Oldschool

Remember the episode of "Doug" when everyone thought Skeeter was moving? Or how Uncle Scrooge would always spring off the diving board into a swimming pool filled to the brim with golden coins? Can you still hear Rocko's Australian accent or Rockapella singing the theme to "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" Or who could forget the "Saved by the Bell" gang swinging by The Max everyday for an after-school burger and shake?\nAnd, ahhh, Camp Anawana -- we held you in our hearts. And when we thought about you, it made us wanna fart. Ug's threats of, "It's 'I hope we never part'-- now get it right or pay the price!" are words that will remain with us forever.\nThings were a lot simpler back then. Instead of deciding which party to hit up this weekend, it was deciding which Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger you were going to be when you acted out the fighting scenes with Rita Repulsa and her band of Putties in your backyard. \nThink about your plans for this Friday night. They might involve making your rounds at the bar or consuming some beverages that may give you more than just a little buzz.\nNow think back to your Friday plans 10 years ago: sprawling out on the living room floor, eating pizza and watching Steve Urkel and his love interest Laura Winslow kick-off another glorious two hours of the television bliss that was T.G.I.F. Yes, that really was already 10 years ago for a lot of us. \nOr think back even further, back to the days of carefree kindergarten and preschool, tuning into The Disney Afternoon every weekday. Who didn't get excited when the familiar, furry faces of "Ch-ch-ch-chip & Dale" popped up on their television screens?\nThe truth is, these classic shows were a lot more than programming for kids. For many students these shows helped define our childhood. We look back on our younger years with the fondest memories, savoring every drop of nostalgia soaked into these televised triumphs.\n"I loved 'Hey Dude' on Nickelodeon," says sophomore Manasee Atre. "I loved the theme song, too. It was great watching the back-to-back episodes everyday. Remember the one when they staged a murder mystery? Melody was out of the loop and when she overheard everyone practicing, she thought they were actually going to kill the owner of the ranch. That was my favorite episode."\nThe jury rests its case.\nFacebook groups like "I'm Still Obsessed With Saved By The Bell" and "People Who Wish They Would Bring Back Old-School Nickelodeon Shows!" are just two examples of the revelry found in the youths of the '80s and early '90s when it comes to the old TV shows on which they look back so affectionately. Try striking up a conversation about Nickelodeon in its heyday with a stranger and don't be surprised if you find yourself reminiscing for at least a half hour. \n"The kids on that show were so frustrating to watch," says freshman Rachel Skiles, on the contestants on "Legends of the Hidden Temple." "They were so clueless. They never knew where they were going, and they took forever."\nThen again, who wouldn't be daunted by half-clothed temple guards accosting you in the "Shrine of the Silver Monkey," prying your pendants of life from your fists? \nMaybe environmentally-conscious cartoons were more your style. Whether you were "taking pollution down to zero" with Captain Planet himself or feeling sorry for the planeteer with the pet monkey whose power was the measly force of "heart," chances are you were enjoying every minute of it.\nOr did you prefer cartoons that were originally found in the funnies? "Dennis the Menace" was a favorite, along with the syndicated "Garfield and Friends." Watching Garfield's plans to ship Nermal in a cardboard box to Abu Dhabi being foiled every time never got old.\n"Those shows shaped my childhood," says sophomore Kavita Singh. "My favorites were the shows on SNICK. I would watch no matter where I was. Even if I had to go to some family get-together, me and my little group of friends would always sit down and watch it. My favorite show was 'Are You Afraid of the Dark?'"\nBut what about the kids' shows of the new millennium?\n"No way. Cartoons today do not even match up to the ones of my childhood," says Singh. \nPerhaps what made the TV shows of yesteryear well-liked and memorable among Generation Y may simply be because they were the shows from the generation's time period. Members of any generation will look back on childhood memories as "the good old days" and nothing offered in the present can even compare. \nBut some die-hards still stick to their guns. Today's cartoons may genuinely be lower quality.\n"I loved cartoons when I was little, but I feel that today's cartoons are trying to grow up kids too quickly, and I feel as though they are running out of ideas for shows," says sophomore Alex Anderson.\nRegardless of the debatable caliber of what's on the boob tube for kids in the year 2006, the days of Penny and Brain guiding the bumbling Inspector Gadget through a case, the antics of Buster and Babs Bunny and the slimy physical challenges of "Double Dare" are long gone -- or are they?\nA note-worthy Web site is www.retrojunk.com, a compendium of classic opening sequences, theme songs and episode guides up and ready for download. Old commercials are also featured, such as familiar favorites like Connect Four, Crossfire or Perfection.\nAlso, subscribers to some digital cable or satellite services can enjoy watching these vintage shows on spin-off networks like "Nickelodeon: Games & Sports," "Toon Disney" or "Noggin."\nAnd with the DVD explosion in recent years, you can nab a box set of your favorite series either at the mall or through the Internet faster than saving New York City from Shredder and Krang, rescuing April and grabbing some pizza with Splinter -- cowabunga!\nAt this rate, it looks as if regressing into your childhood may be easier than you thought.