Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I'm sorry, are we not allowed to find a bit of humor in some of these kids programs? Are we that serious about our children that we can't step back and find it odd that a group of grown men are singing and dancing and entertaining children? Wiggles illness aside, is there not something humorous about these shows beyong that they're 'entertaining little Jessica and Ashley?' 'The Doodlebops'? 'Jojo's Circus'? How about 'Barney' and those creepy, over-acting kids? And haven't kids shows always been a bit wierd? Back in Chicago in the late 60s, we had Ray Rayner, Garfield Goose and Bozo. I'm sorry, but is Bozo not a weird character? In L.A. in the early 70s, 'Skip n' Woofer' was a local morning kids show. A semi-effete guy interacting with puppets. 'Wonderama' came out of New York, but it was a bit strange too. Fred Rogers -- I have one of his books on my shelf, but 'MisterRoger's Neighborhood' was a bit odd -- he used to get made fun of on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show. I don't remember outraged parents trying to justify how special he was. Good gosh, look back at 'HR Pufnstuff' 'Lidsville' and 'The Bugaloos' -- weird stuff! Yeah, 'The Wiggles' make all kinds of money, and they sell out stadiums with delighted children. Okay. It's still a bit weird.
Originally Posted By mele We have always made fun of the Wiggles. They creep us out (including my daughter) although they don't creep us out as much as the Doodlebops do.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Anybody here mocks Captain Kangaroo and there will be fisticuffs. That's all I'm sayin'. But seriously, I only started this thread because The Wiggles are on the Disney Channel. The Wiggles aren't on trial here! Shows like The Wiggles appeal to a very specific age group. And then once kids move past them, and it seems to happen literally overnight, they go from being THE COOLEST THING ON EARTH to HOW I HATE THEM, THEY'RE FOR BABIES! My kids were born too soon to catch The Wiggles wave, but they both were nuts for Barney. I pretty much hated the show, yet the kids loved it. Then one day, Barney was LAME. And even though I couldn't take the show, I still have a soft spot for the big purple goof because I remember how much the tiny versions of my kids loved him. It was a milestone when they moved on to other COOLEST THINGS IN THE WORLD. So, I can't get into mocking Barney like I used to. I guess it's too easy of a target or something, I dunno.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I don't wish anyone ill, or to have to give up their career due to an illness. That is sad no matter how much $$$ he's made from being a Wiggles. However, they do freak me out. My godson never got into them, he thought they were weird too. As Jim says much of children's TV is bizarre.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Speaking of Mister Rogers, check out the short video when he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1998 Emmies. (sniff) <a href="http://pbskids.org/rogers/all_ages/remember.htm" target="_blank">http://pbskids.org/rogers/all_ ages/remember.htm</a>
Originally Posted By mj9401 Jim no one said that you couldn't see the humor in these kids shows. There was a time when I too thought if I heard another wiggles song or Hi-5 song I was going to go insane. I just didn't see the humor in someone having to retire from a job due to an illness.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <I'm sorry, are we not allowed to find a bit of humor in some of these kids programs? Are we that serious about our children that we can't step back and find it odd that a group of grown men are singing and dancing and entertaining children?> <As Jim says much of children's TV is bizarre.> Isn't that what kids' programming is about, though? You have to be silly and creative and fun. Jim, didn't you sing and dance and entertain your little girl when she was small? You just didn't get the pay or the publicity for doing it is all, lol. ;-) (though some may say a tattooed man entertaining kids would be odd---shhhh, don't tell jonvn!) I couldn't stand Barney myself, but I thought it was kinda cool that The Wiggles were a group of "grown-up" guys who loved kids and wanted to make 'em laugh and be happy. I guess cause I'm a big kid at heart too. Plus I'd take that pay in a heartbeat.
Originally Posted By debtee <I'm sorry, are we not allowed to find a bit of humor in some of these kids programs?> Sure make fun of the group if you don't like them no-one said you couldn't, in fact they have been known to make fun of themselves regulary, but that wasn't what happened in this thread. The joke was on his illness and we viewed that as in poor taste!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <--- [should not have walked through the door that reads: 'Wiggles Lovers Only']
Originally Posted By threeundertwo >><--- [should not have walked through the door that reads: 'Wiggles Lovers Only']>> ditto
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy While not a Wiggles Lover, I *am* proud to be a lifetime member of The Jim in Merced CA Fan Clubâ„¢. (thanks, Pixie!)
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Thanks TALL Disney Guy. I thought the reason the ranks of my club were so small was because we were so selective. That's not the case. Hey, do I get a cut of the membership fees?
Originally Posted By debtee >><--- [should not have walked through the door that reads: 'Wiggles Lovers Only']>> ditto ------------------------------------- Well if your going to be silly about this there's nothing I can do!! I don't feel that comment above was nessassary! We said no worries and moved on, you couldn't leave it at that and had to come back and push it, so here's what I really think. The only person doing any attacking in this thread was YOU! Then you had the cheek to act all insulted and say you feel attacked when people called you on your poor attitude?? Maybe you could consider the fact that the wiggles allow young children to have an appreciation for music and then they can move on the more cultured music as they grow and develop!
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <I thought the reason the ranks of my club were so small was because we were so selective. That's not the case. > LOL! Hey wait a minute...
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle Have to back Deb and MJ up on this one, I'm afraid. I wasn't really going to say anything, but when I saw >><--- [should not have walked through the door that reads: 'Wiggles Lovers Only']>> I had to comment. To be perfectly honest, I'm not a Wiggles lover. I've never been a Wiggles lover and my idea of Saturday night entertainment is not to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and watch one of their DVDs. In fact, when my nephew drags me on the Wiggles ride I roll my eyes. But from all the interviews I've seen they all appear to be genuinely nice guys who love kids and love their jobs and I think it's sad that one of them had to retire early due to an illness. Just because something isn't your idea, or even your kids' idea, of entertainment, does it make it okay for them to develop a serious illness? Can't you just not watch - and not enter these sorts of threads?
Originally Posted By jdub Now, what I read is that the Missing Wiggle WILL be replaced! In fact, there are THREE performers currently vying for the role... Neil Young... Rosie O'Donnell... ...&... ...Kevin Federline.
