"Makin’ up a mess of fun, lots of fun for everyone!
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la! Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la!" You’ll be singing it if you remember it. Anyone who’s heard it will never forget the infectious theme tune to children’s TV classic The Banana Splits. The gang, Snorky (a baby elephant), Bingo (a gorilla), Drooper (a lion) and Fleegle (a dog), are getting a modern makeover and will become the latest TV show to make a comeback. They’ll be starring in new comedy sketches, shorts and music videos on the Cartoon Network from September.
The Banana Splits debuted in America in 1968 and ran until 1970. Anarchic, fast paced and extremely ‘groovy’, here in the UK, they were seen on the BBC in the 1970s and Channel 4 as part of the Big Breakfast.
The series was originally produced by Hanna-Barbera – the prolific company behind the likes of Top Cat, The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo. Jordan Sollitto, of Warner Bros said: "Everything that made The Banana Splits popular in the ’60s is back, including the group’s terrific humour and music. We take great pride in having carefully updated the look and feel of the original show for today’s kids while retaining all of the elements that made the original Banana Splits such a hit."
Stuart Snyder, president of Turner Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media, added: "The Banana Splits is a classic that has been entertaining kids for years. We’re thrilled to have this new version on Cartoon Network for our kids to enjoy today."
One banana, two banana, three banana, four…they’re back! And at this rate, who knows what other kids classics from yesteryear will make a reappearance? We’ve already had the likes of Swap Shop, Emu, Basil Brush, Rainbow and The Magic Roundabout. It wouldn’t surprise me if the soon-to-be-axed Grange Hill made a comeback in a year or two. Flippin’ ‘eck Tucker! In the meantime, get a flavour of The Banana Splits with an incredible piece of video containing the original intro….
Today I am mostly lovin’ – The TV show Redgrave’s Raw Recruits. If you missed it, I’m not surprised. It was shunted onto ITV4 – disgraceful treatment for such an inspiring programme. I shall speak more on this in a later blog entry.
Today I am mostly hatin’ – She may be a Dame and an Olympic legend, but Kelly Holmes can NOT read an autocue! Her advert for Kellogg’s is painful to watch.
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MSN TV Blog: The Remote Control 
i grew up in the 70\’s with this show and i loved it. but im getting sick of these tv companies remaking all the old shows. its too easy for them to remake rather than produce original shows. i know we\’re supposed to be greener nowadays, but this is taking recycling too far.
There is no point remaking this stuff just show the originals again!
yeah but kelly holmes looks good she got nice skin lol cant believe ive said that dont usually care that much about womens skin unless they got really bad acne
bring back pogles wood and lets see some real classic adventures instead of all this american rubbish
Ooh yes Adrian, bring back Pogles Wood, used to be the best thing on telly but I find most people don\’t remember it!!!! I\’ve still got a Pogles Wood Annual from many many (too many!) years ago, I was only looking at it the other day. Apparently you can get it on DVD, I\’m going to put it on my Christmas list :o)
Why noy just replay all the originals? I\’m always a tad sceptical when sleeping dogs are never left to lie.
Why totally destroy the magic from the orginal series by updating it in today\’s world? Come on TV producers you must surely have better imaginations than this. Anyone, by the way, remember, "The Whirley Birds?"
I\’ve got 3 golf balls.
Hey Lorna, how goes it? I said I\’d leave a comment when I got Sue Donnim a new live space address didn\’t I? I love the Banana Splits but a remake will just ruin it… leave our splits alone I say!
Hope all\’s well with you and I hope you\’re not thinking \’what the hell\’s that about?\’
🙂 Take care of you, Sue
Hello Sue – been reading up on you too and I\’m still larfing. 😉 Nothing is sacred – it\’ll be \’Paddington Bear In Da Hood\’ next…..
HOLD THE BUS! ROLL CALL
When I seen this news the other day I had a flashback to the Banana Pad! I remember watching it early 80\’s summer hols and it was pure bananas then, then I do not remember seeing them again until a young Chris Evans showed some of the best clips/sketches ever on the Big Breakfast each day, knowing they were on made me & our kid get up for our paper rounds on time and to this day I still have the VHS tape we recorded the clips on, recently transferred to DVD I must add. I have watched them over and over and correct me if I am wrong but a young actress appeared on one show as "Charlie" from the sour grapes club, years later ended up in the Cosby show. I think some of the scripts/sketches from the originals would outclass anything on Cartoon Network today and if you really look back they cover all stuff kids love to see on TV as well as social issues,violence to each other – Big hammers & the "thats an oouch, thats a double oouch phrases" music, lifestyles the lot, more than just a good theme tune and the other thing is they all remain friendly – when I was a lad and all that!
It is without doubt a classic show and really should be untouched for the set and costumes alone, but I have had living rooms full of people in tears of laughter in all states of mind watching the clips again 20 years on for some people, I doubt the kids of today will understand how good it was at the time and why I still find it funny 25 years later!
I could go on but think I have made my point.
GET THE MAIL FLEAGLE!
Oh dear just checked an official website and I doubt I will go back there again this is not them as I remember.
thI used to love Banana Splits.Bring back the original series b4ore they make a hash of a new series
Rather have the original back, its true!!!!!!! started hummin the bloody theme tune already. talkin of comebacks I want "the Dobledeckers" back?
I\’m too young to have ever seen the original but I want the original back! I wasn\’t born until 1990, but I know what legends the Banana Splits were, and to be honest I\’d prefer to ensure I never saw any of the show, than I end up catching some of the new version. Old classics were classics for a reason, we don\’t want or need them changed. I completely agree with Azerath, its taking recycling too far, and is down to lazy producers wanting an easy idea for a show. The first (no name) is also right, updating old shows just ruins the magic. All they\’re about to achieve is filling a few more kids minds with pointless junk, and annoying anyone who ever even heard of the original show. I\’m currently trying to decide if I want them to keep the theme tune because it was so incredible (I know and love it and I\’m only 18 and have never seen the show!), or change it so that the old legendary show is distanced from this new junk. I think I\’ll be glad to hear its changed, a theme tune that likely to stick in your head (I\’ll be hearing it in my head all day now), shouldn\’t ever have to be associated with whatever new rubbish some lazy producer has come up with.
Just a thought, is Yogi Bear still going? If it\’s not I bet they try and redo that soon, and is Top Cat still about? Cause again, if its not we\’re due for some rubbish remake soon, and they\’re both shows I loved as a kid.
Keep the originals, scrub the re-make and lets have Four Feather Falls as well!!
Sooo pleased to remember \’banana splits\’, I loved it at the time, it is lovely to have those memories of childhood.
I loved the \’double deckers\’ and then \’the tomorrow people\’ when I got a little bit older. Great fun times!
But producers please dont \’re-do\’ and spoil those fond memories we have of those shows we loved. Bring back the originals, for the young ones and us slightly older ones, thanks, surely retro is in!
I cant wait for Banana splits to return. I loved this as a child and it is as good as any other childrens programme or better than childrens programmes today.
Can\’t wait, bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Bring the original back!!!!
Another oneto remember is the one and only \’\’Im just a silly old Hector\’\’
Yey, The Banana Splits! I loved it when I was a kid (not always though, depended on what cartoon features we\’re playing – loved The Arabian Nights – How many kids used to charge round the house after an episode shouting "Size…of an elephant!"?). And what a weird and whacky set – the fireman\’s pole, slide, irritatingly trite cuckoo clock and who could forget the moose-head (did it have a name?). Drooper taking out the trash. Fleegle flapping his ears in a kind of homage to Oliver Hardy, the way in which he used to flap his tie at Stan Laurel whenever they got in a mess. Was I the only kid who wanted one of the Banana Split buggys? – I don\’t think so! Fantastic. I think a new Banana Splits would work brilliantly well against today\’s \’YouTube\’ culture – an eclectic mix of live-action and animation shorts. Can\’t wait!
It won\’t be the same. If they\’re bringing back The Banana Splits, they could at least bring back the cartoons that formed part of the show. I\’m talking about The Three Musketeers, the one about the genie and of course the live action serial Danger Island. The Banana Splits without those elements is not like the original, I\’m sorry.
YEAH I AGREE BRING BACK THE BANANA SPLITS BUT PLEASE MAKE IT THE ORIGINAL SERIES JUST PLAYED IT NOW I WAS HAVING A GOOD OLD SING SONG. THE SONG IS BRILL ! & ALL OF US SEEM TO BE SINGING FROM THE SAME HYMN SHEET, THAT IS A BIT OF A PUN.THESE PRODUCERS REALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA & ALWAYS SEEM TO MESS IT UP (OH BLESS EM)
Great banana Splts good tv at last never to old for some fun
I\’m way too young to have watched the banana splits when it was first out but my dad has them on video, (he\’s a big kid) and me and my little brother played it all the time! The thought that they\’re making more is both great and a bit worrying. All this talk about making them modern… I loved the banana splits because it wasn\’t modern or up to date. It was just funny! It was also fun to think my dad still watched them when he had the house to himself… lol!
oh my god i remember the banana splits back in the seventys , i feel like a ten year old all over again.yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Si-i-i-i-zze of an elephant!
Rosann kobarrr!
I remember it well, like yesterday. But I dont agree with the remake thing. It will never be the same.
The Banana Splits was like the end of the 60\’s and the beginning of the 70\’s. Something that cannot be replaced. Just watch the originals and enjoy.
Keep that rubbish off our sets – I am not having my children watch that – they will watch educational programme. I know they are children but what better time to learn that we in our family will not watch rubbish.
Thank you
MISTER Aoo
We should bring Animal Kwackers back to our screens instead of Banana splits. A Guitar playing tiger with an eye patch called boots, now thats cool!!!!
The Banana Splits, Yes they were great when I watched them, bringing them back would be Absolutely Fantastic.
Rock on………..
i remember the bannana split i enjoyed watching them as a kid cant wait to see it again on tv
PLEASE don\’t say they\’re following the trend and making it "The Banana Splits Kids"
^..^
You realise I can\’t get the tune out of my head now!!!!!
My sister, brother and me loved The Banana Splits but I doubt a remake will be the same. Bill and Ben were brought back and that was rubbish. Why not show ALL the oldies as they were. (Stingray, stingray derderderde, Hector\’s House, Rhubarb and Custard, Mary Mungo and Midge yay, not forgetting Play School. We used to rush home from school to watch The Tomorrow People. School holidays were spent watching Robinson Crusoe, White Horses and the one with the big white mountain dog, Sebastian(?). Those were the days!
Theres too many to mention but they all beat todays poor children\’s shows, the was no/little violence in the early shows.
Yes like many others can t stop humming that tune! !Love the banana splits can t remember when I last watched but still recall them all!! Yes a sad lass in Scotland But a proud banana split fan still brings a smile to my face a true classic!1
All these tv shows being mentioned is sending me back to my kidhood! fun place to be. Chris .. they remade roobarb and custard and called it roobarb and custard too! from what little i saw of it, they seemed to have got rid off the wobbly effect if you know what i mean!
Bringing back the Banana Splits is inspirational!
I don\’t understand where kids programmes are going anymore, take saturday mornings for example, cookery programmes!!!!
What kid wants to watch this drivel on their saturday mornings?
The answer is very simple – bring back Tiswas!!! – same format as it was back in the day. Loads of top bands and music, gunge, cartoons, more gunge, competitions, even more gunge, the cage, the Phantom Flan Flinger, did I mention gunge???
Put it on at 10am till midday and get the kids (and the grown ups), smiling again.
Great idea, so long as they do not try to hard to modrenise it like with so many others. Keep it simple, keep it original and most of all keep it FUN! Let our children be children and enjoy kids TV as it used to be!