We have, thankfully, moved beyond the Barneys, Teletubbies and other characters that appeal to toddlers. Now that I think of it, our kids were never huge fans of either (though I do haul around a tiny Po doll as a sort of travel gnome on my camera bag) so we escaped the scourge relatively unscathed.
Dora the Explorer, never a major fan favorite around here, has long been a particular target of my scorn. Annoying only begins to describe her. I've been known to get headaches just from hearing her voice.
Which is why when Saturday Night Live ran a spoof of Dora, called Maraka, I found myself rolling on the floor with laughter. If you haven't yet seen this destined-for-classic SNL TV Funhouse short, prepare yourself. And don't drink milk before you do: I speak from experience. Enjoy the show:
If you had trouble seeing the embedded video, click here to go straight to YouTube.
Your turn: Annoying children's characters and the parents who despise them. Please discuss.
Good thing I didn't have a drink in my mouth! Boo and Skibo love that show, and the spoof was close to spot on. I love "Mi''ns" as the name....
ReplyDeleteMichele sent me, though I was here by myself a few minutes ago...
N.
Oh, where to start! I am just grateful that Teletubbies came along after my daughter was too old for them. She was into the Big Purple Dinosaur, who was never one of my favorites. But much as I love Sesame Street, I will never understand the appeal of Elmo and his annoying voice. Give me Grover any day!
ReplyDeleteOh, Michele sent me.
Dora is very popular in our household and she drives me nuts. So much repetition! That's why I think SNL's take is freakin' hilarious.
ReplyDeleteHey Carmi, I am thankful they didn't translate that show in french. Being in Quebec most all the shows my daughter watched were french ones but when I did have english channels on, the Teletubbies drove me bonkers..OMG!!
ReplyDeleteI stopped by going down the list from Michele's today...
I could watch the Muppets and anything by Sid and Marty Kroft (HR Puf N Stuf, Lidsville) and PeeWee Herman until the cows come home - Michele and I are in agreement with you on Dora, Barney, and Teletubbies.
ReplyDeleteI use to, no hang I still do, HATE the Wiggles, and these are fellow Aussies!!!
ReplyDeleteHere from Michele's this afternoon, to exploit my new blog...
http://berniefotoblog.blogspot.com/
OH MY GOODNESS! That WAS hilarious. Can't wait to show that to hubby...but not while MY kiddos are around. I think they'd be devastated, lol!
ReplyDeleteyeah...she's annoying, so's her cousin Diego, Spongebob is quickly fading as a good laugh...so are the Backyardigans, Little Einsteins, Curious George....
Oh geez, guess I should turn the tube off, huh?
Michele sent me, though I'd have gotten here on my own, as you well know!
Postman Pat (from the UK) really used to get to me; I'd find myself humming the theme tune at work!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA hilarious. I don't have kids so I don't have to put up with annoying characters. But I was obsessed with My Little Ponies, Carebears, and Dumbo's Circus when I was little.
ReplyDeleteI can still watch Tom and Jerry. Re-runs of it, that is. I never get tired of Laurel and Hardy and not to forget our dear old Chalie Chaplin.
ReplyDeleteFor all the newer programmes, I am kind of novice. If I don't say anything about those, please don't hold it against me...:D
I think Michele knows I needed to reminiscence, hence she sent me here.
Oh, how I loathe Dora! Though I will say it has assisted me in teaching the Short People a bit o' Spanish. And don't get me started on the other annoying ones...The Wiggles (ggrrrrhh), Barney, The Doodlebops (double grrrhh), SpongeBob (I won't let my children watch any show where the characters live in "bikini bottom"). I could go on.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, I am ambivalent to Dragon Tales, but I do find it a bit silly that they try so hard to be inclusive. They have Hispanic and wheelchair bound dinosaurs? And what's up with Boohbah? Does anyone else feel like they should bring out the bong when that one is on?
BTW Carmi, I considered "tagging" you but I don't know you that well yet...stop by and see if you want to play along.
I guess one of the up sides of not having kids is never having to put up with these annoying characters! LOL!
ReplyDeleteEven worse than the animated ones are some of the human presenters. Their so...so...so darn perky! But then I don't have to watch these either! I'm feeling kind of smug now, LOL!
Michele sent me this time.
Hey Carmi, visiting from Michele's.
ReplyDeleteI share your irritation at all things Dora.
You don't have to know the protagonists (I didn't) to find this hilarious. Thanks for that. I think Michele would enjoy it also - she says hello.
ReplyDeleteThe grand- children have been known to watch Teletubbies and after five minutes or so I get brain ache and find I have an inane grain on my face:)
I have found that even if I find the characters annoying I tend to bend and melt a bit when my children like them anyway. They are all a phase, I figure, so it won't alst long. (I have to admit that I am still fond of Grover from Sesame Street, though.)
ReplyDeleteOne word: Barney. My six year old told me, "Mommy, I hate that dinosaur."
ReplyDeleteOh that is hilarious, Carmi. Yeah, Dora is a royal pain. Just like Barney, Elmo and the Smurfs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me laugh!
I'm not a big fan of SNL's TV Funhouse but that last line about Mitten's values and free will had me laughing.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent spoof. Michelle sent me here.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've thought about it more and now I really don't even want to try any of the kids shows these days.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am unfamiliar with these characters...Not having any children, I am unfamiliar woth most of the children's characters..SO, I have nothing to contrinute to this discussion...Sorry about that Carmi...
ReplyDeleteMichele sent me and she ansd I both want to know if you are ever going to pick up that phone???
Looking forward to that, but not holding my breath! (lol)
I dont let Ryleigh watch cartoons yet. I dont care for many of them anyway. This generations cartoons are just horrible. Michele sent me and Im glad she did. That video was great!
ReplyDeleteDora didn't bother me so much as some others did. I used to watch it with my youngest grandaughter, who was crazy about Dora. Teletubbies were much worse, I thought. Michele says hi.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid... Sesame Street, Captain Kangaroo and New Zoo Review. They were actually entertaining!
ReplyDelete~S
es my bueno me amigo
ReplyDeleteJA JA JA JA JA
I think we're just about out of the Dora stage. She's loud.
ReplyDeleteOh that was hilarious!!!! Dora. Well she's the ants pants in this household.
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing"...(gee, I sound like Dora!)
OK. I love the Maraka thing. I laughed. But Dora is so beloved in my house...and at least its a positive influence (unlike Teletubbies or Boobah), that part of me was like "why you dissin' Dora??" I was obsessed with Sesame St. when I was a kid, I guess we're all entitled. Hell, I may find myself watching Nick Jr TV when the girls are in school. Oddly comforting.
ReplyDeleteYou know I don't find Dora too bad - she's way better than Barney (ick, ew, etc). That, though, was hilarious!
ReplyDelete