July 18, 2006
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This is for Featured_Grownups Group. I've been a member for a while and it died down, but they actually have topics now, so I figured that I'd write something up since I'm bored. If you are new here, thanks for stopping by, and please ignore my bitterness, I got married March 18th and left for some military training 3 days after I got back from my honeymoon, thankfully I'm almost done (about a month left) and then I can get on with being married...I'm not normally so bitter, I'm usually pretty jovial! Well, without any further ado, here is my contribution!
Topic: Tell us something you experienced growing up that kids today will never know...
I'm not that old, hell, I'm only 26, but how has the world changed since I was born in 1979. I've seen so much in my lifetime that it just makes me in awe of where we'll be in the next 26 years. I'm usually not one to have writers block, but for some reason this topic is really kicking my butt...there is just so much that I'm unable to narrow it down. I could cover the Cold War, cell phones, video games, personal computers, Chipotle burritos, square cars, and the list goes on and on, but I'm going to hit on something that I remember fondly from my childhood, and it is something that is not unique just to me, but to lots of people...
When I was young (growing up in the early 80's) we had cable TV fairly early on. It was probably around 81-83 when we got cable for the first time. Cable back then wasn't digital nor was it 70+ channels featuring everything from how to cook to Congress, to a half dozen cable new channels. It was basically just the broadcast channels with HBO and maybe another channel or two. Nothing special but we didn't need to mess with an antenna.
Once a week there was a little ritual that I partook in every Saturday morning. It was Saturday morning cartoons. It was the one morning during the week when you could wake up early and turn on the TV and everything was for YOU! Every single show from about 6:30-11am was just for me! It was great...there wasn't any morning shows to bother with, no school to go to, nothing to do but curl up in front of the TV and watch the great shows.
What makes this so unique is Saturday morning cartoons are pretty much non-existent in this day and age. Kids no longer forced to isolate their cartoon watching to after school or on a Saturday morning, since they have Nikelodean, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, and others. They can watch cartoons 24 hours a day if the want. They also have DVD's and a Tivo to record whatever they like. When I was little there was no recording shows or playing movies are cartoons at will, we were at the mercy of the broadcasters.
Just this past weekend as I woke up way too early on a Saturday morning because of my messed up sleeping habit (thanks Army) it really hit me that Saturday morning cartoons no longer exist. There is assorted kids shows like Trading Spaces for Kids, but the networks don't focus their first run cartoons to the Saturday morning crowd anymore.
There was even seasons with the cartoons. Once a year the networks would debut new shows and new themes for the current year. The advertisers would target the little kiddies also in the mornings. There wouldn't be an Ex-Lax or Pantyhose commercials, just commercials for cereal, pop tarts, and fast food...all that great stuff for the kids to eat and spend their parents money on.
What does all this mean to the current and future generations of 4-12 year olds? Probably not much. The kids lives won't be affected too much by the absence of Saturday morning cartoons...but I know that looking back on my own life Saturday morning cartoons was one of those enjoyable moments along with Little League, visits to Grandpas, sleep overs, and Christmas mornings. I'm sure that children of today will have their own version of Saturday morning cartoons to reflect upon when they are my age, but there was just something special about them for me.
Ok, now that my Featured Grownups entry is done I can read some of the other peoples. I didn't read any so I would not 'corrupt' my own entry by being influenced by reading everyone's entry. Well, it's time for bed, I have to get up early so have a good night!
Comments (10)
Very nice post! I also think it's sad that the Saturday morning cartoons are gone. Hmmm, maybe we all just need a little dose of Fred Flintstone or the Jetsons right now...
Those were fun times for me as a kid, and probably many others as well. Great job!
My kids think I was so deprived to have to wait a whole week to watch cartoons! And then only a half a day of them at that. Wonderful post!
good post. i have to agree, the saturday morning cartoon ritual. i even remember getting up really early, and watching the farm report, before the cartoons started.....who remembers the farm reports?
so many of these reminiscing posts are about television!
Right on! Man, my wife & I talk about this everytime we're home on a Saturday morning (not a usual occurance, though). We flip on the tube and search for Bugs Bunny or the SuperFriends or the Smurfs or even Tom & Jerry... and what do we find? Infomercials! YUCK! We're going to purchase some of our favorites (especially the old Looney Toons) on DVD so we can watch them with our son on the occasional Saturday morning at home.
BE blessed!
Steve
Yep...still at camp until August 12. Brookston is incredibly small so we usually go to West Lafayette or Monticello on nights that we have off. I hope you are having a great summer! h
I think that there is a plethora of everything these days, so nothing is special... Saturday morning cartoons were special because it was the only time we could watch them... now everything is available all the time.. no waiting, no no anticipation... good post...
Somewhere in my teens, the cartoons went from being based on clever hijinks (Bugs Bunny is my hero!) to being half-hour commercials for toys and products. Very disappointing. But I do remember enjoying those season preview shows!
I loved Bugs Bunny and Tom and Jerry on Saturday mornings. And "Conjunction Junction"!
I think you would also have loved Mr. Wizard, but alas, you're way to young to remember him. Thanks for reminding me of Saturday morning cartoons. I can still see Rocky and Bullwinkle running across the screen right before Tom Terrific. There's one I'm sure you never heard of.
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