List of 10 : Ten Great Former Soap Opera Themes or Intros

Soaps    List of 10 

   We have looked at a lot of Soaps here on Joshuaonline , this time we thought we do a rarity for this site a List.  Since the list  has the word great  in it, that means it's  mostly subjective  so your results may very in agreement. Though if you have a favorite you can tell us .  For this list  we have decided to do soaps that are no longer running , and American Soaps.  We may do later lists of UK soap intros and of ones that are still running. We may have included one primetime , American soap in here too because they are rarer and you'll see.   Let's get started.

10. Dark Shadows   

We've written about this soap before , it's the most interesting thing . The soap is about vampires and other supernatural things  so it's theme really fits , it has the  dark haunting feel to it. I can compare the  sound it makes to ghosts. It does have a feel to it that makes it stand out. 

9. Passions 

   For a Soap that did it's own thing  and could get dark  even supernatural ...the theme song really could throw you off.    The theme song is called  "Breathe" By  Jane French , it is really a great theme and deserved that daytime Emmy.

   here is the full theme 

8.  All  My Children  (Early 90's theme) 

This one was a hard one because this show has a lot of Themes that I love , but in the frame of this top ten list this is the one that goes into the list.  The Drum and piano bring into the theme then the sax takes care of the rest. I love the mixture it fit All My Children Well.

7. Guiding Light  (1975 theme/intro ) 

    This one is light and simple , it feels like  a summer afternoon which is something  of an interesting affect for a  a Theme song. The Intro around this time is short and sweet. It's the sun coming  through some tree leaves and branches.
 
    I chose the closing for the featured video because it's longer  , you can see the intro here .

6.As The World Turns (1990's Theme) 

    As The World Turns  themes seemed to be the classiest themes I've heard in a soap  , this was a harder choice but I feel the 1990's theme has a simpleness to it ,yet a grandeur which is a lot to say for a soap theme. It's not long  in the intro but it does it's job and feels so well done. 

      
     That it's I am calling that number.  I chose the ending credits, glad I found one without the annoying voice over ,gosh networks shut up sometimes.   Here is an intro from the same period 

    

5.Ryan's Hope

   This is  a soap we have covered in a Lookback .   "Ryan's Hope" Theme is a happy  and optimistic sounding theme it may  even through you off  from the what comes after it ,which could be happy or not. The theme really captures you into the show.
  As the note the theme didn't change really through the show's history , but the opens did the open I picked was from 1980 and even the images of New York seem happy and optimistic it fits the music well.

                           

4. The Edge of  Night 

        We have covered this soap before  in a lookback , but theme , well the more famous theme is interesting one. It has a spooky haunting sound with an ominous feel too it.  For a crime and mystery soap the theme fits very well.   

   

                           For a bonus here is the theme with words to it .     If I were to  put this seperate it would be on this list as it's own the Jazzy disco version is amazing. Here 

3.  Sunset Beach (First theme) 

      We've written about Sunset Beach here before . It's theme is amazing , it has a great melodrama sound . It really gets you ready for the soap , the intro itself doesn't do much  just showing you the faces of who is on the show , so the music really brings the flare.
 
                      

2.   One Life To Live  (Mid 80's theme) 

     This one is also my favorite  themes of One Life to  Live , the music is upbeat and lively (maybe the pun was intended) It's a catchy one , It gets stuck in my head where it can at any point randomly just  pop in my head and I hum it.

                             
               Also the closing credits  of course have more you listen to that here 

Now there is more after the Jump including my  number 1 pick.

List of 10's : Our favorite Sabrina the Teenage Witch episodes

List of 10's 

     Sabrina the Teenage witch came out 20 years ago to  ABC and ran for 7 seasons  and switched networks in the middle.  I love this show, if it's on I will watch it (unless it's at very late night and I am sleeping) . This is hard list to do , for me , because I love more than ten episodes of this show. What this list will be is just 10 favorite episodes, and for fun ...no ranking.(The Numbers mean nothing , they are just numbers)  So let's jump in. 

  

1.  As Westbridge Turns (Season 1 Episode 21) 

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

   I love this episode because they do a great job at soap opera parody there's love triangles, there's a janitor with an eye patch, there's amnesia. It is  a fun episode taking all those things making a great story. Plus 12:36 (P.M) for fans of the show you know what I mean.   It also shows how great Sabrina and Harvey's relationship is how even remembers the time they met, 

2. Sabrina the Teenage Writer (Season 3, Episode 18)  

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

   Similar to the first one , where Sabrina uses a magic typewriter (because of course it was) and writes a story and turns out real and she has to fix everything.  It's a fun episode, I really liked the interaction between the expiry characters  like the Libby expiry character Lydia Kissandkill (great name) attacks Mr.Kraft. And Mr.Kraft's  expiry Dr.Bad is a funny character.  The Windows 95 joke made laugh hard for some reason.  Also the  B plot , with the aunts in the chain letter was funny and inventive instead of them having bad luck in the moral style of this plotline ,since it's a witch chain letter there is actual chains and magic things happen to them. 

3. "A Girl and Her Cat" (Season 1 ,Episode 11)

 copyright Viacom 

   I have to say that I love this show's Christmas episodes, they are hard to pick from (especially the first 5 season's Christmas episodes) , but I am going with this one from season 1 because it's a nice showing of Sabrina and Salem's relationship.  At first Sabrina is mad a Salem for messing up her time with her friends ,but when he ends up missing and cat napped by a little boy , she misses the warlock cat and does everything to get him back.  It also has a a great guest star for Clarissa fans. It has also a lot of good humor and gags in it to keep you laughing.  

4. "To Tell a Mortal" (Season 2, Episode 10)

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

      On Friday the 13th, Witches can tell mortals that they are witch  and the memories of the mortals will be erased after the day is over. Sabrina , of course uses this to tell Valarie and Harvey that she is a witch. Sabrina learns that her friends are good friends that they are accepting of her witch powers and being a witch. That makes it a good episode to see how strong their friendship is ,even when Libby brings an angry mob because Sabrina being witch the friends lie for her and protect her. 

5. "Silent Movie"  (Season 3, Episode 24)  

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

     I think I really like the episodes that do parody because this one parody's silent movies . When two spells are cast under the same house it turns the the house into a silent movie, just as poor Sabrina wants to tell Harvey she loves him.  Hilda and Sabrina think that Mr.Kraft is going to pop the question to Zelda.   They do a fun job at doing parody on the silent movies, like the being tied to the rail road tracks,   Even the dedication of them just using music and going back and white adds to the episode.

6.  The  Whole Ball of Wax (Season 6, Episode 12) 

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

   This is episode is sad, at the same time does go the opposite  of what was said the pilot where Sabrina wasn't able to see her mother for two years. Sabrina sees her mother who was following her around  and when they meet up her mother turns in a ball of wax.  The witch's council decrees they can't see each other. The Aunts try and find a loophole , while Sabrina spends time with her ball of wax mother, and she happens to turn back into a person, but they can't  look at each other.  I do like this episode, even though it's sad because it's nice to see Sabrina and her mother, and Sabrina trying to give her mother  a good time even if she is a ball of wax , we never really had an episode about these two , and it's nice to see none the less, 

7. Pancake Madness (Season 3 , Episode 5) 

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

      Sabrina can't have pancakes because the Spellmans  are addicted to them (oops). Of course , she eats some and gets addicted and can't stop having them.  This episode goes into that funny surreal category especially  the giant talking syrup bottle was a great character. 

8. "Five Easy Pieces of Libby" (Season 2 ,Episode 14) 

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

   Sabrina and Libby don't get along and Sabrina casts a spell to keep Libby away from her ,but her quizmaster reverses the spell and Sabrina has to stay with Libby ,but after an argument Sabrina goes to far and Libby breaks in a puzzle, that Sabrina has to solve.  This episode is nice to see Sabrina learning more about Libby like how her mother is a little mean and Libby cares about her Grandmother.  The B plot of Hilda and Salem's cleaning scheme is great as well  and fits in their characters , Hilda did work with Salem to try to take over the world before. 

9. "A River of Candy Corn runs through it" (Season 2, Episode 7) 

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

  The Halloween episodes give me hard  choice to make , as well, but this one gets my pick because of it's downright off the rails fun.  There's talking furniture , candy corn , all over the place, Salem talking and more.  Sabrina thinking that everyone will think she's a witch but they think all the magic are fakes and this makes a great Halloween episode.  Also there's  a sweet moment between the Quiz master and Sabrina. It has tons of laughs and enjoyment and 10,000 Maniacs guest stars. 

10. Sabrina the Teenage Boy (Season 2, Episode 6) 

 From : Sabrina The Teenage Witch wiki/ copyright Viacom 

   Sabrina becomes a boy to spy on Harvey ,this falls into I like it because the story and funny, Harvey still like likes Sabrina and wants to see if she still likes him. Hilda's plot line where she turns into a man to get Mr.Kraft  to go away is funny and nice to see that he would fight a big guy for Hilda's honor.  

  That's my favorite 10, in no particular order, this list could have been much longer, what  are your favorites? You can comment below or email us. Thanks for Reading. 

It's a Lookback ,Charlie Brown : It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown

Peanuts  Flashback 


       According to calendars: September means summer ends  (unless you are in Australia reading us on Joshauonline.blogspot.com.au     then happy spring to you) and sometimes summer feels short that's the special we are looking at this time.
    "It was a Short Summer ,Charlie Brown" premiered on CBS (Can't be Sad) in September of 1969.  It was the first special not have a majority of the cast from the "A Charlie Brown Christmas". It was the last special of the 1960's as well.
   

     The special begins with Charlie Brown telling Sally she has to go to school and the only thing that convinces her  is the new lunchbox that her mother bought her.  She's is not every happy about Kindergarten.   In school Charlie Brown and Linus are caught playing hangman in class , and Linus reminds her that she hasn't given assignments. (you block head)   The Teacher comes up with the assignment a 500 word essay on what they did for summer.  Linus' writing his paper goes in flashback mode and we hear what the characters were planning for summer until Lucy announces that she signed everyone up for summer camp. (Question: can she do that , I mean the parents have to sign some papers or something?, Don't look at us like that)

  We are more glampers... thankyou very much /copyright Peanuts 

    While waiting to go we get a Snoopy  imagining that he is driving the bus  (with trippy 60's scenes)   until the bus driver forces him away.   Charlie Brown is chosen as his tent's captain  which contains  Linus, Schroeder  ,Shermy, Pigpen, and Snoopy.   This story in the special is also being written by Charlie Brown and Lucy , so we have some connectivity as one story.  Lucy apparently is the leader of the girls. The boys challenged  the girls to a  swimming race  that goes as well as you would expect for the boys.

 As well as you expect / Copyright Peanuts 

             

          Lucy writes about the softball game that the boys vs girls were playing  and Linus writes that they lost the softball game (I'm shocked!)  and that the camp fire didn't go well either.  The girls came over to "cheer up" the boys and they start singing.  Charlie Brown then writes about the nature hunt when he hears about a canoe race  which he doesn't do to well in.  Charlie Brown wants to challenge the girls to wrist wrestling  and he introduces Snoopy (the masked marvel ) as someone who could challenge Lucy.
                       

 I am the champion/copyright Peanuts 

      Snoopy goes through training for the big match up . Charlie Brown issues the challenge of Snoopy versus the girls' champion. Lucy says they will be ready at lunchtime.  Guess who? Yeah it will be Lucy versus Snoopy. The competition goes on and Snoopy wins after he kisses Lucy on the nose.
               

Went as well I expected/ copyright Peanuts 

    Anyway, back to current time and Charlie Brown only wrote 13 words for his essay and he got a C- while Linus got an A.  He remarks "It was a short summer ,Charlie Brown" and Charlie Brown ends by saying "It looks like it's going to be a long winter".

   That's our lookback,  tune in next time when Charlie Brown  finds out he hates Mondays.. wait that's Garfield.

The Lookback : Arthur 20 : Brain Freeze/Arthur Calls it/ Besties

The Flashback  Arthur 20

    So we have looked at 1 episode season no matter if we like that episode or not, because of the random process we did to find the episode. Now this is our last of this , tapping into seasons 17,18,and 19.   Yes , going out with a bang of 3 episodes , yay! If you missed our last posts : Post 1, Post 2, Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6, Post 7, Post 8, click those links.

  So let's get to season 17.  Season 17 aired between  2013-2014  ,and it's the second season animated by 9 Story , and you  can see a bigger difference in the animation this season, compared to last.

Our episodes is 10b , the final episode of this season, and apparently Brain is well liked by our system because he wins  again. "Brain Freeze" is the name of the episode.

(Also : Since this is a Brain episode , if you aren't knowing of Arthur ,we are spelling Brain like the thing in your head, it's the kid's nickname , so we aren't spelling Brian wrongly, thank you)

Monologue:  Buster is taking about a new ice-cream shop opening across the street of the one Brain's family owns. (Because of course it is) The other kids are talking about the new store and looking at the impressive wording they use in the ad. Like Ice cream in an edible waffle holder , (guess what that is?). Brain laments  that they are falling for the fancy wording , but they say they aren't and they are loyal customers.  Binky then comes in and says that YumBobo (the other Ice cream shop) is giving away free ice cream (welp we are out of here!).  The other kids run out to see it, and Brian says he gives away free samples all the time. (Why?)

The Episode : (that monologue was just extra episode soooooo)  The kids are waiting at Yumbobo watching a dancing blue penguin dance and give away ice cream,  Brain decides to check out this store. (Like when Walmart visits Target)  The store has a bunch of future looking stuff and long names for Vanilla.  Brain really takes that heart that it's not called vanilla there , and they call the security penguin (time for this statement: What the heck are we watching?) to escort him to the cash register.

 "Come with me ,Kid, you don't to make me angry"/Copyright WGBH 

    At home Brain does some science stuff to the ice cream to prove that there's no different to vanilla  (let it go! see sh) and other flavors as well that they are just using fancy names. (we knew this already)    He tells  Buster that they are using gimmicks to rip people off. (You know people don't have to shop there right?)  Brain says that if they don't get more business his family's store could go out of business. He promises not to steep to their silly gimmicks.  So he tries his own!
               

 He blinded me with Science!/Copyright WGBH 

     Muffy suggests that he needs to give a story of his product , so decides to help him with new ideas to promote the ice cream.  One of the ideas is that it's 1905 (good, I have to warn about World War I) and how the family was making ice cream that's passed down through the generations.  Brain doesn't like this because they've only had the store for 4 years. (Since Nixon?)  So he storms out.   Brain imagines that his family's store has gone out of business and asks his mom what are they going to do next? (We are going to Disney World, Allan)  She says that was offered a new job ,he asks what and she doesn't want to talk about it. (Gosh, this is children's show, bad writers oh... she's scrubbing floors , oh thank goodness oh my, woo) She's cleaning floors at the other ice cream shop and if she doesn't yay right , she will have to clean the mascot's cage. (ummm I have  a question... What are we watching?)
                 
   

hmmmm that's not how any of this works/ Copyright WGBH 

         Brain decides to go the joke shop and get a polar bear costume (sell out)  and he tries to sell ice cream outside the store. He even resorts to using funny names for the icecream. (sell out!) A bee puts a kabosh to his plans. (good work bee) Buster asks he thought that Brain wouldn't sell out. (our wording)
  Time for our question! : Where the Heck is Arthur, this show is called Arthur where is he?!  ok carry on.
                 
     Buster tries juggling the ice cream and it lands on the counter and the two ice creams mix , pistachio  and coffee. (ok then) Brain likes it too, Buster saved the day (thanks to the Powerpuff girls)    Jump cut ... The new ice cream store is looking a little bare as everyone is visiting Brian's again because of the new mixing thing.  The completion comes in fake beards , trench coats , and hats (that's how my parties go) to scope what's going on.  Oh the end.
   (Oh there's Arthur in the background , yay!!)

                                 There he is ! Right there in the background! see /copyright WGBH

  Well , that's the episode and  that was umm and it was alright , could have been better , but Buster was great, and also   Brain did have reason to be upset about the competition , but it did work out for the best and there we go. Sadly though, LACK OF ARTHUR , this show is called Arthur!

more after the Jump  with season 18 and 19 episode selections.

Freeform announces 13 Nights of Halloween schedule

Freeform   Halloween 

    Names change , but things stay the same, as this is the first year of Freeform name ,  a tradition from the Fox Family days continues, the 13 Nights of Halloween. They announced the schedule Wednesday  Here it is.

All  Times ET

Wednesday, Oct. 19
5:30 PM   The Nightmare Before Christmas
7 PM        R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls
9 PM         Hocus Pocus
12 AM        Corpse Bride

Thursday, Oct. 20
3:30 PM  The Nightmare Before Christmas
5 PM  Hocus Pocus
7 PM  The Addams Family
9 PM    Addams Family Values
12 AM   The Final Girls

Friday, Oct. 21
4:30 PM   The Addams Family
6:30 PM  Addams Family Values
8:30 PM  Sleepy Hollow
12 AM  Frankenweenie

Saturday, Oct. 22
7 AM  Spooky Buddies
9:10 AM  ParaNorman
11:20 AM Sleepy Hollow
2 PM     The Goonies
4:40 PM Scooby-Doo
6:50  PM  Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
9 PM   Monsters University
11:30 PM  Toy Story of TERROR!
12 AM  Corpse Bride

Sunday, Oct. 23
7:30 AM The Goonies
10:10 AM  R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls
12:20 PM Scooby-Doo
2:30 PM  Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
4:40 PM   Matilda
6:50 PM  Toy Story of TERROR!
7:20 PM  Monsters University
9:50 PM  Hocus Pocus

Monday, Oct. 24
7 AM     Practical Magic
3PM       Matilda
5PM        The Addams Family
7PM       Addams Family Values
9PM         Hocus Pocus
12 AM      Scooby-Doo

Tuesday, Oct. 25
7 AM     Death Becomes Her
4 PM    The Addams Family
6PM       The Addams Family Values
12 AM       Halloweentown

Wednesday, Oct. 26
4PM  The Sorcerer's Apprentice
6PM    Dark Shadows
8:30 PM Sleepy Hollow
12 AM  Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge

Thursday, Oct. 27
4 PM  The Goonies
6:30PM   Sleepy Hollow
9PM    Hocus Pocus
12AM   Halloweentown High

Friday, Oct. 28

12 PM The Goonies

2:30 PM  Hocus Pocus

4:30 PM  The Hunger Games

7:30 PM The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
12 AM   Return to Halloweentown

Saturday, Oct. 29
7AM   The Nightmare Before Christmas
8:35 AM  Corpse Bride
10:35 AM  The Hunger Games
1:45 PM The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
5:15 PM  The Addams Family
7:20 PM  The Addams Family Values
9:25 PM  Hocus Pocus

Sunday, Oct. 30
7 AM  Corpse Bride
9 AM  Spooky Buddies
11:05AM  Scooby-Doo
1:10 PM Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
3:15 PM  The Addams Family
5:20 PM   The Addams Family Values
7:25 PM Hocus Pocus
9:30 PM  Sleepy Hollow

Monday, Oct. 31
7 AM  The Goonies
11AM  ParaNorman
1PM  Scooby-Doo
3PM  Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
5PM  The Addams Family
7PM   Addams Family Values
9PM   Hocus Pocus
12AM  Hocus Pocus

Press release after the Jump 

The Lookback: Arthur 20: Best Enemies/ The Best Day ever

The  Lookback  Arthur20 

  Oh Arthur you've reached another mile stone in our journey , oh yes you've reached 15 seasons  now, in this post we take  a look at an episode from season 15 and an episode from season 16, these seasons also mark our second to last post. If you missed our first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth,and Seventh Post , well click those words and you are there.  

So let's get on it. First season 15's episode.

   

              Hey season 15, we were joking about Arthur liking Disco in our last post . 

Also I think he might on something/copyright WGBH 

     That episode in the image is not one we are reviewing but we couldn't miss the fun, that was from an episode called  "Through the Looking glasses" also in season 15.  The episode that was selected for us was episode 7b "Best Enemies".  Season 15 came out in 2011 and 2012  and  this was the last season under Cookie Jar , who was bought out by DHX so it was given to a different animation company. (you will see what we mean soon) 

Monologue : Arthur is talking to the audience again do you feel that you and friends like totally different things.  Also Arthur doesn't like climbing fences (guess no trespassing record for him ), Pickles.   The talking hamburgers (still not the strangest thing we've ever written on this blog , but still close to it)  don't like mustard. It ends with Arthur saying they are still best friends though. 

Episode : Arthur's family has some company over , his mother's new client whom she wants to impress.  D.W is excited that  guests have a little girl her age and hopes to play unicorns, trolls , and a rainbow board game.   The guests come over named Herman, Ursa , and W.D. (Ok writers what next next Ruhtra too?)  and apparently her full name is  Wilhelmina Dagmar. (what?)  She doesn't like that  name.   W.D  (not 40) is not really into D.W rainbow game , she wants a race car game , the princess fairy collection doesn't go to well either,    The Mothers are getting along, that's good , but Arthur checks on the girls who are fighting because W.D said Unicorns aren't real. ( Hmm no comment)  W.D apologizes , while the fathers bond at dinner.  Meanwhile W.D likes broccoli , the only reason we bring this up is because D.W doesn't. Also D.W wears a dress , while W.D  wears pants, and D.W doesn't wear a baseball cap,  (Good work writers)  W.D brings a special toy , yes it's a race car game and of course that's not D.W's thing. 

This is W.D ...that is all/ copyright WGBH 

  Everyone else   had fun, ( though they didn't bring anybody for Arthur , well that's just rude ) so the Reads are invited to the family's little house up north. (Heaven?) this makes W.D and D.W have faces of displeasure. (they didn't have to write the sentence with their names we should be dis pleasured)  Arthur is spending is weekend with Buster anyway so thanks exposition.  D.W has a dream they go up north and W.D forces D.W into a race car. (and dies...no not really)  W.D has a dream that  the Reads have  a pink R.V that has a unicorn name Glitter ,that talks. Then she has to ride on Glitter into a lollipop flower field that then collides into  D.W's race car nightmare. (what am I watching?)  

Then they died... well the sun is a happy still/copyright WGBH

      D.W's family takes the pink wagon car thing, not their fancy pink R.V that they don't have.  W.D also has an imaginary friend like D.W. (ok writers I see what you are doing)   D.W and W,D  (this is getting silly)  have a plan to get out of this weekend, they both find out they imaginary friends , we know this already,  The two girls start fake fighting (because that make sense) the father of W.D suggests they go out and paint.   The two girls start bonding while still fake fighting this time with paint on each other. (because this makes sense)   They start rocking the boat and cause everyone to capsize , and the Read's decide they have to leave. The Two girls did kind of have fun and D.W stops the car (and kills her family, no not really)  and wants them to go back.  (well that plan had no point, what did we just watch?) 

  Well ummm that was an episode, OK it was alright , I guess 5 year olds do have stupid plans because they are five , blah blah, but the episode was kind of fun and it does show that yes people might even be the same age and sex but still not have the same interests, and also you might have somethings in common.  

Now to an episode from season 16 after the Jump ... 

The Lookback: Arthur 20: Brain Gets Hooked/Arthur Unravels

The Lookback Arthur 20

   Thanks for sticking around , we mean it!  Our journey through Arthur continues (we are in his liver now?)  this means we are looking at a select episode from season 13 and another one from season 14. all the episodes are randomly selected by a very odd process and the we talk a little about them .  If you missed our past posts : Post 1 , Post 2, Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6 , click the links to see them.
  Let's  go!

    Oh season 13, was the the season that came out in 2009 and 2010. Like the last season, there's an episode that probably doesn't get repaired now because Lance Armstrong is in it, it's about Cancer called "The Great MacGrady" we aren't talking about this episode, but I thought I should reference it , and if you can find it , watch it anyway .  The episode our process picked was episode 3b. "Brain gets hooked" (For the note: If you aren't an Arthur viewer or know of any characters , or something we do mean Brain like the thing your head not , Brian, and we just refuse to spell that name right thought that would be something we would totally do.)


   Monologue:  Arthur is popping bubble wrap and he is talking about people being obsessed. Like Buster getting obsessed about the baseball team winning, his father and neighbor obsessed about Christmas lights. He laments the whole thing , while continuing to pop the bubble wrap, his mom calls him and he pops one more then leaves.

Now The Episode:  Brain wants to go to his chess tournament , but it is still early so his mother wants him to wait, so Brain goes to watch TV.(Ahh The Warm glow of TV)  He runs into a TV Show talking about PI (math? that's it I am outta of here) he calls the show predictable (yet I can predict what is going to happen in this episode)  The show is called Junior Island. (Darn it CBS I told you no more Amazing race spinoffs!) Brain gets caught up the show , and he won his chess championship.  Then he spends his time talking about why the show is stupid ( Brain has become the internet ) he's also a bit concerned that the girl is stronger than the boys.(tisk tisk Brain )  

Francine then took care of Brain /copyright WGBH

     Francine notices that for a show he thinks is stupid , he sure talks about it  alot (is she talking to us?) there's a history project about the middle ages.( a project about being 46?)  Brain tries to figure out his assignment but the show pulls him to it.  Brain ends up watching the show for like two hours (that's what the clock says)  then Arthur and Buster come to see if he wants to ride with them on bikes, but he doesn't and watches more show.
                         

 You've gotta change your TV ways / copyright WGBH

  The next day , Fern hears him whispering the theme song and she asks him if he is into it.
(see people : theme songs still matter)  She says that she got into deep and the show is addictive and don't watch too much at once. Brain gives his report and doesn't do to well , because of the show, and he got a C.  Fern warns him not to stay away from the DVD box set,,, (guess what happens) if you said he gets the box set.  He does get a chance to do his report again , so he tries to hide the DVD ,but  he spends more time locking away keys.  He's losing his mind, and goes to get the key to get the key to get the key to get the key, to get the key , to get the DVD. (yep we wrote that)  Fern rings his doorbell and then comes into his house anyway. (then she was arrested) Fern tries to snap Brain out that  it's just a TV show it's not real. (Arthur isn't real? well darn it  I quit)   She helps him with his report.
           

 Pictured :Us watching this episode /copyright WGBH

  Brian says he is just going to watch one episode  and he watches an episode where they were stuck on the  Island for years and find a land bridge. (Ok episode I see what you are making fun of here)  This puts him off the show ,because that was stupid.

  Well this episode of course is good talk about our binge watch culture of ...wait this came out in 2009, wow, it predicted our binge watch culture. Honestly though, wow. It's message is good one, do things in moderation , TV shows are fun to watch , but don't put them above other things you have to do. (Yeah Netflix )   Also don't do lock up DVD's in cabinets if they are from the Library that might not end well.

Join us for the season 14 pick after the Jump

The Lookback: Arthur 20: Arthur Swept Away/ The Cherry Tree

The Lookback  Arthur 20 

        Welcome back , we are now in the post season 10 episodes so, we are almost there!  (Honestly, though with all the posts were are becoming Arthur Online)  If you missed our posts about seasons 1/2 ,  3/4, 5/6  7/8  9/10  click those  links to see them.   This is a look at two randomly selected episodes from seasons 11 and 12. (one from each as per our whatever)  Season 11 came out in 2007 and 12 in 2008.   Both seasons,as has become normal of the series , has only 10 episodes (when counted as half hours, also skimping aren't you PBS?) .

    Let's have  wonderful kind of Day.


The Season 11 episode  has an episode  that guest starts  Matt Damon , and  well that's not the episode we are looking at. (Wait please don't go)  We are looking at episode 1a called "Arthur Swept Away"

Monologue :  Arthur starts talking about how people have a different  sense of time  , like how D.W thinks time is longer than it really is, Buster goes by his stomach (what's wrong with that Arthur?) , or how times feels like it goes really fast or slow (like when taking a test) , but you can't stop time.

Now the Episode: Arthur , Buster , and D.W are at the beach , how do we know? Because they yell it.  They can't go on the beach because of the ocean waves are too rough.  Grandma Thora makes a suggestion that they should make a sand castle.   So the episode takes some  TIME  and we see our characters make a sandcastle.  (Called Castle Star Fish)   Amazingly , the sandcastle doesn't get destroyed overnight as they came back and make it bigger.  That 2nd night, Arthur fantasizes about being  a kings to small beach creatures and dreams that Tidal waves come and they save the castle from destruction.  (What am I watching?)  The 3rd day, it's now almost destroyed so Arthur goes to fix , but this isn't going well, there's too much water. (ha water ....Ocean) After, all that  they have to go home.  Some time cut later, they look for where the sandcastle was ,but they did end up in the paper.(That's why they are going out of business... just putting any ole thing in there)

 Bow to your new king!/Copyright WGBH 

     That's the episode it's nice to have an episode with Arthur and D.W working together , with Buster as a bonus piece of fun. There's no real problem in this episode it's just a nice episode about them and enjoying this sandcastle.


Now join us for the season 12 episode half selection after the Jump.