Matinee at the Bijou to bring classic cartoons to PBS-HD
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 15th 2006 10:03PM
posted Dec 15th 2006 10:03PM
Those glorious Saturday mornings filled with cartoons and a complete lack of responsibility will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we're thrilled to hear that some faithful classics are about to get reborn on PBS-HD. According to Bijou Bob's official weblog, PBS has given "the green light" to producers to revive some of the greatest 'toons of the past, and just as soon as sufficient sponsors are found, you can expect to see the renditions in stunning HD, which will likely prove that Betty Boop actually is forever young. The 12-episode season is slated to air sometime in 2007, with "Betty Boop, Tom & Jerry, and the Fleischer Superman cartoons being named as potential candidates for the show." Additionally, you can expect to see see "a short subject, a serial chapter, and a feature film" to go along with the newly-rendered cartoons, all of which will be hosted by Debbie Reynolds. So if you're looking to relive a bit of your past, and don't mind the HD makeover, the Matinee at the Bijou should be right up your alley.[Via ToonZone]
This sounds great, but I should add that this is not 60's content - as the blog states, the various toons and flicks are "shown as originally presented in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s". A good thing, since animation was pretty dead by the 60s.
The one local PBS station I can receive in HD hasn't shown much, if anything, in HD in the last six months. They simply chose not to even though the show is being reported as such. I see this same thing happening with the local TBS station and their HD station. They've previously shown movies in HD, but decided to stop, I guess, in favor of TNT HD.
I liked the idea behind the FCC threatening to take awat ATSC licensing from stations with grantss but not airing anything in HD. Use it or lose it is my motto. I'd rather watch a common commercial in HD to support the channel's HD entertainment than see no HD on their HD channels.