How much is COBRA for an unemployed frog?

As you may or may not have heard, the WB fired their ubiquitous logo Michigan J. Frog back in July, in an effort to get away from the image that the WB is a network for horny teenagers. At the time of the announcement, according to E! Online, WB Entertainment President David Janollari, said that Michigan "was a symbol that was--especially in the extensive testing that we did--that perpetuated the young teen feel of the network, and that is not the image we want to put to our audience." Indeed, the WB's schedule is leaning more heavily towards the adult set, with shows that star forty- and fifty-somethings like Don Johnson, Reba McEntire, Fran Drescher, Melanie Griffith and Treat Williams on their fall schedule, in addition to their ten-year family staple 7th Heaven.

But a cartoon frog wasn't the problem, just an unfortunate victim of circumstances. Recalling the old Looney Tunes short that launched his career (One Froggy Evening), the only way Michigan's owner was able to attract people to see the frog sing -- which of course, he never did whenever the curtains rose -- was to put out a sign that said "FREE BEER". Not that horny teenagers wouldn't drink free beer, but, between the beer and the old Dixieland songs that Michigan would sing, his act was definitely for mature adults only. And by "mature", I mean "over 70".

No, it wasn't a singing cartoon frog that made the WB look like it was a network for horny teenagers. Surprisingly enough, the shows with horny teenagers did that job quite nicely. Between Gilmore Girls (which I will write about at some later date), One Tree Hill, Summerland, and Smallville, there's more teenage sex going on at the WB in any single week than my whole high school class saw in four years. Heck, even the kids on 7th Heaven were getting some.

Unfortunately, since those shows are among the netlet's most popular programs, that image isn't going to change anytime soon, no mater how many Baby Boomers the WB adds to their shows or how many cartoon mascots they fire. Let's hope Michigan J. Frog got a gold watch and a timeshare in Boca for his trouble.