Now, before tying in this blog post's title with a Camelot reference, let me say that this review involves a strike.
-I'm not the one striking.
Imagine a strike filled with hilarity. It may not go down like that in real life, but what if some of your childhood characters did that? I know that people go through hard times and want their piece of the pie, but here's a TV show that seems to stand the test of time by delivering a message saying that strikes aren't as dramatic as the media portrays them; and that people are overreacting. Then again, it's just kids being kids.
This is Lamb Chop's Play Along's "United We Stand."
Act 1
The segment opens with Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, and Hush Puppy playing cards, until Shari interrupts their play by telling them to do chores. She assigns Lamb Chop to do the dishes, Hush Puppy to tend to the laundry, and Charlie Horse to mow the lawn.
-Is it weird to say that an eight-year-old shouldn't have to operate a lawnmower? To me, it's too young an age to be doing that. Then again, this was in the 80s and 90s; so...
But the characters try to bail out by saying that they've already made plans and that they want their allowance, but Shari doesn't budge from her instructing them to do chores.
Charlie Horse: "Yeah, but there's more and more chores, the same measly allowance... All in favor of fun now, say aye!"
The three (in unison): "Aye!"
-Now this should be a sign that things are gonna get silly here. As if this whole situation was a democracy type thing...
Shari: "Hey guys, this is not a democracy. You forget, I'm in charge here, and what I say goes..."
-Okay. just a recap: the kids don't want to do chores, and they expect an allowance; but Shari wants them to do chores, so that they can have an allowance. Where do politics fit into this? Where does the government fit into all this? Now before you answer "socialism" or "communism," just remember that this scenario is the Lamb Chop's Play Along equivalent of children refusing to do their chores for their parents in real life.
So, instead of doing the chores like they were being told to, Charlie Horse doesn't let up.
Hush Puppy: "Well, we've better get to work."
Charlie Horse: "No, not me. She's not gonna have this horse to kick around anymore."
-Uh... pun intended? If so, then I get the joke. : )
Then Charlie Horse suggests to his siblings to go on strike, so that they can work less and get a bigger allowance.
-This is starting to feel like a union strike in the form of a school play.
-And plus, you know how with Spongebob Squarepants,
in one episode where he and Squidward are striking against the Krusty Krab?
Well, in that show, that was closer to how it is when it comes to unfairness in the workforce...
except for the half-assed antics from Spongebob. Here, it's just a parent telling her kids to do chores; but they treat it like it's a day in the life of the economy. Well, to be fair, this is supposed to be comedic. Just check out...
Act 2:
...where Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, and Hush Puppy are holding up their so-called strike in the yard. It's friggin' hilarious!
Trio (in unison): "Shari is unfair! Shari doesn't care! So she can take a hike, 'cuz we're on strike!"
-I can almost see my two nephews and my niece throwing this parody of a strike years later with their mom. In today's day and age, stuff like this can piss off a parent.
Kids: Mommy is unfair! Mommy doesn't care!
Sister: (name), you three get your butt in this house...!
Me: All of this because of chores?
Sister: Yep. (name), the hell you three doing on strike?! Y'all aren't old enough to even have jobs, and yet y'all wanna strike! Get the fuck back in the house. you lazy pieces of-!
Me: Whoa! What if they were just pretending...?
Sister: Oh, ho! Pretend or not, I'll show them a strike...
Me (while in the background kids are crying, and mom is striking their behinds): [sigh] It's funny, because those kids aren't mine.
Then Charlie Horse gives a motivational speech to his "supporters":
Charlie Horse: "My fellow workers... let us unite against Shari... We will make our demands known! No more chores! More free time! Bigger allowances for everyone!... United we stand, divided we're punished."
-It's hard for me to take this seriously, because these characters are "on strike," and yet I'm laughing my ass off this whole scene.
Anyway, Shari comes over to see what all the commotion is about, and Hush Puppy goes and explains the situation to her.
Hush Puppy: "Oh! We is on strike, Shari. Would you care to join us?"
Lamb Chop: "No... We're striking against Shari. Hmph!"
Hush Puppy: "Oh, sorry Shari. Maybe you can strike with us next time."
-By the way, who made Hush Puppy the group's negotiator here? I'm curious, unless this was random.
Anyway, Hush Puppy tells Shari the situation; Shari tells them about collective bargaining, where they can come up with some kind of resolution. Great! A compromise. That'll help. When do we get on with that?
Hush Puppy: "Well, where will we have this meeting?"
Shari: "As soon as you guys finish your chores."
-Seriously,lay off on the chores and work something out with your kids. They aren't "on strike" for nothing!
Act 3:
Later on, the kids present Shari with a list of demands.
Charlie Horse: "We've made a list of all our rights."
Lamb Chop: "Yes. We've cut out all our wrongs."
-Don't you just love when people make fun of politics? People do that on talk shows, you know.
So the kids explain their declaration to Shari:
Lamb Chop: "Less work. More pay."
Hush Puppy: "Fewer chores. More time to play."
Lamb Chop: "Stay up late every night."
Hush Puppy: "Extra ice cream. That's alright!"
Lamb Chop: "No more dishes! More TV!"
Hush Puppy: "Later bedtimes. Yes sir-y!"
Lamb Chop: "Weekends at the shopping mall!"
Shari: "Is that it?"
Hush Puppy: "Yep, that's all."
-Well, that took some time to rehearse, since they've been at it all day. And what day are they on, Sunday? While people are at church or working, these kids are striking against doing their chores and getting less pay...
Shari: "Don't you guys realize that I have to do what I think is best for all of us. I am the grownup around here."
-Quick throwback thursday story (even though today is Saturday)... I used to get pissed off whenever my mom would say that, because I wasn't doing what she asked. Nowadays, she tries to wag a finger... there's no point, because I myself an adult.
Thus, Shari provides her own list of expectations...
-Yeah, spit on your kids' work after they've just finished telling you that you're being unfair to them. (sarcasm) Good work, Parent-of-the-Year.
Shari:
"No more whining,
talking back,
Right on time,
you hit the sack.
Do the dishes,
make your bed,
Take the time
to plan ahead.
Do your homework,
math and spelling.
No more fighting,
no more yelling.
That's my list
You'll find it pays.
You might even
get a raise."
-Here's the translation: Do your chores, and you'll get a raise on the allowance. Nothing's changed.
So it seems like everything is back to normal, until Shari refuses to make them dinner. Why?
Shari: "I'm on strike..."
(Pulls out a big picket sign)
"Less work! More play! Shari needs a holiday! Less work! More play! Shari needs a holiday!"
-Denying the kids their meal now?
-If possible, look out for the sequel where the kids go on a hunger strike, because they're now not being fed. Just call it "United We Stand- Part 2- Lamb Chop and her friends fight against hunger, because their parent is on strike... for no apparent reason."
And that was an episode of Lamb Chop's Play Along, and boy, did it make us laugh.
This had to be based on a "what-if." Like it's saying What if all union strikes went down like this? or What if kids' issues of doing chores were taken this seriously to where kids will strike? There was an episode of The Proud Family that did the same thing. Spongebob had an episode where the characters were on some kind of strike.
All I'm saying is that this was a good satirizing of what strikes are, because no one wants a strike to turn for the worst.
Whatsoever Critic
Sources:
Lamb Chop's Play Along
Spongebob Squarepants
Courtesy: Shari Lewis & Nickelodeon
Can you please put the full episode on to youtube today?
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