Are Children's Television Programs Better Today?

The debate rages on about children's television of yesteryear versus that of today. Personally, I'm not qualified to offer an opinion because I didn't watch much in the way of children's programming as a child. Don't get me wrong, I must have seen a few episodes of the Mickey Mouse Club because I vaguely remember Annette Funicello prior to those beach party movies. I do admit to watching Captain Kangaroo as well as a local children's show called Foreman Scotty, but that's about it. Cartoons were definitely not my thing.

Although they really got their start in the 1930's serving as filler for movie matinees, it was in the 50's and 60's that cartoons from Warner Brothers and Looney Tunes actually began to flourish. A lot of my friends got up early every Saturday morning to watch Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote, RoadRunner and many others.

In 1985, TV Guide referred to such cartoons as the "world's greatest single source of animated dementia" which is "fast and eternally disrespectful of authority and privilege." If you think about it, that sounds like the cartoons of today. All you have to do is tune into The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy or others to see I mean. So perhaps things haven't changed as much as we'd like to think. True, they have become more sophisticated. In some instances they may also be a little too "R" rated, but the idea behind and the tone of cartoons remains true to the initial roots.

Few Americans will ever forget the year 1989 when Tracey Ullman first introduced the crass by totally lovable Simpson clan. The introduction called "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" propelled the kooky, classless family into media stardom. They are not alone, either. Just think of The Rugrats and other similar cutting-edge shows.