As a kid newly arrived to Canada from Northern Ireland one of the biggest changes for me to make was getting to know all the new TV shows (that’s a big job when your six.) One of the first shows I really bonded with was Tales of the Riverbank, starring Hammy Hamster [thanks JAG for the link.] And finally it looks like the Hammy and his furry friends are getting the recognition they deserve: they’ve been inducted into CBC’s Alternative Walk of Fame:

“Before the dogmatic twaddle of Barney and Teletubbies, kids looked to Once Upon A Hamster for early-morning amusement. Unapologetically wholesome, the live-action serial followed a boot-dwelling hamster, Hammy, and his exploits with the Riverbank posse: GP the Guinea Pig, Martha Mouse, the Wise Old Frog, Turtle and Granny Rabbit. Tune in one week and you might find Hammy steering a raft or riding shotgun in GP?s car; the next, he?d be navigating a (miniature) hot-air balloon. That critter led a life of unequalled adventure.”

Ahh . . . if they only made TV shows like that these days. Wait a minute, they do.

[thanks to Anita’s Other Space for this]