Saturday Morning Fantasy Schedule: CBS

Saturday morning cartoons has been a dead institution for years.  However broadcast stations are required by the FCC to air three hours of educational/instructional programming every week.  Currently ABC and CBS both meet this law by purchasing programs from Litton Entertainment and NBC has a block of programming from the PBS Kids digital channel.  Even though Saturday morning children's programming is essentially a formality I think that it is one of television's grandest traditions and the three big networks can have blocks that are both educational and entertaining, made up of nostalgic programs that can play to older and younger audiences.



My CBS lineup would be a combination of different types of shows from various networks and decades.

 
9:00 (central time) Between the Lions
 A popular PBS series from the early to mid-2000s that focused on literacy.  The puppeteering is of extremely high quality and characters are all fun.  There are funny gags for kids, but incredibly well written jokes for adults.  A great example of blurring the lines of entertainment and education.  Would be fun to see again.

9:30 (central time) Clifford the Big Red Dog
Another very popular PBS kids show.  The show finished production in 2003, but still continues airing in some markets.  Clifford is a likable character that many have fond memories of and this show is a fun adaptation of his popular books.  It is definitely targeted at a young audience, but there is a genuineness and sense of fun that makes it play to older children too.

10:00 (central time) Berenstain Bears
CBS aired this show back in 1985.  Since then the videos have been shown in many schools.  It follows the format of the book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain, of creating fun, relatable stories that actually teach something.  The animation is great, stories are fun and the series has aged well.  Like Clifford, these are characters that people love and associate with education and positive family entertainment.

10:30 (central time) Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
This is one of the best educational cartoons of all time.  There is a lot of nostalgia towards Fat Albert, but he has not aired for a large audience since the eighties.  Cosby is even discussing relaunching the series.  Would be a fun thing to rerun on Saturday mornings, especially since it used to air on CBS.

11:00 (central time) Hey Arnold
This actually aired on CBS for a short while in 2002 when their lineup was programmed by Nickelodeon, but its run was cut short when the lineup changed exclusively to Nick Jr. programs.  I imagine that this qualifies as E/I because it features relatable kids being helpful and learning lessons.  The nineties Nickelodeon shows have a huge fan base that would tune in to see some reruns from their childhood.

11:30 (central time) Wild Thornberrys
Another old Nicktoon that aired for a short while on CBS.  This one is probably E/I because of its positive child lead and ecological message.  This is a fun cartoon that balances comedy with some adventure.  Not airing anywhere consistently right now, but has a huge fan base who would turn on Saturday mornings to see it.

Ten Best Picture Book Series

10. Frog and Toad
This seems to be an important step between picture books and chapter books.  Likable characters and distinctive illustrations.  Never been my favorites, but like many I grew up with them.

9. Where's Waldo?
May be cheating including this, but like I Spy kids were always trying to get away with looking at these series during silent reading time.  The teachers never let it slide.  These are good books for kids though as it can teach focus.  I think Waldo works better for this list as it involves an appealing character and there are stories going on within the crowd.

8. Little Golden Books
Not a series of recurring characters, but rather thematically similar books in the same art style.  Tootles, Saggy Baggy Elephant, Tawny Scrawny Lion and of course Poky Little Puppy.  The artwork is great in its simplicity and stories are great for early readers.  There is just something about a Little Golden Book with its hardcover and gold binding.  You seem to be able to find them everywhere.  Of course there are also licensed books with the likes of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Bambi, Bugs Bunny, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie all making the back cover.

7. Dumb Bunnies
Inspired by The Stupids (which are also fun), Dav Pilkey's series is just goofy fun for kids with plenty of visual gags for them to seek out.

6. Amelia Bedelia
This is how children should be introduced to puns.  Well written jokes and a fun lead character.  I am surprised that no live-action version of this has ever been attempted.  Joan Cusack or Kristen Wiig as the famous nanny in a short subject or TV special would be a lot of fun (please do not attempt a feature, though).

5. Peter Rabbit

Not sure if this should be classified as a chapter book series, but I am putting it here (this replaced Little Bear on the list, which I love as well).  The iconic and influential tales of Beatrix Potter are a must for children and their families.  Peter Rabbit is just such a great mischievous character and the tale of Mr. McGregor's garden is great story telling.

4. Clifford the Big Red Dog

Louis CK has a genius bit about how there are fifty books on the same premise, "the dog is really big." As simple as that is, it still works due to the loving artwork of Norman Birdwell.  Clifford and Emily's relationship is really sweet and the characterization is really strong.

3. Curious George
Fun lessons in consequences.  George does something the reader knows he shouldn't and he learns from it.  The character is innocent enough to make his antics endearing.  Also his relationship with the Man in the Yellow Hat is a good example of positive adult interaction with a childlike character.

2. Arthur
The art evolution of this series is fascinating.  Arthur and his large group of friends are relatable kid characters.  The situations are ones in which every child finds themselves.  Even though some books may seem outdated, the stories still work and the series changes as children change.  The lessons are not heavy handed, but effective.  It is just fun and definitely holds up.

1. Berenstain Bears
Educational but fun.  The lessons vary but the family dynamic is pretty relatable.  One of those franchises that every child just responds to and can read with their family.