Watching All That, Keenan & Kel, Clarissa Explains It All, and Doug has been incredible. But what shows would you like to see shake up the rotation? There are so many options…

Why were there only 5 girls? If you were smart, the first question you’d ask is “Is it a woman?” If the answer was yes, boom. You narrowed it down exponentially. It wasn’t even fair.

Race was kind of an issue, too. 90% of the faces were white. Kind of awkward…

Then there was weight. “Is he fat?”

And was it just me, or did a lot of the guys look a little… questionable? Just sayin’

I haven’t seen a new version of Guess Who — is it any different? I would hope it’s at least a little more diverse.

Click the image below to check it out on Amazon.com. Guys – this is a major victory for 90′s kids everywhere.

Rocko's Modern Life-Season 1

Episode 1.1 – Clarissa’s Revenge

Original Air Date: March 1, 1991

Re-Review Date: May 24, 2011 via DVD

Available from Amazon.com via the link:

Clarissa Explains It All – Season One

Synopsis: We’re introduced to young teenager Clarissa Darling (Melissa Joan Hart). She immediately breaks the fourth wall and talks directly into the camera from her bathroom as she’s brushing her teeth. Point blank, she mentions her family – mom Janet, dad Marshall, and icky little brother Ferguson. Ferguson brought in Clarissa’s training bra for Show & Tell, so Clarissa is plotting her revenge with a plan involving a straight jacket and lots of helium-filled balloons, sending Fergface into orbit. Clarissa’s best friend Sam has his own issues trying out for the football team. Ultimately, Clarissa gets her revenge thanks to a video camera and well-timed zit on Ferguson’s face.

Memories: I don’t have any memories specific to this episode. This is the case with many Nickelodeon live action series. They weren’t reran as much as the Nicktoons, so the memories are few and far between. I do, however, have a few series memories. After all, Clarissa was one of my childhood heroes.

• Clarissa’s room and clothes were a huge inspiration to me. Quirky, creative, and unique, Clarissa’s sense of style was individualistic and I loved it. It’s because of her that I rocked hot pink tights under ripped jeans when I was 8.
• Sam’s entrance is classic. To this day, I want someone to climb up to my window & hear that guitar riff.

Re-Review

This is a pretty straight-forward first episode. Clarissa wastes no time introducing herself, her family, and her overall opinions. And while this can come across as forced in most TV pilots, it works perfectly here since the whole premise of the show is Clarissa breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience. No need for awkward lines for the sake of exposition.  It’s clean and simple.  With intros out of the way, we get right into the plot. Clarissa’s plan is extreme and cartoonish, but she’s certainly prepared. She’s got a legit straight jacket, a helium tank, and huge balloons in preparation for sending Ferg away. She even creates a “simulated animation” to help get her plan across. Honestly, I forgot about how she created her own video games. Sure, they were early ’90s style, but she made them herself. How great is that? I was also pleased with the tone Clarissa’s dialogue struck – she was smart, very smart, rattling off quotes and plans like an evil genius. Despite the ridiculousness of her plan, she’s acutely self-aware, a trait that adds to her confidence.

The Darling parents were as geeky as I remembered. Ferguson was very annoying. I remember liking his character as the actor got older. Sam was great, too, though I’m curious about the make-up department at Nickelodeon Studios. Sam was supposed to get a black eye due to a football injury. It was a literal black eye — it looked more like eye black football players use than an injury. But that’s really my only complaint.

Attention to Detail:

It’s literally her second line. Clarissa wrinkles her nose at her name, then says if she could choose, she’d pick “Jade.” Later on in the series, Clarissa develops a “wild” personality named Jade.

Very early on, Clarissa says one of her “likes” is driving. This is a common reference throughout the series.

A very literal attention to detail is the design of Clarissa’s room. It looks as though a 13-year-old attempted to re-decorate her childhood bedroom. The flowery wallpaper is loosely painted over with black boxes, giving it a checkered effect. Most of her furniture looks like it’s been drawn on or hand-painted. Hubcaps and license plates line the walls, a cry for the car she dreams of. It’s cluttered and crazy perfection.

And for the Grown-Ups:

It’s tougher to put in grown-up references and in-jokes in live-action scripts. A lot of it comes from the parents.

Janet Darling is a health food nut (a common late 80s, early 90s trend), making tofu pancakes. Yum.

Marshall Darling is a “modern architect,” designing houses and buildings in weird shapes.

Clarissa gets stuck in a straight jacket, then makes a reference to Doug Henning, a popular escape artist at the time.

Marshall’s reaction to walking in on Clarissa wearing the straight jacket is priceless – he laughs, then puts on a straight face and tells her to come down to dinner.

Poor Marshall also gets cut off when he tries to get either of his children to play ball with him and when he attempts to reminisce about his own high school life. It’s not easy being a dad.

Production Notes:

Major issue: on the DVD, released in 2005, the opening sequence is the second opening, filmed for the later seasons. The original opening (found here) featured Clarissa wearing the different outfits her family and friends handed to her (Ferguson gives her a werewolf costume, her mom makes her a ballerina, etc). She wore each outfit but finally ended up in her own outfit. This may sound petty, but that opening was a huge statement for teens struggling with identity. By the time the next opening was filmed, Clarissa was most decidedly comfortable with herself which was all well and good for the later seasons, but doesn’t fit these younger storylines.

This episode clocked in at 19 minutes, 3 minutes shy of a typical “half hour” show. I’m not sure why… This is something to be researched.

Quote That!

“Have you ever noticed how barf tastes like orange juice and pizza?” Clarissa, after putting barf on her “dislikes” list.

“Sam’s at that awkward age, waiting for hormones to kick in,” Clarissa upon introducing Sam.

“Why doesn’t that kid ever use the door?” Marshall, after Sam leaves the Darling’s kitchen through the kitchen window. Joe O’Connor’s casual delivery is great.

Final Thoughts:

Fun first episode. I’m looking forward to watching more of the series.

Memory Rating: 5 out of 10

Re-Review Rating: 7 out of 10

(Image Credit: S.R.)

Episode 1.1 – “Tommy’s 1st Birthday”

Original Air Date: August 11, 1991

TV Re-Review Date: May 12, 1991 via iTunes

Synopsis: It’s little Tommy Pickles’ first birthday. His parents have meticulously planned a birthday party, which is set to include cake, games, and a professional puppet show. But while Stu and Didi are stressing over the details, Tommy has something else on his mind: dog food. After seeing a commercial, Tommy decides that he’d rather be a dog, like Spike, and the best way to achieve that goal is to eat that yummy canned dog food. As guests arrive, Tommy explains his plans to Chuckie, Phil, Lil, and eventually, Angelica. They’re in. All it takes is a little distraction — enter Stu and Drew attempting to put on their own puppet show which soon falls to pieces — and the babies are that much closer. Finally, they get their hands on the stuff (only after Spike turned up his nose at his own food) and it isn’t long before Tommy and the gang are barking up a storm, much to their parents’ amusement.

Memories:

• I always knew this was the “first” episode because it’s one of the few (maybe the only?) where Tommy isn’t wearing his trademark blue shirt, but a red one.
• Tommy’s voice was a little weird. Elizabeth Daily (credited as E. G. Daily) provided the voice for Tommy from beginning to end, but an avid fan or a good ear could always tell when it was a little different. Tommy’s voice is quieter & higher-pitched than I’m used to.
• The animation and music were a little bit wonky.

Re-Review

While not technically the “pilot,” this is a decent introduction to the characters. The grown-ups are especially well-rounded immediately. (For an in-depth analysis of Rugrats as a series, check out this post). The babies are just shades of what they will become. Tommy is curious and brave, though not quite the leader he’s remembered as. Chuckie is the voice of reason, though he does take matters into his own hands when things look dire. And Angelica was introduced with fear, and while she had a little attitude, she quickly agreed to Tommy’s plan without much trouble. It feels a little long, probably because one storyline takes up the whole 22 minutes, and it’s not hilarious, but it’s cute.

It’s Interesting That…

Angelica really wasn’t herself here. Yes, the babies showed fear when her name was mentioned and she was a little mean when she first arrived. But she totally gave in to the game without much convincing. I guess this is interesting because the character of Angelica was one of the biggest issues between the creators of the show and the network.

It’s also interesting that the grown-up characters were so well fleshed out first, when this is supposed to be a show about the babies.

Attention to Detail

Rugrats is definitely less visually detailed, more verbally detailed, if that makes sense. Listen to the grown-ups’ conversations in the background. They’re highly entertaining.

Facts:

• Drew Pickles reveals he is an investment banker.
• The Pickles’ address is 1258 N. Highland – or so it says on the delivery form Didi signs.

The delivery guy’s name tag simply says “Guy.”

And for the Grown-Ups:

Didi is all about healthy eating. She’s made a carrot cake with “health nuggets” – whatever they are.

She’s also all about safety. They’ve arranged for a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, the Safety version with suction cups. Ah, 90′s parenting.

While it’s mainly used as a distraction so the babies can go after the dog food, the puppet show therapy is pretty hilarious.

Production Notes:

Immediately after the opening theme, the episode title card comes up. The title is in red. This was always my visual clue that it was an “original” episode – from the ’91-’93 batch. The later ones were written in black.

Just as I remembered, Tommy is not wearing his signature baby blue shirt & diaper. Instead, he’s wearing a reddish shirt and blue overalls.

Quote That!

“Oh, that sponge is cold, Didi!” Stu, after Tommy throws strained carrots onto Stu’s favorite shirt.

“I’ll get it!” Didi answering the doorbell. Why is this a quote? Didi occasionally has a singsong style, and for some reason the way she says this gets stuck in my head.

Final Thoughts:

While not one of the best episodes, it was the first and for that, it gets credit.

Memory Rating: 5 out of 10

Rating Today: 6 out of 10

(Screenshots)

My brother and I had a variety of blocks, lots of Legos and all. But we also had these:

What the hell are these? I’m calling them blocks, but are they? They’re not square or rectangular like the average builder. But you can build with them. We did. Some of our architecture included:

A Tower –

which was always fun to knock over.

A… fence… ?

If you had a dollhouse or something similar, these could serve as a protective gate.

A Stable:

Not that I ever played with horses. But the option existed, which was nice.

If anyone knows what these actually are, please let me know. Were we too close-minded? Or were these some kind of expansion pack for a whole different toy?

Whatever the case, we sure had fun with them, at least for a little while.

A Network’s Gotta Do What a Network’s Gotta Do

Rugrats has a jagged history. Initially airing alongside Nicktoons Doug and The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rugrats was under the same contract conditions as most Nickelodeon original programming: 5 seasons, 64 episodes. All were produced between the years 1991 and 1993. Nickelodeon separated the episodes into seasons and aired them at their discretion. The beauty of running a kids network is that kids LOVE watching the same thing over and over and over again. Kids wouldn’t immediately notice there weren’t any “new” episodes of their favorite shows and Nick liked it that way. There were never any big “series finale” events or promos. Most of the final episodes of these series weren’t “very special” or signified any ending whatsoever.

This kept up the popularity of shows even after they’d gone out of production. Rugrats produced two specials in 1994 and 1995, but that was it. Yet the reruns were doing better and better in the ratings. It wasn’t long before Nickelodeon decided to toss the “64 & Done” rule and start creating new Rugrats episodes, as well as a film, to take advantage of the continuing popularity. Enter new characters like Dil and Kimi, a new voice for Grandpa after the passing of David Doyle in 1997, and a slightly altered animation style.

New episodes of Rugrats continued to air until 2004.

Why Are You Telling Me This?

For my TV Re-Reviews, I’m choosing to first focus on the original five seasons.  IF there’s an interest, I’ll consider looking at the later ones, but I won’t have many memories. Usually, as soon as I saw the episode title card was in black, not red, I changed the channel.

Oh, Okay. So…

So… considering the crazy amount of times I’ve seen some of these episodes over the last 20 years, I’m going in with realizations and opinions ready to go.

Mainly, Rugrats, more than most other Nicktoons, was written to the adult level. Most of their adult-level references and jokes were verbal, not visual. Rugrats, as a whole, is a satirical look at parenting in the ’90s.

Didi Pickles: The perfect example of a late 80′s, early 90′s mom – hyper-worried about her mothering style, she can quote Dr. Lipschitz at any given moment and will follow his advice to her grave, no matter how ridiculous it may seem.  On the surface, she’s very together but it doesn’t take much for her to lose her cool.

Stu Pickles: The lovable dad, Stu is a man-child (quite literally in one episode). As a toy inventor, Stu’s only stress seems to come from developing the next big thing in toys. He’s the mellow counter-part to Didi’s intensity, though occasionally taken to the extreme as a complete idiot. He doesn’t like Didi’s reliance on books, but has his own set of irrational fears and judgments (camping, the dentist).

Betty and Howard DeVille: The role-swap couple. Betty was more masculine, tough, strong, said what she thought, while Howard was weak, insecure, and usually found in the kitchen.

Drew and Charlotte Pickles: The high-powered Yuppie couple. Created in an age where Yuppies were still a classification, Drew and Charlotte worked hard, made cash, and only wanted the best for their little angel. This of course, not only made Angelica a spoiled brat, but often gave her some attention-starving issues.

Chaz Finster: Eventually the single dad, Chaz helped portray the protectiveness single parents have on their only child, and vice versa.

And remember, these Rugrats ultimately needed easily distracted parents so they could go off on their adventures.

And All of This Means?

Rugrats Re-Reviews may be a little different than some others, just because it was on longer. That’s really it.

(Image Credit: Klasky-Csupo)

I did eventually get a pink Skip It. Not sure when. For Easter, maybe? Regardless, I know I spent hours on the front sidewalk and the neighbor’s paved driveway, skipping and skipping. I very distinctly remember the sound the heavy plastic ball made on the pavement. And, like the commercial says, the very best thing of all WAS in fact the counter on that ball. It satisfied my OCD need to keep numerical track of everything I did.

After awhile, one of my childhood friends figured out if you spun the the Skip It by hand around and around, you could affect the counter. Though it wasn’t easier, it certainly was faster. And slightly more dangerous if you lost your grip and sent the Skip It sailing through the neighbor’s window…

Classic commercial posted below. Gotta love the half-beat between “there’s a” and “counter” – it’s so hip.

Episode 1.1 – “Doug Bags a Neematoad”

Original Air Date: 8/11/1991 on Nickelodeon

Re-review Date: 4/19/2011 via iTunes

Synopsis: The first episode introduces us to 11-year-old Doug Funnie as he and his family become acquainted with the town of Bluffington and its citizens. Doug and his faithful dog Porkchop are given the mission to find some dinner for the family. Neighbor Mr. Dink suggests the Honker Burger where Doug meets his new best friend Skeeter Valentine and his new worst enemy, Roger Klotz.  Roger dares Doug to complete the task of catching a Neematoad, but it’s Doug who has the last laugh.

Memories

• Skeeter’s assistance with how to place an order at the Honker Burger: “Three moo cows, one no cukes…” Doug: “How do you order a salad from the salad bar?” Skeeter: “One salad from the salad bar!”
• The ridiculous call Roger says is the “neematoad mating call” – Ca-loo-coo-coo!

Re-Review

This is a great first episode. It introduces all the major characters through Doug’s journal-narration, some with only a line or two. It also sets up the fantasy-laden inserts that become the crux of the show. It also starts the ever-so-slight tongue-in-cheek tone (as opposed to some other Nicktoons, which were much more heavy-handed). Mr. Dink shows Doug a “Welcome to Bluffington” video. The Honker Burger is labeled “Hang out for young people.” The Mayor is, of course, Mayor Robert Bob White. The amazing thing is how dead-on the characters were right from the beginning. Mr Dink utters his famous phrase “very expensive,” Judy is over-dramatic, Skeeter is occasionally oblivious, etc.

It’s Interesting that…

Roger is very authoritative and downright mean. I know, that’s the point of a bully, but I’m remembering later episodes where Doug doesn’t take Roger quite so seriously. Looking back, I really like that about Doug. While the bully doesn’t change his ways, Doug changes his reaction. This starts at the very end of this episode, with Porkchop and Doug outsmarting Roger.

Parents (or adults in-charge, as the case may be) can make or break a series aimed at children & young adults. They must be supportive, but they also must have an exaggerated personality trait or two to make them a little goofy. This is how kids see grown-ups and the best kids’ shows illustrate that beautifully. In this episode, Doug’s parents send him out in an unknown neighborhood in search of dinner for the family. A little scary, no?

When Doug’s family enters Bluffington, the Population sign adjusts to 20,001 — and Doug immediately identifies himself as that one. His insecurities and fear of alienation are brilliantly represented by that digit.

Attention to Detail

• The episode opens on a map locating Bluffington. But the other names on this map are hilarious – cities “Peewee,” “House Dressing,” “Difthong,” and “Hamster.” There’s also the “Big Whoop” National Forrest and the “Rolingna River.”
• The movers who are helping the Funnies move into their new home are from the “Sloth Moving” company.
• The computer screen at the Honker Burger prompts the cashier with “What ‘dya want?”

Production Notes

Doug and Roger have a good stand-off and it’s worth mentioning that both characters were voiced by Billy West. It’s always fascinating when a voice actor goes up against himself.

I’m not an expert in animation, but the backgrounds look like watercolor – they’re full of different colors and shades, not perfectly in the lines. It’s very subtle and mellow – two traits you don’t see too much in kids’ shows today.

Quote That!

Skeeter: “Three moo cows, one no cukes, one no sneakers, one wet one, four cubers  and one from the vine.”

Skeeter: “Beets: they’re nature’s candy, don’tchya know?”

Doug: “I think I squirted ketchup on a girl!”

Final Thoughts

Rating by memory: 6 out of 10

Rating today: 7 out of 10

(Image Credits: Jumbo Inc., Viacom)

(Source: tv.com)

When I woke up today, I rolled over and clawed at my laptop, signing onto Facebook and Twitter before my eyes even adjusted to the light. Imagine my delight when Boy Meets World was ranking as a trending topic. Again. This happens every couple weeks or so. And there’s no real rhyme or reason. When other shows trend, new or old, it’s usually because of an episode or marathon currently airing, or some big announcement concerning the trending series. But with Boy Meets World, it’s more of a domino-effect. One person mentions it, and everyone joins in.

If there was ever a show to represent growing up in the ’90′s – it was Boy Meets World. This series mirrored our generation and groomed our taste in comedy for years to come with their self-referential humor and strong, if occasionally troubled, relationships.

Although the focus changed over the show’s seven seasons, the tone really didn’t. From season one, Cory Matthews spoke on behalf of average kids everywhere, pointing out the ridiculousness of school, family, and especially the way they’re represented on TV:

- Morgan

Played by the adorable Lily Nicksay in the first two seasons, the actress was later replaced by Lindsay Ridgeway This was acknowledged when the New Morgan made her first appearance in middle of season 3, and Cory says “Morgan, long time no see.” She responds with “Yeah, that was the longest time out I’ve ever had.”

- Guy Love

Scrubs popularized the concept of “Guy Love” – two straight guys whose relationship is “best friends” but more. Sorry JD and Turk, but Cory and Shawn were way ahead of you. In “An Affair to Forget,” Shawn’s new girlfriend forbids him to spend any time with Cory. The two have secret meetings and phone calls, as if Shawn was cheating on his girlfriend with Cory. Brilliant.

- Whatever happened to …?

Boy Meets World had a penchant for completely dropping characters w/out any explanation. And they weren’t afraid to acknowledge it. In the season five finale, Lee Norris reappeared as Minkus, the little geek from season 1. Cory and Shawn reference an off-camera hallway they’ve never been in. Minkus runs off, shouting for Mr. Turner, who was last seen in a coma after a bike accident. (Not very fond of that cliff-hanger, but that’s for another day.)

There are countless other examples, many of which will be pointed out in TV Re-Reviews. But face it – we’re a generation who finds humor in self-awareness and self-deprecation. Boy Meets World may be to blame. Or … to thank.

(Image: Lions Gate)