Bugs Bunny where are you when we need you?

I hate the cartoons of today. My son, like me years ago, watches hours of them each Saturday morning. But something is not right, something is different. Cartoons of today are.....well.......stupid. My son gets very upset when I criticize his cartoons, but they just lack the pizzaz and personality of cartoons I grew up on. Each Saturday, my son watches “Pokemon,” “Dragon Ball Z Kai,” “Yu-gi-oh.” As I said to my husband one morning – I don't know where one ends and the next one begins! What I mean is, they all look alike to me. The story lines always seem to revolve around some hero holding the fate of the world on his shoulder. These cartoons are drawn in the anime style, a style of cartoons originating from Japan. I guess the Japanese think we Americans all have large mouths, large eyes and like to fight a lot because that's all I see with these cartoons. And the toy marketing. Are these truly TV shows or 30 minute commercials for toys such as Pokemon cards and Bakugan orbs?

When I was a kid in the 1970's, my Saturday mornings were spent watching characters such as Fat Albert, Scooby Doo and my all-time favorite Bugs Bunny. My mother used to say I had a crush on Bugs Bunny. She would tell me when I get married, I'll marry a guy who reminds me of Bugs Bunny (no, I did not marry a guy with big ears and buck teeth). Mind you, I had seen other cartoons before Bugs, such as Disney's “Fantasia,” “Pinocchio” and “Bambi.” And of course, Mickey Mouse was cute. But Bugs was different. He was like no other cartoon character I'd seen before. He was my hero; a wise cracking, mischievous wabbit with a Brooklyn accent. Bugs and the rest of the Looney Tune gang provided us with an hour of laughter each Saturday morning. Sure, Bugs could be violent, causing Yosemite Sam to fall off ladder or Daffy Duck to blast himself with a rifle, but it was always in humor and nobody died. And the fate of the world did not depend on it. It was all lighthearted and usually ended with Bugs making one last smart remark and mugging for the camera. Bugs lampooned anyone. No one was safe from his antics - from snobby, pretentious opera singers to raving idiot hillbillies, Bugs got the better of all of them. Some of my favorite Bugs Bunny/Looney Tune shorts included:

“Transylvania 6-5000” – Bugs outwits vampire Count Blood Count

“Bewitched Bunny” – a takeoff on the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale

“Rabbit of Seville” – Bugs, being hunted by Elmer Fudd, pulls Elmer into a impromptu performance of the opera “Barber of Seville.” This short is an all-time favorite. Ask anyone who grew up during the 70's what their favorite Bugs Bunny cartoon is and inevitably they will name “Rabbit of Seville.”

Kid's today don't know what they are missing. I miss you Bugs. “Tanks large, Mac!”