Sunday morning found us dealing with yet another feverish baby, this time my elder son. That’s one sick kid for each and every weekend since Easter – it’s wearing a little thin by now.
So we cuddled up on the couch together, watching early morning cartoons. Usually, when we’re not watching DVDs or tapes, we watch non-commercial television like TVO (the Ontario equivalent of PBS), but I noticed they were playing Bugs Bunny on one of the regular cable channels, so we bent the rules.
Does everyone of my generation feel that same nostalgia for Bugs Bunny? Of all the animation that’s come since, I don’t think anything holds a candle to those old shorts. I remember Saturday afternoons in the 1970s, watching Bugs Bunny with my folks and their friends, just before my dad went out to barbeque some hamburgers for all of us. (It’s weird to look back and realize I’m older now than they were then.) The first movie my father ever saw was a Bugs Bunny cartoon, on the boat coming over from Holland in the mid-1950s, matter of fact. Man, those things have staying power!
I was pleased when Tristan said, “Hey, that’s Bugs Bunny!” Of course, I live with an animator and we have a pretty decent collection of cartoons on DVD so I shouldn’t have been surprised that Tristan knew of Looney Tunes already. We got to see a couple of golden oldies: the one with Elmer Fudd and the music from the Barber of Seville, and one of the ones where Sylvester battles the baby kangaroo masquarading as a giant mouse. Watching them is like being seven years old again!
What really surprised me, though, was the commercials. Twenty-odd years later, and they’re still hucking the exact same things they used to pitch when I was a kid on Saturday mornings: Frosted Flakes with Tony the Tiger, Froot Loops with Toucan Sam, Strawberry Shortcake dolls (are those really back?) and, my favourite, Star Wars toys! Except when I was a kid, they didn’t have a lightsabre that changed colour so you weren’t always stuck being Obi Wan, nor a mask that changed your voice so you sound like Darth Vader. (We’d best change the subject before I begin to pine for my Han Solo action figure and long-lost full set of Empire Strikes Back cards. FULL SET! Can you imagine what they’d be worth on e-Bay? I could retire!)
So we survived the siren song of an hour of commercial TV, and I didn’t see one plug for Beyblades (I know, they’re probably passé already) nor one commercial done in animé (god, how I despise animé). The ads didn’t really seem to phase Tristan at all. But, um, please excuse me while I go search the Toys R Us Web site to see how I can get a light sabre that changes colour…
YUP! Big Bugs Bunny fans here..and the one that springs to mind to me is the The rabbit in Red one and the one where they square dance out the door. PLUS my all time fav the Barber of Seville! MY Little manlikes it and he and his dad cuddle and watch this when they catch it.
I hope your boys soon quite being sick. ENOUGH already germs leave that house!
I will kill the wabbit with my spear and magic helmet…great stuff.
For me, it was all about Roadrunner. My grandfather and I would watch the coyote chase the roadrunner and laugh and laugh. My son saw a roadrunner cartoon recently, and it all came rushing back.
You’re right — I’ll take Looney Tunes over anime anytime.
LOVE Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd and the Roadrunner, classics, and now that I’m older I realize the excellent music score which accompanies them, classics as well.
Other childhood favorites were Hercules, Popeye and Spiderman. I still catch myself humming the theme songs of those shows!
As for commercials on non-TVO channels, have to admit haven’t seen any. My kids are going through a TV strike as of late, as hard to believe as it is. Whenever I want to turn it on, mostly to use as a baby-sitting tool so I can catch my breath, they protest vehemently!!!!
Wishing you a germ free home!
hugs
Another sick kid! Poor you and poor Tristan.
Aaaah, toons. I seem to recall talking to you and/or Beloved for hours about old toons. As I’m sure you can imagine, I like them. Some friends have actually accused me of being a cartoon. Hmmmph. Whatever.
I lived for Bugs. I think my personal favourite was the one with the vampire. Abra Capokus – I’m a bat too! Wham!! I was also a real fan of the Charlie Brown specials. I remember how excited I was because I won tickets to the premiere of one at the theatre. It was way cool.
Other favourite toons included Quickdraw McGraw, Augie Doggie, The Hairbear Bunch (not many people remember that one), and of course Yogi. I could go on (and on and on) but I better get to work.
Have a super day. Hope your little guy’s better.
Pokus Cadabras
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Ugh, Dani, do you EVER need a break from the germfest!! Yup, I too remember watching Looney Tunes as they would come on around suppertime on Sunday’s. Include me in the Barber of Seville fan club. My favourite part is when the glove levitates. Crap, I can’t believe I remember that still! Does that mean my life has been rather pathetic since?!?