Readers of this site are well aware of my distaste for the updated "Dexter's Laboratory": a perfect case of trying too hard to recapture a classic, while not expending nearly enough creative effort. That being said, it's interesting to study the evolution of another Cartoon Network cartoon, which, unlike Dexter, actually got better when it was relaunched for it's second run.
"Johnny Bravo" debuted on Cartoon Network nearly 8 years ago. Created by Van Partible, it was a silly study of a self-absorbed musclehead who couldn't succeed with women under any cicumstances. Bravo was the ultimate male bimbo--Elvis Presley, Fabio and John Travolta all rolled into one. Unfortunately, the show never really exploded, and Johnny drifted into production limbo.
Enter the second iteration of the show, circa 1998-1999. While the show still bore the name of it's creator (Partible), he was apparently not involved creatively. It now showcased the talents of directors Russell Calabrese, Butch Hartman, John McIntyre, Rumen Petkov, Kirk Tingblad and Robert Alvarez--along with writers like Steve Marmel, Michael Ryan and "Family Guy's" Seth McFarlane. The result? A bigger, better, funnier, badder Johnny Bravo. From the animation, to the writing, to the characters, this was a markedly more enjoyable show... the exact opposite of what happened to poor little Dexter: A new version that was better than the original!
Fast forward to 2002. For some reason, new Johnny Bravo episodes stopped being produced--and at a time when the show was at it's best. Why? My guess is that Cartoon Network would rather expend production efforts on it's new creations, the underwhelming "Kids Next Door" and the self-indulgent "Samurai Jack." It seemed like Johnny was on his way out again... or was he?
I noticed recently that new episodes may indeed be coming. And, just this week, a Johnny Bravo "Christmas story" was aired. Strangely enough, Van Partible seems too be back in creative control again--and as much as I hate to say it, it shows. The special lacked the flavor of the "second generation" Bravos. It was sappy, forced, and forgettable... which presents fans with a dilemma: Johnny Bravo may be making a comeback, but it seems to be under the not-so-entertaining watchful eye of it's creator, Van Partible.
*Sigh* why couldn't Partible get sidetracked doing some dull, uninteresting adaptation of the Clone Wars? Oh wait... Too late.
