The Energon Pub

I just realized that the TF Generation 1 cartoon had just 98 episodes, why only just 3 and a half seasons? I thought since the writers and creators brought back Optimus Prime back to the show after his supposid death from Transformers the Movie (1986) fans of TF will be exicted and would rush back and watch the series. Other famous cartoons like The Real Ghostbusters (have 147 episodes/7 seasons), He-Man and the masters of the universe (130 episodes/2 seasons) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (193 episodes/10 seasons) had more than 98 episodes. No doubt TF Generation 1 had developed a cult following.
Why in hell did the creators/writers cancelled Generation 1 after bringing back Optimus and with season 4 having just 3 episodes which all entitled "The Rebirth"?
Was it budget problems, ratings wise or writers couldn't come up with good ideas?
I would like to see Generation 1 end on a good note instead of the Rebirth episodes.

As far as I can tell, it was due to "declining interest".

The problem is that while they did bring back Optimus, they brought him back at the end of the season. By then, it was far too late to reclaim viewer interest. Season 3 had a notorious drop in animation quality, and people are, to this day, still sore about Rodimus Prime replacing Optimus Prime, as well as the entire cast being changed up. All those flaws caused viewers to tune out, and that's the deciding factor.

Technically generation one had 98 USA episodes. then over 100 japanese TF G-1 cartoon episodes from headmasters,masterforce,victory,that pilot scramble city episode. that pilot zone episode. and if one counts the 1986 movie broken up into 5 parts,then add another 5.

Below is my mere fan opinion,i state nothing as fact.

From my understanding,the voice director of the transformers generation one cartoon series. treated the voice actors very badly, by forcing them to work beyond their contracted daily hours. forcing them to do more voices & only get paid for one voiced character. the voice director was a perfectionist & made some voice actors like peter cullen hurt his vocal cords.

From my understanding,around the middle 1980's. their was a huge cartoon media voice actors strike. because those in charge didn't want to meet the demands of the voice actors. the voice actors in america felt they were being treated badly & were being taken advantage of.

from my understanding,during the 1980's voice actors strike. the transformers voice actor DIRECTOR was singled out by the strike captains as one of the more ruthless voice actors directors.

from my understanding this voice actors strike took years to resolve. and since the transformers voice actor was the worst of the lot. this delayed the future transformers cartoon from airing in america.

apparently G.I joe's Cartoon continued a while. but then they created newer shows with different characters & switched over to canadian based voice actors & did recording sessions in canada. to bypass the strick USA new voice actors contracted rules & standards. also hasbro paid the canadian based voice actors much cheaper than the usa based voice actors.

IMHO,Hasbro chose to have recording sessions in canada & hire all canadian based voice actors for beastwars & beastmachines. to save money,bypass the strick USA voice actors contracted rules & standards. some might counter argue & say hasbro had no choice because the mainframe animation studio was based in canada. hasbro could have easily chosen to set up a voice actors room in america & have the CGI mainframe footage shipped to america for usa based recoding sessions. like when hasbro outsouces it's "TF animated & TF Prime animation to animation studios overseas & hires voice actors in america then records the stuff in a american based studio.

Generally TV shows are cancelled due to low viewership, not because the people behind the show decide to end it for whatever reasons. Killing of majority of the old, beloved cast and replacing them with a bunch of new, unknown faces within the course of an hour or so would most certainly turn off many viewers (something TMNT, He-man, and Ghostbusters were NOT guilty of).

Noideaforaname wrote:Generally TV shows are cancelled due to low viewership, not because the people behind the show decide to end it for whatever reasons. Killing of majority of the old, beloved cast and replacing them with a bunch of new, unknown faces within the course of an hour or so would most certainly turn off many viewers (something TMNT, He-man, and Ghostbusters were NOT guilty of).

This all my opinion based. based off stuff I read on the internet. I state nothing as fact. since I wasn't in the board rooms,I can't confirm if this below info is true or not. I'm just posting what I read years ago onn the internet.

IMHO,This wasn't the reason. IMHO,Season 3 never received lower viewership. IMHO,3 received higher viewership than seasons 1 & 2 combined.

many official sources blame the actors strike in the 1980's & the transformers voice director for taking advantage,under-paying & treating the voice actors badly.

I think their might have also been a difference in story telling plots between takara & hasbro. takara didn't like the nebulans idea. takara & hasbro had radically different TF G-1 1980's cartoon ideas. the end result no agreement was met. takara did their own exclusives cartoons. hasbro might have been too cheap or weren't allowed to create their own USA exclusive TF G-1 cartoons after the last episode of the season 4 rebirth part 3.

I heard a rumor that the animation studio that did the generation one usa cartoons over seas might have closed or merged with another. takara did use a different amimation studio for masterforce,victory & that zone episode. perhaps hasbro didn't want to have newer art designs for their iconic characters like optimus prime.

Tidalwavex wrote:Below is my mere fan opinion,i state nothing as fact.

This isn't a matter of opinion, since we can actually prove what happened here. And everything you just said isn't what happened here. It was a combination of declining viewership and Hasbro pulling support. There may have been a strike at the time, but I haven't been able to find any substantial information on it.

Shadowman wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:Below is my mere fan opinion,i state nothing as fact.

This isn't a matter of opinion, since we can actually prove what happened here. And everything you just said isn't what happened here. It was a combination of declining viewership and Hasbro pulling support. There may have been a strike at the time, but I haven't been able to find any substantial information on it.

I wasn't in the board room,nor did i get to speak to hasbro representavies face to face. so yes,it's my opinion based off stuff i read on the internet.

shadownan,your reply seems to indicate what you say is FACT. please provide links proving & showing data of low viewership rattings happened in TF G-1 season 3 compared to data viewership rattings of TF seasons 1 & 2.

IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Tidalwavex wrote:

Shadowman wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:Below is my mere fan opinion,i state nothing as fact.

This isn't a matter of opinion, since we can actually prove what happened here. And everything you just said isn't what happened here. It was a combination of declining viewership and Hasbro pulling support. There may have been a strike at the time, but I haven't been able to find any substantial information on it.

I wasn't in the board room,nor did i get to speak to hasbro representavies face to face. so yes,it's my opinion based off stuff i read on the internet.

shadownan,your reply seems to indicate what you say is FACT. please provide links proving & showing data of low viewership rattings happened in TF G-1 season 3 compared to data viewership rattings of TF seasons 1 & 2.

IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Whoah there Nelly. Why are you asking Shadowman to back up what he's saying when you sit there telling us your opinion is based on what you've read on the internet but then don't provide any links yourself?

Tidalwavex wrote:IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

And sure, season 3 should have had the advantage of having a loyal following from those that followed seasons 1 & 2............but that advantage was nullified by what was done in the film,

That loyal fanbase found very little to be loyal to in season 3, the leaders they loved were gone, all [most] the characters they knew were dead,the show wasnt even based in the same era.It was takeing place 20 years in the future.

One of the key eliments that the fans loved [that any car on the streat could be a tf] was now not really possible.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

And sure, season 3 should have had the advantage of having a loyal following from those that followed seasons 1 & 2............but that advantage was nullified by what was done in the film,

That loyal fanbase found very little to be loyal to in season 3, the leaders they loved were gone, all [most] the characters they knew were dead,the show wasnt even based in the same era.It was takeing place 20 years in the future.

One of the key eliments that the fans loved [that any car on the streat could be a tf] was now not really possible.

Still it's a bold move. I think it has kept the brand healthy and give us sooooooo much more characters to like. Many of the S3 characters are now favorites; Galvatron, Rodminus Prime, Predaking, Spinger, Magnus...
I remember back then being in complete shock over Zombimus Prime and the hateplague, though. Quintessons creep me out to this day.

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

And sure, season 3 should have had the advantage of having a loyal following from those that followed seasons 1 & 2............but that advantage was nullified by what was done in the film,

That loyal fanbase found very little to be loyal to in season 3, the leaders they loved were gone, all [most] the characters they knew were dead,the show wasnt even based in the same era.It was takeing place 20 years in the future.

One of the key eliments that the fans loved [that any car on the streat could be a tf] was now not really possible.

Still it's a bold move. I think it has kept the brand healthy and give us sooooooo much more characters to like. Many of the S3 characters are now favorites; Galvatron, Rodminus Prime, Predaking, Spinger, Magnus...
I remember back then being in complete shock over Zombimus Prime and the hateplague, though. Quintessons creep me out to this day.

a bold move for sure, and one I enjoyed, but it still hurt the franchise.Me, I was 15 at the time, I welcomed the idea of a different setting, more "sci-fi" type stories.

My taste were already moving past the stand alone story types on season 2.But I'm not very representative of the target market of the time.At 15 I was already living on my own, had 2 kids.Was working and still in school.Yes, I was still buying the toys but I displayed them like museum pieces.

The 8 to 12 year old market wasnt interested in the changes as I was.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

And sure, season 3 should have had the advantage of having a loyal following from those that followed seasons 1 & 2............but that advantage was nullified by what was done in the film,

That loyal fanbase found very little to be loyal to in season 3, the leaders they loved were gone, all [most] the characters they knew were dead,the show wasnt even based in the same era.It was takeing place 20 years in the future.

One of the key eliments that the fans loved [that any car on the streat could be a tf] was now not really possible.

Still it's a bold move. I think it has kept the brand healthy and give us sooooooo much more characters to like. Many of the S3 characters are now favorites; Galvatron, Rodminus Prime, Predaking, Spinger, Magnus...
I remember back then being in complete shock over Zombimus Prime and the hateplague, though. Quintessons creep me out to this day.

a bold move for sure, and one I enjoyed, but it still hurt the franchise.Me, I was 15 at the time, I welcomed the idea of a different setting, more "sci-fi" type stories.

My taste were already moving past the stand alone story types on season 2.But I'm not very representative of the target market of the time.At 15 I was already living on my own, had 2 kids.Was working and still in school.Yes, I was still buying the toys but I displayed them like museum pieces.

The 8 to 12 year old market wasnt interested in the changes as I was.

And now none of us are target market.

Still, being older than the target market back then provides an interesting perspective on the franchise, I'd think.

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

And sure, season 3 should have had the advantage of having a loyal following from those that followed seasons 1 & 2............but that advantage was nullified by what was done in the film,

That loyal fanbase found very little to be loyal to in season 3, the leaders they loved were gone, all [most] the characters they knew were dead,the show wasnt even based in the same era.It was takeing place 20 years in the future.

One of the key eliments that the fans loved [that any car on the streat could be a tf] was now not really possible.

Still it's a bold move. I think it has kept the brand healthy and give us sooooooo much more characters to like. Many of the S3 characters are now favorites; Galvatron, Rodminus Prime, Predaking, Spinger, Magnus...
I remember back then being in complete shock over Zombimus Prime and the hateplague, though. Quintessons creep me out to this day.

a bold move for sure, and one I enjoyed, but it still hurt the franchise.Me, I was 15 at the time, I welcomed the idea of a different setting, more "sci-fi" type stories.

My taste were already moving past the stand alone story types on season 2.But I'm not very representative of the target market of the time.At 15 I was already living on my own, had 2 kids.Was working and still in school.Yes, I was still buying the toys but I displayed them like museum pieces.

The 8 to 12 year old market wasnt interested in the changes as I was.

And now none of us are target market.

Still, being older than the target market back then provides an interesting perspective on the franchise, I'd think.

well,I dont know how old you are bud, but I know I'm not their traket now at 40

And I guess being old then most fans then was a bit weird.I remember feeling really weird going to see the film by myself.

I took my foster brothers on my 2nd viewing so I didnt look so odd to the ticket girls.Works to my advantage too, got a date out of it.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

And sure, season 3 should have had the advantage of having a loyal following from those that followed seasons 1 & 2............but that advantage was nullified by what was done in the film,

That loyal fanbase found very little to be loyal to in season 3, the leaders they loved were gone, all [most] the characters they knew were dead,the show wasnt even based in the same era.It was takeing place 20 years in the future.

One of the key eliments that the fans loved [that any car on the streat could be a tf] was now not really possible.

Still it's a bold move. I think it has kept the brand healthy and give us sooooooo much more characters to like. Many of the S3 characters are now favorites; Galvatron, Rodminus Prime, Predaking, Spinger, Magnus...
I remember back then being in complete shock over Zombimus Prime and the hateplague, though. Quintessons creep me out to this day.

a bold move for sure, and one I enjoyed, but it still hurt the franchise.Me, I was 15 at the time, I welcomed the idea of a different setting, more "sci-fi" type stories.

My taste were already moving past the stand alone story types on season 2.But I'm not very representative of the target market of the time.At 15 I was already living on my own, had 2 kids.Was working and still in school.Yes, I was still buying the toys but I displayed them like museum pieces.

The 8 to 12 year old market wasnt interested in the changes as I was.

And now none of us are target market.

Still, being older than the target market back then provides an interesting perspective on the franchise, I'd think.

well,I dont know how old you are bud, but I know I'm not their traket now at 40

And I guess being old then most fans then was a bit weird.I remember feeling really weird going to see the film by myself.

I took my foster brothers on my 2nd viewing so I didnt look so odd to the ticket girls.Works to my advantage too, got a date out of it.

Isn't this stuff supposed to screw us OUT of dates?

Burn wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:

Shadowman wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:Below is my mere fan opinion,i state nothing as fact.

This isn't a matter of opinion, since we can actually prove what happened here. And everything you just said isn't what happened here. It was a combination of declining viewership and Hasbro pulling support. There may have been a strike at the time, but I haven't been able to find any substantial information on it.

I wasn't in the board room,nor did i get to speak to hasbro representavies face to face. so yes,it's my opinion based off stuff i read on the internet.

shadownan,your reply seems to indicate what you say is FACT. please provide links proving & showing data of low viewership rattings happened in TF G-1 season 3 compared to data viewership rattings of TF seasons 1 & 2.

IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Whoah there Nelly. Why are you asking Shadowman to back up what he's saying when you sit there telling us your opinion is based on what you've read on the internet but then don't provide any links yourself?

Burn,I emailed you my reasons behind my recent above replies. I don't want to clog the forums with off-topic personal debates.

IMHO,Their is no logical way to cite & look up data regarding transformers TF G-1 season 3 receiving less viewership rattings in 1986 compared to season 1 or 2. BECAUSE HAD ONE WATCHED THE TRANSFORMERS CARTOON IN 1986,they would have noticed seasons 1,2 & 3 all aired in 1986 from september 15 thru november 20,1986. then after novemver 1986 thru the whole year of 1987,seasons 1,2,3 & 4 all took turns getting all their episodes aired.

here below is the IMDB web site link showing the proof. that season 3 episodes from september 15,1986 thru november 20,1986,took small hiatus breaks to allow some season 1 & 2 episodes to also air between the time frame of september 15,1986 november 20,1986. I was 12 years old in 1986 & I remember season 1 & 2 episodes airing during the time peiod of september 15,1986 thru november 20,1986. with seasons 1,2,3 & 4 all airing weekdays 5 days a week in the 1987 year.

IMHO,FWIW,Newer episodes from existing series,have a track record of getting higher rattings & watched more. especially if the newer episodes each week are sandwiched between older sepisodes also airing in the same time frame.

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

And sure, season 3 should have had the advantage of having a loyal following from those that followed seasons 1 & 2............but that advantage was nullified by what was done in the film,

That loyal fanbase found very little to be loyal to in season 3, the leaders they loved were gone, all [most] the characters they knew were dead,the show wasnt even based in the same era.It was takeing place 20 years in the future.

One of the key eliments that the fans loved [that any car on the streat could be a tf] was now not really possible.

Still it's a bold move. I think it has kept the brand healthy and give us sooooooo much more characters to like. Many of the S3 characters are now favorites; Galvatron, Rodminus Prime, Predaking, Spinger, Magnus...
I remember back then being in complete shock over Zombimus Prime and the hateplague, though. Quintessons creep me out to this day.

a bold move for sure, and one I enjoyed, but it still hurt the franchise.Me, I was 15 at the time, I welcomed the idea of a different setting, more "sci-fi" type stories.

My taste were already moving past the stand alone story types on season 2.But I'm not very representative of the target market of the time.At 15 I was already living on my own, had 2 kids.Was working and still in school.Yes, I was still buying the toys but I displayed them like museum pieces.

The 8 to 12 year old market wasnt interested in the changes as I was.

And now none of us are target market.

Still, being older than the target market back then provides an interesting perspective on the franchise, I'd think.

well,I dont know how old you are bud, but I know I'm not their traket now at 40

And I guess being old then most fans then was a bit weird.I remember feeling really weird going to see the film by myself.

I took my foster brothers on my 2nd viewing so I didnt look so odd to the ticket girls.Works to my advantage too, got a date out of it.

Isn't this stuff supposed to screw us OUT of dates?

I broke the mold.

Fat,ugly,into comics,transformers and star trek, and still managed to get layed............a lot.I even dated a girl that became a penthouse pet.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

RhA wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:IMHO,I find it extremly hard to believe transformers 1986 season 3 got lower viewership rattings & lower rattings than seasons 1 & 2. I find this hard to believe because 1986 TF G-1 season 3 came on in the afternoon after kids came home from school. back in the day,having a cartoon on a network after school ended got decent viewership rattings. Plus season 3 had the advantage of having a loyal following of viewers watching that watched seasons 1 & 2. & newer viewers that climbed on-board.

Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

And sure, season 3 should have had the advantage of having a loyal following from those that followed seasons 1 & 2............but that advantage was nullified by what was done in the film,

That loyal fanbase found very little to be loyal to in season 3, the leaders they loved were gone, all [most] the characters they knew were dead,the show wasnt even based in the same era.It was takeing place 20 years in the future.

One of the key eliments that the fans loved [that any car on the streat could be a tf] was now not really possible.

Still it's a bold move. I think it has kept the brand healthy and give us sooooooo much more characters to like. Many of the S3 characters are now favorites; Galvatron, Rodminus Prime, Predaking, Spinger, Magnus...
I remember back then being in complete shock over Zombimus Prime and the hateplague, though. Quintessons creep me out to this day.

a bold move for sure, and one I enjoyed, but it still hurt the franchise.Me, I was 15 at the time, I welcomed the idea of a different setting, more "sci-fi" type stories.

My taste were already moving past the stand alone story types on season 2.But I'm not very representative of the target market of the time.At 15 I was already living on my own, had 2 kids.Was working and still in school.Yes, I was still buying the toys but I displayed them like museum pieces.

The 8 to 12 year old market wasnt interested in the changes as I was.

And now none of us are target market.

Still, being older than the target market back then provides an interesting perspective on the franchise, I'd think.

well,I dont know how old you are bud, but I know I'm not their traket now at 40

And I guess being old then most fans then was a bit weird.I remember feeling really weird going to see the film by myself.

I took my foster brothers on my 2nd viewing so I didnt look so odd to the ticket girls.Works to my advantage too, got a date out of it.

Isn't this stuff supposed to screw us OUT of dates?

I broke the mold.

Fat,ugly,into comics,transformers and star trek, and still managed to get layed............a lot.I even dated a girl that became a penthouse pet.

Tidalwavex wrote:Burn,I emailed you my reasons behind my recent above replies. I don't want to clog the forums with off-topic personal debates.

MY LAST REPLY IN THIS THREAD: IMHO,Their is no logical way to cite & look up data regarding transformers TF G-1 season 3 receiving less viewership rattings in 1986 compared to season 1 or 2. BECAUSE HAD ONE WATCHED THE TRANSFORMERS CARTOON IN 1986,they would have noticed seasons 1,2 & 3 all aired in 1986 from september 15 thru november 20,1986. then after novemver 1986 thru the whole year of 1987,seasons 1,2,3 & 4 all took turns getting all their episodes aired.

here below is the IMDB web site link showing the proof. that season 3 episodes from september 15,1986 thru november 20,1986,took small hiatus breaks to allow some season 1 & 2 episodes to also air between the time frame of september 15,1986 november 20,1986. I was 12 years old in 1986 & I remember season 1 & 2 episodes airing during the time peiod of september 15,1986 thru november 20,1986. with seasons 1,2,3 & 4 all airing weekdays 5 days a week in the 1987 year.

IMHO,FWIW,Newer episodes from existing series,have a track record of getting higher rattings & watched more. especially if the newer episodes each week are sandwiched between older sepisodes also airing in the same time frame.

I'm not sure why you cited the "hiatus breaks".

It was nothing new at the time.It was even done in season 2, which aired season 1 episodes every now and then durring the regular run.

And for the record, they ran new episodes back to back from September 15 till October 2nd.And after that they alternated from 2 or 3 new episodes each week with the rest being re-runs till Noverber 20th.

I weouldnt call that a "hiatus", the first real hiatus didnt come till December, and by then they had already aired all season 3 episodes except for The return of Optimus Prime.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:Your assumption/opinion is based on info thats not universally correct.

I dont know about your area, but in NYC,1986,season 3 aired early mornings [7;30am] on WPIX, and Iknow that effected viewer ship in that market.

I use to live in brooklyn new york from the day I was born in 1974 thru the year 2005. till i moved to another state.

I can personally confirm that the WPIX station in brooklyn aired season 3 in the afternoon at 3:30 pm weekdays from the time period of september 15,1986,thru november 20,1986.

in the 1987 year,the transformers cartoon got a early 7:30 time slot. due to TF G-1 seasons 1,2 & 3 airing re-runs.
eventually the transformers cartoons did return to afternoons in 1987 on the brooklyn WPIX station.

Tidalwavex wrote:I use to live in brooklyn new york from the day I was born in 19874 thru the year 2005. till i moved to another state.

I can personally confirm that the WPIX station in brooklyn aired season 3 in the afternoon at 3:30 pm weekdays from the time period of september 15,1986,thru november 20,1986.

in the 1987 year,the transformers cartoon got a early 7:30 time slot. due to TF G-1 seasons 1,2 & 3 airing re-runs.
eventually the transformers cartoons did return to afternoons in 1987 on the brooklyn WPIX station.

Sorry, but I can positively say that your memory is faulty.I still have my video tapes of every episode I recorded.

Not only have I checked these tapes a few months back due to a similar topic over at TFW, but even this vid proves that the show aired at 7;30 on wpix channel 11 in may of that same season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sJqM8SbBcM

Ohh yeah, and heres this........

Tidalwavex wrote:I can personally confirm that the WPIX station in brooklyn aired season 3 in the afternoon at 3:30 pm weekdays from the time period of september 15,1986,thru november 20,1986.

Starting on September 1986, Filmation started airing their "FAKE" Ghostbusters cartoon on WPIX.

Guess what time slot they had?????? weekday afternoons at 3:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2N0pGxq3AI

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:I use to live in brooklyn new york from the day I was born in 19874 thru the year 2005. till i moved to another state.

I can personally confirm that the WPIX station in brooklyn aired season 3 in the afternoon at 3:30 pm weekdays from the time period of september 15,1986,thru november 20,1986.

in the 1987 year,the transformers cartoon got a early 7:30 time slot. due to TF G-1 seasons 1,2 & 3 airing re-runs.
eventually the transformers cartoons did return to afternoons in 1987 on the brooklyn WPIX station.

Sorry, but I can positively say that your memory is faulty.I still have my video tapes of every episode I recorded.

Not only have I checked these tapes a few months back due to a similar topic over at TFW, but even this vid proves that the show aired at 7;30 on wpix channel 11 in may of that same season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sJqM8SbBcM

RTOOP part 1 8 2 First aired in march 2 & 3 in 1987. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086817/episodes#year-1987
not in may 1987. I do remember the 1987 re-runs of seasons 1,2 & 3 all airing in 1987 in the moornings.

in 1987,The transformers cartoon was no longer airing newer episodes. it was in re-runs,so ofcause it would get dropped to a less desirable time slot in 1987. their was only 5 newer TF G-1 episodes released in 1987.

I was 12 years old & remember racing home from school to watch the 1986 season 3 episodes that aired from september 15,1986,thru november 20,1986 in the afternoon on weekdays in NYC brooklyn on the channel 11 wpix station on TV.

I know it was definately in the afternoon on weekdays in 1986 on september 15 thru november 20,1986. but I don't remember the time slot because it was over 25 years ago since season 3 First aired.

Tidalwavex wrote:RTOOP part 1 8 2 First aired in march 2 & 3 in 1987 not in may 1987. I do remember the 1987 re-runs of seasons 1,2 & 3 all airing in 1987 in the moornings.

I was 12 years old & remember racing home from school to watch the 1986 season 3 episodes that aired from september 15,1986,thru november 20,1986 in the afternoon on weekdays in NYC brooklyn on the channel 11 wpix station on TV.

I know it was definately in the afternoon on weekdays but don't remember the time slot because it was over 25 years ago since season 3 aired.

So, be fore you could "personally confirm that it aired weekday afternoon's at 3:30 pm" but now you cant say what time?

Sorry bud, but I have no faith in your memory.....it has already failed you once.I'm from Brooklyn and Queens my self, I grew up between Piken ave. and Far Rockaway, and I'm telling you your memory is faulty.

And try reading things more carfully,I never said the return of op aired first in may.

I was 15 at the time.........and I'm pretty cretin of my memory, not to mention I have ther video tapes of my recordings.

from what I remember ,Season 3 started airing in the mornings, I remember because I was pretty pissed, My tv reception at home wasnt great at that time of the am because of air traffic from JFK...........so I had to record my episodes at my aunts house, So I had to travel to her house every week to pop in a new tape.

In june/july of 87, they changed the time slot again ,back to late afternoons.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Tidalwavex wrote:RTOOP part 1 8 2 First aired in march 2 & 3 in 1987 not in may 1987. I do remember the 1987 re-runs of seasons 1,2 & 3 all airing in 1987 in the moornings.

I was 12 years old & remember racing home from school to watch the 1986 season 3 episodes that aired from september 15,1986,thru november 20,1986 in the afternoon on weekdays in NYC brooklyn on the channel 11 wpix station on TV.

I know it was definately in the afternoon on weekdays but don't remember the time slot because it was over 25 years ago since season 3 aired.

So, be fore you could "personally confirm that it aired weekday afternoon's at 3:30 pm" but now you cant say what time?

Sorry bud, but I have no faith in your memory.....it has already failed you once.I'm from Brooklyn and Queens my self, I grew up between Piken ave. and Far Rockaway, and I'm telling you your memory is faulty.

And try reading things more carfully,I never said the return of op aired first in may.

I was 15 at the time.........and I'm pretty cretin of my memory, not to mention I have ther video tapes of my recordings.

Season 3 started airing in the mornings, I remember because I was pretty pissed, My tv reception at home wasnt great at that time of the am because of air traffic from JFK...........so I had to record my episodes at my aunts house, So I had to travel to her house every week to pop in a new tape.

In june of 87, they changed the time slot again ,back to late afternoons.

I was 12 years old at the time & you said you were 15. both of us didn't have any access in 1986 to those season 3 episodes rattings data sheets in late 1986. we don't have the data viewership rattings from 1984,1985 & 1986 transformers cartoon. 7:30 am wasn't that bad of a time slot to air newer TF g-1 season 3 episodes in 1986. we don't know if the 7:30 am TF G-1 newer episodes got better or worse rattings than seasons 1 or 2. some like myself were getting dressed for school & did catch a few minutes of cartoons airing on 7:30 on weekdays during getting ready for school. for all we know kids under the age of 4 or 5 could have watched the 7:30 TF G-1 season cartoon in 1986. not everyones school starts at 8:00 am sharp. i went to a few private christian schools & my start time was 9:00 am. right now in the year 2011 my 2 nieces public school start at 8:30 am.

why would hasbro bother creating a season 4,if season 3 did so poorly in the rattings in late 1986?