G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

Developed for Television by Ron Friedman

1985 • TV-Y7 • English • 30 min.

Some would argue that this is less a kids’ show and more of a toy commercial steeped in military propaganda. They might have a point. But it’s also a lot of fun, thanks to over-the-top bad guys (like the petulant Cobra Commander, femme fatale the Baroness, and the metal-faced Destro), a diverse platoon of good guys (G.I. Joe was inclusive from the get-go), and the repurposing of tons of classic sci-fi conceits. Plus each episode includes a public service announcement with the now-iconic “Knowing is half the battle” tag line.

Cast: Michael Bell, Christopher Collins, B.J. Ward