How to watch CBS Saturday Morning Cartoon in order

No. 01 · 1968 · Series · 30m

The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour

Bugs Bunny and all his cartoon friends are stage performers entertaining audiences with 7 features per show, all of which are classic theatrical cartoons from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

Why it matters: The shorts repackaged for Saturday morning TV.

Scores

IMDb 8.5

Episodes

1

No. 02 · 1968 · Series · 8h 30m

The Archie Show

The Archie Show is a Saturday morning cartoon animated series produced by Filmation. Based on the Archie comic books, created by Bob Montana in 1941, The Archie Show debuted on CBS in September 1968 and lasted for one season. A total of 17 half-hour shows, each containing two 11 minute segments, were aired. Archie cartoons continued to be aired in various forms until 1978.

Why it matters: Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and Reggie play in a pop band, The Archies, in Riverdale.

Starring

Dal McKennon, Jane Webb, and Howard Morris

Creator

John L. Goldwater

Scores

IMDb 6.8

Episodes

17

No. 03 · 1969 · Series · 15h 2m

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and the talking dog, Scooby-Doo, travel on the Mystery Machine van, in search of weird mysteries to solve.

Why it matters: The gang unmasks fake monsters; Saturday mornings on CBS.

Starring

Casey Kasem, Don Messick, and Frank Welker

Creator

Joe Ruby and Ken Spears

Scores

IMDb 7.9

Episodes

41 across 3 seasons

No. 04 · 1970 · Series · 5h 36m

Josie and the Pussycats

Josie and the Pussycats is an American animated television series, based upon the Archie Comics comic book series of the same name created by Dan DeCarlo. Produced for Saturday morning television by Hanna-Barbera Productions, sixteen episodes of Josie and the Pussycats aired on CBS during the 1970-71 television season, and were rerun during the 1971-72 season. In 1972, the show was re-conceptualized as Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space, sixteen episodes of which aired on CBS during the 1972-73 season and were rerun the following season. Reruns of the original series alternated between CBS, ABC, and NBC from 1974 through 1976. This brought its national Saturday morning TV run on three networks to six years. Josie and the Pussycats featured an all-girl pop music band that toured the world with their entourage, getting mixed up in strange adventures, spy capers, and mysteries. On the small-screen, the group consisted of level-headed lead singer and guitarist Josie, intelligent tambourinist Valerie, and air-headed blonde drummer Melody. Other characters included their cowardly manager Alexander Cabot III, his conniving sister Alexandra, her cat Sebastian, and muscular roadie Alan.

Why it matters: An all-girl pop trio on world tour keeps stumbling into spies and mad scientists.

Starring

Sherry Alberoni, Jerry Dexter, and Cathy Douglas

Creator

Dan DeCarlo and Richard Goldwater

Scores

IMDb 6.2

Episodes

16

No. 05 · 1972 · Series · 54h 35m

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972 and ran until 1985. The show, based on Cosby's remembrances of his childhood gang, centered on Albert, and his friends. The show always had an educational lesson emphasized by Cosby's live-action segments, and in early episodes the gang would usually gather in their North Philadelphia junkyard to play a rock song on their cobbled-together instruments at the end of the show.

Why it matters: Bill Cosby's North Philadelphia gang learns a lesson about growing up in every episode.

Starring

Bill Cosby, Erika Scheimer, and Lou Scheimer

Creator

Bill Cosby and Ken Mundie

Scores

IMDb 6.7

Episodes

110 across 8 seasons

No. 06 · 1974 · Series · 14h

Shazam!

The live-action adventures of Captain Marvel! By uttering a single magic word young Billy Batson transforms himself into the world's mightiest mortal, Captain Marvel. The acronym of the first letters of the names of the six elders who train Billy with their respective special gifts: Solomon, wisdom; Hercules, strength; Atlas, stamina; Zeus, power; Achilles, courage; and Mercury, speed, in a word ... SHAZAM!

Why it matters: Teenage Billy Batson says a magic word to become Captain Marvel on a road trip across America.

Starring

Michael Gray, Les Tremayne, and Jackson Bostwick

Scores

IMDb 6.5

Episodes

28 across 3 seasons

No. 07 · 1983 · Series · 10h 48m

Dungeons & Dragons

Six friends are transported into the Dungeons & Dragons realm and must try to find a way home with the help of their guide 'Dungeon Master'.

Why it matters: Six kids pulled into a fantasy realm fight the sorcerer Venger while searching for a way home.

Starring

Willie Aames, Don Most, and Adam Rich

Creator

Kevin Paul Coates and Dennis Marks

Scores

IMDb 8.1

Episodes

27 across 3 seasons

No. 08 · 1984 · Series · 44h 35m

Jim Henson's Muppet Babies

The Muppet Babies (Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzy and company) live in a large nursery watched over by Nanny. The babies have active imaginations, and often embark upon adventures into imaginary worlds.

Why it matters: Toddler versions of the Muppets turn games of pretend in their nursery into big adventures.

Starring

Frank Welker, Laurie O'Brien, and Russi Taylor

Creator

Jim Henson and Jeffrey Scott

Scores

IMDb 7.5

Episodes

107 across 7 seasons

No. 09 · 1986 · Series · 22h 30m

Pee-wee's Playhouse

Join Pee-Wee Herman and his friends Chairry, Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Jambi the Genie and others as they play around in Pee-Wee's magical Playhouse!

Why it matters: Pee-wee Herman hosts a playhouse of talking furniture, puppets, cartoons and a daily secret word.

Starring

Paul Reubens, Lynne Marie Stewart, and Laurence Fishburne

Creator

Paul Reubens

Scores

IMDb 8.2

Episodes

45 across 5 seasons

No. 10 · 1987 · Series · 3h 29m

Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures

Why it matters: Ralph Bakshi's irreverent revival of the flying mouse superhero, packed with spoofs.

Starring

Beau Weaver, Charlie Adler, and Patrick Pinney

Creator

Ralph Bakshi

Scores

IMDb 7

Episodes

19 across 2 seasons

No. 11 · 1987 · Series · 72h 34m

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Four turtles fall into the sewers and are befriended by Hamato Yoshi a Japanese man sent to New York who was forced to live in the sewers. One day he sees a strange green glow which transforms the four turtles into human-like creatures. Hamato (now Master Splinter) changes into a giant rat from the green glow and teaches the turtles the skills of the ninja as they team up with news reporter April O'Neil to battle against Yoshi's arch enemy Shredder and Krang, an alien warlord from Dimension X.

Why it matters: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo against Shredder; the cartoon that launched the toys.

Starring

Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, and Townsend Coleman

Scores

IMDb 7.9

Episodes

193 across 10 seasons

No. 12 · 1988 · Series · 42h 21m

Garfield and Friends

The animated stories of Garfield the cat, Odie the dog, their owner Jon and the trouble they get into. And also Orson the Pig and his adventures on a farm with his fellow farm animals.

Why it matters: Garfield, plus U.S. Acres, on CBS.

Starring

Lorenzo Music, Gregg Berger, and Thom Huge

Creator

Jim Davis

Scores

IMDb 7.2

Episodes

363 across 7 seasons

No. 13 · 1991 · Series · 9h 56m

Back to the Future: The Animated Series

An animated series for television based on the Back to the Future trilogy of feature films. Based on the highly successful Back to the Future movie trilogy, this series is set, um, "after" the events of the last film, as the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown in their DeLorean time machine continue. Joining the ride is Clara, (Doc's wife from Back To The Future Part III,) Jules and Verne (their sons) Einstein the dog and Jennifer (Marty's girlfriend). And apparently there's a Tannen in every time as relatives of Biff keep popping up, and creating conflict. Mary Steenburgen and Tom Wilson reprise their roles from the movies. During live portions of the show, Christopher Lloyd reprised his role as Doc Brown and was joined by Bill Nye, who conducted experiments that were used in the show.

Why it matters: Doc's family's adventures after the trilogy; optional.

Starring

David Kaufman, Cathy Cavadini, and Mary Steenburgen

Scores

IMDb 6.4

Episodes

27 across 2 seasons

No. 14 · 1991 · Series · 14h 40m

Where's Waldo?

Young adventurers Waldo and Wenda use their problem-solving skills and the help of an international wizard society to stop a rival globetrotter named Odlulu from using his magic to stir up trouble.

Why it matters: Waldo and his dog Woof travel through time on quests, with freeze-frame scenes to find him.

Starring

Joshua Rush, Eva Carlton, and Haley Tju

Creator

Martin Handford

Scores

IMDb 7

Episodes

40 across 2 seasons

No. 15 · 1992 · Series · 33h 22m

Beakman's World

Beakman's World is an educational children's television show. The program is based on the Universal Press Syndicate syndicated comic strip You Can with Beakman and Jax created by Jok Church. The series premiered September 18, 1992 on The Learning Channel cable network and in national syndication. On September 18, 1993 it moved from national syndication to CBS Saturday morning children’s lineup. At the peak of its popularity, it was seen in nearly 90 countries around the world. The series was canceled in 1998. Reruns returned to national syndication in September 2006, after which it was transferred to local stations such as KICU. The show debuted a year prior to Bill Nye the Science Guy, which covered similar topics. The show's host, Paul Zaloom, still performs as Beakman in live appearances around the globe.

Why it matters: An eccentric scientist answers viewer mail with loud experiments, helped by a man in a rat suit.

Starring

Paul Zaloom, Mark Ritts, and Bert Berdis

Creator

Jok R. Church

Scores

IMDb 8.6

Episodes

91 across 4 seasons

No. 16 · 1994 · Series · 35h 50m

Aladdin

Coming on the heels of the direct-to-video sequel The Return of Jafar, the series picked up where that installment left off, with Aladdin now living in the palace, engaged to beautiful and spunky Princess Jasmine. "Al" and Jasmine went together into peril among sorcerers, monsters, thieves, and more. Monkey sidekick Abu, the animated Magic Carpet, and the fast-talking, shape-shifting Genie came along to help, as did sassy, complaining parrot Iago, formerly Jafar’s pet but now an antihero.

Why it matters: Aladdin, Jasmine, the Genie and Iago face new villains in Agrabah after The Return of Jafar.

Starring

Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, and Dan Castellaneta

Scores

IMDb 7.3

Episodes

86 across 3 seasons

No. 17 · 1994 · Series · 4h 59m

Skeleton Warriors

The all-powerful Lightstar Crystal, which has protected the planet Luminaire from danger for eons, has been broken into two by the treacherous Baron Dark. "Rewarded" for his evil deed with a ghastly new form - that of a living skeleton - the Baron now has the power to turn others of evil heart into Skeleton Warriors! The Legion of Light is the last line of defense in this war of good and evil. Led by young Prince Lightstar, the true heir to the throne of Luminaire, the super-powered family of heroes confronts an epic challenge: control the Lightstar Crystal and save Luminaire or lose it and face the unthinkable!

Why it matters: Three siblings fight Baron Dark and his skeleton army for a split magic crystal on Luminaire.

Starring

Jeff Bennett, Jennifer Hale, and Michael Corbett

Creator

Gary Goddard

Scores

IMDb 7

Episodes

13

No. 18 · 1995 · Series · 19h 50m

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

The hilarious, wacky investigator and his pal Spike attempt to solve a series of baffling cases involving missing or stolen animals.

Why it matters: Animal-loving private eye Ace Ventura cracks cases with his monkey partner Spike.

Starring

Michael Daingerfield, Richard Binsley, and Pam Hyatt

Creator

Tom Ruegger

Scores

IMDb 5.7

Episodes

41 across 3 seasons