Every generation has a slate of local kids TV shows that seem to transcend the medium, and not always in a good way. Back in the day, 'merica unleashed an avalanche of utterly loopy kids programs onto an unsuspecting public, the effects of which probably still keep a fair amount of psychiatrists busy today.
These are the 10 nuttiest, most brilliantly insane slabs of US TV culture that equally inspired and shocked a generation of kids.
The Electric Company
This PBS series was where TV really wanted kids to go to after they graduated from all those preschool TV shows. This sketch comedy series featured characters played by Rita Moreno, Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby, Joan Rivers, Luis Avalos, Skip Hinnant, Jim Boyd, and Judy Graubart, and aimed to help kids learn punctuation, vowels, and other important grammar skills.
There are many unforgettable moments, including those Spiderman segments, Easy Reader, Vi, Fargo North, J. Arthur Crank, the Short Circus kids, Lorelei the Chicken, and guest stars as varied as Big Bird, Grover and Oscar the Grouch.
Scooby-Doo
The longest-running children's cartoon series in 1969 was animated by Hanna-Barbera, but looked cheap as chips even with a purported budget of almost $2 million. It's best remembered for its head-ache.
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Fred Rogers was the original children's television host - calming youngsters with his personality and all. His show mixed crafts and field trips with life lesson parables starring puppets and humans alike.
ZOOM
Based upon the popular BBC kid's show Play School, Zoom is now best remembered for its kid hosts and viewer submissions. The series rain daily from 1972 until 1978 on PBS.
During its peak, Zoom was sold to more countries than the mighty Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
No comments:
Post a Comment