In a world without Zoom, there is a glumness, persistent as it follows all of us through every aspect of our lives.
In this world, mail addresses do not provoke a jaunty tune everyone knows. Nor do "like but doesn't like" riddles.
In this world, the secret language "Ubbi Dubbi” has never been uttered, and - ubif yubou wubere tubo subay ubit ubout luboud others nearby might assume you were having a stroke.
In this world, millennials all cite Mr. Roger's as the pinnacle show of our preschool days, which is, like, fine, Mr. Roger's, Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and the Muppet Show were all great shows after all, but still something about it left us wanting.
For the next generation, it would (obviously) be Arthur, with a little bit of Sesame, Wishbone, and Dragon Tales thrown in there too!
In this world, Boomers were not allowed to send in their content to TV.
In this world, the likes of the late Jared Nathan, Kaleigh Cronin, and Bernadette Yao find success elsewhere on television and film, though never feel quite fulfilled in their craft.
In this world, Playschool would continue to run (and rerun and rerun) for years on PBS.
In this world, “Box 350” makes us think of a big box. And "02134"? A street address somewhere in Boston.
In this world, Boston-ers who want to teach children about science have to go on Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman to do so, and man, it really sucks.
In this world, we never keep singing "I Am a City Child", "John Henry", and "How Do You Do?".
In this world, a kids show would never have 2 specials about 9/11.
In this world, we all still love that We Are Family music video but it doesn’t have that song kick halfway through.
In this world, you never wanted to write letters to your favorite shows about what you'd like to see.
In this world, you will never learn how to fly high.
In this world, children face the cold, dark images of themselves on the TV.
In a world without Zoom, everyone born after 1972 and/or 1999 is selfish, cares only of themselves. They do not know how to share, let alone show compassion. Anyone who does not look like you, think like you, love like you is a threat. Diversity is scary. Thinking outside the box, unnecessary.
In this world, no hip, fast-paced Boston child wants to audition for a TV show with his tone.
In a world with Zoom, we are made better. We are shown science, recipes, plays, games and crafts at a young age, and viewer submissions are celebrated. Both renditions of Zoom (70s and the present day) give us the weird and the silly, but also all of the heart and charm. It shows us healthy relationships, and also how a show with a child cast is cool and diverse. Both Zooms gift us understanding of science and humor, secret languages that stay with us for a lifetime, and growing up knowing these child stars, and it never asks for anything in return. In a world with Zoom, we are given all the tools we need to be confident, compassionate humans as soon as we’re able to walk, and it’s still there for us a generation later. It makes the world wonderful, bright, and Zooming.
Where would you be if it weren't for Zoom?
