The clue is the rate of speed

[sovay]

I was in the middle of something completely different when spatch wrote me that Reg E. Cathey has died, which as a devoted viewer of Square One TV (1987–92) I am not in the least all right with.

So far as I know this beloved, instructive, and occasionally bewildering mathematical sketch comedy has still never been released in any home format, so these are sadly fuzzy versions of some of the music videos that taught me things about numbers and went pop-culturally over my head for years, but please enjoy "Rappin' Judge," "Nine Nine Nine," "Fraction Rap," "Ghost of a Chance" as just a sample of the reasons I mourn the disappearance of Cathey from the world, aside from the fact that he was stupidly young for it and what the hell is this year. I am aware of the existence of The Wire and Oz and House of Cards and numerous other shows and movies, but you can't not love someone who can sing country-and-western about times tables or rap about pies. You'll see him in assorted sketches if you watch any of the episodes available on YouTube. He did amazing accents, including at least a couple I think he made up. I watched very little TV as a child, but Square One was essential.

Nothing had better happen to Larry Cedar, is all I'm saying.

Comments

[coraline]

oh no :(
my childhood!

[coraline]

don't forget smilin' al gorithm at mathematics are us! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmtqoZD7nv8

[gwynnega]

Oh, these are great. (I never saw them before, as my childhood math music videos were Schoolhouse Rock.)

[sovay]

don't forget smilin' al gorithm at mathematics are us!

Yes!

[sovay]

my childhood!

*hugs*

At least I was able to determine few years ago that Arthur Howard hadn't stopped acting because of anything fatal, he'd just become a successful author of children's books.

[sovay]

Oh, these are great. (I never saw them before, as my childhood math music videos were Schoolhouse Rock.)

The entire show is like that. It was produced by the Children's Television Workshop; it strongly influenced my ideas of what STEM programming should be. I think you in particular would enjoy Mathnet.

[gwynnega]

Wow, Mathnet looks awesome. That is some list of guest stars.

[phi]

No!

He taught me about triangulation, among other fun and useful concepts.

[sovay]

He taught me about triangulation, among other fun and useful concepts.

*hugs*

Triangulation is very useful.

[sovay]

Wow, Mathnet looks awesome. That is some list of guest stars.

Here!

[gwynnega]

I watched the first couple of segments and was delighted to spot Billie Hayes!

[tiger_spot]

Nine, nine, nine! That crazy number nine! It's perfectly consistent; it works out every time.

I loved Square One.

[sovay]

I loved Square One.

I've never seen anything like it on television since and I wish I would.

[coraline]

somehow that's extremely charming :)

a few years ago i was pleased to discover that Beverly Mickins is running a storytelling night in LA, and my first real onscreen crush has been working steadily in TV -- I remember being pleased to see her in on Star Trek once.

[ladymondegreen]

All I had to do was see the song titles to be earwormed. My sister's prize possession for many years was a fully signed cast photo. I can't remember how she got it. I will have to ask.

Damn.

[sporky_rat]

I think I will have to wait to tell the Husbandthing this, he will be incredibly upset. I'd never heard of Square One TV (my PBS station didn't carry it) but I did get Mathnet in elementary school.

He found Nine Nine Nine for me on Youtube and ghoti and him managed to share the joy of it from across the country and I enjoyed their joy of it.

[sovay]

My sister's prize possession for many years was a fully signed cast photo.

That is a worthy prize possession.

*hugs*

[sovay]

He found Nine Nine Nine for me on Youtube and ghoti and him managed to share the joy of it from across the country and I enjoyed their joy of it.

*hugs* to your Husbandthing and ghoti, then, and you too if desired.