Twitter

Back in the ’70s, everybody had a variety show. Sonny and Cher, Donnie and Marie, Johnny Cash and Richard Pryor—no, not together…although that would have been awesome!—are just a fraction of the stars that sang, danced, told jokes and interviewed folks on the small screen each week.

I was too young for most of these series, but I was no stranger to the genre, thanks to a cluster of kids’ variety offerings. In light of NBC picking up Neil Patrick Harris’ new variety hour, it made me wonder: Could these types of shows return?

Some of TV’s longest-running programs are kids’ variety shows: Generations grew up with The Mickey Mouse Club and Lunch with Soupy Sales, which both debuted in the early ’50s and spanned decades. WGN-TV’s hugely popular Bozo the Clown show lasted 40 years.

And me? The first ones I recall watching were The Muppet Show and Kids Are People Too, a series that premiered back in 1955 under its better-known name, Wonderama.

Wonderama was similar to The Tonight Show only its studio audience was made up of kids. Longtime host Bob McAllister treated young viewers with respect, driving the message home by singing his signature tune, “Kids Are People Too,” at the end of every episode.

McAllister’s interviews were often pretty riveting, too. For instance, here he is talking to Roger Daltrey about the evolution of rock ‘n’ roll and the singer’s distant relationships with members of The Who – and remember, this is in front of a rapt audience of children.

Back in 1974 – just one day before their second fight – Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier appeared on Wonderama…to play marbles! This is the type of crazy scene Jimmy Fallon might orchestrate today (and would probably go viral within hours).

Over the years Evel Knievel, the Monty Python guys, Jodie Foster and The Jackson 5 also popped up on Wonderama, which faded from TV, and many of our memories, in 1980. I say it’s time to bring it back – and if NPH is unavailable, I’m sure there’s a suitable host out there somewhere.

Right now the closest thing kids have might be Sprout’s daily Sunny Side Up Show, sort of a Today show for preschoolers. The other day my daughter and I watched a fun YouTube clip of actress Jenny Slate chatting with the show’s resident puppet, Chica, about surprises.

Lately, Sprout has been booking more celebrities on Sunny Side Up. It’s a smart ratings tactic, but it also generates fun segments that challenge guests do something a bit different, and sillier, than just sit in comfy chairs and promote their latest projects.

Part of me thinks nothing could surpass the greatness of Wonderama or The Muppet Show, but I’d like to see somebody try. During any given hour, my daughter will dance, sing and tell a joke or two. Shouldn’t her entertainment offer the same sort of variety?

Remember Wonderama? Dig Sunny Side Up? Try these, too:

Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special. This might be my all-time favorite variety special, and ‘tis the season to re-watch it. Pee-wee’s guests include Cher, Little Richard, Oprah Winfrey, Zsa Zsa Gabor, k.d. lang and others. It’s part of his new Playhouse Blu-ray set, and several fans have posted the whole shebang on YouTube. [Where to stream Pee-wee’s Playhouse]

Pancake Mountain. I’m a longtime fan of this music-themed kids’ series, which started in Washington, D.C., and now thrives on YouTube. The show incorporates puppets, animation and comedy and has featured every musician you’ve loved for the last decade, from Arcade Fire to The White Stripes to a young Katy Perry. [Where to stream Pancake Mountain]

The 30-minute Sesame Street. It’s not a variety show per se, but the classic does have singing, ‘toons and the occasional famous face. The new half-hour version, which you can watch via PBSKids.org or via the PBS Kids app on Roku, is ideal for tiny attention spans and parents’ screen-time limits. [Where to stream Sesame Street]

In a few weeks Whitney Matheson (@whitneymatheson) will add some variety to her life when she moves from Brooklyn, N.Y., to Nashville.