My kids were late the the Stuffin party, but we arrived with gusto and obsession.
Doc is now the preferable cartoon above all others – including but not limited to Sophia the First, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Team Umizoomi, and even the revered My Little Pony.
(Which is a shame because the latter show is the only kid’s show worth watching.)
(Seriously. Unlike the sham of a My Little Pony that I had as a kid, the latest rendition is quality television. It’s like the M*A*S*H of the cartoon world. Why else would tens of thousands of Bronies
But back to Doc.
She’s not Number One on my list of most annoying cartoon characters, but I do have some issues with her.
Let’s discuss.
1. Does she have a first name? Her parents call her Doc, her brother calls her Doc, her friends-she-hardly-sees-because-she’s-too-busy-with-her-fantasy-life call her Doc. Was her Doctor Mom simply so narcissistic that she had to name her firstborn child after her career choice?
(If so, then my friend who works at the wastewater treatment plant really missed one heck of an opportunity.)
Or does she have an elusive first name but Doc has everyone so severely bought into her playworld-in-which-she-won’t-let-any-of-them-participate that no one uses it? I mean, I insisted on being called Carmen Sandiego for a while, but c’mon, Doc, it’s been four seasons. Give the family a break.
(I’m considering insisting on being called Veronica Mars
2. Does Doc’s lab coat ever get washed? Or is her closet full of nothing but white lab coats? Because I am a Mom. And my children don’t own any white clothing. The only Moms who dare tiptoe into the world of white children’s clothing are those that buy $40 white t-shirts with their kid’s name embroidered over a sailboat. And there’s no sailboat on that lab coat. Therefore, we can clearly assume that the writers are not Moms or they would see this glaring continuity issue.
3. Speaking of continuity, how am I supposed to explain the chasm between Toy Story, where the toys only talk when no one is in the room, and Doc McStuffins, where apparently Doc possesses the only power in the known universe to be in the presence of toys when they talk?
Because my kid is a thinker.
And she asks about this conundrum regularly.
And I have no acceptable answer.
4. But most importantly, Doc has led many a child astray with the “It will only tickle a little” line.
I can only imagine how much real doctors and nurses despise Doc for her blatant lies and unrealistic expectations that she’s forcing onto young, impressionable minds. As such, I need to see an episode when it’s time for Doc to go to the actual doctor and get four or more immunizations. I imagine it’d go something like this…
Doc: “OOOOOW!! What the HALLIE?!? That actually HURT! And wait – AM I BLEEDING?!? WHY! AM! I! BLEEDING!!!”
Lambie:“Quit flailing your arm – I thought you were a professional! Now I have blood splattered all over me!! I wanna cuddle.”
Chilly: **faints**
Because if I were her nurse, I’d jab her just a little harder than necessary.
The last episode we watched was about her brother being sick. The parents said, “Oh honey, you’re sick. Get in bed and take a nap, you need rest.” He calmly climbed in bed and took a nap. Really? Cause it never goes down like that in my house! (or yours either from previous post!)
Oh my goodness. Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? I’m pretty sure my parents hated that theme song, because I sang it on repeat 24/7.
Ha! That does sound dreamy.
I loved Carmen Sandiego! But the game show version, not the cartoony one. And I totally agree about the white clothing, we own no children’s clothing in white. That’s just asking for trouble.
Yes – the game show and the computer game were my favorite Carmen Sandiego uses.
I stopped buying anything white in 2006.
Lol a black racist. Shocker
I have only recently arrived at the cartoon watching game, and I know there will be so much more in my future. My kids like (I’m not sure like is a good word, since they are just 8 months and their attention spans are about 10 minutes on a miracle day!) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (I’m so sick of the hot dog song), but I will actually watch Jake & the Neverland Pirates or Little Einsteins with them. However, at this time, they can watch what I’m watching….at least till they can complain about not watching MMC!
My 5-year-old niece (my only source for kid-fad-related info, except for you and Katherine) was super into Doc McStuffins last year, but I think she has been replaced with My Little Pony and other rainbow-sparkly things. I’ve never seen the MLP show, but I’ve read several of the books, and that is some CRAZY stuff. My brain is now holding more information about Princess Celestia and her honeymoon with Prince Whatsit than I ever wanted or needed to know.
That’s fabulous! They’re great characters. Continue your quest to get to know Princess Celestia.
My always thinking 4yr old had me tackle topic #1 and after a little internet research we discovered Doc’s real name is Dottie.
I saw that too – although I’m starting to think Wikipedia just made it up. Have you ever heard it used on the show?
We heard it used on a recent episode when Doc goes to the Dr herself and the nurse at the reception desk calls her Dottie.
I’ll take Doc McStuffins any days over Jake and the Neverland Pirates. I hate that show.
Docs first name is Dottie (i actually knew that!). I love this cartoon. My kids love this cartoon. First off… its one of very few (at least that I have seen, and mind you I live in the bush in africa so maybe im not the best qualified to say this) but its one of the very few that portrays an african american family as normal. No stereotypical gangster words or crazy lingo. No ridiculous outfits. Just a normal family doing their thing. Second. THERE IS A MOM. (wasn’t it you Rachel who was wondering where all the disney mom’s went???). Third. THERE IS ALSO A DAD and they both work. and they are still together and they apparently love each other and their kids. WOW- now isnt that a change.
Fourth. Its mildly educational- my kids now know about dehydration, germs spreading, needing to “recharge our batteries” etc And although there are some issues- I as well am confused about the toys and the magic stethescope .. where did it come from? HOw did she know to use it? etc, I choose to instead celebrate the goods… plus she is nice to her little brother- and for the first six months solid that we watched this show Tendai referred to it as “the show about me”- since she thought she was doc mcstuffins! She still loves it and of the choices we have- its one of my favorites. I also like sofia the first (shes adopted!!!) And although MMC annoys me terribly my kids still enjoy it. Even Jake and the Neverland pirates is a fav too. My personal favorite kids show for tendai was called imagination movers- they were annoying but funny and Tendai liked to dance to their songs. But i think its been cancelled. oh well. :)
Hey wait a minute – I thought that Doc’s dad was a SAHD? Or maybe I’m getting him confused with Sid the Science Kid’s dad??? *headscratch*
You’re right, at least according to Wikipedia.
I certainly thought he was a stay-at-home dad, too – I’m really not sure, now.
re: Doc’s coat – she doesn’t wear it with other outfits (at least not that I’ve seen…like her PJs, or at the pool…stuff like that.
re: talking toys – the “magic” is in her stethescope, when she presses the button they come to life until she says the secret word to “Go stuffed!!!” The chasm between when her toys talk and when Toy Story toys talk is just the evolution of imagination by Pixar/Disney – definitely add that to the “crazy Disney things” list!
Thanks for the laugh…..I am just glad we are beyond this programming level in my house. I could watch Phineas and Ferb all day with Nora!
Ah, yes. Phineas and Ferb is quality programming!
I’ve not seen this show. I quite approve of your assessment of the current My Little Pony show. It is very well done. (I took a quiz a few months ago and I am 52% brony, for what that’s worth.)
We are limited to Netflix and Amazon Prime (which we are canceling because it sucks). Dora and Diego are gone and I can’t stand Jake and Team Umizoomi.
I find Curious George and Peep and the Big Wide World to be watchable and I love Shaun the Sheep.
I don’t like educational shows… That seems bad for a homeschooling mom… But after all, it is summer.
Curious George STRESSES ME OUT. I hate train wrecks, and George always turns every adventure into one!
Fairly new to Doc as well- my 2 year old seemed intrigued.
but our favorite is Super Why!
I swear he has learned his alphabet from that show cause I certainly didn’t start teaching it totally yet!
and I can actually sit through the episodes.
Super Why is awesome! We love that show.
I’m so glad some one else knows about Bronies. I blow many minds with that tidbit of information.
Isn’t that fun? It’s my favorite party game.
Pretty much as long as it’s not Caillou or Spongebob, I’m good. I actually enjoy Doc McStuffins, but I do question logistics of cartoons a LOT.
Lol, we have only seen one episode of this show when we were at a hotel one time. The benefits of only having Netflix! I thought it was pretty cute, but obviously haven’t seen it enough to see these glaring continuity issues! :)
Her name is Dottie she likes to be called doc. And yes it is sad I am almost 30 have no kids and know that. Only question I have is why can’t bher friends or brother know? I get why sometimes parents can’t know, Florence nightingaleepjsode furthered this.
I HATE DOC MCSTUFFINS! THIS IS THE WORST CHILDREN’S SHOW EVER!! I DON’T LIKE DOC, THE TOYS, AND THE SONGS!!! I DON’T CARE IF DOC HAS PARENTS OR A BROTHER!!!! I ALSO DON’T CARE IF HER REAL NAME IS DOTTIE!!!!! I JUST HATE IT!!!!!!! UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!!!!!!!!
Doc grew to be a grouchy teen she told her dad to eat trash and then blasted witch doctor before leaving to take her boyfreind in the woods eating a fruit daily then fighting til a wildfire broke out they were gone forever. Doc drowned in the river. Her stuffed animals were burnt.