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'''''The Bugs Bunny Show''''' is a long-running American [[Animated series|animated]] [[Anthology series|anthology]] television series hosted by [[Bugs Bunny]] that was mainly composed of theatrical ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' and ''[[Merrie Melodies]]'' cartoons released by [[Warner Bros.]] between 1948 and 1969. The show originally debuted as a primetime half-hour program on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in 1960, featuring three theatrical ''Looney Tunes'' cartoons with new linking sequences produced by the [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]] staff.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |pages=98–99}}</ref>
'''''The Bugs Bunny Show''''' is a long-running American [[Animated series|animated]] [[Anthology series|anthology]] television series hosted by [[Bugs Bunny]] that was mainly composed of theatrical ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' and ''[[Merrie Melodies]]'' cartoons released by [[Warner Bros.]] between 1948 and 1969. The show originally debuted as a primetime half-hour program on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in 1960, featuring three theatrical ''Looney Tunes'' cartoons with new linking sequences produced by the [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]] staff.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |pages=98–99}}</ref>


After two seasons, ''The Bugs Bunny Show'' moved to [[Saturday-morning cartoon|Saturday mornings]], where it aired in various formats for nearly four decades. The show's title and length changed regularly over the years, as did the network: both ABC and CBS broadcast versions of ''The Bugs Bunny Show''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |pages=163–164}}</ref> In 2000, the series, by then known as ''The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show'', was canceled after the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' libraries became the exclusive property of the [[Cartoon Network]] family of cable TV networks in the United States. In January 2021, the retro-formatted network MeTV revived the show under the title ''Bugs Bunny and Friends'', as the third hour of a Saturday morning block of classic cartoons.
After two seasons, ''The Bugs Bunny Show'' moved to [[Saturday-morning cartoon|Saturday mornings]], where it aired in various formats for nearly four decades. The show's title and length changed regularly over the years, as did the network: both ABC and CBS broadcast versions of ''The Bugs Bunny Show''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |pages=163–164}}</ref> In 2000, the series, by then known as ''The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show'', was canceled after the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' libraries became the exclusive property of the [[Cartoon Network]] family of cable TV networks in the United States. In January 2021, the retro-formatted network MeTV revived the show under the title ''Bugs Bunny and Friends'', as the third hour of a Saturday morning block of classic cartoons.

In Canada, Reruns of ''The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show'' were aired on the channels [[Teletoon]] and Teletoon's sister channel, [[Teletoon Retro]] (until 2015 when Teletoon Retro signed off). Prior to Teletoon and Teletoon Retro, [[CBC Television]] (1960–1975) and [[Global Television Network]] (1978–1982, 1990–2000) aired the show. In Australia, episodes of the show were divided between three networks, with most episodes aired on [[Nine Network]], and some episodes divided between [[Network Ten]], and [[Seven Network]] since its debut. In Poland, the show aired on [[TVP1]] from 1979 till 1980 and again from 1991 till 1992. In Asia, the program was aired in Japan and South Korea in the early 1960s and also aired on [[ABS-CBN]] and [[Radio Philippines Network|RPN]] in the Philippines, it was also aired on TPI (now [[MNCTV]]) from mid 1990s to early 2000s and [[RCTI]] during 2000s in Indonesia as well.

==Broadcast and format history==

===''The Bugs Bunny Show'' in prime time, 1960-1962===
The original ''Bugs Bunny Show'' debuted on ABC prime time in the United States on October 11, 1960, airing on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM ET, under the sponsorship of [[General Foods]] ([[Post Foods|Post]] cereals, [[Tang (drink)|Tang]], etc.). Newly produced linking segments were done for each episode by the Warner Bros. animation staff. [[Chuck Jones]] and [[Friz Freleng]] produced, directed, and created the [[storyboards]] for the earliest of these, with [[Robert McKimson]] later taking over the direction while Jones and Freleng continued producing and writing.<ref>[[Leonard Maltin|Maltin, Leonard]] (1980, rev. 1987). ''Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons''. New York: Plume/Penguin Books. Pg. 274–275.</ref> The wraparounds were produced in color, although the original broadcasts of the show were in black-and-white. A total of 52 episodes were made.

Rather than display the full Warner Bros. logo and opening title/credits sequence of each cartoon shown in each episode (as shown in the original theatrical versions and could take up to 20 seconds), new title cards were created to begin each cartoon, and displayed for only about five seconds over a newly composed musical cue; the card omitted the Warner Bros. logo and any detailed credits of the animators, and simply featured the title of the cartoon in bold letters on a plain background, the main character of the cartoon standing off to one side, and the copyright notice of the cartoon rendered in a smaller font at the bottom, before cutting directly to the opening scene of the cartoon, these cuts were sometimes awkward depending on how the original opening sequence was animated. A general credits line was shown at the end of each full episode: "Stories, Animation, layouts, and backgrounds: Members of [[The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839|Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Local 839]]." (The ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoons syndicated to local stations as a package, beginning in the 1950s, generally retained the original opening title sequences as shown in theaters. The current revival of the show on MeTV also uses the original theatrical title cards.)

The show's [[theme song]] was "This Is It", written by [[Mack David]] and [[Jerry Livingston]] (''"Overture/curtain, lights/this is it/the night of nights..."''). The opening title sequence, animated by Freleng unit animator [[Gerry Chiniquy]],<ref name="bbshow">McCorry, Kevin (2007). "[http://kevinmccorrytv.ca/bbshow.html The Bugs Bunny Show Page]."</ref> features Bugs and [[Daffy Duck]] performing the song in unison. For the final chorus, a lineup of ''Looney Tunes'' characters joins Bugs and Daffy onstage (Porky Pig, however, is absent from the procession, although Porky had a spin-off show based on the original ''Bugs Bunny Show'' 4 years later titled ''[[The Porky Pig Show]]'' which aired on ABC from 1964 to 1967).

''The Bugs Bunny Show'' proved beneficial to the Warner Bros. cartoon staff, as it allowed the studio to remain open despite the shrinking market for theatrical animated shorts.<ref name="endofstudio">[[Michael Barrier (historian)|Barrier, Michael]] (1999). ''Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in its Golden Age''. New York: Oxford University Press. Pg. 562. {{ISBN|0-19-516729-5}}.</ref> The final first-run episode of the original ''Bugs Bunny Show'' aired on August 7, 1962,<ref>[http://www.tv.com/the-bugs-bunny-show/a-tale-of-two-kitties/episode/258691/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;25 The Bugs Bunny Show: A Tale of Two Kitties&nbsp;– TV.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the Warner Bros. animation studio closed the following spring.<ref name="endofstudio" />

===The move to Saturday mornings, 1962–1985===
ABC began re-running ''The Bugs Bunny Show'' on Saturday mornings in April 1962 until September 1967 when it was moved to Sunday mornings for the remainder of its run. The series was rerun in color beginning in 1965, and remained on ABC until September 1968. At this point, the series switched to CBS, where it was combined with ''[[The Road Runner Show]]'' (which had aired on CBS since 1966) to create ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour''.<ref name="bbrrhour">McCorry, Kevin (2007). "[http://kevinmccorrytv.ca/bbrr.html The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour Page]."</ref> The standard ''Bugs Bunny Show'' opening and the announcer's introduction of Bugs Bunny ("that [[Academy Award|Oscar]]-winning rabbit!") were directly followed by the rabbit's saying, "...and also starring my fast feathered friend, the Road Runner", after which ''The Road Runner Show's'' theme was played. ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour'' combined re-edited bridging sequences from both shows to link the seven cartoons featured in each episode. The bridging sequences would be edited further in later versions of the ''Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour''.<ref>Beck, Jerry and Will Friedwald, ''Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: The Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons'', Henry Holt, 1989</ref>

In 1971, ''The Road Runner Show'' moved to ABC, and a reconstituted half-hour ''Bugs Bunny Show'' aired on CBS, featuring re-edited versions of the bridging sequences and a different grouping of cartoons.<ref name="bbrrhour" /> In 1973, ''The Bugs Bunny Show'' returned to ABC for two seasons, only for CBS to re-acquire both shows and bring back ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour'' in 1975.<ref name="bbrrhour" /> In 1976, [[Sylvester (Looney Tunes)|Sylvester]] and [[Tweety Bird|Tweety]] were featured in their own ''Sylvester and Tweety Show'' for one year, necessitating the removal of most of the Tweety and/or Sylvester cartoons on ''Bugs Bunny/Road Runner'' that season. Also that year, a weekly half-hour prime-time edition of ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show'' briefly aired on CBS' Tuesday night schedule from April through June.

''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour'' became ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show'' in November 1977 after CBS added another half-hour to the runtime. In 1981, a companion ''Sylvester & Tweety, Daffy, and Speedy Show'' was added to the CBS schedule, which included a number of later cartoons produced by a reestablished Warner Bros. Cartoons studio from 1967 to 1969. The following year, this new companion series was canceled, and its cartoons were incorporated into ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show'', which was broadcast as two separate hour-long programs on Saturday mornings (for the second program, the show's opening titles were re-animated).<ref name="bbrrhour" /> In 1983, CBS returned the show to 90 minutes and the bridging sequences were dropped. The following year, the "This Is It" opening was jettisoned altogether; a new title sequence (created from clips of the cartoons) and new theme song ("It's Cartoon Gold"), composed by [[Steve Zuckerman (composer)|Steve Zuckerman]] with lyrics by [[John Klawitter]], introduced the show.

===Final Saturday morning years, 1985–2000===
CBS gave up the rights to broadcast the Warner Bros. cartoons following the 1984–1985 season, and as a result, the show moved back to ABC, where it became ''The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour''. Cartoons featuring Tweety or [[Speedy Gonzales]] were not broadcast on ABC during the 1985–86 season, the latter presumably due to Mexican stereotypes. The following year, however, Tweety cartoons were added to the program, which was reduced to a half-hour and renamed ''The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show''.<ref name="bbtweety">McCorry, Kevin (2007). "[http://www.kevinmccorrytv.ca/bugstweetysho.html The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show Page]."</ref> Beginning with its third season, ''The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show'' was expanded to a full hour, and the original "This Is It" theme was reintroduced with similar animation as the original, accompanied by the introductory sequence introduced in 1982.<ref name="bbtweety" /> Another version of the "This Is It" opening sequence was done in 1992 with different character animations.

Though the program did not qualify for the [[E/I|educational/informational]] designation, it nonetheless remained on Saturday mornings after the new designation debuted in 1996, one of the few non-E/I programs to survive the rules changes. The previous year, ABC was bought by [[The Walt Disney Company]], and ''The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show'' was the only non-Disney cartoon to remain on the lineup, due to their contract not being up yet, and was in the first few years of the [[ABC Kids (TV programming block)#Disney's 1 Saturday Morning|Disney's One Saturday Morning]] block starting in 1997 (with the Disney logo omitted from the blocks bumpers during the show). The program was often paired with ABC's in-house ''[[Schoolhouse Rock!]]'' shorts during this time.

The hour-long ''Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show'' remained on the air until 1999, when it was again reduced to a half-hour. In 2000, Warner Bros. made the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies film library exclusive to [[Cartoon Network]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-net-lands-looney-toons-plus-4-new-shows|title=Cartoon Net Lands Looney Toons Plus 4 New Shows|quote=Cartoon Network has also landed the exclusive television rights to Warner Bros. classic LOONEY TUNES titles starting fall 2000. This is the first time the entire library of nearly 900 classic animated shorts has been featured exclusively on one TV network.|publisher=[[Animation World Network]]|date=2000-03-08|accessdate=2021-03-22}}</ref> which Time Warner owned as part of the purchase of [[Turner Broadcasting System|Turner Broadcasting]] in 1996. As a result, ''The Bugs Bunny Show'' ended its nearly four-decade-long network run, one of the longest runs in the history of United States network television.<ref name="bbtweety" /> Outside cartoons in the public domain, Warner Bros. cartoons would not return to American broadcast television until the 2021 debut of ''[[Toon In with Me]]'' on [[MeTV]], along with a companion Saturday morning block.


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
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Beginning in January 2021, the original "This Is It" opening sequence was included in ''Bugs Bunny and Friends'', part of [[MeTV]]'s ''Saturday Morning Cartoons'' block.
Beginning in January 2021, the original "This Is It" opening sequence was included in ''Bugs Bunny and Friends'', part of [[MeTV]]'s ''Saturday Morning Cartoons'' block.


== Animated sequences produced for the show ==
==Production==
The series was produced by [[Chuck Jones]], [[Friz Freleng]], and [[David H. DePatie]], and executive produced by [[Chuck Jones]], [[Friz Freleng]], [[David H. DePatie]], and [[William L. Hendricks]].

[[Chuck Jones]], [[Friz Freleng]], and [[Robert McKimson]] served as senior directors. Episodes were co-directed by [[Hawley Pratt]], [[Gerry Chiniquy]], [[Arthur Davis (animator)|Art Davis]], [[Abe Levitow]], [[Maurice Noble]], [[Alex Lovy]], David Detiege, [[Rudy Larriva]], and [[Tom Ray]].
Members of [[The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839|Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Local 839]] provided the scenarios for the series.

The composers were [[Carl W. Stalling]], [[Milt Franklyn]], John Seely, [[William Lava]], [[William L. Hendricks]], [[Walter Greene]], Eugene Poddany, Doug Goodwin, Rob Walsh, Quinn Amper, Fred Strittmatter, and [[Dean Elliot]]. The theme song of the series, titled "This Is It", was composed by [[Mack David]] amd [[Jerry Livingston]].

Treg Brown, Hal Geer, Fred Farrell, Chuck McCann, Jim Champin, and Lee Gunther served as editors.

The series cast included [[Mel Blanc]], [[Stan Freberg]], [[June Foray]], [[Hal Smith (actor)|Hal Smith]], and [[Arthur Q. Bryan]].
===Animated sequences produced for the series===


A series of short animated scenes were produced for the series, featured "linking" moments during the fictional theater setting of the show. Some of these scenes included:
A series of short animated scenes were produced for the show, featured "linking" moments during the fictional theater setting of the show. Some of these scenes included:
* The opening teaser showed [[Bugs Bunny]] and [[Daffy Duck]] performing a duet about the start of the cartoon show; as they sing it, in the background crossing the stage are some of co stars' regulars:[[Tweety Bird]]; [[Speedy Gonzales]]; [[Pepé Le Pew]]; [[Sylvester the Cat]]; [[Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner|Road Runner]]; [[Hippety Hopper]] (aka Giant Mouse); [[Yosemite Sam]]; [[Elmer Fudd]]; [[Wile E. Coyote]]; [[Foghorn Leghorn]].
* The opening teaser showed [[Bugs Bunny]] and [[Daffy Duck]] performing a duet about the start of the cartoon show; as they sing it, in the background crossing the stage are some of co stars' regulars:[[Tweety Bird]]; [[Speedy Gonzales]]; [[Pepé Le Pew]]; [[Sylvester the Cat]]; [[Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner|Road Runner]]; [[Hippety Hopper]] (aka Giant Mouse); [[Yosemite Sam]]; [[Elmer Fudd]]; [[Wile E. Coyote]]; [[Foghorn Leghorn]].
* A frustrated Daffy Duck bickering on stage with Bugs Bunny. Daffy declares, "''Last'' week you said you were going to introduce me ''next'' week!" Bugs replies, "Right...but this isn't next week, is it?" Daffy trips himself up and replies, "You're doggone tootin' is isn't! This is ''this'' week! And next week is uhhh...ummm...sheesh!"
* A frustrated Daffy Duck bickering on stage with Bugs Bunny. Daffy declares, "''Last'' week you said you were going to introduce me ''next'' week!" Bugs replies, "Right...but this isn't next week, is it?" Daffy trips himself up and replies, "You're doggone tootin' is isn't! This is ''this'' week! And next week is uhhh...ummm...sheesh!"
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In 2009, an episode of the ''Bugs Bunny Show'' in color was released on the Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Volume 2 set. Saturday Morning Cartoons 1970s Volume 2 includes an episode of the ''Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show''.
In 2009, an episode of the ''Bugs Bunny Show'' in color was released on the Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Volume 2 set. Saturday Morning Cartoons 1970s Volume 2 includes an episode of the ''Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show''.


== List of original primetime episodes ==
== Episodes ==


=== Season 1 (1960–1961) ===
=== Season 1 (1960–1961) ===
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|}
|}


==Broadcast==
==Formats==
'''Prime Time:'''
''The Bugs Bunny Show'' originally premiered on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] on October 11, 1960.
* ''The Bugs Bunny Show'', October 11, 1960 – August 7, 1962 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]])
===In the US===
====In primetime====
''The Bugs Bunny Show'' originally premiered on October 11, 1960, on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], and aired on the network until August 7, 1962.
====In Saturday mornings====
''The Bugs Bunny Show'' first aired in Saturday mornings on April 7, 1962, on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. The list below contemplates the following iterations of the show airing in Saturday mornings:

* ''The Bugs Bunny Show'' later reran in the same network from August 14, 1962 to September 8, 1968 (since ABC started airing in color format by September 10, 1966) and again from September 8, 1973 to August 30, 1975. On [[Columbia Broadcasting System|CBS]], reruns of the same show occured from September 11, 1971 to September 1, 1973.
* ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour'' first aired on [[Columbia Broadcasting System|CBS]] from September 14, 1968 to September 4, 1971. It later reran in the same network from September 6, 1975 to September 7, 1985.
* ''The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour'' aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from September 7, 1985 to September 6, 1986.
* ''The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show'' aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from September 13, 1986 to September 2, 2000. This was the last iteration of the series.

===International broadcast===
In Canada, the first network that aired the series was [[CBC Television]], airing the series until 1975, followed by [[Global Television Network|Global]], airing the series twice: from 1978 to 1982 and from 1990 to 2000. Later in the same country, ''The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show'' aired on [[Teletoon]] from 2000 and reran on Teletoon's sister channel, [[Teletoon Retro]] until 2015, when Teletoon Retro signed off the air.

In Australia, the series aired on [[Nine Network]] (most of the time) and also on [[Network Ten]] and [[Seven Network]].


'''Saturday Mornings''':
In Poland, the show aired twice on [[TVP1]]: from 1979 to 1980 and from 1991 to 1992.
* ''The Bugs Bunny Show'', April 7, 1962 – September 8, 1968 (in color starting September 10, 1966) ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]])
* ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour'', September 14, 1968 – September 4, 1971 ([[Columbia Broadcasting System|CBS]])
* ''The Bugs Bunny Show'', September 11, 1971 – September 1, 1973 (CBS)
* ''The Bugs Bunny Show'', September 8, 1973 - August 30, 1975 (ABC)
* ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour'', September 6, 1975 – November 12, 1977 (CBS)
* ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show'', November 19, 1977 – September 7, 1985 (CBS)
* ''The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour'', September 7, 1985 September 6, 1986 (ABC)
* ''The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show'', September 13, 1986 September 2, 2000 (ABC)


==Credits==
In Asia, the show first aired in 1961 and the first countries from the continent that aired the series were Japan and South Korea. In the Philippines, the show aired on [[ABS-CBN]] and [[Radio Philippines Network|RPN]]. In Indonesia, the show aired on TPI (now [[MNCTV]]) from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s and on [[RCTI]] during the 2000s.
* Senior Directors: [[Chuck Jones]], [[Friz Freleng]], [[Robert McKimson]]
* Co-directors: [[Hawley Pratt]], [[Gerry Chiniquy]], [[Arthur Davis (animator)|Art Davis]], [[Abe Levitow]], [[Maurice Noble]], [[Alex Lovy]], David Detiege, [[Rudy Larriva]], [[Tom Ray]]
* Stories, Animation, layouts, and backgrounds: Members of [[The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839|Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Local 839]]
* Music: [[Carl W. Stalling]], [[Milt Franklyn]], John Seely, [[William Lava]], [[William L. Hendricks]], [[Walter Greene]], Eugene Poddany, Doug Goodwin, Rob Walsh, Quinn Amper, Fred Strittmatter, [[Dean Elliot]]
* ''The Bugs Bunny Show'' Opening and Closing Theme: "This Is It" by [[Mack David]] & [[Jerry Livingston]]
* Film Editors: Treg Brown, Hal Geer, Fred Farrell, Chuck McCann, Jim Champin, Lee Gunther
* Producers: [[Chuck Jones]], [[Friz Freleng]], [[David H. DePatie]]
* Executive Producers: [[Chuck Jones]], [[Friz Freleng]], [[David H. DePatie]], [[William L. Hendricks]]
*Cast: [[Mel Blanc]], [[Stan Freberg]], [[June Foray]], [[Hal Smith (actor)|Hal Smith]], and [[Arthur Q. Bryan]]


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 22:16, 8 April 2024

The Bugs Bunny Show
Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny in the opening.
Also known as
  • The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour
  • The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show
  • The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour
  • The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show
  • Bugs Bunny and Friends
GenreAnimated
Anthology
Comedy
Directed by
Voices of
Theme music composer
Opening theme
  • "Overture" (1960–1984, 1988–2000, 2021-present)
  • "It's Cartoon Gold" (1984–1985)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons27
No. of episodes684
Production
Executive producers
ProducersFriz Freleng
Chuck Jones
Running timeVarious; 22 to 66 minutes
Production companiesWarner Bros. Television
Shorts:
Warner Bros. Cartoons
Bumpers:
Warner Bros. Cartoons
(1960-1963)
Warner Bros. Animation
(1980-2000)
Original release
NetworkABC (1960–1968, 1973–1975, 1985–2000)
CBS (1968–1973, 1975–1985)
ReleaseOctober 11, 1960 (1960-10-11) –
September 2, 2000 (2000-09-02)
Related
The Porky Pig Show
The Road Runner Show

The Bugs Bunny Show is a long-running American animated anthology television series hosted by Bugs Bunny that was mainly composed of theatrical Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons released by Warner Bros. between 1948 and 1969. The show originally debuted as a primetime half-hour program on ABC in 1960, featuring three theatrical Looney Tunes cartoons with new linking sequences produced by the Warner Bros. Cartoons staff.[1]

After two seasons, The Bugs Bunny Show moved to Saturday mornings, where it aired in various formats for nearly four decades. The show's title and length changed regularly over the years, as did the network: both ABC and CBS broadcast versions of The Bugs Bunny Show.[2] In 2000, the series, by then known as The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show, was canceled after the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies libraries became the exclusive property of the Cartoon Network family of cable TV networks in the United States. In January 2021, the retro-formatted network MeTV revived the show under the title Bugs Bunny and Friends, as the third hour of a Saturday morning block of classic cartoons.

In Canada, Reruns of The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show were aired on the channels Teletoon and Teletoon's sister channel, Teletoon Retro (until 2015 when Teletoon Retro signed off). Prior to Teletoon and Teletoon Retro, CBC Television (1960–1975) and Global Television Network (1978–1982, 1990–2000) aired the show. In Australia, episodes of the show were divided between three networks, with most episodes aired on Nine Network, and some episodes divided between Network Ten, and Seven Network since its debut. In Poland, the show aired on TVP1 from 1979 till 1980 and again from 1991 till 1992. In Asia, the program was aired in Japan and South Korea in the early 1960s and also aired on ABS-CBN and RPN in the Philippines, it was also aired on TPI (now MNCTV) from mid 1990s to early 2000s and RCTI during 2000s in Indonesia as well.

Broadcast and format history

The Bugs Bunny Show in prime time, 1960-1962

The original Bugs Bunny Show debuted on ABC prime time in the United States on October 11, 1960, airing on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM ET, under the sponsorship of General Foods (Post cereals, Tang, etc.). Newly produced linking segments were done for each episode by the Warner Bros. animation staff. Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng produced, directed, and created the storyboards for the earliest of these, with Robert McKimson later taking over the direction while Jones and Freleng continued producing and writing.[3] The wraparounds were produced in color, although the original broadcasts of the show were in black-and-white. A total of 52 episodes were made.

Rather than display the full Warner Bros. logo and opening title/credits sequence of each cartoon shown in each episode (as shown in the original theatrical versions and could take up to 20 seconds), new title cards were created to begin each cartoon, and displayed for only about five seconds over a newly composed musical cue; the card omitted the Warner Bros. logo and any detailed credits of the animators, and simply featured the title of the cartoon in bold letters on a plain background, the main character of the cartoon standing off to one side, and the copyright notice of the cartoon rendered in a smaller font at the bottom, before cutting directly to the opening scene of the cartoon, these cuts were sometimes awkward depending on how the original opening sequence was animated. A general credits line was shown at the end of each full episode: "Stories, Animation, layouts, and backgrounds: Members of Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Local 839." (The Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons syndicated to local stations as a package, beginning in the 1950s, generally retained the original opening title sequences as shown in theaters. The current revival of the show on MeTV also uses the original theatrical title cards.)

The show's theme song was "This Is It", written by Mack David and Jerry Livingston ("Overture/curtain, lights/this is it/the night of nights..."). The opening title sequence, animated by Freleng unit animator Gerry Chiniquy,[4] features Bugs and Daffy Duck performing the song in unison. For the final chorus, a lineup of Looney Tunes characters joins Bugs and Daffy onstage (Porky Pig, however, is absent from the procession, although Porky had a spin-off show based on the original Bugs Bunny Show 4 years later titled The Porky Pig Show which aired on ABC from 1964 to 1967).

The Bugs Bunny Show proved beneficial to the Warner Bros. cartoon staff, as it allowed the studio to remain open despite the shrinking market for theatrical animated shorts.[5] The final first-run episode of the original Bugs Bunny Show aired on August 7, 1962,[6] and the Warner Bros. animation studio closed the following spring.[5]

The move to Saturday mornings, 1962–1985

ABC began re-running The Bugs Bunny Show on Saturday mornings in April 1962 until September 1967 when it was moved to Sunday mornings for the remainder of its run. The series was rerun in color beginning in 1965, and remained on ABC until September 1968. At this point, the series switched to CBS, where it was combined with The Road Runner Show (which had aired on CBS since 1966) to create The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour.[7] The standard Bugs Bunny Show opening and the announcer's introduction of Bugs Bunny ("that Oscar-winning rabbit!") were directly followed by the rabbit's saying, "...and also starring my fast feathered friend, the Road Runner", after which The Road Runner Show's theme was played. The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour combined re-edited bridging sequences from both shows to link the seven cartoons featured in each episode. The bridging sequences would be edited further in later versions of the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour.[8]

In 1971, The Road Runner Show moved to ABC, and a reconstituted half-hour Bugs Bunny Show aired on CBS, featuring re-edited versions of the bridging sequences and a different grouping of cartoons.[7] In 1973, The Bugs Bunny Show returned to ABC for two seasons, only for CBS to re-acquire both shows and bring back The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour in 1975.[7] In 1976, Sylvester and Tweety were featured in their own Sylvester and Tweety Show for one year, necessitating the removal of most of the Tweety and/or Sylvester cartoons on Bugs Bunny/Road Runner that season. Also that year, a weekly half-hour prime-time edition of The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show briefly aired on CBS' Tuesday night schedule from April through June.

The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour became The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show in November 1977 after CBS added another half-hour to the runtime. In 1981, a companion Sylvester & Tweety, Daffy, and Speedy Show was added to the CBS schedule, which included a number of later cartoons produced by a reestablished Warner Bros. Cartoons studio from 1967 to 1969. The following year, this new companion series was canceled, and its cartoons were incorporated into The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show, which was broadcast as two separate hour-long programs on Saturday mornings (for the second program, the show's opening titles were re-animated).[7] In 1983, CBS returned the show to 90 minutes and the bridging sequences were dropped. The following year, the "This Is It" opening was jettisoned altogether; a new title sequence (created from clips of the cartoons) and new theme song ("It's Cartoon Gold"), composed by Steve Zuckerman with lyrics by John Klawitter, introduced the show.

Final Saturday morning years, 1985–2000

CBS gave up the rights to broadcast the Warner Bros. cartoons following the 1984–1985 season, and as a result, the show moved back to ABC, where it became The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour. Cartoons featuring Tweety or Speedy Gonzales were not broadcast on ABC during the 1985–86 season, the latter presumably due to Mexican stereotypes. The following year, however, Tweety cartoons were added to the program, which was reduced to a half-hour and renamed The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show.[9] Beginning with its third season, The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show was expanded to a full hour, and the original "This Is It" theme was reintroduced with similar animation as the original, accompanied by the introductory sequence introduced in 1982.[9] Another version of the "This Is It" opening sequence was done in 1992 with different character animations.

Though the program did not qualify for the educational/informational designation, it nonetheless remained on Saturday mornings after the new designation debuted in 1996, one of the few non-E/I programs to survive the rules changes. The previous year, ABC was bought by The Walt Disney Company, and The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show was the only non-Disney cartoon to remain on the lineup, due to their contract not being up yet, and was in the first few years of the Disney's One Saturday Morning block starting in 1997 (with the Disney logo omitted from the blocks bumpers during the show). The program was often paired with ABC's in-house Schoolhouse Rock! shorts during this time.

The hour-long Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show remained on the air until 1999, when it was again reduced to a half-hour. In 2000, Warner Bros. made the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies film library exclusive to Cartoon Network,[10] which Time Warner owned as part of the purchase of Turner Broadcasting in 1996. As a result, The Bugs Bunny Show ended its nearly four-decade-long network run, one of the longest runs in the history of United States network television.[9] Outside cartoons in the public domain, Warner Bros. cartoons would not return to American broadcast television until the 2021 debut of Toon In with Me on MeTV, along with a companion Saturday morning block.

Legacy

This show is credited for keeping the Warner Bros. cartoons made during the Golden Age of American animation a part of the American consciousness. Indeed, the show ran for almost four decades, and helped inspire animators, comedians, historians, and others who watched Saturday morning television.[11]

The "This Is It" song's fame is such that it has been used elsewhere, such as in the Canadian province of Ontario where it was used in a TV commercial promoting the various performing arts tourist attractions where artists of various disciplines sing separate lines of the song. [citation needed]

When Warner Bros. released its video series "Golden Jubilee", featuring the classic cartoons, the opening sequence shows the Tasmanian Devil maniacally riding a motorcycle down a city street, chased by a police car. He makes a sharp turn into a theater, where the rest of the Looney Tunes are performing to the Bugs Bunny Show tune.

Beginning in January 2021, the original "This Is It" opening sequence was included in Bugs Bunny and Friends, part of MeTV's Saturday Morning Cartoons block.

Animated sequences produced for the show

A series of short animated scenes were produced for the show, featured "linking" moments during the fictional theater setting of the show. Some of these scenes included:

  • The opening teaser showed Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck performing a duet about the start of the cartoon show; as they sing it, in the background crossing the stage are some of co stars' regulars:Tweety Bird; Speedy Gonzales; Pepé Le Pew; Sylvester the Cat; Road Runner; Hippety Hopper (aka Giant Mouse); Yosemite Sam; Elmer Fudd; Wile E. Coyote; Foghorn Leghorn.
  • A frustrated Daffy Duck bickering on stage with Bugs Bunny. Daffy declares, "Last week you said you were going to introduce me next week!" Bugs replies, "Right...but this isn't next week, is it?" Daffy trips himself up and replies, "You're doggone tootin' is isn't! This is this week! And next week is uhhh...ummm...sheesh!"
  • A barking sheepdog wanders into the theater, saying "Which way did he go? Where's the little bunny I saw on TV last week?" Daffy, at this time, has dressed up in a rabbit costume and is on stage pretending to be Bugs. The sheepdog pounces upon Daffy and exclaims, "At last, at last! I have caught a bunny rabbit!"
  • Bugs entertains the audience by playing a guitar. An angry Yosemite Sam barges in the theater shouting, "Can't ya see I'm tryin' to sleep?!?", snatches the guitar from Bugs, and snaps all of its strings but one.
  • Bugs demonstrates some cartoon physics, including slow motion, fast speed and "vibrating to a stop."

The show's title sequences and some of these linking material scenes from the original Bugs Bunny Show are included as bonus features on each volume of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD collection (with the exception of Volume 6). As the original color negatives were cut up by CBS and ABC to create later versions of the show, the linking sequences are presented on DVD using a combination of footage from both what's left of the color negatives (some of which were used in later incarnations, thus helping to preserve them) and the black-and-white ABC broadcast prints prepared in the early 1960s.[12]

On the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2, the opening to the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show (with the announcer calling it the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour) and two openings to the Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (the 1988 opening and the 1992 opening) were released as special features.

In 2009, an episode of the Bugs Bunny Show in color was released on the Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Volume 2 set. Saturday Morning Cartoons 1970s Volume 2 includes an episode of the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show.

List of original primetime episodes

Season 1 (1960–1961)

# 1st cartoon 2nd cartoon 3rd cartoon Original air date Directed by Prod. No. U.S. households (in millions)
1 Rabbit Every Monday A Mouse Divided Tree for Two October 11, 1960 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1595[13]
6.92[14]
2 Putty Tat Trouble Wise Quackers Speedy Gonzales October 18, 1960 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1589[13]
N/A
3 Wild Over You Go Fly a Kit Mouse Warming October 25, 1960 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1587[13]
6.74[14]
4 To Itch His Own Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z Whoa, Be Gone! November 1, 1960 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1591[13]
6.74[14]
5 Canary Row Knights Must Fall For Scent-imental Reasons November 8, 1960 Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Maurice Noble

#1575[13]
5.28[14]
  • Daffy Duck is so desperate to appear on the show he dresses up as a Hawaiian, a musketeer, and in knight's armor.
6 Long-Haired Hare Sandy Claws Mouse Wreckers November 15, 1960 Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Gerry Chiniquy

#1576[13]
8.05[14]
  • Daffy plays the drums and Bugs imitates "Frankie doing an imitation of Ricky imitating Elvis." Yosemite Sam trying to sleep, appears and destroys Bugs and Daffy's instruments.
7 Bully for Bugs Tweety's SOS One Froggy Evening November 22, 1960 Chuck Jones

Co-Directed by: Maurice Noble

#1580[13]
8.59[14]
  • Daffy, disguised as Bugs, attempts to host the show- but is chased by the sheepdog who thinks he's a rabbit. Daffy finds he cannot remove the bunny suit.
8 My Bunny Lies Over the Sea Scaredy Cat Scent-imental Romeo November 29, 1960 Maurice Noble #1579[13]
8.32[14]
  • Daffy wants to host the show and expels all others including Pepe, Elmer, and Bugs.
9 Bunker Hill Bunny Each Dawn I Crow Golden Yeggs December 6, 1960 Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Hawley Pratt

#1581[13]
8.63[14]
10 Which Is Witch Mouse Mazurka Kit for Cat December 13, 1960 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Hawley Pratt

#1584[13]
8.00[14]
  • Yosemite Sam is again after Bugs, so he comes to see the "screwy rabbit's" show.
11 Two's a Crowd All a Bir-r-r-rd The Hasty Hare December 20, 1960 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Abe Levitow and Maurice Noble

#1585[13]
N/A
12 What's Up, Doc? Early to Bet Pop 'Im Pop December 27, 1960 Robert McKimson #1586[13]
8.25[14]
13 A-Lad-In His Lamp Dog Gone South A Fractured Leghorn January 3, 1961 Robert McKimson #1588[13]
8.39[14]
14 Ant Pasted The Fair-Haired Hare I Gopher You January 10, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1590[13]
9.19[14]
15 Rocket Squad Daffy Dilly Drip-Along Daffy January 17, 1961 Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Robert Transon and Maurice Noble

#1592[13]
8.40[14]
  • Bugs presents an all-Daffy Duck tribute, in which Mamma Bear performs "I'm Just Wild About Daffy".
16 The Leghorn Blows at Midnight Hot Cross Bunny His Bitter Half January 24, 1961 Robert McKimson

Co-Directed by: Maurice Noble

#1593[13]
9.66[14]
  • Foghorn Leghorn presents Miss Prissy, old-time actress, who re-enacts her favorite stage roles.
17 Lovelorn Leghorn Who's Kitten Who The Windblown Hare January 31, 1961 Robert McKimson #1594[13]
9.62[14]
  • A twist on Duck Amuck – an unseen animator draws Foghorn Leghorn with Rock Hudson's body. Foghorn gets even lassos the animator, Daffy Duck and beats him up.
18 High Diving Hare Don't Give Up the Sheep Stooge for a Mouse February 7, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Hawley Pratt

#1596[13]
10.37[14]
19 Mutiny on the Bunny Punch Trunk Fast and Furry-ous February 14, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Abe Levitow and Maurice Noble

#1597[13]
9.47[14]
  • Bugs Bunny demonstrates how to draw a cartoon- and how to draw Daffy Duck from a dumbbell.
20 Rabbit of Seville The Scarlet Pumpernickel Stop! Look! And Hasten! February 21, 1961 Friz Freleng #1598[13]
9.52[14]
  • A program on music with interruptions by hunter Elmer Fudd.
21 Hillbilly Hare Hippety Hopper You Were Never Duckier February 28, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1599[13]
9.29[14]
22 The Turn-Tale Wolf Paying the Piper Beanstalk Bunny March 7, 1961 Robert McKimson #1600[13]
7.79[14]
  • Sylvester hosts and tells his son, Junior, some fairy tales.
23 Big House Bunny Canned Feud Home Tweet Home March 14, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1601[13]
8.86[14]
  • More fun with Mac and Tosh, who spend their time arguing while Bugs introduces the cartoons.
24 Mississippi Hare Terrier Stricken Cheese Chasers March 21, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Abe Levitow

#1602[13]
8.21[14]
  • Pepe Lew Pew hosts the show. Yosemite Sam tries to use the Tasmanian Devil to get rid of him, but his scent defeats them.
25 Henhouse Henery Curtain Razor Devil May Hare March 28, 1961 Robert McKimson #1603[13]
8.21[14]
  • Bugs Bunny introduces host Daffy Duck, but Daffy is backstage being chased by the Tasmanian Devil.
26 Hare We Go The Foghorn Leghorn Little Red Rodent Hood April 4, 1961 Friz Freleng and Chuck Jones #1604[13]
9.38[14]
  • Rocky and Mugsy take over the show at gunpoint.

Season 2 (1961–1962)

# Title Cartoons Included Original air date Directed by Prod. No. U.S. households (in millions)
1 Bad Time Story Bewitched Bunny/Robin Hood Daffy/Tweety and the Beanstalk October 10, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1624[13]
6.94[15]
  • Bugs Bunny reads and reenacts fairy-tales.

NOTE: The bridging sequences for this episode were included as a bonus feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5 DVD set.

2 Satain's Waitin' Hare Trimmed/Roman Legion Hare/Sahara Hare October 17, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1625[13]
N/A
  • An elaboration on the short Devil's Feud Cake, Sam dies and goes to hell- but the devil will spare him if he brings back the bunny.
3 Daffy Doodling Hoppy Go Lucky/Lumber Jerks/Weasel While You Work October 24, 1961 Robert McKimson #1626[13]
6.99[15]
  • Daffy outwits Bugs for the master of ceremonies job.
4 Omni-Puss Mouse-Taken Identity/Kiss Me Cat/Heaven Scent October 31, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by: Maurice Noble

#1627[13]
4.50[15]
  • Bugs Bunny lectures about cats.
5 Tired and Feathered Ready, Set, Zoom!/Two Crows from Tacos/Snow Business November 7, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1628[13]
6.47[15]
  • Bugs Bunny speaks about birds.
6 Man's Best Friend Sheep Ahoy/Chow Hound/Pappy's Puppy November 14, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1642[13]
7.69[15]
  • A look at dogs.
7 Ball Point Puns Duck! Rabbit! Duck!/Claws for Alarm/Cracked Quack November 21, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1629[13]
7.22[15]
  • Penelope and Penbrooke (the red and black pens) perform for the audience.

NOTE: the bridging sequences for this episode were included as a bonus feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 4 DVD set.

8 The Unfinished Sympathy Pizzicato Pussycat/Baton Bunny/Three Little Bops November 28, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by Maurice Noble and Robert Tronson

#1630[13]
8.11[15]
  • A program on music.
9 Prison to Prison Deduce, You Say/The Hole Idea/Bugsy and Mugsy December 5, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by Hawley Pratt

#1631[13]
6.85[15]
10 Go Man Go There Auto Be a Law/Wild Wife/No Parking Hare December 12, 1961 Robert McKimson #1632[13]
7.88[15]
  • Bugs lectures about men, women and life in general.
11 I'm Just Wild About Hare Stork Naked/Going! Going! Gosh!/Touche and Go December 19, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-directed by: Maurice Noble and Tom Ray

#1633[13]
N/A
  • Bugs has overslept, so he hosts the show from his home.
12 Stage Couch Gift Wrapped/Tweet Dreams/Tweety's Circus/A Street Cat Named Sylvester December 26, 1961 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-directed by Hawley Pratt

#1634[13]
7.55[15]
  • Sylvester tells psychiatrist Dr. Bugs of his obsession with Tweety.
13 Do or Diet Bedevilled Rabbit/Stupor Duck/Little Boy Boo January 16, 1962 Robert McKimson #1635[13]
8.23[15]
  • Bugs talks about a carrot diet while heckling the Tasmanian Devil.

NOTE: Bridging sequences for this episode were included as a bonus feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2 DVD set.

14 Hare Brush Feline Frame-Up/Much Ado About Nutting/Duck Amuck January 23, 1962 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-directed by Maurice Noble and Ken Harris

#1636[13]
7.50[15]
  • Bugs introduces Harry the Brush (from Duck Amuck) who explains his role in animation.
15 Is This a Life? 14 Carrot Rabbit/Robot Rabbit/High Diving Hare February 13, 1962 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1637[13]
7.50[15]
  • Bugs Bunny's life is reviewed with visits from his friends and foes.
16 De-Duck-Tive Story Boston Quackie/The Super Snooper/Dime to Retire February 20, 1962 Robert McKimson #1638[13]
7.94[15]
  • Features Daffy Duck in his greatest detective roles.
17 The Astro-Nuts Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century/Jumpin' Jupiter/Hare-Way to the Stars March 13, 1962 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-Directed by Maurice Noble and Ken Harris

#1639[13]
8.33[15]
  • Porky Pig in a space suit introduces sci-fi cartoons.
18 Vera's Cruise Dr. Jerkyl's Hide/Tweety's SOS/A Pizza Tweety Pie/All a Bir-r-r-rd March 20, 1962 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1640[13]
7.64[15]
  • Sylvester tells of his recent travels through Europe in pursuit of Tweety.
19 Foreign Legion Leghorn The Egg-Cited Rooster/Of Rice and Hen/Feather Dusted June 19, 1962 Robert McKimson #1641[13]
N/A
  • Foghorn is an inept soldier in the Foreign Legion. He explains to his sergeant what made him that way.
20 Watch My Line A Waggily Tale/Scrambled Aches/Rabbit Rampage June 26, 1962 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-directed by Hawley Pratt

#1643[13]
N/A
  • An elaboration on Rabbit Rampage, in which Bugs suffers various indignities from a mysterious animator, who turns out to be Elmer Fudd.
21 What's Up Dog? Awful Orphan/Don't Axe Me/Mixed Master July 3, 1962 Robert McKimson #1644[13]
N/A
  • More dog tales.
22 The Cat's Bah The Cat's Bah/Frigid Hare/Little Beau Pepe July 10, 1962 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1645[13]
N/A
  • Pepe Le Pew recalls the results of a broken romance.
23 No Business Like Slow Business Red Riding Hoodwinked/Barbary Coast Bunny/Double or Mutton July 17, 1962 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng #1646[13]
N/A
24 The Honey-Mousers Cheese It, the Cat!/Lighthouse Mouse/The Honey-Mousers July 24, 1962 Robert McKimson #1647[13]
N/A
  • Bugs invites us backstage, offers us drinks, and invites us to watch a high-rated TV show: The Honey-Mousers

NOTE: The bridging sequences for this episode were included as a bonus feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3 DVD set.

25 A Star is Bored Catty Cornered/There They Go-Go-Go!/A Star is Bored July 31, 1962 Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

Co-directed by Maurice Noble and Tom Ray

#1648[13]
N/A
  • Bugs Bunny shows us how cartoons are made, telling the audience "Confidentially, I do Mel Blanc's voice."

NOTE: The bridging sequences for this episode were included as a bonus feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1 DVD set.

26 A Tale of Two Kitties The Slap-Hoppy Mouse/Gonzales' Tamales/Cats A-Weigh! August 7, 1962 Robert McKimson #1649[13]
N/A
  • Sylvester and Junior discuss mice, especially the "giant size" kind.

Formats

Prime Time:

  • The Bugs Bunny Show, October 11, 1960 – August 7, 1962 (ABC)

Saturday Mornings:

  • The Bugs Bunny Show, April 7, 1962 – September 8, 1968 (in color starting September 10, 1966) (ABC)
  • The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, September 14, 1968 – September 4, 1971 (CBS)
  • The Bugs Bunny Show, September 11, 1971 – September 1, 1973 (CBS)
  • The Bugs Bunny Show, September 8, 1973 - August 30, 1975 (ABC)
  • The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, September 6, 1975 – November 12, 1977 (CBS)
  • The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show, November 19, 1977 – September 7, 1985 (CBS)
  • The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour, September 7, 1985 – September 6, 1986 (ABC)
  • The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show, September 13, 1986 – September 2, 2000 (ABC)

Credits

See also

References

  1. ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 163–164. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  3. ^ Maltin, Leonard (1980, rev. 1987). Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons. New York: Plume/Penguin Books. Pg. 274–275.
  4. ^ McCorry, Kevin (2007). "The Bugs Bunny Show Page."
  5. ^ a b Barrier, Michael (1999). Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in its Golden Age. New York: Oxford University Press. Pg. 562. ISBN 0-19-516729-5.
  6. ^ The Bugs Bunny Show: A Tale of Two Kitties – TV.com[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ a b c d McCorry, Kevin (2007). "The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour Page."
  8. ^ Beck, Jerry and Will Friedwald, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: The Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons, Henry Holt, 1989
  9. ^ a b c McCorry, Kevin (2007). "The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show Page."
  10. ^ "Cartoon Net Lands Looney Toons Plus 4 New Shows". Animation World Network. 2000-03-08. Retrieved 2021-03-22. Cartoon Network has also landed the exclusive television rights to Warner Bros. classic LOONEY TUNES titles starting fall 2000. This is the first time the entire library of nearly 900 classic animated shorts has been featured exclusively on one TV network.
  11. ^ ""Looney Tunes on Television", a website dedicated to the Looney Tunes television broadcast history, and maintained by Kevin McCorry and Jon Cooke". Archived from the original on 2005-03-10. Retrieved 2022-07-18.[unreliable source?]
  12. ^ Beck, Jerry. "Cartoon Research FAQ". CartoonResearch.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. pp. 373–376. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "1960-61 Primetime.pdf". Google Drive. August 24, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "1961-62 Primetime.pdf". Google Drive. August 27, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.