Most obscure joke/reference you've ever seen in children's TV programming?

[bbernardini]

A number of years ago, I had on ABC's Saturday morning children's programming. During one of the bits between the commercials and the cartoons, there was a segment which had animated kids holding up signs. One of the signs clearly said "Seat Bee Sate," a reference to the group Negativland (most famous for being sued by Island Records and Casey Kasem for their "U2" release). Anybody out there have any similar finds in children's programming?

[begin_within]

1. Some cartoon from the around the 1940s that took place in a barnyard said

"Suddenly a cock appeared through a hole in the wall." I wish I could remember which cartoon it was.

[AllegroRondo]

2. Rugrats has had a number of them

the one that sticks out in my mind - the kids were afraid of a monster in the backyard that they called "the satchmo". Every time they told an adult about it, they would say "what, the trumpet player?"

[bbernardini]

3. Considering Mark Mothersbaugh's involvement in the show, that doesn't surprise me. nt

[Auggie]

4. Rocky and Bullwinkle -- nearly any episode

References to Norman Mailer, for example.

[Richardo]

5. Bullwinkle to a dim business tycoon: "For a powerful magnate you don't pick up things very fast."

:rofl:

[Auggie]

6. LOL

What a great show

[Richardo]

16. Rocky: "Why are you carrying your mattress around, Bullwinkle?"

Bullwinkle: "That's where I keep my money."
Rocky: "Why don't you use a safe-deposit box?"
Bullwinkle: "'Cause my feet hang over the edge."


:D

[meegbear]

7. There was one I never got ...

When Bullwinkle goes to college, he shows up like a 1920's flapper, asking some of the students if they want to swallow goldfish, etc. I student says "What are you, INSANE? C'mon guys, let's protest Norman Mailer at the Student Union."

Was there an overt incident they were referring to? :shrug:

[Auggie]

9. Maybe it was in reference to his "counter-culture" writings

Though you would expect the college crowd to welcome that.

[meegbear]

10. That's what I figured ...

but the way he was, I figured he did a particular incident at a college that the students loved, but the admins hated.

Thanks.

[meegbear]

11. self-delete

[darkstar]

19. Yeah..like "The Ruby Yacht of Omar Shariff"

That was one of them, right?

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. I think it was Sponge Bob Squarepants...

An episode had some superheroes, and one was Man Ray, a take on the Dadaist.

[AllegroRondo]

13. Another Spongebob one.

he is leaving the classroom at boating school, and says
"see you next Tuesday, Mrs Puff!"

[meegbear]

12. There was a Tiny Toons Adventure one all about politics ...

they were being censored so they went to Washington, it was the early 90's, Bush I in office.

The whole episode made fun of the political scene and politicians. There was one scene I do remember were the toons felt like they couldn't win the battle in Congress and they are at the Lincoln Memorial at night. While looking at the statue, they hear a voice saying how one should "fight the good fight and never give up." The toons have a new spirit and energy and they say "Thank You Mr. President" and march off.

They then show the side of the statue and there's Ronald Reagan, with this lost look, talking to his teddy bear, him being the voice they heard. A female voice then says "Ronnie, come to bed." Reagan says "OK Mommy" and as he walks off says "Say goodnight Teddy." Then Ted Kennedy leans out from behind a bush in his underwear, holding a martini glass and says "Goodnight Teddy."

[TrogL]

14. Popeye muttered some fairly strange stuff

Popeye would get upset about something and start muttering under his breath. Some of it got fairly strange. I don't remember any of it specifically but the episode where he was trying to do the Arabian Nights had some interesting bits.

[DarkTirade]

15. Thank you Pinky, but I've always considered myself Jungian.

[harmonicon]

17. on spongebob

in one episode there's a really short clip shown from an episode of "fishing with john".

If you don't know "Fishing with John", you should check it out. It was a fishing show on for six episodes in the 90's, hosted by actor/musician John Lurie. He too celebrities (Jim Jarmusch, Tom Waits, etc.) fishing. One of the funniest and weirdest tv shows ever made.

[Westegg]

18. Mister Rogers referenced Werner Herzog...

Back in '73. Obviously, it went WAY over my head when I saw the show as a child, but I noticed it decades later when I caught a re-run. Not sure if it was meant as Herzog reference or more of a Klaus Kinski one, but on this show, Mister Rogers was watching Chef Don Brockett prepare some crumpets in the kitchen and at one point Rogers turned to the camera and said, quite distinctly, "I, the wrath of God, will marry my own daughter and with her I'll found the purest dynasty the earth has ever seen."

Anyone else catch this? It was either '73 or '74.