Other kids, when they reminisce about their childhoods, mention watching shows like Sesame Street, 3-2-1-Contact, or The Electric Company. Strangely enough, I don’t remember watching any of these shows when I was little (at least not at the age at which I should have been watching them…prophets know I did enjoy me some Sesame Street muppetry when I was in summertime shiftless teen mode).
However, I do remember watching The New Zoo Revue. Actually, that’s not even completely true. I don’t remember any of the episodes. I didn’t even remember the majority of the theme song until I found a few clips on YouTube. The only thing I really remember about this show is that my dad made unmerciful fun of it. He would call it “The Rubber Head Revue” and would alter the theme song accordingly. He thought it was one of the most ridiculous things that he’d ever seen. This was, of course, years before my Pee-wee Herman obsession kicked in.
Looking at this following clip as well as a few others I found, I have to admit, it is pretty ridiculous. And quite creepy. And dated. Seriously, could this show scream 70s any louder? Those pants. Those go-go boots. Those hairstyles. And who knew that before Lady Kier Kirby found the groove in her heart, she lip-synced (rather poorly) through horribly cheesy lesson-teaching diddies directed toward dancers wearing giant rubber animal heads?
[Loba Tangent: No, that’s not really Lady Kier Kirby. And, no, I didn’t have to look up her name…I already knew it. Oh, to flotsam that floats to the top of my memory when I least expect it.]
Anyway, welcome to one of my earliest television memories, denizens. It ain’t pretty. But it explains a lot…
