MeTV Toons is set to inject a dose of nostalgic adventure into its weekday morning programming with the addition of the beloved animated series, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! The iconic cartoon will officially premiere on the network on Monday, March 30, airing from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. ET/PT. This strategic programming move signifies MeTV Toons’ commitment to expanding its slate of classic animation, catering to an audience that cherishes foundational entries in the cartoon landscape.
The inclusion of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! is particularly timely, arriving just weeks before the highly anticipated theatrical release of Illumination and Universal Pictures’ The Super Mario Bros. Movie on April 1. This cinematic event follows the monumental success of the studios’ 2023 animated feature, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which shattered box office records, grossing an impressive $1.36 billion globally. The continued cultural relevance and commercial appeal of the Mario franchise provide a fertile ground for MeTV Toons to leverage its extensive library of retro animation.
A Look Back at a Groundbreaking Series
Originally broadcast in 1989, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! drew its inspiration from Nintendo’s groundbreaking Super Mario Bros. video game franchise. The series chronicled the fantastical adventures of Mario and Luigi, two ordinary plumbers from Brooklyn whose lives take an extraordinary turn when a plumbing mishap transports them to the magical Mushroom Kingdom. The show ingeniously blended animated segments with live-action sequences, offering a unique hybrid format that captivated audiences of all ages. The live-action portions featured television personality and former professional wrestler Lou Albano as the iconic Mario, and actor Danny Wells as his loyal brother, Luigi. This dual-component approach allowed for a deeper immersion into the Mario universe, bridging the gap between interactive gaming and passive television viewing.
The series was produced by DIC Animation and Nintendo, aiming to capitalize on the immense popularity of the video game. The games themselves, beginning with the 1985 release of Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System, revolutionized the platformer genre and established Mario as a global gaming icon. The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! served as an early, significant expansion of the franchise into the realm of visual storytelling beyond the console, laying groundwork for future animated adaptations and a broader multimedia presence. The show’s narrative often involved Mario and Luigi navigating the whimsical landscape of the Mushroom Kingdom, encountering familiar characters like Princess Peach Toadstool, and thwarting the villainous Bowser and his Koopa Troop.
MeTV Toons’ Expanding Retro Animation Lineup
MeTV Toons has established itself as a dedicated destination for classic animation, and the addition of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! further solidifies this identity. The network’s programming philosophy centers on curating and broadcasting animated series that have left an indelible mark on television history. This approach resonates with a demographic that values nostalgia and appreciates the artistry and storytelling of earlier animation eras.
The weekday morning block on MeTV Toons, beginning March 30, will feature a robust schedule of animated classics, with The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! slotting in from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. ET/PT. This strategic placement positions the show within a block of content designed to engage viewers with beloved characters and familiar narratives. The full weekday morning lineup, starting March 30, will offer a diverse array of animated fare:
- 6:00 a.m. ET/PT: Captain Planet and the Planeteers
- 6:30 a.m. ET/PT: Police Academy: The Animated Series
- 7:00 a.m. ET/PT: The Real Ghostbusters
- 7:30 a.m. ET/PT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- 8:00 a.m. ET/PT: The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
- 8:30 a.m. ET/PT: The Underdog Show
- 9:00 a.m. ET/PT: Bugs Bunny and Friends
- 9:30 a.m. ET/PT: Casper and Company
- 10:00 a.m. ET/PT: House of Hanna-Barbera
This carefully curated schedule demonstrates MeTV Toons’ intent to create a morning viewing experience that is both entertaining and steeped in animation history. The inclusion of titles like Captain Planet and the Planeteers, The Real Ghostbusters, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles highlights the network’s commitment to a broad spectrum of classic cartoons that have maintained enduring popularity.
Future Mario Franchise Expansion on MeTV Toons
The addition of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! is not a standalone event for the franchise on MeTV Toons. The network has indicated plans to further expand its Mario programming later in the year. Enthusiasts can anticipate the inclusion of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World to its weekday schedule. These subsequent series represent different eras of the Mario animated universe, offering viewers a comprehensive look at the franchise’s television iterations. Super Mario Bros. 3, which aired in 1990, continued the adventures of Mario and Luigi in animated form, while Super Mario World, a 1991 production, introduced new characters and settings based on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game of the same name. This phased rollout suggests a deliberate strategy to build upon the audience’s engagement with the Mario brand.
The broader success of Nintendo’s intellectual property in recent years, particularly within the film industry, undoubtedly influences programming decisions for networks like MeTV Toons. The $1.36 billion global box office haul for The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023 underscores the immense commercial viability of Mario-related content. This success creates a positive feedback loop, where increased mainstream visibility for the characters can drive interest in their earlier animated appearances. MeTV Toons’ proactive approach to acquiring and broadcasting these classic shows capitalizes on this renewed public interest.
Network Reach and Weigel Broadcasting’s Role
MeTV Toons is accessible to a nationwide audience through various distribution channels. The network is available over broadcast stations, on DirecTV, and through a range of streaming platforms, including Philo, Frndly TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Xfinity. This multi-platform availability ensures that a wide demographic can tune in to enjoy its classic animation offerings. The network’s dedicated focus on retro cartoons, featuring beloved characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry, and Fred Flintstone, positions it as a niche but significant player in the television landscape.
The parent company of MeTV Toons is Weigel Broadcasting Co., a Chicago-based media conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of national television networks. Weigel Broadcasting is also known for producing original programming, including the popular horror-comedy show Svengoolie, the morning talk show Toon In With Me, and the collector-focused program Collector’s Call. The company’s expertise in operating and syndicating national networks, coupled with its understanding of audience preferences for classic content, provides a strong foundation for MeTV Toons’ continued growth and programming initiatives. The company’s strategic decision to invest in retro animation, particularly with a franchise as globally recognized as Super Mario, signals confidence in the enduring appeal of these classic properties.
The re-emergence of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! on MeTV Toons represents more than just a programming addition; it’s a testament to the lasting cultural impact of early video game adaptations and the enduring power of nostalgia. As the network continues to expand its lineup of classic animation, it not only entertains current viewers but also introduces a new generation to the foundational works that shaped the animation industry and continue to resonate with audiences worldwide. The anticipation surrounding the new Mario movie further amplifies the significance of this programming decision, creating a synergistic effect that benefits both the network and the franchise itself.
