What TV shows did you watch as a kid?
When we were growing up, there was no research stating how much television we could watch and no edicts from on high instructing us on what was ‘safe’ for children. We did not need that in our household – we had our father.
He was the one that restricted our viewing and therefore television watching in my childhood was either a treat or something we did in ‘secret’ (who were we kidding – our parents knew everything!) with the anxiety that our parents would discover us goggle-eyed at the magic box in the living room.
It’s funny, I never of course thought of or ever referred to the televison as a ‘magic’ box as a child, but looking back some three (or four..) decades later, I do think it was pretty magical. Like books, that I was and still am avid reader of, sitting in front of the television screen would take me away to places I could only dream of, or never hope to be in, all from the safety and security from my home.
I was born in 1976 making me a child of the 80’s when it came to TV watching. In those days, in England where I lived (and still live now!), we had four channels (Channel 4 came along in 1982). We would come home from school in the afternoon and watch TV from 4 to 6pm, when the children’s programming was on. I think when we were younger, we might have watched this TV while our mother was cooking dinner and then as we got older, we would be helping with the dinner, so as time went on, I remember watching less and less children’s TV in the afternoons and early evenings. There also used to be daytime educational children’s TV, that we watched at school. I recall children’s TV programming just before lunchtime on the BBC, which I remember watching if ever I was off sick and at home recovering on the living room sofa. Saturday morning children’s TV was also a favourite. And of course during the summer holidays there seemed to be endless days of children’s TV watching while we were at home and our parents were busy working.
The memory of children’s TV brings back feelings of such warmth, happiness and joy. I’ve wondered why, as I have been writing this blog and falling down the rabbit hole of wathing YouTube videos. I think as a child I was going home to a safe and secure home after school. Both my parents were alive and present. Our home was warm, there was light and there was food to eat. At that time, life was relatively worry free and devoid of any significant responsibliities. Sometimes we would be watching TV together, my 4 siblings and I, on winter evenings, when it was cold outside but warm and cozy inside. Or it it would be a glorius summer evening, where the TV was more compelling and compulsive than being outside. It was also a brain break from the school day, which as I got older became more and more demanding both on the academic and social side. Therefore watching these TV programmes in the midst of all this, was for my young brain, just perfect. It was just part part of the routine of life back then, a comfort. As I have aged, it had become increadingly clear to me, that I value structure, predictably, routines, and children’s TV programming, at one point, did have all these elements. I knew waht was going to be on, on specific day and would look forward to them as part of my ‘internal timetable’. I wonder what my adult equivalent of this is.
I’ve written a list at the end of this post of the programmes I remember. Many of them watched so often I knew the theme tunes off by heart and many of the theme tunes where just classic. For the three videos that I have posted below, the tunes just instantly transport me to my parents living room, surrounded by my brothers and sisters, safe, secure, contained and entertained.
If I was asked to pick a favourite, I would not really know where to start. There were so many and they were so good. However, maybe the ‘Thundercats’ and ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ cartoon series are ones might make it to a dessrt island with me.
Thundercats
Thundercats-Ho!
ThunderCats follows the adventures of the eponymous team of heroes, cat-like humanoid aliens on a planet called Third Earth. The series plot begins with the dying planet Thundera meeting its end, forcing the ThunderCats (a sort of Thunderean nobility) to flee their homeworld. The fleet is attacked by the Thundereans’ enemies, the Mutants of Plun-Darr, who destroy most of the starships in the “ThunderFleet”, but spare the flagship hoping to capture the legendary mystic Sword of Omens they believe is on board. The sword holds the Eye of Thundera, the source of the ThunderCats’ power, which is embedded in the hilt. Though the Mutants damage the flagship, the power of the Eye drives them back. The damage to the ship means the journey to their original destination is not possible, instead having to journey to “Third Earth”, which will take much longer than they had anticipated. The eldest of the ThunderCats, Jaga, volunteers to pilot the ship while the others sleep in capsules. However, he dies of old age in the process, but not before ensuring they will reach their destination safely. The flagship contains the young Lord of the ThunderCats, Lion-O, as well as the ThunderCats Cheetara, Panthro, Tygra, WilyKit and WilyKat, and Snarf.
When the ThunderCats awaken from their suspended animation on Third Earth after ten “galacto-years”, Lion-O discovers that his suspension capsule has slowed, rather than stopped, his aging. He has now become essentially a child in the body of an adult. Together, the ThunderCats and the friendly natives of Third Earth construct the “Cat’s Lair”, their new home and headquarters, but before long, the Mutants have tracked them down to Third Earth. The intrusion of these two alien races upon the world does not go unnoticed, however, as a demonic, mummified sorcerer calling himself Mumm-Ra recruits the Mutants to aid him in his campaign to acquire the Eye of Thundera and destroy the ThunderCats so that his evil may continue to hold sway over Third Earth.
Yes…
I loved this show when I was a kid. It ran from 1985 to 1989. I cannot remember if we watched it that whole time I would have been 9 – 13 years old. I remember it being a memory from primary school more than secondary school. And why did I love it? I am Leo, born in July and in my childhood I really identified with that. Strange huh? Maybe I saw myself as the female human from of Lion-O? Maybe I just loved the theme tune – which I still love to this day.
Dungeons and Dragons
The show focuses on a group of friends aged between 9 and 15 who are transported to the realm of Dungeons & Dragons by taking a magical dark ride on an amusement park roller coaster. Upon arriving in the realm they meet Dungeon Master (named for the referee in the role-playing game) who gives each child a magical item.
The children’s main goal is to find a way home, but they often take detours to help people or find that their fates are intertwined with that of others. The group comes across many different enemies, but their primary antagonist is Venger. He is a powerful wizard who wishes to rule the realm and believes the power from the children’s weapons will help him to do so. Another recurring villain is Tiamat, who is a five-headed dragon and the only creature that Venger fears.
Throughout the series, a connection is suggested between Dungeon Master and Venger. At the end of the episode “The Dragon’s Graveyard”, Dungeon Master calls Venger “my son”. The final unproduced episode “Requiem” would have confirmed that Venger is the Dungeon Master’s corrupted son (making Kareena the sister of Venger and the daughter of Dungeon Master), redeemed Venger (giving those trapped in the realm their freedom), and ended on a cliffhanger where the six children could finally return home or deal with evil that still existed in the realm.
Dungeons and Dragons ran from 1983 to 1985. As a child I think I found the premise of this show so sad. Children lost and trying to find their way home. Always the tension in each episode, would they make it? They never did in any of the episodes that I rember watching. I was always drawn to the character of Eric, he was the Cavalier who always had me in fits of laughter – which his humour, sarcasm and honesty about their seemingly dire situation.
Lol – 😂 it’s a wonder I got any school work done with all this TV watching! But somehow I did and made my way through GCSEs and ‘A’levels. In fact I feel, looking back, it was a help more than any hinderance. I was always calmed and still am by having the TV on in te background. If we had spent a few hours watching TV after school, it meant we had decompressed from whatever had happended at school that day, we would have had a chance to settle down before starting any homework or coursework. It was soothing and not at all a distraction.
Well here ends my little journey back in time. I hope it brought back as many happy memories for you as it has for me.
Children TV shows
Round the Twist 1989 – 2001 “Have strange things happened? Are you going round the twist?“
The Box of Delights 1984 – Christmas 1984
Five Children and It 1991
The Queens Nose 1995 – 2003
Bananaman 1983 – 1986 “Look at those China Ducks on my wall ” 29 Acacia Road
Byker Grove 1989 – 2006
Maid Marian and Her Merry Men 1989 -1994
Rentaghost 1976 – 1984 “Don’t Go Into the Cellar“
Super Gran 1985 – 1987 “Stand back Superman“
The Littlest Hobo 1979 – 1985 “There’s a voice that keeps on calling me“
Dizzy Heights 1990 -1993 “Come to the best hotel in the world“
The Record Breakers 1972 – 2001
Jonny Briggs 1985 – 1987
Tricky Buisness 1989 – 1991 “Magic, magic, magic, lots and lots of magic”
Grandad 1979 – 1984
Let’s Pretend 1981 – 1989
Chock-a-Block 1981
So You Want to be Top 1983 – 1985 “So you want to be T , O,P”
Flicks 1984 – 1987 “Flick through the pages of a book“
Stookey 1985 “already to take a chance“
Finger mouse 1985
Running Scared 1986
Stilgoe’s On 1986 “life still goes on“
Jossy’s Giants 1986 – 1987
Rainbow “paint the whole world with a rainbow”
Sesame Street “sunny day’s sweeping the clouds away”
Fingerbobs 1972
Jackanory 1965
Simon and the Witch
Cartoons
Mr Men 1974
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds 1981 – 1982
The Racoons 1985 – 1992
Henry’s Cat 1983 “meow meow”
Around the World with Willy Fog 1983
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983 – 1985)
Dungeons & Dragons 1983 – 1985
SuperTed 1983 – 1986
Willo the Wisp 1981
Scooby-Doo
The Wacky Races
Hong-Kong Phooey
Top Cat
The Flintstones “yaaba daba doo”
Terrahawks 1983 – 1986
Ulysses 31 1981 – 1982
Battle of the Planets 1978 – 1980
King Rollo 1980
Víctor and María 1983
Pigeon Street 1981
Mr Benn 1971 – 2005
Inspector Gadget 1983 – 1986
Captain Caveman
Jamie and the Magic Torch 1976
Danger Mouse 1981 – 1992
The Smurfs
Animations
The Flumps 1976
Fraggle Rock
The Muppet Show
Paddington 1976 – 1993 “remanded in custard!“
The Moonins 1977 – 1982
Button Moon 1980 – 1988
Bagpuss 1974
Chorlton and the Wheelies 1976
The Wombles 1973
Morph
School dramas
Grange Hill 1978 – 2008 “just say no”
Palace Hill 1988 – 1991
Degrassi Junior High
Heartbreak High
References:
