Childrens Programming (Nothing Political Here)

[WanderingWombat]

I'm guessing there has to be a couple of people on this board with kids, so you probably have opinions on the TV they watch (since I assume they watch at least a little).

I reviewed a bunh of shows a while ago here (http://mightyjalapenoreviews.blogspot.com/2004/09/television-review-childrens.html). There's about a dozen I haven't reviewed, like Caillou (which may be a Canadian-only show) so I will summarize briefly.

Caillou: A little bald kid with poor language skills throws screaming tantrums until he gets whatever he wants.

Mighty Machines: Kids need to learn now how machines work, or they'll end up like me. I can build a powerful gaming computer from spare parts, but I don't know which oil goes in which hole in my car. Cool show.

Farzzles World: They recorded a 6 month old making noises, and put it to bad animation. This freaky little kid rides cows, gets run over my trains, and flies to the moon. I really don't understand it... it's a badly-drawn boy (good band) that makes noises, and things happen. Uhm.... I can't imagine it's making my son dumber. I can't imagine it's doing anything.

Dudley The Dragon: Graeme Greene is Crabby Tree. "Nuff said. Canadian kids programming at it creepy finest.

Other shows: please read above link.

What do you all think about what your kids (or sperms-to-be) watch?

[Napoleon98]

I don't have any children, yet, but I am going to watch everything they want to watch at least once. I don't want to hide my child from anything, but I also don't want to expose him/her to it too early.
What really seems odd to me, is that with almost every show on cartoon network, they hide adult jokes in the middle of their show. My friend was watching Billy and Mandy with his son, and I'm not kidding when i say there were some jokes about death being a pot head. I mean they were pretty subtle so theres no way that he would catch them, but what if, ya know? I jsut find it odd that so many childrens programs have such adult subtexts to them...

[Elminster_Amaur]

I don't think it's really that odd that there would be adult subtexts in a large number of children's programs. I mean, the people who write the scripts, draw the frames, do the voices(mostly), and eventually air the shows are all adults. Have you never joked around while working? I know I have, and even though it's pretty different to do that in front of thousands of people, I could still see myself doing it in their position.

[Napoleon98]

Oh I would probably be guilty of doing it as well, I'd just like to think that they would show some restraint. Adding it so that its not just for the kids so that the parents don't want to blow their brains out, they may say that, but I'd still rather have my kid watching KIDS programming. If I want my kid to hear adult jokes, I'll tell him some, or just put on a Kevin Smith film or something...

[Witness1]

I dont think there is a problem with adult subtexts. I watched a re-run of Rocko's Mordern Life a week ago. It was the episode where Rocko had to go to the DMV. Durning the eye test with a insane eye doctor, the doctor grabs Rocko's eyes in one hand and tells him to cough.

I busted out laughing at this, amazed that this got pased Nickolodean. I loved this episode when I was a kid, and I never rememberd that joke.

I dont have a kid, but if I did this is proably what I would let him watch.

Seasme Street - Its old school, educational and funny. Besides one of there songs is called "Letter B" (sung to the toon of "Let it Be"), classic.

Mr. Rogers Neighbourhood - I never watched him when I was a kid, and I thought he was dull. But later own, he gained my respect. He was commited to doing the same type of show, now matter what changed in the world, not even durning his last show, its the same as the others, so that kids wont not get upset. Afture he died some research on his show and I was surpised at how unique and powerful his philosphys behind child care where.

Charlie Brown and Snoopy - I dont think I have to explain why.

[WanderingWombat]

Sesame Street is now basically "The Elmo Show" with everyone else as supporting characters talking about health food. Cookie Monster has a new song which explains that "Cookies are a sometimes food" whereas vegetables are an "anytime food". It's been neutered. Sure, it's still basically educational, but the magic is gone! I want Cookie Monster to be the bad example, not a reformed sugar addict trying to stay clean. :)

Mr Rogers was cool, in a creepy way.

Charlie Brown is the man. I watch his movies still, and I'm... not young.

[Dynamite220]

We agree on some things at least. Charlie Brown rocks the house.

About this show "Caillou." What were they thinking? Would those people want their children acting like that? Why is this even on the air?

[Hatake Kakashi]

Fred Rogers was a gentleman and a scholar. I watched his show when I was little, and though his personality was sometimes dull, he had a love for children that was genuine. That's very hard to find these days... for people who remember the spirit of what he did, he is sorely missed.

I also watched Sesame Street when I was a child, and remember it being so much more entertaining back in the day. Now it's Elmo, Elmo, Elmo. Who the heck came up with this annoying scrap of carpet?! Worse, who's voice acting the part? I'd neuter them, but it sounds like someone beat me to the punch. Basically, the ones to blame for Elmo's CONTINUED existence lies with all of the adults and parents who believe he's a cute, positive influence for children. I suspect he's just a closet puppet drag queen. We'll see in the years to come.

Barney - Thank god this crap was pulled from the airwaves.

Cow and Chicken - A few years back, this was the big kid's cartoon. Loaded with rather crude, sometimes nauseating humor, and an unhealthy obsession with big, red butts, this cartoon unsurprizingly managed to slip an adult joke in here and there. One comes to mind when "Professor" Redbottom was talking about his research on the As-swi-pe (Pronounced As-we-pay) clan of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.

Ren and Stimpy - This was much more entertaining when it was considered a kid's show.

The discovery/history/travel channels - For the most part, judged as appropriate for my nieces and nephew by their stepdad... though he has this annoying and unusual hatred for any of the Poker tournament shows that come on every so often.

The list goes on and on... but at least we can be thankful that (hopefully) Loonatics has been scrapped.

[WanderingWombat]

I was having that discussion last night about "Ren and Stimpy" and other Spumco Productions..... I could not believe that was a kids show. I never saw an ep until I was 15, just because it wasn't on.. When I was a kid I was restricted to whatever shows were on KCTS 9 (IE, educational and math oriented). I am now an educated and math-oriented person, finally coming into his creative prime as I get to watch stuff like R&S. I was a very boring teenager.

There's not many shows we restrict Seb (Sebastian) from watching. Barney is one of them, but thank god that largely his sleep schedule means it's NEVER on when he's awake. We're also starting to get sick of the Bearenstein Bears and it's "Morality Anvil Of The Week." Last nights anvil: "You may be ugly, but good people are still popular!" And to quote Kyle Brofslowski, "And let me tell you how it works in the real world..."

He also likes some wierd things... MuchMusic. If it's a fast rock or punk video, he stands there and dances, and giggles anytime someone screams musically, like Billy Talent or Dave Wyndorf. He likes Family Guy and Simpsons (but we have to be sneaky about changing the channel. If he thinks we changed it from Treehouse to Cartoon Network, he blows a fuse. If we do it between commercials so he thinks Simpsons is ON Treehouse, he's cool.)

And before anyone gets upset at me for the amount of television my son watches, you should know that he also reads for about five hours a day, and spends the rest of the day in his sandbox showing off for the neighbor lady who is also a stay-at-home mom. If we turn the TV off, even if he's upstairs playing in his room, he kinda goes ballistic (yeah, probably our fault). It's just background noise to him, if it's a show he doesn't like. Personally, I think he watched less TV than me at that age.

[Red Fighter 1073]

I CANNOT BELIEVE NO ONE HAS MENTIONED WINNIE THE POOH!!!!!!! i mean, seriously, what happened to everyone's childhood?!?! that was easily my most favorite show..i dont have a kid.. but i would know what not to let them watch.. using the other examples in this thread..i really wouldnt want them to watch BILLY AND MANDY because its basically about a grim reaper, a goth, and a "retarded kid"... also, i wouldnt let them watch ren and stimpy..i mean that has some episodes that have been aired on adult channels and stuff and its basically fart jokes and stuff..like there isnt enough shows whose meaning is to blow your kid's brains apart..believe it or not teletubbies is kind of like that too..there isnt any speaking and i think the show is meant for infants..besides infants already starting to watch tv..i cant and dont want to picture that..

though a good show would be like sesame street but it has been quite tuned down.. and yes CHARLIE BROWN IS ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS!!!! so is barney too actually..but mostly charlie brown.rugrats is a good one too because it teaches lessons, i think. oh man i just know i missing many other good shows..

i really think that all of the examples mentioned in this thread except for ren and stimpy/billy and mandy/cow and chicken would be fine shows for my kid to watch..if i had one.. :( ... also as long as it isnt porno..think about your kid watching THAT for a second...thats what i thought

[Sesshoumaru]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Recess, if it was still on at a time I'm actually awake (its on early Sat. morning where I live) I'd still be watching it. That show is awesome.

[WanderingWombat]

I mean really little kids shows, 4 and under..... still, he watches DBZ and Southpark, so maybe age barriers dont mean much now. hehe.