I haven’t posted on this board in years, but I was lurking to see what people are discussing and was surprised a thread about this hadn’t come up yet.
One of my favorite new shows on TV right now - and one that’s getting a lot of press attention - is a cartoon on Nickelodeon called The Loud House. It’s a very cute and funny cartoon about a boy and his ten sisters. Usually he’s concerned that his sisters are going to interfere in his plans or cause trouble, and it’s usually that fear which inadvertently causes that to happen anyway. They fight and complain, but are always shown to be a loving family, which is the most refreshing thing about the show - this is definitely not one of those “smartass kid outmaneuvers his icky sisters and dimwit parents” shows that were so prominent in the '90s. There’s always a sweet little lesson about getting along as a family, but that’s usually always immediately followed by a joke so things don’t get too sappy.
A lot of the humor comes from the sisters’ personalities. It’s very much an ensemble cast where everyone gets a part to play - and they all play off each other well. The sisters are all immediately recognizable by their one personality trait (bossy older sister always on her cell phone, dumb blonde, rock chick, comedian/prankster, athlete, goth/emo, spoiled brat princess, tomboy, genius, baby), but somehow they never seem one-dimensional. Occasionally an episode focuses on one or more of the sisters in depth and those are always entertaining. The supporting characters are really fun too (the main character’s supportive but insecure friend made headlines in July when it was revealed his parents are two overly protective dads - the first interracial same-sex married couple in a kids cartoon - who are pretty cute and amusing themselves).
The show’s humor definitely appeals to both adults and children. There are a lot of funny lines, some of which come from the character’s traits. Luan the jokester always has a horrible pun for whatever situation she’s in, which are usually of the so-bad-they’re-good variety and actually made funny by her delivery and the eager “get it?” she gives after each one. Leni the dumb blonde is by far my favorite - her misunderstandings lead to some admittedly clever groaners as well (“Wait, aren’t you lactose intolerant?” “No, I’m tolerant of everyone whether they lack toes or not!”) There’s also the occasional double entendre which are also pretty clever: sporty Lynn to her brother Lincoln: “You know, I’m noticing a complete lack of balls in this room. You know…sports balls!” Even the occasional bit of toilet humor manages to be well-timed and funny: in one episode Lynn and Lincoln have to share a room. Her tendency to perform a “Dutch oven” on him is amusing not because it’s a fart joke, but because it’s honest - it’s what siblings would do.
The art style is heavily inspired by newspaper comics. There’s definitely a very big Charlie Brown influence, and creator Chris Savino has admitted that Charles Schulz is one of his biggest influences as well as Cliff Sterrett. Characters emit puffs of smoke when they run and stars come out of their head when they fall down. My favorite comic-style running gag being that whenever the sisters fight (which, being siblings, is often) it’s always an old-timey fight cloud with arms and legs popping out.
Surprisingly, the show has done the impossible and beat SpongeBob in the ratings. It just started its second season and has already been renewed for a third, and I feel it deserves it. The show just did a very cute Christmas special where, among other things, one of the show’s running gags was subverted as a “Christmas present” to the fans - Savino says said subversion will be permanent now (I won’t give away what it is, but those who watch the show probably know what I’m talking about).
Anyone else here a fan?