I Did Not Grow Up Watching the Shows of My Generation

While on a walk this morning I was listening to the podcast "This Is Important". I enjoy listening to the "Workaholics" guys shoot the shit weekly. It is relaxing and fun for me. Today they brought up the cartoon "Talespin" and they totally sidetracked what they were talking about to talk about their memories of this classic kids cartoon from the 90's. I thought back and remembered seeing commercials for this show. I saw the toys in the store growing up. But, I do not remember watching it ever. I guess it just passed me by.

This got me thinking. My wife brings up old shows she watched while growing up and they usually go over my head. I am a day older than her, so it is not like we are from different generations. And when I get together with friends from childhood, the few I still see, they will bring up classic shows and it flies over my head then as well. I guess I didn't watch the shows that most people my age watched growing up. Besides "Talespin", my wife will bring up "Ren and Stimpy" a ton. I have only seen one full episode of "Ren and Stimpy". I thought it was gross as a kid, so I tuned out. My wife also loved "Pinky and the Brain", which was a sideshow involved with "Animaniacs". I know all the classic lines from "Pinky and the Brain", but I can't pull out the stuff my wife comes up with on a regular basis. I would float in and out on "Rugrats" constantly. I would watch it very closely for a season, then totally tune out. I've never seen a second of "Dexter's Laboratory" or "AAH! Real Monsters". I've only seen a handful of "Doug" and maybe an episode or two of "Rocko's Modern Life". "Johnny Bravo" is a complete mystery to me. As is "Gargoyles", which my wife adores. I know people are totally stoked on "X-Men 97" right now. I haven't even started it because I never watched the original "X-Men" cartoon. I did watch "Beavis and Butthead", as well as "Daria". But a show like "Recess" or "Batman; The Animated Series", never watched a second of them. I kind of wished I checked these out when I was younger.

I feel like I chose to watch stuff like "Sportscenter" or "American Gladiators" instead when I was younger and home on summer break. I have seen the entirety of "Good Times", which was a classic. But that was live action. I go in and out of "South Park", but can recite about 90 percent of "Seinfeld". I guess, growing up, my folks didn't really leave cartoons on tv. I know "Ghostbusters" had a cartoon, but I watched the movies. The same can be said for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". I craved sports and live action as a kid. I enjoy animation much more as an adult. Maybe I should go back and check some of this stuff out, but I don't know where to even start. And there is so much current stuff that I want to see as well.

I guess I am asking some people around my age who watched these things, other than my wife, what I should check out? What is worth using my free time to binge? I can only watch the same shows over and over again, so I want something classic to check out. Let me know what is best and I will have a follow up to what I picked and how much I liked it. Be nice in the comments. And give me those suggestions. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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SeedSing's Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Television Programs: Day 12 - "Batman: The Animated Series - Christmas With the Joker"

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a new awesome holiday television program for every day of Advent. This is the greatest tv of the season. Enjoy.

Day 11: "Batman: The Animated Series - Christmas with the Joker"

Original air date - November 13th, 1992

Opened Doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven

We all have some familiar comforts that make the holidays a special time of the year. When it comes to pop culture, we watch many of the same movies and television shows, and listen to a lot of the same music. Charlie Brown, John McClane, and Darlene Love are the faces and voices we crave for a few weeks every December. Since many of us do not work that hard at the end of the year, having our familiar pop culture is a welcome, comforting, relaxation. We want nothing to get in the way of our decades long string of watching the same Christmas-themed program.

Batman: The Animated Series was already loved by the views and critics alike when the show aired it's first Christmas-themed episode on November 13th, 1992. "Christmas with the Joker" was like a nice little present for the viewers. The episode starts with the prisoners of Arkham Asylum singing Christmas carols and decorating a tree. The Joker is invited to place the topper, when it is discovered that the entire tree is a rocket. In grand yuletide fashion, the Joker escapes into the late December night.  

Meanwhile, deep underneath stately Wayne Manor, Robin is trying to convince Batman that they should relax and watch It's a Wonderful Life. Batman is worried about the Joker having just escaped, but Robin really wants to partake in his annual tradition of watching his favorite holiday movie. The two agree to go out on patrol, and if they do not see the Joker, then they will return to watch the classic Christmas movie.

The dynamic duo do not find the Joker, or any crime, on the night of Christmas Eve, so they head home to fulfill the Boy Wonder's wish. Unfortunately, It's A Wonderful Life has been replaced by a live show featuring Commissioner Gordon, DA Harvey Dent, Gotham Reporter Summer Gleeson, and the Joker. The clown prince of crime wants to create his own classic Christmas moment of pop culture by playing games with Batman. He uses his hostages as motivation for the Dynamic Duo to go back out conduct some sleuthing on Christmas Eve.

Since Batman is the World's Greatest Detective, and the Joker is a crazy person, the former stops the latter. When the Dark Knight final gets a hold of the Joker, he tells him "Merry Christmas". In a perfect response, The Joker looks back and says "Bah Humbug". The pop culture of holidays oozes through all of us.

In the end, Joker's hostages are saved, the Clown Prince of Crime is once again on his way back to Arkham to sing carols, and Robin gets to watch It's a Wonderful Life. The spirit of the season even fills Bruce Wayne a bit when he admits that Robin's loved movie tradition has "it's moments".

The Christmas season is a special time when it comes to our pop culture. Certain movies, television shows, and music will always have a place in our hearts no matter what. We try to put off doing anything meaningful until we get our time with these gems. Thanks to Batman: The Animated Series we can now find time to celebrate our holidays with Batman, Robin, and the good old Joker.

RD

RD Kulik

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Up until Batman: The Animated Series we could only celebrate Christmas with the Dark Knight by singing about his body odor, car troubles, and the fact that the Joker gets away.

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