By Jane Boursaw

Early PM ‑- Weekdays


  2 2:30 3 3:30 4 4:30
ABC Family Step by Step Boy Meets World Full House
Boomerang Looney Tunes Tom & Jerry Smurfs Snorks
Disney Winnie the Pooh House of Mouse Recess Lilo & Stitch Recess
PBS Charlie Rose Local Zoom Buster Arthur Maya & Miguel

  • ©ABC Family

    Boy Meets World

    ABC Family, 3pm

    This show started out aimed at teens too young to date, and then grew up with the actors when they went off to college, got married and began their lives as adults (in that order). Depending on where you start in on the reruns, you can catch it at any point. But even the racy stuff is clean, as Cory and his best friend, Shawn, struggle to grow up in Philadelphia ‑- always having the same teacher, no matter what the grade.

  • © Cartoon Network

    Tom & Jerry

    Boomerang, 3pm

    Life is a game of cat and mouse, and maybe that's why kids never get tired of watching the lovable Jerry outmaneuver the determined Tom. Throw in Spike the Bulldog and his son, Tyke, and you've got a classic hit. The characters are well drawn, the scenarios are enduring and the violence ‑- getting whacked on the head with a frying pan, for instance ‑- is clearly make-believe.

  •  

    Full House

    ABC Family, 4pm

    This show takes you back to the days when the Olsen twins were innocent and John Stamos was a teen idol with a bad haircut. Now it's the next generation's Brady Bunch, with kids laughing at the hokey plots and weird clothes but still getting drawn in by the warm family dynamic. With all the sex, drugs and violence on the tube these days, it's refreshing to sit down with the kids and watch something completely worry-free. And how cool to see a dad with some backbone when it comes to childrearing. Wow, novel idea. No wonder Full House is still on the air 17 years later.

Mid PM ‑- Weekdays


  3 3:30 4 4:30 5 5:30
Cartoon Network Atomic Betty Codename: Kids Next Door Ozzie & Drix Totally Spies Mutant Turtles
Nick Rugrats Fairly Odd Parents Jimmy Neutron SpongeBob U-Pick Live
Disney House of Mouse Recess Lilo & Stitch Recess Kim Possible Proud Family
PBS Zoom Postcards from Buster Arthur Maya & Miguel Cyberchase News

  • © Nick

    SpongeBob SquarePants

    Nick, 5pm

    Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? If you don't know by now, you've had your head under a mussel shell. Folks of all ages love the fast-food fry cook and his quirky buddies. The "serious" narration at the beginning of each show is a hoot, and the '50s-inspired elevator music is swell. Although the little guy's laugh can be grating at times, this is a cheerful show for all ages.

  • ©Disney

    Kim Possible

    Disney, 5pm

    If your daughter is having self-esteem problems, she needs a dose of Kim Possible. Kim's the Sydney Bristow of the cartoon world, doing the spy thing around the planet while at the same time keeping up with her high school studies. This female-power show is funny without being silly, goes easy on the morals and offers enough action to keep your kids from falling into a couch-bound stupor.

  • ©PBS

    Cyberchase

    PBS, 5pm

    It might sometimes seem like your children are trapped inside their computers, but the four kids in this animated show really are. They use math and science to thwart the attempts of the Hacker (Christopher Lloyd) to disrupt Mother Board. The live-action segments at the end of each show ‑- putting up wallpaper or finding a lost mitten, for example ‑- offer a good answer to that perennial question posed by kids in school: "When will I ever use this?" Yes, math and science really are necessary.

Late PM ‑- Weekdays


  4 4:30 5 5:30 6 6:30
Nick Fairly OddParents Jimmy Neutron Spongebob U-Pick Live Hey Arnold! Rugrats
Cartoon Network Codename: Kids Next Door Ozzie & Drix Totally Spies Mutant Turtles Static Shock Teen Titans
Game Show Family Feud Russian Roulette Lingo Ben Stein's Money
TBS Yes, Dear Home Improvement Seinfeld

  •  

    Home Improvement

    TBS, 5pm

    This is the ultimate every-family program, with storylines that seem current even though the show ended years ago. It appeals to everyone ‑- power-maniac men, exasperated wives and kids who always seem to have one over on the grown-ups. It's cuddly, it's well-written and it deserves all the kudos it's earned.

  • © Game Show Network

    Lingo

    Game Show Network, 5:30pm

    A game show might seem like an odd choice for a grade-schooler, but it's a favorite in a lot of houses. Hosted by game show king Chuck Woolery, Lingo is a Scrabble-inspired competition where contestants get five guesses to come up with a mystery word. It's fast paced, heavy on the brain power and a challenge for you too.

  • ©Cartoon Network

    Mutant Turtles

    Cartoon Network, 5:30pm

    Back when this show was essentially one long advertisement for toys, parents were wary. But now it's just a cute adventure that kids can enjoy free of product placement. It works so well due to the diverse personalities of the turtles, the way-out storylines and, of course, the smack-down martial arts moves learned from Master Splinter. Check it out, dudes! Cowabunga!

Early Eve ‑- Weekdays


  5 5:30 6 6:30 7 7:30
Nick Spongebob U-Pick Live Hey Arnold! Rugrats Jimmy Neutron Fairly OddParents
UPN Parkers Malcolm King of Queens Girlfriends
Cartoon Network Totally Spies Ninja Turtles Static Shock Teen Titans Grim Adventures Ed, Edd 'n Eddy
Disney Kim Possible Proud Family Even Stevens Lizzie McGuire Sister, Sister That's So Raven

  • ©Fox

    Malcolm in the Middle

    UPN, 6pm

    "The best thing about childhood is... at some point it stops." Or at least that's Malcolm's philosophy while stuck with his squabbling brothers and parents. Star Frankie Muniz has a unique brand of cynical wit that keeps things interesting, especially when Malcolm suddenly finds himself in a gifted class full of social misfits. This show is harmless and entertaining, and has maintained its balance even as the boys grow up.

  • © Cartoon Network

    Teen Titans

    Cartoon Network, 6:30pm

    With enough techno-gadgets to thrill any kind of kid, this show also offers plenty of female power in the plucky Starfire and the dark Raven, two of a group of teens with varying powers and personalities who use teamwork to nab the bad guys. Complex storylines, cool characters and great writing make this show a winner. It's no Rocky and Bullwinkle, but it sure beats Ed, Edd n Eddy.

  • © Disney

    Lizzie McGuire

    Disney, 6:30pm

    Okay, admit it: Some of you parents watch this show even after your youngsters go to bed. There's just something about the cute, blonde, bumbling teenager that makes adults happy. Maybe it's Lizzie's megawatt smile. Maybe it's her carefree way. Or maybe there are just lots of suckers out there for a good family comedy. At any rate, even with all the eye rolling, brother battling and parent perils, Lizzie always has a message, and as role models go, kids could do a lot worse.

Mid Eve ‑- Weekdays


  6 6:30 7 7:30 8 8:30
Nick Hey Arnold! Rugrats Jimmy Neutron Fairly OddParents Spongebob Ned's Declassified
Disney Even Stevens Lizzie McGuire Sister, Sister That's So Raven Movie
Cartoon Network Static Shock Teen Titans Grim Adventures Ed, Edd 'n Eddy Ozzie & Drix Yu-Gi-Oh!
Discovery Kids Kenny the Shark Tutenstein Trading Spaces Endurance Strange Days Scout's Safari

  • © Discovery Kids

    Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls

    Discovery Kids, 7pm

    Can't get your kids to clean up their rooms? Put them on TV and let their best friends do it. The home-improvement concept goes kiddie in this special edition, where boys and girls have 48 hours to create the ultimate bedroom for a neighbor. They have to decorate to fit their friend's personality ‑- even if that clashes with their own taste. It's a great way to spur your kids' creativity, and maybe even your own.

  • © Disney

    That's So Raven

    Disney, 7:30pm

    Take one cute kid from The Cosby Show, stir in a few psychic abilities and mix generously with some hip and ditzy friends. What you've got is a smash hit among preteen girls. This is a harmless show, and one of the few to star ordinary-looking kids (even though they wear feather boas to school).

  • © Cartoon Network

    Yu-Gi-Oh!

    Cartoon Network, 8:30pm

    Ancient legends, soul stealing, alter egos, magical ceremonies, ferocious creatures ‑- this show is more confusing than an episode of Highlander for adults. The kids love it, though, ensuring that the card-trading-game craze keeps sweeping the country. The good thing is that Yu-Gi-Oh! forces them to use their brains ‑- and they don't even know it, because it's so fun. A negative is that the show contains a few adult-centric things ‑- Pegasus enjoying a wine spritzer, for instance. But it also shows the consequences of cheating and lying, and it's always good to remind kids of that.

Saturday Eve


  7 7:30 8 8:30 9 9:30
Disc Kids Strange Days Truth or Scare Mystery Hunters
Cartoon Network Dual Masters Rave Masters Teen Titans Justice League Megas XLR Yuyu Hakusho
Disney Phil of the Future That's So Raven Movie
Nick Drake & Josh SpongeBob All Grown Up Romeo All That Amanda Show

  • ©Cartoon Network

    Justice League Unlimited

    Cartoon Network, 8:30pm

    Batman, Superman, the Flash, Wonder Woman ‑- all the superheroes from your comic book days. They're back, fighting injustice like always. Great graphics, colorful characters and a backstory long enough to rival Tolkien's Middle Earth make this a winner. It's a sophisticated, witty show that pushes teamwork big-time.

  • ©Cartoon Network

    Megas XLR

    Cartoon Network, 9pm

    Our hero, Coop, may look like a slacker teen who's only into cars, wrestling, punk rock and video games, but in reality he's busy piloting Megas XLR (extra-large robot) all over the universe to thwart the bad guys. Kids have to use their brains to keep up with the time travel, photonic stabilizers and evil beings wandering around. Megas kicks butt in every episode, so it gets a bit violent at times, but nothing too terrible.

  • © Disney

    Phil of the Future

    Disney, 7pm

    If your kids are having trouble fitting in, they won't feel so bad after watching this show. Here's the deal: 15-year-old Phil and his family are from the year 2121. They decide to take a vacation back in time, but their FF6000 time machine malfunctions, and now they're stuck here trying to assimilate without looking like the Jetsons.

Sunday -- Afternoon


  11 11:30 12 12:30 1 1:30
ABC Family Power Rangers Full House Boy Meets World
Cartoon Network Grim Adventures Foster's Home Ozzy and Drix Scooby-Doo
Disney Movie Dave the Barbarian Brady & Whiskers Proud Family
Disc Kids Saddle Club Endurance Adventure Camp

  • ©ABC Family

    Power Rangers

    ABC Family, 11am

    High-energy martial arts, diverse characters and a good message have kept Power Rangers ‑- about a team of youngsters that morph into multicolored superheroes ‑- on the air for nearly 12 years. Though it's geared toward the grade school crowd, the show has garnered an amazing number of grown-up fans. A few adult themes pop up now and then, like death and grief, but kids need to learn how to deal with that stuff too.

  • ©ABC Family

    Boy Meets World

    ABC Family, 1pm

    This show started out aimed at teens too young to date, and then grew up with the actors when they went off to college, got married and began their lives as adults (in that order). Depending on where you start in on the reruns, you can catch it at any point. But even the racy stuff is clean, as Cory and his best friend, Shawn, struggle to grow up in Philadelphia ‑- always having the same teacher, no matter what the grade.

  •  

    Full House

    ABC Family, 12pm

    This show takes you back to the days when the Olsen twins were innocent and John Stamos was a teen idol with a bad haircut. Now it's the next generation's Brady Bunch, with kids laughing at the hokey plots and weird clothes but still getting drawn in by the warm family dynamic. With all the sex, drugs and violence on the tube these days, it's refreshing to sit down with the kids and watch something completely worry-free. And how cool to see a dad with some backbone when it comes to childrearing. Wow, novel idea. No wonder Full House is still on the air 17 years later.

Jane Louise Boursaw writes a syndicated column, Reel Life with Jane, about movies and television. For more info, visit her Website www.reellifewithjane.com.