Fan Page: KIDD VIDEO



Perhaps the most important archive of the 1980's, the opening to the Saturday morning TV show "Kidd Video" is THE MOST accurate depiction of the average daily routine of the American teenager at that time in history. We would wake up to a com-PYOO-ter bleeping "Wake Up!" at us so we could go put on our denim vest and day-glo suspenders in time to jump in to the back of a friend's truck and get to our rock-and-roll rehearsal which was conveniently hosted in the local "Various Size Of Random Cardboard Boxes" warehouse. Then we'd get zapped in to a cartoon universe where our nationality could be determined by what we say (as seen in this clip when the Latina girl says "Ai-yi-yi, we're carTOONs!").

But the most important part of this cartoon to *me*, personally, was the inclusion of actor/musician Robbie Rist. You kids today have the convenience of The Google to help you figure out who he is, but as for little 1980's Captain Slinky? It was all about watching the credits and piecing things together. "Whiz", aka "Milo Bazen", aka "Little John", aka "Ted Baxter's Son", aka "Cousin Oliver"... IT ALL CAME TOGETHER!!!

Leave your own personal thoughts and/or revelations about this show in the comments below. And if this is one of your favorites, be sure to go and vote for Kidd Video in our Best of 1984 Poll!
(deleted comment) (Show 5 comments)

[identity profile] dark-weezing.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
Rist also voiced Mikey in the live-action TMNT movies and did voice in the 87 animated series, as well, so, yeah, I definitely know who he is.

Animation is pretty decent, I must say. Or that intro has it.

That "Ay-yi-yi" is so awesome, I don't care.

[identity profile] krowface.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
I'm really impressed that they'd let the kid with down syndrome drive the truck.

[identity profile] queeberquabbler.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Still my absolute favorite cartoon of all time. It was SO AHEAD of its time, it's scary. Seriously, using then-current music hits/videos on the show? They could NEVER get away with that now. Love love LOVED that show, and know an awesome web site for it, in case anyone wants to see and relive this awesome show :)

[identity profile] ghrelin.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I loved this show. It was so crazy and weird, I was a very imaginative kid and the surreal and vivid nature of the animation was awesome to me. I still remember the one where everyone was turned into little kids!

[identity profile] janusfiles.livejournal.com 2011-08-24 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
I remember the videos that appeared at the end of each episode. Whether or not the actors actually did the singing, they weren't too bad. I think the one that got played the most was "A Little TLC."

And since you mentioned Little John, here's something that should boggle your mind. Robbie Rist is now older than what Herb Edelman was when Big John, Little John was made.