Hey, I'm back. I know it's been a while, but I'm sure nobody missed me.
Anyway, since this blog has turned into a Top 10 list, I'm gonna hit you with one more.
Last week, I rented Season 1 of Pee Wee's Playhouse on DVD for my kids. I have to say they loved it, and I have to say, it still made me crack up. So, while raking 8,000 leaves on Saturday, I started thinking about what were my favorite Saturday Morning Shows back in the day.
Also, when I think back to those times, I always remember that on the Friday night before the shows all made their debuts in September, there would be a show previewing them. Pretty hard core stuff.
The only criteria is they had to be on network TV (CBS, NBC or ABC) and they had to be on Saturday mornings. Also, some cartoon staples like Underdog and Scooby Doo have been left off. They are all-time classics, not just Saturday morning shows. There here are basically shows that were only seen on Saturday mornings.
See, here goes, the top 10 top Saturday Morning Shows of all time.
1. Pee Wee's Playhouse (CBS) - How great was this show? I used to wake up -- even while severly hung over -- in college on Saturday mornings just to watch it. If you remember watching it, go out and rent the DVD and you will laugh your arse off. If you've never seen it, rent it and look for young stars such as Lawrence Fishburne and Phil Hartman in the show. The dame from the original Law & Order is also on there. Great show.
2. Hong Kong Phooey (ABC). Man, I loved this show. Scatman Crothers was great as the title role and they had some hot cop dame running around too. In case you forgot, the cat's name was Spike.
3. The Hudson Brothers (CBS). These dancing and singing brothers were dubbed "The Kings of Saturday Morning" by their friend John Lennon. I believe one of them even knocked up Goldie Hawn and produced the lovely Kate Hudson. Anway, they did lots of goofy schtick, but it was good stuff. You don't get TV like this anymore.
4. Big John, Little John (NBC). After his run as Oliver on the Brady Bunch, Robby Rist returned in a Saturday monring sitcom where the great actor Herb Adelman would - everyonce in a while - turn into a 12-year-old kid. The theme song was very catchy. Hard to believe networks produced sitcoms just for Saturday morning, but they did.
5. Shazam (CBS). Two great things about this show. The title charcater was played by the David Cassidy wannabe who blew off Marcia on the Brady Bunch episode where she works in Mr. Haskell's ice cream shop. Also, it's the only TV show in history where a superhero rides around in a winnebago. But that's what it was and it made for great schtick and action.
6. Superfriends (ABC). All the superheroes in joint, and Ted Knight doing the narration. I have to say while I loved the show, I hated the friggin super twins.
7. Pink Panther (NBC). The cat never said a damn word, but boy was he funny.
(As you can tell, I'm running out of steam).
8. The Odd-Ball Couple. It was cartoon version of the Odd Couple, but it featured a cat (Spiffy) and a dog (Fleabag).
9. Fat Albert. I know, it's low on the list, but that's because I don't like Bill Cosby.
10. Far-Out Space Nuts. Bob Denver and Chuck McCann as dudes lost in space. What else could you want with your Cap N Crunch.
OK. There are some obvious omissions like Land of the Lost, and H.R. Puffenstuff and Sigmund and the Sea-Monsters. Well, you know what, I didn't like those shows, what can I tell you? As for the Smurfs. F--- them.
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7 comments:
Cat,
A lot of those shows are before my time, so I can't really comment on them.
The only real sin of omission I see is Saved By The Bell. Cat, you've got Tiffany Amber Thiessen and Jesse, both in their pre-whore days on 90210 and Showgirls, respectively.
Here's a question I have... When you hear the name "Oliver" does your mind immediately harken to the Brady Bunch cousin? Mine does.
The reason I ask this is because my dame threw it out there as a name she liked for future considerations. I immediately and vehemently objected, because I thought of Oliver from the Brady Bunch. She thinks I am crazy.
Land of the Lost would have made my top five.
Still, good work here.
Also, why do you hate Bill Cosby?
Pete:
Dude on with you on saved by the bell, but my criteria was shows on Saturday morning only. Since many folks know it from TBS and stuff like that, I excluded it. I also counted Hang Time - starring the great Reggie Theus - in that group.
As for Oliver, I immediately think of that dude from the Brady Bunch. No question about it. You are not crazy. Next I think if Oliver Twist, and then of sloppy actor Oliver Platt. Either way, you must convince her that name is trouble.
As for Land of the Lost, as goofy as it was, I never got into it. I think I hated that little cave man dude.
Some could argue to Bugs BUnny/Road Runner Hour should be on there, but that's just Looney Tunes repacked. I'm sure I left some good ones off.
As for the Cos, not sure why I don't like him. I have to say I've never seen one episode of the Cosby show, and if you ask me MITE-T-Fine pudding kicks Jell-o's arse.
I recently picked up the SuperFriends Volume 2 DVD set. Excellent stuff. I felt it was important the crazy nephews get a proper education regarding good cartoons, not the crap they watch today.
Jerseygirl:
If you get a chance, pick up Pee Wee.
While I agree most of today's cartoons are lame, Spongebob is tremendous and so is Fairly Odd Parents.
Actually, Spongebob is probably on my list of all-time kids shows.
I was Pee-Wee Herman for Halloween one year. Perhaps I will dig those pictures up next time I'm home and scan them in. I'm sure you would get a chuckle out of them.
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