So I started a post with one show in mind and realized that I could crank out a whole series of blogs about what my Deedee watches basically forever since what I let her watch and what she wants to watch evolves over time. Whether that series happens or not, I’m definitely capable of lump-summing certain things together.
I’m trying not to be a stuffy adult that blanket judges kids’ shows. Plenty of the stuff I loved as a kid is full of plot holes, question marks, and vague unbelievable-even-for-fantasy backstories (Rainbow Brite, Mighty Max, TMNT, the list goes on…). Granted, I have no real memory of what I watched at 3… I just know what my mom tells me and what I assume based on what my little sister watched at 3 – Sesame Street and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. But really, PBS was basically it for toddlers in the late 80’s on antenna TV. When I tell friends I didn’t have cable until I moved out at 20, they’re still surprised to learn that meant no Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, or Cartoon Network either. To be fair, I will mention most of my friends are 10 years younger than me and their concept of “no cable” seems to translate to “no paid channels like HBO or Cinemax.”
So nowadays there’s a plethora of media platforms. To create a show in such a way that parents feel comfortable letting their kids watch and inspires kids to bug their parents into letting them watch and subsequently buy merchandise, these program writers and directors sure know what they’re doing. As Deedee gets older, I’ve been ok with less outright educational or nursery rhyme shows. Netflix has several exclusive titles we watch, and they’ve been picking up more and more from NickJr, making it easier for my late waking household to watch them.
My observed children’s programming formula:
1. Introduce a challenge (Blue’s Clues takes this literally) and/or lesson for the main characters. Recurring lessons I’ve noticed include “share,” “teamwork,” “ask for help,” “your friend’s new friend isn’t replacing you,” and the like.
2. (Not ALL episodes, in some the challenge is enough) Introduce conflict with antagonist(s). Commonly a villain or thoughtless/selfish person that creates a problem. Sometimes it’s a mistake, misunderstanding or not even a “who,” but a force of nature that requires a response. Doc McStuffins does this step with injured/ill toys.
3. Now is a “call to action” sequence with heroes donning their uniforms and/or getting their equipment. Seems to always come with a short song or catch phrase(s) for the young audience to memorize. This is an evil genius step because my Deedee knows all the Paw Patrol’s little catch phrases despite seeing the show so rarely (it’s on a little early and isn’t on any of the streaming platforms I have). PJ Masks and True and the Magic Kingdom are examples of identical visuals recycled (almost) every episode.
4. Next usually involves three stages to reach a conclusion. Some episodes have two failed attempts before the success, others just have three steps to take. Many shows also have sets of 3 within the 3 stages even – Dora the Explorer is a prime example of that. If there was a lesson to learn, it will be a required realization before solving the big picture.
5. The optional resolution song and/or “punchline.” This doesn’t seem to include recycled visuals, but just a song each episode that plays over a “heroes wrapping things up” montage. A punchline can be an endearing “oh, you,” regarding a character’s quirk, a “gotcha” pun directed at the villain, or the obvious statement of the moral made notorious by GI Joe’s “now you know.”
It all seems an easy formula, found in picture-books and even cartoons directed at older audiences. I want to be an author and I honestly struggle with this formula because I get bogged down with wanting a fleshed out setting and character backstory – both things kids’ shows just go with the flow about and the audience takes for granted. Of course children have super powers, non-existent parental supervision, and can pilot highly technological vehicles! Some animals talk but not all, toys come to life but not in front of everyone. Some worlds have only a few humans that happen to be children – makes perfect sense everyone else can be a cute blob or transforming monster truck. As deceptively simple as this formula is, there really is a talent to creating a setting that makes it effective, and an evil genius to make it both memorable and marketable.
Knowing all this doesn’t make the young kids’ shows any less potentially annoying to me (especially in the “play it again, Mom” mood)… it might even make it worse because their predictability, repetitiveness, and plot holes make me dissect them, all while being a little bitter and jealous that I haven’t come up with my own kids’ series cash cow, ha! I still plan on trying, I’ll keep you posted.
Random SAHM Thoughts 