Underdog! was a favorite cartoon among older Gen Xers. As you watch this episode, note Native Americans depicted as gopher savages; Army officers depicted as lacking common sense (despite a spoof on Teddy Roosevelt) and the curious naming of the evil, mad scientist, Simon bar Sinister. A Barre Sinister is a diagonal line on medieval family crest, which indicated a person was illegitimate at birth. I was too young to know any better as a kid, but when I watched this episode this morning and heard the scientist's name, I immediately thought of three famous historical Jewish figures: Simon Bar-jonah and Simon Bar-Giora and Simon bar Kokhba.
It's interesting to note the subtle racial stereotypes Generation X was exposed to during childhood. I'll never forget the night I sat down to read a Little House on the Prairie book to Juliette and had to take pause because of the overt and negative depiction of Native Americans.
Looking back, Sweet Polly Purebred was the first character to introduce me to journalism. Unfortunately, I'm sure her need to always be rescued planted seeds in my four-year-old brain, too. Ugh.
Despite this adult perspective on Shoeshine Boy, I did love me some Underdog!, along with plenty of older Xers. I didn't get to watch it very long. Syndication of Underdog! ended in 1973, the year I turned six. I bet my brother, who was born in 1962, can quote every episode, and Robert, a Gen Xer born in 1966, remembers far more than me.
Update:
It's interesting to note the subtle racial stereotypes Generation X was exposed to during childhood. I'll never forget the night I sat down to read a Little House on the Prairie book to Juliette and had to take pause because of the overt and negative depiction of Native Americans.
Looking back, Sweet Polly Purebred was the first character to introduce me to journalism. Unfortunately, I'm sure her need to always be rescued planted seeds in my four-year-old brain, too. Ugh.
Despite this adult perspective on Shoeshine Boy, I did love me some Underdog!, along with plenty of older Xers. I didn't get to watch it very long. Syndication of Underdog! ended in 1973, the year I turned six. I bet my brother, who was born in 1962, can quote every episode, and Robert, a Gen Xer born in 1966, remembers far more than me.
Update:
My feed was not validating, and I think it was because of a YouTube video of Underdog, which I have temporarily removed.
6 comments:
I was a big fan of the show seeing how I was born in 61.
I loved me some UNDER DOG, too! I watched many episodes (probably all of them) before kindergarten in the PM. My routine was Campbell's bean with bacon soup & Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (which were "re-runs" themselves, a left over staple of the BOOMERS). Under-dog was between Roy Rogers and of all shows, THE JACK LA LANE SHOW. Hobo Kelly followed that. I miss UNDER DOG, and the simplicity of it all. Great trivia on SIMON BAR SINISTER... you are so smart!
Hmmm, if syndication ended in 1973, is it possible that it still aired at other times. I was born in 1970 but still remember watching Underdog and singing the theme song. And wasn't there an Underdog balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade for like forever? I often wonder if cartoons are really for kids, all that subliminal messaging, etc. It is like the cartoonists got bored and tried to find clever ways to express themselves.
@ANDI - I know what you mean - I feel like I watched it beyond 6 years of age, but wikipedia - the info czar - sez it ended in '73. i wonder what gives. i really think i remember seeing it when we lived in colorado - that was 74-76. And, yes - they were clever about entertaining themselves. We thought only Sponge Bob inserted inside jokes only grown ups would get.
@WILDBILLYELLIOTT - Underdog and and Huckleberry Hound will ALWAYS remind me of you. Oh, my darlin'!! =) CAN YOU BELIEVE THE REFERENCE TO THE JEWISH SURNAME!!!! I couldn't believe it. But, if you watch the episode, the spoof on the Indians is kind of a negative commentary on white men. The Gofer savages are freezing so they rob a carriage of blankets. Then the army officers hunt them down and threaten them with swords. What? To take their blankets back??? Man, Andi's right - the writers were clever and SMART!!!
@SOMETHING HAPPENED - Older Xers had the best cartoons!! HA! =)
Hi Jen:
I watched Underdog during lunch here in Chicago in the mid to late 70s...it was never my favorite (because Scooby Doo was), but I enjoyed it and made lunchtime memorable.
Funny you should do a post on favorite cartoons from childhood...at my last job, I ate lunch with a bunch of 20 somethings who were into She-Ra and the Masters of the Universe. While they could quote lines and remember all the plots, I sat there unimpressed about the cartoons. I bet they might feel the same about my favorites. Nice post!
I like that show when I was a kid, but you're right. A lot of us were exposed to shows that were far from being polically correct.
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