On this day September 6 1980, The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show premiered on CBS. The animated series brought the classic cat and mouse duo back to Saturday morning television with new adventures that captured the slapstick humor fans had loved for decades.
The show updated Tom and Jerry for a new generation of kids growing up in the 1980s. Produced by Filmation, it stayed true to the characters’ roots while experimenting with modern touches to appeal to younger audiences. For many children, it became their first introduction to the long running rivalry that had started in the 1940s.
80s insight: Saturday morning cartoons were a staple of the decade, and reviving Tom and Jerry showed how networks leaned on timeless characters to anchor their programming.
The show updated Tom and Jerry for a new generation of kids growing up in the 1980s. Produced by Filmation, it stayed true to the characters’ roots while experimenting with modern touches to appeal to younger audiences. For many children, it became their first introduction to the long running rivalry that had started in the 1940s.
80s insight: Saturday morning cartoons were a staple of the decade, and reviving Tom and Jerry showed how networks leaned on timeless characters to anchor their programming.
