And remember kids your favorite T.V charecters say "Don't do stupid things."

[I.R Joey]

You know I could never stand how company's (usualle executives) make a shows writers deal with some great over histrionic issue (drugs, violence, smoking, drinking, etc.) I mean they turn our favorite shows into after school specials when they do this, and it sickens me. I watched Andromeda a few days ago and it dealt with the 2nd in command, doing some narcotic, my goodness I wanted to slap myself out of that thing. Ordinarily, I like the show, but this....ugh let's not even talk about it.

Anyway, who agree's when I say that these things should be stopped (or better yet done subtly. )

[Bird Boy]

in a way, it could be good for kids, to see their favorite super-hero or whatever stopping drugs and saying "it's bad for you"...

On the other hand, I find it annoying, because I already know they're bad for me. I don't mind the few Batman Beyond episodes dealing with drugs and stuff, because I know that it's batman..and he'll whoop the bad guy's butts anyway..

So, I'm neutral on the subject I guess.

-BB

[Psycho Fox]

The one thing I hate is mostly they handle it in a extreamly cheesey way. There are some exceptions to this like Racoons and P&TB handleing of smoking yet most TTA fans hate the Elephant issue ep and this is what most eps end up like when they deal with such things, just a cheesey ep.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Honestly, I don't think kids care less what the TV tells them to do or not do. Most drugs and other substances are pushed by peer pressure; I doubt kids would be thinking "What would the Green Ranger do?" if they were confronted by an aggressive group of friends. Most kids either know they are going to do drugs or they don't. A lot of it simply depends on personality. Some people just fold under when it comes to their friends. Some people are smart and they don't. Sometimes a weak-willed person is just a weak-willed person. There will be a lot of those--you probably can't change them.

[Calhoun07]

Perhaps somebody's mind won't go immediately to Green Ranger when confronted with drugs, but having a number of good influences to bury in the sub conscience won't hurt either!

[The Dork Knight]

I bet you some kids are thinking if they were confronted with drugs, they probobly think....
"What would Brian Boitano do?"

[joker]

and rember kids, knowing is half the battle!

[JustJack]

I'm a fairly big Action Man fan, anyway..
In one episode, Dr. Gangrene put some chemical in the Sports Drink that was sponsering a contest. Everyone went balistic except A-Man, but it was a fairly good episode. BUT, at the end, Alex made the coment "it was so weird, the stuff tasted good, but in the end, messed you up" So, Ricky said..."Yeah, kinda like drugs". Long pause, with a nod, & the show ended.

I wanted to GAG.

I think the Tiny Toon Adventures, where the three guys "experimented" with beer, that was hallarious!

Otherwise...get on with the show! don't mess it up just so you can "teach" kids something they'll forget by time their in highschool anyway...

[Killtacular]

*sings*

Don't put marbles in your nose don't put marbles in your nose,

DON'T PUT THEM IN THERE!




...sorry, I just had to.

[optimal321]

I think it's alright when done in a good way. The episode that comes to mind is the Pinky and the Brain one where Brain gets addicted to cigarettes. They not only teach that it's bad to smoke, but they make so much fun out of the cigarette corporations!

But nothing tastes good when force-fed. Especially "after-school" type lessons.

*POST 700!!!* Yeah, optimal!

[Nightwing]

Originally posted by JustJack
Don't mess it up just so you can "teach" kids something they'll forget by time their in highschool anyway...

LOL!!! Ooooooh mercy! Anyway! I think it's obviously about the network executives, because writers and their stories can infact educate as they entertain. But, it should be the writer thinking:

"Ya know, I think taking illegal drugs is wrong. Here's my take on it, through my stories and characters."

instead of:

"ACK! Boss says we need kid friendly stuff or he make my job goes bye bye! Okay let's see....kid friendly kid friendly...job go bye bye.....AAHH! Gotta think of something...."

With the second one you'll get a writer trying to think of what anti-bad thing goes with what character or something. Wolverine against Smoking? Uuuh, no that won't work....:p

[The Mad Hatter]

I certainly don't mind "message" shows when they're done right. The Pinky and the Brain episode was sheer brilliance, since it was a great parody of tobacco company sleeze. The Batman Beyond episode worked as well, because the drugs, the concequences, and the concern were presented in an utterly realistic way, and the thought that these substances are bad seemed to come naturally, rather than being bludgeoned into our minds with a Louisville Slugger.

Those are about the only good examples that come to mind. I'm trying to forget the TTA "message shows," myself....

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Matt Wilson
*sings*

Don't put marbles in your nose don't put marbles in your nose,

DON'T PUT THEM IN THERE!




...sorry, I just had to.

OUCH! too late :(

[The Dork Knight]

Everybody! Sing with me!

What would Brian Boitano do, if he were here right now? I bet he'd kick an a..... Oh forget it.....

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

- Peter Melnick

[HellCat]

Power Rangers went crazy with episodes like these. But in the end, the people who came clean about addictions and stuff never got in trouble. It was always like"Well, so what if you were stealing to pay for ya addiction, all is forgotten. Let's go and have a soda" :confused:

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Nightwing


I think it's obviously about the network executives, because writers and their stories can infact educate as they entertain. But, it should be the writer thinking:

"Ya know, I think taking illegal drugs is wrong. Here's my take on it, through my stories and characters."

instead of:

"ACK! Boss says we need kid friendly stuff or he make my job goes bye bye! Okay let's see....kid friendly kid friendly...job go bye bye.....AAHH! Gotta think of something...."

With the second one you'll get a writer trying to think of what anti-bad thing goes with what character or something. Wolverine against Smoking? Uuuh, no that won't work....:p

In general, I think anyone (writer or exec) who approaches a story with a didactic purpose will have trouble making it good. Moral lessons are best when they grow naturally out of the story. BTAS' "Mad as a Hatter" and "Baby Doll," for instance, implied some pretty serious things about the nature of respect (both self-respect and respect for others) without once using those tired words or formulas. And that's because Dini probably started with a good story and discovered afterward that it had these other implications. But if you start with the lesson (whether it's the writer on a personal hobbyhorse, or an exec responding to a pressure group) and you're probably going to have to twist and contort the plot and dialogue to get it across, and will likely get a "Don't put marbles up your nose" treatment and response.

[Psycho Fox]

Like Maxie Zeus said BTAS' "Mad as a Hatter" and "Baby Doll are good examples. But I find it rare that you find a message show that don't takes it self seriously. For example Hose Hounds had a short that dealt with treating a women with a bit of respect they did that by using Squirt (which in Host Hounds is already kinda comes off as a womanizer). Now Squirt want wants to get into the hottest club in town. He can't get in becouse the bouncer thinks he is a dork thus squirt dresses up in drag to get past the bouncer the rest of the short is like a version of Pepe Le Pew and Fifi shorts, the guys of the club thinks Squirt is a babe and Squirt can't get out of his getup. Anyway it all ends when Squirt's more egotistical and womanizing freind kisses Squirt just then his wig falls off. The best part is unlike most shows they don't learning anything.

Crash "I learned not to chase after my best friend when he is in drag"

Squirt "I learned not to run around in nine inch heels"

[Frozen]

My first exposure to this as a child was in the Gerry Anderson series 'Captain Scarlet', which had a voice over that stated "Remember, Captain Scarlet is indestructable - you are not. Do not try to imitate him...', and, thank goodness they added that bit because I'd just watched the guy through himself of the Telecom Tower - and, by jingo, I wanted to jump too..!

[RockItShipper]

Any of you guys remember that "Cartoon All Stars" video?

[DR. BELCH]

You mean the thing with The Muppet Babies, Slimer; Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and several other cartoon stars of the '80s (I haven't seen it since ninth grade and I'm surprised they don't periodlically air it on Cartoon Network)? In terms of voice talent and the copyright gymnastics that went into making it, it's fairly good, if a tad out-of-date and ham-handed.
What gets me is when every show has to be a "message show", with the cast delivering a contrived moral at the end--e.g. Rescue Heroes:GRT, He-Man, and Sailor Moon. A good lesson is like a good joke--subtle and understated. No call to bring out the confetti and the dancing bears to teach me not to whizz on an electric fence or eat meat that was green and is now pink again....

[optimal321]

I remember that video! Well, the fact that there were a bunch of cartoon characters in it is the only thing i remember, but i still remember it!

[ChuckRoast]

I remember that very well! About every channel used to air that special at the same time on a Saturday once a year.