#the torkelsons

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

Have you seen The Torkelnsons (1991-1993)?

Yes

Partially

No, but I've heard of it

Never heard of it

Voting ended onMar 20

[imstuckin1999]

The Torkelsons

[some-lists]

10 Shows That Should Be Added to Disney Plus

Disney Plus is a goldmine for all things Disney. They’ve got almost every animated film, all the Star Wars films, Marvel, Disney Junior cartoons, old 50’s shows, and more. I was excited to check out all the old Disney Channel Original Series from days past to sadly discover they only go back to 2000.

There are some really great 80’s and 90’s shows that are missing from Disney Plus. That’s two decades of material sadly not included in the streaming service. Here are 10 that should be added.

10. The Torkelsons

The Torkelsons was a family sitcom about an Oklahoman woman, whose husband has just left her and her five children. The show depicts her trying to survive financially while raising her kids. Her oldest daughter Dorothy Jane talks to the “man in the moon” like a diary. The second season saw the family move to the West Coast where they moved in with an upper middle class family. It featured a pre-famous Brittany Murphy, Jared Leto, and Ben Affleck.

9. The Famous Jett Jackson

The Famous Jett Jackson came out in the late 90’s, just before Even Stevens. It was about a famous teen movie star who moves back into his small hometown to be a regular kid. It was one of the Disney Channel’s first original series and it was a big hit. It had its own original TV movie and Beyoncé even made a guest appearance. Tragically, its star Lee Thompson Young committed suicide in 2013. I wonder if that’s the reason it wasn’t included in the streaming service.

8. Welcome to Pooh Corner

This was one the Disney Channel’s first preschool programs in the 80’s. It featured a narrator telling various adventures of Winnie the Pooh and his friends. All the characters were played by real people in costumes. I’ll admit, the costumes are a little creepy by today’s standards. But the theme song and soothing voice of the narrator are worth it.

7. Ready or Not

This wasn’t an original Disney series, but was picked up from Canada and aired on the Disney Channel throughout the 90’s. It was about two best friends and their life from sixth to ninth grades. It dealt with so many issues still relevant today in real, thoughtful ways. It’s still one of the best children’s shows to air throughout the channel’s history.

6. Adventures in Wonderland

This was a live action show about Alice and her daily adventures when she steps through her looking glass/mirror. There were cheery songs, dances, cheesy jokes, and life lessons. Every character was played by an actor in makeup and costume, including the White Rabbit, Mad Hare, and Catepillar. The Catepillar was especially creepy, but it was a fun show.

5. In a Heartbeat

This show has unfortunately been forgotten by too many. It’s such a shame because it was really great. Inspired by real teens, it was about a group of teenage EMTs as they balance high school and saving lives after school. It was like ER for kids. It was Disney’s first and last attempt at a drama series that aired in 2000. Unfortunately it only lasted one season, and Disney shifted to sticking to teen comedies.

4. Ocean Girl

Ocean Girl was acquired by the Disney Channel from Australia and aired for several years in the 90’s. It’s about a girl who lives on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. She can swim at great depths holding her breath for long periods of time without any apparatus. It’s a little cheesy, but it was so good. It had elements of fantasy, sci-fi, suspense, romance, and comedy. It also taught about the importance of protecting and preserving the ocean. It would be great if Disney could somehow get the rights to this show and stream it again.

3. Kids Incorporated

Kids Incorporated aired on the Disney Channel from 1986 to 1994. It was about a group of kid performers who would sing and dance onstage at a club after school. All the kids did their own singing and were crazy talented. Several of them went on to become big stars, like Fergie, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Mario Lopez (pre-A.C. Slater).

2. The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (MMC)

The show that started the careers of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, JC Chasez, and Keri Russell. Ever wonder why Justin Timberlake was so good in all his SNL appearances? This is why. MMC was a variety show that ran from 1989 to 1994. All the kids acted in comedy sketches and sang and danced to popular songs in front of a live audience. They also recorded their own music videos and had a spin-off show for teens. It featured regular celebrity guests including TLC, Boyz II Men, New Kids On the Block, Jodie Sweetin, Tia and Tamera Mowry, and so many more. This show is a pot of gold and Disney’s just sitting on it. They already put up the 50’s version. Now Disney needs to do some digging and put the 90’s version back up pronto!

1. Flash Forward

I cannot believe Flash Forward isn’t on Disney Plus! It was the Disney Channel’s first original series. It was about two best friends and next door neighbors (Ben Foster and Jewel Staite) as they go through junior high. Ryan Gosling also appeared in a couple episodes. It’s a fun, hilarious, and very sweet show. I am seriously waiting for Disney Plus to stream this. If they’re going to add Even Stevens and The Proud Family, they need to add this one too. It’s too good to miss!

[stephantom]

I decided to watch Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) for nostalgic reasons, because I can (Disney+ came with a phone plan my sister talked me into going in on with her at Christmas) and I’ve suddenly realized that it is the same movie as Elf (2003), just minus the Christmas and plus some extra problematic stuff. But like, really, the same movie.

[go3dprinting]

The Torkelsons - Intro

[somerandomwriter1234]

The Great Forgotten Show From The Creator of Girl Meets World: “The Torkelsons”

For those really missing Girl Meets World, I recently found a lost gem of 90′s television from Girl Meets World creator: Michael Jacobs, that might fill in the gap the show has left in your heart. It’s called: “The Torkelsons”.

For those that don’t know, two years before he made Boy Meets World, Michael Jacobs created a show called “The Torkelsons”; a show about a single mother raising five kids while living in near poverty. It was a sitcom yes, but it actually dealt with a ton of important social issues and serious life lessons along the way. It was also the very first sitcom made by Disney Television, making it the predecessor to every Disney sitcom ever. For those that are interested, you can watch the entire series on Youtube for free below:

Or if you want to watch a recap of the entire series, there’s a great forty minute retrospective on the series below. I hope you check it out.

[storyofmorewhoa]

Man in the Moon, there was a point of discussion at out dinner table tonight about why I talk to you all the time and if I am insane to do so. My brother Steven Floyd was the leading proponent of the lunatic scenario, but my little sister Mary Sue understood completely, having frequently engaged in conversation with her doll Martha Lou and her other assorted imaginary friends. My younger brother Chuckie Lee defended me with no good reason because he has always taken my side and he has always loved me. My remaining sister Ruth Ann Torkelson, who has never before exhibited any flash of recognizable brilliance, tonight stopped the conversation cold when she said that my talking to was you was actually prayer, and that I sit in my window and talk to God using the Man in the Moon as a front. Well, after giving this very careful consideration it scares me to think that I could have so casual a relationship with God as I do with you. Because when I do consciously pray, I'm always a little bit more formal, which I am not when I tell you my feelings. But if God is so inclined to listen in because he knows I'm actually trying to pray to him, then I hope he will forgive me for being so foolish as to not realize who I'm talking to. Amen.

Dorothy Jane Torkelson The Torkelsons (1992-1993) "Return to Sender" (1992) written by Wayne Lemon

[dream-beyond-the-fantasy]

5 Shows That I Watched as Kid That Few People Will Remember

Eerie, Indiana

The Zack Files

Strange Days at Blake Holsey High

The Torkelsons

Flash Forward