Old School Lane

Continuing the debate on which revival of The Munsters and The Addams Family has matched the spirit of the original shows to a new audience around the 80s and 90s comes the 1998 Canadian sitcom The New Addams Family. The show features the Addams family consisting of patriarch Gomez Addams, his wife Morticia, their two kids Wednesday and Pugsley, his brother Fester, his mother Grandmama, the butler Lurch, and the hand Thing. Each episode has them going through everyday scenarios in a creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky fashion similar to the sitcom, but in the dark and macabre atmosphere taken...

It's that time of year where we look back on everything spooky on Old Spook Lane Creepy Chats. Arun and Patricia are looking back on two reboots on two classic 1960's sitcoms: The Munsters and The Addams Family and find out which iteration captured the spirit of their original counterparts. The first one they look back on is the 1988 syndicated sitcom The Munsters Today, a sequel/reboot of the 1964 sitcom The Munsters.

Taking place in 1966, Grandpa Munster invents sleep chambers that'll grant people hours of sleep in a matter of minutes. However, an earthquake hits the switch...

In this episode of DreamMachine, Arun and Patricia discuss about the 2025 live action animated hybrid film Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie based on the 2021 preschool series Gabby's Dollhouse. Gabby visits her grandmother Gigi in Cat Francisco to help her work on a special project. However, Gabby's dollhouse is accidentally unleashed from Gigi's van and is rolled over to a store where an eccentric cat lady named Vera takes it to her home. It's up to Gabby to save her friends and the dollhouse.When the film premiered, it made $80 million dollars out of a $32 million dollar budget receiving mixed to...

Two iconic PBS game shows from the 90s based on the Carmen Sandiego franchise are celebrating milestone anniversaries. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego is celebrating 35 years and Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego is celebrating 30 years. Patricia and special guests Greg Lee and Kevin Shinick recollect on their time as hosts of these game shows.

Step into the shadows of Hillwood for a special Halloween edition of Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show! Arun Mehta is joined once again by Hey Arnold! creator Craig Bartlett for an in-depth look at the spooky, supernatural and psychologically unsettling side of the beloved animated series—from ghost stories and urban legends to claustrophobic thrillers, dreamlike nightmares and cinematic horror homages.

Craig discusses his own taste for psychological and classic horror, including the influence of filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick, Werner Herzog and Alfred Hitchcock, before unpacking how those inspirations found their way into Hillwood. The conversation begins wi...

In the 27th Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show, creator Craig Bartlett returns for a wide-ranging conversation about the past, present and possible future of his much-loved animated world. Arun Mehta catches up with Craig for an in-depth fan Q&A packed with behind-the-scenes stories, creative reflections and tantalising ideas that never made it to screen.

The discussion begins with Craig’s then-current work, including the completion of the Ready Jet Go! movie and why post-production is one of his favourite parts of filmmaking. From there, the conversation heads back to Hillwood. Craig revisits the tone of “Bio Square”, explai...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia discuss about the final film in the American Tail franchise which is the 1999 direct to video film An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster. Mice have been disappearing in Manhattan and rumors of a night monster kidnapping them spread around. Fievel has been getting nightmares after hearing the rumors and Mama and Papa believe that it isn't true. Tanya works as an apprentice reporter at a newsroom and the reporter Nellie Brie has been investigating the eye witnesses to the disappearances of their loved ones with Fievel drawing...

In the 26th Hey Arnold Anniversary Show, Arun Mehta welcomes Hey Arnold! creator Craig Bartlett for a fan-driven journey through the show’s history, its most enduring mysteries and the stories that might still lie ahead. Craig revisits the creative decisions behind Ruth, Helga, Gerald and the wider Hillwood cast; explains how artists such as Tuck Tucker helped the characters evolve; reflects on the casting of George Takei and Jean Smart as Phoebe’s parents; and reveals the inspirations behind episodes including “Gerald’s Game” and “The Ghost Bride.”

The discussion goes deep on Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia continue their lookback into the American Tail franchise with the 3rd film in the franchise in the 1998 direct to video film An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island. Taken place after the first film, Fievel and Tony discover a map in an abandoned subway leading to a treasure that is located in a hidden Lenape village underground. Together, Fievel, Tony, Tiger, a museum curator, and his assistant find out that the tribe is still living underground due to the cruelty that the European settlers did to the Lenape Native...

In the 25th Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show, creator Craig Bartlett joins Arun Mehta for a wide-ranging fan Q&A packed with stories. Craig looks back on Arnold’s handmade claymation beginnings, explains how Jim Lang’s jazz-infused music helped define Hillwood, and shares the origins of fan-favourite characters and moments including Pigeon Man, Stoop Kid, Dino Spumoni, Abner and Grandpa Phil’s unforgettable advice.

The conversation also explores why Helga was his favourite character to write, the darker side of episodes such as “Helga and the Nanny,” the evolution of Arnold and Helga’s relationship, and creative decisions be...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia discuss about the 2026 live action/animated hybrid film Coyote vs. Acme based on the Looney Tunes cartoons. Wile E. Coyote wishes to sue Acme Corporation after the numerous times he's bought their products and failed to function while trying to capture the Roadrunner to eat him. He hires an attorney named Kevin Avery after watching a TV ad promoting that his law firm Avery, Jones, & Maltese will help anyone affected by Acme products. It turns out that Kevin and his law firm only settles their cases for a few hundred...

In this 24th Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show, Arun Mehta sits down with Hey Arnold! creator Craig Bartlett for a wide-ranging conversation packed with behind-the-scenes stories from one of Nickelodeon’s most beloved animated series. Craig explains how Jim Lang’s distinctive jazz and hip-hop-inspired score shaped the world of the show, reflects on the remarkable response to the soundtrack’s vinyl release, and discusses the possibility of further music releases.

The conversation also explores how much of Craig can be found in Arnold, the creation and casting of Mr. Simmons, and what it was like working with Mark H...

In the 23rd Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show, Arun Mehta welcomes series creator Craig Bartlett back for an in-depth fan Q&A celebrating the legacy of the beloved Nickelodeon classic. Craig reflects on the origins of Hey Arnold!, the freedom of the early Nicktoons era, the show’s mix of childhood stories and mature themes, and the characters, episodes, and creative choices that continue to resonate with fans.
The conversation covers everything from Helga’s iconic design, Monkey Man, Lorenzo, Lila, Arnie, Lockjaw, The Journal, Hey Arnold!: The Movie, the much-loved “What’s Opera, Arnold?” episode, and the road that event...

In this special 22th Hey Arnold! anniversary episode, Arun Mehta welcomes creator Craig Bartlett back for an in-depth fan Q&A celebrating the beloved Nickelodeon classic. Craig reflects on the origins of Hey Arnold!, the freedom of creating a thoughtful cartoon about childhood, the design and evolution of characters like Helga, Lila, Lorenzo, Arnie, Monkey Man and Mr. Simmons, and the stories behind fan-favourite episodes including “What’s Opera, Arnold?”, “24 Hours to Live”, “Field Trip”, “The Journal” and more.
The conversation also dives into Hey Arnold! The Movie and The Jungle Movie, including the long road to resolving Arnold’s missing p...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia look back on the American Tail franchise continuing with the second film Fievel Goes West released in 1991. Taking place a few years later, Fievel has a dream of wanting to be a gunslinging cowboy akin to his hero Sheriff Wylie Burp. However, he still lives in New York City with his family and being constantly being attacked by cats led by Cat R. Waul. With their home destroyed and ending up at the sewer, they witness a cowboy mouse from Green River, Utah talking about how great the Wild West...

Arun Mehta is joined once again by series creator Craig Bartlett for the 21st Hey Arnold! Anniversary show! This is a deep dive into the world of Arnold, Helga, Gerald, Phoebe, Grandma Gertie, and the long-awaited Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie. Craig answers fan questions about classic episodes, character relationships, production changes, fan theories, Arnold and Helga’s future, and what it was like returning to the series after years of anticipation.

The conversation covers everything from the mysteries of Arnold’s parents and the emotional stakes of The Jungle Movie to behind-the-scenes memories of animation, voice cast...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia look back on the American Tail franchise starting with the first film released in 1986. A Russian-Jewish family called the Mousekewitzes consisting of Mama, Papa, their daughter Tanya, their son Fievel, and baby Yasha, decide to move to America to have a prosperous life with no cats attacking them. Fievel gets lost while a giant wave crashes on the ship the immigrants were in going to America and now has to find them when arriving in New York City. Fievel goes through many obstacles, meets up with other mice like Tony...

Craig Bartlett, creator of Hey Arnold!, joins Arun Mehta for the 20th Anniversary Show! A wide-ranging interview about the past, present, and future of the beloved Nickelodeon series. In this episode, Craig shares behind-the-scenes stories from the original show, including how long it took to make an episode, the moving real-life inspiration behind Arnold’s Christmas, the origins of Brainy, and why Arnold and Helga were always on a path toward something deeper.
The conversation also looks ahead to Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie, the possibility of a sixth season, The Patakis, reboot character designs, fan demand, and ho...

In the 19th Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show, Arun Mehta welcomes creator Craig Bartlett back to the show for an in-depth fan Q&A celebrating one of Nickelodeon’s most beloved animated series. Craig discusses the legacy of Hey Arnold!, the show’s emotional storytelling, why it continues to resonate with fans, and the characters and episodes that still spark discussion nearly two decades later. He also answers long-running fan questions about Arnold’s design, Gerald’s voice change, Brainy’s connection to Helga, the truth behind the Pigeon Man rumours, Arnold’s family, the unfinished Jungle Movie, and the possibility...

In the 18th Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show, Arun Mehta welcomes creator Craig Bartlett back for an in-depth fan Q&A and a heartfelt tribute to the late Steve Viksten. Craig reflects on Steve’s huge contribution to Hey Arnold!, from writing some of the show’s most memorable stories to voicing Oskar, and shares personal memories from their years working together on Rugrats and Hey Arnold!.
The conversation also explores the legacy of Hey Arnold!, the enduring fanbase, the origins of Arnold’s iconic football-shaped head, the emotional depth of characters like Harold and Helga, and what might have h...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Patricia and special guests Jim Bevan and Eli "The Hero of Tomorrow" Stone look back on the winners and nominations of the animated films that were highlighted at the Academy Awards. They also discuss about animated films that should've or shouldn't have been nominated for the Oscars.

Join Arun Mehta for the 17th Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show with Craig Bartlett, the creator of Hey Arnold!, as they dig into the stories, characters and creative choices behind the beloved Nickelodeon series. Craig answers fan questions about Arnold’s love of jazz, Helga’s family life, Monkey Man, Lila, unused episode ideas, voice recording sessions, musical episodes, ratings, celebrity cameos and much more.Whether you grew up watching Hey Arnold! or are discovering the show’s legacy today, this conversation offers a warm, funny and revealing look at the world of Arnold, Helga and the rest of the neighb...

Craig Bartlett, the creator of Hey Arnold!, returns for a fan-focused deep dive into the world of Hillwood. In this episode, Arun Mehta hands the microphone over to the audience for the first time, using questions submitted by fans to explore some of the show’s biggest mysteries, behind-the-scenes stories, and character details.Craig talks about casting the original voice actors, why real kids were so important to the sound and emotional authenticity of the series, the evolution of Arnold as a character, and the deeper layers behind Helga, Olga, Phoebe, Rhonda, Lila, Brainy, Fuzzy Slippers, Monkey Man, and mo...

Celebrate the legacy of Hey Arnold! with this special anniversary edition of The Arun Mehta Show, originally broadcast on North Manchester FM 106.6 in 2011. This episode marks the first ever Hey Arnold! Anniversary Show, featuring an in-depth conversation with series creator Craig Bartlett.
Arun and Craig look back at the origins of Arnold, the evolution of the show, fan-favourite episodes, the emotional depth behind characters like Helga, Gerald and Arnold’s grandparents, and the long-running mystery surrounding Arnold’s parents. The discussion also touches on the making of the series, the music of Jim Lang, Hey Arnold!: The Movie, the...

In this episode of PixMix, Arun and Patricia discuss about the 2025 Pixar animated film Toy Story 5, the fifth installment of the Toy Story franchise. Bonnie is 8 years old now and she is having trouble making friends. Her parents decide to give her a Lilypad tablet device since the girls from her dance class have one and believe it would help her socialize. However, she becomes addicted to it and Bonnie's toys are left behind. Jessie tries to confront Lilypad, but she is outsmarted by her stating she will help Bonnie make friends with all her features. She inadvertently calls...

After an almost 2 year hiatus, In Search of the Crystal Skull is back! Arun and Patricia discuss about the 2026 live action film Masters of the Universe based on the 1983 animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Taken place in the world of Eternia, a timid boy named Prince Adam was tasked of protecting The Sword of Power and heading to Earth for safety after an evil sorcerer named Skeletor threatens to conquer everything and stealing the sword to make him more powerful. However, he lost the sword and was stuck on Earth for 15 years living a mundane...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia look back on the 1983 animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe in honor of the upcoming movie Masters of the Universe. They discuss about the premise, characters, favorite episodes, and the legacy of the show's impact.

Continuing our lookback at the Mario adaptations, Arun and Patricia discuss about the 1986 Japanese original video animated film Super Mario Bros. The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!  Mario and Luigi are tasked of rescuing Princess Peach from King Koopa after he kidnaps her wishing to marry her. Mario and Luigi must gather three objects to free the Toads from their imprisonment and use it to save Princess Peach before the full moon appears. The film was only released in Japan and released on VHS and Betamax. It wasn't until 2016 when a YouTuber named Carnivol acquired an 16mm reel of...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia start a new month looking back on the adaptations of the Super Mario Bros. franchise by Nintendo. They first they look back are the three animated television shows animated and produced by DiC Entertainment: The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World. All 3 shows involve Mario, Luigi, and Princess Toadstool defeating the evil King Koopa from taking over the land they're residing in. In The Super Mario Bros. Super Show and The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, Toad is alongside the group...

In this episode of PixMix, Arun and Patricia discuss about the 2026 Pixar animated film Hoppers. Co-written and directed by Daniel Chong, the creator of Cartoon Network's We Bare Bears, Hoppers focuses on a 19-year-old young adult named Mabel who has a love and passion for animals and nature due to her grandmother. When she passed away, the forest glade that her and Mabel would go to often is in danger of being replaced by a freeway led by the mayor of her town. One day while trying to lure one beaver to the glade to restore it, she sees...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia discuss about the 1993 animated film We're Back: A Dinosaur's Story based on the 1987 book by the same name by Hudson Talbott. Four dinosaurs consisting of a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Rex, a Pterodactyl named Elsa, a Triceratops named Woog, and an Apatosaurus named Dweeb were fed a cereal called Brain Grain by Captain Neweyes and his alien companion Vorb to make them smart. They're tasked on heading to New York City around the Middle Future to meet up with Dr. Bleeb, the main curator of The Museum of Natural History. The...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia discuss about the 1987 live action film Masters of the Universe based on the 1983 animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated and produced by Filmation based on the toys. In the planet Eternia, He-Man, Man of Arms, Teela, and a new character named Gwildor are fighting the evil minions of Skeletor to prevent him from taking over Castle Grayskull. Gwildor's invention, the Cosmic Key, is able to travel to different dimensions across the galaxies. Skeletor sends his soldiers to capture them to retrieve the device, but Gwildor uses...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia discuss about the 2025 Disney animated film Zootopia 2, the sequel to the 2016 animated film Zootopia. One week after the events of Zootopia, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are continuing their work at the Zootopia Police Department as partners, but Chief Bogo sees their destructive actions to capture bad guys. It doesn't help that their personalities were the complete opposite of one another. He states that they have to work together if not they would separate them. Meanwhile, a gala celebrating the city's 100th anniversary is being held at the estate of...

In this episode of DreamMachine, Arun and Patricia take a break watching DreamWorks Dragons to watch the 2018 Netflix animated series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Based on the 1985 series She-Ra: Princess of Power, a spinoff of the 1983 series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra focuses on Adora, a soldier of the villain Hordak's army The Horde who wishes to conquer the planet Etheria to bring peace to the land. One night, Adora and her friend Catra sneak out to the Whispering Woods and she finds a sword. After picking up the sword, she becomes She-Ra and...

In the final episode of Casual Chats for 2025, Patricia and special guest Jesse McAnally from Musicals with Cheese discuss about 10 musicals based on the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens. They go over the pros, cons, and best songs that encompasses each key moment from this classic Christmas story. The musicals we covered for this podcast are as follow: The 1954 adaptation of A Christmas Carol from the anthology series Shower of Stars.The Stingiest Man in Town from the anthology series The Alcoa Hour that aired in 1956. The 1962 animated television special Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.The 1970 musical...

We're now entering bonus territory in Puppets Go BOOM! Arun and Patricia discuss about the 2004 live action adaptation of the 1965 British sci-fi action series Thunderbirds created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Alan Tracy is a 14 year old teen who wants to be a Thunderbird just like his father Jeff and his four older brothers Scott, Virgil, Gordon, and John. But he has to go to school before he could even think of joining. Meanwhile, a man known as The Hood wishes to steal the Thunderbirds vehicles so he can break into the banks around the world and steal all...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun and Patricia conclude their lookback on childhood movies that aren't as good as they remember it being. It's Arun's turn where he talks about the 1992 movie Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala. Based on the 1933 book series by Dorothy Wall, Blinky Bill is a koala who plays pranks and does a lot of mischief to his teacher, friends, and his mother. One day, loggers destroy the forest they call home and Blinky Bill has amnesia. When told about his life from an old wombat named Mr. Wombat, he remembers and learns that his...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Patricia looks back on one of the animated movies she grew up with: the 1989 animated film Happily Ever After. Taken place after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Snow White and the Prince travel to the forest to invite the dwarves to the wedding. However, The Wicked Queen's brother Lord Maliss wishes to take revenge on Snow White and the Prince after learning of her death. So, he turns into a dragon and tries to attack them, but Snow White got away and captures the Prince. Snow White meets up with the dwarves...

In this episode of Casual Chats, Arun looks back at one of the movies from his childhood he grew up watching which is the 1985 animated film Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer based on the 1984 Hallmark cards and animated series. Rainbow Brite is trying to bring spring all over the world, but her rainbow powers aren't working. It turns out that an evil princess is attempting to steal a planet sized diamond called Spectra to keep it for herself. Together with a boy named Krys and his robotic horse On-X, Rainbow Brite travels to the princess' palace to prevent...

In this special themed month of looking back on nostalgic animated films that aren't as good as Arun and Patricia remember. Patricia starts up with a movie she grew up with which is the 1993 animated film Once Upon a Forest based on the Welsh story "A Furling's Story" by Rae Lambert. Three furlings named Russell, Abigail, and Edgar are tasked of rescuing their friend Michelle after she inhales deadly gas caused by a truck that crashed outside their home, a forest called Dapperwood. They only have two days to journey to another meadow to find the plants to cure...