Monday, August 30, 2010

John Ratzenberger Spans Generations

I have watched Cars so many times the past few weeks that I honestly was trying to explain to Arica last night some deeper meaning that I had attributed to the movie. That may have been the last straw, but with Braden acquiring a toy Doc and the Cars sound track over the weekend I probably still have a few hundred more viewings to go.

I promise to stop writing about our favorite family movie soon, but I have one more thought inspired by the animated talking automobiles today.

The topic of changes from generation to generation has been covered ad nauseum. No one needs me to tell them how much different our children's life will be from our own. We have all considered the disappearance of VCRs and eventually DVDs and CDs. We know about life before computers and cell phones. Certainly we are all aware that our children will consider us prehistoric dinosaurs when we try to explain to them our childhood.

This has been going on for the entire history of mankind. I am sure young Caveman Jr. once laughed at his Dad when he learned about Dad's life before the discovery of fire.

Today's generation gap spanning thought is about TV. Imagine that. I am talking about TV again.

During one of my myriad of recent Cars viewings I began thinking about John Ratzenberger who played the know it all mail man Cliff Clavin on Cheers. I love Cheers and I still watch reruns from time to time. I imagine it will be one of my staple old man shows someday when I reach that age which prohibits me from watching any new TV shows. It seems to happen to all old people. That's why someone invented TV Land.

When that happens to me Braden will walk into the room while I am watching Cheers. During one of Cliff's crazy stories he will get that look of sudden realization in his eyes and say, "Hey Dad, That's Mack!"

To which I will only elicit the groan of an old man who just instantly aged 20 more years.

13 comments:

Melisa Wells said...

So true. And you know how I know?

Because it's happened to me. :)

Katherine said...

You mean my kid won't see me as the cool gal that I am? haha. Someone should break that one to my hubby who seems to think Ethan will ALWAYS think he's cool!

Unknown said...

i love Cliff! he's Mr Potato Head too, has the boy enjoyed that movie yet :)

triles said...

We do family movie night every Sunday night, and you inspired me to break out Cars this time. It's an amazing movie. I love Mack admiring the other Ratzenberger characters at the end.

Anonymous said...

He's the piggy bank in Toy Story, not Mr. Potato Head. Just so you know. :)

Brandy@YDK said...

It's gonna be a totally different world when we are old.

Anonymous said...

Every time I hear his voice in a Pixar movie I'm always hoping for a screw up. Just once I'd love to hear a "Hey, Normie" in Toy Story. Hmm. Maybe we can create viral videos. Dub Cheers sound tracks over Pixar movies. I think I'm on to something.

Rob said...

That is pretty funny but true at the same time. Think of how annoying that will be being compared to CARS. LOL

Father Knows (Travis) Best said...

The silver screen was vastly underprepared to hold the prodigious charisma of Cliff.

WeaselMomma said...

Dude, I watch TV Land.
Okay, time to go 'wash that gray right outta my hair'.
If you get that last reference, you're already to start watching TV Land now.

Sarah Fader said...

Okay, that story terrified me. Also, I love Cheers.

SurprisedMom said...

Yes, it absolutely happens! I know. I have groaned loudly. I watch TV Land, too. Then my children groan. :)

Tom said...

I force my kids to watch REALLY old stuff so they can get the cultural references that are tossed into stuff that's on TODAY.

And get used to the aging part. It never stops.