Nov 26 2006
Watching TV with Ben
I sit next to Ben, his head on my shoulder, as a show called “Wonder Pets” blares from our television. They just freed a young unicorn whose horn was stuck in a tree. A dragon chased them down, but instead of broiling them, he thanked them for saving his friend.
This is a show whose three lead characters — a guinea pig, a turtle, and a duckling, routinely use their combined brains to help an animal in distress. They frequently break out into song, usually to well-known classical tunes, as their crudely animated bodies (based on photographs) perform heroic tasks — all the while repeating their grating mantra, “What’s gonna work? Teeeeamwork!”
One of these episodes includes helping a puppy go outside to pee. What the heck?
In all the excitement, the Wonder Pets themselves forget to use the bathroom, so upon liberating the puppy, they all join him in the backyard for synchronized pissing. They sigh in relief.
This is a TV show? (This is a blog post?)
My preferred show about caged animals who escape when humans aren’t looking? The emmy-winning “Pinky and the Brain,” of course. Admittedly, their pursuits are less noble than those of the Wonder Pets, and probably not great for a three-year-old, but exponentially more entertaining than the sickengly sweet “Wonder Pets.”
Considered in the proper frame of mind, the three protagonists could be considered cute. To a parent with a penchant for severely scrutinizing musicals, they quickly become a trite trio.
The trend for children’s shows is toward rescuing animals, the heroic lead looking directly at the viewers and encouraging them to help. I think it all started years ago when “Dora the Explorer” hit the scene, but my expertise doesn’t go back that far.
Now starting is the musical children’s television show I prefer — “The Backyardigans.” It’s 3-D animated, the characters sing on key, and it’s made clear from the start that they’re just a bunch of friends in their backyard imagining the ensuing adventures.
Meanwhile, “Wonder Pets” makes helping a puppy find its doggy door seem just as likely as unicorn-dragon reunification.
Pardon me while I push away the laptop and rescue my child’s brain.
It’s like looking into a time portal at the future of the Gren household.
I can’t wait until the television teaches Norah to pee in the backyard.
Sheesh, don’t waste any time!
I’m not up on children’s entertainment these days since our TV is rarely on but at Ju’s this weekend, the grandson was watching some gawd-awful thing with the most grotesque-looking supposed-to-be-people I’ve ever seen. It was so distracting I can’t even tell you what the toon was about. But chances were, it was something lame. Yep, we gotta guard those little minds.
OK if we are talking TV Mark Disney channel has got the monopoly on Jr. High kids. My boys are loving Raven, Sweet Life of Zack and Cody, and Phil of the Future. Nick has also captures their attention with Zoe (Britany Spear’s little sister’s show). I think they both have a crush on her but they are still denying they like girls. Oh the fun that is in store for all of us as parents and for our tv watching.
Moksha - We resisted for a long time, with Ben watching only one episode of Sesame Street per day (with a sprinkling of Baby Einstein videos, of course). Now, he still only has about an hour per day, but he lost interest in Sesame Street quite a while back. You may not be in store for exactly the same things we’ve seen, but if there is a TV in your house, it no doubt will play a role.
Linda - Consider yourself lucky for being out of the kids’ TV loop.
Rob - I know those show names thanks to Shannon’s young cousins. They have Zack and Cody on a lot, as well as Raven.
Back when we were kids, how in the world did we live with only channels 4, 7, 11, and 2 (TG for PBS), with no VCR’s or DVD players?
I just saw the Wonder Pets for the first time this weekend - with my son, so you know - and thought it was rather silly. The only ones I really like are the Backyardigans, Spongebob, and… uh, I think that’s it.
P&tB WAS a totally kick-ass show, by the way. There was a mouse who refused to stay down when beaten!
I agree that Backyardigans is the best one. You can tell that the voices are digitized, and have a pitch filter on them, but it’s still better than hearing off-pitch howling.
Even with all of the new shows on kid’s TV now, LC still loves Mickey Mouse’s Playhouse the best. Go figure…the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Simon - A “Wonder Pets” first-timer, eh? Ah, if the boy likes it, your household is in for some tunes that get stuck in your head like a fork.
Charles - Ben digs Mickey Mouse’s Playhouse, too.
Simon and Charles - Each Backyardigans character is voiced by two different actors — one for speaking, one for singing, and they’re both children. Real dancers perform all the moves while wearing sensors, and then their movements are mimicked by the computers. Pretty cool.
I absolutely ADORE the Backyardigans and I DESPISE the Wonder Pets - I know, I really shouldn’t be so subtle.
With that nerd factor, now I like the Backyardigans even more!
*ROTFLMAO*
My four-year-old daughter decided it would be fun to alter the WP theme song, and so for a few weeks would go around the house singing “Underpants, Underpants, we’re on our waaayy…” quite loudly.
I think she’s a genius or something.
Simon - But they don’t use charts or graphs. As far as I know. So, not quite perfect for you.
Dave - No kidding. It’s all a big laugh. Yeah, your kids are all growed up. Not fair. Not fair at all. But, there are always grandkids.
Sheik - I laughed out loud hearing that one in my head. Thanks. I agree, of course, that she’s a genius, because one of my favorite things is altering song lyrics to be (what I find) funny.
I like the Backyardigans, don’t get me wrong, but the digital pitch correction on their singing voices really drives me nuts. It is used with a heavy, heavy, hand. When more than one character sings at the same time, the inhuman quality really jumps out. Reminds me of that Cher hit “Do You Believe In Love.” Let kids be kids. Let them sing out of tune. Or at least conceal the techology by only correcting the pitch MOST of the way.