Dang it, root, put a spoiler or something on those, those things freak me out.
That's one benefit of growing up in the sixties, we had awesome cartoons even if there were only three channels. Heckle and Jeckle (remember the hotel with the "no opium smoking" sign?), Bullwinkle and Rocket J. Squirrel (and Boris and Natasha, Mr. Peabody and his pet boy Sherman and the way-back machine, fractured fairytales), Dudley Do-right (and Snidely Whiplash), Looney Toons (Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck - Kill da wabbitt is still about my limit on opera - Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner, Marvin the Martian, Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemite Sam, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig), Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear, Mr. Magoo, Clutch Cargo, Flintstones, and the most excellent Pink Panther. These were cartoons that were safe for kids but clever and funny to adults, and the best of them were excellent social satire as well.
In the late 60s groups like Action for Children's Television demanded an end to "violence, anti-social behavior, and stereotypes" in children's programing, as well as an end to advertising (because of course corporations should provide only what the government decides is proper, and they should provide it for free.) Soon children watching Saturday morning cartoons went from laughing hysterically to sitting still, watching heavily marketed dramas where they are taught how to behave (and of course what toys to demand from Mum and Dad - the perfect blend of liberalism and capitalism.) Parents of course fled these snoozefests, leaving the teaching of proper behavior to television. WTF?
One bright spot - I hate to admit it, but Sponge Bob Squarepants and (to a lesser extent) Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends in the same general genre, funny to adults (at least sometimes) whilst still being engaging to children. Perhaps we are outgrowing the idiots?
Or maybe they're just switching to demanding an end to "violence, anti-social behavior, and stereotypes" in video games...
