Forced Celebrity Cameos Cliche: Good or Bad?

[D'Snowth]

All this talk about the nature of kiddie shows today and such got me to thinking about something that seems to be happening in kiddie shows A LOT these days: forced celebrity cameos.

I know celebrity appearances have been rampant in kiddie shows for decades, but in this day and age, it seems like a lot of these shows come to rely too heavily on bringing in celebrities for the show... it even seems like most (if not all) new episodes of SST have at least one celerity guest star as part of the street scene (not talking about the daily bits where they teach words to the views and the Muppets), not to mention it seems like anymore, there's an unwritten rule that Arthur has to incorporate a celebirty (either as themselves, or a parody of themselves) at least once a season.

Again, I know it's been done since the dawn of 1969 (with SST paving the way for other kiddie shows), but again, doesn't it seem a bit overkill nowadays?

 

[CensoredAlso]

Well I get the impression that if a show (kid or adult) starts laying on the cameos it's a sign that they're concerned about their ongoing on air status.

 

[Drtooth]

Arthur is trying very hard to be The Simpsons in that aspect. Though, with Arthur and it's educational content, there's a lot more deux ex machina (or lazy convenience if you rather) with some of the guest stars. I like how Arthur Ganson was introduced, Muffy finding him at an art show, and Mr. Crosswire, completely not getting the point of the artwork and buying it (rich people and art... HEH). But I HATE the episodes with Frank Gearey (sp?) and the astronaut where they JUST happen to be at the Sugar Bowl at the SAME time as the characters who JUST so happen to be talking about the VERY subject they have an expertise in.

Speaking of Frank Gearey... I REALLY hate it when the Simpsons puts on some artistic guest star only those who write the show know and care for... though I can't complain that they got animator Nick Park to play himself, as well as those guys (including Alan Moore) from that comic book episode.