Saturday Morning Sneak Peek (partially lost Saturday morning preview; 1973)
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Status: Partially Lost
Saturday Morning Sneak Peek is a half-hour-long preview special that aired on American TV network ABC on Sept 7th, 1973. The special was hosted by the comedy team of Jack Burns and Avery Schreiber, who are joined by a number of popular animated characters in a preview of the network's new Saturday morning cartoon lineup. The special also starred the voices of Paul Winchell (Goober), Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny), Daws Butler (Yogi Bear) & Chuck Woolery (Superman).[1]
Plot
At the time of the special's airing, 'Saturday morning cartoons' were a fixture of American pop-culture, with lineups changing from year to year as all three major networks vied to host the next children's cross-media phenomenon (and thus charge a premium for those advertising slots, while the producers benefited from endless merchandising). Previews of the new Saturday morning seasons were treated fully as seriously as those for adult programming, with elaborate ads running in TV Guide and other media. Prime-time TV specials were the next logical step.
The framing device of the 1973 ABC special is that Uncle Larry (played by Avery Schreiber) and Jack Burns are planning a surprise party for Larry's nephew. While they attempt to set up the party, the performers for the party start to arrive, all from the then-new ABC Saturday morning line-up. The performers then start promoting their new cartoons.
Availability
The special was aired well before the common availability of home video recording. Due to the nature of the special, and the likelihood of legal troubles, it was not rebroadcast and quickly fell into obscurity.
However, on February 3rd, 2012, Josh Schreiber (son of Avery) uploaded the first 15 minutes of the special to YouTube. It is currently unknown if he has the entire special.
Gallery
See Also
Other Lost Saturday Morning Previews
- The Brady Bunch Visits ABC (lost Saturday Morning Cartoons preview; 1971)
- The Brady Bunch Meet ABC's Saturday Superstars (lost Saturday Morning Cartoons preview; 1972)
- The Wacko Saturday Morning Preview and Other Good Stuff Special (lost Saturday morning preview; 1977)
- C'Mon Saturday (lost Saturday Morning preview; 1977)
- Welcome Home, Animaniacs! (partially found Kids' WB Saturday morning preview; 1995)