What? PPV Cartoons for Little Shoppers?

I think we watch too much television. That goes for my whole family. Kids, grown-ups, everybody. And I know we should cut back. I admire the families that have the gumption and commitment to turn it off for a week, or even get rid of it altogether, but I am not that tough. At least not today.

So imagine my reaction when I went grocery shopping and discovered a fantastic and devious new take on the old metal buggy. Now, I have three kids, so the plastic race car shaped carts are already a big hit with our crew. However, this was something entirely amazing -- the TV Cart.

Oh, yes. The first time I encountered the TV Cart, I heard it before I saw it. A familiar tune wafting down the aisle in front of me. I found myself singing along to The Wiggles, and wondered where that music was coming from. And then I saw it. The TV Cart. A mother was pushing her blissfully entranced toddler in this big plastic pod. The cockpit of the cart is mostly enclosed, except for the front window. I guess that's so the kid can breathe.

My initial reaction was one of surprise, mingled with disgust. What will they think of next? As if we need another thing to spend money on, and give our kids more TV at the same time? What kind of mother would do that?

On the way out of the store, I saw the station where the TV Carts wait to be rented. It's a dollar per use. Now, I think of myself as a practical, frugal person. A whole dollar, just for TV during a shopping trip? Ridiculous. hmmmm.

A week later, I was at the store again. This time, I had two of my three children with me. Knowing I was in for a sweaty wrestle of an outing, I looked at the TV Carts. Could I be so frivolous? I started to rationalize, "With two kids, it's only 50 cents each. That's not so bad."

My son was checking out the Cart as if it were a Mustang at the dealership. He peeked inside the cockpit. "Mom, there's a TV in there!" Even his baby sister wanted to get into the Cart. I caved. I got change from the nearest check-out lady and fed it into the rental station. The kids jumped in, The Wiggles started to wiggle, and we were off.

With mixed feelings of guilt and euphoria, I completed the shopping without a peep, bicker, or cry from the kids. They didn't even try to get out and run around. This mom's verdict: TV Cart is a good way to get the shopping done when you're having one of those days with the kids. It's a treat for kids and parents alike, but I'll be using it sparingly.

Why I don't like Dora the Explorer (rant alert)

I have never been a big fan of Dora the Explorer. I don't like to complain, but when Dora first hit the scene, I wanted to like her! I thought it sounded like a great idea to have a young Latina heroine solving problems and speaking Spanish! But right away, I noticed a couple of things I just couldn't get over.

First of all, why doesn't her shirt cover her belly? Isn't it bad enough having to see grown-up women baring their tummies all over TV? Do we have to see it on preschool programs? I'm sure the animators made a conscious decision to leave her belly exposed, because it couldn't be an accident. I mean, how many frames do they have to draw to make a single episode? Can't they just draw her shirt a little lower? I guess it's supposed to be cute, but the more I see it, the more annoying it is.

Secondly, why does she always shout? To me, the dialogue on the show seems so loud. Unless Dora and Boots are deliberately whispering, it sounds like they're yelling. And then, they urge the viewers to shout at the TV! "I can't hear you! Say it louder!" Or how about "Swiper, no swiping! Swiper, no swiping!" Stop!

I didn't think Dora would last this long, but she's still everywhere.

Don't even get me started on Bratz!

Why we love Yo Gabba Gabba (it's weird, but now I like it)

Yo Gabba Gabba is one of the few children's programs that I can actually enjoy with my kids. It reminds me of Sesame Street and The Electric Company from when I was a kid.

Unlike some of the other meaningless junk cartoons, Yo Gabba Gabba is actually fun and educational. It took me a couple of episodes to "get it," because it's different from anything else I've seen, but now I see why the kids love it so much! We sing and dance together to songs like "Don't Bite Your Friends," and "Party in my Tummy!" Once you get over the "this is so weird" phase, it's a blast.

One of my favorite parts of Yo Gabba Gabba is the special "Dancey Dance" segment. This is where a special guest actor or celebrity teaches the characters -- and us -- how to do a special dance, like the "Twirly Whirly" (Nikki Flores) or the "Puppet Master" (Elijah Wood), and other special moves by Laila Ali, Sugarland, Sean Kingston, and others. The dances are simple and fun for the kids, and having a real human person on the show makes it more relatable for adults. Plus, I'm not much of a dancer, so these simple steps are perfect for me, too! There are also special music segments, featuring fun bands like the Aquabats and the Salteens, doing some very perky, peppy toe-tapping tunes.

Quite simply, Yo Gabba Gabba is the freshest, hippest new kids' show out there, and if you'd like to check out some videos and get more information on Yo Gabba Gabba, visit my Yo Gabba Gabba page at Squidoo.

Who is Ed Helms?

I am a big fan of "The Office," and I am especially entertained by the character Andy Bernard, played by Ed Helms. I have not been a loyal watcher of Jon Stewart's "Daily Show," (it's on too late for me) so I hadn't seen much of Ed Helms before his part on The Office.

If you haven't seen The Office, you are missing out on some good laughs. If you like sharp humor, sometimes uncomfortable politically incorrect situations, and interesting characters, you will love The Office. You might want to give it a try.

So as I was saying, I didn't know much about Ed Helms. His character, Andy, is very annoying. He's a huge suck-up. He breaks into song without warning. He brings his banjo to work. He has a problem with anger management. Get the idea?

I was wondering about the guy behind it all, so I did some research. Okay, I say "research," but you know what I mean is, I typed "Ed Helms" into my search bar. What I found out is that he is from Atlanta, went to college at Oberlin in Ohio, did stand-up comedy, plays in a bluegrass trio, was on The Daily Show, and now he's on The Office. I put all the details together on a Squidoo page, if you're interested in learning more about Ed Helms and Andy Bernard. It includes some of my favorite scenes from The Office, and a link to his band's site. Enjoy!

I like Japanese game shows

I came across this clip from a "Human Tetris" Japanese game show. It is silly and fun, and I think it's hilarious. What does that say about me?

Stephen Colbert on Letterman

I loved this interview with Stephen Colbert on David Letterman. It was interesting to hear Stephen speak in his more "real" voice, as opposed to the ultra-conservative pundit he portrays on The Colbert Report. He talked about trying to earn a living building futon frames, being a dad to three kids, and a bit about his new book, I Am America (And So Can You!). The book even comes with a sheet of stickers!

The Great Pumpkin - smells like childhood!

I grew up in rural Wisconsin in the 70s, and we didn't have cable television. That means it was a really big deal when the Charlie Brown specials were on. Back then, the only time I could see cartoons was on Saturday mornings, unless you count Sesame Street, Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers on PBS.

Anyway, even though we have The Great Pumpkin on DVD now, and can watch it any time of the year (and we do!), it's still a special thing to see it on the network. It doesn't matter that I'm 30-something with kids of my own. When we sit on the couch to watch Linus in the pumpkin patch, it's almost like being a little kid again. Thank you, Great Pumpkin, sincerely!