- FRIDAY JAM: A rovin’ a rovin’ a rovin’ I’ll go (12/1/23)1
- SATURDAY JAM: You feel the turning of the world, so soft and slow (11/11/23)
- SUNDAY JAM: Hello, Darkness, my old friend (11/5/23)
- FRIDAY JAM: Plowin’ straight ahead, come what may (10/27/23)1
- WEDNESDAY JAM: Some folks say there ain't no bears in Arkansas (10/25/23)1
- FRIDAY JAM: I took a drive today... (10/20/23)
- SATURDAY JAM: Canadian coldfront movin’ in (8/12/23)1
Forgotten classics
I suppose I'll sound like a grumpy old man for saying this, but cartoons these days are pretty terrible. I can barely stomach the garbage my nephew and nieces watch.
So, I was delighted to spend three or four hours today watching Boomerang, which is a network whose premise is basically that quality cartoons have a way of coming back to you.
But while I was watching the gems on the network, I made a few observations. The first is that my favorite cartoons of my childhood aren't really from my childhood. Sure, I loved "Muppet Babies" and "Garfield and Friends," but the real classics where "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" or "The Flintstones" or Looney Toons.
I also figured out that "Scooby Doo," "Josie and the Pussycats" and "Jabberjaw" were all the same show. This fact was lost on me when I was a kid. Perhaps I was dumb.
Perhaps the most important thing I realized -- perhaps for the first time -- is "The Pink Panther" is the greatest cartoon ever made. Now, I'll allow that some of those I've already named were outstanding, but how many of them were able to accomplish it without a single word spoken? Name me another cartoon with classier, more iconic music.
The short answer is this: you can't.
Just have a look at this pearl.
Now, I'll allow you this cartoon couldn't be made these days. Our hero smokes in the opening credits. An obvious drunk is portrayed. The final lesson seems to be that alcohol is desirable.
Buy, hey, it's just a cartoon, right?
P.S.--"The Ant and the Aardvark" also completely freakin' rocked! Gotta love an aardvark sounding like Jackie Mason battling an ant who sounded like Dean Martin.
(I guess you might also say this one endorses steroid use.)
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