# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/41 "2009-10-05T17:41:18Z")
[Fairy Tale Theatre](http://www.amazon.com/Shelley-Duvalls-Theatre-Complete-Collection/dp/B00077BPH8) is full of awesome for adults and kids alike, and honestly who doesn’t want to see Mick Jagger as the emperor of Japan or Billy Crystal as one of the three little pigs? Seriously, rent these ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/42 "2009-10-05T17:46:46Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Dukes of Hazzard That’s more of a boys’ show, though, and the first season wasn’t exactly for kids. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/43 "2009-10-05T18:00:54Z")
I’ve got a big soft spot for [Invader Zim](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invader_Zim), but I guess that is slanted more towards a tweens-level audience. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/44 "2009-10-05T18:02:56Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > That’s more of a boys’ show, though, and the first season wasn’t exactly for kids. YMMV, my girlfriend was 4 or 5 when the show was on, and was in love with Bo or Luke (forget which, probably Bo.) ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/45 "2009-10-05T18:25:33Z")
I’ve tried to get my daughter into Looney Toons and The Flintstones, but she prefers Spongebob (which is certainly tolerable) and Max and Ruby. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > My 10 year old loves _iCarly_. I admit it’s made me chuckle before. She likes _Drake and Josh_ too, which has a similar kind of slapstick style to it. Both shows are written by Dan Schneider (of 80s sitcom Head of the Class). My 3 year old loves both shows and we can watch them without feeling ill, unlike Hannah Montana and The Suite Life, which are completely unfunny. There are times while watching iCarly that my daughter leaves the room and it’s about 5 minutes later that I realize I’m still watching it! It’s cute and clever. I love the Gibby and Nevel characters. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/46 "2009-10-05T18:59:59Z")
I can’t believe I’m the first one to suggest Rocky and Bullwinkle. Classic, classic stuff… ---
**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, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/47 "2009-10-05T20:03:39Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > I can’t believe I’m going to be the first one to mention The Muppet Show. It might be a bit song-and-dancey for kids these days, but it sounds like your kids don’t suffer from Spongebob-induced ADD as much as most ( 😉 ). Another classic I forgot about. Although I’m looking for something with a better storyline and compelling characters, it is one of my favorite shows of all time. Thanks for jogging my brain. > [@Giles](#): > > Once you’ve watched My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, you could try Kamichu!, a 16-episode anime series about a middle-school girl who becomes a Shinto god. In spite of being a god, and able to interact with the spirit world, she remains a shy, clumsy middle-school girl: it’s very sweet, and entirely suitable for young children. Netflix has it and it sounds like a great option for what I’m looking for. I’m hoping they don’t play up the romance stuff too much (my girls won’t be dating until they’re … oh, let’s say 28 or so), but we’ll give it a shot. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/48 "2009-10-05T20:14:51Z")
Another vote for Phineas and Ferb. It’s a well-done kids’ show that includes some jokes and references that are clearly aimed at parents who may be watching. My 7-year-old daughter really likes Wizards of Waverly Place, which isn’t bad. It’s not the kind of show I _want_ to watch as an adult, but if I am watching, it at least seems “not stupid.” (As opposed to the _Suite Life_ shows, which my daughter also likes, and which I can’t stand). Edited to add: Backyardigans is also good, though it’s aimed at younger kids – say, ages 3 to 5. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/49 "2009-10-05T20:41:27Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Netflix has it and it sounds like a great option for what I’m looking for. I’m hoping they don’t play up the romance stuff too much (my girls won’t be dating until they’re … oh, let’s say 28 or so), but we’ll give it a shot. Thanks. Yurie (the god and middle-school girl) has a crush on Kenji Ninomiya (the one member of the school’s calligraphy club), but he seems hardly aware of her, even after she saves his life in a typhoon which she causes in episode 1. And Yashima-sama (the god of the local shrine) seems to have a crush on another god who plays in a rock band. (!) So there’s romance in it, but it’s not inappropriate in a story for pre-teens. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/50 "2009-10-05T20:48:42Z")
We love Mythbusters as a family. ---
**Author:** ![abbeytxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@abbeytxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abbeytxs)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/51 "2009-10-05T20:59:39Z")
My girls were big fans of Disney’s Kim Possible when they were younger. I enjoyed watching it with them and still watch it occasionally. Unfortunately, I think it is only on late at night. You can still probably get a few of the Kim Possible movies on DVD. Oh yeah! Almost forgot, my favorite - Jimmy Neutron! I still watch that show every chance I get. I love Sheen to death! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/52 "2009-10-05T21:04:48Z")
[Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419326/) recently ended, but it looks like Cartoon Network is going to start re-running them here pretty soon. It’s awesometastic. > [@](#): > > [trying to figure out how to get down from the roof] > **Mac** But how? A ladder? Man, this is tough. > **Bloo** No, sheets! > **Mac** [shocked] Bloo! > **Bloo** No, no! Sheets! Bed sheets! ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/53 "2009-10-05T21:25:25Z")
I’ll second _Kim Possible_. My daughters (now 10 and 7)have loved it since it came out. _Danny Phantom_ has enough “over the kids’ heads” adult level humour to keep it entertaining and the same can be said about _Ben 10_. I admit to liking the fact all of them have strong female characters in them. My oldest totally identifies with Sam and Gwen. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/54 "2009-10-05T21:40:27Z")
Another huge, huge, HUGE recommendation for Phineas and Ferb. Always funny, very gentle with its messages, and usually a good song to sing to. Kim Possible also gets a recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/55 "2009-10-05T22:00:32Z")
Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends is probably the best kid’s show around. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/56 "2009-10-06T19:28:10Z")
If Batman’s still up for debate, Batman: The Brave and The Bold is all kinds of awesome. My 5 and 7 year olds love it, and we do too. It’s not as scary as The Animated Series, and Bats works with other superheroes, so there’s cooperation, teamwork, Bats being too pushy and telling everyone else what to do, and lots and lots of humor. I’ve never seen an episode where I didn’t laugh several times. That and Spongebob seem to be big right now (disclaimer: my husband watches Spongebob with them, not me. He’s not my favorite). ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/57 "2009-10-06T19:35:26Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > [Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419326/) recently ended, but it looks like Cartoon Network is going to start re-running them here pretty soon. > > It’s awesometastic. Yeah, I forgot about Foster’s. It is a great show, lots of jokes that adults will appreciate too. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/58 "2009-10-06T20:03:41Z")
I only have a few suggestions to add outside of thirding (fourthing?) the Miyazaki movies and Kamichu! Getting away from anime, check out [The Iron Giant](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129167/). Every kid I know has loved it. And definitely give [A Little Princess](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113670/) a try. It’s a charming story of a little girl forced to live in a girl’s boarding house while her father is off to fight in WWI. There are some intense emotional scenes with themes of loss and abandonment that might make it a hard watch for sensitive kids, but the movie plays fair with its emotions and it has a joyful payoff at the end that makes it all worthwhile. Highly recommended. ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/59 "2009-10-07T04:49:10Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Oh yeah, Whatsit Jr. (age 7) LOVES Dirty Jobs and Mythbusters. My boys (8, 4, and 3) love those shows, too! They’re quite educational, even for adults. Dirty Jobs has taught me more than I ever wanted to know about certain things. My kids often ask to watch Mythbusters, so I bought a couple of the collections on DVD. And Phineas & Ferb is always popular. My 4-year-old has the theme song memorized. Bought that DVD, too, and got our money’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609/60 "2009-10-07T05:18:26Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > [Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419326/) recently ended, but it looks like Cartoon Network is going to start re-running them here pretty soon. Oh yeah, totally another vote for Foster’s. It’s easily on Spongebob’s level, both of which are equal to Looney Tunes in sheer cartoon brilliance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-kids-show-thats-not-horrible-for-adults/512609.md?page=4)