If your child is one of the 123,145,845,318 (give or take a few) autistic children who are fanatical about Thomas the Tank Engine, then your child’s ability to be flexible with change is about to be put to a serious test.
For reasons completely unknowable, the makers of Thomas the Tank Engine have decided to give him an extreme makeover. Going from the very 2-dimensional-looking Thomas-iverse to a high-tech, computer-generated, whatever-it-is seems radical enough, but he’s going to talk too?! (Go there and read the ABC interview with Thomas – not kidding. I saw it on TV myself. I dare you!)
It all hits the fan with the release of Hero of the Rails – The Movie on DVD.
Before
After
We honestly consider ourselves lucky that the J-Man couldn’t care less about Thomas. I confess I’ve recorded a couple of episodes just to see whether he’d even look at it. Nada. Phew.
But I know that Thomas is deity-like in the lives of many autistic children, and the lives of countless parents orbit around Thomas and Friends as a result. We just wanted to warn you all… Consider this our public service announcement.
(An oxygen mask will drop from the ceiling in front of you shortly. Good luck.)
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Thankfully, my son does not watch Thomas. If anything were to ever happen to the Backyardigans we would be in some serious trouble.
Shanna, we’re Pinky Dinky Doo fans here. And The Wonder Pets, although that’s not as popular for the J-man anymore – Tim and I still love it! We used to watch the Backyardigans, and I liked it, but the J-man just walks away now, and I can’t really spend my time watching something that he doesn’t care about, you know?
The J-man has a pretty high standard for his TV viewing – things like Little Bear or Max and Ruby just aren’t tolerated, which is great because those get all over my last nerve!
We are in the same boat with the Backyardigans, God forbid they change that up in the slightest. I would be all over town snatching up dvd’s like Elaine snatched up Sponges in that Seinfeld episode!! Reese also has started to LOVE Max & Ruby, what is up with that show – where in the world are the parents??
Kathy – I know! Format of Max and Ruby:
Ruby needs to do something. Max decides to completely sabotage her plans. Either Grandma or Ruby eventually decides it’s adorable. Absolutely no consequences for Max.
Also, how old is Ruby? Seven? Why does she have complete responsibility for her little brother?
Obviously I really dislike the show!
We have a Laurie Berkner special that Noggin did on DVR, and are trying to figure out how to save it some other places just in case something happened to the cable box. Because it’s like crack around here.
Omg, you have to find a way to save it!! We had dvr’d the “Knights” episode of Backyardigans and someone….I’m not accusing anyone…(my husband) deleted it by accident….picture me furiously flipping through all the saved shows, frantically searching for the “Knights” … Reese about to enter into cardiac arrest b/c it’s not coming on… it was not pretty. Before something similar happens to you- search ebay and have a copy sent to your mailbox – toot sweet! Also, no oxygen masks dropped down to save us – boo! =)
Logan only watches the Backyardigans. He has had a obsession with them since he was about a year old.
His first Christmas my mother got him all of the Backyardigans little stuffed animals and I thought at the time, he’s not going to be interested in those. He had really shown little interest in toys at the time. Boy was I wrong, they are still his prized possession. Especially Pablo who he adores.
So I pretty much can sing every song ever sung by the Backyardigans at this point. My husband said just yesterday that they were the bane of his existense. I luckly think it is a pretty cute show.
We have to keep a pretty good rotation of episodes recorded because he likes variety. He doesn’t want to watch the same one over and over again. What a hand full….
I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. They are changing Thomas!?!?!?! First off, why?! Second, NO!!!! Here’s hoping our son doesn’t mind the change (gulp). [quickly going to download the old videos while I can.... ]
Come to think of it, I think our son has seen the new cartoon Thomas and he refused to watch it. “Why the mouth moves, Mommy?” and that puzzled look were the reception New Thomas got. [sigh] At least it wasn’t a meltdown!
Kristin – boy, I can’t imagine. Yes, be thankful for small blessings – at least it wasn’t a meltdown!