What’s up… Doc? - Bugs Bunny vs. Bugs Bunny

The Television station the WB, has recently announced a new cartoon series titled “The Loonatics” scheduled to begin airing Saturday mornings starting this fall 2004. To the dismay of many cartoon lovers, “The Loonatics” gives many of our most beloved cartoon characters including Daffy Duck, The Tasmanian Devil, Lola Bunny, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, and Bugs Bunny an edgy makeover. 

Although all of the characters have a new look, the majority of the controversy is surrounding Bugs Bunny who is arguably the most notable character in the bunch. The new and questionably improved Bugs, is a far cry from the lovable character that rocketed to stardom in the 1940s. Renamed Buzz, this “new” character is a dark superhero, adorned with frightening eyes void of pupils. The new Bugs Bunny aka “Buzz” utters the same infamous phrase as the original but with seemingly different connotations in a slowed down, lower tone with a snoot pause after “what’s up” suggesting attitude and sarcasm. 

Industry insiders echo the concerns of the average cartoon fan. Harry Shearer the voice of Principal Skinner on “The Simpsons” said: "These characters don't look like they belong on a cartoon. They look like they belong on stage with Kiss." Jimmy Kimmel called “The Loonatics" one of the worst things I've ever seen." "Tweety Bird looks like a hooker from space."

Betsy McGowen, a senior executive of children’s programming at the WB welcomes the naysayers: "It's great we're getting all this attention." Still, many continue to protest, going as far as creating websites in an attempt to save the classic characters from this image overhaul. Some have said that these changes would have Ben Hardaway the pioneer of Bugs Bunny, rolling in his grave. Perhaps this new cartoon is just another reflection of the ever-changing world of television programming where the viewers voice is the sound of the channel changing. 

• Bugs was created in 1938 by Ben (Bugs) Hardaway, but later developed
by Tex Avery.

• The carrot-munching star was modeled after cigar-chomping
Groucho Marx.

• Bugs debuted in the 1938 short "Porky's Hare Hunt."

• Bugs first asked, "What's up, Doc?" in the 1940 short "A Wild Hare."

• More than 150 Bugs Bunny cartoons have been made.

• Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs, claimed to be allergic to raw carrots,
and would chomp on them when a scene called for it and then spit it
out into a trash can.