Favorite Children's Programs of All Time

[PirateLover]

Recently there was a lot of debate over Disney's children's programming. I got to thinking, what are YOUR favorite programs for children. It can be from any generation. I'm not just talking fun Saturday morning cartoons (although you may certainly feel free to list them!) but for me the best shows also taught lessons while they entertained.

My top would probably be Sesame Street, Lambchop, and Fraggle Rock. (Can you tell I like puppetry and cute furry animals?)
As far as Disney Channel goes, there were two programs on there when I was young that I really liked- The Secret Life of Toys (which only ran for one season), and Under The Umbrella Tree. Again, more puppetry

[Reedy Creek Buccaneer]

Captain Kangaroo, Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers for me.

[barnaby]

Scooby Doo, GI Joe and He-Man

[PirateLover]

Captain Kangaroo, Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers for me.

Scooby Doo, GI Joe and He-Man

My older brother watched Captain Kangaroo a lot. I remember we had an episode on VHS. I think it was about stone soup. He also loved He-Man. "By the power of Greyskull." I was a huge Scooby Doo fan myself. Rooby rooby doo!

[Scar]

Although I'm not sure this always qualified as "Children’s Programming"

Overture, curtain, lights,
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing and nursing our parts
We know every part by heart
Overture, curtain, lights
This is it, we'll hit the heights
And oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it ...

On the educational side:

Sesame Street
Captain Kangaroo

Who remembers... "All the news that's fit to print; and fresh haddock."

[Melanie]

Captain Kangaroo, Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers for me.

Sounds about right!

[Ian]

You know me ... gotta have a list!

These are all my favorite shows from when I was little. I only listed true children's shows, though, and not stuff like re-runs of Gilligan's Island and things like that that I also liked.

1. Bugs Bunny (Looney Toons in general, really)
2. Sesame Street
3. Electric Company
4. Mr. Rogers
5. Speed Racer
6. Marine Boy
7. Saturday Morning Cartoons (too many individual favorites to list!)
8. Captain Noah (it's a Philly thing)
9. The Flintsones
10. Scooby Doo

[Altair]

Does anyone else remember Science Court? It was only on one season, but it was educational and also very funny.

Another educational and funny show was Histeria!

[PirateLover]

[*]Captain Noah (it's a Philly thing)[/LIST]

"Send a picture to dear old Captain Noah, send today and right away."

"Red and yellow and pink and green, orange and purple and blue. I can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow too."

[joonyer]

Gotta Be Fundle Bundle!

[Jim&AngieMarriner]

I know these arent normal programing but in addition to the cartoons mentioned by other posters, I loved the Holiday specials. Specifically the ones done by Rankin and Bass. I loved the stop motion stuff.

[McLiberal8]

As far as Disney Channel goes, there were two programs on there when I was young that I really liked- The Secret Life of Toys (which only ran for one season), and Under The Umbrella Tree. Again, more puppetry

I LOVED Under The Unbrella Tree! Also, Eureka's Castle, Muppet Babies, and Gummybears.

Bobby's World, Eek! The Cat, Power Rangers, TMNT, were also faves.

The ultimate show, though, that also solidified my love for Disney for all eternity : The Mickey Mouse Club (MMC).

[Ian]

Anyone remember 3-2-1 Contact? That was more my brother's generation, but I still watched it from time to time. It was a PBS show that focused on science and scientific principles, but did it in a kid-friendly way.

I always thought that was a good show.

Great Space Coaster?

[PirateLover]

I LOVED Under The Unbrella Tree! Also, Eureka's Castle, Muppet Babies, and Gummybears.
.

We must be from the same generation. Can't believe I forgot Eureka's Castle! I remember being so excited for my mom to take me to Pizza Hut to get the puppets! And Muppet Babies was another good one.

[SBETigg]

Way before some of your times... (Maryanne, I only know Eureka's Castle from watching with my babies) but HR Pufnstuff was one of my favorites. I loved all the Syd and Marty Kroftt shows. I had no idea about any possible drug references or anything like that. I just knew that Witchypoo scared the heck out of me and I really wanted Jimmy and his Magic Flute to stay safe. Great shows.

[Ian]

Way before some of your times... (Maryanne, I only know Eureka's Castle from watching with my babies) but HR Pufnstuff was one of my favorites. I loved all the Syd and Marty Kroftt shows. I had no idea about any possible drug references or anything like that. I just knew that Witchypoo scared the heck out of me and I really wanted Jimmy and his Magic Flute to stay safe. Great shows.

Oh heck then you must remember Sigmund and the Sea Monsters!

Now Sigmund the sea monster and Johnny and Scott are friends ...

I loved the Syd & Marty Kroftt shows, too. HR Puffnstuff was one of my favorites. Great theme song ... all the shows back then had great theme songs. The theme song biz is lacking these days. Hasn't been a truly classic one in a decade or more.

[brownie]

Some good shows on this thread. Some more recent ones I thought were good are Bear in the Big Blue House, PB & J Otter, and Bob the Builder.

I don't think I saw The Muppet Show listed anywhere; I enjoyed that one.

[SBETigg]

Oh heck then you must remember Sigmund and the Sea Monsters!

Yes! One of my Saturday morning favorites, too. And you're right about theme songs. They really set the tone.

[jnfr2424]

• New Zoo Revue
• 3-2-1 Contact
• Electric Company
• Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (I think I am dating myself)
• Banana Splits
• Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
• Sesame Street
• Great Space Coaster
• The Jetsons
• Captain Kangaroo
• Mister Rogers
• Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego

[SBETigg]

• New Zoo Revue
• 3-2-1 Contact
• Electric Company
• Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (I think I am dating myself)
• Banana Splits
• Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
• Sesame Street
• Great Space Coaster
• The Jetsons
• Captain Kangaroo
• Mister Rogers
• Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego

Well, you're around my age, then, anyway. Electric Company with Morgan Freeman as Easy Reader and Rita Morena's Hey You Guuuys! Amazing. Then Electra Women (Deidre Hall) went on to big soap opera fame. We had some great kids shows back when we were kids.