Many believe that how people act on television is how we should act in real life. Absolutely not! Well, except for the commercial of the couple lounging in bathtubs outdoors overlooking a panoramic view. I could get with that.
Those of a certain age had shows like Captain Kangaroo, Rocketship 7 and Romper Room. They taught manners, courtesy, and to be nice. Captain Kangaroo getting pummeled with ping-pong balls notwithstanding.
Captain Kangaroo showed that older people had value: Mr. Greenjeans repaired things and Grandfather Clock always told the correct time, even when he fell asleep. Besides White House security, who else sleeps while they work?
Rocketship 7, a locally produced show, had Commander Tom and Promo the Robot. Commander Tom was like a nice grandfather – he would never get upset with anyone and calmly listened to everyone’s story. Promo would get either an ‘X’ (for bad deeds) or an ‘O’ (for every good deed) placed on his shoulders depending upon his behavior. Heaven help him if he had more X’s than Rosie O’Donnell’s waist size.
Rocketship 7 played the cartoons Davey and Goliath and Gumby. Davey and Goliath went straight to core values: courtesy, respect and tidiness. Sure, Davey wore his pants up around his neck but that ensured his shirt was tucked in. For my money that’s a much better look than having droopy pants exposing underwear.
Gumby taught us to deal with bullies. The Blockheads, G and J, always caused trouble. But Gumby and Pokey handled those two themselves. One need not run to the teacher and snitch!
Romper Room was like a classroom but with well-mannered kids. Mr. Do-Bee and Mr. Don’t-Bee showed how to behave properly. Other traits taught were good posture (“See me walk so straight and tall, I won’t let my basket fall”), manners (“Mr. Music, please!”), loyalty (the pledge of allegiance), and imagination (“Romper, stomper, bomper, boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, did all my friends have fun at play?”). And more imagination – I swore the teacher was really looking into the houses of us kids. My brother would actually hide behind our couch so she would not see him!
Nowadays, television overflows with cartoons where the characters constantly fight. Beyblades, Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles, Bakugan…they all battle and look mean. I’m grabbing these guys when starting my gang. Instant street cred.
And the yelling! Characters all yell at each other. Cartoon writers should stress the dangers of loud noises for extended periods of time. Right, Pete Townshend?
I used to think no one truly liked drama. Then I saw the ratings for The Housewives of Orange County. Those same adults watching THOOC are raising the latest generation of drama kings and queens. Just keep them in Orange County and I won’t mind.
There IS some hope, however. Barney the Dinosaur is big on manners, respect and especially tolerance. We no longer tolerate jokes about big, purple dinosaurs hanging around little kids. The result of another 5-4 Supreme Court decision, no doubt.
Blue’s Clues takes kids on an imaginary adventure to solve a puzzle while encouraging kids to think. Sure, it takes the whole 30 minutes for Steve to find the blue paw prints but sometimes one just has to sit and wait for the paint to dry.
If we can have those anti-smoking commercials forced upon us then maybe television networks can again start airing shows about good manners and caring. Oops, gotta go. My son is screaming for me to hand over the TV remote before he beheads me with his Galaxy Pegasus Beyblade.
Hear hear!