TELETOON - The Post Office / ARCHIVES

January 26, 1999

I enjoy your channel a lot, and hope you don't ever change your programming. Every once in a while I read a message from a concerned viewer about inappropriate shows and am concerned that certain shows, like Duckman, may be taking off the air. I think that it would be a great loss. Duckman may be sexist and egotistical at times, but an adult viewer will not take his message to heart. Furthermore, Cornfed and the other characters always mention his errors so even children should realize that Duckman is an "idiot". I'm not saying children should watch the show, in fact I think that if children are up watching it, their parents are the ones who need to interveen. Placing it in a 10:30 time slot makes it bedtime for most kids, and even if they are up at that hour the parents can monitor their viewing (By the way it doesn't acutally air till 11:30 here in Alberta). Keep it up!

— James

TELETOON writes: What can we add? You said it all. Thanks!

Just a little idea for your web site; on the bottom of the schedual page, could you advertise the date you are planning on changing/rotating... the schedule. Just so that people can note, hey in a month ______ may not be in the same time slot.

— Gympy

TELETOON writes: Thank you for your advice! Until we get around to it, please note that schedules rotate four times a year: January, March, June and September.

I've been a loyal viewer ever since your English and French channels were available in the Montreal area (where I happen to live), and I must say that my friends and I absolutely love your shows, especially "The Simpsons," "Duckman," and "South Park," which, thank God, are not cut due to content and time restraints, as other stations have a tendency to do with these shows. The problem my friends and I agree on is with your commercials for your own shows. Two problems my friends and I have came up with:
1.) The commercials during your Adult block feel somewhat out of place. Commercials for Ned's Newt and Space Goofs almost kill the mood if I'm watching "South Park" or "Duckman." While I'm aware that you have these shows in the adult block, are you sure this is wise? Do children watch the show at this hour (or do adults?) I could be wrong about this, but these shows don't appear to be ones that a significant number of adults would watch. The "music videos" also aren't something I'd place in the adult block.
2.) Your commercials themselves are fine, but seeing the same commercial after months gets to be quite annoying. Contrary to "The Head's" mad scientist's words, the commercial does NOT keep getting better after the nine-hundredth time. I might even be able to help with creating more commercials, if manpower is the problem here.

— David, Montreal

TELETOON writes: Thank you for your valuable feedback! "Ned's Newt" and "Space Goofs" are actually series that have a following of viewers of all ages. Just as the oldies --Scooby Doo and Wacky Races for example-- appeal to many of our adult viewers, these new series are certainly worth checking out! As for the productivity of our on-air promotions team, we are working on some new ideas.

January 23, 1999

Could you please show a 30 minutes special of my favorite gal Lolita?! Man you gotta!! Send the animators a note saying you want a 30 min show please!!

— Dave

TELETOON writes: There are only 50 1 minute spots available of your red hair gal, Lolita. The shorts were created to air between programs only, so you'll just have to adjust your set to TELETOON and not stop watching so you get a glimpse of her! But hey, there could be worse fates!

You said your Web site is for children but the station is for all ages. What's up with that?

— Ian

TELETOON writes: You have a good question! Although we cannot control viewing habits at home, we try to adjust our programming so that adult shows and promos air during adult viewing times. But with the web, it is just impossible to adjust content to meet adult surfing habits... unless, of course, we have staff working 24-hour days so that information targeted to adults goes up after 9:30 p.m. and is deleted by the following morning. Right now we are working towards beefing up the content of the site, and you should be able to get more adult targeted information on the world of animation... but nothing sleazy, that's not our style!

What is the complete name of Pippi Longstocking? When she mentions her name, I can barely follow the first two or three words! Can you provide me with the fullname?

TELETOON writes: Get ready to practice this one : Pipilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Efraim's Daughter Longstocking!

I was just reading your letters and while I do agree with one from Ann Marie you still have to watch what your kids tune into. However on a positive note, my three year old loves watching Caillou with all her daycare friends and I wondered if any new episodes are planned. Not that
she minds but after a while the same ones get a little boring. I'd love to know .

— Sara

TELETOON writes: There are 65 episodes (5 minutes each) available at this point. Cinar has not informed us of their intention for new episodes; however, your daughter can visit him on the wed at www.caillou.com.

January 13, 1999

I disagree with what Samantha said. I don't think a little kid can read or write. How many kids are allowed to go on the internet? None that I know! Why should we get tangled up into what life is like for others? It is very impolite! Just like my mom said "Don't poke your nose around in others business, It's impolite!"

— From: I don't like to criticize but I do like to correct things!

TELETOON writes: Don't worry ! It is not our intention to get involved in our viewers' life. What we commit to is to provide our public with accurate information on our programming in a timely manner.

January 5, 1999

I have a two year old son and while most of your cartoons are alright I have a problem with a few things. First Duckman: it is sexist, egotistical, self-centered, and by having this show on tv your teaching children and adults that this is the appropriate way to treat women. The Simpsons is a good cartoon and I enjoy it but it should not be on a channel designed for children. There are kids up at all hours of the night. When children cannot sleep their parents sometimes allow them to watch tv for an hour or so. It concerns me that this is what many
children are seeing.

— Ann-Marie

TELETOON writes: Duckman is currently scheduled at 10 :30 p.m. and 1 a.m. on TELETOON's Eastern - and Pacific-time feeds (in our adult block after 9 p.m., see http://www.teletoon.com/block.htm. As a network licensed by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to offer a specialty service dedicated to animation, our goal is to offer animated programming for all ages, not just for children. In fact, approximately 40% of our audience is 18 years or older.

TELETOON adopted the new program classification system overseen by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) and which TELETOON is a member. In fact, back in November 1997, following a complaint letter about Duckman, TELETOON revised its rating 18+ and in light of that letter, we included on-air advisories that it contains mature subject matter and that viewer discretion is advised. This will ensure that viewers are provided with adequate information in making their program selections and will better ensure that TELETOON programming is broadcast to suitable audiences. Such on-air advisories appear at the beginning of - and after commercial breaks in - the program.

Although we schedule adult programming at times when children are supposed to be in bed, we have no way of controlling who is watching in every home. Our responsibility is to schedule such shows adequatly, and apply the Canadian rating system to inform viewers (and parents) of the potentially offensive content of the program and a good example is The Simpsons. This series is rated 14+ and airs in our adult block, because of the violent content of the "Itchy and Scratchy" segments and the fact that Bart and Lisa suggest that such violence is enjoyable to watch. Homer's beer drinking fetish is another factor that "deals with mature themes and social issues in a realistic fashion", which falls under the 14+ rating. Using this information, the viewers (and parents) decide who can watch in their own household.

I'm just a mom who wants to say that I love your station. I love the toons, and I love the variety available. My 6 year old watches TELETOON every morning for 1/2 hour before we leave the house in the morning. I remember when our cable was out and I think both of us went in to withdrawl symptoms because we couldn't get it. It is the only station with cartoons that Amanda will watch anymore. And to be honest, it is the only one that I enjoy as well. Thanks for the great job.

— Janet

TELETOON writes : Thank you for sharing your comment with us. Next time your cable is out and you have withdrawl symptoms, please remember that our website is there to help you through these painful moments.