The Berenstain Bears

Who didn’t enjoy books about the Berenstain Bears when they were young? I know I did. Well, parents, there is a television show based on those books. PBS Kids has “The Berenstain Bears” for the young ones of this generation. I am in no way suggesting that the show takes the place of books — you all know that I LOVE to read. I am simply saying that if your children are going to watch television, they might as well watch something wholesome and educational, right? “The Berenstain Bears” television show is a great tribute to the books by Stan … Continue reading →

ABC Family Halloween Rant

To say that I love ABC Family is pretty much an understatement. They show previous seasons and have in syndication some of my favorite shows of all time: “Everwood,” “7th Heaven,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Full House,” just to name a few. However, there is something that has been bothering me lately. During the month of October, ABC Family runs a series of scary movies and shows that they call “13 Nights of Halloween.” I guess this doesn’t bother me as much considering that the movies or shows start around 8 p.m. What I don’t understand is why they show the … Continue reading →

The Backyardigans

“The Backyardigans” is a show that I haven’t been able to get into myself, but my nephew and daughter seem to love it. Even though I am a big fan of music and musicals, I can’t bring myself to watch it. What does that have to do with anything? Well, “The Backyardigans” is a show that is done with a lot of music. I suppose one could consider it a musical like some other shows, such as “Wonder Pets!” By the way, “The Backyardigans” is another great animated show using the wonders of 3-D CGI-animation. The group that calls themselves … Continue reading →

Adventures in No-TV-Land, Part Two

I feel like a covert operative, sneaking around behind backs and doing all sorts of other illegal things. Don’t tell Jaime this, but I got a set of rabbit ears for the TV. I was all geared to do the experiment, I really was. I thought, “It will be good for me to exhibit some selflessness and eschew television for awhile.” (Whenever I’m feeling noble, I use long words when I talk to myself.) Then I thought, “To heck with this! Bring on the tube!” (Whenever I’m feeling reckless, grammar goes out the window.) The people who owned the home … Continue reading →

Dragon Tales

One of my daughter’s favorite shows to watch before she goes to bed at night is the ever-lovable “Dragon Tales.” Emmy is a little girl who wished on a dragon scale, so she and her brother Max were transported to the land of dragons where they met new friends. In each episode of “Dragon Tales,” Emmy and Max travel to Dragon Land to help the dragons solve a problem similar to one that they are having. There are many characters who make this show so great. Emmy is six years old and is the one who started everything. Max is … Continue reading →

NOGGIN Shorts

Much in the way that Playhouse Disney and PBS Kids Sprout have what I like to call “mini-shows,” NOGGIN network has what they like to call “shorts.” These are little shows that are in between the regularly scheduled programming. Bruno Bruno loves to play with you! He is a little grey monkey who is always playing and being silly. The educational part of “Bruno” is that there is always something that has to do with math when he plays. Cooking for Kids with Luis When it’s snack time on NOGGIN, we know who to call. Luis is a little boy … Continue reading →

Wonder Pets!

Linny, Tuck, and Ming-Ming, too. We’re the Wonder Pets and we’ll help you. We’re not too big and we’re not too tough, but when we work together we’ve got the right stuff! “Wonder Pets!” is all about three preschool classroom pets — a guinea pig, a turtle, and a duckling — who go around helping animals in trouble. At the beginning of each episode, once the classroom is cleared of students, the pets usually get a call on their tin-can phone. Then sing a song about the phone ringing and that there is an animal in trouble. Linny is the … Continue reading →

Adventures in No-TV-Land

Just this last weekend, I moved into a trailer house. That’s right, I’m a homeowner now! It’s very exciting, but with the added financial responsibility comes a greater desire to make sure that I’m keeping on budget as much as I possibly can. One of the things that was sacrificed in my quest for financial freedom was our cable TV. My media reviews co-author, Jaime Egan, suggested that I write a blog series about our little adventure in No-TV Land. At first, living without cable seemed very doable. We have a DVD and VCR, and a whole closet full of … Continue reading →

The Good Night Show

PBS Kids Sprout has something a little different for our nighttime kiddies. Whereas NOGGIN network signs off at 6 p.m. (EST) every night and switches to “The N,” Sprout has a special show beginning at that time. “The Good Night Show” runs every night until 6 a.m. the following morning. Hosted by Emmy-nominated children’s favorite, Noel MacNeal and his friends Star and Lucy, “The Good Night Show” combines Sprout favorites with song, dance, and stories. You may know Noel MacNeal better as the voices of Bear from “Bear in the Big Blue House” and Kako, the best friend of the … Continue reading →

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

My daughter has a new favorite show on Playhouse Disney — “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.” My daughter just calls it “House.” No, it is not reminiscent of the old “Mickey Mouse Club” where you had Mouseketeers shouting their names and performing cute skits. This show is completely animated and involves Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, and their old nemesis Pete. The show begins with Micky Mouse greeting the viewers. In order to make the clubhouse appear, you have to say the magic words with Mickey — “Meeska, mooska, Mickey Mouse!” The oddly-shaped, Mickey-Mouse-like clubhouse then appears in the middle of … Continue reading →