PBS: Holding True to Form After All of These Years
With the relaunch of the super successful “The Electric Company” having premiered recently on PBS, we were inspired to reminisce about all of the quality programs PBS has aired over the last few decades. Certainly not meant to be comprehensive, here are some highlights:
1960s and ’70s
“The Electric Company:” Commonly referenced as one of the best shows in the history of children’s television, “The Electric Company” focused on reading and writing fundamentals and elementary school level literacy skills while maintaining a fun yet educational vibe chock full of celebrities. Although its retro vibe is now dearly missed by super fans, the old stuff is available on DVD and … drum roll please … “The Electric Company” has recently come back in a much cooler, hip-hop permutation of the original. Check it out!
“Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood:” Yes, every time I sit down to change my shoes I think of Mr. Rogers. Although the world is more complicated than it used to be when these episodes first aired, they’re simple enough that they still ring true. You can still catch episodes of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” on PBS, which are as engaging and relevant as ever.
“Sesame Street:” Now in its 39th season on the air, anyone who has a preschooler will tell you it's as effective and fun as ever. Since the show was founded as an “educational experiment” in 1969, it is constantly evolving to cater to the generation’s educational needs. You’d think after that much time it would grow tired, but “Sesame Street” continues to be one of the most widely recognized preschool brands in the world, and the television program itself is still brilliant and funny for child and parent viewers alike.
1980s
“3-2-1 Contact” was one of the first really great children’s science shows on television, along with “Mr. Wizard.” Now there are more math and science shows on the air, and competition is fierce (although not enough kid’s shows that focus on ecology!), with stellar programs like one of my personal favorites, “Cyberchase,” as well as “Zoom” and “Zula Patrol.” Perhaps since now that “The Electric Company” has made a comeback, “3-2-1 Contact” will follow suit!
“Square One TV” was the mathematical cousin to “3-2-1 Contact’s” science. “Square One” was a series of sketches featuring math concepts for middle schoolers and celebrity guest stars. Each episode also featured “Mathnet,” a play on “Dragnet,” in which the characters used math to solve problems (not unlike “3-2-1 Contact’s “The Blood Hound Gang.”)
“Reading Rainbow:” In each episode LaVar Burton read us a story and then extrapolated lessons from that story to foster an interest in reading and the topic at hand. Although for a while it was rumored that “Reading Rainbow” may return to the airwaves with new episodes, little has been publically announced. Old episodes still periodically air on PBS.
1990s
“Barney and Friends:” Although many find this program unbearable, there’s a reason “Barney” has been on the air for over 20 years. The show was created by a mother, an infinite expert when it comes to child development. It’s as simple as that. There was nothing out there she felt her son could watch, so she made a program for him. The bright colors and cheery/sticky songs don’t hurt much, either.
“Bill Nye the Science Guy” is another great example of science content on PBS. His experiments were funny and engaging, and always applicable to the real world. Each episode also featured a popular song with the lyrics changed to be about the day’s topic. Since then, you can sometimes find Bill Nye on the Disney Channel.
“Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego:” Oh how we adored this children’s game show that asked questions about global geography of its young contestants! To this day if anyone mentions “San Diego” I require it be sung Rock-a-Pella style. Although I don’t think this show is still on the air (and my guess is a lot of country names and other geographical details have changed since the episodes first aired), I think we are long due for another geography show on children’s television.
So even though the landscape of children’s television may be different than it used to be, in a lot of ways, it’s still the same.
Many of the better shows of the past decades (”Mr. Rogers,” “Bill Nye,” etc.) are still in reruns, and some shows (”Sesame Street,” for one) continue to produce fantastic children’s educational media.
Would you let your children watch what you enjoyed on television as a child?
Do you think kid’s TV has gotten better or worse over the years?
Is it better to bring back shows with good credibility or create brand-new programs to cater to the ever-evolving developmental needs of viewers?