INT - TV NETWORK CONFERENCE ROOM - DAYThat is essentially the only way to explain RUBIK, THE AMAZING CUBE, the ABC Saturday morning cartoon that ran from 1983 to 1984.
The time is sometime in the early 80’s. A group of executives are sitting around a table, discussing the upcoming TV season.
EXEC 1: You know what is really popular?
EXEC 2: That band Menudo?
EXEC 3: Oh, I LOVE Menudo.
EXEC 2: Aren’t they great?
EXEC 3: Yeah. They are so talented. "Motorcyle Dreamer"? Great song.
EXEC 2: You know it. So, what were you saying about Menudo?
EXEC 1: Huh? Nothing.
EXEC 2: Then why did you bring them up?
EXEC 1: I didn’t.
EXEC 2: So, what were you talking about as being so popular?
EXEC 1: Oh, I had almost forgotten. Have you seen those things called Rubik’s cubes? Those blocks of plastic with the stickers? That you have to line up?
EXEC 2: Possibly. Is that what Ricky Martin was holding on page 63 of the latest Bop magazine?
EXEC 3: No, it was in this month’s 16 magazine.
EXEC 2: That’s right. Yes, what about them.
EXEC 1: Let’s make a cartoon about them.
EXEC 3: Menudo? That would be awesome!
EXEC 1: No, the Rubik’s cube.
EXEC 3: Hmm, I don’t know.
EXEC 2: Yeah. I don’t think people would be into a cartoon about a plastic toy. The Slinky cartoon didn't exactly catch on. Up and down stairs all day. Kind of dull.
EXEC 3: Maybe if we have a cartoon about the toy, have it grant wishes or something, and, get this, also have a theme song by Menudo!
EXEC 2: Yes!!!!!
EXEC 3: This is going to be the greatest Saturday morning cartoon of all time!!!!!
FADE OUT
The cartoon followed Carlos, Lisa, and Reynaldo Rodriguez, said to be the first Hispanic Saturday morning leads. They find Rubik, a magical Rubik’s cube that, when his sides are lined up, can perform magic powers.
All I remember about the cartoon is the theme song.
Yes, it was by Menudo.
Ron Palillo, aka Horshack, was the voice of Rubik.
Even at that young age, I never could buy the basic premise of the show, and always had a problem with it. I think I would find myself flipping over to other cartoons.
Still, you have to give the network credit for trying. They managed to make a cartoon based on a Rubik's cube.
3 comments:
Wow. I never heard of this one. I was growing out of my Saturday morning cartoon phase by that point. (I should ask my younger brother if he remembers it.)
Strangely enough, my kids are currently obsessed with watching episodes of the early '80s Pac-Man cartoon on YouTube.
With movies based on Monopoly and Battleship in development, it feels like the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Hahaha. Thats insane
A cartoon about a goddam cube!!??
Pac Man is coming up soon. The two actually aired together in the same hour.
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