# Recommend me a good kid's show that's not horrible for adults. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609 "2009-10-05T00:05:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/1 "2009-10-05T00:05:45Z")
To give you ideas what we’re looking for, the Hamletclan includes three girls under the age of 9 and the 'rents. We just finished Avatar: The Last Airbender, which was a great series for both the kids and the adults (well, at least one of the adults). Before that was the Planet Earth Documentary by the BBC, which was equally as awesome. Now, with those two gone, I find myself not knowing what we should watch for family movie nights. We’ve also done the Pokemon thing, but those got stupid and tedious. Anyone have any good kids’ shows we can watch as a family? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/2 "2009-10-05T00:12:34Z")
_[The Adventures of Pete & Pete](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105933/)_ ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/3 "2009-10-05T01:06:10Z")
[_The Penguins of Madagascar_ on Nick](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892700/) ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/4 "2009-10-05T03:05:46Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > _[The Adventures of Pete & Pete](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105933/)_ That’s what I was going to post. Great show. I think only the first two seasons are out on DVD, sadly. Also, Batman: The Animated Series. It can be a little uneven qualitywise, at least for the early episodes, but it can be very good. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/5 "2009-10-05T03:13:44Z")
A lot of the Miyazaki movies are enjoyable by both kids and adults. _My Neighbor Totoro_ and _Kiki’s Delivery Service_ are particular favorites in the Whatsit household. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/6 "2009-10-05T03:34:35Z")
Any of the Spielberg cartoons from the 90s. _Tiny Toons_, _Animaniacs_, _Freakazoid_, _Histeria_, and the related spinoffs. They do lean more toward kids than adults, but there’s plenty of jokes for adults in them as well. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/7 "2009-10-05T04:10:05Z")
If you can find any NickToons still on – especially _Rugrats_. (_Aaaaah! Real Monsters_ was cool too, but it wasn’t on for very long.) ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/8 "2009-10-05T04:30:42Z")
I still love Spongebob. I’ve also found “ICarley” pretty funny. 23 YO male, though, so you can take my opinion with a grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/9 "2009-10-05T04:46:11Z")
Old Looney Tunes. Will definitely have the adults saying “OH! I never got that joke when I was younger!” to themselves on quite a few occassions. Yes Rugrats, the first few seasons in particular had many jokes aimed for adults while staying funny for the kinderlachen. Marx Brothers. Three Stooges. Abbot and Costello. You owe it to them to give them true cultural literacy! [The Sarah Jane Adventures](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sarah_Jane_Adventures) a Doctor Who spin-off aimed for children. Doctor Who itself can follow in a few more years, but not yet. Old Get Smart. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/10 "2009-10-05T05:14:47Z")
Miyazaki and Looney toons seconded, but I think the OP was looking for series. I’d go with Spongebob; once you get used to the style a bit, its a hoot, for kids or 'rents. ETA: and the OP has excellent taste; _Avatar_ was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/11 "2009-10-05T05:39:31Z")
Spongebob works for us as well. I generally can’t watch children’s shows, but Spongebob is one of the few that’s engaging for adults. Another show we’ve enjoyed on DVD is _Pee Wee’s Playhouse_. There was a lot of wit in that show, and it still holds up. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/12 "2009-10-05T05:49:45Z")
For now: **Dinosaurs**! All four seasons now on DVD. As is Jim Henson’s **The Storyteller**. And **Fraggle Rock** 🙂 For when they’re a wee bit older (the oldest might like these now): **Strange Days at Blake Holsey** , which airs on Discovery Kids. **Eerie Indiana** and **Batman Beyond** are on DVD now. You might be able to stomach **Are You Afraid of The Dark** , too. **Courage the Cowardly Dog** on the cartoon network. Maybe by the time they’re ready for these **So Weird** might finally be out on DVD too. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/13 "2009-10-05T05:57:57Z")
I’ll second Are You Afraid of the Dark. I like Goosebumps, too, but I understand it’s probably out of nostalgia only. Arthur’s pretty fun, too–I still enjoy that one. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/14 "2009-10-05T06:19:58Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Miyazaki and Looney toons seconded, but I think the OP was looking for series. [Future Boy Conan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Boy_Conan) is an amazing television series directed by Miyazaki. The only issue would be availability. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/15 "2009-10-05T06:49:26Z")
Rocko’s Modern Life and KaBlam, both from Nickolodeon, are fondly, fondly remembered - still have a few Rocko’s and Action League Now! we recorded on video that were just too excrutiatingly funny not to. I also remember renting Walt Disney cartoons - Silly Symphonies and such, with Mickey Mouse and Pluto, made in the '30s. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/16 "2009-10-05T07:00:59Z")
\*Alf \*is funny. If you’re high. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/17 "2009-10-05T08:02:44Z")
_Samurai Jack_ is awesome wrapped in awesome. The only problem is that you’ll probably enjoy it more than your kids. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/18 "2009-10-05T08:50:33Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > [The Sarah Jane Adventures](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sarah_Jane_Adventures) a Doctor Who spin-off aimed for children. Doctor Who itself can follow in a few more years, but not yet. Why not? Doctor Who is a family show. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/19 "2009-10-05T11:31:19Z")
PBS cartoon Sagwa the Chinese Siamese cat The Wild Thornberry’s Malcom in the Middle ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/20 "2009-10-05T11:55:36Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Why not? Doctor Who is a family show. On a similar note: **Star Trek: TOS**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609.md?page=2)