The Reviews

“Get on the Magic School Bus,” the song commands. And your kids are just supposed to obey it, even though the singer is a stranger. But we know who he is: he’s Little Richard, a logical choice for a show where kids get shrunk down little to learn about the mating habits of fire ants. And the song’s over-exuberance is indicative of the entire mood of the program. It is a high-energy, content-heavy recipe designed to trick kids into believing that school is more fun than it really is.

The Magic Schoolbus has been running since the early 90′s, and if you’ll notice, the same kids are still there, unable to make the leap into middle school. I wouldn’t chock this one up to a lack of public funding. The school has a Shrink Ray for Pete’s sake! Whatever the back story, Scholastic is obviously making a no-holds-barred statement about the failure of our public school system, for which they are a head cheerleader.

At the beginning of every show, the teacher looks for any excuse to take her kids out of class (without a permission slip, mind you) and into the microscopic world to learn about whatever they’re supposed to be reading in class. The students love the outings, of course, but quickly become disgusted, and afraid. Their insatiable appetite for learning eventually wins out though, and they return to normal size with new-found fervor.

The most disturbing thing about this show is the teacher, Miss Frizzle. “The Frizz,” as she is sometimes called, is the subject of her students’ incomprehensible hero worship despite her insufferable peppiness. I know, I know, it’s part of her character, but that doesn’t make it easier to swallow. The Frizz, to me… how do I say this… Look, I’m sure she’s nice enough in real life and all, but she sounds to me like an obnoxious know-it-all whose true character is revealed every time she sings “Youuuuuuuu’ll seeeeeeee!”

But in the end, your kids will learn some things. They have to. It’s the only thing that Scholastic is after in this Ear-sore. Education. Oh, and speaking of the end, you’ll recognize Malcolm Jamal Warner, a.k.a. Theo Huxtible taking calls from viewers at the end of each episode. He is usually upstaged, however, by the mischievous office lizard. Poor Malcolm. First Bill, then Rudy, then Olivia, now a gecko.

The Kids:

If they like school, they’ll love the MSB. If not, they’ll turn off the Frizz in favor of a less irritating personality, like Carrot Top, or the guy from CSI Miami.

The Verdict: Headachy

How annoying is it? I’m pretty sure every sentence in every script ends with an exclamation point. That sustained level of energy leaves me headachy, and I’m pretty sure it will for you, too. If the educational value is worth it for you, and your kids want to watch it, pop in some earbuds and some Little Richard, and start ‘er up!