First can i remind you about rule 5 in the Yahoo Group Guidelines

5. Don't post content that infringes the legal rights of others, such
as material that is defamatory or that makes use of copyrighted
content without permission from the owner.

Am ok about you discussing peer to peer sharing of Sooty episodes on
this board but not at the risk of this board being deleted. And the
Sooty people do visit this board and could track you down and report
you. While its nothing wrong what you're doing just be careful.

Now can we have discussions about Sooty releted news and get back on
topic. This is what Toonhound thought of 100 Greatest Kids Shows
which is being repeated for the second time this saturday.

Channel 4's Top 100 Kids' Shows night hit our screens Bank Holiday
Monday, 27th August and stirred up an awful lot of feedback and
discussion, as one would expect...

Apparently some 200,000 people voted in all. It was no surprise to
find that 'The Simpsons' came out on top, with 'DangerMouse' the
highest-rated Brit show. But how about a borderline kids' show like
'Dr Who' coming in at number eight, and the fact that classic series
like 'Stingray', 'Ivor The Engine' and 'Henry's Cat' didn't even make
the list at all?

The evening followed the pattern of previous Top 100's. There were a
stack of clips cobbled together with mocking links, the same glib
talking heads and, somewhere in the middle, a few golden nuggets for
true enthusiasts to savour. Like Peter Firmin on camera for the first
time in eons, with the original Bagpuss figures and set. Like Nick
Park enthusing for Noggin The Nog and the whole Smallfilms oeuvre.
And that fabulous revelation about Fenella's anti-Semitic spellbook
in Chorlton And The Wheelies...

And the rest of it? - Well, Jamie Theakston was an odd choice for
presenter and somehow the thing never quite clicked in the way that
the Graham Norton 100's did. It lacked that camp, kitsch enthusiasm.
Much was passed-over (We had just 5 seconds from Roobarb) and yet
again their were just too many c-list celebrities talking about
material they knew precious little about - like Ricky Gervais
recalling the olde Pugwash double entendres, again...

The exception was Jill from the Tv Lounge website. She was brought on
camera to expound her sociopolitcial theories on Bagpuss and such,
and she projected herself very well I thought Encouraging to see how
you can get noticed with these here website thingys after all...

But now to the bad side, and one sequence really did 'stand out'.
Why oh why did they include that bathtime scene with Sooty and Sweep?
The offending piece involved Sooty, Sweep in a hot tub with a third
bear head whilst Mr Theakston purred about the subliminal naughtiness
apparent in many kids tv programmes. Frankly, I'm amazed and apalled
that this was allowed to happen - seriously, Sooty is an ongong
children's creation still as popular with 5-10 year olds today as he
ever was. What on earth would you say to a child who had stayed up
late to watch their favourite bear on tv? - Don't get me wrong, I
love stuff that offends the morale majority, but this was just plain
crass...

Actually, this highlights what is becoming an increasing problem with
this new wave of retro-nostalgia for kids shows and cartoons.
Bringing back your tea-time favourites is all well and good, but do
we have to degrade them into sloppy, mocking copies of their former
selves? - Take the new-look Pinky & Perky. The brief clip from what
looked like their oft-heralded new show appeared to be aimed at
knowing, goofy adults but was really just plain naff. Talk about
wasting the potential for these classic characters. Why can't they be
re-conceived and given back to a new generation of kids?

The Beeb have got things right with their fantastic reinventions
of 'Noddy' and 'Bill And Ben', courtesy of Cosgrove Hall and some
careful decision-making. 'Andy Pandy' looks like it might be adapted
with equal success. Those shows will run and run for as long as the
originals. Please guys, think about the creation, put something new
into the concept, don't just milk the poor things dry - you're
disfiguring a magical piece of our childhood - *sigh*