Sunday, January 30, 2000

Not Quite Steinbeck...

Bullies. Jerks. People who always make stupid mistakes. We've all had to deal with them. But sometimes we don't deal with them in a very nice way. In The Grapes of Wrath, the cranky grape family upsets Junior Asparagus when they begin calling him names. Disliking his newfound title of "cheese-headed bean boy," Junior hollers for his dad, who explains to Junior that he should forgive the grapes for their unruly behavior. He asks the grapes to apologize, and it seems that all is well...until they find out Junior's name and are given a new reason to tease him. Like Junior, many people would have trouble forgiving someone who was consistently so inconsiderate, but with Mr. Asparagus' help, both offenders and offended learn the value of forgiving those who hurt us.

The next segment, Larry's Lagoon, is a delightful parody of Gilligan's Island. Larry, the Skipper's faithful assistant, shares Gilligan's active imagination, and his daydreaming causes their ship to be marooned. Everyone is so angry about being stranded that they refuse to forgive Larry. Larry, in his dejection, ventures off on his own. It is only after he is gone that they realize how they almost lost a good friend because they were unable to forgive an innocent mistake.

The video teaches a good lesson in forgiving people who do us wrong, whether intentionally (the grapes) or unintentionally (Larry). In place of the silly song is an infomercial advertising the Forgive-o-matic. There are only two songs in this video, less than the usual. In that respect, God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?! may not be quite up to par with the other videos in the series, but all in all it's a great show.

Going to the Promised Land

Did you ever have someone in authority tell you something that you thought was really weird? Then you can identify with Joshua, the Israelite leader so aptly portrayed by Larry the Cucumber in the Veggie Tales video Josh and the Big Wall. After years of wandering in the desert, Josh and his followers have finally found a reprieve. The Promised Land right around the corner, but they can't reach it unless they get through Jericho first. Unfortunately, the city is inhabited by a horde of inhospitable French peas. The Israelites have no idea what to do, so they return to camp to do some serious thinking. While the band of exhausted travelers throw suggestions back and forth, Josh wanders off to do some contemplating on his own. While he's away, he is visited by an angel of the Lord, who presents him with some very unusual instructions.

They don't seem to make much sense at all, but the Israelites agree to give the plan a shot. After a day of walking around the wall and being bombarded with grape Slushies, everyone but Josh is ready to throw in the towel. But a little encouragement from the outside convinces them to follow through. And when they have carried out God's full instructions to the letter, they learn that you should always follow God's directions no matter how weird they sound.

The songs in this video are wonderful, and the Silly Song is simply delightful. The Song of the Cebu, described as a "stereophonic, multi-media event," is a musical slide show gone awry. It features three unfortunate bovines based on the hump-backed cows called zebus and a hippo who poses a threat to their well-being. Unfortunately, the slide projector gets all mixed up before Larry can finish the tale, and Archie Asparagus is so upset that he cancels Silly Songs with Larry until further notice. This is one of the most hilarious Veggie videos yet, and it manages to realistically depict a Bible story too. (Except, of course, for the grape Slushies!)

Thursday, January 27, 2000

The Good Asparagus

It was Junior to the rescue in this Veggie video about loving your neighbor. In the story of Flibber-o-loo, a delightful Seuss-style rendition of the Good Samaritan, Larry is an unfortunate altruist who falls victim to three unruly thieves who take his milk money and leave him face down in a hole. He is first approached by his town's mayor and then by his town's doctor, but each is too busy to help. Then along comes Junior Asparagus, who, coming from the rivaling town of Gibberty-lot, has a pot on his head. He sees the shoe by Larry, which tells him that Larry is from Flibber-o-loo. After a small debate with himself, he rescues Larry and restores him to health.

In The Gourds Must be Crazy Junior is recruited to join Bob and Larry on a mission to save the U.S.S. Applepies, an Enterprise-like spacecraft threatened by a popcorn-ball meteor. They are greeted by Scooter (Scotty) and two gourds who love to eat and sing. Though Scooter is convinced that the gourds are crazy, Junior devises a plan that allows them to use their special skills to save the ship.

Great songs abound in this video, and even the Silly Song has a lesson to teach when Larry gives up his prized hairbrush so the Peach, who has hair, can use it. Every bit as good as the first one, Are You My Neighbor? teaches us that being different doesn't make us weird, all the while taking us on a rollicking ride of entertainment we won't soon forget.

Monday, January 24, 2000

Silliness Rules!

One of the greatest thing about Veggie Tales is the songs. Very Silly Songs! offers nonstop singing, interrupted only by Larry the Cucumber's short parodies of existing shows such as Richard Simmons and Home Improvement's Tool Time. It is mostly a compilation of songs from the first few Veggie Tales videos, although a couple of bonuses are added: The New and Improved Bunny Song and the hilarious Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.

This video is great for veteran Veggie viewers because it gives them a chance to sing all the songs they've grown to love without having to wait between tunes. For unseasoned watchers, it provides a good overview of the videos it depicts. Although all the songs in a given video are included, the most catchy are often the Silly Songs, which usually serve no practical purpose and are just plain goofy. So be advised: If you catch yourself singing Oh, Where is my Hairbrush? in the shower or The Water Buffalo Song on your way to work, don't say I didn't warn you!

Saturday, January 22, 2000

Nothing to Be Scared Of

Are there monsters under your child's bed? Well, never fear, the veggies are here! In the Tales from the Crisper, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber come to the rescue when young Junior Asparagus is afraid to go to sleep after watching a scary movie. With a bouncy, boisterous song, they explain to Junior that "God is bigger than the Boogieman" so he doesn't have to worry. They even bring in Phil, an actor from Toledo who played the terrifying Frankencelery, to help illustrate the point. By the time Junior's dad comes to tuck him in, Junior's fears are assuaged and he can sleep soundly through the night.

Next comes Silly Songs with Larry, which in this case is The Water Buffalo Song. Unfortunately, it is cut short by an indignant Archibald Asparagus who chides Larry for claiming that everyone has a water buffalo when, in fact, everyone does not. Thus we see the beginning of an ongoing struggle between Larry and Archibald over singing songs that are just plain silly. Old Archie may not like them, but kids love 'em.

The next portion of the video tells the Biblical story of Daniel. Archibald is King Darius and Larry is the faithful Daniel. The king's three wise men are cunning villains who, as is often the case, have a really great song. As a matter of fact, they have two, but Oh, No, the song in which they plot Daniel's downfall, is especially impressive. Daniel is thrown to the lions as a result of their trickery, but his faith in God protects him; instead of eating him, the lions end up feeding him.

Finally Bob and Larry gather on the countertop to talk about what they've learned, and a song begins to play from out of nowhere. This What We Have Learned song is also a constant in the videos, and it's always interesting to see what Bob will do to try to stop it from playing. They conclude that there's no reason to be scared because God loves us, and it is on that note that the video ends.

This video tells two wonderful stories with humor zany enough to get a chuckle out of many adults. The songs are terrific, the animation is superb, and the message is a very important one. They don't call it "Sunday morning values and Saturday morning fun" for nothing!

Friday, January 21, 2000

They're Chipmunks!

As much as I love "Alvin and the Chipmunks," "Rescue Rangers" has one up on them in one regard. Chip and Dale actually look like chipmunks, and they're the size of chipmunks. They seem to have matured since their first days of tormenting Donald. Now their efforts are focused on helping others. Along with their two rodent cohorts and their friend the fly, the Rescue Rangers brave trials that many people would be afraid to face.

Together they show that it doesn't matter what size you are. You can make a difference if you believe in yourself and work together. Of course, Chip and Dale are still themselves, so there is plenty of room for silliness as well. The others have their own particular endearing traits, particularly Monterey Jack's passionate love affair with cheese. Combining all the fun of the earlier Chip and Dale cartoons with a good message, not to mention a very catchy theme song, this show is one to add to the list of great Disney cartoons.

Let Jeannie be a Genie!

I really get a kick out of I Dream of Jeannie. Sure, the majority of it is ridiculously unrealistic situations, but they're really funny. Jeannie is so sweet and innocent, so clueless, and so devoted to Major Nelson that she sometimes gets herself into major trouble to protect him. Major Nelson is practical and down-to-Earth and hates the idea of Jeannie using her powers to make his life easier for him. Roger Healey is a goofball who's more than willing to take advantage of Jeannie's generosity. And then there's the poor doctor, who sees evidence of Jeannie in nearly every episode and begins to think he's going crazy.

This show is just utterly ludicrous. But that's what makes it so much fun. Jeannie gets herself into so much trouble, and Major Nelson's stubbornness only makes matters worse. Cheesy special effects abound, and just seeing how bad they sometimes are is worth a chuckle or two. There's really nothing USEFUL about this show, but who says tv has to DO anything? "I Dream of Jeannie" is certainly entertaining, even if it isn't much else.

Groovy!

The Brady Bunch is just so happy, it's kinda contagious. Sure, they go through the typical family troubles: sibling rivalry, teenage rebellion, lost pets...But it never lasts long. These kids are all smiles, and nothing can get them down. And with nine people in one house, not to mention a cat and dog, there's always plenty going on. You would never know that they weren't always a family if they hadn't told you right off the bat -- they seem like they were made to be together. And who wouldn't love to have someone like Alice living with them?

And you've gotta love all that seventies jargon. And the clothes. And the hair. And...everything. The Bradys radiate everything that the early seventies was supposed to be, leaving no room for the negative aspects. While life in those days probably wasn't quite that sunny all the time, it's nice to think that maybe it could be. And besides all that, there's the music. "The Brady Bunch" brought the world lots of really bouncy music, not the least of which was the theme song. So turn it on once in a while; we could all use a little sunshine in our lives.

Care Bear Stare!

Care Bears is one of the cartoons that I grew up with. The concept is rather strange -- a community of multi-colored bears with symbols on their stomachs who live in a kingdom in the clouds. But hey, it works. Each bear is especially talented in a particular area. The green bear with a shamrock his stomach is good luck. The yellow one with the sun is cheerful. Each bear's stomach is white, and the symbol is centered within it. When something happens that needs an extra lot of love, they all join together for the Care Bear Stare, during which their symbols shoot out rays of color and the rays merge.

The kingdom in which they live is called Care-a-lot. It is made of clouds. They drive cloud cars which trail rainbows behind them. They take care not to run off the edge of a cloud and fall down to earth. They spend most of their time tending to the daily duties of their kingdom, but when the alarm sounds, they head off to earth to make a bad situation turn out all right. Sometimes they don't even show themselves. The Care Bears are, perhaps, Disney's answer to angels. Care-a-lot is the type of kingdom many children imagine Heaven to be. The main thing to take away from the show is that someone is watching over us, ready to come to our aid if we need it.

Bewitching

Before Jeannie and long before Sabrina or Harry Potter, "Bewitched" flew onto the screen and into the hearts of many. The concept behind the show was not an entirely new one, but it was certainly not something that t.v. viewers got to see on a regular basis. It was a merging of worlds. Samantha was a perfectly normal, everyday person based on outward appearances. She was sensible, caring, and pretty. But she was also something that didn't seem to fit that description: a witch.

"The Wizard of Oz" refers to good witches and bad witches, and Samantha was most certainly a good witch. She came from a world of witches and warlocks and all manner of magical people, and she could make things happen with one little nose wiggle. She was perfectly capable of performing like a mortal, though, much to the relief of her magic-shy husband Darren. Unfortunately, her relatives did not exhibit her self-control.

Most of the major problems which she had to face were caused by one or another of her magical relatives, sometimes well-meaning and sometimes looking to cause trouble. Through it all she kept a clear head and managed to nip fiasco after fiasco in the bud. Her snooping neighbor Gladys Kravvits certainly did not make life easy for Samantha, but every time Gladys saw something and asked her husband to confirm it, whatever had been out of place was back to normal by the time he turned to look.

Like "I Dream of Jeannie," this show is chock full of good old-fashioned comedy, and it's a little bit less chaotic since Samantha is so much more...normal than Jeannie. At any rate, it's fun, and the role which witchcraft plays in it is totally unrealistic so there's no harm in it. It's just a show, so sit back and relax and don't take it too seriously.

Thursday, January 20, 2000

Still Here After All these Years

Just as children have grown up with Sesame Street for years, they have grown up with Mister Rogers as well. Just about everybody I know can sing at least part of his theme song. Very little has changed about the show in all the time it's been on. The show still begins with "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood" and concludes with "you'll have things you'll want to talk about; I will too". Mister Rogers still takes off his shoes and sweater when he comes in and puts them on again when he leaves. He still makes a daily trip to Make-Believe Land. He still feeds his fish, which I would surmise are probably a dozen generations removed from the first fish Fred fed on the air. There is still an educational movie every show -- played on movie reels!

No, nothing much changes in Mister Roger's Neighborhood, and it's a nice safe haven for kids to retreat to. It's as good as it ever was. Mister Rogers does tend to be a bit...condescending, perhaps? Certainly with no disrespect intended to the children, of course, but older kids may find his tone to be a bit too much after a while. How many times can you hear that you're special in one show? Still, it's something kids need to hear, and if Mister Rogers is still willing to do the show after all these years, I say more power to him.

Enough's Enough

When Boy Meets World first came on the air, Cory was just a kid -- a sixth grader, I believe? And the show was really funny in a cute, pathetic kind of way (Was middle school really that bad?). But time has gone by and now Cory, Shawn and Topenga are college-aged. And while the show is still funny at times, it's lost its childhood charm. The "Boy" is no longer a boy. He is a typical college student whose exploits are no longer so innocent. Oh, some good issues are brought up once in a while, but that just makes the show seem too serious for its genre. Those episodes don't really seem to fit in. Ben Savage could have taken a lesson from his older brother.

"The Wonder Years" was a great show until they left the years of wonder. Once they hit college, they were too world-wise and the show completely lost its focus. Fred Savage began to actually sound like the narrator. I believe "Boy Meets World" has reached that point. It seemed from the beginning to be a slightly altered version of "The Wonder Years" taking place in the next generation. But childhood ends, and with it those wonder years and those years of meeting the world. I think it's time the cast moved on, leaving the show to be taken up in another form in another twenty years or so.

Arthur the Aardvark

It took me a little while to figure just exactly what Arthur was. But long before I had conclusively determined that he was, indeed, an aardvark, I decided that I liked him. He's such a nice kid, and his everyday adventures are something that schoolchildren can easily relate to. Bullies, new classmates and pesky little sisters are just a few of the things that Arthur has to deal with as he goes through his day. He doesn't always get it right the first time, but eventually he learns how to face each obstacle that comes his way.

His furry friends add to the fun he finds out on the baseball diamond, in the classroom, and at home. They add a new dimension to his life which was first made popular through the books. Most of his friends are as hard to categorize as him. There's a rabbit, but other than that the species of the others are difficult to determine. I guess that just goes to show that it's what's on the inside, not the outside, that's important.

Tuesday, January 18, 2000

Typical Family?

Gee, I hope not. But the Simpson family and all of the other residents of Springfield make us take a good, hard look at ourselves and wonder if we really come across that way. "The Simpsons" has the highest concentration of stereotypes of any show I have ever seen. Homer is the lazy dad, Bart's the bratty brother, Lisa the intellectual sister, Marge the down-to-earth mom, Abraham the cantankerous grandpa, and Maggie...well, she's just a baby. Beyond the Simpsons, there is Ned Flanders, the cheerful do-gooder with a family to match; Moe, the cranky bartender; Apu, the Indian corner store clerk; Willie, the Scottish janitor; Reverend Lovejoy, the hypocritical pastor; Mrs. Lovejoy, the town gossip; Jessica Lovejoy, the devilish pastor's kid; Edna Kerbopple, the disgruntled teacher; Seymour Skinner, the clueless principal; Barney, the town drunk; Nelson, the bully; Montgomery Burns, the Scroogish billionaire; Whalen Smithers, the... You get the picture.

Behind every bright yellow four-fingered character is a stereotype of a particular type of person. Though much of it is blown out of realistic proportions, it still is grounded in truth and offers a rather sobering look at our society. For the most part, "The Simpsons" does not paint a terribly flattering picture. At the same time, however, it manages to put some meaning in the lives of the harried, provincial characters. Some episodes have very good messages, once you get past the somewhat crude humor. For instance, the episode which reunited Krusty the Clown with his father, a rabbi. Or the one in which Maggie found Mr. Burns' teddy bear and returned it despite her growing attachment to it. Or when Bart prayed fervently for an extra day to study for a test and got it, then proceeded to squeak by with a D-. Nearly every episode says something worthwhile, though you sometimes have to look deep to find it. This is a cartoon geared more towards adults than children, but it's worth watching once in a while. It's a good show to watch as a family, especially with older kids, and maybe discuss later. There's a lot we could learn from it.

Never Too Busy for Busy Town

When I was very young, my first imaginary friend was not one whom I had dreamed up on my own. He was Lowly Worm. I had never seen The Busy World of Richard Scarry back then; I'm not even sure if it existed. I met Lowly through Richard Scarry's books, and he and I got along just great. Then, years later when I had all but forgotten about my invisible invertebrate playmate, I came across "The Busy World of Richard Scarry". My brother was about the age I had been when I first fell in love with Lowly, and we watched the show together. Much to my delight, Lowly sounded exactly as I had imagined him. I grew to love the other characters as well - and the crazy situations they got themselves into.

It really is a busy town, and there's always something to see. The scenery is ingenious. You could spend the whole time just looking at the vehicles. But besides the visual spectacular, most of the shows also teach a lesson. Once in a while there's even a history lesson, though they take certain liberties with those. Counting lessons are a hoot with so much interesting stuff to count, and when Lowly warns Huckle Cat to pick up his toys there are plenty of toys to trip over, with hilarious results that drive the point home. With so much happening at once, there's something for just about every kid in this gently zany world.

Hey, It's Franklin!

I've seen "Franklin" several times on Nick Jr., and it is one of the better cartoons intended especially for young children. Though the characters are different, it seems to go hand in hand with "Little Bear". This time the main character is a turtle, not a bear -- although his best friend is a bear. Along with his parents and friends, Franklin learns an important lesson in each episode: fire safety, patience, perseverance, doing things by yourself...Each story is 10-15 minutes long and has a nice mix of fun and education, the lesson always being tightly integrated into the story. The bright background and bouncy music, not to mention the adorable characters, make this an ideal show for youngsters in their preschool years. One odd thing: Why is Franklin's name Franklin when all of his friends bear the name of their species - Bear, Otter, Beaver, Snail, Mrs. Muskrat, etc.? Oh, well. I guess that just makes him all the more special.

Bill Blows Beakman Out of the Water

Bill Nye is certainly not the first to launch a show like this. My dad clearly remembers Mr. Wizard from his childhood, and "Beakman's World" was the most recent kids' science show I saw before I happened upon Bill. Mr. Wizard was Old Reliable. You could always count on learning something interesting from his show. While Mr. Wizard's show was very educational, it was generally rather stiff. Some more recent shows have sought to spice up their science a bit, but many have gone too far in the other direction. Such as Beakman. The science is buried under all the weirdness, which causes a bit of a headache after a while.

Bill Nye's show possesses just the right mix of education and entertainment to hold a captive audience and teach them quite a bit too. Each show has a theme which is introduced in ever more creative ways by Bill Nye, much to the annoyance of the unseen Voice whose job it is to keep Bill on track. The kids on the show present simple experiments children can do at home while Bill explains the scientific concepts of the day and demonstrates them in his lab and out "in the field" with experts. Towards the end of the show, the audience is treated to a music video parody recapping everything learned in the episode. Never has tv science been so much fun!

A Very Smurfy Show

Smurfy - by which I mean lots of smurfs. They're everywhere in Smurfs, and they all look exactly the same with the exception of a few key characters. Not that that's a terrible thing. But the whole village seems to just wash away in a white-capped blue tide within the first few minutes. Of course there's the vile human and his cat to break up the monotony, not to mention some furry woodland critters. And there's about a dozen smurfs with a distinct personality. But the sameness gets annoying after a while. One question: how is it that there is such a healthy smurf population when there are practically no female smurfs??

Oh, well. And then there's the vocabulary. Everything is *smurf* this, *smurf* that, *Oh, how smurfy!*. How many words can you replace with the word *smurf*? They seemed determined to find out. And their voices are mostly high-pitched, without the correct quality to make them cute like the chipmunks. It's entertaining to a point, but it gets tiresome after a very short period of time.

Friday, January 14, 2000

Too Much of a Good Thing

"The Lion King" was, in my opinion, one of the very finest movies ever to come out of the Disney studio. From the first time I saw the preview, I was enthralled. This movie was in a class by itself, and I still feel uplifted each time I hear "Circle of Life". Everything about the movie lent itself to being a box office hit, and audiences confirmed that it was. So, like so many successful animated films, it had to be capitalized upon as much as possible. Just when the fervor was beginning to die down, we were presented with "Timon and Pumbaa".

Now these two are great as comic reliefs in the midst of a serious story, but on their own they have very little substance. Their half-hour show is no more than a series of cartoony stunts and bodily humor. They are no longer a warthog and a meerkat in the middle of the jungle. They are a couple of buffoons with a knack for slapstick who happen to look like a warthog and meerkat. Unlike the movie, which is completely untouched my humankind and the modern world, the show incorporates every modern inconvenience available.

The animation is still high quality, but that's about it. Don't be reeled in by the fact that it's a spin-off of "The Lion King". The creators should have quit while they were ahead.

This Show's Just Ducky!

Donald Duck has been a part of American culture for decades, and his nephews have been in the limelight for nearly as long. They run poor Donald to a frazzle, though he often deserves it. "Ducktales" affords Donald some long awaited R and R as his mischievous nephews go to live with their miserly uncle, the Scottish billionaire Scrooge McDuck. As the accumulator of such a vast amount of wealth, he is often the target of thieves and big-time operators looking to put him out of business.

Luckily, Huey, Dewey and Louie have the energy and ingenuity to get their aging uncle out of every mess he finds himself in. He is also assisted by his faithful butler, his doting housekeeper, his clumsy personal pilot Launchpad, and his niece Webby.

The ducks' adventures take them all around the world, from the pyramids to desert islands to the fountain of youth. Each episode is crammed with about as much adventure as a half-hour episode can take. And while the youngsters love getting into trouble, they also care about their uncle and focus most of their energy into making sure that nothing bad happens to him.

Right from the first notes of the catchy theme song, this show is just the way to get the day started. With great animation, fun music and high adventure, it's one of the best cartoons out there.

The Littler Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is one of that class of movies, shows, and books identified as a prequel. We get a chance to see what Ariel's life was like before she met up with Prince Eric. All of the lovable undersea creatures from the movie are in this this show, and many other characters are introduced as well. My personal favorites include a baby orca named Spot and a merboy named Urchin.

At times we are offered a glimpse further back into Ariel's childhood, such as the first time she met Flounder. In one episode, we even get to see King Triton as a child, revealing that he and Ariel aren't so different after all. New songs pop up often, and they're pretty catchy. The animation is, for the most part, every bit as good as it was in the movie.

As with Aladdin, Disney has managed to make a successful spin-off series from a popular feature film. It is primarily a show about coming of age as Ariel discovers herself and her relationships with others deepen. The value of friendship is clear in every episode. I think perhaps the most valuable part of the show, though, lies in the relationship between Ariel and her father. The rocky rift between them surfaces again and again in the show, but their love for each other always manages to bridge the gap and bring them to a closer understanding of one another. Very few children have perfect relationships with their parents, but it is good to see a cartoon in which the protagonist sees past the differences and recognizes the value of the one who raised her. That is something none of us should forget.

Ooh la la!

For anyone who has read the Madeline books and enjoyed them, this show is terrific. Each episode has the same feel to it as the books did, and the simpler animation style only adds to the beauty of the stories. Madeline is a free thinker. She always has a slightly different way of seeing things than the other eleven little girls who live with her under the watchful eye of Miss Clavel.

Each of the adventures that the girls get into is an enlightening experience for children watching the show. They are exposed to all sorts of different places from zoos to dude ranches, and they share in the wonder of the little girls as they experience each for the first time. Most of the show is set against a Parisian background, and children inadvertently learn a bit about French landmarks and history and pick up a smattering of French vocabulary.

The show is geared towards girls, as evidenced by the fact the the fourteen main characters (Miss Clavel, her twelve students, and Genevieve the dog) are female. But there are some male characters as well, and the exploits of the girls are interesting enough to hold a boy's attention for at least a few minutes. It's a simple mix of culture and adventure that makes it a great show for all concerned.


Thursday, January 13, 2000

Turn off the Telly in their Tubbies!

I'm just not quite sure what to make of Teletubbies. Apparently many babies get a kick out of watching these odd creatures with televisions in their tummies prance around in their idyllic meadow. Each of these aliens has a body made up of a pajama-like material and a face with a feline air about it. The narrator does most of the talking when Po, Laa-laa, Dipsy and Tinky-Winky come out to play. When they do speak, it is only one or two words, and they are barely intelligible. They dance and run from the giant vacuum cleaner as the brightly shining baby-faced sun laughs with delight.

When they deicde it's time to watch their tummies, they join together in an act of unity like the Care Bear Stare and they watch a short educational video or cartoon. Then, when it's over, they shout "Again! Again!" and the scene is replayed. Very young children may enjoy this constant repetition and find the gentle surroundings soothing, but I think most people past toddlerhood would find it boring and baffling. I certainly did.

Pikachu, I Choose You!

I must admit, the first time my brother got me to sit down and watch this show with him, I was...disturbed? I was completely lost. I had no idea what was going on, and I just didn't get the Pokemon battle thing. And what is with that stop-motion animation? And the question marks coming out of Psyduck's head? And the way James' mouth fills his entire face when he laughs? And those little "x"s that appear in someone's eyes when they're stunned? And on and on and on.

But I was patient, and I allowed my brother to try to draw me into this world with him. After all, it was on every day at 7:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon. So I watched it. And gradually, it grew on me. I began to see past the odd animation tricks and the cheesy dialogue and the strangeness of collecting freaky creatures so they could beat each other up.

Then I was able to see what the children were seeing, what they were intended to see, what most adults aren't able to grasp. Far from being a violent, disparaging show, "Pokemon" encourages fair play, good sportsmanship, loving your enemies...The young hero Ash learns an important lesson in each episode. And the Pokemon, or pocket monsters, that are captured are not slaves. They grow to love their trainers and simply disobey or leave if they feel they are being mistreated. Good stewardship is a key element of this show. The needs of Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbosaur, Psyduck, and the other Pokemon under the care of Brock, Ash, and Misty come first.

Pokemon are, by nature, gentle creatures who enjoy working together. When they fight, it is not to hurt each other; they are only momentarily stunned in battle. When something more harmful occurs, great pains are taken to amend the situation so it will not happen again. "Pokemon" is a show about teamwork and devotion and being willing to pay the ultimate price to save a friend, even if the only word that friend can utter is his own name. There is nothing dangerous about this show; there's nothing wrong with, just once in a while, children knowing exactly what's going on when those "older and wiser" haven't got a clue.

Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?

It's hard for us and many of our parents to imagine growing up without Sesame Street. For years the show has endured as THE educational show for children. Fun songs and lovable muppets make learning a delight as children are taught everything from the alphabet to numbers to life lessons like being nice to kids who are different and not being afraid.

The show continues to prosper now just as it did in its days of infancy. Many songs from the older shows are inserted into the current episodes, much to the delight of older viewers who remember those songs from their childhoods. Who can forget "Rubber Ducky," "C is for Cookie," "Dancin' Myself to Sleep," "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ," "The Batty Bat," and other such fantastic songs?

The show can be watched from an entirely different point of view as an adult. Many of the stories make allusions to or are parodies of well-known works of literature or classic movies and tv. Recognizing the inspiration behind some of the segments makes watching "Sesame Street" all that much more fun.

"Sesame Street" has something in it for everyone. It is truly a show that parents and children can watch together and enjoy, even if they are enjoying different aspects of it. How incredible it is that so much can be found on one remarkable little street! From Grover's Diner with that unfortunate customer who can never get his order right to Guy Smiley's nostalgic "This is your Life" featuring a sock, from calmly chaotic Monsterpiece Theater to the "yep"-filled jaunts of floppy-mouthed aliens, from the Count's counting sprees to the Amazing Mumford's ill-fated "a la peanut butter sandwiches!", Sesame Street is brimming with entertainment and education, so delightfully blended that one can hardly tell which is which.

A stargazing Ernie mused one night, "...so if I should visit the moon, I would dance on a moonbeam and then I would make a wish on a star and I'd wish I was home once again. Though I'd love to look down on the Earth from above I would miss all the places and people I love. So don't be afraid 'cause I'm coming home soon 'cause I don't want to live on the moon." With "Sesame Street," children can travel to places beyond their wildest imaginings without ever needing to leave home, and they'll soon learn how to do the same even when they're not watching "Sesame Street". Parents can help foster their children's imaginations by watching this show with them and begin to reclaim their own. It is an hour very well spent.

Tuesday, January 11, 2000

The Three Little Chipmunks

Irrepressible Alvin, logical Simon, gregarious Theodore: somehow these three rodents with high-pitched voices have etched themselves indelibly into the hearts of many a child of this generation and the last. Alvin's expertly orchestrated mischief befuddles and infuriates his foster parent Dave Seville, simultaneously sending the audience into gales of laughter. The characters have developed over the years, becoming much less three-dimensional. In the beginning, the chipmunks shared a flat tone when speaking and all looked like they had been slapped on the screen with a rolling pin. Their new look is much more detailed, their voices lighter, and the stories are more complicated. The Chipettes, female counterparts of the Chipmunks, have also been added: Brittney (Alvin), Jeannette (Simon) and Eleanor (Theodore).

But the same basic elements are there: Alvin's infinite capacity to cause trouble and great songs. "Dave Seville" is actually Dave and all three chipmunks, recorded at different speeds. For one person, he sure makes a great band! The Chipmunks have released several albums, and some of their songs ("Witch Doctor", "The Chipmunk Song") have become classics. And while parents may find their voices to be rather grating after a while, many of them will catch themselves singing along!

A Wish Come True

I am often disappointed by cartoon series stemming from movies, but "Aladdin" proved to be an exception to the rule. While it does not have the creative genius of Robin Williams, Dan Castanella steps in to put nearly as much heart into the role of Genie as Williams did. All the old characters are back -- except, of course, for Jafar. Iago has become an important member in the cast of characters, as has Abysmal the bumbling thief. New recurring characters include Prince Uncouthma, the burly leader of Odiferous, Mechanicles, a neat freak who builds mechanical bugs, Thundra, a Spanish tropical bird who has stolen Iago's heart, Mirage, a feline enchantress, and a myriad of others. Each episode is packed with adventure and lots of laughs, chiefly provided by Genie.

As in the movies, Genie abounds with anachronisms, but he's a genie so I suppose that can be excused. There are no songs in the series, but I won't say that's a terribly bad thing because the songs in the second and third movies paled greatly in comparison to those of the first; the contrast with the series would probably have been even greater. The background music is very well done and the animation is as good as it was on the big screen. Along with all the adventure and humor, "Aladdin" has a lot of heart and teaches some valuable lessons, especially in the two-part episodes. For anyone who enjoyed the movie, this series is definitely worth checking out.

AniMANIACS!

Warner Brothers has always cranked out some pretty crazy characters, but Yakko, Wakko and Dot are among the most outlandish. First of all, they're not even classifiable. But mostly it's their crazy stunts and nonstop energy that really put the "maniac" into the show's name. Hardly a show passes when an anvil is not dropped on someone's head. Often the anvil tally reaches the dozens. Wakko amazes all with his seemingly bottomless stomach and his belching concertos, Dot is nauseatingly cute, Yakko is the most talkative of the bunch and usually the instigator.

Besides the Warner Brothers (and the Warner Sister), other regular characters include the Goodfeathers, a trio of mobster pigeons; Slappy, a curmudgeon of a squirrel, and her nephew, Skippy; Mindy, a toddler who's always getting lost, and Buttons, the German Shepherd who has to retrieve her; Katie-ka-Boom, a typical teenager who explodes when angry; Rita, a street-smart cat, and Runt, a rainman-like dog; Dr. Scratch-and-Sniff, the Warner kids' unfortunate psychologist; and Pinky and the Brain, a duo of lab rats trying to take of the world (they now have their own t.v. show).

Each segment has a theme song, and there are often songs within the segments as well. Some obnoxious, some are entertaining, some are even rather educational if you can understand what they're saying. Moments of culture include the aforementioned belching concerts and Dot's Poetry Corner, in which Dot performs a beatnik rendition of a nursery rhyme. As for lessons, aside from the songs, there are the ever-enlightening Good Idea/Bad Idea segments, offering such gems of wisdom as "Good Idea: Playing the accordion at a polka party. Bad Idea: Playing the accordion anywhere else." And the Wheel of Morality concludes each show with a "moral."

Just like most Warner Brothers cartoons preceding it, "Animaniacs" is faced with the task of fitting several segments, each featuring different characters, into a half-hour slot. Therefore, there is not much room for a story to develop. Most of the episodes rely heavily on slapstick and mockery of celebrities through their guest appearances (favorites include William Shatner, Bill Clinton, and creator Steven Spielberg). It's not the television equivalent of great literature...but it's good for a few laughs.

Friday, January 7, 2000

Touched By the Light

I watched "Phenomenon" for the first time as a segue between the Love and Death & Dying segments of my senior religion class. An in-depth, 3000-word paper ensued, one certainly too long to share here. But the gist of it was this: Phenomenon is brimming with spiritual significance. It is widely know that John Travolta is a Scientologist and incorporated some of those themes into his role of George Malley, but it's not just Scientologists who can find meaning in this beautiful story.

This tale of a simple mechanic turned genius shows the possibilities that lie within even the lowliest of people. When George Malley developed his strange abilities, he already had a heart of gold. Naturally, then, he used his gifts to help people...and get himself into a little trouble as well.

One scene in particular gets right at the heart of the movie. In the beginning, there is a rabbit trapped in George's garden. He racks his brain trying to get rid of the four-footed interloper, but it is only after he "sees the light" that he realizes the rabbit was trapped inside. He was so busy looking at problems from the outside, he missed the very root of the problem. Once he began looking inside, he found an entirely new outlook on life. The end result is bittersweet but necessary.

The score for the film is lovely in its simplicity; aside from the songs in the background, the only sounds to be heard are the trees, the stars, the wind...One calming melody in particular resurfaces again and again, taken to be the wind rustling through the trees.

The movie is carried by John Travolta, very convincing as a normal guy thrust into a way of life which he doesn't understand. In addition to that, his persistence in regards to Lacey is admirable and frustrating. Kyra Sedgewick plays Lacey, the single mom with two kids. We know her husband left her years ago, but we don't know any details. Eventually George wins her over, but by that time I was so fed up with Lace that I almost wished he would just give up on her. The comical Nate is played by Forrest Whittaker, adding much to the movie in the friendship between him and George. The Doc, played by Robert Duvall, was one of the best supporting roles I have ever seen. It is he who is the link to George's past and future.

This is a warm, fuzzy movie, probably not for those who like a lot of action. There is very little violence, and it is all accidental. Profanity is at a minimum and George only steals a couple of kisses from Lace while we see them, though it is clear other activity has gone on while we weren't watching. I think this is a great family movie to watch together and talk about afterwards. It could generate some pretty interesting discussion.

Funnie's Funny!

It's nice to see a good kid as the hero of a cartoon. So many of them tend to be rude and obnoxious. Doug is a typical nice kid, and it's nice to be reminded that there are still folks like him out there. In a whimsical fashion, Doug offers viewers a glimpse into his daily journal as he deals with the problems that plague most pre-teens: bullies, butterflies, siblings, crushes, homework...He doesn't always work through his problems in the way that he intends to, but everything comes out all right in the end.

It's a show about fantasy vs. reality, as shown by Doug's Gilligan-esque daydreams. It's a show about change, as evidenced by Doug's new school, his baby brother and Skeeter's floppy limbs, among other things. At times Doug seems a modern-day Charlie Brown with Porkchop as Snoopy and Patty as the little red-haired girl. And, as with Peanuts, it is most of all about the toils of growing up, and how almost all of us make it through somehow. That's a good thing for today's kids to know.

Thursday, January 6, 2000

Of Mice Like Men

I have heard it said that no one wants to read books about talking animals, but even the most hardened anti-anthropomorphist would be hard pressed to not be charmed by Redwall's inhabitants. Matthias is the unlikely hero of "Redwall", a bumbling young mouse who discovers that he is intimately linked with the legendary founder of Redwall Abbey.

The tale centers around Matthias, but other characters are simultaneously shadowed in ensuing chapters as they are in the other books of Redwall. Each species has a specific place in Jacques' world. Hares are military personnel with seemingly bottomless stomachs. Otters are burly sailors, wonderful friends but dangerous enemies. Sparrows are primitive and warlike. Badgers are wise and serene except when they are possessed by the Bloodwrath, when they become vicious killing machines. Moles are simple folk who live underground. Shrews are quarrelsome boatmen allied with Redwall. Rats are pirates. Snakes are just plain evil. Squirrels, mice, hedgehogs and voles make up most of the population of Redwall Abbey, and villains include foxes, ferrets, stoats, weasels and lizards.

Each book includes one or more of each of the following: a romance, a complicated puzzle, the death of one or more major characters, the discovery of goodness in an animal assumed bad (rat, ferret, etc.), poetry, gory battle scenes and mouthwatering descriptions of feasts. Common themes run through each book, and the fewer, weaker animals always prevail over the stronger ones which outnumber them. The lines between good and evil are blurred as abbey-dwellers find friends in unexpected places. Despite the commonalities, each book in this series, starting with Redwall, is delightful in its own right and is only enhanced by the reading of other books in the series. Each book runs several hundred pages and includes many British colloquialisms that may be unknown to some children, but the page-turning adventure makes it well worth the effort.

Home Sweet Hobbiton

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit..." So begins "The Hobbit," the classic tale of a reluctant adventurer by J.R.R. Tolkien. Right from that first sentence, readers are drawn into Tolkien's carefully crafted world. What is a hobbit? Tolkien takes care of that question immediately, and though many illustrators have tackled the challenge of depicting one, each person probably has a slightly different vision of the furry-footed protagonist. Quite possibly the most unique of the creatures in this book, the hobbit Bilbo is a likable manifestation of the perpetual dilemma that gnaws at so many of us: to live safely and predictably in comfort or to do something adventurous and risk losing it all.

Tolkien's rich descriptions and dialogue make the readers care about the characters and wait with bated breath to see how Bilbo will get out of his next predicament. Dangers lurk in nearly every chapter of this book, and its diverse cast of characters and exotic setting add to the excitement. Wizards, dwarves, elves and goblins are commonplace, and even a dragon makes an appearance. The epic battle between good and evil, though less pronounced than in the later books, is clearly evident.

This book is the doorway into Middle Earth leading to more fantastic and breathtaking adventures, most notably "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and, for the especially resilient, "The Silmarillion". These books are much more difficult reading and deal with much darker issues, but "The Hobbit" is recommended reading for all ages.

Wednesday, January 5, 2000

Three Cheers for Pooh!

Nestled deep in the heart of every child is his own special land: a place of his own creation whose inhabitants are anything he wishes them to be. These worlds are private havens, often known only to the children who created them. But there is one boy whose make-believe land has captured the hearts of children and adults alike for nearly a hundred years...

"The New Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh" offers a fanciful glimpse into Christopher Robin Milne's Hundred Acre Wood, drawing on the tales chronicled by Christopher's father for inspiration. Although the Disney animation differs greatly from the original illustrations of E.H. Shepard, the heart of the characters remain. Winnie-the-Pooh is befuddled and lovable, Tigger is irrepressible and energetic, Piglet is timid and considerate, Kanga and Roo exemplify the ideal mother-son relationship, Rabbit is all business, Owl is sophomorically intellectual, and Eeyore is as gloomy as ever.

Gopher, though not in the original stories, fits in well with the ensemble. Christopher Robin reigns as a typical kid who, to his plush friends, is so much more. One might note his lack of a British accent, but it certainly doesn't detract from the show. Each of the stories is well-crafted with a terrific blend of warmth, humor and gorgeous scenery. It is truly an ideal wonderland for any child to retreat to once in a while, and it couldn't hurt an adult to take a step inside the magic and feel like a kid again!