Toony + Tuesday * 2016: Peg + Cat

Hello there, everyone.
The last time I reviewed a show for little kids, it seemed like a one-time-only thing.
Nope. I'm going at it again.

This series is probably the most fun you'll ever have learning Math.
I'm an adult, and I'm proud to relearn Math from this.

It's Peg + Cat.



Created by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson, the series features Peg--a sweet, optimistic little girl with a feast for solving Math; and Cat, her talking feline friend with a love for circles. Together, they trek on amazing Arithmetic adventures to help their friends solve their problems--along with themselves solving their own--by using and solving Math problems and equations, and at the same time, help the viewers learn simple math as well.

But I'm not talking a bit about this series because of its use of Math. But because of how inventive and creative it gets with it's use of Math.
-Starting with the intro and ending with the episode ending chat with the title characters, the animation changes with each episode. See episodes where Cat does something while Peg sings or a different thing appears behind them or a variation of the theme song. It's something that'll just blow your mind every time with how things change while others stay the same.

-The animation is fuzzy (thanks to Flash), but actually works very well. The characters, locations, buildings and colors look simple, but are still likable to the eyes. And the changing elements work towards its favor.

-Also, the songs and score are super catchy and will stay in your head for days. "Problem Solved" and "Splashing Some More" from The Bathroom segment are the major examples.

-Now to the episodes. Each episode has a fun story and even fun(ner) execution.
Peg and Cat are going about their day, when a problem arises. A character tells them about that problem, and it's up to our young heroes (yes, Cat too) to save the day by using Math to solve their friends' problems. Sometimes, they also get into Simple, right? Wrong. Take a look at one of my favorite episodes, "The Highlight Zone Problem", where Peg & Cat get into a funk when their world isn't as colorful as usual.
(starts at 12:58)


Besides the brilliant nods to The Twilight Zone (including the black and white setting, the strangeness of the predicament, and Ramone being a great stand-in of the late, great Rod Serling), this episode features elements of that series to create a new

The characters are just awesome. Peg and Cat especially. But the other main characters, despite known from what little traits, they're just as memorable.
-Ramone, smart as a whip and cool as a cucumber
-Pig, a happy-go-lucky but shy-voiced pig with a singing voice big enough for opera
-Richard, a little alien from the Purple Planet who gets pretty glum when things go wrong, but is also very willing to help save the day when it happens.
-100 Chickens (your guess is as good s mine as to what they are)
-The Teens, three teenagers who are on good terms with Peg and Cat, and are there to help out in any way they can. That is if they are a part of the story. Plus, they're not mean or unlikable in the slightest, a plus for me.
-Big Mouth – A furry blue space monster who indulges in eating things that are little and yellow. (Like a walking Pyramid category)
-Beethoven, who is...Beethoven, of course. (Yes, even Ludwig himself is a character in this series...with clear hearing for some reason [I find no problem with this].)
All these characters, despite seeming like the producers are just picking them out their asses on the surface, really do bring the show its own flavor (along with its writing) and makes it stand out among the other PBS Kids shows.
And there are A LOT of great standouts here.


What also makes this series stand out is its unconventional formula. Despite the recognizable traits in a typical episode--Peg & Cat singing the theme song (itself super catchy), Peg & Cat in some random place, a problem occurring, Peg totally freaking out, Cat calming her, them (almost) solving the problem, the problem not being solved yet, they and their episode-picked friends doing much more to solve it, and problem is solved (AND EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!), there are some creative elements that take place within that episode. The characters joining along in "Problem Solved" (a song that is catchy is heck even if I've heard it 100 or so times) and every song that is a part of each episode will be stuck in your hear as soon as you hear it.

Plus (heh heh), the characters are written and created really well. Peg is a bright-eyed girl with a big imagination and a bigger heart. Her charm and sweet wit grabs your attention and you just love her from second one. Cat is goofy but hilariously witty and his snark is balls-out funny. Their chemistry is as strong as Arnold Schwarzenegger and their friendship is a reason this show is awesome and a reason I watch with grin from ear to ear. Their voice actors, Hayley Faith Negrin and Dwayne Hill, bring so many layers of fun, humor, wit and timing to this show and (partially, but primarily) because of them and their characters, I am a fan of Peg + Cat for life. And you should be too.

Episodes are available on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, YT and the PBS Kids video app.

I know it's a kids show. ...But I. don't. care. I darn well love this series, and if you give it a try (whether with your kids or by yourself), I think you'll love it too.

Thanks for checking in, and I'll see you guys later.

Toony Tuesday 2016: Danger Mouse (2015 reboot)

He's the greatest! He's FanTAStic! Where ever there is danger, he'll be there!
He's the ACE! He's AMAZing! He's the smartest, he's the bravest--he's...
a little different.

Yep, the world's best secret rodent spy has gotten himself and his show have gotten a major makeover. But is it hit with me? Will I like it? Will the world sit through yet another 1,000-plus review with a bunch of sentences and crappy humor before finally implying that I like it? Short answer: Yes.

Before I get to my thoughts on this new Danger Mouse, he's a Cliff-Notes--like course on the original Danger Mouse.
Airing from 1981 to 1992 and created by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall for London-based Thames Television, Danger Mouse is an animated series that parodies the spy fiction genre in which a mouse, Danger Mouse--along with his trusted-yet-cowardly sidekick Ernest Penfold, fights crime and saves the day from the evildoers of the day, including (and most especially) the sinister-and-strained throat Silas Greenback.

I--at my age at the time--became a huge fan when I first discovered the series on YouTube a few years ago. The humor, half quick and sharp and half silly and surreal, was just brilliant. And the voice-acting propelled the brilliance higher than what was possible. Even the animation, as weak and fuzzy as it was, was as great; the limited scope still feels expansive. This series spoofed the spy fiction genre to perfection, starting with the heroes and villains all being animals, the use of a pillarbox as DM and Penfold's HQ/home and many moments of Braking the Forth Wall between the characters and the narrator, himself a great element with his haminess and comic seriousness of his dialogue and character.

Everything about this series is awesome and makes it awesome. It's no wonder that it's become a beloved piece of British television (both animated and in general) and is a cult favorite in the rest of the world. Which explains where we are today.

This is the 2015 reboot of classic 80s animated series Danger Mouse.


Danger Mouse 2015 S01E01 Danger Mouse Begins... by GodsParents

Okay, where to start here?

I really like this...and I KINDA don't. There is so much I enjoy about this new series, and some things I could do without at first.

When a reboot was announced back in 2013, I kinda rolled my eyes. It's clearly a part of the nostalgia boom and only served purpose to not create something entirely new and original. But at the same time, I was somewhat optimistic. I wold love to watch a Danger Mouse series while I am alive, and I think it could introduce children to a classic franchise that's beloved for many reasons.
It could work very well. And it does. In some ways.

The characters are a different in personality from the original:

Danger Mouse isn't as much of an Ace anymore, as he is now a little more absentminded and clumsy, and like to showboat when on a mission. At times it's funny, while in others it's plain annoying.
Penfold, while still a little cowardly, is more resourceful and timid. While cool, it's kinda sad that I really miss the old PF, as he was hilarious for being dim scaredy-cat.
Colonel K is less out-of-it.That's cool; he was really irritating at times. And Stephen Fry is voicing him, which is a huge plus.
Baron Silas Greenback is no longer a Brit, as he now dons a German accent and has the title 'von' added to his name. He's otherwise largely the same, which is great.
His henchman Stilleto previously donned an Italian accent, but now slips one in under a Cockney accent. I don't mind this; he's still a funny henchman
And if that wasn't enough, there are new characters created:
-Professor Squackencluck: chief scientist of the secret service, and probably the niece of the original Squackencluck. She's smart, works well with her hands and brain, and she's kinda hot. She doesn't have as many funny moments as the guys, but she can hold her own really well.
-Jeopardy Mouse, an agent working in America, and DM's female counterpart.
-

The voice actor cast for the new Danger Mouse is completely revamped.
Alexander Armstrong voices DM, Kevin Eldon does Penfold,
Stephen Fry (!!!) is Colonel K, Ed Gaughan is Greenback
& Dave Lamb is The Narrator and Stilleto (ironically not voicing DM too, but Stilleto)
(along with Shauna MacDonald as Niece Prof. Squakencluck and Lena Headley as Jeopardy Mouse)
While saddened that most of the original cast has not returned for the new series (understandable that most have probably died or retired), I believe this new cast is just as great as their predecessors. Considering I've seen works by some of them before (Armstrong hosts BBC One's Pointless, a brilliant game show [please check it out]), so this show is in good hands there.

The animation is much more sharper, clearer and colorful than the original. I originally didn't enjoy it at first (mostly because nostalgia), but now I love it! It's animated at Toon Boom, and they did a wicked good job. Honestly (and ironically), I thought it was made in Flash, but the producers have said using it is too limited (don't blame them).

The jokes here feel a little different (new writing, duh) but otherwise carries on the spirit of the original. It's not as whip-smart or hilarious as the original, but it's really funny on its own right, and that's what counts.

I really enjoy this new Danger Mouse and I hope you will too.
While it airs on CBBC in the UK, it's an Exclusive Series on Netflix here in the States.
There are a few places to watch it too.

For now, I'm Andrew, and I'll see you next week for another Toony Tuesday review! Probably Peanuts or a Throwback. Or both, I'll shall see.

Toony Tuesday 2016: The Loud House

Hi everyone.
It's Drew with another Toony Tuesday for you(...sday)!
This time I'm reviewing Nickelodeon's newest Nicktoon--which I'm sure they should stop calling in general and also do so for cartoon that deserve it. But I think this one deserves it.

Are you a part of one of those families that have so many siblings that it drives you crazy on account of all the sharing and fighting and having to go to war over just the bathroom...and all other that stuff? Yeah, so am I, and just as this little guy Lincoln. And he's gonna tell you all about it.

It's The Loud House.



Created by Chris Savino and based on his real life growing up in his childhood home with 10 other siblings (11 total by the way), this series features the adventures--and misadventures of 11-year-old Lincoln Loud, and his 10 sisters--Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn, Lucy, Lola, Lana, Lisa, and baby Lily--as they (especially Lincoln) navigate throughout their young lives though the hurdles and craziness of sharing a house together. With his best pal Clyde by his side, Lincoln does his best to break through the clutter and tries his best make it through the day. And get to the bathroom and TV first. And along the way, tell us about it. No really.

Since we all know what Nick is as a network and company as of late, I had low standards toward their recent fare as announced by their 2016 upfront. There were a lot of new programming to debut later this year, and I felt compelled to watch none of them. The titles had little appeal and the descriptions sounded pretty stupid. But there was one of the new shows that held me in for a bit, with a title that's short and sweet and a description that could make for an interesting half-hour.

When I watched a preview of it last month (below),

going in, I had low standards and felt like just another cartoon/Nicktoon to avoid. Surprisingly...It wasn't. It actually was an enjoyable experience. And after it ended, I then thought "Hmm. This isn't as bad as I thought. Not at all. I really enjoyed it! Now I'm really excited to watch it".

Then Nick released two episodes earlier in the month
(A Tale of Two Tables/The Sweet Spot and Hand-Me-Downer/Sleuth or Consequences)
and this bolstered my enjoyment.

It's definitely different and sticks out from other Nicktoons airing right now: it's light, nuanced, not too fast-paced and more homey. And I love it!
Don't get me wrong; I enjoy some of Nick's cartoons right now, too. (Examples: Harvey Beaks and Pig Goat Banana Cricket)
But I really enjoy The Loud House for what it is.

Lincoln and his 10 4-letter L-named sisters

The characters are some I like right now, and not very complex (from what I've seen so far), with personalities we've seen/noticed before, but are very well created here:
-bossy Lori
-sweet-but-ditzy Leni
-rocker Luna
-goofy jokester/prankster Luan
-extreme & sporty Lynn
-goth/emo Lucy
-prissy & bratty Lola
-tomboy Lana
-dull genius Lisa, and
-baby Lily (who is pretty much an excuse for stinky diaper jokes)
--and lastly, the one guy in the middle (literally, he's the middle child), Lincoln
All of the Loud offspring have wonderfully fleshed-out personalities that are written and voice-acted well, and you'll have a hard time finding a favorite (but don't worry, Lincoln is one of mine; so that's less of a hassle at this point)

But what makes them great in my book is this: they're all not crazy, scatterbrained, extremely annoying or hateful; Just some of the most normal characters in a Nicktoon in a long time. A breath of fresh air.

Also a character I like is Lincoln's best friend Clyde.
He's there to assist Linc on whatever scheme he's planned and always has his back. He's also a bit of a nerd (IE his love of doing his parents' taxes with them) and has a crush on Lori. He's definitely not a boring character; he's also really funny and a great source of humor.

The animation isn't bad at all; I wouldn't say "Give it an Annie!" or anything yet, but I really enjoy the sketchy, simplified style, which fondly resembles the drawings of comic strips from our childhoods. And I also got some Gravity Falls vibes from it (especially because Lori looks like Pacifica), as the characters do kinda-sorta resemble some characters from the latter show, especially with the shapes of the eyes on their faces.

Also, their house looks really cool, too. I'd definitely want to live in a crib like that; sibling number be damned.

I also love the element of Lincoln Abraham Breaking the Fourth Wall to talk to us-the viewers-about what he's been up to and what trials he's come up against and the lessons he's learned thanks to sharing a home with ten sisters and what he deals with involving them. This very fondly resembles Malcolm in the Middle, is a very nice element and gives us more to learn about his character and personality, which is a cool one already.

And I don't have to tell you, but the love, fights and bonding across the Loud family is wonderful and genuine. Even if most of the time two or more members (Lincoln almost always one of them) squabble, it's clear that at the end of the day, they all love each other and wouldn't any of the others for anything. You can hear and feel it in the voice acting and in the animation. Just let Lincoln Log himself tell you that from "Left in the Dark".

"You know, I may have missed my show, but sometimes, it's not about being there first. Sometimes, it's about being there together — all of us."

Now this concept of sharing the family home with a bunch of siblings isn't a new thing on TV--it's happened before in many shows and movies, but I think this is a relatively new spin on it, since this is a definite number of sisters involved.

This series' concept is the first to be greenlit to series from it's annual Animated Shorts Program, chosen from over 950 titles from around the globe.
And for that, I'm even more proud and for it.

Just as proud I am is of the theme song and title sequence.
It perfectly captures the overarching plot, tone and goofiness of the series and is definitely catchy. The pop rock production is amazing and the singer is really good at the lyrics, which are memorable when you learn them. Ever since the first time I've heard the line "In the Loud House, In the Loud House", it's never left my head (although I'd never want to) and I'll sing it every chance I get. (I'm probably doing it right now as you're reading this.)

As for the title sequence, it's very well-drawn and--like the TS--also perfectly captures the plot, tone and goofiness. The brilliant piece of it is this: here, while Lincoln Motor Company is normally drawn, the Loud girls are colored-coded in different colors (matching the colors on their clothing in the series proper), making them different and . And the "1 Boy/10 Girls" line is also great. I love that; it's really unique and helps drive the sequence home. And the Loud House itself is also amazingly drawn. I love this open and it helps make the series even more fun to watch and worth

Random Thoughts:
Lincoln
--Looking at one of the cast photos for the first time, what stuck out the most was Lincoln's white hair. I thought it looked weird at first (as all other family members have either blonde or brunette hair), but soon after I now find it awesome and can't stop thinking over it. Savino said in an interview that it actually isn't his natural color (no duh) and it makes me wonder. Stay tuned.
--I just enjoy the fact that a boy (Grant Palmer specifically) is voicing him instead of a grown man.
--Lincoln's bedroom is a closet. I don't know if CBBC's Broom Cupboard from back in the day is bigger, but hey, if put the position of living in a house with ten girls all fighting for dominance somewhere, I'd rather take the micro space too. Your own room/space is key to a sane childhood. ...sometimes.
--I wish my name is Lincoln too. Waaaay better than Andrew (although sharing a name with a US President [...well, a likable one] can be pretty cool).

Loud Sisters
--All of them are all different kinds of cute. That is all.
--Some of my favorites so far are
-Luan (her jokes and pranks are corny, but super cute and funny)
-Lynn (it's been a while since I've watched an animated female character who plays/loves sports, and she's awesome at it)
-Lucy (cutest little goth girl ever, her love for--of all things--"Princess Pony" is adorably hilarious)
-Luna (she can rock!)
-Lisa (she graduated from college at four. Don't ask, don't think, don't wonder; just go with it. Plus her lisp and monotone behavior are undeniably adorable.
She's pretty much Little Daria.)
-and Lana (Handy Manny, watch out! No seriously, she's a fiend with a wrench.)
--As for the full diapy jokes from Lily, I don't mind them...as long as there's a maximum of two per...every other episode.


I've always had fond respect in Chris Savino as an animator. From working on season one of Johnny Test (universally the best season of them all) to later working on Kick Buttowski and Friendship is Magic, he's definitely a dude I can get behind in television animation. And now that he's got his own show where he's calling the shots, I surely can and will get behind this one too. And I'm glad I did, as you read earlier.

It's already gotten some good promotion and reception from Nick, with two episodes already released on its website (both were great views for me [obvs]) and--if TV Tropes counts as a source--the episode count for Season 1 doubled to 26. A great start for what could can (and will) be a popular and long-lasting Nicktoon. I can feel it...

Thanks for joining me for my review of The Loud House, a Nicktoon that should be called a Nicktoon.

See you guys later!!

Toony Tuesday 2016: Pig Goat Banana Cricket

Hey, everyone! Today, I'm Toony Tuesday-ing a Nicktoon! ...yay.

When I was a kid, I usually felt overjoyed to spend every weekend watching Nicktoons. Whether at home with my mom and family or spending weekends with my dad, one constant presence was those 30-minute adventures--and misadventures--with our favorite shows: Rugrats, SpongeBob, Rocko's Modern Life, The Angry Beavers, Ren & Stimpy, KaBlam, Fairly OddParents, Jimmy Neutron, ChalkZone, Avatar: The Last Airbender--and a few others during Nick's Golden and Silver Eras. They were all perfect viewings for me and my siblings during childhood, and can still great views on TeenNick during The Splat--uhh, NickSplat (sigh).
Hell, even the name Nicktoons was something special. It's as if it's something special and completely different from other networks' animated offerings.
"It's not cartoons, it's Nicktoons."
Geddit?? Because...it's like HBO?? You know..."It's not TV"? And both are different entities??? *cough* Anyway...

Nowadays, Nickelodeon has become a very crap network with original shows (both animated AND live-action) that are just obnoxiously unfunny, horrifying terrible and yet discerningly popular. Almost none of the shows on the channel have anything of value, worth, quality and watchability. And yet millions watch them.

Now, don't get me wrong: Nick also has some really awesome Nicktoons today, too. Harvey Beaks, The Legend of Korra, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and a few others I can't remember--because I really don't watch the network anymore--are examples of Nick still having faith in themselves to air more-than-decent cartoons, and us having enough faith in them for making such programs.
This one I'm discussing today isn't one of them. ...I think.

It's Pig Goat Banana Cricket. (...why?)



This series, which premiered on July 18, 2015, created by Dave Cooper and Johnny Ryan, is based on a comic published by Nickelodeon Magazine (remember that? good times.) and developed from a short clip by animator Nick Cross on YouTube from 2012 -- called Pig Goat Banana Mantis!

(I don't know which animation is more attrocious--
PGBCricket or PGBMantis? It's more or less a tossup for me.)

Now, the reason for the difference between names is because, after it got picked up by Nick, the name had to be changed--along with the fourth-in-line character. That's thanks to another character on another Nicktoon that has the same name (and species): Mantis from the aforementioned Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness. So the name (and species) was changed to Cricket.
It's pathetic that Nick continues to go to the Internet for fresh new content. Sure, other networks do it too, as video sites such as YouTube have become perfect places for TV show pilots and short films, in the hopes of a network to take interest and pick it up for something more.
But when Nick does it, it's absolutely fucking shameless.
AwesomenessTV, ReactToThat and Breadwinners are perfect examples.
But...does it matter?



This show is kinda gross.
The animation is disgusting.
The title sequence alone had me coming close to upchucking. There's always close-ups that are insanely gross, and--well, every almost every shot is kinda gross. Even when nothing gross is happening, despite being intentional, it still looks sloppy and unappealing. One of the main culprits of this is anything that comes out of your head--snot and pus, along with other gross things that can come out of you. Understandably, this can have appeal to anyone. I'm not usually one of them, so I'll give it a little pass.

The characters are questionable (I guess in a good way)
-Pig is an idiot with an obsession with pickles
-Goat is a sweet and cheerful singing hopeful...and is also probably bipolar
-Banana is an asshole with a love for video games and food, and
-Cricket is a crazy good mad scientist...and target for bullcrap
The worst of the bunch is Pig. I hate slow-minded characters and he is one of them. He's not as bad as other dumb Nick characters like Cosmo and Patrick (remember-they're the worst), but I still can't stand his failure to grasp basic thought and cognitive speech.
And one thing I can't stand about Cricket is that he's the show's Chew Toy. he gets treated like crap a lot, and is the basis for jokes like this. It's annoying and serves no purpose. I can take a few Butt Monkey jokes in a show--maybe even enjoy them. But seeing either so many little jokes or a few big ones in every episode (maybe even one) is enough to piss me off. Even if I hate a character, that is too much to deserve this treatment.
While I don't love these characters (I damn sure don't identify with them either), I actually don't hate them either. While they have tics that will get on my nerves, there is something that still draws me to them.
It has to be the actors voicing them--
Matt L. Jones as Pig
Candi Milo as Goat
Thomas F. Wilson as Banana
and Paul Rugg as Cricket
--that make me like them more than I thought. Yeah, that's it. Well, one of them.
These actors really bring these characters to life, and give them a lot of personality, even if a couple layers of them don't well with me. This has to be one of my favorite elements of this series. So it doesn't surprise me much that the voice of Dexter, Snap and Madame Foster; that guy from Mom and the voice of Hector; Biff Tannen himself; and the voice of frickin' Freakazoid! make up one of the series' best parts.

The humor is, of course, Nick's specialty: pathetic idiotic humor that caters to the lowest common denominator with toilet jokes, shock jokes, unneeded violence, crap past the radar, and idiotic behavior abound. You know...for kids. Obviously, I can't stand humor like this, as it will make me lose a few IQ points every minute I keep watching shit like this. But sadly, this is what gets Nick over these days in reasons of popularity and monetary. So you'll be seeing a lot of this in a lot of its shows--this one included.

Somehow, despite the many examples of gross humor displayed here, this is actually kinda tame. Sure, it comes at you--and you will experience a degree of nausea, but sometimes, it doesn't make me groan. All I can do is react with a little indifference and groan a little. Don't know why, but that's all I get from it. And it's kinda scary.

Another thing I kinda really like about Pig Goat Banana Cricket (ugh) is this little format style each and every episode. Each of the four titular main characters get an act of each episode to him/her-self, bookmarked by one of their names popping up in an graphic frame--with the name shouted by a random group of kids as heard in the title sequence. Also--like shows like Fosters, Gravity Falls and both Avatar series--each episode follows one story, instead of two in a two-shorts format.
I really like this, as I've never seen something like this in animation before, and is utilized very well. So much so, it makes me wonder why I'm still into this series when I should hate it like everyone else.
And speaking of not really hating it when I should, the humor isn't that baseless either. I don't rage as much as I do with any joke by Cosmo or Mikey from TMNT or any other character from The Sponge, and I do find some jokes funny.

Also, despite the tics of each character that might annoy me, all of the titular characters aren't really annoying themselves most of the time. They're actually better-written than most characters on some other Nicktoons.


In short...Pig Goat Banana Cricket isn't that bad of a Nicktoon. It's obnoxiously disgusting and it's pretty irritating too. ...And at times, pretty good and funny. It's not as bad as most people make it out to be. And that's it.
So...if you want, to curb your interest, please check it out. And if you still don't like it, that's fine. It's not a great Nicktoon, but in my opinion, it's one of the better Nicktoons of the decade on the negative side of the spectrum.

Thanks a lot guys, for checking out another Surprise Review.
I'm Andrew, and I'll see you again soon.

Toony Tuesday 2016: "The Big Fairy Share Scare!" (Fairly OddParents Season 10 Premiere)

When I heard that The Fairly OddParents would return for its ninth season, my thoughts were exactly the same as everyone else's: "What!? Really?? Okay. I'm curious." Then the premiere came. "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT??" And no, I'm not talking about the episode itself, I'm talking about Sparky, the latest character to be added to the main group, which wasn't needed at all. I was fine with baby Poof, as he was a good addition to the family, and wasn't much of an annoying focus point from the producers. I didn't watch FOP as much after season 5 or 6 (I don't remember; I went out on a high...or we stopped having cable. Either one you'd believe more.), so I went back to it, to see what the new character was. I was curious to see what Sparky would be like. And...yeah, he's terrible. He's obnoxious, he's rude, he's loud, he's not a great companion to Timmy (more like compainion) and his voice is grating.

Oh yeah, I forgot, this season.
Well, when I first heard that the OddParents was renewed for a tenth season--actually, I never really noticed it was still on the air; I was watching other, better cartoons. But when I first heard that it was renewed, it was what everyone else's reaction was. But to paraphrase: "WHAT!?! Why the hell is this still on the air!?! Why would Nick still cling onto this??" And the answer was the same with SpongeBob: MONEY.
But the fact the Nick won't let it end already--or even years ago, it just baffles me. Even if I know that Nick can and will keep it's most popular shows on the air for financial purposes, and neglect it's more better shows, it shows how money-hungry and pathetic in business-ethics it is like it always was for years.

See the video by psychobabbles parodying theFineBros in my rant on them and you'll exactly see what I mean.

There some tidbits of Season 10 that I shall address here that shows the continued downfall of the once-beloved animated series:

-THE THEME SONG HAS CHANGED.

For the previous nine seasons, the theme was very memorable, very catchy and very awesome. Orchestra instrumentation; a choir singing the lyrics; a quick, fun, whimsical and goofy tone. it was just a perfect piece of music with lyrics to match that tells what the series is all about perfectly.
And you WILL sing to it at least every other time it comes on.
That is, until this season. And...Out of the blue, without warning, we get this.

This...isso wrong...on so many levels.
First off, taking the choir away and replacing them with two singers who have to explain this garbage sludge of a story arc (Then, the garbage sludge of a story arc itself, which I'll get too later). And they don't sound right. They're trying their darndest to sing like the choir, but to me, they're failing. Nothing about this sounds right. The addition of Chloe; Timmy, Cosmo and Wanda saying different lyrics; the line about Jorgen; the randomness of all this is terrible (at least in the original, the random wording and lyrics work in that case); the questionable nature of it all; and the biggest offence of it all, the fact that the title sequence looks and feels more like a "clip show" episode than an actual title sequence (This element is so many kinds of messed up, I can't even count). This entire sequence feels like an insult. An insult to the fans, casual viewers, critics and even the producers/writers/directors of previous seasons (even if Butch Hartman is still working on it, it still stands).
The only good thing about this is Timmy's lyrics, which are really funny with each passing listen.
Every time I hear this even once, I feel the need to listen to the original 10 times to cleanse my brain from all the terrible and


-There is yet another new character added to the main group: Chloe Carmichael.
She's an enthusiastic blue-eyed blonde overachiever who excels in everything. She and her parents left the big city and moved to Dimmsdale, hitting it off with everyone. And Timmy doesn't like this. But it gets even worse for him when Chloe becomes Timmy's new neighbor.
Now...I'll be honest. I don't hate Chloe. I thinks She's a very adorable and likable girl, and can be a great character when played well here. But...
I just hate the situation surrounding her. She's a new character created by the producers to try to make the show interesting. And it worked...just not in the way they intended.
She's so...perfect. Disgustingly perfect. (And by way of one of the truly treasured gags that I love), she's disgurfect! Right from the very start when Crocker introduced her (while being an ugly dollar-store Dick Cavett), she's revealed to very smart, very charitable, and very heroic. Literally every inch of her personality and life are so perfect. (Just look at her house!) So much so it makes me nauseous! And all of this makes Timmy look even more like an average kid no one understands. And a loser. And the writers are trying so damn hard to make her likable with us! And that's...not...right!
And that's not counting the garbage sludge plot yet.
Huh. I guess I do hate her. Forget what I said about her being a great character. She does not have any flaws and has too much humanity. And that makes her an unlikable character. But to be more honest, there are some things I like about her. She does have a great voice actress behind her (she's voiced by Kari Wahlgren) and none of the obnoxious likeness to her isn't all her fault.

Which leads me to the other big problem with is episode.
-The fact that from now on, this will be the series' main plot.
After Chloe meets new neighbor Timmy, he has a huge problem. And no, it's not her...only.
Later in the day, Jorgen fires in to reveal a shocking (and stupid) revelation: There is a shortage at Fairy World, and because of that, many fairies have to partake in a sharing program. As in they have to be shared with more than one kid.
This negates everything this show has gone for throughout its history.
First off, there can't be a shortage at Fairy World. There has to be as many fairies as there are people on Earth. And any one can be chose as the godparent of one child. And there'd still be enough in Fairy World to go around. This makes me FURIOUS!!
Also, one kid being given two fairies and go on many amazing adventures together, where good and bad moments come in, along with teaching moments to show that not everything you want can be that easy to have or spend life with. It's best to stick with whatever life you have.
Chloe, meanwhile, is smart and obedient enough to live a great life with whatever she wants at her disposal. And she doesn't even need fairies!! She clearly has a great life without any, and can have whatever she wants does whatever she wants without any! So why does she have some?! Why should she have some?!
And even if she gets fairies, she might as well be given either Cosmo or Wanda, instead of both given passed around with Timmy like a joint at a Greg Cipes concert. Hell, she might as well have been given Cosmo, to balance intelligence and become Devil's Advocate.
But no, we get this crap.

Now onto some thoughts and problems I have about the season 10 premiere itself.
It's best to watch the episode from this link highlighted here.

--Yeah. Chloe doesn't wear sleeves. Nice screw-up, producers.
--Smart idea using the Crimson Chin episode leitmotif for a superhero TV show that's NOT the Crimson Chin!!
--Crocker continues to be a more bigger character than need be. It's happened for the last few seasons, and it's annoying. I really like Denzel, and I really enjoy some of the plots he's taken part in (the best being The Timmy/Jimmy Power Hour 3 crossover with The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron). The fact that the producers keep throwing him in episodes
--Chester and AJ are no longer main characters. Sure, it's been made clear for years, but now they're just background characters with little to no lines. And damn, it's a shame. Also, more of a shame, Timmy's other friends Sanjay and Elmer are nowhere to be seen (as of here). I know they were his "back-up" friends--and didn't appear much, but this is just sad.
--Everyone is so willing to make Chloe out to be God's gift to the world. Sure, she's likable, but I really wouldn't think people would be this welcome to a kid like her in real. Sure, I'd love to meet someone her and be her friend, but I don't think I'd want to kiss her feet every time she walks by me.
So I don't blame Timmy for having a cold shoulder.
--



--The "Fairy Share"? Worst...cartoon idea...ever.
since "the Timmy Suit".

--This episode is so grossly thrown into the trends of today.
Selfies?! Duck faces?! CRAY-CRAY?!!

LUNACY!!

ABSURDITY!!

FALLACY!!

WHAT THE HECK IS A POLAR BEAR?!?!?

(Oop. ...Sorry.)
It's just like the YouTube copy from "Video Vidiots". There is no reason these fads should be shown or mentioned on this show, continuity be damned. And it makes this episode (and possibly the series as a whole) super dated.

And then there's the episode's plot.
Thanks to Timmy wishing away Friday so Chloe won't take his--their fairies away for a DAY and causing Foop to return and cause worldwide domination, we get what would've been a nice start to a new kinship between the four (two kids and two fairies). But thanks to the hot seeping crap before it, along with the dwindling of quality like Cosmo's IQ (which is also dwindling), this episode went the way we thought it did.
Oh no, I'm sorry, continued the way it did. Because Jorgen came in already, Foop's plan was stopped and all is back to normal. WHAT!? If this happened in an earlier season, Jorgen would be there just to serve as comedy fodder, and it would've been back to Timmy and Wanda (Cosmo is off being an idiot) facing off against Foop, and then everything is back to normal.
This is a freaking cop-out! And just another example of this once beloved and revered series going down the drain in quality.

This series followed the genius and creative plot to the letter during the previous seasons. Even the worst seasons had some real good moments. It's just sad to see it end up this way.
This episode was really questionable and swerved in morals and clarity that I'd get tongue-tied and confused even if I've only heard about the episode in word-of-mouth.
I kinda really like Chloe Carmichael--and I kinda don't, but we have to get used to her from now on. She's now a godchild to Cosmo and Wanda (even though she doesn't really need them).
It's clear years ago that the writers have ran out of ideas and that now they're just waterboarding the dead horse to keep it going. And now that this series is at ten seasons, it clear that no matter how much they try, there is nothing worth watching or getting excited or waking up on Saturday mornings for anymore.

Fairly OddParents, goodbye. For now.

Toony Tuesday 2016: Nature Cat

Hey, guys. I'm Andrew, and I'm gonna fill you in on a little secret:
...I like to watch cartoons.
It may be weird to do this, but I think it’s really not. Sure, the content is more in line for kids, and as an adult I shouldn’t watch them at all, but they kinda resonate with me (and all of us) too. They feature topics, stories and characters that we can relate to and feel like they are just like us,
always drawing us in even years after it's end.
Now, that I feel much more comfortable, I have something else to say.
I like to watching cartoons...for little kids. I know it’s a kinda weird thing, but they're so good, not only in teaching young viewers the lessons in school-level subjects, they're also very funny too--like for adults funny too. Even after high school I still watch; it's like comfort food to me. And I can't get enough.

Case in point...let’s now talk about America’s favorite cat.


No, not Piano Cat.


Not Grumpy Cat.


Not Felix the Cat.


Not even Gluten Cat.

I’m talking about the titular character of PBS Kids’ newest series (and the subject of this edition of Toony Tuesday), Nature Cat!

God, this is catchy as hell.

Nature Cat, created by Adam Rudman, David Rudman and Todd Hannert, follows a house cat named Fred, who day in and day out refuses the responsibilities of staying indoors scratching on stuff and relieving on litter, and instead takes on the bigger, bolder and braver trek outside of home and into the wide outdoors, in turn teaching viewers about nature and the things in between.

When I first heard of this series, it was just before Thanksgiving. I was preparing for appearing at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, when the TV was on WHYY, and I saw a promo. It looked interesting and had some enjoyable scenes, so I was intrigued. Then I forgot about it. But after Thanksgiving, I was lucky to watch the special preview, which aired on November 25, 2015 after a special episode of Wild Kratts.

Another thing, PBS Kids hyped the hell out of this show. Not one show would end (or even START) without the service airing a promo for it. Whether it be a sneak peek of a scene or a normal generic promo, they would air into and out of another show in the two months after the official preview. They even announced a hour-long special to officially kick it off.
It’s as if they want everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) to watch this show from the start to end.
And it was annoying… But somehow, my interest towards never waned. And I'm glad. 

 It’s a really fun series.

So here’s my (admittedly short) review of Nature Cat in general:
It’s a fun, exciting and enjoyable series, with some really good teachings of nature thrown in. Yeah, it’s a show about a cat showing his love of nature to us, but I didn’t get much of that vibe. It’s more like “A talking cat version of Robin Hood and his dog, rabbit and mouse friends go on funny adventures in the forest, and--oh yeah, there’s also some stuff we’ll say about nature too.”
I don’t know if that’s intentional, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing to me, because I enjoy the it either way.

What I enjoy the most is the characters (and especially their voices).
They are the best part of this show. Their kinship, chemistry, and shared love and enjoyment of exploring nature and the funny moments from them make the show a really good experience to me. And yeah, I’m an adult, but I can’t help but enjoy it for what it is. Also, no one’s gonna tell me what I can and can’t watch, so nyeah! to you.

-Hal may be an empty-headed dog, but I consider that kinda charming; and he’s also sweet, funny and a very good pal to Fred, despite their different species.
-Squeaks is a very energetic (if not straight-up crazy) and over-eager mouse.
-Daisy is a more introverted, but very forward-thinking rabbit who is always there and happy to help lend a helping hand--err, paw.
-And Fred is a hammy, yet happy-go-lucky and openly-interested feline with a curious thirst for nature and enjoying it...even if he has nothing going for him in regards to nature. Literally, no instincts whatsoever. Dude had straight-up bad luck toward nature. His natural cat instincts, though, won't stop him from doing what loves: going outside, getting nature and doing discoveries.

This ragtag group of warm-blooded characters are what this series needed to be good.
And their voice actors bring them to life, and make it even more amazing.
Naure Cat Fred is voiced by Taran Killam in pretty much the most hammiest, hyper-est yet kindest and coolest voice acting he's ever done yet. I’m aware that some people may find it annoying, but I, very well enjoy it; heck, I even find it endearing.
You’d be surprised of the many times I’ve said “Onward and Yonward!” and “Tally Ho!” to myself since watching the preview.
And speaking of Killam, it’s funny how I truly enjoyed his performance as Nature Cat, when I never knew it was him until halfway through. When watching the preview in bed, I immediately recognized the voice from the start, but I couldn't put my finger on it...and then asked myself “Is that Taran Killam?? That IS Taran Killam!”
As for Bobby Moynihan and Kate Micucci, the respected voices of Hal and Daisy, I immediately knew they were their characters’ voices the second I heard them. And it took me until the end credits to learn that Kate McKinnon was the voice of Squeaks, which baffled me at this point. Also, Kenan Thompson makes recurring appearances as Nature Cat's enemy Ronald the Cat. Seriously.
Here are interviews with the cast on their characters.
It's baffling.




The point I'm mentioning all this is because this series has more than one Saturday Night Live cast member starring in this series, you’d actually think it was co-produced by Lorne Michaels. It's...distressingly hilarious.

Anyway, I think this series could be a success (even if PBS rarely ever does release ratings on the PR front), and can last a long while (not forever, but a few seasons). I really like it, as yet another PBS Kids series that is just amazing on the education front AND entertainment front, and I’ll find this appointment television (whether every afternoon or in a binge watch-athon on the website and app).
You guys don’t have to watch it, and I won’t suggest it...so, I guess I just wasted my time gushing over a little kids show.
Oh well, you live your life.

Thanks for joining me for this Surprise Review, and I’ll see you guys later.

Toony Tuesday 2016: Dan Vs.

Hey folks! I’m Andrew. Happy New Year to you all! This is Toony Tuesday, so...

Let’s talk a bit about The Hub.

Now, we remember The Hub; a television network designed for the whole family to watch and enjoy, with programming of different interests and tastes that are not for just one or two members of the family. It was pretty much a clear alternative to Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.

At the time of watching it for the first time, it (and its programming) had none of the sloppy and childish tenacity of Nickelodeon, the chronic animation of Cartoon Network,  the obnoxiously cutesy and overly strained attitudes of Disney Channel (in fact, I thought of The Hub as a more nuanced and mature [and not uber-unfunny] version of Disney Channel).

When I first heard of its creation about a month before its October 10, 2010 debut, I was excited. I was really interested in it. And it’s programming really got me exuberant. It’s game shows--especially Family Game Night, My Little Pony, Transformers Prime, The Haunting Hour, and the animated series we’re getting into today.

This series was a very bold one, especially despite the network it aired on. It’s concept was different, the content was really something else I’ve probably never seen before, the characters acted like true adults (some of them like children, pretty much of all different kinds), and has humor that the entire family can enjoy. Although it’s good that the kids shouldn’t get the humor.

And it’s all led by a man who has a big problem with...everything on Earth. And he’ll stop at nothing until he’s satisfied. He’s almost never satisfied.

It’s Dan Vs.