The Banana Splits to reform for TV comebackCartoon Network is resurrecting arguably the world's greatest animal-based rock band - The Banana Splits.
Cartoon Network has ordered up to 130 comedy shorts of around two minutes to air between 9am and 2pm, Monday to Friday from 2 September. The shorts will also go out on the Boomerang channel.
The band - Fleegle (a dog), Drooper (a lion), Bingo (a gorilla) and Snorky (an elephant) – will also feature appear across multiplatform content including a new website, DVDs, live entertainment and music CDs.
The website,
http://www.bananasplits.com, will enable kids to view the comedy shorts and hear the new Banana Splits songs prior to the release of the album. Visitors will also be able to decode secret messages, join The Banana Splits Club, attend virtual meetings, hear Banana Splits jokes and play exclusive games.
"Everything that made The Banana Splits hugely popular in the '60s is back, including the group's terrific humour and hit music," said Jordan Sollitto, executive vice president of new business initiatives and international licensing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
"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."
The Banana Splits debuted on NBC in 1968. Their theme song -- The Tra La La Song – has became one of the most covered songs by other popular bands in the history of contemporary music.
Universal Records will debut a CD and DVD featuring 13 new Banana Splits pop and rock songs and music videos. Intended to appeal to kids and parents, the music and music videos will be offered online and incorporated in the Cartoon Network comedy shorts.
Cartoon Network is owned by Turner Broadcasting System. The Banana Splits is owned by Hanna-Barbera.
DH
