"Dance Your Cares Away..."

Question: What kids' show centered on humanoids named Gobo, Mokey, Red, Wembley, and Boober?

Do you remember the days when kids' shows weren't all about the cinematography advanced technology? There was a time when it was all about the story and fun characters. Fraggle Rock was one of my most favorite shows as I was growing up. They were a branch off the muppets and they had fun living underground.

The Doozers made their sugar buildings that were tasty. Gobo seemed to be the leader of the lovable Fraggles, but all the girls knew that Red really called the shots. And who couldn't love a wise trash heap? The advice dispensed by the compost was always right on and helped the Faggles understand the lesson of their predicaments.

It was a weekly ritual for me to watch Fraggle Rock. My mom taught guitar lessons when I was little. My friend Tara's brother Jerry took lessons from her and Tara would also come over. We watched Fraggle Rock and pretended we were the Fraggles. I, of course, was Red and Tara would be Mokey. We'd laugh and my mom would make us Rock Candy so we could eat a "Doozer building" as we watched the show. Things were so much simpler back then.

Imagine my surprise as I noticed a DVD of Fraggle Rock in the bargain bin at Walmart. I immediately snapped it up for my son. Okay...so it was really for me, but it was under the guise of buying it for my son. I brought it home and we watched it. My son was not impressed. I blame Pixar movies for his lack of interest. Oh, well. I think I'll go watch it right now since he's not home.

Answer: Fraggle Rock

Who You Gonna Call?

Question: What was the hungry green apparition in the movie Ghostbusters christened when he starred in his own spinoff cartoon series?

The 80s brought us a plethora of great comedic movies, and Ghostbusters had to be one of the tops. Not only did it spawn two movie sequels, it had its own successful Saturday morning cartoon that also had a spinoff. Even the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man became a pop culture icon. How could it be anything but great with the combination of Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis. The dialog was simple and cheeky, just as a story about crazy ghosts and the heroes who save the city from them should be. What other movie could have pulled off the deadpan delivery of a line like, "He slimed me"?

They kept that same formula for the cartoon spinoff as well. Of course, the heroes were joined by a ghost turned to the good side that got them into more trouble and hilarious predicaments. No other movie that I can recall had as much success with spinoffs, cartoons, and subsequent merchandising. The theme songs from the movies ("Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. and "On Our Own" by Bobby Brown) are also holding strong in pop culture history with their catchy hooks and fun melodies.

My husband mentioned the other day that they are making a Ghostbusters III. It is going to be a fully animated (ala Pixar films) adventure much like the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. I will definitely miss the original actors, but I'm looking forward to the ghosts in this movie. I just hope the improved graphics don't completely eliminate the cheese factor.

Answer: Slimer