Need a study break? Put down the text and feast your eyes on these Saturday morning classics.

It’s Saturday morning and if you want a slow start to your day, you’ve come to the right web address.   Today on Bwog, we do a tribute to our Technicolor friends of yesteryear. Yes that’s right – today we spotlight the superheroes of Saturday morning cartoons. Before you delve into an afternoon with Lacan and Lit theory at Bulter, take this special opportunity to reconnect and reminisce.  We offer some of classic clips and theme songs. Indeed, this is a humble collection and if we have forgotten any of your personal favorites, please let us know!

We start with Doug.  What was a Saturday morning without Doug?  As an eleven year old, I was delighted by Doug and his awkward hang-ups. His characteristic croaky voice and quivering smile situate him as Charlie Brown’s 1990s doppelganger. His not-so secret crush on Patti Mayonaisse is perhaps his most endearing quality.  Nearly every episode finds Doug in some terribly embarrassing situation that tests his integrity.  But Patti sticks with him despite all his sixth-grade social faux pas.   Here’s a link to an episode!

Perhaps less endearing than Doug, Arnold of “Hey Arnold”, however, still wins the loyalty and friendship of many cartoon watchers.  But it is Helga who steals the show.  Helga is as remarkable in character as she is in appearance.  Her ridiculous yellow pigtails channel Pippi Longstocking, while her striking black uni-brow reminds of Frida Kahlo. And it was none other than Helga who gave Arnold the memorable epithet, “Football Head.” Click here if you want more Hey Arnold nostalgia!

For many of cartoons, the adage “power in numbers” applies.  The motley crew on Recess is definitely the most diverse, if not memorable, group of elementary schoolers I know.  The group is comprised of six members – Vince, the kickball king, Gretchen, the gangly brainiac, Gus, a tentative hero-in-the-making, Spinelli, a no nonsense tomboy, Mikey, a gentle giant and poet, and T.J. the group’s husky voiced ring-leader.  Click here for more!

This list concludes with Pepper Ann.  With her fiery red ponytail and signature yellow polka-dotted skirt, Pepper Ann is a certainly a fire-cracker.   The show’s theme song says it all, “Who’s that girl? What’s her name? Is she cool? Is she lame? Oh, you’re talkin’ ‘bout what’s her name… Pepper Ann! Pepper Ann!…”   Here’s a link:

-MEQ