You Are What You Were. Celebrate Retro Pop Culture At Retroland.
From 1968 to 2000, Fred McFeely Rogers invited viewers to spend some quality time in his little yellow television house. Soft-spoken, but with strength of purpose and complete sincerity, Mister Rogers offered a simple but powerful message: “I like you just the way you are.” And, in retrospect, we liked him just the way he was. Today, we look back at this iconic and educational children's show that left many of us with such fond memories.
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One of the more charming sitcoms to air in the 80s, Mr. Belvedere told the story of a proper English gentleman employed as a nanny/housekeeper for a typical American family. Starring Christopher Hewitt in the title role, the series was an overnight success and proved that Hollywood still had the ability to come up with new and original concepts.
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Our dear friends, The Muppets, regressed back to infanthood in 1984 for their first foray into the world of animation. Produced by Jim Henson, Muppet Babies was an instant hit and enjoyed a run in various incarnations for six years, proving that this collection of furry friends had the Midas touch no matter where they appeared.
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It is often said that two is better than one. And for a young girl named Nicole Bradford, the old adage would be put to the test. With the untimely death of her mother, she learned that mom had been splitting her romantic time between two men, and furthermore, both were awarded custody of the girl. Such was the premise of the 80s television sitcom, My Two Dads.
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Who knew that the American justice system could be so bawdy? You can thank Night Court for that little revelation. Through nine prime time seasons, this hit sitcom turned a New York City courtroom into a den of naughty humor. It wasn't that Night Court was just about sex; it's just that the libidinous parts were the ones the kids stayed up to watch.
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Pee-Wee’s Playhouse was just the kind of madcap, wacky kids show that adults could watch and not be bored to death. Pee-wee, aka Paul Reubens, utilized an arsenal of puppets, vintage cartoons, animation and guest stars to bombard tender young mind with as much surreal fun as half an hour could hold. The result is a children's show that remains beloved to this day by most anyone who ever tuned in. Let's take a look back at the wonderful world of Pee-Wee.
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Only the most hardened heart could refuse to soften a little when faced with a little orphaned girl. Just ask Annie, just ask Pippi, just ask Heidi. Now, put a spunky and self-confident little orphan alongside a cantankerous old codger, an odd couple if there ever was one, and you have a recipe for heart-string tugging like no other. Such was the power of Punky Brewster.
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Oh, boy. Nobody can resist a time-travel story, especially when the sci-fi aspect is toned down in favor of drama. Quantum Leap, which debuted in 1989 on NBC, put a unique twist on time-travel, having the main character, Dr. Sam Beckett, actually inhabit the bodies of various people living in the past. That included women, kids and, in one memorable episode, a chimp. Thanks to compelling plots and a wonderful chemistry between Sam and his sidekick, Al, Quantum Leap won the hearts of many a TV viewer.
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For slightly over two decades, millions of children were encouraged to develop a love of literature, thanks to the innovative and critically-acclaimed PBS series, Reading Rainbow. For its efforts, the show garnered over 200 awards during its run and is still fondly remembered by many a former kid who spent hours in front of the television, enthralled by one good book after another.
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We spend a lot of time talking about all of the cartoons that filled the Saturday morning lineup of our youth, but today we thought we would focus on those wonderful live-action shows that we grew up with and were equally beloved. Some offered strange creatures in costume, others offered ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Today, we want to know what your favorites were, and why.
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