The Complete History of Sonic the Hedgehog

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During the peak of the classic console rivalries, Sega established its niche by introducing a charming blue hedgedog character named Sonic. The Sega Genesis was introduced in 1988, and within a short span, Sonic became the face of Sega. This led to numerous Sonic cartoons, merchandise, and an endless line of Sonic games on various consoles. Later, Paramount decided to produce a live-action movie based on Sonic the Hedgehog, but they altered the universally recognized design of the character and created their unique interpretation of Sonic. However, the response was so negative that they had to delay the entire film and revise Sonic to resemble more closely the hedgehog from the Genesis games.

Our new video delves deep into the intricate, winding tale of Sonic the Hedgehog, starting from his original idea and leading up to his blockbuster film series. This detailed exploration spans over 100 minutes, featuring in-depth conversations with key members of the Sonic creative team. If you’ve ever been curious about the fast-moving hot dog enthusiast, this is the video for you. Dive into the rich history of Sonic below:

If you enjoyed the video on Sonic the Hedgehog’s complete franchise history, don’t forget to explore more of our content below! You might like our analysis of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and its hints towards a fourth movie, a comprehensive review of the Sonic film series and Knuckles TV series, and an amusing interview where Sonic’s voice actor, Ben Schwartz, gets playfully grilled by two young interviewers. There’s plenty more to discover on ScreenCrush’s YouTube channel. Remember to subscribe to stay updated on all our upcoming episodes. Right now, catch Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in theaters!

10 TV Show Flops That Turned Out to Be Huge Hits

M*A*S*H (1972-1983)

One of the most celebrated examples of a series that nearly never took off after its debut was “M*A*S*H”, a medical sitcom set within a U.S. Army mobile hospital during the Korean War. Despite being one of the best TV shows ever produced now, the future looked bleak during its first season as ratings were dismal. Cast members at the wrap party thought they were saying their goodbyes, but reruns revealed that “M*A*S*H” had a dedicated audience. Once CBS decided to air a second season, fans flocked to it, and the show went on to become a classic.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

Even diehard enthusiasts and casual watchers will acknowledge that the initial season of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” seemed a bit off-balance. The series hadn’t quite found its rhythm, and the camaraderie among the crew members on the “Enterprise-D” felt forced and hadn’t had the chance to evolve into the deep friendships they would later forge. With such immense anticipation for another excellent “Star Trek” series following the conclusion of the original, fans were taken aback and underwhelmed by this new iteration. It wasn’t until a bit later that “TNG” gained recognition as one of the most highly esteemed “Star Trek” productions ever produced.

Seinfeld (1989-1998)

Initially, it was challenging to envision anyone not appreciating “Seinfeld,” but before its debut, the network only intended to produce four episodes, considering it too peculiar and regionally focused for nationwide success. However, late-night programming head Ricky Ludwin, who had spent 32 years at NBC, advocated for the show, funding an additional four episodes from his specials budget to complete a full first season. Viewers steadily tuned in, providing enough interest for NBC to commission a second season, and the series rapidly gained popularity. (Throughout his career, Ludwin also backed other popular shows such as “The Office” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”).

Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Although Freaks and Geeks gained a dedicated fanbase too late to prevent its cancellation after just one season, getting canceled might have been a blessing for the show. Despite an inconsistent broadcast schedule and turmoil within its broadcast network, only 12 of its intended 18 episodes were aired before it was taken off the air. However, once it was canceled, its cult popularity grew, with word of mouth spreading praise far and wide. In retrospect, it’s astonishing to see how many of its cast members—including James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel—have gone on to achieve stardom, and how the show, set in the 1980s high school environment, still resonates with contemporary American teen experiences.

Firefly (2002)

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but draw parallels between “Freaks and Geeks” and “Firefly.” Just like the former, it’s hard to tell if the latter would have achieved its iconic status had it not been cut short after one season. However, Joss Whedon’s brainchild undeniably deserves a place on every “gone too soon” list. Featuring Nathan Fillion, this space-pirate-western masterfully blended genres, delivering a strong anti-war message and offering a unique perspective of a society in space that was yet to be explored. Alas, only 11 out of its 14 episodes made it to air before the show was canceled due to poor ratings, possibly due to Fox’s confusing decision to air the early episodes out of sequence. Yet, the DVD sales were robust, and fan support has only grown stronger over the years. In fact, the series gained enough popularity to warrant a sequel film, “Serenity,” which graced the silver screen in 2005.

Arrested Development (2003-2006, 2013-2019)

Initially, “Arrested Development” received considerable acclaim and audience interest, even earning awards. However, after airing three seasons, Fox decided that the number of viewers was insufficient to justify producing more episodes. Despite being a cult favorite during its broadcast and a symbol of refined taste with its DVD box set, this wasn’t enough to persuade its original network to keep it on the air. The show remained canceled until Netflix, surprisingly, recognized the potential of streaming to revive the series. In 2013, they commissioned two additional seasons for the Bluth family’s chaotic antics and comedic dysfunction to continue unfolding.

The Office (2005-2013)

Similar to numerous other series on this list, it’s challenging to envision “The Office” as a flop, but its debut season was not a harbinger of the sitcom powerhouse that would follow. The show closely adhered to the source material from the British version, and the characters were too quirky and one-dimensional to be engaging. To this day, many viewers consider Season 1 unnecessary. It wasn’t until Season 2 that the show began to distance itself from its predecessor more, paving the way for the antics and character growth that transformed an office comedy with a documentary spin into unmissable television.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005- )

The TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” experienced a rocky beginning during its first season. It was initially aired after a poorly received sitcom about eating disorders, which didn’t immediately captivate viewers. However, a deal with Hulu for streaming and Comedy Central re-runs helped build its audience, as did the unexpected addition of Danny DeVito, a well-known actor, as a series regular playing the father of Charlie Day’s character. Following this, “Always Sunny” became an unprecedented success now in its 16th season, with audiences both amazed and appalled by the cunning plans of its unapologetically despicable characters.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Initially, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman’s journey on Breaking Bad wasn’t off to a promising start. The pilot episode of the first season aired late due to NFL playoffs overrunning, and production had to stop after filming just seven out of nine episodes because of the 2007-2008 writers’ strike. Typically, shows lose viewers post-debut, but Breaking Bad bucked this trend, gaining more popularity as it progressed. Following critical acclaim and the increased viewership on Netflix, the show’s first seasons saw even more success. By the final episode, Breaking Bad was widely regarded as one of the best TV shows ever made.

You (2018- )

Although Joe Goldberg’s victims seldom return from the grave, his show miraculously avoided being a one-hit wonder on TV. Often referred to as “saved by Netflix,” shows that unexpectedly thrived on streaming platforms instead of traditional cable television found no greater success than You, an unconventional Lifetime series about a serial killer. Initially, the first season received little attention from Lifetime, but after it was released on Netflix towards the end of its cable run, it became a viral sensation. When Lifetime declined to renew for a second season, Netflix acquired the rights, making it one of their most-watched and longest-running original series.

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2025-01-14 04:12