I loved Mr. Peabody and Sherman as a kid. My parents were more willing to watch the reruns of this with me than when I went through a Beanie and Cecil phase. Honestly, the 90s were a magical time for throwbacks. Between Nick at Nite and our own bizarre cartoons, its’ no wonder my generation is against reality.
Luckily, that movie came out recently so I assume I don’t have to explain about Peabody, Sherman, or the Wayback Machine in this blog. This cartoon aired in 1960 (I think - please comment below if I’m wrong) as one of the many “something we’ll home you’ll really like” on the Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. In the short, Mr. Peabody presents the horror that is his boy’s report card and announces that he’s taking Sherman back in time to meet Edgar Allan Poe for a writing lesson.
The find Poe at a massive desk, finishing his draft of Winnie the Pooh. Oooo, be careful, Poe. Disney will sue you if you put a shirt on that bear.
Anyway, Mr. Peabody and Sherman escort Poe to what is supposed to be one of many haunted houses in Baltimore in order to inspire fear. The “foreboding abode” is filled with torture equipment, deadly creatures, and the best cliches you can think of, however Poe happily plays and is distracted by happy things.
Spoiler Alert: What finally frightens Poe in the end is knocked off his feet in fright by his income tax report. Bah dum dum tsk!
As funny as this was to me at seven years old, as an adult who knows more about mental health, I really want to go back in time and give Poe the damn yoyo from the cartoon. Just let the man be happy, damn it!
