Remove Robert Swartz and Save Cartoon Network

In March 2008 Cartoon Network announced Robert Swartz as its new VP of original programming. Along with leading development and current teams, Swartz oversees development of all animated, live-action and alternative series for the network.

Being a longtime viewer of Cartoon Network for the past 15 years of my life, it disappoints me to say that this business endeavor has become a harsh and unnecessary decision with little success and has left fans of Cartoon Network with false hopes.

Since Mr. Swartz has been VP, Cartoon Network has lost several blocks (Toonami, Tickle U, Funny For Your Face, New Thursday Nights, Cartoon Cartoons), invested in poor-quality flash shorts (Nacho Bear, Mr. Bixby, Big Baby, Roller Squirrels, Calling Cat 22), and during a possibly profitable summer season in 2008 Swartz spent time plugging reruns of shows with less than 30 episodes each (George of the Jungle, Chowder, Flapjack, Total Drama Island, Johnny Test) in random order, lacking stability in channel’s structure.

This has sadly lead Cartoon Network to an unusual third place ranking in cable programming at the hands of Nickelodeon, Disney and their sister networks.

Since Swartz’s position, he has developed a passion for taking good ideas and turning them into desperately cheesy attempts to attract viewers. For example, at the beginning of August 2007, Fried Dynamite was developed to replace the long-running Fridays series. This was a big adjustment to many fans, but the block appeared to hold its own until it was donned the hot spot for recycled TV movies (Ace Ventura, The Mask, Operation Dumbo Drop, etc.). With all due respect to Mr. Swartz’s attempts, this has NOT been a good idea. Even if the spin-off Dynamite Action Squad has profited, lack of attention to Fried Dynamite (Including bad program choices) has led publicity to blocks created solely to provide cheap filler (Such as “Flicks” as they’ve been known by lately).

It would be insulting to say that Swartz hasn’t brought anything good to the network, because he has successfully picked up shows that were let go by Kid’s WB (Skunk Fu, Johnny Test), and has brought in some unique Cartoon Network originals such as Flapjack and Ben 10: Alien Force. But Mr. Swartz’s problem is he lacks credit to the cartoon genre. His previous credit before becoming VP for Cartoon Network was VP of original programming for the Sci-Fi network, for shows like Mythbusters and Destination: Truth.

Since taking place in Cartoon Network his ideas have fallen on deaf ears, now clawing to spin offs to popular movies (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and yet another action-based program (Secret Saturdays) created by Porch Light Entertainment.