Top 5 Things I Learned As A Kid From Watching "You Can't Do That On Television"

#5 Boys with freckles are cute. See, I had freckles growing up and I hated them, but when I saw Alisdair Gillis with his freckles, well...I started liking mine a little more. (By the way, I totally thought it was "Alistair", but, after a Google search, saw that it was "Alisdair". It's like I didn't even really know him or something.) Girls, you had a crush on him, too, didn't you? (Okay, went to the Kelley's Break Room Facebook page and see that some girls are trying to claim that Alisdair was theirs. I am going to have to set them straight riiiiiight nah.)

Then

Now (Source)

#4 People from Canada talk funny. Different. Is that better? They were always saying "aboot" instead of "about". The show was filmed in Ottawa. Crazy Canadians. (Okay, Texans are crazier. I can't say "sell" and "sale" right, according to my husband.)

#3 Mindless TV can help you waste lots and lots and lots of time. What was this show aboot anyway? I can't even tell you. It was just people standing up on a stage or sitting down on the stage and talking. And then getting doused in slime. I would stayed GLUED to the TV when it was on. I loved that one of the character's names was Lisa, because that is my sister's name. When I heard my parents stirring around, I would jump up and pretend to be cleaning the living room. You Can't Do That On Television always got me sidetracked.

#2 "Don't encourage your [pick a relative]" is a great line to use when being picked on. My sister and I always used this line that we heard Les Lye say over and over on the show. We still say it. He always used the word "mother". Remember him? Sadly, he passed away at the age of 84. After I saw that news on-line, I felt bad about saying that his character on the show (all four different ones) sort of creeped me out. That's why I didn't actually mention that in this post.

Les Lye Source

#1 Green slime is bad for your health. Y'all. This is true. While I didn't learn that from watching the show, I did just read an article in The Onion from 2004 that said ex-You Can't Do That On Television actors filed a lawsuit against the makers of the show for a host of symptoms they relate to being doused in green slime over and over and over again. Things like migraines, chronic pain and fatigue, numbness, etc. Okay, that is crazy, right? Guess I'm not making Green Slime Enchiladas like I had planned for tonight...

I guess it is too bad that it is bad for your health, as I wrote about a way to use it as a parent over at NickMom yesterday. Just think of the possibilities! Maybe our kids would start giving more direct answers if they were about to get doused! You can check out that post here. Thanks to all who read/share!!

15 comments:

Kari at A Grace Full Life said... [Reply]: I LOVED this show growing up. LOVED. I wonder if its on DVD.....hmm. And Alistair? Hawwwt. Well, then. Notsomuch now. But neither am I so its even. Oh and Alanis Morrissette was on this show. So they say. I don't remember her.; January 4, 2013 at 7:37 AM
Stephen Hayes said... [Reply]: This show must have come out after I was married. The name sounds familiar but I don't think I ever saw an episode.; January 4, 2013 at 8:25 AM
Rachel Garavito said... [Reply]: This was my favorite show when I was little! Awesome.; January 4, 2013 at 8:52 AM
Kate Hall said... [Reply]: Wow, "Alisdair" looks the same, just bald. If I saw him in a crowd, I'd be like, "I totally know that guy from somewhere" like I did when I ran into Ollie North. As a tween, I really thought "Alisdair" was in my future. I think I'm ok now. That "aboot" talk mystified me. I had no idea why they talked like that until I saw some other Canadian show and put it together. Thanks for the memories!; January 4, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Kate Hall said... [Reply]: And another thing, I never understood the whole green slime thing. My sensory processing disorder got me irritated every time it happened - all that sticky, gooey green crap they'd have to clean off. Way too much showering for my taste. And I wonder whatever happened to Lisa. Will have to google.; January 4, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication said... [Reply]: I've never seen this show, but I do remember watching "Slime Time" on Nickelodeon as a kid. I dont like being dirty so I never wanted to get slimed, but at the same time I did...; January 4, 2013 at 9:54 AM
Eva Gallant said... [Reply]: I missed that show completely...It's probably because I'm in a totally different generation!; January 4, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Nessa said... [Reply]: I'm Canadian, and I've never met a Canadian that says 'aboot'. Almost everything about the way Canadians are portrayed on tv annoys me. We do, however, say 'eh' a lot. But even on tv it sounds so much more annoying than in real life.; January 4, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Christian at Point Counter-Point Point Point said... [Reply]: I watched that show a bit as a youth. I had a crush on one of the girls. I don't remember her name or much of what she looked like but our love will never be forgotten.; January 4, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Shanna @ Motherhood on the Rocks said... [Reply]: Love that your source is The Onion! I used to love that show, too!; January 4, 2013 at 7:54 PM
Janine Huldie said... [Reply]: Kelly thanks you totally brought back some great memories. I watched that show all the time and loved it!! Thanks for sharing this here :) :); January 4, 2013 at 9:54 PM
The Girl Next Door Drinks and Swears said... [Reply]: We were like the last people in our town to get cable, so I would got next door to watch YCDTOT. I loved that show. It was pretty pointless, though. You know Alanis Morisette was on it, right?; January 4, 2013 at 11:54 PM
Sparkling said... [Reply]: My mother hated that show and really didn;t like us watching it! She didn't like Barth or Barf or whatever his name was. And she didn't like the slime. We thought it was pretty cool. I always thought it was Alister until I taught an Alisdair a few years ago and learned it's a Scottish name.

And I bet you can say pen or pin right either if you're from TExas!! Ice and eyes? That's another one.; January 6, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Sparkling said... [Reply]: @The Girl Next Door Drinks and Swears
I know Alanis was on it. I think Kelley's research about the green slime explains why her music is so harsh and bizarre. Must have been too much green slime.; January 6, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Sparkling said... [Reply]: @Kari at A Grace Full Life I remember Alanis beccause I thought her name was Alottis. I swear I did not have a hearing issue growing up, I just thought Canadians had the craziest names: Alottis, Alister, Barf.; January 6, 2013 at 10:55 AM