in their shows anymore; in the old days, they would air the entire seasons from fall to spring, then wait after that season finished to determine viewship, ratings, etc to see whether or not it should be renewed for another season, but nowadays, if they feel no one has been watching after just two episodes, they'll cancel, and never air the rest of the season. If people hadn't caught on after two episodes, how do you expect them to do so for the series in general if you don't air ALL the episodes? That scares me to death, because I'm afraid that would happen with my shows as well... but, then again, I don't think I would have too awful much trouble gaining people's attention... in a television landscape that's dominated by The Office, and carbon copies of said show, a show with puppets and such would probably stick out like a sore thumb, wouldn't it?

But, aside from that... are you really trying to turn Rebusquest into an actual cartoon series Cullen? That would be SO awesome!

 

[Xerus]

But, aside from that... are you really trying to turn Rebusquest into an actual cartoon series Cullen? That would be SO awesome!

Thank you. My friend thinks maybe once she's done with all her projects, she can contact an animator in Canada and we can work on an animated short pilot. However, she only wants Skelroy and Bonus for she thinks that cartoon stands out more than my other two cartoon series. She feels that if S and B becomes popular, then the execs would want Rebusquest.

Then again after hearing about the scary stories of network executives, I'm now thankful we have the web where we're free to create anything we want. In fact, some networks wanted to make Homestar Runner a TV series, but the creators turned down the offer and wanted to just keep making their series for the web.

Also, I'd hate to think what would happen if network executives got their hands on Carson and Reba and they'd turn Rebusquest into something I don't recognize.

 

[D'Snowth]

One thing that might help, I'm not exactly sure how these sort of things work, but I think indepently might allow you more creative control over your own projects. That's why a lot of people and companies survive in the long run is independence; that way, you retain the rights to your own work, and even though the networks may still add input and such, they shouldn't have any bit of creative control of the show.

Just remember one thing: NEVER sell ANYTHING that you create, you might as well be handing your own flesh and blood over to someone else if you do that.

Also, make sure you fight for your name on all your work (ala "Cullen Pittman Presents Rebusquest" or "Cullen Pittman's Rebusquest" or "Rebusquest Created by Cullen Pittman", etc).

 

[Xerus]

Thanks for the tips, Snowthy.

I mailed a copy of my first Rebusquest story to the Library of Congress and they e-mailed me and said that it's in their files.

Also, I was told I can make something called a poor man's copyright by e-mailing a message to myself saying that Rebusquest is mine and it shows the date the e-mail.

 

[Drtooth]

But, what really scares me about networks today is how they almost never have any faith in their shows anymore; in the old days, they would air the entire seasons from fall to spring, then wait after that season finished to determine viewship, ratings, etc to see whether or not it should be renewed for another season, but nowadays, if they feel no one has been watching after just two episodes, they'll cancel, and never air the rest of the season. If people hadn't caught on after two episodes, how do you expect them to do so for the series in general if you don't air ALL the episodes? That scares me to death, because I'm afraid that would happen with my shows as well... but, then again, I don't think I would have too awful much trouble gaining people's attention... in a television landscape that's dominated by The Office, and carbon copies of said show, a show with puppets and such would probably stick out like a sore thumb, wouldn't it?

Here's the problem... No one watches TV anymore. Everyone just buys the DVD sets, or watches them online (legally or illegally), and that really puts problems on the TV executives who have no idea what's going on. It would almost be laughable, if it didn't kill a lot of great shows that do well on DVD sales and online viewings, but don't bring enough in from their television viewings to get picked up another season. Look at Pushing Daisies. That was wildly popular the first season, but it got too expensive to keep on and got canceled second season. And of course, this makes everyone nervous in the industry, so they get choosey when it comes to scripted television. Cheap, non- union, sweatshop labor crap like Reality TV is different. Even if it fails, it's pennies on the dollar to make, and they're willing to take that risk.

Now, I have to correct you. There are only 3 The Office like shows including the Office. Parks and Recreation, was created by the same team, and I feel it was an attempt to VR Troopers themselves from getting any clones. The other is Modern Family, which, quite honestly, has been funnier than the Office ever since it premiered. Mark my words, without Steve, The Office is going to end shortly. As far as sitcoms go, the genre is having a real problem getting solid ground because, well, everything they can do has been done before, and anything new is too new, and just doesn't have a following large enough to keep it going. I was TICKED when ABC killed Better Off Ted for Better with You (a terrible Rules of Engagement knockoff, which begs the question, how desperate are you to rip off Rules of Engagement).

I will say, Chuck Lorre and How I Met your Mother have been going against stream in keeping the laugh track sitcom fresh and alive (though, 2 and a Half Men should wind down soon, especially since Charlie keeps getting in trouble).

However, our buddy here is referring to a kid's show, if I'm not mistaken. Now, the industry is REALLY hurting and changing there. There is less and less profit to be had, and syndication especially wants to drop kid's programming like a rock for far more profitable get rich quick scheme infomercials... again, the government isn't intervening on that, WHY? While there is room for TV E/I, these things are cheap and easy little live action shows like nature programming with stock footage or bland career oriented junk like Real Life 101. Not even older animated E/I shows... that stuff. I for one WANT to see Xerus try and I want to see his show change that, and bring back the syndicated cartoon. But syndication has been going completely down hill lately.

As Muppet fans, we ALL have to remember, syndication WAS the reason The Muppet Show not only aired, not only lasted 5 seasons, but it only lasted that long because they wanted to end the series themselves. Now, syndication is bad talk shows, cheap judge shows, highly profitable sitcom reruns (at night, though), and (of course) hours of infomercials. The TV E/I stiff runs at 4 am on Sunday so the stations can keep their FCC license. Now, again, this is because kids don't watch TV (at least 7-12 year olds).

So, basically, X man, I'm not trying to discourage you. I WANT to see you get something, and I WANT to see this become a pilot... I also want to have a good word put in for me to be assistant clean up storyboard artist alternate, but that's just for me. We need to try and shake up an industry and squeeze it for all the juice it has left.