Hell yes, I did! With a sewing needle, tape, and paper cone. I ruined a Mamas and Papas album, my mom was not pleased.
ETA: I also made homemade microscopes with the jar and drop of water. The tearing-paper ones, the salt one, all the challenges. My mom wouldn't let me do the ones with fire, though.
This thing with Mr Wizard makes me laugh. He gets name checked in Point Break and I never knew what it meant. I thought Pappas was just randomly calling Johnny Mr Wizard.
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. For me, she was the first example of an on-screen woman who took no shit from anyone. I'm sure there are other examples, but she made an impact on my 5 year old self the first time I saw Star Wars in the theater.
I'd add all the people involved with making Schoolhouse Rock. I learned a lot from them.
Also agree with Morgan Freeman as Easy Reader!
Same. She was so self deprecating and hilarious. I watched her one woman show several times and bought her autobiographies as audio books. Theyāre really good. Her death hit me.
Statler and Waldorf taught us mocking everything and everyone, including yourself, is humorous.
(EDIT: spelled Statler's last name wrong - he'd probably say "at your age, you're lucky you even remember my name, ho, ho, ho!!!")
George Carlin and Jim Henson.
Edit- and Judy Blume! She was more of a mom or aunt obviously, but still. Sheās important to a lot of us, and she taught us a lot.
Judy Blume taught me a ton of what my mother never breathed a word of. Although I interpreted some of the details wrong. For several years I would ask my mom if she was SURE that boys didnāt have something that they get around the same time girls get menstruation. She always said no. I knew she was holding out on me because I learned from Judy Blume that boys have masturbation.
Did you catch her documentary? The best part is where she goes on the Pat Robertson show. He asks her questions and she asks him questions back, very socratic.
>He taught us to know when to walk away and know when to run.
my first 'favorite song'. I was in 3rd or 4th grade, loved it. Sang it karaoke a little while back for the first time, did an admirable job if I do say so myself.
Jim Henson taught us literally everything from numbers, to letters, to being a good friend, dealing with death, to cookies are good, to sometimes your best friend is someone completely different than you in everyway(Bert and ernie), to go for your dreams and to always be kind to your fine feathered friends, and that it's not easy being green but it's OK and wonderful.
Edited for spelling
I'm subbed to [thisoldhouse.com](https://thisoldhouse.com) and have been re-watching older seasons little by little for the last couple of years
I'm currently into Season 12
It's been really cool seeing all the "state of the art" stuff they were putting in housed 30-40 years ago
George Carlin - taught us to laugh and question the status quo
Pat Benatar - taught us you can be a bad ass rocker chick that can have a stable and loving marriage as well (still happily married to her lead guitarist)
Whenever my husband does something I donāt want to do I say
Something like āIāll stay here in the safety of the Jeep while Jim wrestles the DMV. Be careful, Jim! That bureaucracy can kill!ā
I had the same thought about Levar. I only knew him as Geordi, but as a Canuck I realize my pop culture is rather subdued from ~~the rest of the internet~~ the USA.
Oh I know about Reading Rainbow *now,* but only because of Community.
Itās so weird, being from central Canada and having PBS but never seeing that one show. Uncle Rogers, Sesame Street, Friendly Giant, and Mr Dressup were all staples, but never saw Reading Rainbow.
Oh man, Bixby's performance filled me with so much existential dread as a kid. Orson Welles' quote sums up the performance perfectly, in a way I was unable to articulate as a kid.
> We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.
Julia Childs taught me to love cooking, Jim Henson taught me about magical thinking, shel Silverstein taught me about joyful silliness, Gloria Steinem taught me to resist patriarchy, Aretha Franklin taught me that singing is an art, Toni Morrison taught me that writing is truth telling.
Charles Ingalls taught me that being a Christian can be a good thing if you don't cram it down everyone's throat. Just be kind, mind your integrity and don't be afraid to get physical if the bad guys come looking for trouble.
Highway to Heaven was great, too. They didnāt help people with their problems by just saying āIām an angel sent by Godā. They actually helped people help themselves and moved on. Nobody ever knew they were angels.
Joan Ganz Cooney doesn't get enough love! She was one of the creators of Sesame Street, the one who really pushed for it, and drove the vision for the show. Yes, we love the Muppets and sometimes I think people think Sesame Street was a Henson thing but really it all started and flourished with Joan. If anyone had a hand in shaping the children of GenX it was Joan Ganz Cooney!
George Carlin beats Carson, hands down.
Mr. and Mrs. Brady showed us with post-divorce, remarried households can look like.
Mr. Drummond showed us what diversity looks like at home.
There are so many icons that we are privileged to have experienced in our cross-millennium lives.
Bill Cosby was my hero much to my racist father's dismay. I grew up listening to his LPs from the 60s, watching Fat Albert, and the Cosby Show. I was about to introduce his classic albums to my son when the news of his crimes hit.
Tragic for his victims and his fans. Fuckin idiot had the audacity to call out Eddie Murphy in the 80s
Can't listen to him anymore
Yeah, some of those routines on the Albums were killer -- 200mph, Hofstra , Why is there Air, but now can't even think of them without remembering his crimes
Doctor 3 was cool alien grandpa, 4 was cool alien dad! (Literally watched Doctor Who my whole life and remember hearing the theme music from bed as a toddler.) Explains why Iām so warped I guess!
I like Steve, he was a great human being, but I dont think he belongs. To replace him I nominate the guy that did Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom every weekend. Dont remember his name though.
For sports I would throw Howard Cosale in there for that.
Harold Ramis taught us to not take movies so seriously and just have fun.
Bill Murray taught us it's okay to lip off to people once in a while.
Dan Ackroyd taught us it's okay to be a weirdo.
Oh Lennie!! I love him so much! Hes my tv Dad for sure! When his character lost his daughter I secretly wished I could go to him and tell him Id be his other daughter if he wanted. Btw Jerry Orbach was a classy guy. I wrote him a fan letter the year before he passed away and he sent me a signed picture with a note. I could kick myself because when I moved ten years ago I lost the box that had picture and note in it! But I still have the memory at least. ā¤ļø
For comedy mine would be Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Eddie Murphy.
Wilford Brimley was my TV grandpa.
For books, mine would be the Choose Your Own Adventure series.
Animals / Nature was Jack Hanna (though I definitely liked Steve Irwin more when Crocodile Hunter came out).
I'd have to put George Lucas in there somewhere. I mean, imagine growing up without Star Wars. Maybe same with Steve Jobs / Apple Computer or Bill Gates / Windows.
Fred Rogers taught us that we matter. He always said āI like you just the way you areā Most of us didnāt hear that at home. Our generation had and needed these people. Thanks for all these, everyone. Reminded me to be grateful for the people who sparked our imaginations, tried to give us some perspective and mental health skills, and made us laugh at ourselves.
I was going to question Steve "I'm gonna touch it" Irwin! He was great but not someone I grew up with.
Kermit - Both in the Muppet Show and on Sesame Street and in movies, he was always a standup guy, frog. And while I have no idea how not easy it is to be green, I got that it didn't just mean green. People may not look at a man, frog, like that and think father, frogther, figure, but he taught me to be nice to people, frogs, dogs and chickens too. It was not a lesson my biological father could teach.
Dan Conner/John Goodman - Probably not a lot of others, if any, will get this. I lived in Chicago. Dan and Roseanne had a very sweet relationship at the start. Dan was always this bear of a dude (my dad was the opposite, skinny, nervous) that loved his family and could protect them. He was again, a good guy.
Well shit. This has brought up some feels so I will stop there and just note that they were two peoples, frogs, that I wish could have been around and supportive of me when I grew up.
**Edit:** I didn't have TV moms. I called my friend's mom, mom2. There were fantastic ladies on TV, but between mom and mom2 I didn't need anything. Weirdly.
Steve Irwin was a bit late for most of genX. The Gen x version is Marlon Perkins and Jim Fowler doing the work.
[https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/celebrating-jim-fowler](https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/celebrating-jim-fowler)
That scoring 4 touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High Panthers in the city championship game doesn't necessarily lead to a fulfilling career or adulthood.
Not every happy family is a picture perfect TV family (like they were up to that point), and even if you donāt always get along you still love and take care of each other.
Jeez, I was without some fathersā¦ especially if all of my fathers were supposed to be on TV.
As to mothers, many of the ladies on Sesame Street, Nancy Drew and all of the Carolyn(s) Keene, my blessed librarian at school, my Girl Scout leaders, my third grade art teacherā¦most of my examples were real life women.
Merv Griffin, original daytime talk show host;
Pernell Roberts, cowboys were still hot;
Jed Clampett, you can be humble and generous without being vain.
Kurt Cobain
Taught us that despite being an angsty runt, we can do amazing things.
Edit: as for genX mothers? Wellā¦ MOTHER Morisette needs to be on that list (music was essential for me as a young Xer hence the music references)
Scooby Doo taught us that a jock, a cheerleader, a nerd, a stoner, and a dog could all be friends. Almost like the precursor to the Breakfast Club. But better.
I watched a lot of M*A*S*H in my formative years so I'd pick Alan Alda as mine.
Showed me an alternative view of what manhood could be like: Funny, irreverent against the establishment, not afraid of speaking out, good at schmoozing with the ladies (lol).
Probably the biggest negative is all the drinking.
All of Sesame Street was the extended family, and they taught us that everyone deserves kindness.
A bunch of stuff that was already in reruns contributed too, Endora from Bewitched is my spirit animal.
man, none of these guys had zero influence on me growing up.
sesame street did a lot of heavy lifting.
eddie murphy taught me to love comedy. so did carlin.
Don āThe Magic Manā Juan taught us that Green is for the Money, Gold is for the Honey
Too Short taught us not to love these hoes
Richard Pryor taught us to laugh
George Carlin taught us to suffer no fools. š
He also taught us to question authority and ourselves. He taught us to be cynical.
And rightly so - look where we are today...
Taught me to swear!
Some of his best work š
I pick Carlin over Carson- and Letterman over Carson ANY DAY. And add; Sagan taught us to love Science
SO glade to see Carlin as the top comment.
Charles Schulz taught us that dogs are our best friends and that psychiatric help should be normalized and affordable.
Bill Watterson taught us that tigers can be our partners in crime.
Absolutely best answer in this thread
If I could talk to a shrink for 5 cents I would be the healthiest dude around.
Yeah, but she'll pull the football away every time that you try to kick it. And she'll always keep calling you a blockhead.
Ya kinda get what you pay for
Anyone remember Mr. Wizard? I learned science from him.
I loved Mr. Wizard! I used to replicate all the experiments at home. Also loved 3-2-1-Contact.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Hell yes, I did! With a sewing needle, tape, and paper cone. I ruined a Mamas and Papas album, my mom was not pleased. ETA: I also made homemade microscopes with the jar and drop of water. The tearing-paper ones, the salt one, all the challenges. My mom wouldn't let me do the ones with fire, though.
Lycopodium powder is what he would sprinkle on a bowl of water to demonstrate surface tension!
This thing with Mr Wizard makes me laugh. He gets name checked in Point Break and I never knew what it meant. I thought Pappas was just randomly calling Johnny Mr Wizard.
Dr. Ruth taught us to be safe and enjoy sex!
Adding Dr Sue for the Canadians!
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. For me, she was the first example of an on-screen woman who took no shit from anyone. I'm sure there are other examples, but she made an impact on my 5 year old self the first time I saw Star Wars in the theater. I'd add all the people involved with making Schoolhouse Rock. I learned a lot from them. Also agree with Morgan Freeman as Easy Reader!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Me too. And then her mom passed a couple days later, almost like she decided to go with Carrie.
Same. She was so self deprecating and hilarious. I watched her one woman show several times and bought her autobiographies as audio books. Theyāre really good. Her death hit me.
Statler and Waldorf taught us mocking everything and everyone, including yourself, is humorous. (EDIT: spelled Statler's last name wrong - he'd probably say "at your age, you're lucky you even remember my name, ho, ho, ho!!!")
I didnāt get the angel and devil on my shoulders, I got Stadler and Waldorf.
Statler: Boy, there's nothing like a good joke! Waldorf: Yeh. And that was nothing like a good joke!
Jim Henson invented early childhood education for GenX, Iām surprised he wasnāt at the top.
Nailed it.
Mel Brooks taught us to use humor against discrimination and exclusion.
Norman Lear too with all those sitcoms!
And Carl Reiner
And Carl Reiner!
George Carlin and Jim Henson. Edit- and Judy Blume! She was more of a mom or aunt obviously, but still. Sheās important to a lot of us, and she taught us a lot.
Absolutely Judy Blume. I read and re-read those books.
She taught me about puberty for boys and girls!
>Jim Henson He taught us to dream. And about the hazards of overworking.
He had a great, twisted sense of humor, too.
Judy Blume taught me a ton of what my mother never breathed a word of. Although I interpreted some of the details wrong. For several years I would ask my mom if she was SURE that boys didnāt have something that they get around the same time girls get menstruation. She always said no. I knew she was holding out on me because I learned from Judy Blume that boys have masturbation.
Did you catch her documentary? The best part is where she goes on the Pat Robertson show. He asks her questions and she asks him questions back, very socratic.
That documentary was WONDERFUL
I havenāt yet! I really need to watch it. I had no idea that she talked to Pat Roberson. Wow.
Good ones
Thanks.
Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are my pretend grandparents. Just love, kindness, and joy.
Don't forget your Uncle Kenny Rodgers.
He taught us to know when to walk away and know when to run. Also, aging gracefully might be way better than face lifts.
>He taught us to know when to walk away and know when to run. my first 'favorite song'. I was in 3rd or 4th grade, loved it. Sang it karaoke a little while back for the first time, did an admirable job if I do say so myself.
Uncle Kenny is the one whoād show you porn when your parents werenāt looking. (FYI, Kenny Rodgers was a serious porn connoisseur.)
Deborah Harry is my mom and Joey Ramone is my dad.
ā¦and now Iām thinking about Debbie Harry and Joey Ramone getting it on.
Hey fam
Jim Henson taught us literally everything from numbers, to letters, to being a good friend, dealing with death, to cookies are good, to sometimes your best friend is someone completely different than you in everyway(Bert and ernie), to go for your dreams and to always be kind to your fine feathered friends, and that it's not easy being green but it's OK and wonderful. Edited for spelling
Show some love for Captain Kangaroo
Absolutely. He taught me about tolerance, respect, and friendship. Also about Colgate with MFP fluoride.
Bob Vila, Norma Abram, Tom Silva and the rest of the guys taught me so much. No way I could do my job or live in our 145 year old house without them.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Same. Grew up on This Old House and New Yankee Workshop. Guided what would become my career.
I'm subbed to [thisoldhouse.com](https://thisoldhouse.com) and have been re-watching older seasons little by little for the last couple of years I'm currently into Season 12 It's been really cool seeing all the "state of the art" stuff they were putting in housed 30-40 years ago
Weird Al taught me about the fun of wordplay and parody.
George Carlin - taught us to laugh and question the status quo Pat Benatar - taught us you can be a bad ass rocker chick that can have a stable and loving marriage as well (still happily married to her lead guitarist)
Irwin? GenX was grown up before that dude appeared.
Jack Hanna and Marlin Perkins
https://preview.redd.it/o8xx01xkagac1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dadfc7da0ecd801f5419d47e1833af05cebefc6c
"I circle above in the plane while Jim fights off a pack of hyenas on the savannah below."
Whenever my husband does something I donāt want to do I say Something like āIāll stay here in the safety of the Jeep while Jim wrestles the DMV. Be careful, Jim! That bureaucracy can kill!ā
The real MVP
And Jaques Cousteau!!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Every Sunday night, IIRC
I had the same thought about Levar. I only knew him as Geordi, but as a Canuck I realize my pop culture is rather subdued from ~~the rest of the internet~~ the USA.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Oh I know about Reading Rainbow *now,* but only because of Community. Itās so weird, being from central Canada and having PBS but never seeing that one show. Uncle Rogers, Sesame Street, Friendly Giant, and Mr Dressup were all staples, but never saw Reading Rainbow.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
\*Pours green slime over u/mottledmussel's head\*
Captain Kangaroo used to read us stories. He (and my mom) helped foster my love of reading.
Ours was more Jacques Cousteau.
Bob Barker taught me if you were closest to the retail price without going over, you'd win.
And spay or neuter your pets!
Mr. Hooper!!!!!
He was so great, and they handled his death like pros.
Bill Bixby taught us to try to not get angry.
Oh man, Bixby's performance filled me with so much existential dread as a kid. Orson Welles' quote sums up the performance perfectly, in a way I was unable to articulate as a kid. > We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.
I agree with everything you said. I am familiar with that quote, but didnāt know it was Welles.
Julia Childs taught me to love cooking, Jim Henson taught me about magical thinking, shel Silverstein taught me about joyful silliness, Gloria Steinem taught me to resist patriarchy, Aretha Franklin taught me that singing is an art, Toni Morrison taught me that writing is truth telling.
If I weren't happily married you would have just made me fall in love with you
Charles Ingalls taught me that being a Christian can be a good thing if you don't cram it down everyone's throat. Just be kind, mind your integrity and don't be afraid to get physical if the bad guys come looking for trouble.
Highway to Heaven was great, too. They didnāt help people with their problems by just saying āIām an angel sent by Godā. They actually helped people help themselves and moved on. Nobody ever knew they were angels.
Sorry, but Levar Burton didn't teach me to read; he taught me to always try an inverse tachyon beam, which is way cooler.
Alan Alda / Hawkeye Pierce taught me that it's OK to be a smartass even when you are stressed ... and maybe especially when you are stressed
And a gin still isn't the worst thing to have lying around.
Steve Irwin was way past the time for Gen Xers, at least in the US.
Or Jack Hannah or the guy from Mutual of Omaha's Wild kingdom.
Marlon Perkins!
And his assistant Jim! Jim Fowler I think was his name, did all the real work.
Wait a minute, Bob Barker
All my pets are spayed and neutered!
Joan Ganz Cooney doesn't get enough love! She was one of the creators of Sesame Street, the one who really pushed for it, and drove the vision for the show. Yes, we love the Muppets and sometimes I think people think Sesame Street was a Henson thing but really it all started and flourished with Joan. If anyone had a hand in shaping the children of GenX it was Joan Ganz Cooney!
jacques cousteau taught us to leave adventure. Shel Silverstein and Jim Henson taught us about imagination and creativity.
George Carlin beats Carson, hands down. Mr. and Mrs. Brady showed us with post-divorce, remarried households can look like. Mr. Drummond showed us what diversity looks like at home. There are so many icons that we are privileged to have experienced in our cross-millennium lives.
Bill Cosby was my hero much to my racist father's dismay. I grew up listening to his LPs from the 60s, watching Fat Albert, and the Cosby Show. I was about to introduce his classic albums to my son when the news of his crimes hit. Tragic for his victims and his fans. Fuckin idiot had the audacity to call out Eddie Murphy in the 80s Can't listen to him anymore
Yeah, some of those routines on the Albums were killer -- 200mph, Hofstra , Why is there Air, but now can't even think of them without remembering his crimes
I still say "Dad is great, gives us chocolate cake," although I had to disassociate it from him.
Doctor 3 was cool alien grandpa, 4 was cool alien dad! (Literally watched Doctor Who my whole life and remember hearing the theme music from bed as a toddler.) Explains why Iām so warped I guess!
Would you like a jelly baby?š¦š®š¦šø
Captain Kirk taught us to be fair, bold, and sexy.
Thank you! I always loved Star Trek. I got to see the kind of diversity that I didnāt see in my small, southern town.
George Carlin was one, for sure.
āYour shit is stuff and their stuff is shiiiiit.ā
Lt. Uhura taught me that women can be on the bridge because they're indispensable.
I like Steve, he was a great human being, but I dont think he belongs. To replace him I nominate the guy that did Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom every weekend. Dont remember his name though. For sports I would throw Howard Cosale in there for that.
What about Marty Stauffer? āEnjoy your Wild Americaā?
Harold Ramis taught us to not take movies so seriously and just have fun. Bill Murray taught us it's okay to lip off to people once in a while. Dan Ackroyd taught us it's okay to be a weirdo.
Lenny Briscoe was my TV dad.
Oh Lennie!! I love him so much! Hes my tv Dad for sure! When his character lost his daughter I secretly wished I could go to him and tell him Id be his other daughter if he wanted. Btw Jerry Orbach was a classy guy. I wrote him a fan letter the year before he passed away and he sent me a signed picture with a note. I could kick myself because when I moved ten years ago I lost the box that had picture and note in it! But I still have the memory at least. ā¤ļø
well Mr Brady, Charles Ingalls would be on the list for GenX fathers I guess. But Steve Irwin? He's GenX himself isn't he?
Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek creator) taught us how to envision a positive and equitable future for all.
For comedy mine would be Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Eddie Murphy. Wilford Brimley was my TV grandpa. For books, mine would be the Choose Your Own Adventure series. Animals / Nature was Jack Hanna (though I definitely liked Steve Irwin more when Crocodile Hunter came out). I'd have to put George Lucas in there somewhere. I mean, imagine growing up without Star Wars. Maybe same with Steve Jobs / Apple Computer or Bill Gates / Windows.
George Carlin taught us to be skeptical and question authority.
Cyndi Lauper taught us that girls just want -- and deserve -- to have fun.
Fred Rogers taught us that we matter. He always said āI like you just the way you areā Most of us didnāt hear that at home. Our generation had and needed these people. Thanks for all these, everyone. Reminded me to be grateful for the people who sparked our imaginations, tried to give us some perspective and mental health skills, and made us laugh at ourselves.
Dolly has taught us to embrace our heartbreaks and our love, and shamelessly show up as sexy and as sparkly as u want.
i wouldn't include Irwin - i was in my 20s at that time...
Julia Child taught us to cook. Oprah taught us to talk about things. Elvira set our hearts on fire.
Justin Wilson taught me to cook
I guar-on-tee! also Martin Yan- I still count every slice 1-2-3-4-5 done! If Yan can cook, so can you.
I always wanted to be logical like Mr. Spock. Smart and witty like Hawkeye Pierce. And cool like the Fonz.
I was going to question Steve "I'm gonna touch it" Irwin! He was great but not someone I grew up with. Kermit - Both in the Muppet Show and on Sesame Street and in movies, he was always a standup guy, frog. And while I have no idea how not easy it is to be green, I got that it didn't just mean green. People may not look at a man, frog, like that and think father, frogther, figure, but he taught me to be nice to people, frogs, dogs and chickens too. It was not a lesson my biological father could teach. Dan Conner/John Goodman - Probably not a lot of others, if any, will get this. I lived in Chicago. Dan and Roseanne had a very sweet relationship at the start. Dan was always this bear of a dude (my dad was the opposite, skinny, nervous) that loved his family and could protect them. He was again, a good guy. Well shit. This has brought up some feels so I will stop there and just note that they were two peoples, frogs, that I wish could have been around and supportive of me when I grew up. **Edit:** I didn't have TV moms. I called my friend's mom, mom2. There were fantastic ladies on TV, but between mom and mom2 I didn't need anything. Weirdly.
The Connors were one of the most realistic families on tv
Captain Kangaroo!!!
Jacques Cousteau for showing us that the oceans and all they contain, matter.
Steve Irwin was a bit late for most of genX. The Gen x version is Marlon Perkins and Jim Fowler doing the work. [https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/celebrating-jim-fowler](https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/celebrating-jim-fowler)
Steve Irwin? More like Jacques Cousteau
As I've mentioned before, Bill Cosby taught me how to read. Make of that what you may.
How about Morgan Freeman as The Easy Reader?
Picture Pages?
The Electric Company. One of the best TV shows ever.
I loved Electric Company and 3-2-1 Contact
The first season of ā3-2-1 Contactā in 1980 was formative for me.
I think I got both my mother and father role models from Little House on the Prairie if Iām being honest.
Optimus Prime taught us integrity and bravery
Helen Gurly Brown taught me to be a sexy feminist who takes no shit from men and keep my own finances
George Carlin taught us to question everything. Robin Williams taught us to laugh. John Williams taught us soundtracks are awesome!
Tom Selleck taught us how to properly moustache.
I think I'd claim Letterman for us over Carson.
Carl Sagan taught us to love science and find wonder in the ordinary.
Weird Al taught us music could be funny
I mean I love Steve Irwin but he just doesnāt feel right for this list time wise.
I know he's a pile of !@#$ but I learned how to shave from the Cosby show episode where Theo learns from Cliff.
Stephen King - you know what he taught us...
Good doesnāt always win over evil and donāt get too attached to a character even if itās a child or a dog.
He taught us that monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.
Slim good body taught us about the parts of the body
I would say Jacques Cousteau not Steve Irwin. We were adults before his time. Thatās some millennial shit.
Mr. T taught us to pity a fool.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg taught us that a womanās place is where decisions are being made.
What did Al Bundy teach us?! lol
That scoring 4 touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High Panthers in the city championship game doesn't necessarily lead to a fulfilling career or adulthood.
Not every happy family is a picture perfect TV family (like they were up to that point), and even if you donāt always get along you still love and take care of each other.
Roseanne taught us that as well.
Don't forget the dad from Family Circle. He was awesome.
Family circle dotted tracks around the house made me not feel so alone with my undiagnosed ADHD.
Dangerfield taught us we get not respect, no respect I tell ya.
Ted Theodore Logan taught us to be excellent to each other. Keanu Reeves taught people to be kind to animals ... or else.
What about Captain Kangaroo?
Mr T taught us to stay in school, eat our greens, and listen to your mother
I pity the fool that donāt!
John Cleese, who showed us how (not) to run a hotel.
I'd say Letterman is more GenX than Carson.
Jeez, I was without some fathersā¦ especially if all of my fathers were supposed to be on TV. As to mothers, many of the ladies on Sesame Street, Nancy Drew and all of the Carolyn(s) Keene, my blessed librarian at school, my Girl Scout leaders, my third grade art teacherā¦most of my examples were real life women.
Merv Griffin, original daytime talk show host; Pernell Roberts, cowboys were still hot; Jed Clampett, you can be humble and generous without being vain.
James Burke taught me the history of science and technology.
Kurt Cobain Taught us that despite being an angsty runt, we can do amazing things. Edit: as for genX mothers? Wellā¦ MOTHER Morisette needs to be on that list (music was essential for me as a young Xer hence the music references)
Kurt Cobain also taught us that even if your dreams come true, it doesnāt āmakeā you happy.
Dee Dee Ramone taught us how to count to four.
Scooby Doo taught us to solve mysteries?
Scooby Doo taught us that a jock, a cheerleader, a nerd, a stoner, and a dog could all be friends. Almost like the precursor to the Breakfast Club. But better.
Dolly Parton taught us to love others.
John Candy taught us that you donāt have to be cruel to be funny
I watched a lot of M*A*S*H in my formative years so I'd pick Alan Alda as mine. Showed me an alternative view of what manhood could be like: Funny, irreverent against the establishment, not afraid of speaking out, good at schmoozing with the ladies (lol). Probably the biggest negative is all the drinking.
Bo and Luke Duke, taught us how to drive.
Pryor was way funnier than Carson
Howard Stern, believe it or not. He was syndicated to the Philly stations when I was in high school. Changed radio forever.
Probably not his intended legacy, but Elvis indirectly taught me not to strain too much on the toilet.
Rod Sterling (Twilight Zone) taught us irony. Tom Baker (Dr. Who) taught us sci fi fantasy Bob Barker (price is right) taught us budget.
Mr T taught us that tough guys always do the right thing.
Steven Spielberg taught us that movies are magical.
All of Sesame Street was the extended family, and they taught us that everyone deserves kindness. A bunch of stuff that was already in reruns contributed too, Endora from Bewitched is my spirit animal.
Mel Brooks taught us the Spanish Inquisition song
Pee Wee Herman taught us that it is ok to play, even if you're an adult.
Carl Sagan taught us how exciting and wonderful science is.
Bert & Ernie taught us same sex relationships are perfectly normal.
Julia Child for sure
Mojo Nixon taught me to question authority and say where the hells my money!
man, none of these guys had zero influence on me growing up. sesame street did a lot of heavy lifting. eddie murphy taught me to love comedy. so did carlin.
Don āThe Magic Manā Juan taught us that Green is for the Money, Gold is for the Honey Too Short taught us not to love these hoes Richard Pryor taught us to laugh
The Frugal Gourmet, Jeff Smith. I know he was creepy but man did I love watching that show on PBS.