"I don't know" how I missed this. lol

[ssjup81]

Hi everyone. Funny how I'd never noticed the message board section of this site before. I've come back to it every once in a while to check out interview updates, as I'm aways interested in hearing what former cast members had to say about their experiences on the show. Anyway, my name is Wendy. I'm from the US, but currently living/working in Japan.

That aside, I grew up with this show, and recently, decided to watch some eps (thank you YT) to see what I remembered of them. It's awesome how funny most of the jokes still are that I didn't fully appreciate (or get) back then. lol Man, I always wished I could be on the show to get slimed! lol

Anywho, it's also fun how I remember some of these eps as I'm watching them. It's also interesting what they were allowed to get away with that you know they couldn't get away with now. I now remember what I liked about it so much. The goofy humor and the fact that they were self-aware of everything being so bad. lol There's also one aspect (watching it now) that sorta bugged me. The fat jokes they used on Lisa. I remembered there being some, but seems they really overdid it.

Let's see, what else can I say. As a child, my favorite characters were, in no particular order....

Adam
Doug/Vanessa
Christine
Kevin Kubusheskie

I couldn't tell you what my fav eps were. I don't remember enough for that. lol Either way, I love love loved the Doug/Van stuff as a kid, and looking back on some of them now, it's still as amusing as I remember.

While going back to some of these eps, I can't help but wonder some things. For example, it was mentioned how Doug and Vanessa really disliked each other in real life. Knowing that now, and seeing them bicker on the show (not counting the 1982 eps they were featured in together), their arguing seemed way too natural. lol
There are some other things I'd mention that I'm curious about (like why some of the kids left the show...like did they go by choice or were they too old for the parts [like Doug said in his interview]), but my mind blanked out. lol I probably need sleep. lol

Anywho, glad to be on the board, and hope to get to know you all. ^_^

[mcguinnfan]

Welcome, Wendy. It's always good to have someone new on this board, and I hope you'll come back often.

We haven't had much about Doug and Vanessa here lately, so it's cool to see that that's one of your favorite aspects of the show. I agree, their bickering was very convincing...although I have to admit that I also regret it a little at times, seeing the way they were sometimes teamed up as allies, or even as "brother and sister," in the early days (the 1984 Moving episode is a great example) and wondering what might have been. And I personally agree with you about the fat jokes, as well as the corresponding dog jokes, which I also wish they had thought better of at the time...but we had a bit of interesting back and forth about that here a few months back, and there turned out to be a lot of differing opinions on the subject both ways. (That's one thing we usually never lack for, as you may have noticed!)

Anyway, glad to know you; jump in as much as you want as soon as you want. I'll be interested to hear more about your favorite episodes, sketches and cast members as you catch back up with them on You Tube; that was one of the most thrilling aspects of getting online and rediscovering this show for me: the chance to go back and see what I remembered and what I had missed, and to visit with these old friends again for the first time in so many years. Lots of neat stuff here, so poke around, and we'll hope to see a lot more of you.

[banana man]

Welcome!

Yeah, I've been watching them all again too. I am towards the end of the 1986 season. I will at least watch through the '87 season. I didn't watch the 89/90 seasons as a kid with the new cast, so we'll see how much of those I can stomach. Who knows, they might be good.

As for the fat jokes, in the early seasons Lisa was skinny and was relentless with the fat jokes to Moose. I think Moose was simply getting her back. What's good for the goose (or Moose) is good for the gander.

[mcguinnfan]

Welcome!

Yeah, I've been watching them all again too. I am towards the end of the 1986 season. I will at least watch through the '87 season. I didn't watch the 89/90 seasons as a kid with the new cast, so we'll see how much of those I can stomach. Who knows, they might be good.

As for the fat jokes, in the early seasons Lisa was skinny and was relentless with the fat jokes to Moose. I think Moose was simply getting her back. What's good for the goose (or Moose) is good for the gander.

What's your take on the 86's, banana man? I had remembered enjoying them a great deal back in childhood when they were integrated with the others on Nick, but for some reason I found them a bit threadbare when I watched them later in sequence. Maybe there's something about Lisa having left after 1985 and Christine leaving five episodes into 1986 that gives the whole season a depressing overlay for me. (I also wasn't too surprised to hear Alasdair say in You Can't Do That on Film that he wasn't comfortable that season; to me it shows.) I think the three middle Christines are great (Pop Music, Parties and Know-it-Alls), and I love Mysteries and Crimes; that's one of my all-time favorites and for my money the best ever post-Christine/Lisa. Alasdair, Adam, Vanessa, Doug and Matthew were all outstanding cast members and provided a lot of great moments. But there's just something about that season taken as a whole that's hard for me. I'd be interested to know what you think as you're watching them now; a lot of people call it one of the best seasons, so obviously opinions vary...

As to the 89/90s, I personally have never warmed to them, in spite of a good cast...but several people on this board love them, so you ought to give them a try. Make sure at least that you don't miss Time (or "Miss Time," for all you Ruth Buzzi fans); it's out and out hilarious.

[banana man]

Yeah, I tore through the Christine episodes, but once she left my viewing has become more and more sporadic. We got cable around 1986, so those episodes trigger the most memories, but it's just not as fun without Moose. I only have about 5 episodes left and there's only about 5 in 1987, so I need to just buckle down and finish it. I also like to mix in the occasional WTYO episode, and I have about 5 of those left as well. After that, I'll at least give the new episodes a chance. I already jumped ahead and watched "age" or whatever it is that reunites the old cast.

In the bloopers video, there is a very interesting comment string suggesting that the uploader has unearthed the missing 1979 episodes, but he hasn't posted them yet. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snlIFqSJ-Eg&feature=plcp

[BBOvenGuy]

I think the three middle Christines are great (Pop Music, Parties and Know-it-Alls), and I love Mysteries and Crimes; that's one of my all-time favorites and for my money the best ever post-Christine/Lisa.

Why, thank you! Three of those four were mine (Parties being the only one that wasn't).

As for a couple of the comments by our new member (Welcome, Wendy!), I've said previously on this board that if there was anything I could change from my time with the show, I would never have written the fat jokes. YCDTOTV crossed a lot of lines in its day, and that's a good thing, but the fat jokes were one line I feel like we shouldn't have crossed. I've also talked about Doug and Vanessa before. They were an interesting pair to watch. Their relationship was a complicated one, made more complicated by the age they were - "brother/sister" is probably the best way to describe it, with everything both good and bad that comes with that kind of a relationship.

[mcguinnfan]

You're welcome, and thanks to you for writing them! Glad to see you back; we've missed you this last little while.

[BBOvenGuy]

I've been busy. I had two major recertifications to oversee in day-job land, plus I've got a big new book project going. I pitched it to my publisher a few months ago and they gave it the green light - which means that now I have to write it.

[mcguinnfan]

Best of luck with the book. I'm trying to finish off a novel myself, and it's giving me fits. I've been in sub-Henry James mode these last couple weeks, agonizing over word choices. I know I shouldn't be...but it's easier to tell yourself that (as you know) than it is to actually stop doing it!

[banana man]

What's your take on the 86's, banana man? I had remembered enjoying them a great deal back in childhood when they were integrated with the others on Nick, but for some reason I found them a bit threadbare when I watched them later in sequence. Maybe there's something about Lisa having left after 1985 and Christine leaving five episodes into 1986 that gives the whole season a depressing overlay for me. (I also wasn't too surprised to hear Alasdair say in You Can't Do That on Film that he wasn't comfortable that season; to me it shows.) I think the three middle Christines are great (Pop Music, Parties and Know-it-Alls), and I love Mysteries and Crimes; that's one of my all-time favorites and for my money the best ever post-Christine/Lisa. Alasdair, Adam, Vanessa, Doug and Matthew were all outstanding cast members and provided a lot of great moments. But there's just something about that season taken as a whole that's hard for me. I'd be interested to know what you think as you're watching them now; a lot of people call it one of the best seasons, so obviously opinions vary...

As to the 89/90s, I personally have never warmed to them, in spite of a good cast...but several people on this board love them, so you ought to give them a try. Make sure at least that you don't miss Time (or "Miss Time," for all you Ruth Buzzi fans); it's out and out hilarious.

Yeah, we got cable around '86, so those episodes trigger a lot of memories. I agree that they aren't quite as much fun as the Moose episodes. I don't believe I had seen any of the ones from '81 or earlier until recently.

I am also chipping away at the WTYO episodes. I have about 5 of those left and 5 from both '86 and '87. Then I will take those newer ones for a test drive.

So a lot of those youtube episodes contain comments by the uploader about the first season being unearthed? Anyone care to shed some light on that subject? I'll believe it when he posts them.

[mcguinnfan]

You said it all: "I'll believe it when he posts them." I'm right with you on that. I'm awaiting them anxiously...but I'm not holding my breath.

Glad you're getting to check out the WTYO episodes too; those are fun. (Poor Marc Baillon...) Seems like I've been in a real 83-84 groove of late myself (not that I'm complaining), so maybe I'll revisit those soon just to change things up.

[MarcD]

I didn't watch the 89/90 seasons as a kid with the new cast, so we'll see how much of those I can stomach. Who knows, they might be good.

They're excellent.

That's it, I'm starting a thread.

[Adam 12]

Are you the Nanner Man? From several youtube vids of old Nick commercials?

[ssjup81]

Welcome, Wendy. It's always good to have someone new on this board, and I hope you'll come back often.

I'm glad I joined here. I come back and lurk a lot here, but real life get in the way and I don't post much. ^^; I've been meaning to respond to the posts in this thread for a while now. lol

We haven't had much about Doug and Vanessa here lately, so it's cool to see that that's one of your favorite aspects of the show.

Yep, definitely! It's my most vivid memory of the series. I remember other things too, but that was definitely one of my favorite aspects.

I agree, their bickering was very convincing...although I have to admit that I also regret it a little at times, seeing the way they were sometimes teamed up as allies, or even as "brother and sister," in the early days (the 1984 Moving episode is a great example) and wondering what might have been.

I liked them best when they weren't allies. lol I always liked the idea of them having a love-hate, bickering Bruce Willis/Cybil Shepard dynamic on Moonlighting aspect to them. I just always found it entertaining.

And I personally agree with you about the fat jokes, as well as the corresponding dog jokes, which I also wish they had thought better of at the time...but we had a bit of interesting back and forth about that here a few months back, and there turned out to be a lot of differing opinions on the subject both ways. (That's one thing we usually never lack for, as you may have noticed!)

Yeah, I have noticed it. Now, before catching a few random eps recently, I did remember the Lisa fat jokes, but the "dog" jokes towards Moose I didn't remember at all ever being done until I saw an ep and then I was like, "Oh yeah, they used to tease Moose too." lol

Anyway, glad to know you; jump in as much as you want as soon as you want. I'll be interested to hear more about your favorite episodes, sketches and cast members as you catch back up with them on You Tube; that was one of the most thrilling aspects of getting online and rediscovering this show for me: the chance to go back and see what I remembered and what I had missed, and to visit with these old friends again for the first time in so many years. Lots of neat stuff here, so poke around, and we'll hope to see a lot more of you.

I hope to, oh and one episode I remember really really really well, because it stood out so much for me as a kid, was the ep with the red slime and how if anyone said "freedom" or something like that, they'd get slimed with red slime. I don't know why that one stands out so much. Of course I don't remember it scene by scene, but I just remember it was "eerie" or something like that. lol

As for other cast members, I’ve been checking out what’s around of the 1979 eps, and I’m really liking Jim Stechyson. Sucks he wasn’t around for the 1981 seasons or stuck around until 1984. I know I would’ve been able to remember him if I’d seen him, sorta like Kevin Kubusheskie. I’m going to assume that I started watching the show very young in about ’85 or ’86, and they showed reruns all the time of the 1981 – 1984 eps. That’s one question I do have about many of the former cast members. Why did they leave? Was it an age thing or did they just leave by choice or were they not called back, etc., especially those who were around only for the 1979 season and part of WTYO.

Welcome!

Thanks. ^^

Yeah, I've been watching them all again too. I am towards the end of the 1986 season. I will at least watch through the '87 season. I didn't watch the 89/90 seasons as a kid with the new cast, so we'll see how much of those I can stomach. Who knows, they might be good.

Here's something ironic. I don't remember too much about the 89 - 90 seasons and I definitely watched them. I was a loyal watcher of the show, despite my age (I was born in ’81. Lol). I find it surprising, actually but I do remembering, during that time, preferring the earlier eps and cast members (mostly 1981 – 1985). Not sure if I'd still feel this way if I looked at them now. I did remember the Ages ep when Vanessa came back, vaguely. I then took a look at it, and it came back almost instantly (forgot about Doug's cameo, but remembered the cameos by Christine, Kevin, and Allisdair at the end of it). As for the 89/90 cast members, the only cast member I remembered was the kid in the leather jacket. I remembered him being cool.

As for the fat jokes, in the early seasons Lisa was skinny and was relentless with the fat jokes to Moose. I think Moose was simply getting her back. What's good for the goose (or Moose) is good for the gander.

Well, yeah, I know. And as I mentioned, I remembered there being fat jokes in the later eps with Lisa, but I just didn't remember there being so many until watching a random ep.

Edit: Oh, I just recalled another cast member...Angie. I remembered her as the doll. lol

[Adam 12]

I always saw Chris bickford, when I was a kid, as being the epitome of cool. I imagined he had fonzie-like powers(remember when he snapped his fingers at the alarm closk?), and dated all of the 89 giirls, even Vanessa and Amy. I wanted so badly to be like him. I finally got a leather jacket a few years ago.