The O J Simpson Trial Helped Kill Gargoyles?
What happened to Disney’s Gargoyles?
For a brief moment in the 1990s, Gargoyles looked like it could become one of Disney’s biggest animated franchises. Disney was discussing multiple spinoffs, the writers were building an enormous mythology, and the show was tackling subjects most kids’ cartoons wouldn’t go anywhere near.
Then everything started falling apart.
In this video, we dive into the strange story behind Gargoyles, from its original concept as a lighthearted comedy, to the controversial “Deadly Force” episode, Disney’s plans for an interconnected Gargoyles universe, the massive 52-episode second season order, competition from Power Rangers, and the bizarre way coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial may have helped disrupt the show’s audience.
We’ll also look at what happened behind the scenes at Disney, why creator Greg Weisman lost control of the series, and why he later chose to essentially ignore most of The Goliath Chronicles when continuing the story.
It’s one of the strangest rise-and-fall stories in 1990s animation.
What do you remember most about Gargoyles? Goliath? Demona? Xanatos? “Deadly Force”? Let me know in the comments.
And if you enjoy deep dives into the shows, movies, and strange stories we grew up with, subscribe to Dial-Up Days and keep the nostalgia dialed in.
@si1verg3cko
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I can remember the hate the Goliath Chronicles got and I certainly understand why. That said there were certainly a few episodes in that season that had interesting ideas.
@thaneros
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Xanatos was Aizen before Aizen.
@YamiAtomsk
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
the rumors about deadly force getting banned always confused me since I remember having that episode on VHS
@SirTyJensen
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Gargoyles is good, I mostly watched it on Disney+.
@Wojti2000Zapasowe
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Unskippable title.
@roysmith4863
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
This my show right here one of the ones I’ve been waiting for
@Markimark151
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Gargoyles wasn’t killed by the OJ Simpson trial, my local affiliate still aired the episodes, but the other cartoons like Batman and X-Men were affected by the trial because Fox Kids was preempted by local news stations. The time traveling story arc is what ruined the show for me, because it just too many episodes that were filler during that season. Also the Goliath Chronicles isn’t that bad, they changed production on animation, but overall I don’t have a problem with it!
@Broseftoast
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I love this channel man, great video bro, hope you can keep making more. Anyway have a good rest of your week!
@voltron720
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
love the 3.5 in floppy
@goldengamer-b2z
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
And just reminder people the Disney channel was a thing yes but back it was premium channels so you had to pay extra for it compared to now where it pretty much free with basic cable so if you want your Disney tv animation fix you had to watch it on the Disney afternoon witch a block not a network
Also is it weird two of the most famous show waisem made were somewhat cancel because there female characters in and the people making the toys were having trouble
@TwentyItaliansLS
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
To this day: Demona = would
@illiterateandroid5112
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
3pm?
It aired at 6 am where I lived.
I remember that deadly force episode.
Clean up. Smh. Lame.
@ashlynomega
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
This was all a TNG Holodeck program. You'll never convince me otherwise.
@KrakoanSinister
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
You won't find many viewers defending the Goliath Chronicles.
TGC was to Gargoyles what the live action Aeon Flux movie was the the MTV series.
@devilrider39000000
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Now this is the video I've been waiting for
@comettamer
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
11:20 Curiously, Disney+ uses a hybrid episode, wherein they use the close in shot of Elisa's face but Broadway also gets her blood on his hands when he transports her to the hospital.
@jmaldo85
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Since you have now gone over to Disney… Darkwing Duck?
@davidalan6701
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
If I were a Disney exec, I’d back up a brinks truck, hire weiseman, tell him to build however many teams he needed, and make me a gargoyles universe. I’d reanimate the original 2 seasons to modern tools and character designs, so that the remade original series could start over and run once a week on Disney+ while he worked on season three and all the other shows he wanted to do. That’d get people watching Disney+. New gargoyles and new gargoyles spinoffs every week? No way it’s not a hit.
And I lived in LA when gargoyles was on. I was one of those kids who tooned in to watch gargoyles every day, and kept being bummed that it wasn’t on again.
@jonathanhibberd9983
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
There aren't many 90s examples of the type of episode Gargoyles did with guns. But the 80s? Ho boy. Diff'rent Strokes with the pedo bike seller. Family Ties and Growing Pains both had drunk driving episodes. This is very "a very special episode"/"afterschool special" coded.
The fact we didn't get the full Gargoyles shared universe makes me want to dig up OJ just to punch him in the face.
And Power Rangers? Eww (except for Amy Jo Johnson).
This is a show that deserves a revival. I would love to see a Wiseman led live action movie. A true dark and gritty adult version.
@BerserkerRex
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
The best episodes: City of Stone parts 1 through 3. Avalon parts 1 through 3 were second best. Then, 5 part premier.
@IvanLRhymesWell1
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I really wish Disney would make this a live action show on D+. It could easily rival Game of Thrones with all the lore and drama & action. It's a no brainer to me
@MichaelMorbius4ever
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I wish Gargoyles and Spider-Man '94 somehow got a crossover episode or two lol
@toddatisme8063
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Xanatos wasn’t a villain. He’s a dude that had a lot of money & he was bored.
@toddatisme8063
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I’m 44 & I watch this every night before bed.
@chadreese9501
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
So many great memories! The unsecured firearm episode was surprising but very memorable for it’s important lesson in firearm safety.
But damn did I have a crush on Demona as a kid!
@chriswoffort335
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
xanatos vs stark
@AaronHolly-ze1rw
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Man, kids programming for us in the 90s was the best: Gargoyles, Darkwing Duck, Batman, Spider-man, Animaniacs, X-Men.
@keithtorgersen9664
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
10:13 Elisa’s brother in blue before he underwent a monstrous transformation into a bipedal sphinx like creature
@TheJacklikesvideos
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
drop the "the trial helped." it's cleaner.
@thewaterboard
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I had a vhc based game of this I loved it but I’m sure I never played it just watched the video lol
@Sockimus
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
IMO, Gargoyles was the pinnacle of 90s children programming, alongside Batman: The Animated Series and Pinky and the Brain.
@johnbandow213
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I hope you will make a video on Roughnecks: The Starship Trooper Chronicles.
@RoguePhoenixSys
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
22:42 "Please, sir… can I have some less? 🥺"
@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
🖖🏽🛸👽 BTW, as a faithful Trekkie, I have to remind you that you forgot another Star Trek star. Kate Mulgrew a.k.a. Captain Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager as Queen Titania.
@RoguePhoenixSys
September 10, 2026 at 9:05 pm
13:37 Spiderman and X-Men had some crossover episodes in the 90's.