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A writer's life during the golden age of television

I’m Jack Olesker, creator, writer, producer and director of more than twelve hundred episodes of television, eighteen motion pictures and seven published novels. I've written and created many animated series during The Golden Age of Television Animation including Care Bears, M.A.S.K., Heroes on Hot Wheels, The New Adventures of He-man, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater, Popples, my co-creation of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and many more.

It’s been my joy to have entertained countless millions of viewers who were young fans and stayed fans as they grew up and introduced their own children to many of my series continuing to air worldwide.

And now, through my A Writer’s Life…During the Golden Age of Television Animation blog, I’m going to take all of you on an amazing journey back to those shining years of animated television series. It’s a real-life journey that has everything – history, action, adventure, cliffhangers, comedy and drama, suspense, devastating disappointments and tremendous triumphs.

We who labor – and labored -- in the animation industry are forever indebted to you for being fans. So my A Writer’s Life…During the Golden Age of Television Animation blog is a labor of love dedicated to you. It’s my way of saying “Thank-you.” I promise it will be a fascinating journey.

Let’s go on it together!

- JACK OLESKER

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#30 Gold!

Feb 2, 2023

I hurried back to my leased condo, opened the manilla envelope and took out the thick Series Bible for The Get Along Gang. It didn’t take Einstein to know what ‘series bible’ meant. It was a document designed to show writers the world of a television series so they could write for it.

I split my attention into two directions – one to learn about this adorable series with creatures living in Green Meadow; the other to study the Series Bible as Andy had instructed, “to learn how a series bible is written and why it’s written a certain way.”

Jean, Andy and Lori were razor sharp execs with finely honed antennae. I was sure their antennae could discern when a writer had potential and could be of benefit to them. I was convinced they were grooming me for something. I just didn’t know what…yet

Other things that didn’t make sense: Jean giving a novelist a shot a writing for television; teaching me where I was making mistakes and how to correct them; Andy taking me to see The Great and Powerful Judy Price after I’d written a couple of scripts.

But the thing that most didn’t make sense was why I was pulled off The Littles to write just one episode of The Get Along Gang.

It might not make sense yet, but I was willing to bet they hadn’t gone to all this effort just to have me write a handful of television episodes.

I thought I’d figure it out in good time and, anyway, I loved a good mystery. In the meantime I dove into reading the Series Bible for The Get Along Gang.

It was Gold!

#29 “I love a good mystery.”

Jan 31, 2023

My immediate thought was, “Why am I being taken off The Littles?” But I remembered my brother’s story about my dad keeping his mouth shut.

Lori was waiting for a reaction. Then she picked up a manilla envelope and handed it to me with, “This is the Series Bible for The Get Along Gang.”

I’d heard of the DIC series -- a cutesy show about critters in the fictional town of Green Meadow.

“Jean and Andy want you to write an episode for the show.” She added, “Just one episode, then go back to The Littles.”

I knew she was expecting me to ask, “Why just one episode?” Instead, I said, “Okay. Thanks for the assignment.”

She nodded, her eyes still on me. I couldn’t help but think that my stock was continuing to edge up. I stared to leave and Lori added, “Andy wants you to really study the Series Bible, and not just how it’s written for The Get Along Gang. He wants you to learn how a series bible is written and why it’s written a certain way.”

I nodded. As I started to walk away again, Lori said, “It’s eating you up, isn’t it?”

I turned back to her. She was looking down at something she’d been working on, but said, “The Get Along Gang’s owned by Those Characters from Cleveland, which is owned by American Greetings.” I clutched the Series Bible a little tighter. Lori looked up, grinned and said, “Now scat.”

And I did.

#28 Something’s in the air…

Jan 26, 2023

I’d finished my Twins script for The Littles and was about to take it to Jean’s condo when Lori Crawford called. When I told her I’d finished the script, she said, “Bring it to me. I’ll give it to Jean. He’s going out of town with Andy.”

Curiosity piqued by her brief phone call, I arrived at the studio to feel a different vibe. It wasn’t something I could put my hands on, but it was in the air. I’m a keen observer of human nature. It’s part of my stock-in-trade. It didn’t take me long to realize there were some people here who knew what was going on and others that didn’t. As I walked past Jeff Wernick’s office, DIC’s in-house attorney offered a friendly smile. I smiled back. Legal Affairs was in on it.

I saw Andy sitting in Jean’s glassed on office. Jean glanced at me and said something to Andy. Andy turned to look at me, his face expressionless. I reminded myself not to ever get into a poker game with him. It was no surprise that the heads of the studio knew what was happening.

I walked into Lori's office and handed her my script. She was busier than usual, her words clipped, telling me she didn’t have a lot of time, that she had other things on her plate. She was in on whatever was happening.

When I said I was going to start working on the treatments for my next two Littles’ episodes she said, “Hold off on that.”

My heart fell.