Hello, everybody!
Well, 2010 sure seems to be hitting the ground running! Already we're ten days into it! I don't know about you, but I have a feeling that this new year is going to go by just as fast as the old one did, and all the ones before that one as well! Before you know it, Spring break will soon be here (and it will be a week in which your parents will find
something for you to do, you can bet that!), and then, it will be three months of total bliss as we all have a well-deserved break from school. I can hardly wait for
that.
And now, for something much more serious. It's a very sad day in Gumbasia today. This past week, Art Clokey, the creator of this unique, clay world, went on to that great big clay pot in the sky. Clokey, as many of you well know, was the creator of the original "little green man," Gumby, as well as his ever present red pony friend, Pokey, as well as an assortment or supporting characters (the villainous Blockheads, Prickle the dragon, and that blue female character, Goo, who, with her blond hair, quite resembles Smurfette). He also was the creator of that staple of Catholic school classrooms,
Davey and Goliath, (which is played regularly at
my school), but, however, it just might be that he will be more remembered for Gumby and Pokey than Davey and Goliath (which airs every Saturday on TBN). In light of the huge contribution that Gumby has had on popular culture over the past five decades, I feel that it is my duty as the reporter of all things pop culture to take a few moments to speak about this "little green ball of clay."
As like many other pop icons, Gumby started out with a very humble beginning. He made his debut as a recurring character on NBC's
Howdy Doody Show back in the 1950's (similar, you can say, to the way the Simpsons started out on Fox's
The Tracy Ullman Show back in the 1980's. Coincidence, or
not?!), before gaining his own show a few years later, and America, and the rest of the world, has been in love with him ever since. Like Johnny Cash, he's been everywhere, man. On Saturday mornings, on weekday mornings and afternoons, on the big screen (in
Gumby, The Movie), on cable (Cartoon Network), even on
Saturday Night Live, when Eddie Murphy did a
hilarious parody of him in the mid 1980's. A few years ago, there even was a documentary made about his (and his creator's) life,
Gumby Dharma, which is really good and I highly recommend that
everyone sees it. It plays regularly on the Independent Film Channel. Of course, in the wake of Clokey's death,
now would be a great time to broadcast it again. It would also be a great time to broadcast some of the classic Gumby 'toons again as well, as well as
Gumby The Movie. There's an entire generation of kids who have never seen any of these very clever short films. They are certainly much more fun to watch than
South Park. Funnier, too. Well, goodbye, Art. Have a nice trip.
Well, that's all for now. Until next time, be well, and stay well.
Sincerely,
Marley Sue