“Care Bears countdown! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1″  … sang the Care Bears in one of their (many) previous theme songs.

And the countdown begins once again with a new wave of the Care Bears heading to TV this weekend.  The loveable, huggable pop icons who originated in 1981 from American Greetings, will return with a new series, “The Care Bears: Welcome to Care-A-Lot.”

‘Care Bears: Welcome to Care-A-Lot’

In true 1980s style, back when Saturday was cartoon day, the show will premiere this Saturday, June 2, at 8 a.m. ET on The Hub cable network (click here for more on The Hub).

The cable station already airs new episodes of 1980s pop icons “Strawberry Shortcake,” “My Little Pony,” and “Pound Puppies;” as well as old episodes of “Fraggle Rock.”  In fact, their primetime lineup of 1980s shows such as “Mork and Mindy,” “The Facts of Life” and “Alf,” has had this 1980s fan hooked for a while.  I’d say The Hub is “totally awesome,” but then you’d have to “gag me with a spoon.”

“Since the Care Bears have seen several iterations over the past 30 years, almost every age group has ‘grown up’ with the Bears: moms in their 20s and 30s, teens and tweens,” series executive producer Sarah Finn told USA Today. “It felt like it was time we should introduce them to today’s 2- to 7-year-olds.”

So they are totally marketing to parents like me who grew up in the 1980s, who will (hopefully) then introduce their children to the shows and toys they grew up with and loved.  I’m several steps ahead as my 4-year-old has been watching old Care Bears cartoons and movies since he was a baby (which my husband just loves!)

As with shows in the past, the new Care Bears series will give the characters a slight makeover, this time digitized and very vibrant.  The show will also introduce a new character, Wonderheart Bear, to join fan favorites such as Harmony Bear, Cheer Bear, Grumpy Bear, Tenderheart Bear, and Funshine Bear (pictured, left to right)  in the magical place called Care-A-Lot.

To add to the excitement, a new line of Care Bear plush toys will debut next year from Hasbro and American Greetings, 30 years after the first wave, USA Today reported.

So get ready for the “Care Bears countdown,” “Care Bear stare” or whatever new catchphrases and songs the new series will bring.  I’ll be cuddled up in front of the TV this Saturday morning with my child and about a half-dozen old plush Care Bears watching “Care Bears: Welcome to Care-A-Lot” with a Cheer-Bear-type smile on my face.

Watch a preview of the new series here:

http://www.hubworld.com/watch/1657030364001/care-bears-welcome-to-care-a-lot-tune-in-for-the-premiere-promo

And share in the comments who your favorite Care Bear is/was …