MikeOfAllPeople t1_j6htc52 wrote
Reply to comment by Throwaway47321 in What are some shows that were advertised to one demographic, but became successful outside of the target demographic? by blqckwidow
So like Phineas and Ferb.
Throwaway47321 t1_j6hxad9 wrote
I mean kind of but it’s a literal children’s show, for like 5yr olds.
MikeOfAllPeople t1_j6hxyrx wrote
Phineas and Ferb was also a children's show, but much of the writing had references to movies and pop culture only their parents would really get.
Throwaway47321 t1_j6hya95 wrote
Yeah I’m familiar with the show I was just pointing out that Bluely is more of a “Laugh with the parent because the dad in the show is in the exact same situation that you are now” watching it with a toddler than a show like Phineas or Ferb where it’s a show for young kids/preteens that makes some pop culture references some times
KoreKhthonia t1_j6jac9c wrote
I feel like it's probably a lot harder to make a toddler/preschool show appealing to adults while still appealing to its actual target audience, versus kids' shows aimed at school-age children or tweens.
Some shows definitely pull it off, though, it's just rare. Haven't seen Bluey due to neither having kids, nor having young relatives or friends' kids in the right age bracket for it. Arthur pulls it off, though, imo.
Though Arthur tends to be kind of like, an "all-ages" kids' show, if that makes sense? Like, it's a solid choice for a preschooler, but it's also enjoyable for older kids closer to the main characters' actual ages (iirc Arthur is in 3rd or 4th grade). Kind of in a different category than something like Dora the Explorer.
KoreKhthonia t1_j6j9je2 wrote
I feel like that's kind of typical, or at least not new, for kids' shows, though.
E.g., Rugrats and Muppet Babies -- which were my favorites as a little kid, like preschool/early school age -- made heavy use of pop culture parodies in their plotlines.
I mean, sure, '90s kids probably got the Star Wars and Indiana Jones references. But no cap, Muppet Babies did an episode that parodied The African Queen, which is apparently an old Humphrey Bogart movie from the '50s. No way a kindergartener in 1995 was gonna get that reference, lmao. Kid me legit wondered what the hell they were parodying.
itsadoubledion t1_j6mzvrk wrote
The appeal of Bluey isn't pop culture parodies though. It's more very relatable situation, especially for parents going through raising kids, and also is a good example for adults on how to better interact with each other and with children while also being funny
KrillinDBZ363 t1_j6mhjmu wrote
Yeah Phineas and Ferb did a whole episode that was kinda spoofing LOST but did it in a way that to anyone who hadn’t seen the show or didn’t know it was gonna be somewhat of a LOST parody, it just looked like a normal Phineas and Ferb episode.
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