Thufferin' Thuccotash! Cartoon Network to Launch Brand New Looney Tunes (We've Got Clips)

Somebody, I say somebody, oughta give the Cartoon Network a ribbon for this news announcement - a blue ribbon that is...

Looney Tunes is coming back to the small screen in a new comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation called (appropriately enough) "The Looney Tunes Show" on May 3rd at 8 p.m. EST, and they're bringing back all the greats - Bugs, Daffy, Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian, Yosemite Sam, The Tasmanian Devil, Marvin the Martian, Tweety, Sylvester, and the lugubrious Foghorn Leghorn.

While WB is calling it "an all-new series in the tradition of classic theatrical shorts from Warner Bros. Animation," they also talk about how "fresh designs coupled with a vivid, contemporary animation style enhance the timeless wit and charm that make these classic characters so beloved around the world."

That's code speak for "this isn't your grandma's Looney Tunes, and some of you aren't going to like it."

Warner Bros. further explains the show's premise:

"No longer confined to seven-minute shorts, iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are out of the woods and living in the suburbs among such colorful neighbors as Yosemite Sam, Granny, Tweety and Sylvester. In addition to each episode’s main story, The Looney Tunes Show also features cartoons within a cartoon. The Tasmanian Devil, Speedy Gonzales, Marvin the Martian and other classic characters sing original songs in two-minute Merrie Melodies music videos, and the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote are featured in two-and-a-half-minute CG shorts."

The clips that have been released/leaked thus far (see below) have been a mixed bag. While the overall series preview looks damn promising, some of the other preview clips have been sort of...meh.

We're excited as is humanly possible about a regularly scheduled program with all the cartoon greats we grew up with, but we have to admit we're a little frightened that this could be another "Space Jam" - level monstrosity (no offense, Mike, we'll always love you).

The idea that a whole new generation might learn to be "vewy vewy quiet" while hunting "flea-bitten varmints" makes us happy, but if they get too cute or too contemporary, there's always the danger that Warner Bros. could lose the essence, the "Pepé Le Pew" if you will, of what makes Looney Tunes funny.

Also, in an age where racism is only tolerated on political TV shows, we have to wonder how they're going to handle the whole "Speedy Gonzalez" thing. Love ya, Speedy, but you're clearly a walking (okay running), talking stereotype of a mouse.

Anyway, watch "The Looney Tunes Show" promo below, and catch some sneak peeks of the new show while you're at it:

Extra Special Bonus Foghorn Leghorn Footage: