Doogie Howser, M.D. is back! I’m pleased to find one of the best family shows of the eighties airing on the kids network The Hub (a partnership of Discovery Communications and Hasbro) where it’s being paired with The Wonder Years, another classic from the era. Both shows were one-camera half-hour comedies of the type that are currently in vogue — with one crucial difference. While funny, they also unabashedly projected gentleness and kindness and weren’t afraid to allow their characters to actually learn positive lessons about life. The balance made for a rewarding viewing experience.

And The Smurfs are back too!  A new live-action/CGI-animated feature film based on the classic blue characters is due out in August. I used to love the old Saturday morning cartoons that aired on NBC (also in the eighties). I didn’t watch them every week. Since they aired opposite Firing Line on PBS, I’d have to make a choice each week on which show to watch based on William Buckley’s guest. It was a tough decision! Anyway, like Doogie and The Wonder Years, The Smurfs managed to balance genuine humor with a gentle spirit and some positive life lessons. I hope the movie, which stars Neil Patrick Harris (yes, Doogie Howser!) in a human role, doesn’t screw it up by downplaying the original’s kind tone and/or overdosing on trendy snark and innuendo.   

Strange Herring is back! Glad also to see my friend Anthony Sacramone is back posting his aberrant cultural observations again on a regular basis. If you’re looking for some good off-beat humor about the world we live in, he’s worth checking out.