If you’ve got kids of just about any age, you know that the task of monitoring what they watch on TV usually means having to view a lot of bad shows junk crap. Even when you weed out the violent, sexual, or simply too-adult content, you’re often stuck with programming that stretches the very definition of entertainment. I (or the hubby) will usually suffer through whatever show we’ve deemed inoffensive enough, trying to let the kids develop their own fledgling entertainment tastes while admittedly hoping to mold them to ours. (Don’t act like you don’t do it too!)
So it’s always a plus when one of their shows has something you actually find kind of entertaining, as is the case with one of the brighter spots among our DVR’ed kid programming, Nickelodeon’s iCarly. Tomorrow night, the Plain White T’s — of this year’s ubiquitous "Hey There Delilah" — will guest star on the hit show. (Check out this behind-the-scenes video and our Spotlight article on the T’s in this week’s issue of EW.) The guys are there to perform "Delilah" and "Our Time Now" on teenager Carly Shay’s (Miranda Cosgrove) web show as payback for her brother saving life of lead singer Tom Higgenson (pictured, center). I’d probably have willingly watched this week’s episode with the kids anyhow, but now I’m actually looking forward to it…and praying there’ll be more such opportunities for mutual enjoyment in our television future.
What are some other shows that you don’t mind (or even enjoy) watching with your children?
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Actually most of the shows on Disney channel are tolerable, the first 2 or 3 times.
I have to admit that both Dora & Diego are tolerable to watch, and for me the real fun as a parent is watching my kids (ages 4 & 2). I see them learning, listening and being involved by answering Dora’s & Diego’s questions. It’s cute.
I will admit to possibly slightly enjoying “Hannah Montana” and “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”. Only if forced at gunpoint by my 9YO daughter, of course!
You know you’re a mom when you sit around with other moms playing the ‘what’s your favorite spongebob? game.” Of course, it’s a drinking game, but still.
Right now, the best kids show IMO is Avatar: The Last Airbender on Nick. I’m sure I should love it for it’s anime and all that stuff, but what’s hooked me is there’s an actual storyline to the whole thing. In fact, I’m surprised this show doesn’t have a cult following because it’s a very traditional Hero’s Journey with a well-plotted story and multi-dimensional characters. Very good stuff, for girls and boys.
I love watching Drake & Josh with my seven year old!!
iCarly isn’t too bad. The kids love it because of the actors from Drake and Josh. Even though we’re all on Drake and Josh overload, thank god. Very tired of that. Ned’s Declassified can be funny.
But cartoons rule in our household. I can sit though the 88th airing of most SpongeBobs. Kim Possible is funny, too.
The Simpsons and Futurama are favorites, but watched as a monthly treat because of my kids’ ages. (I’d rather not have them watch, but they love both shows.)
Sorry this post is all over the place, but the kids are home early today.
I’ve got to concur about “Avatar.” I don’t even have kids, and I still watch that show. It’s like anime, except the plot actually seems to move forward (sorry, there is much bitterness from the amount of time I invested into “Sailor Moon” in high school).
I really like Ned’s Declassified, especially seeing Jim J. Bullock (of “Too Close for Comfort” fame) as “Mr. Monroe”. What a great inside joke for the parents in the viewing audience! Seeing the guitarist from Everclear in a guest role was a hoot too!
I have to admit that I enjoy watching “Curious George” on PBS with my 4-year-old…innocuous enough for her with just enough wry wit for me. And she learns math & science concepts at the same time, total bonus! “Dora” has been banned from our house because everyone just shouts at each other, and my daughter’s behavior after she watches is atrocious.
I confess to liking Drake and Josh and Hannah Montana. Also the Wizards one. I do NOT like Suite Life. I don’t like those kids, no matter how hard I try. Oh, and I put the HSM soundtrack on my own iPod, so that’s saying something…
Hannah Montana is not bad, really. Miley Cyrus has well developed comedic timing for one so young, and I’m betting we’ll see more of her down the road. Of course, I can’t watch them over and over like my 9 year old. And, HSM reminds me of what Grease was for me, minus the pregnancy scare and changing-for-a-man scenario. Good times!
I know I’ll be in the minority here, but I forgot about PBS’s Arthur. The kids like it and I find it to be really appealing.
I’ll never forget three Thanksgivings ago when my uncle, a big burly construction worker with 7-year-old twins, looked a little distracted at dinner and replied with, “Sorry. ‘The Fairly Odd Parents’ was a two-parter and I really want to know how it’s going to end.”
Most of the Nickelodeon lineup: Spongebob, Fairly Oddparents, Jimmy Neutron, Drake & Josh, Ned’s Declassified (hilarious)…..I enjoy these the most and of course have seen them all hundreds of times.
I’ve always enjoyed watching Ned’s Declassified Guide to School, and I certainly love watching most Disney Channel original movies so I can make fun of them afterwards.
I don’t have kids but after nannying for several years in college and post, I just can’t give up my kids programming. Not a day off goes by where I don’t catch an episode of SbSp, Drake & Josh, Fairly Oddparents, Jimmy Neutron, Ned’s, Unfabulous, or Hannah Montana. I even have Hannah Montana in my series manager but mostly because I like to sing the theme song and then laugh my butt off at Billy Ray and Miley’s over-acting. Did you know the actor that plays Jackson is 30?!?! I really miss Lizzie Maguire though; that was a cute show.
I watch Ned’s Declassified at least once a week- and I don’t have kids.
I watch Hannah Montana whenever I can catch it. And ya know I love my Veggie Tales and Jane and the Dragon. As well as Cyberchase on PBS. I was fan-girlish when I met people from that show last year.
Oooh PWT’s on tv. I’ll have to watch for that to appear on YouTube.
I don’t have any kids, but I used to always watch Blue’s Clues and Arthur with my nieces and nephews. And I still love Suite Life and Powerpuff Girls.
I don’t have any kids, but I used to always watch Blue’s Clues and Arthur with my nieces and nephews. And I still love Suite Life and Powerpuff Girls.
I love watching The Backyardigans with my kids, the music is so catchy and not as horrible as I find most kids shows music to be. I also don’t mins SpongeBob.
Spongebob mostly annoys me, but I can watch it fairly peacefully with my kids. That “Atlantis Squarepantis” they recently showed was so stupid I think it wrapped all the back around to clever again.
The one show they watch that sucks me in every time is “El Tigre.” I can’t help it. That show is hilarious.
Disney’s Recess remains one of the best animated shows ever and I cannot understand why it isn’t available on DVD. No Other Show EVER is as true to life in elementary school as this show is. I despise Hannah Montana – so many of my students 7, 8 and 9 year olds) are desperate to “maintain a Hannah look” and lifestyle – it is way too consumerist. My kids still love SpongeBob and have never not been Simpsons fams. Does American Idol count as a cartoon? Wouldn’t it be fabulous if we could get an animated version (like the old Jacksons/Osmonds 1970’s) of the gang, holding auditions by day and solving crimes by night? What superpowers could we give them?
I know a couple of people already mentioned ‘Arthur’, but I get genuinely excited when it’s on. It’s very well-written with enough inside jokes for parents…it’s like the ‘Seinfeld’ for kids!
bizarrely, “wonder pets” has grown on me. it probably annoys everyone around us though, that my daughter and i sing-talk for a good while after we see it. eh, what can you dooo-oooo?
I love watching spongebob with my kids; it’s hilarious
I’m with Martha2 – I LOVE to watch Backyardigans with my daughter. We sing the songs together (“Call of the Mermaid” when she’s taking a bath, the theme song when we want to dance & spin). I even buy her DVDs so I can watch – I mean “share” – episodes we’ve never seen. Sometimes I’ll watch them when she’s sleeping & I could be catching up on my DVR (Heroes, Grey’s, Dexter, etc.)
I like Hannah Montana, even with Billy Ray’s “acting.” Some of the things Miley & Lily get into remind me of Lucy & Ethel. Ned’s Declassified is good. But the BEST SHOW EVER is Fairly Oddparents. That show ALWAYS makes me laugh, especially the Channel Chasers movie. That was a HOOT!!
Johnny and the Sprites! It’s brilliant. I also love Arthur. I miss a lot of old shows that my kids used to watch like the Puzzle Place and Hey Arnold. Anyone remember those?
my 3 1/2 yr old daughter only watches NOGGIN.
she really loves, backyardigans, lazy town, franklin, lil bear, dora/diego, wonderpets, and her favorite is jack’s big music show….