Bob the Builder is a computer generated carpenter with a living backhoe, roller, dump truck, a crane afraid of heights, and a tiny cement mixer. They take care of a small town, and he has an ambiguous relationship with Wendy, a girl carpenter. For kicks, they have a scarecrow, cat, and bird that get into trouble. My boys loved that until one day it became "baby stuff" to them. I still like it.
Thomas the Tank Engine is a living train based on old story books. He and a bunch of other living trains get into trouble, solve troubles, and take little plastic passengers around the island of Sodor. Again, my boys loved that until one day it became "baby stuff" to them. I still like it.
We still have their plates, even now that Sponge Bob has replaced Bob the Builder.
This concludes this edition of "Children's Television", join us next week when we discuss Scooby Doo's and Winnie the Pooh's effect on potty training.