You Gotta Love It

I am a child of the 80's and undeniably, it was the best time of my life bar none. For person like myself, who grew up in the 80's, it was a decade that define my childhood and hopefully yours as well. Let me ask you this question, when it comes to the 80's, do you feel somewhat or absolutely nostalgic that it brings a smile to your face when you think back or do you cringe? For it was a fun, interesting, and sometimes embaressing time indeed as music as well as fashion ruled the era, but what ruled in my honest opinion back in the day was television. So boys and girls, I ask you to join me as I reflect back on when television was television and please buckle up for your own safety.

When it comes to educational shows back in the day, nothing compared to shows such as Reading Rainbow and Schoolhouse Rock, which had 3 minute series called Conjunction Junction and I'm Just A Bill. For the question can be asked and be honest, how many of you still remember the songs and can you sing it? As kids, Sesame Street and Mr. Roger's Neighborhood taught us some very valuable life lessons such as friendship and helping our neighbors. However, the show that made science fun and exciting, which paved the way for Bill Nye The Science Guy was Mr. Wizard's World. Mr. Wizard, Don Herbert, was kind of the MacGyver of science and many people were truly influenced by him.

Without a doubt, family and/or family related shows were part of our upbringing as they taught us about serious issues such as sex, drugs, drinking, racism, etc. Such shows were Growing Pains, the Facts of Life, Punky Brewster, Full House, Cosby Show, Different Strokes, Gimmie A Break, Webster, etc. Who could forget memorbable characters such as Alf, Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties, Buddy from Charles in Charge, Mork(Robin Williams) from Mork and Mindy, The Fonz from Happy Days, Ricky Stratton from Silver Spoons, and many more. BUT the one show that probably had a huge impact on every kid's life was the Wonder years with Winnie and Kevin. In some aspect, you saw yourself in either Winnie or Kevin or Paul unless you were Wayne in which I raise my fist to you....just kidding.

Essentially, when you talk about the 80's you have to talk about the cartoons of that time. Cartoons that defined the era such as G.I. Joe where we learned something new at the end of every show and knowing that particular bit of information was half the battle. Transformer, not the updated version one, but the original where more than meets the eye and the names actually went with the character. Let me tell you something, when Optimus Prime died by the hands of Megatron I cried, but I digress. I grew up on shows like Silverhawks, GoBots, Voltron, He-Man, She-Ra, and yes even Jem and The Holograms. Yet THE cartoon for me was and still is Thundercats with the most coolest way to call for help by way of the sword of omens which is....THUNDER! THUNDER! THUNDER! THUNDERCATS! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

In retrospect, as these people who show up on to our television screens grow up such as Fred Savage(Kevin) and Danica McKellar(Winnie), who are practically the same age as me. In a sense, you can say each of us grew up together with that particular show and actors as well. For the most part, when you talk with people about certain cartoons of the past one will occasionally gets some blank stares as they have no idea what you are talking about. However, shows like Inhumanoids, Pole Position, Wuzzles, Turbo Teen, C.O.P.S, Shirt Tales, Galaxy High, Dungeons and Dragons, Mysterious Cities Of Gold, Jayce and The Wheel Warriors, B.O.T.SMaster, Captain N: The Game Master, were all real. In the end, these shows were awesome and all I have to say about 80's television is, you gotta love it.