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From Alvin to Yogi

Okay, enough of the frivolous stuff.  Let's move on to a subject with which we all can relate, cartoon characters.

I found a list of the leading cartoon characters on the internet.  I have to admit that I was a little disappointed by the the list leaving out some of my favorites.

Alvin Chipmunk

Angelica Pickles

Atom Ant

Barney Rubble

Bart Simpson

Batman

Beavis & Butt-Head

Betty Boop

Blossom

Boo-Boo

Brutus

Bugs Bunny

Buttercup

Cartman

Cat Woman

Charlie Brown

Donald Duck

Eliza Thornberry

Elmer Fudd

Fat Albert

Felix the Cat

George of the Jungle

Gerald McBoing-Boing

Goofey

Homer Simpson

Tom & Jerry

Josie

Lisa Simpson

Maggie Simpson

Marjorie "Marge" Simpson

Mickey Mouse

Minnie Mouse

Olive-Oyl

Pebbles Flintstone

Piglet

Pikachu

Pink Panther

Pluto

Popeye

Road Runner

Robin

Scooby-Doo

Shaggy

Simon Chipmunk

Snoopy

Spiderman

SpongeBob SquarePants

Superman

The Joker

Theodore "Theo" Chipmunk

Tigger

Tommy Pickles

Top Cat

Tweety & Sylvester

Wile E. Coyote

Wilma Flintstone

Winnie the Pooh

Woody Woodpecker

Yogi Bear

Okay, after some careful consideration, Cartman tops my list of favorite cartoon characters.  If you watch South Park, you know he's one of the four
main characters which also include Stan, Kyle, and Kenny.  I think I've watched every freakin' episode of South Park.  Cartman is fat, difficult to get along with, definitely selfish, and he has a foul mouth.  In spite of all this, I find him charming because he makes me think of a friend with whom I grew up…except that he wasn't fat.  He seems to be amoral and I know most people would find him objectionable, but I find him amusing and his own worst enemy.  Yeap, that was my young friend, bless his heart.  Some folks might attribute his horrible behavior to his mom, single, sex-addicted, and a drug user.  Not me.  Being grounded in reality, I think Cartman invented himself and believes his behavior serves him well.  Ah, my childhood friend.  Cartman often tries to position himself to Lord it over his friends whom he requires to, “Respect my authoritah!”  It seldom results in the desired effect, but instead ends with Cartman declaring, “Screw you guys…I'm going home.”  (See “Repect My Authoritah.”)
Daffy Duck is an example of a bit player who hit it big.  He started with the small role in a Porky Pig cartoon, “Duck Dodgers,” but went on to bigger roles as a rival of Bugs Bunny.  I understand that Bugs and Porky found the way he could steal scenes “Dis-spicable.”  His tendency to have tantrums  were scenes worthy of Jack Nicholson.  Being Irish, I'm very familiar with folks having hissy-fits.  (See “Daffy Duck Compilation.”)
Heckle and Jeckle go back a pretty long way.  As a kid I loved these two identical magpies who consistently outwitted their foes and maintained a good sense of humor.  I think I used them as role models for myself.  They were a little abrasive at times…something I would never be.  (See “Super Salesmen.”)

I've known a lot of Wile E. Coyotes---consistently setting traps and catching themselves in them.  Often I have been able to see where their plots and plans are leading and give them a wide berth because I didn't want to be caught in the same traps in which they were about to catch themselves.  As for the Roadrunner, an extremely boring character except for his lightning speed.  (See “Coyote Falls.”)

You've got to love Yosemite Sam.  Sam is often presented as a gunslinging prospector, pirate, outlaw, or cowboy who was extremely aggressive with a hair-trigger temper.  His irritant was often Bugs Bunny.  I loved Sam's ineffective rants which often ended in his being exhausted.  I know you too can relate to Yosemite Sam: just think back to your last family reunion.  (See “From Heir to Hare.”)
Hmmm…no female characters chosen.  I don't want to be accused of  being Sexist.  What about
Olive Oyl and Betty Boop:  one a bit of a wall flower, the other, well, Betty Boop.  These choices seem well balanced.

(See “Brotherly Love” for Olive or   “Betty Boop Cartoon Banned for Drug Use 1934”) Betty---your choice.”

Choose your favorites carefully.  They may tell you more about yourself than you want to know.

enough

(That’s all Folks)