Two posts in one day? Yes, it's true! Since we've been absent for so long, I thought I'd try to make up for the last time by blogging twice today.
Earlier this evening, A and I were walking a Borders, perusing various DVDs and Blu-Rays and we so often do, when a big book caught our eye. Now, we are not big readers, we prefer enjoying something that can be watched,
but were were immediately drawn to this book. It was called Not Just Cartoons, Nicktoons! The book (as you can see on the right) had a cover that was filled with green slime (one of Nickelodeon's trademarks) and inside, the book discussed every single Nicktoon ever made, from the early days of Ren & Stimpy and Rugrats, to the most recent Nicktoon The Might Bee (created by and starring the voice of SNL star Amy Poehler, didn't I mention her in my last blog?). (For those of you who didn't grow up in the 1990's, a Nicktoon the term used for a cartoon that was created by the Nickelodeon TV channel.) We saw down at a table and flipped page by page through the book, reminiscing about our old favorite TV shows from our childhood. Though we didn't know each other as kids (we met in high school), we both grew up watching these same shows, and we both immediately remembered specific episodes from our favorite shows like Doug, Hey Arnold!, and The Angry Beavers. The book was not really a children's book, more of a behind the scenes look at the creations of these shows, with interviews from the show's writers and producers. It contained drawings of various characters, as well as stories about the original concepts for the shows, and how they developed through the years. It was truly a fascinating read, and once I graduate college and get my own place, I will be sure to buy a coffee table, and when I do, this book will surely be on it.
but were were immediately drawn to this book. It was called Not Just Cartoons, Nicktoons! The book (as you can see on the right) had a cover that was filled with green slime (one of Nickelodeon's trademarks) and inside, the book discussed every single Nicktoon ever made, from the early days of Ren & Stimpy and Rugrats, to the most recent Nicktoon The Might Bee (created by and starring the voice of SNL star Amy Poehler, didn't I mention her in my last blog?). (For those of you who didn't grow up in the 1990's, a Nicktoon the term used for a cartoon that was created by the Nickelodeon TV channel.) We saw down at a table and flipped page by page through the book, reminiscing about our old favorite TV shows from our childhood. Though we didn't know each other as kids (we met in high school), we both grew up watching these same shows, and we both immediately remembered specific episodes from our favorite shows like Doug, Hey Arnold!, and The Angry Beavers. The book was not really a children's book, more of a behind the scenes look at the creations of these shows, with interviews from the show's writers and producers. It contained drawings of various characters, as well as stories about the original concepts for the shows, and how they developed through the years. It was truly a fascinating read, and once I graduate college and get my own place, I will be sure to buy a coffee table, and when I do, this book will surely be on it. As a child, I pretty much exclusively watched Nickelodeon, and while I had those shows that I loved those that were just okay, for the most part, I watched them all. 
However, there was one Nicktoon that I never watched, and that was Invader Zim. While most Nicktoons were bright and happy, Invader Zim had a much darker style. As you've probably noticed by looking at all the shows we talk about, I'm really into comedies, and I really don't watch many dark or scary shows. So when I saw commercials for Invader Zim as a child, it kind of freaked me out, and I had no desire to watch. However, when talking to A last year, she mentioned on a few occasions how she used to watch Invader Zim and although it was kind of dark, it was really funny and she liked it. This got me thinking that perhaps I should give this show a chance, and also perhaps A would like to watch this show again, so for Chanukkah this year, one of the gifts that I got for A was the Complete Series of Invader Zim on DVD. We've been pretty busy with work (and other TV shows) these past few weeks, so we never got a chance to watch, but after reading about Nicktoons at Borders today (and there was naturally a chapter in the book about Invader Zim too), we were in the mood for some Nicktoons, so we thought what better occasion then now to start watching that DVD. And I must say, as a first time viewer, it's really funny! Yes, a little dark, but overall very funny. The show is about an alien from a distant planet who is sent to Earth to take take over the planet. As he prepares his take-over, he disguises himself as a human so no one will suspect that he is an alien, and he disguises his side-kick robot Gir as a dog. Here, enjoy a short clip from Invader Zim:
However, there was one Nicktoon that I never watched, and that was Invader Zim. While most Nicktoons were bright and happy, Invader Zim had a much darker style. As you've probably noticed by looking at all the shows we talk about, I'm really into comedies, and I really don't watch many dark or scary shows. So when I saw commercials for Invader Zim as a child, it kind of freaked me out, and I had no desire to watch. However, when talking to A last year, she mentioned on a few occasions how she used to watch Invader Zim and although it was kind of dark, it was really funny and she liked it. This got me thinking that perhaps I should give this show a chance, and also perhaps A would like to watch this show again, so for Chanukkah this year, one of the gifts that I got for A was the Complete Series of Invader Zim on DVD. We've been pretty busy with work (and other TV shows) these past few weeks, so we never got a chance to watch, but after reading about Nicktoons at Borders today (and there was naturally a chapter in the book about Invader Zim too), we were in the mood for some Nicktoons, so we thought what better occasion then now to start watching that DVD. And I must say, as a first time viewer, it's really funny! Yes, a little dark, but overall very funny. The show is about an alien from a distant planet who is sent to Earth to take take over the planet. As he prepares his take-over, he disguises himself as a human so no one will suspect that he is an alien, and he disguises his side-kick robot Gir as a dog. Here, enjoy a short clip from Invader Zim:
