What dad wouldn't love a cartoon involving sea life with characters named
Jocktopus and Clamantha? I laughed out loud when my 8-year-old identified them
during an episode in Season 1 of the Disney Channel animated series "Fish
Hooks." That's pretty clever. We've come a long way since naming a dolphin
prone to fantastic flipping Flipper, ya know? "Fish Hooks" premiere airs Friday,
Nov. 4, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel.
But "Flipper" was some darned good television for its day, and so
was the reboot that starred a then-unknown Jessica Alba. Actually, because it
starred Jessica Alba. I have compiled a list of TV shows that boast the best
fish, and not only is it Abe Vigoda-free, it is, sadly, "Man From
Atlantis"-free (my editor didn't think it should make the cut -- clearly
anti-Patrick Duffy).
So, batten down yer hatches, use a bowl of chips as your anchor, and read
on:
The first, and most successful, TV series based on a fish, "Flipper" ran for
three seasons on NBC. There has since been a feature film starring a pre-"Lord of the Rings" Elijah Wood and a TV reboot starring a very young
Jessica Alba. But it was the original run, featuring the lovable bottlenose
dolphin and two boys named Bud and Sandy, set in Florida, that shines most in
retrospect. Wow, the beachfront show had a character named Sandy. See why I am
so wowed by Clamantha on "Fish Hooks"?
What is your favorite fish tale show? Share with us on MSN TV on Facebook and Twitter.
At about the time the original "Flipper" was going off the air, Hanna-Barbera
Productions ruled on Saturday mornings, and some of you may remember this
admittedly bizarre cartoon from the creator of "Space
Ghost." While the Mighty
Mightor got second billing, the majority of the 22 minutes went to him and
prehistoric pathos. Moby got a perfunctory short at the outset of every episode,
hanging out with two boys and a seal named Scooby. Which probably rhymes with
doobie for a reason.
Yet another short-lived cartoon from the estimable Hanna-Barbera canon, this
was actually a departure for the company, in large part due to it being not only
based on a comic book, but also the fact that it aired in the early '90's, long
after its heyday. With a lead character voiced by the now-deceased John
Ritter, it was the once-hot production company's answer to "The
Simpsons," which no one on staff clearly ever watched.
The Middle:'The Middle' sneak peek: It can be arranged
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Description:
As graduation day approaches, tension begins to build between Frankie and Axl when he ignores her requests for answers about the graduation party she's planning for his special day. "The Middle" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
