Executive Meddling/Western Animation: Difference between revisions

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* During his tenure as head writer on ''[[The Real Ghostbusters]]'', [[J Michael Straczynski]] constantly battled with [[ABC]] execs. Some production members have noted having a happier time with the syndication episodes, which were subjected to far less scrutiny and it shows. (The [[HP Lovecraft]]-inspired, "The Collect Call of Cathulhu," is just one of the episodes people have noted the network wouldn't have cared for.)
* During his tenure as head writer on ''[[The Real Ghostbusters]]'', [[J Michael Straczynski]] constantly battled with [[ABC]] execs. Some production members have noted having a happier time with the syndication episodes, which were subjected to far less scrutiny and it shows. (The [[HP Lovecraft]]-inspired, "The Collect Call of Cathulhu," is just one of the episodes people have noted the network wouldn't have cared for.)
** Especially contentious was the ongoing debate over the Ghostbusters' secretary, Janine Melnitz. A child psychologist hired as a consultant by ABC felt the character was too cynical and abrasive. Her personality should be more supportive and [[Girls Need Role Models|"feminine"]], instead. The consultant also expressed concerns that her sharp, angular glasses might [[Viewers are Morons|scare children]] -- and yet, all the [[Grotesque Gallery|grotesque ghosts and monsters]] running around were a-ok. JMS acquiesced to one of ABC's demands, making Janine a Ghostbuster for an episode. The execs had felt young girls needed a positive female role model and saw this as an opportunity to do so.
** Especially contentious was the ongoing debate over the Ghostbusters' secretary, Janine Melnitz. A child psychologist hired as a consultant by ABC felt the character was too cynical and abrasive. Her personality should be more supportive and [[Girls Need Role Models|"feminine"]], instead. The consultant also expressed concerns that her sharp, angular glasses might [[Viewers are Morons|scare children]] -- and yet, all the [[Grotesque Gallery|grotesque ghosts and monsters]] running around were a-ok. JMS acquiesced to one of ABC's demands, making Janine a Ghostbuster for an episode. The execs had felt young girls needed a positive female role model and saw this as an opportunity to do so.
** Other additions the executives wanted were more Slimer-centric episodes, and junior Ghostbusters, a [[Five Token Band|group of children]] that [[The Load|followed the Ghostbusters on missions]], including a handicapped member. Both were attempts to pander to different age groups. Eventually, JMS simply quit out of frustration. After his departure, '''all''' of these changes came to pass, including altering Janine's look, personality, and voice. JMS would come back in Season 6 (though other jobs meant he could only do a few episodes). He [[Lampshaded]] the changes made to Janine in the episode "Janine You've Changed."
** Other additions the executives wanted were more Slimer-centric episodes, and junior Ghostbusters, a [[Five-Token Band|group of children]] that [[The Load|followed the Ghostbusters on missions]], including a handicapped member. Both were attempts to pander to different age groups. Eventually, JMS simply quit out of frustration. After his departure, '''all''' of these changes came to pass, including altering Janine's look, personality, and voice. JMS would come back in Season 6 (though other jobs meant he could only do a few episodes). He [[Lampshaded]] the changes made to Janine in the episode "Janine You've Changed."
*** In ''[[Extreme Ghostbusters (Animation)|Extreme Ghostbusters]]'', Janine is back to her original personality, Slimer is back as a minor supporting character, and no mention is made of the Junior Ghostbusters...
*** In ''[[Extreme Ghostbusters (Animation)|Extreme Ghostbusters]]'', Janine is back to her original personality, Slimer is back as a minor supporting character, and no mention is made of the Junior Ghostbusters...
* The [[Art Shift|"puppet mode"]] [[The Stinger|Stinger]] segments that play during the credit sequence of ''[[Chowder]]'' were completely removed from their first run due to the current practice of [[Cartoon Network]] appropriating a show's credit sequence for additional show promotion and advertising with their blatant [[Credits Pushback]] (a practice becoming increasingly more common on television in the United States). Fortunately, the Stinger segments are now finally being shown, but only when the show is aired during "off-peak syndication."
* The [[Art Shift|"puppet mode"]] [[The Stinger|Stinger]] segments that play during the credit sequence of ''[[Chowder]]'' were completely removed from their first run due to the current practice of [[Cartoon Network]] appropriating a show's credit sequence for additional show promotion and advertising with their blatant [[Credits Pushback]] (a practice becoming increasingly more common on television in the United States). Fortunately, the Stinger segments are now finally being shown, but only when the show is aired during "off-peak syndication."
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* One episode of the ''[[Beetlejuice (Animation)|Beetlejuice]]'' cartoon show is basically a huge [[Take That]] to [[ABC]]'s Broadcast Standards and Practices, featuring an annoying, fairy godmother-like character Goody Two Shoes who claims to represent the "Bureau of Sweetness and Prissiness" (yes, she does use the abbreviation at one point). The characters finally manage to shake her by being ''too'' [[Sickeningly Sweet]] even for her tastes, and the end of the episode [[Lampshades]] actual censorship in the show, namely how the camera cuts to another character's reaction whenever Beetlejuice eats a bug.
* One episode of the ''[[Beetlejuice (Animation)|Beetlejuice]]'' cartoon show is basically a huge [[Take That]] to [[ABC]]'s Broadcast Standards and Practices, featuring an annoying, fairy godmother-like character Goody Two Shoes who claims to represent the "Bureau of Sweetness and Prissiness" (yes, she does use the abbreviation at one point). The characters finally manage to shake her by being ''too'' [[Sickeningly Sweet]] even for her tastes, and the end of the episode [[Lampshades]] actual censorship in the show, namely how the camera cuts to another character's reaction whenever Beetlejuice eats a bug.
** There's also the ratings-obsessed Mr. Monitor, who's practically the personification of [[Executive Meddling]].
** There's also the ratings-obsessed Mr. Monitor, who's practically the personification of [[Executive Meddling]].
* Given the three different companies responsible for the production of the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 (Animation)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' (2003) -- toymaker Playmates, Mirage, and [[Four Kids Entertainment|4Kids]] -- it wasn't surprising that this eventually crept in. Of particular note are the events surrounding the show's seventh season. After an intended follow up season to "Fast Forward" was aborted, a struggle between the three parties began over the direction for the cartoon. Among the eventually rejected suggestions were a [[Chaotic|card game-based series]], a series with the Turtles caring for their [[Spinoff Babies|infant past selves]], and a completely fresh [[Continuity Reboot]].
* Given the three different companies responsible for the production of the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 (Animation)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' (2003) -- toymaker Playmates, Mirage, and [[4Kids! Entertainment|4Kids]] -- it wasn't surprising that this eventually crept in. Of particular note are the events surrounding the show's seventh season. After an intended follow up season to "Fast Forward" was aborted, a struggle between the three parties began over the direction for the cartoon. Among the eventually rejected suggestions were a [[Chaotic|card game-based series]], a series with the Turtles caring for their [[Spinoff Babies|infant past selves]], and a completely fresh [[Continuity Reboot]].
* When a little boy burned down his trailer home and causing the death of his baby sister, the program ''[[Beavis and Butthead]]'' was blamed because Beavis was a bit of a pyromaniac. As a result, he was no longer allowed to shout "Fire!, Fire!", he was no longer able to carry around a lighter and set things ablaze, and many past episodes' fire references were edited out. As it turns out, the kid's family ''didn't have cable'' and there was no way the kid could have seen the show.
* When a little boy burned down his trailer home and causing the death of his baby sister, the program ''[[Beavis and Butthead]]'' was blamed because Beavis was a bit of a pyromaniac. As a result, he was no longer allowed to shout "Fire!, Fire!", he was no longer able to carry around a lighter and set things ablaze, and many past episodes' fire references were edited out. As it turns out, the kid's family ''didn't have cable'' and there was no way the kid could have seen the show.
** It did lead to one memorable music video scene -- the video was Wax's "Southern California," which famously features the [[Unusually Uninteresting Sight]] of a man on fire jogging down a street. Instead of Beavis saying anything about fire, he just goes into a catatonic daze of pure bliss.
** It did lead to one memorable music video scene -- the video was Wax's "Southern California," which famously features the [[Unusually Uninteresting Sight]] of a man on fire jogging down a street. Instead of Beavis saying anything about fire, he just goes into a catatonic daze of pure bliss.
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*** Neither were the animation crew OR Hasbro. In fact, Hasbro confirmed that only the itunes version would be edited and that all other versions would remain the same AND that they would NOT change Derpy's name. There are POSSIBLY going to change her voice though, but for a different reason than one would think. Tabitha St. Germain (her voice actor) said she didn't know Derpy was FEMALE when voicing her as she'd been basically a last-minute choice and so she based her voice off a neighbor's SON, feeling pretty foolish when she found out otherwise AFTER she had finished her recording.
*** Neither were the animation crew OR Hasbro. In fact, Hasbro confirmed that only the itunes version would be edited and that all other versions would remain the same AND that they would NOT change Derpy's name. There are POSSIBLY going to change her voice though, but for a different reason than one would think. Tabitha St. Germain (her voice actor) said she didn't know Derpy was FEMALE when voicing her as she'd been basically a last-minute choice and so she based her voice off a neighbor's SON, feeling pretty foolish when she found out otherwise AFTER she had finished her recording.
*** [[It Got Worse]]. They now posted the edit version of The Last Roundup on the Hub, despite the pleas of many fans. The backlash skyrocketed ''again''. And ''NOW'' the edited version of the episode is what was put up on Netflix, instead of the original version.
*** [[It Got Worse]]. They now posted the edit version of The Last Roundup on the Hub, despite the pleas of many fans. The backlash skyrocketed ''again''. And ''NOW'' the edited version of the episode is what was put up on Netflix, instead of the original version.
** To be fair to the [[Moral Guardians]], the term "derpy" can and has been used as an ableist slur. [[Did Not Do the Research|Hasbro likely didn't know this]], and in combination with the original voice, many did see it as making fun of the mentally challenged. A simple changing or at least not mentioning the [[Fan Nickname]] probably would have satisfied most of the complaints, but that would make the [[Shout Out]] intended pointless. [[Broken Base|It's divided the fandom ever since.]]
** To be fair to the [[Moral Guardians]], the term "derpy" can and has been used as an ableist slur. [[Did Not Do the Research|Hasbro likely didn't know this]], and in combination with the original voice, many did see it as making fun of the mentally challenged. A simple changing or at least not mentioning the [[Fan Nickname]] probably would have satisfied most of the complaints, but that would make the [[Shout-Out]] intended pointless. [[Broken Base|It's divided the fandom ever since.]]
* In-universe example/spoof of this in ''[[The Boondocks]]'': Huey is asked to direct the school's Christmas play, but important aspects of his script are vetoed by the school principal; Huey eventually walks off the project, but his teacher puts on Huey's version of the play as written (and gets fired for it).
* In-universe example/spoof of this in ''[[The Boondocks]]'': Huey is asked to direct the school's Christmas play, but important aspects of his script are vetoed by the school principal; Huey eventually walks off the project, but his teacher puts on Huey's version of the play as written (and gets fired for it).
** Two episodes of the Boondocks second season, "The Hunger Strike" and "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show" were banned from premiering on Adult Swim. Both episodes were centered around BET and portrayed them as being socially irresponsible, and exploiting black stereotypes for profit. Despite denial by Adult Swim, many believe that BET threatened Sony and AS to pull the episodes with legal actions. Viacom (parent company) was confirmed to threaten legal action against Adult Swim. Thankfully, both episodes were featured on the Season 2 DVD.
** Two episodes of the Boondocks second season, "The Hunger Strike" and "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show" were banned from premiering on Adult Swim. Both episodes were centered around BET and portrayed them as being socially irresponsible, and exploiting black stereotypes for profit. Despite denial by Adult Swim, many believe that BET threatened Sony and AS to pull the episodes with legal actions. Viacom (parent company) was confirmed to threaten legal action against Adult Swim. Thankfully, both episodes were featured on the Season 2 DVD.
* ''[[Family Guy]]'' had an episode, PTV, that dealt with [[Executive Meddling]] (thanks to Lois bringing the FCC into Quahog after having the straw break the camels back in regards to some of his lewd shows, and other more personal reasons depending on the version).
* ''[[Family Guy]]'' had an episode, PTV, that dealt with [[Executive Meddling]] (thanks to Lois bringing the FCC into Quahog after having the straw break the camels back in regards to some of his lewd shows, and other more personal reasons depending on the version).
** The same episode in [[Real Life]] also subverted it in a way: The FCC was okay with the creators using Peter's pooping off the side of the highway onto another highway and it landing on Lois's car's windshield (the original reason for Lois' calling in the FCC) for another show of Peter's so long as they at least do minor things such as remove Peter lowering his pants, silence the wet sound of the poop landing, and making the poop look ambiguous. The writers ultimately decided that the changes weren't worth it, so they rewrote it to be Lois being too sensitive to the content after seeing a [[Side Boob]] hour.
** The same episode in [[Real Life]] also subverted it in a way: The FCC was okay with the creators using Peter's pooping off the side of the highway onto another highway and it landing on Lois's car's windshield (the original reason for Lois' calling in the FCC) for another show of Peter's so long as they at least do minor things such as remove Peter lowering his pants, silence the wet sound of the poop landing, and making the poop look ambiguous. The writers ultimately decided that the changes weren't worth it, so they rewrote it to be Lois being too sensitive to the content after seeing a [[Sideboob]] hour.
*** I'm not 100% sure it was rewritten completely, I remember this version of the episode from somewhere - the show in question was named "Douchebags". If it was rewritten it must have been only on the TV broadcast version of the episode at least.
*** I'm not 100% sure it was rewritten completely, I remember this version of the episode from somewhere - the show in question was named "Douchebags". If it was rewritten it must have been only on the TV broadcast version of the episode at least.
** In the episode "Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater," one of the cutaway gags was supposed to show a man and a woman silhouette's making out and the woman slides down and off the screen as the man tilts his head back and smiles from the blowjob he was getting. The FOX network decided this was to risque and demanded the animators to shorten the scene, fighting with the animators frame by frame until they reached an agreement. The edited version shows the woman sliding down only 1 or 2 frames until the next frame showing diamonds cuts in.
** In the episode "Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater," one of the cutaway gags was supposed to show a man and a woman silhouette's making out and the woman slides down and off the screen as the man tilts his head back and smiles from the blowjob he was getting. The FOX network decided this was to risque and demanded the animators to shorten the scene, fighting with the animators frame by frame until they reached an agreement. The edited version shows the woman sliding down only 1 or 2 frames until the next frame showing diamonds cuts in.
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