Cartoon Sunday: John R. Dilworth's The Dirdy Birdy

How's it going my gumdrops? Did you enjoy yesterday's Song Saturday Tribute to the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots? If so, let me know.

Meanwhile, I am sharing something a little different from the usual for this Cartoon Sunday. How many of you are familiar with John R. Dilworth? 

The actor, writer, director, animator, and producer is also known as "Dilly." "Dilly" is best known for the Animated Horror Comedy, Courage The Cowardly Dog. 

I find it is strange that no one credits the cable network, Nickelodeon. Several years before Courage The Cowardly Dog aired on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon aired it.

In fact, I remember channel surfing and stumbling upon Courage The Cowardly Dog on Nickelodeon, when I was in 6th grade. That was more than 20 years ago. 

Quite a few shows meant for children, which started airing on Cartoon Network WERE originally from Nickelodeon.

The TV series based on R.L. Stine's anthologies for Goosebumps aired on Nickelodeon, before Cartoon Network acquired it, is another example.

I remember Courage The Cowardly Dog airing on Nickelodeon years before Cartoon Network acquired it. 

Even though I was never a fan of the cartoon during my adolescence, there will be some man-child 1 generation younger than yours truly, discrediting me about something they were not old enough to comprehend, much less watch.

Unlike younger Gen Y and Zers, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, etc. were NOT  a part of my childhood or adolescence.

Watching Saturday Morning Cartoons and cartoons that aired on local channels everyday was how I grew up.

During the 1980's to mid-90's, cartoons used to air on local channels at least 5 days a week. 

On weekdays, cartoons aired on local channels in the mornings and afternoons. By 1992, I had already reached puberty and most cartoons meant for kids did not resonate with me as a pre-teen.

By 1994, I started watching the Liquid Television Animation block on MTV and Anime on The Sci Fi Channel. In '94, I stopped watching local channels for animation.

MTV and Sci Fi had more mature content in their animation that I wanted to watch. 

Cartoon Network and other networks aired more immature cartoons for pre-schoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary school children. 

Much like PBS's programming meant for kids, I found their content to be highly patronizing, especially as an adolescent. 

Some of you already know about me watching the Liquid Television Animation block. 

Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria, The Maxx, The Head, Celebrity Deathmatch, Aeon Flux, etc. were popular, during my adolescence.

The Cartoon Sushi block succeeded Liquid Television by 1997 on MTV. During the mid to late 1990's and early 21st Century, I was an adolescent, when MTV aired these cartoons. This was years before Adult Swim was ever launched.

By 1997, the local networks had replaced cartoons with Court TV and Daytime Talk Shows. These local networks assumed every household by that time had basic cable channels like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, etc.

Truth be told, every household did NOT  have a basic cable package.

Because today's blog mostly focuses on MTV, the network's cartoon blocks, its cartoons from the 1990's, and briefly mentions John R. Dilworth's Courage The Cowardly Dog, it's only fair to share a cartoon, which briefly aired on MTV.

Have you ever watched John R. Dilworth's "The Dirdy Birdy"?

"The Dirdy Birdy" was a 7-minute animated short, which aired on MTV during the early 1990's. 

The short features a hostile cat (Fergurina) and the obnoxious bird (Purdy) sitting in a tree.

If you did NOT  know any better, you would swear that Purdy was the equivalent of an online troll sexually harassing Fergurina. 

Purdy is in love with Fergurina and expresses his affection for her. The bird's affections consists of MOONING her. The Grim Reaper also makes his cameo appearance.

Talk about an obnoxious creep! No wonder why the cat turns into a monster. 

Never in all my years have I ever seen a bird moon a cat in a tree or a cat transform into such a ferocious monster. This is surely a sight to behold!

Rather than explaining every detail of this abstract short, which used to air on MTV, it is much better for you to independently watch it, right now.

John R. Dilworth "The Dirdy Birdy" (1993)

Song Saturday: Chester Bennington Tribute Block

How's it going my gumdrops? On Thursday afternoon, I published a blog asking if you would like for me to publish more Q&A blogs.

While working on Thursday's blog, I clenched my chest in shock after reading the headline about Chester Bennington of both Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots.

TMZ: Linkin Park Singer Commits Suicide By Hanging

Supposedly, Chester hung himself on what would have been Chris Cornell's (Chester's close friend) 53rd birthday had he also NOT supposedly hung himself, 2 months ago.

Song Saturday: Chris Cornell Tribute Block (2017)

You may be wondering why I keep saying the word, "supposedly." Call me a crazy "conspiracy theorist," but both of their deaths were extremely sudden.

Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell's so-called suicides remind me of Michael Hutchence's death from 20 years ago. 

In case you are unfamiliar with Michael Hutchence, he was the lead singer of the Australian Rock band, INXS.

In April 1997, the band released their final 10th album with Hutchence, Elegantly Wasted. It was named after their song of the same name, "Elegantly Wasted." 

INXS had plenty of tours scheduled to celebrate their 20th anniversary that year. 

By November 22, 1997 INXS's homecoming tour was canceled after Michael Hutchence was found dead hanging outside his hotel window in Sydney, Australia. 

Reports claim that Michael hung himself.

On January 19, 2016, Soundgarden announced that they were working on their next studio album. 

Apparently, they had been working on their music for the last several years and were touring.

After Soundgarden performed on May 17, 2017 at The Fox Theatre, located in Downtown Detroit, MI, Chris Cornell was found dead by his bodyguard on May 18th around 12:15 am. 

According to the reports, Cornell's body was lying on the bathroom floor of his hotel room at the MGM Grand Hotel.

***An exercise band was wrapped around Chris Cornell's neck and blood was in his mouth.

By the Detroit Police reviewing a hotel surveillance video, they ruled out a homicide. 

Supposedly, there was no evidence showing anyone entering or exiting Cornell's hotel suite, after the frontman's bodyguard left around 11:35 pm.

By June 2, 2017 the coroner confirmed that Chris Cornell committed suicide.

Chester Bennington was not only a close friend of Chris Cornell's, but also the Godfather of Cornell's son, Christopher.

In an interview with Radio.com, Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda claimed that Chester was really aggrieved, as they performed "One More Light."

Radio.com: Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda Claims Chester Bennington Was Hit Hard By Chris Cornell’s Suicide (2017)

This interview with Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda was taped on May 19, 2017. This was the day after Soundgarden's Chris Cornell died of suicide. I'm still not believing this story. 

Chris' death sounds very suspicious; It sounds more like he was murdered.

Considering that Soundgarden was last seen in Detroit, MI, it would NOT surprise me if Cornell was murdered. 

Detroit is notorious for having a criminal element. I know this because I have relatives, who unfortunately live there.

As for Chester Bennington, he grew up troubled. At 7 years old, he was sexually abused by an older male friend and was scared to ask for help. He did not want everyone thinking he was gay or a liar. The abuse did not stop, until he was 13 years old. 

Here's the real kicker, Chester Bennington's father was a police detective, who worked with sexual abuse cases. 

Meanwhile, Chester's mother was a nurse. By the time he was 11, his parents got divorced and Chester's father gained custody of him. 

During the time of their divorce, Chester Bennington began using marijuana, alcohol, opium, cocaine, methamphetamine, and LSD. 

After turning 17, he moved in with his mother. When she discovered that he was using drugs, she banned him from leaving the house. By 2011, Chester Bennington supposedly quit using drugs.

In addition to Chester Bennington's dilemmas, he and his wife were harassed by the cyberstalker, Devon Townsend. The cyberstalking went on for almost a year.

Luckily, Townsend was found guilty of tampering with the couple's e-mails, sending threatening messages, and was later sentenced to 2 years in prison. 

Learning about Bennington's cyberstalker makes me even more suspicious than before.

What if Chester's cyberstalker, Devon Townsend murdered him on Thursday and made his death appear as a "suicide"?

You may assume that I am some crazy fan with conspiracy theories. Given the fact, that people were always attacking Chester, anything is possible. 

Regardless if Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington's deaths were murders or suicide, the news about both frontmen dying was and still is tragic.

Excluding the critics, trolls, AND haters, both frontmen are worldwide losses. 

Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell greatly touched the lives of many families, friends, fans, and celebrities. If you don't believe me, here are 2 videos from these people.

1) Death Of Chester Bennington: Celebrities Reaction [Dwayne Johnson, Mike Shinoda, and Others] (2017)

2) Loudwire: Rock World Reacts To Chester Bennington's Death (2017)

After publishing Thursday's blog about my Q&A, Jesse posted in the comments section:

"The lead singer of Linkin Park has been found dead. What are your thoughts of him and his band?"

Depending on my chaotic schedule, I plan on answering Jesse's question. Anyway, here are my favorite Linkin Park music videos for today's Song Saturday.

1) Linkin Park "One Step Closer" Hybrid Theory (2000)

2) Linkin Park "Papercut" Hybrid Theory (2000)

3) Linkin Park "Points Of Authority" Hybrid Theory (2000)

4) Linkin Park "In The End" Hybrid Theory (2000)

5) Linkin Park "Bleed It Out" Minutes To Midnight (2007) 

[BONUS]

1) Linkin Park [Chris Cornell Tribute] "One More Light" One More Light (2017)

2) Jonathan Davis [Featuring Chester Bennington] "System" Queen Of The Damned Soundtrack (2002)