Looks like SciFi isn’t the only cable channel undergoing a shift in identity these days. At yesterday’s network upfront, the Cartoon Network touted a move to more live action entertainment as part of an on-going “evolution” of the network.
“Our voice is changing,” said Stuart Snyder, president and COO of Turner Broadcasting’s animation, young adults and kids media division, comparing the network to a young boy who wakes up one day with a deeper voice. “This is an evolution of our brand.”
The network announced 19 new shows in the coming months with half of them not being animated. One series includes a new live-action “Scooby Doo” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Cartoon Network has commissioned two live action scripted pilots: “Unnatural History,” from writer Mike Werb and Warner Horizon, about a teenage son of adventurous anthropologists, and “Prepped,” from Paul Dini, which chronicles the goings-on at a mysterious prep school.
The two projects are part of the live-action development slate Cartoon Network announced in January with the goal to order up to three pilots this year and launch a night of live-action programming next year.
Three of the four showcased upcoming movies, “Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins,” “Ben 10: Alien Swarm” and “Tiger’s Apprentice” were also live-action, joined by the CG-animated “Firebreather.”
In addition, the net unveiled a spate of boy-oriented reality series, including the standout “Destroy Build Destroy,” in which teams of teens attempt to rebuild cars, trucks and the like that have been destroyed by demolition experts. Other reality projects scheduled for the coming season are of similar vein, including the wacky-experiment series “Dude, What Would Happen,” and “Survive This” — essentially a teenage version of Discovery’s “Survivorman.” Cartoon has also tapped the rising kids star Bobb’e J. Thompson (“30 Rock,” “Role Models”) — known for his childish irreverence — to host his own series.
That sort of programming is part of Cartoon Network’s efforts to distinguish itself from competitors Nickelodeon and Disney Channel and of its new mission to become ” a dominant youth culture brand,” one that really understands the needs of high-energy teen boys, said Brenda Freeman, CMO for Turner animation, young adults and kids media.
To jump on the syfy bandwagon, the new name will be:
The See Enn.
Sounds like they’re positioning themselves to be the perfect network to revive The Middleman.
I guess it WAS only a matter of time. Sci-Fi doesn’t show sci-fi anymore, History channel doesn’t show history, Now Cartoon Network doesn’t show cartoons anymore…I see a trend. Do these people even know their own names?
But… but… it’s Cartoon Network. They have almost a century of animation behind them and more being produced every day. Why would they possibly want/need to broadcast live-action shows?
I guess for the same reason SciFi shows wrestling and inane pseudo-science. I weep for the future of our entertainment. At least they’ll still have Robot Chicken, the only CN show I make a point of watching. (They will, right?)
Every channel should just call themselves “MTV” then it will all make sense…