Video of the Week: Boomerang Retromercials

When people think of classic-era Boomerang and its interstitials, most will think of "Groovies", short music videos covering a variety of cartoons, genres, and art styles. One thing I don't see many talk about, however, is the "Retromercials". As the name suggests, these promos featured characters advertising fake products in the style of vintage commercials. There were a lot of these created (more than I remembered), and I'm sharing a bunch of them today. From the Fantastic Four advertising household appliances to Secret Squirrel shilling for ACME portable holes, these are the retromercials of Boomerang.

Even More Boomerang Merchandise

 It's time for a second dose of Boomerang merchandise! You already know the drill, so let's get into the good stuff. The first thing I'm showing off today is this Boomerang view-master. Boomerang collectibles really liked to play up the "vintage" aspect of the channel, and since Hanna-Barbera cartoons had a couple of view-masters made, this is an appropriate piece of merchandising. The color is the same shade of blue as the channel logo, which also adorns the toy. If view-masters aren't your thing, there was also an Etch-a-Sketch made with a similar look.

Another interesting collectible was this set of six plush toys, apparently produced in 2002. This set included Yogi, Top Cat, Magilla Gorilla, Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, and Hong Kong Phooey. At first glance, I suspected these were mere repacks of the plush dolls made for the WB Studio store, but these are actually completely new toys. If you're interested, I saw an eBay auction of this set mint in box. Just know it'll set you back a thousand bucks.

 Want a Boomerang bank to store your money in? Check out this item. This bank is made to look like an old-school TV. It's 5 inches tall and 3.5 inches wide. Quick Draw McGraw, Huckleberry Hound, Atom Ant, and Hong Kong Phooey are all represented on the TV screen. If I'm being honest, I'm surprised Hong Kong Phooey got so much play in this line of merchandise.

And last but certainly not least, here is a set of Boomerang tattoos. You know, in case you ever wanted a skiddish George Jetson plastered onto your arm!

The Boomerang Website Over the Years

 In the 2000s, you couldn't have a kids' TV channel without an accompanying website. Boomerang was no exception, but it was a little different than most. Rather than having its own dedicated site, Boomerang had a hub on Cartoon Network. It changed many times, and this post will focus on those various rebrands and redesigns. Let's start at the obvious place, the very beginning.

When Boomerang launched in 2000, Cartoon Network went all out for its section on the website. There were the obvious inclusions like flash games, but the real star of the show was its timeline. Starting in 1958 and ending in 1976, visitors could click on a particular year and learn about the cartoons that premiered then. These sections also mentioned hit movies and songs, news stories, and even merchandise from the cartoons. Here are a few of the years as they appeared on the site, but I recommend checking it out for yourself if you're interested.

In 2004, Cartoon Network's website got an all-new, flash-heavy rebrand to go with the channel's redesign. Boomerang still maintained a presence on this version, although it was smaller. The timeline was gone, and in its place were more flash games. Biographies on cartoonists like Tex Avery and an animation "how-to" starring Atom Ant were also added. While these were nice additions, they weren't exactly new. In the previous incarnation of the CN website, these items were part of its "Department of Cartoons" section. Kind of disappointing they didn't add anything actually new, but it was nice these features weren't abandoned.

In 2010, Cartoon Network got another major rebrand. Boomerang's section once again shrunk, with the focus being almost entirely on videos and games. I should also note the games that were present this time around. Instead of games about Looney Tunes, visitors were instead treated to flash games of The Powerpuff Girls and Teen Titans. Nothing wrong with either show, but it is indicative of the channel's transformation into Cartoon Network 2 and the disappearance of those classic shows.

While I'm pointing things out, the art featured in the first image is pretty odd. For one, the old CN logo is still being used. By 2010, the logo had gone through not one, but two redesigns. And two, Yogi's collar is miscolored!

And that was the last time Boomerang had a genuine presence on the CN website. In 2015, to go along with the channel's rebrand, a new site was made, which was little more than a trailer and some PR blurbs. 

In 2017, the website became the home of the Boomerang streaming service. That is how it would remain until it closed up shop in 2024. Ironically, the app shut down around the same time as the official Cartoon Network website did. There was a lot of controversy about that decision, but I understand why the powers that be did it, even as someone who browsed this site a ton back in elementary school. Kids simply don't visit websites these days, so why spend the money on them? Nowadays, searching "Boomerang.com" merely leads you to the Max website.

And that's the end of the saga of the Boomerang website. Much like the channel itself, it started out strong before slowly devolving into a shell of its former self. That's a downer way to end a post, so I'll give you a tease of what's in store for tomorrow. Come back on Thursday, and we'll look at even more Boomerang merchandise. I've got some cool oddities in store for that post!

The Blocks of Boomerang

 Boomer-April continues, and today, we're discussing a few of the most notable blocks that aired on the network over the years. Boomerang itself started as a programming block on Cartoon Network, so it wasn't shocking that the channel would have its own blocks. One of my personal favorites was a block called "Boomeraction". As the name implies, it was a block all about action cartoons, and ran during the entirety of Boomerang's original branding. Shows featured on the block included Jonny Quest, Herculoids, Justice League, Teen Titans, SWAT Kats, and the many versions of Ben 10. As you can see, the programming was a little all over the place in its later years, much like the channel itself. Still, I always found that part of its appeal. Here are a few of the bumpers that aired on the block.

One of the most interesting blocks was "Boomeroyalty". This block was different each month, with the spotlight shifting between a particular cartoon character. It was a two-hour block that ran on weekends, with the programming made up of cartoons related to the character. One month, the focus would be on Muttley, and the next, it could be Batman. It was a neat block that gave the channel some much-needed variety, especially in its later years. Below is a collection of bumpers promoting the block.

Boomerang aired many blocks in its initial form, but after the 2015 rebrand, these all went the way of the dinosaur. All of them, that is, except for Boomerang Theater. Boomerang Theater is exactly what you think it is. It's a block dedicated to animated films, primarily those from the Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. libraries. Over time, the block began incorporating original movies from Cartoon Network, and even a few Pokémon flicks. Nowadays, the block focuses on little else other than the dozens of direct-to-DVD Scooby and Tom and Jerry movies. That's great if you're into that stuff, but unfortunately for me, I am not. Even so, it's nice to see one of Boomerang's classic blocks still around. Check out the bumpers for the channel below, which are done in that classic "vintage toy" aesthetic that many of us associate with Boomerang.

Video of the Week: Fred, Shaggy, and Dastardly Advertise Boomerang

 Practically everyone remembers those classic promos that used to air on Boomerang, but who recalls the commercials for Boomerang? Back in the 2000s, it wasn't uncommon to see an ad for the channel during a commercial break on Cartoon Network, and today, I'm looking at three of them.

These commercials started to pop up around 2004, and continued to air on CN throughout the decade. Each starred a classic Hanna-Barbera duo, informing the viewer of Boomerang and why they should get the channel. This first one has Fred and Barney doing the talking. As was common during this time, the two are voiced by Jeff Bergman.

The second ad in this series is all about everyone's favorite dastardly duo, Dick Dastardly and Muttley. Like in the first commercial, Bergman provides Dastardly's voice. Interestingly, this appears to be the only time he's voiced that character. He does the role pretty well, so I'm shocked he hasn't voiced him anywhere else.

The last commercial stars, you guessed it, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy. What's interesting about this one is that it features Scott Innes as the voice of the characters. By this point, Casey Kasem had returned to the role of Shaggy following his departure from it for several years. I assume Innes is heard here because he was cheaper and easier to get for a small project such as this. Also, I apologize for the spotty quality of this one. It's the only upload I could find by itself, and of course, it's recorded off a TV. Oh well!

Boomerang Merchandise

 I'm not sure how well-known this is, but over the years, there's been plenty of merchandise built around the Boomerang channel. I don't believe any of these items were mass-produced, and I haven't found much info regarding where they came from. They may have been gifts given to cable companies to carry the channel, or maybe they were sold at the Cartoon Network employee store. Wherever they came from, there are a lot of interesting pieces out there with the Boomerang branding, and I'm going to look at some of my favorites.

First for today is this set of Boomerang matching cards. The second photo shows off every card, and while there are a lot of characters presented, there are a few weird omissions. You're telling me Grape Ape gets a card, but nobody from The Flintstones does?

Next is a neat little clock, displaying the disembodied head of Atom Ant. Though it's somewhat obscured, I find the artwork of Atom Ant to be rather interesting. It doesn't resemble any of the usual promo art you see of the character, almost looking like one of Craig Kellman's designs instead. To date, this is the only time I've seen this specific art.

If clocks and cards aren't your thing, maybe you'd prefer this Boomerang wicker basket? Store your lunch in this snazzy looking piece, adorned with art of the one and only Yogi Bear. What, were you expecting Speed Buggy?

Boomerang not only has something for you to store food in, but also glasses for your drinks! They're a little hard to see in this photo, but each glass has artwork of a specific character. From left to right, they are Yogi, Top Cat, Huckleberry Hound, and Snagglepuss

That's all for today, but I've only scratched the surface here. There are a couple more Boomerang items out there, and later in the month, I'll have a follow-up covering those ones. Just like an actual Boomerang, we'll be coming back to this topic soon enough!

Boomerang's Beginnings

 25 years ago today, viewers across the world were given a new avenue to watch their favorite cartoons of yesteryear. It was on that day that Boomerang was launched by Turner. After several years of classic WB, MGM, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons being set aside in favor of newer programming, the decision was made to give these shows a new home. Boomerang became that home, and it's been going ever since.

While the channel launched in 2000, Boomerang's origins could be traced back to December 1992, a mere two months after Cartoon Network launched. Boomerang began as a programming block that ran for four hours every weekend. Each airing would focus on toons from a particular year and featured no commercial interruption. Below is a sample of the promos that aired for the block in its earliest format.

The block would continue to air in some form or another until October 3rd, 2004, when it was finally discontinued. In those twelve years, much had changed on the network. Though CN was created to give these classic shows a new home, that didn't last long. As the nineties continued, the network expanded its programming with new shows made in-house. Other blocks like Toonami saw the channel acquire anime and action cartoons. The 1996 Warner-Turner merger further deepened their catalog, allowing them a vast library of WB cartoons previously off-limits. With all these new shows on the schedule, it became harder for the old ones to find space. So in 1999, it was announced that Boomerang would become its own network. Much like the block, it would feature zero commercials. The focus was on classic cartoons, and only classic cartoons (it wouldn't be that way for long, though that's another story).

When the channel was launched, an event was held that saw many Hanna-Barbera alumni come together and celebrate the occasion. These photos come from Brian Levant, who directed the two live-action Flintstones flicks (and is pictured next to the original CN head, Betty Cohen). Everyone from Tony Curtis to Genndy Tartakovsky was in attendance. It doesn't get much better than that!

Finally, to end this post on a high note, and start "Boomer-April" off in style, we have this video of the channel's launch. I wonder if anyone watching this back in the day thought they were still going to use this branding fifteen years later. Stay tuned, as this celebration is just getting started!