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Raggs (PBS)

common sense media says

Overly cute puppies teach so-so life lessons.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that, while this show is age-appropriate for preschoolers and sometimes even educational, its lapses in logic seem to be at cross-purposes with its goal of teaching basic life lessons. Also, the characters themselves talk about wanting a future on toy store shelves, and there's a live tour associated with the series.

Positive messages: The characters all work together to solve problems. Puppy B. Max uses a wheelchair and dances in it along with the other characters.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Sexy stuff: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: There's a live tour connected to the show, and the characters themselves scream for a future on toy store shelves.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Raggs

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what the characters are trying to teach viewers in each episode. Did you understand the lesson? Kids: What's the difference between the live-action "plushie" characters and the animated version? Which do you like better? Why? Do you think the live-action characters are really playing their instruments, or just pretending?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Ostensibly about five puppy friends who live together and play in a band, RAGGS aims to gently teach life lessons to preschoolers through sketches, songs, and animated segements. The characters began life as entertainment for ad executive Toni Steedman's daughter, then became part of an ad campaign and eventually evolved into a touring band and an Australian series.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
While small children may well fall in love with puppy lead guitarist Raggs and his four friends, the sweet factor can be more than a little grating for adults. Add that to the fact that you can see all the seams in the educational process -- the constant repeats for emphasis, for example -- and Raggs is just barely tolerable.

Even more problematic are its lapses in logic. In an episode about smells, for example, Raggs and his friend Razzles smell a yummy aroma coming from the club house and decide to investigate -- but they then stop to "play" (i.e. perform a concert-style number with live children screaming in the audience). Later, when Trilby loses her sense of smell to a cold, the group tries different things to help her smell again, none of which make sense -- although the smelly, stinky stew somehow works. At worst, the show is mostly harmless, if annoying. At best, there are some basic lessons to be learned.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-Y
Network: PBS
Cast: Di Adams, Paula Morrell, Thomas Bromhead
Genre: Educational
Where to watch: PBS
This review was written by Anne Louise Bannon
 
 

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What parents & educators say

4

Most useful reviews by all members

Dogsalike3363
kid, 13 years old
17
 
HORRABLE
THIS SHOW SHOULD BE RATED R!
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JandWMommy
adult
 
So much fun for kids!!!
This show is such a hit with my 3.5 year old son Jack. He just gets beside himself when it's on, and I love to watch him dance around to the music. We find the show to be stimulating on a couple of levels: gets Jack physically moving around the room, helps Jack sing along and enjoy learning new verses, and is overall just fun for him to watch. I don't need Jack to learn calculus yet...he is only 3!
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R&Smom
adult
 
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MADLover
kid, 11 years old
2
 
RAGS does NOT my my dog's tail wag!
HELP!
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Bobby and Nosie
kid, 11 years old
17
 
Terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This should be rated TV-18
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Annoyedteenguy
adult
5
 
i love this show, and im glad i stumbled upon it along with nanalan. the old PBS is like a gemstone that cant be bought. This show has positive messages, fun characters, and an upbeat tone. i really like the cat that interives the kids, Dumpster
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rubyred
parent of 4 year old
2
 
I wouldn't and don't show this to my 2-3 year old.
I'm tired of so many young children's shows turning into kiddie rock concerts. Why do we put rock n roll on such a pedestal. Seems to me the message is always, if you become a rock star you will be happy. And I see this in so many different children's shows, especially this one. I believe a TV show should be a story, not loud music. I don't think children up to the age of 5 or 6 should be stimulated with superfast songs and superfast moving cartoons, and really loud yelling and shouting (even if it is happy) type of shows. They just need a simple story that they can relate to. You think they won't sit in front of the TV without those things? Of course they will!
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