Monday, September 19, 2016

So Gumball and Regular Show are Ending



I've been an avid fan of Cartoon Network since early 2002. This was the year that I got into Dragon Ball and became very familiar with the shows that were created exclusively for the channel like Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, Dexter's Laboratory, the list goes on and on. I was there to see the network decay that set in around 2004 and from 2009 to 2011, I didn't watch much of the network. mainly due to not having cable during those years. But even before 2009, I found a lot of what was on the channel to be garbage. In 2012, I got cable again and this is when I saw Adventure Time and Regular Show and was like "Cartoon Network has good shows again?" Shortly after, I discovered The Amazing World of Gumball and had reasons to watch the network regularly once more. And recently, we heard news that The Amazing World of Gumball would end with it's 6th season and Regular Show would concluded with its 8th season.

Understandably, a lot of fans are upset over this news. These are two shows that helped Cartoon Network escape Network decay and ushered in what could you could call a new golden age for cartoons. These are two examples I would bring up as proof that we still have good cartoons today whenever I'd see someone foolishly claiming that all of the shows we have TV currently suck.



I share much of what fans are feeling over the conclusion of these shows. But all good things come to an end. I love the DC Animated Universe and hated to see it go. But we still get the occasional awesome DC Animated film from talent that helped make up that wonderful world. And whenever I miss it too much, I can always go back and rewatch those shows. Same with Gargoyles and TaleSpin.

Regular Show may have had the plug pulled on it due to decreased ratings over the past few seasons. There's no confirmation if that was the case, or if  the CN feels the show has run its course and the time has come to wrap things up. As for Gumball, I don't know why the show is ending at season six, but if the creator Ben Bocquelet  was going to leave the show after the the end of this season, I don't think I'd want to see a seventh season Gumball without him calling the shots.

Some are calling the end of Regular Show and Gumball the end of an era for CN. The channel does have amazing shows such as Steven Universe and We Bare Bears but Teen Titans Go! gets way too much air time and the Powerpuff Girls 2016 reboot has not been well received but has been green lit for a second season (probably because CN has so much PPG merch they want to sell, which I think was one of the main reasons the show came back in the first place).

If Gumball and Regular Show must end, I'd rather they go out while the quality of the shows are still good. The Simpson has been swimming in the pool of seasonal rot for well over a decade and Family Guy has jumped in right along with it. Lakewood Plaza Turbo looks like its going to be a great addition to CN's roster and we've still got Steven Universe and We Bare Bears and Clarence to look forward to. Gumball just began it's 5th season and The final season of Regular Show starts on September 26. Let's enjoy the new episodes while we got 'em.

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