TNN is bringing back Ren & Stimpy. Hiring back John Kricfalusi (John K.), they have purchased rights to 52 episodes of the show from Nick and have signed a deal to have John K. producing new shows as well. Ren & Stimpy will be the flagship show in a new series of animated venues. Shows including Kelsey Grammar’s voice as a lawyer turned into a 6 foot tall rat, and Stripperella featuring Pamela Lee Anderson’s voice (and probably likeness). Stripperella has been created by none other than Stan Lee, Marvel Comics heir and creator of (among many things) Spiderman.
I am very enthusiastic to see the return of John K. onto television animation. Probably the worst thing they (John K. and Spumco) ever did was think that Nick was the best venue for his work. That would be assuming that any MTV exec. “gets it.” Perhaps that’s a gross underestimation of the situation. Still, there was nothing like it in animation before and since that comes close to what Spumco did with that show. Nickelodeon butchered it, threw Spumco out, fired John K., and took over production while planning Ren & Simpy’s demise. There is only full season (and part of another) that Spumco was responsible for. Nick execs. pushed John K. out of the show and basically ruined Spumco…. at least, that’s what the rumors say. I’m sure that the planned shows were of questionable nature for children, as well as a childrens network. No doubt they were pushing things beyond the realm of understanding for children. Still boogers, rude flatulent noises, as well as the grotesque imagry that was the patents of the show were what propelled it to such fame. You can see, without too much effort, John K. (and Bob Camp’s) influence in an endless line of “newtoons:” Dexter’s Laboratory, Catdog, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Spongebob Squarepants… the list goes on.
I remember being instantly hooked after watching the first episode. I’d never seen anything like it. I taped all of the first and second season during their first run. I still have that tape around here somewhere. Regardless of what Nick execs. think or did during those days, it is now apparent to all that Ren & Stimpy pulled Nick out of the third (fourth?) tier of cable networks.