Good evening everyone:

Oh no. For all of you with small children – and for all of us who have had small children anytime in the last twenty-five years –  next winter will be a time of mourning. It has just been announced that “Arthur,” the animated children’s show about – of all things – an aardvark in third grade and his family and friends, has come to an end.

Based on the books Arthur’s Adventures by Marc Brown, the show was something of an animated companion to “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” conveying to pre-schoolers in particular (but not exclusively – the show was designed for children 2 to 11) values of kindness and empathy . . .  inclusion and loss . . .  school and friendship. It was the longest-running animated children’s show in television history:

The memorable theme song was performed by Ziggy Marley, the great reggae artist’s son. I still remember:

And I say HEY! (HEY!)
What a wonderful kind of day.
If you can learn to work and play
And get along with each other

You got to listen to your heart
Listen to the beat
Listen to the rhythm
The rhythm of the street
Open up your eyes
Open up your ears
Get together and make things better
By working together!

It's a simple message and it comes from the heart
Believe in yourself (in yourself)
cause that's the place to start (to start)

Like Mr. Rogers, Arthur has an “everyman” kind of quality to him (to the extent that any aardvark is able to do that) – someone who could make every child (actually, every adult, if they would let down their guard) be comfortable with their genuineness and feel seen and loved by others. But it was hardly escapism. Arthur and his crew faced difficult situations in the classroom, instances of bullying, the fear and reality of cancer and death.

D.W. (Dora Winifred Read) was a particularly compelling character. The five-year-old middle child of Arthur’s family, D.W. was pretty much constantly infuriating – bossy, selfish, spoiled, and even cruel. All especially directed at her older brother. All relatively normal behavior for a five-year old. And all redeemed by an inner decency and good heart.

The rest of the crew includes Kate, Arthur’s two-year-old sister, who communicates with a variety of imaginary animals (think our Investment team) . . .

Buster Baxter, a white rabbit, who is Arthur’s best friend who suffers from asthma, is preoccupied with aliens, and plays the tuba:

And Francine Frensky, a girl monkey who plays soccer and the drums and whose family’s Jewish holidays take center stage in a number of episodes:

There are scores of others, so be sure to tune in before winter arrives to capture the full flavor.

Rip

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