Knitting Passion

So I was browsing channels, and came across Boomerang, which is a spin-off of Cartoon Network used to show older cartoons like Yogi Bear and Smurfs. It also shows Snorks which tickled me, and sent waves of nostalgia running down my spine.

I came across this channel as they were showing a cartoon in which one of the characters was knitting! Imagine my surprise when I found out the name of the show was “Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space” and it was made in 1972, by Hanna-Barbera!

So in this episode, Melody, the air-head drummer, was knitting a sweater with some red yarn, and was holding her needles points-down, like a “V”. I thought this was so freaking hilarious.

The yarn was wound around this little alien creature called “Meep” or “Bleep” or something, and she says “Wow, I hope I can get this sweater finished by the time we get back to Earth!”

Now let me just say, that this was probably one of the most awful cartoons I’ve ever seen. Classic 1972 era, with probably next to nothing for a budget, made to capitalize on the children of the 70s that loved Scooby-Doo. (Might I add that the voice of Shaggy is also in this show. He’s the voice of Alex. *Note - IMDB.com says this voice is Casey Kasem. Who knew?)

This is from Wikipedia.com:
“The art styling for the show was a cross between Dan DeCarlo’s artwork and Hanna-Barbera’s late-1960s adventure shows such as Space Ghost and The Herculoids. Josie and the Pussycats was somewhat less realistic and more cartoony than Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, from which much of its tone, laugh track, pacing, and plot elements were derived; both shows also feature the same Ted Nichols background score cues and Casey Kasem. Many viewers who are unaware of Josie’s Archie Comics origins would argue that it is a complete rip-off of Scooby. Also, the animated versions of Alexander Cabot, III, and Alan look remarkably like Shaggy and Fred, respectively, from Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!”

See! I’m not the only one that thinks so!

So at the end, Melody finished her sweater and the resident *booger-head* Alexandra takes it from her to show-off for Allen, who is to this show what Fred is to Scooby-Doo.

I just thought it was so amusing that they had the dingy blonde drummer doing the knitting. (OK before I start getting hate comments, I have no bias for or against blondes… this was just the stereotype they were showing.) I mean, what were they trying to say? That only dumb people knit? Or that knitting is easy enough for dumb people? And might I just add that it was irritating how dumb this girl actually was? I mean, come on. No one is that dumb… at least I HOPE no one is…

PS: Tara Reid played Melody in the movie, and while her character was a little ditzy, she was not flat out stupid like this cartoon character is. I did think the movie was rather cute, by the way, and I suggest everyone go rent it.

SO…

I’m kind of rambling, but I just wanted to finish by saying that I have since watched another episode of Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space, and I can’t stop! There wasn’t even any knitting in this one! Does anyone know why this is? I’ll be asking some of the TV gurus for 451 Press, and maybe they can help me.

Josie and the Pussycats, Boomerang, vintage cartoons, dumb people, knitting