What's New, Mr. Magoo?

Actor Jim Backus(of "I Married Joan" and also of "Gilligan's Island" fame)had been supplying the voice of crotchery,myopic,and blind-as-a-bat Mister Magoo in movie cartoon shorts since 1949(when they were released theatrically through UPA Films and Columbia Pictures during the late 1940's through the early 1960's)when the creation made a belated debut on Saturday Morning television in the late 1970's under the direction of Brad Case and Gerry Chinquy(most known for directing and producing the animated versions of The Pink Panther and other cartoons produced for Saturday Mornings). As in the theatrical version,Magoo acted as a guardian to his nephew Waldo(voiced by Frank Welker),but the new cartoons added Magoo's talking pet dog McBarker,also a squintet,to the madcap misadventures. Out of the 13 episodes produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises(which was under the supervision of producer David H.DePatie and longtime animator Friz Freleng,who served as executive producers)that ran on Saturday Mornings for CBS-TV from September 10, 1977-September 9,1979. Most stories revolved around how Magoo's notoriously awful eyesight,of which he seemed blissfully unaware,contributed to unintentional,yet sometimes hilarious,near-disasters in the lives of the trio of regulars. The series ran on Saturday Mornings for CBS from September 10,1977-November 12,1977 then moved to Sunday Mornings from November 19,1977-September 9,1979 in repeated episodes.

Because of this series,being the first for Saturday Morning television,Mister Magoo's appearances included four 60-second beer commercials in 1956;more than 100 five minute cartoons produced and syndicated in 1960 under the title "The Mister Magoo Show";and a nightime series that ran for one season in prime-time for NBC titled "The Famous Adventures of Mister Magoo",which ran from September 19,1964-August 7,1965. Jim Backus,however,voiced all versions.

I remember this version of "Mr. Magoo" very well. I was 15 years old and had begun my sophomore year of high school at Lansing Catholic in Lansing, Michigan. One episode I do remember was when Magoo went to an amusement park called "Dizzyland."

In 2015, I was finally able to see "What's New, Mr. Magoo" again when it aired on Retro TV. It bought back some nice memories of my "wonder years." Sadly, Retro abruptly dropped the show the following year without any explanation. Then a few months later I discovered NBC Universal - by virtue of their purchase of DreamWorks Classics/Classic Media - got their greedy hooks on the show and has been hoarding it ever since. It seems a miracle if "What's New, Mr. Magoo" will ever turn up again (it *was* on DVD, but only as part of a box set of "Mr. Magoo" TV shows released by Shout! Factory. The show *wasn't* available by itself in its own box set or "best of" episode compilations).

But, now there is *some* glimmer of hope: MeTV launched its own cartoon network, MeTV Toons, in June of this year. They seemed to have been successful in twisting NBC Universal's greedy arm since they are airing "Rocky and Bullwinkle," which NBC Universal also owns as a result of the DreamWorks purchase. So if MeTV Toons could get "Bullwinkle," perhaps they could also persuade NBC to let them air "What's New, Mr. Magoo?"

I would strongly suggest you go to MeTV Toons' website and check their contact information. Let MeTV Toons know you'd like to see "What's New, Mr. Magoo?" again and that if they were able to coax NBC Universal into a deal for "Bullwinkle," then perhaps they could do the same for "What's New, Mr. Magoo?" (MeTV Toons *is* showing some Mr. Magoo now, but those are the UPA/Columbia Pictures theatrical shorts, which Sony Pictures Television syndicates. So that obviously is *not* the same thing.)

One correction to the information rcj5365 presented in his review: "What's New, Mr. Magoo?" originally aired on CBS from September 10, 1977 to September 9, *1978.* I don't ever recall CBS airing the reruns on Sunday mornings, especially since the following spring (March 1979) "Sunday Morning" made its debut; it still airs to this day.

This is a really great cartoon! Magoo definitely has done it again! Highlights of this show include: -Because Magoo can't see well enough to read, he always makes it up to fit whatever he thinks is going on. -Magoo can travel back in time just by driving down the road, he can survive on top of an airplane in mid flight, and he can even breathe in outer space. -Magoo's nephew Waldo sounds just like Shaggy. -Magoo's dog McBarker does indeed look a lot like him. This show is really funny! Check your free OnDemand service; you might be able to watch it whenever you want! Sometimes I'll replay one I've already seen just to watch the awesome intro. Some of the stuff he says... you'd have to *see* it to believe it!