April Fools: Sprout's 7th Anniversary: Sprout Classics

UPDATE (4/2/2025): For my April Fools day prank yesterday, I decided to tell you about Sprout anniversary stunts that never existed for what would've been the network's 20th this year, inspired by ToughPigs' prank in 2019, where they reviewed forgotten Sesame Street anniversary specials for the show's 50th that year.

To celebrate Sprout's 7th anniversary on September 26th, 2012, The Sunny Side Up Show announced that, starting at 6PM, the network would be airing shows from its early days "that your big brother or big sister might remember." Make Way for Noddy was back, after all, so many grown-up Sprouts were anticipating the long-awaited return of other shows, hoping to see the likes of Dragon Tales, Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat, or Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks. However, when 6PM rolled around, the first show to air was ... M*A*S*H?! That's right! Followed by Cheers, All in the Family, Happy Days, and more sitcom classics. Many grown-up Sprouts annoyed with Sproutlets' programs or even grandparents were overjoyed to see their longtime favorite shows on a preschool network, but others were concerned, sensing that those programs were not appropriate for such a young audience. Sprout apologized, and they never aired those programs again.