energeticjustinmaddiellabie Reviews

Barney & Friends (1992–2010)

The world's most-hated children's show, though its heart is in the right place

[3/10 · 18 June 2023]

Barney is good for 3 and 4 year olds, but otherwise it can be artificial and overly saccharine - so much so, that it even spawned several hate sites in the 90s, which led to a documentary on Peacock. I do like the use of traditional tunes, not to mention that some of the original songs are quite catchy, but the show has no true educational value whatsoever - the kids on the show probably already know the things Barney is teaching them.

In Barney's world, everything is all sunshine and rainbows and every problem that arises is solved right away. On "Sesame Street," on the other hand, there are some tough topics dealt with, such as grief, disasters, and incarceration. Since the children on "Barney & Friends," act like little kids, they probably wouldn't know what those things are!

Barney also solves problems by using magic - for example, he can have kids experience four seasons for one day or make it night at daytime. He doesn't even tell kids that this is all make-believe, something Mister Rogers does often, as he has a Neighborhood of Make-Believe which he uses to blur the lines between reality and pretend.

Overall, "Barney & Friends" is a pseudo-good show. However, there are plenty of better shows that teach kids to deal with emotions and that magic may not be real.

Dora the Explorer (2000–2019)

Do you see this review? Where

[3/10 · 18 June 2023]

When my sisters and I were little, we watched a lot of Dora, Boots, and their educational exploits. In later years, I grew out of the show. Nowadays, I can see why so many people hate it. Let's start with the most popular reason - Dora's show is repetitive as it gets - She's always seen asking kids if they can say a certain Spanish word and asking where something is that's right behind her. At least "Blue's Clues" is clever, and handled the fake interactivity well. Oh, and she encourages kids to yell at their TV screens - "Say 'Map!' Louder!" In one episode, she also teaches counting twice, which is most of the time ideal for a preschool television program, but in Dora's case it's absolutely ridiculous.

In this show, Dora is barely seen exploring with her parents - though they sometimes join in, like in "Catch the Babies!." This encourages kids do the same, which can lead them in getting into (sometimes serious) trouble. When I was in kindergarten, I also went out without adult supervision in a scenario inspired by the aforementioned "Catch the Babies!" episode.

However, I do like the "Mister Rogers"-type feel with Dora talking to kids and treating them like they're her friends, usually in the opening or closing of each show.

The show is wholesome, innocent, and good clean fun for its age range of one to four year olds - it even teaches them a new language, but otherwise it's a dumb show with repetition and shouting. At least the spin-off "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" is better.

Sunny Side Up (2007– )

Good for kids to watch

[10/10 · 18 June 2023]

I watched this show sometimes as a tiny tot. I enjoyed the catchy songs and cool things Chica and the gang did. Otherwise, I refused to watch (and Sprout in general for some time) due to the Sprout personalities who would make guest appearances from time to time. I got over this in later years. Aside from the segments featuring viewer submissions (like "ZOOM"), this show can actually teach you things, like that brushing your tongue as well as your teeth can give you good breath. The show also focuses on different themes each week - with this, kids can learn about dress up, letters, numbers, and family and friends. There are also humorous sketches and catchy songs, and occasionally something for adults like witty parodies or A-list guest appearances.

I wish more kids watched this - my generation enjoyed and learned so much. Plus, it would be nice to see them enjoy something other than the brainwashing nursery rhymes of "CoComelon." I also hope it gets rebooted for a new generation - look at "Blue's Clues!"

I'm always on the hunt for lost segments, and I've managed to find a few on YouTube pages on the Wayback Machine in August 2022 (I'm well-known in the Sprout fandom for finding rare stuff). In short, if children love fun, music, and laughs, they'll love "The Sunny Side Up Show!"

Yo Gabba Gabba! (2007–2020)

I wish people didn't hate it - Best show ever!

[10/10 · 18 June 2023]

What do you get when you combine lots of music, cool dance moves, short segments teaching lessons, and guest appearances? You get the amazing "Yo Gabba Gabba!." Sure, some people may hate this show, but I try to ignore them, since it's my favorite television show of all time.

While people stopped caring about most of the shows I grew up with, this one has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years - many kids watch it (it's on Tubi now) and it's very active on Facebook and Instagram. Needless to say. Kids love this show ... and so do college students and adults, of course! I mean, what other kids show has Taking Back Sunday (my favorite band) and/or Weezer?

Before I got more into this show in 2017, I watched it sometimes as a little girl and almost every night when I was in kindergarten on Nick Jr. On Demand. I LOVED the catchy songs and some of the segments. It taught me not to bite my friends, to try new foods, and also some knock-knock jokes, courtesy of Jack McBrayer and Paul Scheer. The guests were also interesting (such as Jack Black), even if they were ones I didn't know (such as The Lady Tigra). I also watched videos of the show on YouTube and owned several apps.

On the last day of fourth grade, I found myself thinking about the Season 1 episode "Sleep," which led to me going on websites related to, playing on old apps, and watching episodes of this show. This lasted the rest of the summer. Needless to say, I was HOOKED ... and still am! (Well, except for the time I took a break in 2018).

Friends and family members are all in when it comes to my obsession with "Yo Gabba Gabba!." In fact, they like it because I do. I own countless pieces of merchandise, am friends with cast and crew members on Facebook, watch the show sometimes, and know almost all of the songs and guests. I believe this show is popular because of its hipster bona fides, cool music, and of course the guests. Of course there's "Sesame Street," "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," "Blue's Clues," and "Bluey," and those are all great shows too. But "Yo Gabba Gabba!" is arguably the most important show in my life.

The Good Night Show (2005–2017)

Children need this show

[10/10 · 18 June 2023]

I watched this sometimes when I was little, after baths and before bed, on my parents' bed. I also watched it at a friend's house in early/mid 2015. It was fun to watch as a little kid,, and still is today. In fact, I think it might appeal to you more as you get older.

Nina and Star talk about parents, penguins, dress up, anything a little kid likes. Throughout their adventures, they make crafts, play games, and tell stories, and have a whole lot of fun along the way while Star winds down for bed himself. This show teaches me things sometimes - for example, in the episode about dinosaurs, Nina explains that the word "dinosaur" is a combination of the Greek words for "lizard" and "terrible" and the biggest one was the size of three buses. In the episode about Feelings, she explains that "hangry" means hungry and angry at the same time. And in the one about Penguins, she teaches Star a lot of things about the arctic birds, and if I told you about them, we'd be here all day.

Bottom line - This show is needed now more than ever, especially since kids throw fits when they can't get their way - thus, they need a wholesome, calming children's show, and if you don't like "Bluey," this is the way.

Cocomelon (2018–2022)

No wonder this is popular on Netflix!

[21 May 2023]

Ahh, CoComelon, the modern day Barney & Friends. This notoriously stupid show started off as a nursery rhyme YouTube channel, but then it hit Netflix and a few television networks and BAM! - success, spawning live shows and merchandising galore, to the delight of kids and annoyance of anyone over 5. There are so many things wrong with this show, and let me.explain: 1. The voices singing those songs are cheesy, and make an adult want to run for the other room. Speaking of the songs, they're FULL of PC, dumbed-down lyrics, usually to the tune of public domain songs already performed on the show.

2. The show changes scenes too many times, most of which are no more than one minute long. Children have very short attention spans under these circumstances.

3. The characters on this show act like everyone's happy all the time and that you're a bad person if you have negative emotions. Sure, some characters may have a bad day in one episode, but the others just smile it off and continue with their happy song.

With all that said, if you want your kids to be smarter, skip CoComelon and show them something different, like one of those thought-provoking children's shows of the past.

The Many Adventures of Mr. Mailman (2005– )

Brilliant way to introduce children to different countries

[7/10 · 25 April 2023]

"The Many Adventures of Mr. Mailman" is a great series that deserves more attention, as with Sprout's other products. It's very educational, as it teaches kids, through an easy-to-follow formula (like "Blue's Clues"), geography. It can also be funny at times, mostly when Mr. Mailman runs into something like a crab when arriving places.

One complaint I have with this show is the fact that real kids call Mr. Mailman, but the relatives/friends they ask him to deliver things to are cartoon characters. C'mon - maybe the kids could be in cartoon form or vise versa (for their relatives/friends).

Otherwise, great short series! I give it a D+!

Bear in the Big Blue House (1997–2006)

Brava! Well done!

[8/10 · 23 April 2023]

The delightful "Bear in the Big Blue House" is just one of those genuine children's shows, along with "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," "Fraggle Rock," and literally anything original Sprout pulled out. The show makes usage of educational themes and wholesome family values through music, dancing, and a dash of humor.

Bear is a wonderful host who truly makes the audience feel at home - a far cry from the louder, more babyish shows of the past (like "Barney & Friends"). His friends - Tutter, Pip and Pop, Treelo, and Ojo, are wholesome, precocious, and relatable, just like real kids. At the end of each show, Bear talks to the moon, Luna, and tells her about what he and his friends did today. This is pretty soothing if you ask me, especially the song they sing.

In short, "Bear in the Big Blue House" is a show that whiny brats DESERVE to watch, given its calming nature and Bear's gentleness as a caregiver. Each episode has something that children can get a hold of, especially the relatable plotlines and the occasional pop-culture reference. I love this show, and I hope you do too.

Blue's Clues (1996–2007)

Seminal viewing for kids young and old

[8/10 · 23 April 2023]

"Blue's Clues" is a wonderful show that kids of all ages can enjoy. It was created by a literal child psychologist and promotes critical thinking through scavenger hunts, friendly games, and usage of preschool topics such as telling the time, colors, reading and the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and opposites. These topics are used through segments like letters from friends or skidooing to new worlds. The characters, mostly inanimate objects, are pretty precocious, and funny as well. The host, Steve, is talented, thoughtful, and a great caregiver - both to Blue and the audience watching. In fact, I think I like Joe just as much. I also like the fact that the characters, especially Steve, talk to the kids like they're actually there - not only that, but this show is interactive, meaning the characters ask questions for them to respond (instead of a moment of silence, cute kids' voices answer the characters' questions, which is awesome).

"Blue's Clues" is successful because it encourages kids to use their imagination through education. While the show is mainly aimed at children, adults can watch it as well, thanks to some of the reasons I mentioned above. I would say that it's DEFINITELY up there in the Kids' TV Hall of Fame, along with "Sesame Street" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," which for a long time were the only shows for preschoolers to watch. Also, it's got a predictable format and slow pace, great for preschoolers!

Arthur (1996–2022)

Essential TV viewing for over-sixes

[8/10 · 18 February 2023]

"Arthur" is an entertaining, laugh-out-loud, and very educational show for children - there are very few shows like that for over-sixes and, for 25 years, "Arthur" has stood out. It's PBS' answer to "The Simpsons" if you ask me!

Despite being animals, the characters are relatable and children can learn along with them - this show has taught me what a petition is, how to get along with others, and of course believe in myself (and that's the place to start!). Sure, the newer seasons are pretty memorable, but the older seasons are MUCH more quality-filled with engaging storylines, such as "Play It Again D. W.," "D. W. the Picky Eater," and even "Arthur's Big Hit!"

I believe everyone should see "Arthur" at least once, and I know that every kid, no matter how old they are, will watch it.

SpongeBob SquarePants (1999– )

Never Gets Old!

[8/10 · 18 February 2023]

"SpongeBob SquarePants" is truly "nautical nonsense" and, despite studios saying that it's no good, a show every kid should watch.

The show moves at a fast pace, its characters are SO HILARIOUS!, the plotlines are interesting, and the songs, despite being short, are very catchy. Some of my favorites are the ones where SpongeBob goes to Ms. Puff's boating school, as well as the one where SpongeBob hangs out with an ice cream cone that eventually melts.

In short, "SpongeBob SquarePants" is must-see TV for people of all ages and, hence the title, never, EVER gets old! No wonder it's ran for so long and every kid knows who the titular character is!

The Fairly OddParents (2001–2017)

Laugh out loud funny!

[7/10 · 18 February 2023]

The Fairly OddParents is a show that never causes someone to say "I'm bored!," and it's not clear to see why.

Sure, the show's fast-paced, but it's still pretty funny, even in the same complexity as The Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants. There are a few episodes I LOVE, my favorite being Season 10's "The Fair Bears," in which Chloe has Cosmo bring to life her favorite TV show characters. In it, they sing a song about saying bye-bye to bad feelings and have Timmy wear a "happy hat" in a world full of rainbows and unicorns. Said episode is VERY, or should I say BEARY funny if you ask me!

There are also wacky characters with spot-on voices (such as Sanjay) and witty parental bonuses, especially those in the "Channel Chasers" special.

Overall, it's no wonder I was obsessed with "The Fairly OddParents" at one point - I even made comic books based on the show. I feel like every kid who wants a fast-paced cartoon with good laughs should watch this show!

Sesame Street (1969– )

A show that every child should see

[10/10 · 18 February 2023]

I'm a children's television historian, and one show that I'm awfully fond of is America's longest-running children's show. You know what it is ... "Sesame Street!" I've watched it for as long as I can remember and have barely stopped. Nowadays, I'm literally OBSESSED with it.

It's no wonder this show has been on for so long - there's outstanding puppetry, fascinating storylines, funny characters, and important lessons for kids to learn - after all, the show was CREATED to teach them - plus those parental bonuses like pop culture parodies and celebrity guest stars.

The show's titular setting is a fun one for a child to get lost in, and it seems just like a real inner-city street right down to the last detail.

The characters, especially Jim Henson's lovable Muppets, are both wisecracking and relatable - my personal favorite HAS TO be Oscar the Grouch, mainly because he shows children that everyone on the street has a wit and edge and can't completely become "Play School," plus I can be a bit of a "grouch" at times IRL.

You know the show for teaching kids things like letters and numbers and entertaining them long after they learn them. Sure, the songs are made with education in mind, but they're still quite catchy bops to say the least, and young children will have a blast dancing and clapping along to them. My personal favorite is "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon," a ballad Ernie sings, because of its sheer prettiness and also the message it sends - home is right where you belong.

The show's never gone bad, but I will say that the current seasons, while still uniformly good, are quite babyish, and I will say that the Workshop needs to bring back the things that made their show so watchable for grown-ups and big kids. That's one complaint I have (ah ah ah!), and there are a few others, but other than that, this show's THE BEST!

In short, I feel like every child was made to watch this show and, of course, find the way to Sesame Street.

FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman (2006–2010)

Overrated

[10 February 2023]

FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman is an educational reality game show in which an animated orange dog sends six real kids off on challenges. Now, I know what you're thinking - many people like this show, but at least to me, it has a few problems. Here they are!:

1. The contestants - Every kid on this show talks, looks, acts, and dresses alike - don't even get me started on Bridget, Noel, and Talia! In some episodes of the series, the FETCHers tell Ruff what they like and that everyone else should like them too. VERY bad lesson to teach kids!

2. The challenges - When Ruff has a problem, he turns to the FETCHers and has THEM solve it. Did I mention the fact that these problems cannot be solved inside Studio G? No - the kids have to go to faraway places in order to help Ruff. Some of his challenges make no sense too, partially due to the fact that Ruff, Blossom etc are animated while the FETCHers are live-action - Ruff fears he'll have to live in the wild, so he encourages the FETCHers to go camping. In another, a bunch of sheep come into the doghouse and Ruff encourages the FETCHers to herd a flock. Too bizarre, huh?

3. Too frightening - FETCH! Is supposed to be a kids' show, but it contains too many things that horrify kids to the point where they don't want to watch the show anymore. There were two episodes in which the kids go inside haunted houses, which are mostly frightening especially for young children, and another in which the kids go to New Orleans, where one of them is eaten alive by an alligator, and Chernobyl, in which they get chased in the dark by hybrid animals.

4. Ruff is the leader of the pack - On most children's shows STARRING kids, they're free and can do whatever they want. However, on FETCH!, there's one centric character - Ruff Ruffman himself. As mentioned earlier, they are forced to do what he does and stick around waiting to do what he wants to do. These kids must be tired by now!

5. Too fast-paced - FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman was clearly the Bill Nye the Science Guy of its era - according to DannyBoy TV, it was estimated once that Bill was the fastest-paced children's show on television, and I believe FETCH! (mainly the animated segments) was just that. Many of the portions featuring Ruff, Blossom, Chet, and the former's relatives are too quick and, once the (viewing) children understand what's going on, it's over and the next scene is almost done. Geez - fast-paced shows encourage too many children (especially autistic ones (like myself)) to be overstimulated!

6. Too lazy, especially when it comes to production - From what I've heard, when the Studio G segments were being taped, Jim Conroy (Ruff's voice actor) put on stick puppet shows for the FETCHers to watch, and commented on the kids' challenges in New York. Oh, and did I mention that he voices EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER on the show except for Blossom and Chet? Not to mention that some of the challenges are also pretty lazy - as one reviewer said, one group of kids had to get the remote which controlled a toy boat with a clue in it on across a pool from the kids. The remote was in a basket floating in the pool, so, instead of just swimming to the remote and grabbing it, they had to construct a long pole which they used to slide under a section of the remote to pick it up. BALONEY!

7. Encouraging obesity - Yes, you heard me right, this show is encouraging children to get fat, as the kids on this show barely eat anything other than pizza and ice cream, despite some challenges involving health food. Now, I eat A LOT of junk, but not once in my life have I gotten overweight, and, as a children's television historian, kids deserve better than this - they need to eat FRUIT and VEGETABLES to give them a fresh start.

Now, WGBH Boston clearly cared about kids through the other shows that they produced, such as Arthur, Between the Lions, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, and especially FETCH!'s predecessor ZOOM. What do these shows (aside from Ruff's) have in common? They're all very educational for children and can stick with people even as they grow into adulthood. FETCH! Should've been like this, though they should've fixed what was wrong and BOOM! - we've got an enjoyable children's show (it would've been better without the animated segments IMO).

In short, if you want your kids to have bright, smart futures, do them a big favor and SKIP THIS SHOW! Turn on ZOOM instead!

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001)

A perfect show for kids, no matter how old they are.

[7/10 · 10 February 2023]

Studies say that Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is the most educational of children's shows, and it's not clear to see why - it's slow-paced and calm, changing scenes very few times, and Mister Rogers speaks directly to children without talking down to them. He also talks about the differences between reality and fantasy by showing both a realistic neighborhood and The Land of Make Believe, a puppet kingdom inhabited by memorable characters like Daniel Striped Tiger and King Friday XIII.

Given the fact that I was born six years after the show ended and four years after Fred died, I never watched it (though my mom probably did), but I've heard many good things about it and have watched one or two episodes over the years, it's a pretty good show. Nowadays, a bunch of kids throw temper tantrums (myself included, even though I'm 15), so I feel like they deserve to watch this beautiful series.

Overall, Mister Rogers is a much better choice for your kids than Peppa Pig or CoComelon. They'll love it despite its aging quality. Won't you be his neighbor?

Play School (1966– )

There's a bear in there ... and an electric chair

[2 October 2022]

Play School has been on for too long and is utterly unwatchable. It offers bad morals - cheating and stealing are okay, not to mention the infamous "strangers are our friends," and of course sends the wrong message that all emotions except positive ones should be ignored.

If you thought Barney & Friends was bad enough, Play School is even worser. The presenters are as useless as Barney the Dinosaur - they're always happy, telling kids that negative emotions are bad, and their voices are like fingernails scratching on a chalkboard. Not to mention the toy characters are ... just there.

Sure, like Barney, many people, especially in Australia, like Play School and consider it childhood, but, to us Americans, it's one of those bad kids shows. As I said before, it teaches bad lessons like "you should cheat" or "stealing is okay" and that the only edible things in the world are junk food. The toys are pointless, the hosts are too cheerful and smiley. If you have kids, keep them far, far away from this show as possible. Unless you want your children to become perpetual smilers who cheat, steal, make friends with strangers, and eat nothing but junk, turn on something FAR superior like Sesame Street or Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

The Muppets (2011)

Best movie ever!

[10/10 · 6 February 2022]

The Muppets is a sweet movie with a wonderful plot, beautiful songs, and relatable characters, and is my favorite movie. The Muppets' biggest fan, Walter (played by Peter Linz), his brother Gary (Jason Segel), and his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) are on vacation in Los Angeles. Once they hear about evil oil baron Tex Richman's (Chris Cooper) plans to destroy the old Muppet Theater, the trio must find the old gang and get them back together for a telethon to raise money and save the studio.

This is a wonderful movie and it inspired my Sprout fanfic, which I released on its tenth anniversary. Muppets Most Wanted is good, but it cannot hold a candle to the magic that is The Muppets (2011).

You should really give this movie a try, you'll love it! I promise.