Rugrats stay all growed up as Klasky Csupo turns out new shows

The end of legends, the start of new at Klasky Csupo

- Klasky Csupo. the studio that brings us "Rugrats", "The Wild Thornberrys" and "As Told by Ginger", has supposedly pink-slipped many of its employees. The reason, 65, a number that strikes fear in the hearts of cartoons, world-wide. Once a series has the magic number 65 episodes, in can run continuously in daily "self-syndication". Even with solid Neilsen ratings these Nicktoons have, there's no real need to produce any more episodes, and so most networks just don't.

One of the only series in production at Klasky Csupo that you may have heard of is the Rugrats spin-off "All Grown Up", based on the Rugrats 10th anniversary special, "All Growed Up". How many new episodes will air next season is up in the air, due to conflicting reports. Fansite Nicktoons.com says 8, the animation studio themselves says 10, and Nickelodeon representatives says 12.

No need to fear, however. There is more on the horizon. Nick has just green-lit a pilot called "What's Cooking". Also, "Angelica and Susie's School Daze" may be on the air next season. It is essentially a spin-off of the Rugrats' spin-off All Grown Up.

The studio has been reported on AWN.com as saying that the are "invigorating their development pipeline, and we look forward to producing the next generation of K/C hits." They have also created Global Tantrum, a division for adult programming. These shows may be aired on Viacom stations like MTV, Spike TV, VH1, Comedy Central, Showtime, UPN and CBS. "The Immigrants" is the first such adult program, airing on Spike TV.

New show review

It's of course impossible to review a show just by its promotional premise, but here it is anyway. Rugrats has always been well written and produced, and from what I've seen in the special, "All Growed Up" is just the same.

It's likely we can expect the same stuff from the obviously girls skewed spin-off "Angelica and Susie's School Daze". However, Nick may find trouble attracting an older audience to the show; as the characters are associated with a program for younger kids, tweens may find it uncool for solely that reason, and shun it.

As for "What's Cooking", I can't tell you much, just that it's making me hungry. I've not yet found any press releases or premises.

Come the start of these series and the new television season, remember to check back for full reviews. Start dates will be published the upcoming five-part "Season Preview 2003-04", coming in late August.

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