TGIF! Here we are again with another Fangirl Friday! This week I’m covering a TV show that I absolutely loved as a kid! I used to watch this show every single day, both before and after school, and a few days ago, I found myself binge watching the first few seasons on YouTube… I’m talking about the children’s show, Arthur!
I’m in my mid 20’s now, well outside of the show’s target demographic, but I still can’t help but love this inquisitive 8 year old aardvark and his friends in the fictional town of Elwood City!
Bespectacled aardvark Arthur Read demonstrates to kids how to deal with such childhood traumas and challenges as homework, teachers and bullies. He also has to contend with his sisters, but loves playing with his friends: tomboy Francine, foodie and best pal Buster, supersmart Brain, rich girl Muffy and geography expert Sue Ellen.
-Synopsis
I’m gonna keep this short, since I’m writing this from my sick bed…But, as a kid since we didn’t always have cable, PBS was my life (along with Kids WB)! I would spend hours in front of the TV watching their entire lineup of kid’s shows, but Arthur was by far my favorite!! So when I saw an episode under the suggested videos section of Youtube, I immediately clicked it… What followed was a weekend long nostalgia fueled binge, I just couldn’t stop!! I made it through five seasons in the blink of an eye and the only reason I stopped was because Youtube didn’t have any more episodes.
Now I will admit that most of my love for the show is due to my childhood nostalgia, but it’s also more than that… I guess the real reason that I still find this show enjoyable as an adult, is because it really has a simple universal message that it delivers in a realistic and relatable way.
While other children’s shows like to beat us over the head with their various moral agenda’s, Arthur takes a different approach. Each episode gives us a peek into the day to day lives of Arthur and his friends, and as the story progresses we are taught some moral lesson or another, but it’s presented in such a way that doesn’t come off as preachy or overly altruistic. You wind up being invested in the characters and the story and not so much in the “lesson”, a problem that plagues other children’s series.
Plus the characters are diverse, coming from various cultural backgrounds, on top of that each character has their own interests and special skills. So it’s easy for children (and adults) to see themselves in at least one of the characters… As a kid, I was more like the sporty and outgoing Francine and even now I’m still a bit like her (perhaps a bit calmer)…
Anyhow, I said I’d keep this short, so….With 21 seasons under it’s belt, Arthur is the second longest running PBS television show and despite a few hiatuses and “cancellations” over the years, it still manages to capture the hearts of both children and adults.
What are some shows you liked as kid that you still like now that your older? Have you seen Arthur? Let me know what you think in the comments section. If you like what you see, like this post or follow Nice Job Breaking It, Hero! As always THANK YOU FOR READING!!
I still love Daria even though that show is pretty dated now.
I absolutely loved Daria!! I was actually watching it on Hulu a few days ago. Even though I was to young to get most of it as a kid, I now have a special appreciation for the humor and wit of the show! Thanks for sharing!! 😀
Didn’t watch this show too much as a kid, but that theme song is still among the all-time greats of TV show openings.
Ha ha ha that theme song was stuck in my head! It, like the show, just has a way of sticking with you…
Arthur was my all-time favorite! The only show to even compete with it was Zoboomafoo.
Yes!! Oh my gosh, not many folks even remember Zoboomafoo, that was my show as a kid! I had it in my head that I would be a creature expert lol… Sadly that did not happen, but I still have fond memories of it!! Thanks for sharing!!! 😀
Of course! I’m glad the Kratt brothers are keeping the love for animals strong in the next generation. We need more nature lovers!
Yes!! I’ve seen their new animated show and it’s cute, but Zoboomafoo will always be the best!!
Hands down!
I love Arthur too! I still watch it every now and then. I found it weird how 8 year olds could walk around the neighbourhood by themselves, though.
Yes!! Another Arthur fan!!
Yeah, I felt the same way, my parents never let me just walk around like that and we lived in the same neighborhood for years. They had so much freedom in that show…
I love Arthur! Who was your favorite character?
I hope you’re feeling better. Arthur or not, lying around sick in bed isn’t fun (but lying around healthy in bed is!)
Yes!! Arthur fans Unite!! Hmm I really liked the Brain and Francine… even though Francine was a bit of a bully😋 What about you, who is your favorite?
Lol it was just a cold because of the sudden weather change, I’m much better now😜
Yeaaaah Arthur fans woo!
Oh, nice picks. Francine was a pretty cool girl and man, Brain was smart~
I guess I liked Binky even though he was a bit of a bully when he was leading The Tough Customers (the group name still cracks me up). It was his soft side that made me relate to him, though, I promise!
Oh, that’s good to hear! Winter just rushed in and made things difficult. How annoying, hmph. Icy bishounen are one thing but abruptly cold weather is quite another!
Elwood City is my hood lol jk!!
Binky was such a complex dude… a bully by day, but a jazz loving soulful kid by night!
Yes and we are supposed to get snow this week too!
Oh, yeah? Your hood seems like a nice neighborhood lol
Haha yeah. What a fella!
Wow, really? Snow just sounds magical to me since I’ve never seen it. Don’t forget to bundle up!
Lol yeah!!! Sugar bowl and the library!!
Yeah when I moved up here it was my first time seeing snow outside of TV! But, man is it cold and wet… so far no snow yet, they say Saturday now lol
The Sugar Bowl really is a nice name for a place where you … can seemingly order anything. And the library was huge! Better than my local library for sure, haha.
Ah, it got pushed back, huh? Cold and wet weather and flooring and everything is no good :c
I do enjoy the Arthur memes I see around the interwebs, but it’s nice to hear the show has such a great message. Sounds loads better than the almost universally hated Caillou. There’s a whole Buzzfeed article about that hehe.
I don’t know if I can call this nostalgic since the show is rather new, but I absolutely love the updated My Little Pony. While it’s geared towards little girls, it’s phenomenally written, and of course has a cult following among “bronies,” BUT there are some adults who like it for the stellar writing and well developed characters. In fact it was one of my guy friends who steered me in its direction. I binge watched four seasons in about that many days, and I now keep up with new episodes on Netflix or Kisscartoon!
LOL Caillou is just one of those shows that grates at the nerves a bit… I have a little cousin that loves the show and it drives me absolutely crazy!
But, those Arthur memes were hilarious, especially the DW ones… She always knew how to throw shade lol
I love the new MLP!! I thought I’d hate it, but there is just something about it that sucks you in! Have you seen the Bronies React videos on YouTube?
I figured they’d revived MLP just to sell more toys (you know they have no shame with things like that), but it’s surprisingly witty, well-written, intelligent, often surprising, and not the too often typical sappiness that many children’s shows are.
I have not seen this, and I’m afraid lol.
Exactly! Now I am not a fan of the Equestria Girls spinoff at all! It just doesn’t have the magic of the main series….
Oh my gosh, you must!! Those videos are great!
I’ve heard a lot of people aren’t super fond of them. I was okay with the movie that introduced Sunset Shimmer, but it was CLEARLY a ploy to sell more toys. I much prefer the Mane Six in pony form hehe.
SAME!! I saw the other movies and they broke my heart! But the main show is always a great watch!
I love watching MLP theory videos, because I’m the queen of over-analysis 😀
Oh my gosh yes!!! The funny thing is most of the theories prove to be right in the end!
Having fun isn’t hard… when you’ve got a library card!
A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K!
I loved this show growing up, and I can’t believe it’s still going! I had thought it ended some time ago, but maybe that was the hiatus/cancellation you were talking about.
Or Jekyll, Jekyll, Hyde, Jekyll, Hyde, Hyde, Jekyll~
So I definitely didn’t just sing all of those songs in my head… and I absolutely don’t sing that song every time I spell Aardvark… nope
YES, another Arthur fan drawn into my carefully laid trap!! Nope, Arthur is still going strong! It was just renewed for a new season!!
This, Dragon Tales, and I cannot for the life of me remember the name, but it was a math themed cartoon where two girls and one guy (Mat, I think, with red hair and a green shirt) had to evade the evil Hacker. Oh and Danny Phantom and Pokemon of course.
CYBERCHASE!!!!!!!!!!
Cyberchase! We’re moving, we’re beating Hacker at his game~ Now the song is stuck in my head!! 😛
I had the hugest crush on Danny, he was just so cute!! OMG and Pokemon 4 Lyfe!!!
fjalskfdjalskgjalskdgj Omg that’s it!!! *hugs* I remember my grandma taking me to some math convention when I was little because they had cyberchase there. She died a few years after but I still remember everything ^^
OMG gurl Danny was life. I lost sleep to get up early to watch that show rofl.
YASSS what gen is your fav?
AWWWW *hugs* that is such a sweet memory!! And a really great show, they just don’t make em like that anymore!
YES! I had to see my boo Danny, no matter what!! I was so jealous of Sam too! Lucky girl!
Gen 2 all day everyday!! Crystal was the first Pokemon game I ever got. After I finished the Gen 2 I went back and played Gen 1… Yours?
^^
And right? I was so jealous of her rofl
Leafgreen rofl. Gen 1 is also my fav ^^
LOLOL should have known! It’s right there in your name 😛
Hahaha ^^ I’ve been obsessed.
Gurl this stream is hilarious! Fav foods, and DN Angel *sobs* and now why you started your blog. This is sooooo fun!
Will you be making more streams?
LOL I’m glad you like it we had a ton of fun doing it!!
IDK, we talked about doing another one, but we have to get the schedules right. Maybe 😛
I’d love to watch another one if you ever do! You guys are having so much fun it’s making me smile!
Awwww I’ll poke Lita and Kat about it soon then!!
Awesome!!! You should talk about otoge 😉 and E2 rofl
LOLOL I got Kat to join me in otoge hell, but I’m still working on Lita lolol but soon!!
Hahaha you talked about it in the stream! Get Lita on dat ship!