Love bites, but a cartoon TV series with Def Leppard would bite even more

There's a rich history of rock acts providing the basis for cartoon TV shows. (And by "rich," I mean that the projects inflated the wallets of the artists involved.) The Fab Four got animated at the height of Beatlemania, and in a more psychedelic fashion a few years later in Yellow Submarine. The Jackson 5 had a funkified show in the '70s, long before Michael became a living cartoon with no grip on reality. Now, we get Def Leppard signing a marketing deal with Primary Wave that could include an animated series. According to Billboard, the project "is in the early stages" and "has not been pitched to the networks." That's a good thing, as they'd surely reject it. I should know: They turned down my Phish Out of Water script even after I suggested casting Abe Vigoda as Grandpa. It's like they didn't get the joke! Look, the Beatles and the Jackson 5 were chart-toppers when they had such shows. Def Leppard peaked sometime around World War II. No one cares about them now. Besides, the greatest cartoon rock band of all time was entirely fictional, renowned for their "long tails and ears for hats." Def Leppard should try that approach in their series pitch. It sure couldn't hurt.

—Posted by David Gianatasio