I made a remark to my co-worker, Lori, the other day that one of our doctors reminded me of Mr. Magoo. I haven't watched Mr. Magoo in years but I remember what fun it was to watch crotchety, near-sighted Mr. Magoo bumbling through his days in ignorant bliss.
The colorful characters in the show added to the fun.
Bowser: Quincy Magoo's dog that is really a Siamese cat
Waldo: his dimwitted nephew
Mother Magoo: the self-sufficient mother that Quincy sees as delicate and fragile
Tycoon Magoo: Quincy's rich uncle
Worcestershire: Tycoon Magoo's butler
McBarker: his bulldog who shared his myopia affliction (added in the later 70's series)
and my personal favorite:
Charley: Mr. Magoo's Chinese houseboy who referred to himself in third person as "Cholly"
Lori came to work the next day telling me that she looked up some episodes of Mr. Magoo to show her kids (8 and 10 years old) and how she laughed way more than they did. As she was explaining an episode where Mr. Magoo thought he was taking someone to an amusement park, she had to stop talking because she was laughing so hard as she told of how Mr. Magoo walked up to worker standing at a cart in the salt mine and said, "Two, please" as he entered the "ride".
Right then, I went on Amazon and ordered the full DVD collection that I'm watching tonight. Now I know when the character of Cholly was introduced, there was some controversy about the stereotype but I was shocked that he no longer referred to himself as Cholly but as Charlie instead.
WHAT?!?!
Is this what we've come to in our politically correct society? Can we no longer watch the classics and see a Chinese man refer to himself as Cholly and his boss as bloss?
Television is our time capsule that takes us back to simpler times when blue collar, uneducated Archie Bunker was able to spout off about his meathead, liberal son-in-law Mike while he was arguing with his black neighbor George Jefferson's brother, Henry, about the difference between honkeys and spades.
Look how far we've come. Let's not let this uber PC world keep us from laughing at the lunacy of stereotypes, too.
Enjoy!
If they've done this to Mr Magoo, I can only imagine what they'd do to every sitcom made in Britain during the seventies. Yet Benny Hill is 'quaint'. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteThis brought back so many memories for me when I was a kid. Mr. Magoo was one of my favs!
ReplyDeleteAnd being someone who is UNpolitical, I don't even know what politically correct means - HA!
I need a new laptop, but I'm going to buy a Mac. Not a PC...it sounds too "Politically Correct".
ReplyDelete:-)
Thanks Cholly!
My gosh, I can't remember that far back. I'm sure I watched it though....
ReplyDeleteI was never a Magoo fan, not really sure why. But Jim Backus was always great in whatever he did, from Thurston Howell III to guest starring on the Brady Bunch.
ReplyDeleteMagoo was just the best! And I'm with you on the PC madness that has seized hold of us...by the way, there are lots of folks around here who drive just like Magoo!
ReplyDeleteFrom a fellow veg, I know that staying completely vegan can be challenging, but hope you haven't gone back to the DARK SIDE, if you know what I mean :)
I love the fact that nothing bad ever happened to him. I'll bet kids were comforted by this-knowing he'd always be okay. So much of tv today is about "real-life" scenerios...too much, too early if you ask me.
ReplyDeletethis is the 3rd time that Mr Magoo has come up in my life in the past week
ReplyDeleteI hope that means something good ;)
I adored those cartoons
the whole 'Cholly' turned to 'Charlie' thing is so absurd
how do we know how far we've come if we erase the past!?
plus it was just plain funny in a good offensive way
All this "PC" business is crap! "Mr. Magoo" is one of my favorites as is "Rocky & Bullwinkle". Dear God! I'd better go check to see what they've done to Boris and Natasha!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the 'toons!
Wow! What a flashback. I remember watching Mr. Magoo...way back when. He's got to be the luckiest man alive. Everything always turns out allright for him. Thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your dvds.
@Matthew,
ReplyDeleteBenny Hill! I forgot all about him. He was so funny.
@Ron,
Wasn't he the best? Oh, to be so oblivious!
@Nancy,
I'm a PC but I'm far from it.
@Julie,
Well then you must Youtube him.
@Chris,
ReplyDeleteNot so much, huh? Jim Backus was an awesome talent, wasn't he?
@Timoteo,
I run into far more Magoos in my days than I would care to mention. Nope, avoiding the "dark" side.
@Kathryn
Isn't that the truth? He always came out smelling like a rose.
@Dianne,
Well, now, I wonder what kind of a sign that is to have Mr. Magoo come up that much? Do you need new glasses or something? :-)
@Nitebyrd,
Thank you for agreeing. I knew I wasn't the only one. Rocky and Bullwinkle! I'll have to go watch them now, too.
@Theresa,
You're right. He was one lucky SOB. Fun stuff.
I love it! What ever happened to the good old cartoons that we grew up with? The cartoons of today are way too advanced & violent. Bring back the simple stuff. Kimba the white lion was one of my faves & then it was pretty much remade into what we call "The Lion King".
ReplyDeleteI am sure they changed Cholly because SOMEONE had an issue with it. I just really find it hard to believe there are people around who have nothing better to worry about. I will gladly change lives with them..
ReplyDeletejw
So we've got a Chinaman straight from the railroad, Italian mobsters, mick cops, and a clueless white man at the center. My how children's cartoons have changed.
ReplyDelete@Collette,
ReplyDeleteThey are violent, aren't they? I would rather see politically incorrect than violent.
@JW.BW,
Yeah, why are we so quick to change things when one person cries out. You're right, people have way to much time on their hands.
Carlos...Carlos...the Chinaman didn't come straight from the railroad, he can from the BOAT. So un PC, you are.
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