Children's shows to leave BBC One

[Gadarene]

Something else I've noticed about the nature of childrens tv; When I was growing up we'd see loads of older classics such as Disney, looney toons, tom and jerry etc... But they just don't get shown anymore.

True, but on the plus side you can get entire back catalogues on DVD.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Looney-Tunes-Golden-Collection-Volume/dp/B0002W12KS

And there's always YouTube.

I recently watched a couple of those old cartoons on a specific YouTube channel and they were horribly racist. Shockingly so. Admittedly, some of them were very old, but even Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry (anyone remember the stocky black legs of the maid?) and Walt Disney cartoons portrayed black people in such a stereotypical fashion.

I know they make new Tom and Jerry cartoons on some of specialist kids channels, but you won't see any of the old ones because it is not deemed politically correct. I was always aware of the connotations from a young age and I'm happy those particular cartoons, acceptable in the 70s and 80s are confined to some deep dark store cupboard. It was interesting watching some of them because it certainly highlighed a time in African American history that must been hell to live through.

It depends which Tom and Jerry cartoons you're on about. I've noticed that the maid has been redubbed to sound....er.....not really sure how to say this....less "black"? Or stereotypically black, I guess.

Come to think of it I think they have rereleased the old racist cartoons, even some of the racist ones, I have a vague recollection of watching my fiancee's copy of the Looney Tunes DVD and it has Whoopi Goldberg or someone with the massive caveats of "it was a different time" etc. before launching the cartoon.

They re-released Tintin in the Congo recently, and when I bought it it had a red tape around it basically saying WARNING RACISM. Hey, at least they're allowing people to read stuff like this and make up their own minds rather than BAN EVERYTHING

 

[non-religious]

[Gadarene]
It depends which Tom and Jerry cartoons you're on about. I've noticed that the maid has been redubbed to sound....er.....not really sure how to say this....less "black"? Or stereotypically black, I guess.


Really? I have seen some of the new Tom and Jerry and they have none of the old black maid within the context of their programmes. Not sure where you're seeing a redubbed version, but I'll be surprised if they do.


Come to think of it I think they have rereleased the old racist cartoons, even some of the racist ones, I have a vague recollection of watching my fiancee's copy of the Looney Tunes DVD and it has Whoopi Goldberg or someone with the massive caveats of "it was a different time" etc. before launching the cartoon.

Again I find that really surprising, especially the Whoopi part. Seems as though she's almost justifying it. Wow..

They re-released Tintin in the Congo recently, and when I bought it it had a red tape around it basically saying WARNING RACISM. Hey, at least they're allowing people to read stuff like this and make up their own minds rather than BAN EVERYTHING

True.. I'm not suggesting they ban it, anymore than I would suggest they ban those awful shows from the 70s like Mind Your Language or Love Thy Neighbour. They came out during a time when racism was acceptable. If people enjoy watching cartoons depicting black people as watermelon, dancing, lazy and stupid baffoons. More power to them. I think I'll pass..

 

[Genersis]

Personally i didn't notice the racism in Tom and Jerry when i used to watch it.
Don't get me wrong, i remember the maid...to be honest i don't remember her even being a maid, just as Thomas' owner.
Maybe the more racist ones didn't air anymore when i was young or something...

 

[Gadarene]

Really? I have seen some of the new Tom and Jerry and they have none of the old black maid within the context of their programmes. Not sure where you're seeing a redubbed version, but I'll be surprised if they do.

Think I saw it on UK cartoon channels. Jetix, perhaps.

If we're talking about the cartoons where you'd see a pair of legs, maybe the odd black arm, and a veeeeeery stereotypical black voice, then they've been redubbed.

You wouldn't see the really blatantly racist cartoons with say characters in blackface on TV anymore though. Probably just on YouTube and in the DVD compilations.

Again I find that really surprising, especially the Whoopi part. Seems as though she's almost justifying it. Wow..

Looney Tunes Golden Collection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I can't find the full transcript. I think it's probably to underline the fact that there is imagery in them we'd find uncomfortable without making a huge song and dance about it. It's interesting in a sense, to see what attitudes were around then.

The wartime propaganda cartoons are way more enlightening though

True.. I'm not suggesting they ban it, anymore than I would suggest they ban those awful shows from the 70s like Mind Your Language or Love Thy Neighbour. They came out during a time when racism was acceptable. If people enjoy watching cartoons depicting black people as watermelon, dancing, lazy and stupid baffoons. More power to them. I think I'll pass..

I can't say I'd enjoy it entirely on that basis, but as a collector and general completionist, it was interesting to see a version besides the French edition. And to be fair, Hergé does clearly display a progressively more racially egalitarian viewpoint as he got older. Took a bit longer than I'd like to get there with Jews though :/

 

[non-religious]

[Gadarene]Think I saw it on UK cartoon channels. Jetix, perhaps.

If we're talking about the cartoons where you'd see a pair of legs, maybe the odd black arm, and a veeeeeery stereotypical black voice, then they've been redubbed.

You wouldn't see the really blatantly racist cartoons with say characters in blackface on TV anymore though. Probably just on YouTube and in the DVD compilations.

I suppose some progression is better than none.


Looney Tunes Golden Collection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I can't find the full transcript. I think it's probably to underline the fact that there is imagery in them we'd find uncomfortable without making a huge song and dance about it. It's interesting in a sense, to see what attitudes were around then.

The wartime propaganda cartoons are way more enlightening though

Walt Disney made a couple. Very interesting viewing..

I can't say I'd enjoy it entirely on that basis, but as a collector and general completionist, it was interesting to see a version besides the French edition. And to be fair, Hergé does clearly display a progressively more racially egalitarian viewpoint as he got older. Took a bit longer than I'd like to get there with Jews though :/

I do think, from a purely historical perspective, they do make fascinating viewing and provide an uncomfortable, if not unpleasant, view into the mindset of not only the creators, but the audience also.

 

[non-religious]

I'm a child of the 70s. So we naturally always view todays children's television in an unflattering light. Especially when compared to what we watched. Rent a Ghost, Grange Hill (a BBC classic) and The Diary of Adrian Mole. We were spoilt. Having said that, as a father of two babies, I do see a number of programmes on the CBEEBIES network that children will fondly look back on through rose tinted specs. Don't we all?

I can't believe people still watch Blue Peter. The numbers are dwindling and I don't think anyone, in the history of the show, has ever made one of those things they create

 

[David Brider]

I'm a child of the 70s. So we naturally always view todays children's television in an unflattering light. Especially when compared to what we watched. Rent a Ghost, Grange Hill (a BBC classic) and The Diary of Adrian Mole. We were spoilt. Having said that, as a father of two babies, I do see a number of programmes on the CBEEBIES network that children will fondly look back on through rose tinted specs. Don't we all?

Yeah, Grange Hill rocked. What I've seen of Rentaghost is disappointing in hindsight...

If ever I have kids, I plan on bringing them up watching Bagpuss and Doctor Who, on the basis that it didn't do me any harm.

My wife...doesn't entirely agree with this philosophy...

David.

 

[non-religious]

[David Brider]Yeah, Grange Hill rocked. What I've seen of Rentaghost is disappointing in hindsight...

If ever I have kids, I plan on bringing them up watching Bagpuss and Doctor Who, on the basis that it didn't do me any harm.

My wife...doesn't entirely agree with this philosophy...

David.

You're probably right. I watched a bit of Rent a Ghost the other day (YouTube) and it wasn't as great as I once imagined. Bagpuss, Mr Ben, Ivor the Engine, Clangers, Paddignton Bear etc... all had a certain charm. However, I think we're are just being overly sentimental because they bring back so many memories of our own childhood.

I watched a video about 80s sweets and they had bars of chocolate, some of which are still around today, priced 15p Ah those were the days eh?

 

[Gadarene]

You're probably right. I watched a bit of Rent a Ghost the other day (YouTube) and it wasn't as great as I once imagined. Bagpuss, Mr Ben, Ivor the Engine, Clangers, Paddignton Bear etc... all had a certain charm. However, I think we're are just being overly sentimental because they bring back so many memories of our own childhood.

I watched a video about 80s sweets and they had bars of chocolate, some of which are still around today, priced 15p Ah those were the days eh?

A Cadbury's Fudge bar was 10p. A pack of Hubba Bubba was about the same.

Now it is about 50p. WHAT

 

[non-religious]

[Gadarene]A Cadbury's Fudge bar was 10p. A pack of Hubba Bubba was about the same.

Now it is about 50p. WHAT

To be fair, Fudge bars are only 15p in Tescos. So they have remained resolutely low priced in comparison to their chocolate counterparts

Chewits were once 10p, but are now about 30p.

 

[Gadarene]

To be fair, Fudge bars are only 15p in Tescos. So they have remained resolutely low priced in comparison to their chocolate counterparts

Chewits were once 10p, but are now about 30p.

Ah, I meant Hubba Bubba had skyrocketed in price.

 

[non-religious]

[Gadarene]Ah, I meant Hubba Bubba had skyrocketed in price.

Indeed they have. Considering we've had sugar free gum for years. Does anyone actually still buy them?

 

[David Brider]

Ah, I meant Hubba Bubba had skyrocketed in price.

Derailing slightly to the prices of childhood sweets - I was at a convention once, 2003, in a Hilton hotel. They had the nerve to be charging about £1:00 for Mars bars. I bet the local newsies did a roaring trade that weekend...