One of those you-love-it-or-you-hate-it shows, it seems. "Mike, Lu & Og" never pretended to be anything more than light entertainment. I loved the show's watercolor-style backgrounds, and the quirky character designs. The voice artists found just the right note for each character. And nobody was supposed to take any of it seriously. Could an island about six miles in diameter support pigs, goats, elephants, crocodiles, wombats, porcupines, turtles, and man-eating rutabagas? Could a seven-year-old (Og) really build a particle accelerator out of bamboo poles, coconuts and conch shells? How can a crew of presumably all male pirates on nearby island have descendants 300 years later? C'mon, folks. It's just a cartoon.But there was some surprisingly smart stuff just at the edges of the pratfalls and pies in the face. Swenson's "fish out of water" premise (Manhattanite among the islanders) was often a double-edged sword. Mike missed her NYC perks, until Og brought them to life on the island, and Mike was reminded that the Good Life had its price. Whether it was rollerskating, 24/7 neon lights or the mystery of what goes into a hot dog, what seemed at first like a good idea would end up getting way out of hand once reinterpreted by the local islanders.There was also an amazing amount of backstory. The islanders are actually descendants of two clans (the Albonquetines and the Cuzzlewitts) who survived an 18th century shipwreck (the HMS Betty Anne, piloted by Joshua Wendel Albonquetine), and who parted ways after a bitter feud (reportedly over a bad wig). And then there's Michelline "Mike" Mavinsky, apparently from a New York parochial school, where a Sister Ignatius once accused her of having a terminal smirk. Why does everyone (including Mike) pronounce her last name "Mazinsky"? All that is material straight from the show."Mike, Lu & Og" never broke new ground or raised the bar, but then, it never set out to. It was just a cartoon, with an exotic setting and look, likable characters and some unexpectedly sharp quips. The music was fun, too. As I said, you love it or you hate it. Me, I liked it.
... View MoreThis was my favorite show! We got cartoon network when I was in 3rd grade and became hooked to the hilarious show! A foreign exchange student is sent to a tropical island and wacky adventures with the (not-so) primitive natives. The cast includes a child-genius, a senile witch doctor, a spoiled princess, and turtle who has to put up with the princess.Over all I give it 9 out of 10, but you should decide if YOU really like it. To be honest, this slapstick-lost island humor stuff is very appealing to me. I hope Cartoon Network airs it again.til next time!
... View MoreIt can get dull at points, but when it gets funny, it's hysterical! I don't think it's CN's best, but definitely not it's worse (That prize goes to about ninety percent of the stuff on the Cartoon Cartoon show!)! I agree Lancelot is really cute! Too bad CN couldn't promote this show a little more. I'd like a little stuffed Lancelot and Mike would look really good on a T-shirt!
... View MoreI have been watching this cute cartoon on Cartoon Network called Mike, Lu and Og. A story about Mike (she's a girl), an exchange student from New York City, who is on this island full of crazy people and animals. Lu is this stuck-up girl, that poses as a princess, with a bad attitude and her cousin, a boy named Og, who can invent anything. The assortment of adults and animals are involved in all sorts of funny situations. I really like Lu's turtle companion, Lancelot (sp?) Ok, what I think is great about this cartoon is the writing! It's smart and very funny! Mike is quick with a comeback as she battles Lu for attention. Lu is funny, as the princess who snubs everything Mike says or does. Og has his own way of dealing with Lu, like when he invents things at Mike's request. Also, look out for pirates! They want to turn Lancelot into soup!I really love this cartoon! The writing is so clever and funny, that I hope to see all of the episodes. I give this cartoon a ten out of ten! It reminds me of the writing in Rocky & Bullwinlke. What is sad is that I fear Cartoon Network has already cut the show! It's on in the morning weekdays(in Arizona 8am)and I haven't seen any new ones dated 2001. I hope that there are new ones being made and that Mike takes Lu and Og to New York! Thanks for reading!
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