Kids' TV: A Vast Stygian Wasteland

Caillou is pretty much a snore fest, and the only groovy thins on Disney are The Wiggles and definitely Charlie and Lola (who have two DVDs out now). My two-year old really enjoys the original cartoons during the day on Cartoon Network, though. The day’s not complete without some Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends or The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, both of which I’ll personally take any time over Tom and Jerry (I just never liked those two, not even as a kid). He is also obsessed with Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe on the Discovery Channel.  So much so that I had to buy him some of those DVDs.  Luckily, I love that show as well.

Comment by El Groover — October 30, 2006 @ 7:52 am

Caillou is tough to watch.  I agree. Just remember that these TV shows are for kids...not you. If the new shows are kind and gentle, all the better. We might have a more polite and considerate generation coming of age.  That’s not a bad thing. It’s a little selfish/childish/arrogant of a parent to complain about a child’s viewing preferences when all the parent wants is to be entertained with violence and unfunny jokes (Tom and Jerry was never all that funny…95% of the time you blankly stare at the inane violence).  Let the kids watch what they like, not what you want them to watch. You are aging yourself.

Comment by Mark — October 30, 2006 @ 9:34 am

It kind of depends on the age of the kid. I think my almost three year old is a little young to understand it is not okay to hit people. Once she gets that bit, I’m not concerned about her seeing Tom and Jerry. Nick Jr/Noggin has some shows that are little more middle of the road. I actually kind of like The Backyardigans. The music is much better than any other kid show (yes, I have listened to their CD in the car alone), and they go somewhere new all the time. Is anyone else completely creeped out by The Doodlebops?

Comment by Sarah — October 31, 2006 @ 1:07 pm

Hello, I just wanted to let you know about Boomerang. It is a channel from cartoon network. Dish Network has it in their listings. Anyway, you would like it. It has all the old cartoons. Like Pink Panther, The Jetsons, The Flinstones, Smurfs( my favorite), The Snorks, Etc. If you are a late nighter the have an hour of what they call Toon Heads. It varies by night on what the subject line is but it is all older cartoons, The original classics. I really like this channel. My 4 year old and I watch it all the time. Thank you

Comment by Mary from Michigan, USA — November 3, 2006 @ 6:18 pm