I grew up in the 80's, and would rush home from school
to watch what I remember critics calling "30 minute
commercials" like Transformers. Okay, they were trying
to sell toys. So what? A) I wanted the toys anyway,
unless B) I didn't. I had some sales resistence. I
distinctly remember being singularly unimpressed with
certain line-ups and saved my money. But interesting
to me was some shows that, I now realize, may have
been intended to sell toys but the people involved
stepped up their game. Like the movie Pirahna, what could
have been just another quick buck was given some real
effort. As a result, I still have fond memories of the
storytelling from shows like Spiral Zone and
Inhumanoids. All because the creative staff didn't just phone
it in.