Before you turn away thinking I'm a total loon, I must qualify that I am a high school Honors Science teacher, and I have taught everything from PreAP Biology to AP Physics, and everything in between for almost 20 years now. I believe that parents need to watch TV with their kids anyway, to make sure the kids do not watch too much TV, and to make sure that what they watch is appropriate for them. Truly, I have come to the conclusion that "grown-up TV" is just no fun anymore. Up to last year, I was a "CSI" and "West Wing" junkie.....ah well....
Now, as for the Wonder Pets:This show is a real breath of fresh air. The show is hard to describe, except to say that every episode is operatic, humorous, and just a little nuts. First of all, this show is completely absurd. Joyfully, beautifully, (perhaps dementedly?) absurd. But it is so cool, and very funny! The Wonder Pets are Lenny, Tuck and Ming-Ming, a guinea pig, a turtle and a duckling, respectively. They lead a double life as classroom pets in an elementary school classroom during the day, but as intrepid animal rescue experts after hours. Every episode has dialogue spoken and sung, just like a middle school operetta, with repeated choruses of what the story and the characters are all about ("What's gonna work? TEAMWORK!") backed up by fully orchestrated music that sounds actually similar to say, a Wagner opera....yes, I did say Wagner. You just have to see it to understand. In fact, make sure you watch at least two full 1/2 hour episodes, because the first time you see this, it will leave you confused. But after you get it, you will, well,.... you'll GET IT! To quote Ming-Ming "This is SEWIOUS!" (Yes, the duckling's trademark line is delivered every episode like an infant Elmer Fudd, but it is just too funny to describe here). The messages of teamwork and looking out for the good of others is presented brilliantly here, not in any form of a preachy way, but in an enthusiastic, comical manner that young children can understand. Unlike other shows about social interaction, this show does not use the worn out technique of making a character do the right thing by making them feel guilty about having done the wrong thing to begin with (for all its good intentions I just can't stand "Franklin"). The Wonder Pets show that they are their brother's keeper in a proactive way. (Hey, that's pretty ironic, their brother's keeper, and they all live in cages in a schoolroom.....but I digress) Well, what can I tell you except that my favorite character is without a doubt Ming-Ming. Don't take my word, see this new gem for yourself. I hope it becomes a long term successful show like it's problem-solving predecessors "Blue's Clues" and "Dora the Explorer" One last word: Ming-Ming RULES! This is SEWIOUS!
Now, as for the Wonder Pets:This show is a real breath of fresh air. The show is hard to describe, except to say that every episode is operatic, humorous, and just a little nuts. First of all, this show is completely absurd. Joyfully, beautifully, (perhaps dementedly?) absurd. But it is so cool, and very funny! The Wonder Pets are Lenny, Tuck and Ming-Ming, a guinea pig, a turtle and a duckling, respectively. They lead a double life as classroom pets in an elementary school classroom during the day, but as intrepid animal rescue experts after hours. Every episode has dialogue spoken and sung, just like a middle school operetta, with repeated choruses of what the story and the characters are all about ("What's gonna work? TEAMWORK!") backed up by fully orchestrated music that sounds actually similar to say, a Wagner opera....yes, I did say Wagner. You just have to see it to understand. In fact, make sure you watch at least two full 1/2 hour episodes, because the first time you see this, it will leave you confused. But after you get it, you will, well,.... you'll GET IT! To quote Ming-Ming "This is SEWIOUS!" (Yes, the duckling's trademark line is delivered every episode like an infant Elmer Fudd, but it is just too funny to describe here). The messages of teamwork and looking out for the good of others is presented brilliantly here, not in any form of a preachy way, but in an enthusiastic, comical manner that young children can understand. Unlike other shows about social interaction, this show does not use the worn out technique of making a character do the right thing by making them feel guilty about having done the wrong thing to begin with (for all its good intentions I just can't stand "Franklin"). The Wonder Pets show that they are their brother's keeper in a proactive way. (Hey, that's pretty ironic, their brother's keeper, and they all live in cages in a schoolroom.....but I digress) Well, what can I tell you except that my favorite character is without a doubt Ming-Ming. Don't take my word, see this new gem for yourself. I hope it becomes a long term successful show like it's problem-solving predecessors "Blue's Clues" and "Dora the Explorer" One last word: Ming-Ming RULES! This is SEWIOUS!