One Reason Wishbone was so Successful

This summer, I went on an online Wishbone-watching binge. A few of the episodes are available on DVD but most aren't, not even on VHS! 

So I googled and discovered, there are tons of Wishbone lovers out there! And they post lots and lots of stuff!

The show holds up surprisingly well. There are a few "oh, it was the 90's" indicators. But generally, the kids' clothes and behavior are quite up-to-date. 

The setting, of course, is Joe and Wishbone's hometown, which is the type of hometown that people mean when they say, "It takes a village." There's diversity! Everyone is fairly well-educated! Where are the poor people? Ah, there they are--we help them with charitable giving! 

It could be irritating. 

It isn't. 

The reason? 

Wishbone.

More specifically, Wishbone voiced by Larry Brantley. Not only does Wishbone tell stories in a kindly--only faintly sarcastic--way, he maintains his quest: finding and retelling adventurous, scary, sweet, humorous, tragic, ponder-worthy tales. The fact that he is surrounded by a "properly" diverse group of friends doesn't take over the show's focus. It's there. It's not the point.

Because Wishbone is in charge--and Wishbone cares about the beauty and worth of the stories themselves. Not what they "mean" (in the geopolitical sense). He cares about plot. He cares about characters and setting. He cares about the authors. He cares about the stories' intended themes. 

And food. He cares about food. 

He doesn't care about labels. And because he doesn't care about labels, he feels free to draw on the neighborhood's well-rounded group of friends with well-rounded personalities and backgrounds to fuel his imagination. They and a similarly diverse group populate the tales and make them truly universal. The point isn't ego ("my identity). The point is always and forever storytelling. Identity is not the message--identity is the function. "Here's our tales" rather than "Do you appreciate us yet?" 

It's the difference between Rocky Horror Picture Show and Rent. As C.S. Lewis maintained, Christians should be wary of "Christianity and MY CAUSE" since the cause will eventually take over the Christianity, and it won't be Christianity any more.    

Wishbone preserves the art of storytelling by not letting it be taken over by A CAUSE. 

Great television!

Below is part 1/7 of the movie. I adore it! And it has a great, entirely relevant theme about fame and the bullying of social media. (There is a full movie version on YouTube, but the quality of the 7-part version is better.)