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Nickelodeon and Disney might come to mind when you think of great kids shows. After all, both networks have been producing programming for kids for decades.

Despite that fact, both companies have been under fire in recent years, particularly Nickelodeon, following the release of the Quiet on Set documentary.

Here is the perfect list if you want to expose your kids to some great shows that are not associated with either company.

Hanna-Barbera Classics (Various)

The Hanna-Barbera cartoons are classics that kids and adults of all ages can enjoy together. Many of them are geared toward children but include jokes to amuse adults.

Founded by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera in the late 1950s, Hanna-Barbera Productions produced 249 cartoon series between the 1950s and 1980s. Many of those have since become beloved classics.

A personal favorite of mine is Scooby Doo, and many fans share my love for the crime-solving dog and his Mystery Inc.

Marty Krofft, who with his brother Sid produced memorable kids shows “H.R. Pufnstuf” and “Land of the Lost” — as well as the 2009 feature based on the latter — has died. He was 86.

Krofft died of kidney failure Saturday in Los Angeles, Calif., a family representative told Variety.

Often referred to as the King of Saturday Mornings, Krofft and his brother also produced a number of primetime variety shows, including “Donny and Marie” and “Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.”

Sid and Marty Krofft began their careers producing children’s television with “H.R. Pufnstuf,” a live-action program about a boy (played by British actor Jack Wild) in a fantastic land with a dragon for a friend and a witch — Witchiepoo, played by Billie Hayes — for an enemy; as conceptualized, the show followed the interactions between human actors; actors in colorful, oversized costumes; and life-size puppets with enormous heads.

The Kroffts were proudly...

On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.

First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.

Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.

The Pitch: A Smooth-Brained Boy and His Bright Blue Dog Escape Capitalism

I got my first gig as a professional journalist during the 2016 election. Since then, I’ve read and written countless variations on the same despairing lede. It’s a rambling list of the world’s gravest existential threats punctuated with a quip about something recent, specific, sensational, and typically terrible.

“Protesters may be flooding the pandemic-ridden streets while an insurrection takes place, the planet literally boils, and killer bees swarm Times Square…” some sad-sack news writer might begin. “But at...

Jay Black, the musician who sang the most iconic version of the classic “This Magic Moment,” penned by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, as frontman for American rock group Jay and the Americans, has died. He was 82.

His passing was confirmed in a post published on Saturday to the band’s official Facebook page. “Today, we mourn the passing of David Blatt a/k/a Jay Black and we acknowledge the great successes we had with him both as a partner and as a lead singer,” a spokesperson wrote. “We shared both wonderful and very contentious times, and much like an ex-wife, we are so proud of the beautiful children we created. We’ll always remember The Voice.”

The artist born in Brooklyn on November 2, 1938 as David Blatt joined Jay and the Americans as lead singer in 1962, stepping into the role previously occupied by John “Jay” Traynor. With them, he...

Billie Hayes, whose portrayal of the flamboyantly and comically wicked witch Witchiepoo on the 1969-70 Saturday morning live-action children’s classic H.R. Pufnstuf, died of natural causes April 29 at Cedar’s Hospital in Los Angeles. She was 96.

Her death was announced by her family.

A Broadway veteran by the time she reached national fame as the flute-stealing nemesis to a psychedelic dragon, Hayes had starred as Mammy Yokum in both the Broadway and film versions of the popular late-1950s musical Lil’ Abner. She’d made her Broadway debut in New Faces of 1956 along with an ensemble that included actress Maggie Smith.

Following a couple of guest appearances on episodic TV in 1967 – including a Mammy Yokum-type matriarch in the “Hillbilly Honeymoon” episode of The Monkees – Hayes endeared herself to a generation of glued-to-the-tube Saturday morning viewers in 1969 as the eccentrically costumed, ever-cackling and always bumbling Witchiepoo (full name: Wilhelmina W.

The legend returns. As part of its deal with DreamWorks Animation, Netflix is rebooting the animated adventure series, Voltron. The original syndicated series, Voltron: Defender of the Universe, premiered in September, 1984 and ran through November, 1985. It spawned specials, sequels, comics, toys, and video games.

The original Voltron series voice cast includes: Jack Angel, Michael Bell, Peter Cullen, Neil Ross, B.J. Ward, Lennie Weinrib, and Tress MacNeille. It was executive produced by Peter Keefe, with Steve Sterling, producing. It can be found on Netflix and Hulu, with mini episodes on Crackle.

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Inch High (Lennie Weinrib) is a diminutive operative of the Finkerton Detective Agency but stands tall against the forces of evil. Ably aided by his niece Lori (Kathy Gori), her hulking boyfriend Gator (Bob Lutell), and his loyal dog Braveheart (Don Messick), Inch High uses his pint-sized stature to foil the most complex and nefarious of schemes. Whether battling Spumoni the Great, Mr. Midas, or King Ra, or teaming up with the likes of Super Flea and Goldie (the world's greatest goldfish), Inch High's stalwart heart always shines through despite his picayune stature and sometimes less-than-stellar mental gymnastics.

Inch High Private Eye ran for just one season of 13 episodes on NBC in 1973. The Warner Archive has now released this animated TV series and I have a copy for giveaway. You can also purchase a copy

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Prime time television in the 1950s and 1960s was packed with family situation comedies, including Hanna-Barbera’s takes on The Honeymooners in the form of The Flintstones and The Jetsons. By the dawn of the 1970s, those situation comedy tropes began to permeate Saturday morning cartoons as funny animal and super-heroic fare began to wane. Then there came Scooby-Doo, the first truly original and fresh concept in ages. The four meddlesome teens, their charismatic canine companion and van became the template for many imitators.

I can therefore imagine the brain trust at H-b trying to find new variations on the successful theme. The idea of combining elements a mystery solving family was a natural but how they ever settled on Charlie Chan and his dozen children remains an, ahem,. mystery.

The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan debuted in 1972 on CBS and was derived from Earl Derr Biggers literary sleuth,...

Lidsville -Sid Krofft talked to me over the phone. That’s almost as wild and weird as the shows he created with his brother Marty that dominated the ’70s. Their live action Saturday morning series mixed puppets and people went perfect with the sugar rush from a fresh bowl of Count Chocula. This was like a weird childhood dream as I had so many questions that had puzzled me since childhood. Krofft was eager to give answers.

He was excited about Vivendi Entertainment’s recent release of H.R. Pufnstuf: The Complete Series Collector’s Edition. There’s also a normal H.R. Pufnstuf: The Complete Series. What’s the difference? A cool bobblehead of H.R. Pufnstuf. I’ve had little contact with the bobblehead since my two year-old has turned it into her new best friend. I told Sid Krofft how another generation has embraced the lizard hero of my youth.

Debuting in 1974 on NBC, Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch aired for just one season of 13 episodes. Though the animated series didn't last very long, its well-remembered by those who were watching Saturday morning television at that time.

The series revolves around Wheelie (Frank Welker), a red Volkswagen Beetle, and his girlfriend Rota Ree (Judy Strangis). Wheelie's a professional racing and stunt car and the rotten Chopper Bunch are always trying to make sure that he doesn't win his races. The members of the bunch are tough Chopper (Frank Welker), a sputtering three-wheeled motorcycle named Revs (Paul Winchell), tall and dumb Hi-Riser (Lennie Weinrib), and minibike Scrambles (Don Messick).

Warner Bros. is releasing the complete series of Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch on DVD and the three-disc set contains all 13 episodes. You can purchase Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch: Complete Series...

Any kid who grew up in the 1970s likely remembers the psychedelic kids' shows H.R. Pufnstuf and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. Well, if Sid and Marty Krofft have their way, the kids of today will become acquainted with their far-out characters as well.

Created by the Krofft brothers, H.R. Pufnstuf debuted on September 6, 1969. The brightly-colored series told the story of a young boy named Jimmy (Jack Wild) who owns a magic flute named Freddie. The boy is lured to Living Island by the evil Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes) who wants to steal the flute. Thankfully, the mayor of the island, H.R. Pufnstuf (voiced by show writer Lennie Weinrib), and his friends save Jimmy and manage to keep the boy from the evil witch's clutches. Though the series is well-remembered, it only ran for one season of 17 episodes.

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters followed the escapades of a sweet young sea monster,...