iCarly et al is a requirement to be cool

[marsupial]

My 8-year-old's typical weekday schedule is get up, play Wii, go to school, come home, do homework, practice piano, ride around the neighborhood on his bike with friends, eat dinner, bathe, read stories, go to bed.

He watches almost no TV and is catching heat for this at school. Apparently he's getting made fun of because he is not up on iCarly and various other Disney, Nick and Cartoon Network shows.

I tried to tell him that he is the cool one because he actually has friends to play with and things to do after school and that any of these kids making fun of him would rather be off riding around with their friends than sitting on the couch by themselves watching lame cable shows. But of course, that didn't help him feel any better.

Looking back, when I was his age, The Cosby Show was cool. If you didn't watch Cosby on Thursday night, you were totally out of the conversation on Friday morning.

[falafel]

My six year old son watches iCarly, without my permission. But I guess its alright, since he's cool and all.

[JohnnyLingo]

He watches almost no TV and is catching heat for this at school. Apparently he's getting made fun of because he is not up on iCarly and various other Disney, Nick and Cartoon Network shows.

Heaven help our nation if Disney Channel shows are that influential on the rising generation.

Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network actually have some good stuff.

And in my opinion, the sooner your kid learns that being socially accepted is not the end all in life, the better.

[LiveCoug]

We were never allowed to watch TV as a kid, so when I was in school and the kids would be talking about this show or that show, I would always pretend like I knew what they were talking about and was scared to death that someone would test my knowledge on the latest Thundercats or Mask episode.

[TripletDaddy]

By far, biggest post-Cosby buzz at school was the morning after the Stevie Wonder episode.

Everyone was saying "Jammin' on the 1" and "baby" all day long.

[smokymountainrain]

My 8-year-old's typical weekday schedule is get up, play Wii, go to school, come home, do homework, practice piano, ride around the neighborhood on his bike with friends, eat dinner, bathe, read stories, go to bed.

He watches almost no TV and is catching heat for this at school. Apparently he's getting made fun of because he is not up on iCarly and various other Disney, Nick and Cartoon Network shows.

I tried to tell him that he is the cool one because he actually has friends to play with and things to do after school and that any of these kids making fun of him would rather be off riding around with their friends than sitting on the couch by themselves watching lame cable shows. But of course, that didn't help him feel any better.

Looking back, when I was his age, The Cosby Show was cool. If you didn't watch Cosby on Thursday night, you were totally out of the conversation on Friday morning.

Funny you mention that. I was helping out at my daughter's class (4th grade) yesterday and the conversation turned to iCarly. There were certain kids who don't watch TV regularly and they were noticeably left out. I, like you with your daughter, tried to explain that how neat it is they don't sit around watching TV all day, but I'm afraid it was to no avail.

[ERCougar]

I actually kind of like iCarly, although it doesn't get much play around here. Our kids each get to choose one show per day to watch (and they can watch each other's shows if they choose) and Phineas and Ferb is the runaway winner. Which is just fine with me because it's pretty dang funny.

AND...to actually address your point, one of the underlying themes of P&F is finding cool active stuff to do. And I'd argue that the music and humor make it a cooler show anyway.

[The_Tick]

But the girl that plays Sam on iCarly is LDS...

[Surfah]

I actually kind of like iCarly, although it doesn't get much play around here. Our kids each get to choose one show per day to watch (and they can watch each other's shows if they choose) and Phineas and Ferb is the runaway winner. Which is just fine with me because it's pretty dang funny.

AND...to actually address your point, one of the underlying themes of P&F is finding cool active stuff to do. And I'd argue that the music and humor make it a cooler show anyway.

I actually wish my daughter liked this show more, she's just 3 so maybe she'll like it in a year or two. I think it's hilarious. FN Phat's daughter hates it whenever anyone says 'whatcha doin'?' She immediately says, "Don't say that." So of course I say it a bajillion times like any good uncle would.

[Donuthole]

iCarly and Phineas and Ferb are both great shows. My 4 y.o. daughter watches them both intermittently. She is probably not cool, though, as her parents drive a minivan.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

My primary as a kid had the "very special kid" segment or something like that. The kid got to stand up in front of the primary while the primary worker talked the likes and dislikes of the kid from a questionnaire filled out either by the kid/parent/primary worker. If the Cosby Show wasn't your favorite show, then you were a total loser.

I also said on the questionnaire that I wanted to be football player when I grew up and to help out my parents, I would mow the lawn. I think I was about seven years old when the questionnaire was filled out. My older sister and cousin laughed at me during the entire experience because I'd never mowed the lawn before and was still unaware at how rare it was to become a professional football player.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

What time does school start? I laid down the law that there was no TV or Wii before school. However both HFN Jr (7) and Captain (5) have just started waking up at like 6:15 and arguing that leaves enough time for some Wii or an episode of Bakugan.

I know nothing of iCarly and as far as I know HFN Jr is not uncool because he doesn't watch it.

[marsupial]

What time does school start? I laid down the law that there was no TV or Wii before school. However both HFN Jr (7) and Captain (5) have just started waking up at like 6:15 and arguing that leaves enough time for some Wii or an episode of Bakugan.

I know nothing of iCarly and as far as I know HFN Jr is not uncool because he doesn't watch it.

School starts at 7:30. He and danimal leave at 7 a.m. He is an early riser though. He's always up before 6. He has plenty of time to play the Wii.

[beefytee]

And in my opinion, the sooner your kid learns that being socially accepted is not the end all in life, the better.

Enough with your anti-social tendencies!

Why can't we all just get along?

[myboynoah]

My 8-year-old's typical weekday schedule is get up, play Wii, go to school, come home, do homework, practice piano, ride around the neighborhood on his bike with friends, eat dinner, bathe, read stories, go to bed.

He watches almost no TV and is catching heat for this at school. Apparently he's getting made fun of because he is not up on iCarly and various other Disney, Nick and Cartoon Network shows.

I tried to tell him that he is the cool one because he actually has friends to play with and things to do after school and that any of these kids making fun of him would rather be off riding around with their friends than sitting on the couch by themselves watching lame cable shows. But of course, that didn't help him feel any better.

Looking back, when I was his age, The Cosby Show was cool. If you didn't watch Cosby on Thursday night, you were totally out of the conversation on Friday morning.

This made me LOL. We've deployed this strategy ("Hey, you're really the cool one despite what your classmates say.") many times, and will continue to do so, even though it has absolutely no effect.

Keep up the good fight, Marci. We will win someday.