Showing posts with label My Brother and Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Brother and Me. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Streaming Wishlist: Nickelodeon on Paramount Plus

 Paramount Plus has a Nickelodeon hub on its service. Sadly, it is missing a lot of classic Nick shows. Sure Kenan & Kel, All That, and  Are You Afraid Of The Dark ? are available. But there's so much more if the SNICK heyday we deserve. Especially when we pay the subscription price every month.

Paramount Plus needs alot of help with their offerings. I figured I'd give them a hand with some programs to make available.

My brother And Me 

It's really hard to belive that My Brother And Me only ran for one season. The way Nickelodeon use to replay it I legitimately thought it ran alot longer than it did.

The show followed a middle class Black family in Charlotte and the misadventures of the two brothers and their friends. It really was a underappreciated gem and gave Amanda Seales her first role. Years later knowing how important representation is, Paramount Plus needs to provide parents a opportunity to introduce a new generation 

The Secret World of Alex Mack 

The Secret World of Alex Mack debuted in October 1994 and ran for four seasons. The series followed preteen Alex Mack who accidentally  comes in contact with a strange chemical that grants her powers.

Soon along with her best friend Ray and her older sister Annie, they work to keep her powers hidden from everyone else including the plant that created the chemical. The series was a combination of many genres from slapstick silly to dangerous situations. 

It was a staple of the SNICK TV block and a pioneer of young females in the STEM field. Refresh the ratio on the show and make it available.

Space Cases 


One of my favorite Nickelodeon shows that most people probably don't remember. The show drew me because Walter E. Jones (Zack from Power Rangers) was in the show, he first starring role after leaving Power Rangers.

A Star Trek esque show for kids, it followed the students of a space academy who board a ship and find themselves stranded on the other side of the galaxy, light years away from everything they knew. 

Of course on they're journey back they visit new places, and meet new alien races. The show dealt with themes such as prejudice against other races. 

Cousin Skeeter


Skeeter is a mischievous but good hearted kid who goes to with his cousin Bobby and family. The weird thing is, Cousin Skeeter is a puppet but it's never acknowledged in the show. 

Skeeter was voiced by comedian Bill Bellamy who provided all the necessary wisecracking. Megan Goode was a co-star of the show as Bobby's friend Nina. The theme song was a alternate version of 702's Steelo. Bring Cousin Skeeter back so we can get some good laughs.

Taina


Taina debuted in 2001 on Nickelodeon, running for two seasons. The series followed teenager Taina Morales who aspires to be a singer and actress. To help her get there she attends the fictional Manhattan High School Of The Performing Arts.

The show follows Taina and her friends as she navigates teenage life while frequently daydreaming about being a big star. The message is clear with this show, don't give up on your dreams. I think more kids could use that inspiration now more than ever.

The Brothers Garcia


The Brothers Garcia debuted in the summer of 2000 and was a historical moment in TV history. It was the first English speaking show that featured an all Latino cast and crew.

The format was a boys will be boys plot following the brothers and their family growing up in San Antonio, TX. John Leguizamo narrated the series similiar to shows like The Wonder Years, Everybody Hates Chris, and Young Sheldon

The show ran for four seasons and a sequel series, The Garcias was actually released in 2022 on HBO Max. It only lasted one season as I'm sure no one was aware that it existed. Paramount Plus needs to make this hidden gem available 

The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo


The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo was a different kind of Nickelodeon show. Mainly a whodunit series for kids, I believe it helped kids draw out they're curiosities and learn how important details are. Shelby Woo is a teenager living with her grandfather (Pat Morita) who operates an inn.

In her spare time she interns at the local police department, and comes across a case of two she thinks she can solve. Which would put her sleuth skills to good use. She always faced adversity but always got the job done. 

Good Mystery series in general are missing from today's offerings. Ones aimed at kids and preteens are pretty much non-existent. Paramount should do us a favor and allow us to put our detective skills to use watching the show.


Monday, October 14, 2019

The Classic that is My Brother and Me



Twenty-five Years ago Nickelodeon debuted My Brother and Me showcasing a middle class Black
family in Charlotte, NC and the hijinks of the two sons and daughter in the family. It's historic as it
was the first show on Nickelodeon to feature a predominately Black cast. It's definitely a product of it's
time straight 90's, from the attire to the lingo, it's funny yet looking back some aspects of it are very
very corny.

At the time of its release I simply watched the show because I enjoyed it. Looking back now I realize how important the show was to the Black community. The show is a milestone in my eyes because of course we had the Cosby's and Family Matters, but My Brother and Me was actually the first show featuring a Black family where the kids were around my age getting into shit. I could relate to some of their problems they had or even the sibling rivalry all siblings go through.

The series introduced the world to a young Amanda Seales, Kim Whitley as Ms. Pickney in one of her first roles. Vanessa Baden who is more famously known as Kyra from Kenan and Kel and Vanessa from Gullah Gullah Island made her debut on the show. Pro wrestler Kenny King made his TV debut on an episode as a cool kid from L.A.

                                              Related image

The show was also unapologetically Black when that necessarily wasn't the norm. The dialogue,
the opening credits. The way the characters talked, little nods to Black culture on the sets
such as the Greek memorabilia in the Parker's living room. The father with the corny jokes or
long ass stories which we've all experienced and I'm worried I may grow into.
It contained so much authenticity for the culture, it's beyond a crime it didn't last longer.

Who can forget classic episodes such as Dee Dee getting bullied and the famous line "Hit Me",
basketball tryouts and the famous "Goo Punch" scene we all sung along to, wishing
we were shilling our own product Dee Dee being very impressionable in an attempt to be cool
getting a wild haircutLife lesson episodes such as stepping out of your
comfort zone in the Robin Hood episode.


If for some reason you have never seen it, do yourself a favor and check out the clips on YouTube or
buy the dvd of the show you'll thank yourself later,

My Brother and Me only lasted one season but has left a legacy for a lifetime.