Caitlin and Ari and I were talking about Dora the Explorer and Rolie Polie Olie and all the other bland, watered-down stupidification-masquerading-as-education TV shows that are on the market these days, and thought about the many whacky shows that were on when Caitlin and I were kids (although already on the way out at that point)… Shows like Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and H.R. Pufnstuf (and the McDonalds commercial that ripped it off) — these are all YouTube links by the way; watch especially the first two if you have time — or Land of the Lost, Wonderbug, Bigfoot and Wildboy, Ghostbusters, The Bugaloos, Far Out Space Nuts, and more, to say nothing of well remembered shows like The Muppet Show.
Speaking of kids stuff, Nefarious put this sign up on her door today. She skipped the spaces between the words, so to translate, it says, “ARI – NO ONE ELSE COME IN.”
Anyway, here’s a video of Mama Cass on H.R. Pufnstuf singing “Different”…
Different is hard,
different is lonely,
different is trouble, for you only.
Different is heartache,
different is pain,
but I’d rather be different than be the same!At first I’d wonder, what hex I was under.
What did I do to be so different?
Then I discovered some others like me.Wonder no longer, together we’re stronger.
It’s not so bad to be different,
be true to yourself –
that’s what you must be!
I thought perhaps that people who were around in the early days of BME especially might appreciate that, as I think a lot of what happened in the body modification movement of the late eighties and early nineties, especially once the internet kicked in, was in that theme.
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Don’t forget The Great Space Coaster. I was going to add You Can’t Do That On Television (I suppose I just did add it), but that was more awesome than educational.
As for rather worthwhile children’s TV, I would seriously recommend Avatar: the Last Airbender. Especially towards the end of the second season, it deals with a lot of things that an adult can understand, and it certainly makes kids think a lot more than spongebob.
Don’t forget Lidsville.
BTW – Shannon, What do you think of T. Boone Pickens, and his ideas for the U.S. to lower its need for foreign oil? I find it surprising that he hasn’t said he wants to run for office.
That’s new: I did not notice “Your comment is awaiting moderation” before when I would post here. Go figure.
I remember transformers, she-ra, astroboy and especially- The Snorks!
My sister and I grew up sharing a room with bunkbeds. I cannot ever remember a time that they weren’t set up like tents with our own personal touches inside.
I also agree with what you wrote concerning the late 80′s. Finding others prior to bodmod becoming more mainstream formed real bonds. Nowadays alot of what I fell in love with seems forced and fakened. It’s more about how many times your name is said and spread then about passion or devotion. I’m really saddened about it. For many, many reasons.
What about Schoolhouse Rock & The Big Blue Marble?
I didn’t get to watch a lot of tv, but I rememeber the old Levi’s commercials. They were so surreal!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBvQ5Eb9oZ8
My daughters both Dislike Dora a great deal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1FfL9_P5LE
In germany, not even the almighty Cookie Monster is a cookie monster any more. The little blue fellow is now eating fruits and vegetables and waxes poetic about it. Where has all the subversive charm of earlier children’ shows gone? When I was a kid, TV was something to have fun with on a really rainy day, not some medium to educate children. My parents would explain the world to me not our TV. Sigh!
yes, i miss those early days of bme badly…
I always knew it was the Cookie Monster’s fault that obesity has skyrocketed- not to mention the promotion of thievery amongst youngsters.
Gah, next thing you know, everything will have click thru’s ;)
I love those tv intros because they are so long, they must take up half the show explaining the premise. Think if they did that for House or Will and Grace. It would be so ridiculous.
I remember my “Free to be You and Me” LP. It definitely awakened me to gender (and other) stereotypes at a young age.
That child is magical and I see no signs of zerrissenheit whatsoever. Truly remarkable parenting is apparent.
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