Recess (1997–2001) User Reviews

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Tresix · 8/10 · 8 January 2003]

I only began to follow "Recess" in reruns. Now I wish I had watched it while it was still on the air. The show is funny and very enjoyable. I can still identify with a lot of the things that the fourth graders at Third St. Elementary School (named after millionaire philanthropist Thaddeus T. Third III) go through even though it's been thirty-four years for me. First, let's look at the gang themselves: T.J., the undisputed leader of the gang and master prankster. Gretchen, the smartest kid in the school REGARDLESS of grade. Gus, the mousy new kid. Vince, the school jock. Spinnelli, the toughest girl, if not kid, in the school. Mikey, the big kid with the soul of a poet. Each kid has their own unique personality and strength (for the record: I was like Gus while in the fourth grade, now I'm probably more like Mikey). Then, there are the suppporting players like the Ashleys, who act not unlike the title characters in the movie HEATHERS. Randall, the school snitch. The Diggers (named Sam and Dave, after the famous singing group). Upside-down Girl and Swinger Girl. Office clerk Menlow (does this kid EVER go to class?). Lawson, who is constantly on the losing end of any competition with Vince. And the Kindergarteners, who look and act like escapees from "Lord of the Flies". Then there are the grown-ups of the show: The appropriately named Principal Prickly (voiced by Dabney Coleman). Flowerchild teacher Miss Grolke (Alyce Beasley of "Moonlighting" fame). And last, but certainly not least, Miss Finster (April Winchell), the school disciplinarian, described as "a 200-lb. gargoyle in orthopedic shoes". Watching this show brings back a lot of memories, both good and bad. It's a trip down Memory Lane worth traveling.

words can't express how much I miss this show

[slimshady5623 · 9/10 · 2 September 2012]

Recess was a really good show. I loved it so much. Although I haven't watched this show in about 7 or 8 years I have never forgotten about it. Recess is about a group of six 4th graders trying to face challenges and make it through the course of a school year. There was TJ, a born leader, who never backed down from a challenge. There was Gretchen a super genius who knew a lot about science and was the brains of TJs plans. THere was Spinelli, a tough girl, who always would fight with a lot of people. There was Vince, who was the athletic, sporty kind of guy. Then there was Mikey, the sweet, poetic, kid who always tried to do the right thing. Lastly, there was Guss, the new kid, and who is sort of timid, and shy at times. I thought that each episode was entertaining and I liked the stories in each episode. All six of the main characters had great chemistry together although all of them had different personalities they still got along well.

In conclusion this was a great show one of Disney's finest too bad Disney doesn't make shows like this anymore :(

The Kid Version of "Hogan Heroes"..."Recess" one of the great Disney animated shows of the late 1990's

[rcj5365 · 9/10 · 31 October 2012]

Pictured if you will a group of elementary school students and their interaction with other classmates and teachers where most of the time planning and scheming others in the format of the 1960's television series "Hogan's Heroes"....The Disney animated series "Recess" was one of the best animated shows ever invested by Disney that ran for six seasons from August 31,1997 until November 5, 2001. A total of 65 episodes were produced(most of which in 128 segments). Created by the brainchild team of Paul Germain, Joesph Ansolabehere, and Mike Berenstain,"Recess" was basically a good premise of a series...a group of elementary school kids become close friends battling to overcome problems and not only enemies(but to plot and scheme against the upper authorities of the school including the principal of the school and certainly not least the the evil Miss Finster!)within the confines of the school,the playground(where the gang hatches up most of their plans),the odd field trip not to mention the daily doses of anything and everything that goes on within the confines of the school....really it's like Hogan's Heroes but in a school setting with kids! The kids themselves...you have T.J.(the undisputed leader of the group)in the Bob Crane role; Gretchen(the smart one)in the Larry Hovis role; Vince(the school jock)in the Ivan Dixon role,Spinnelli(the tough girl)would be a cross between Richard Dawson;Gus(was the mousey kid)in the Robert Clary role,and Mikey(the big kid with the soul of a poet). Then their ate the grown-ups that would be named Principal Prickly(in the Werner Klemperer Col. Klink role),and last but certainly not least the evil Miss Finster(in the John Banner Sgt. Schultz role). "Recess" was more wittier and more characters added than any other standard Disney fare,but it still packed a lot of Disney morals and lessons into each of the episodes. The series first aired as part of the ABC Kids Saturday Morning schedule from 1997 to 2001,and from there repeats aired on both the Disney Channel. The success of the series spawned the first of two features. In 2001,Disney released,"Recess:Schools Out" that became a runaway hit in theatrical release. It was followed by a direct-to-video second film titled "Recess:Miracle on Third Street" that same year. In 2003,a third entitled "Recess: Taking The Fifth Grade" were also direct-to-video. Repeats of the series continued after 2001 when UPN pick it up until September of 2004. The Disney Channel recycled all 65 episodes in repeats from 2006 until 2011.

This show is Great!!!

[Ginger87 · 30 July 2004]

Recess is one the best animated cartoons ever invented by Disney. I started watching it back when I was ten years old when it first began on One Saturday Morning and immediately fell in love with it. The Recess gang included six friends: T.J. the leader, Vince the athlete, Mikey the poet, Spinelli the tomboy, Gretchen the genius, and Gus the new kid. My favorite characters were Spinelli and T.J.(he's so cute)! They gave me good adventures for my friends and I to to do at recess when we was bored. My favorite episodes were "The Experiment" and "Mama's Girl". These episodes are classics! Unfortunately they don't make anymore new episodes but I still watch reruns on the Disney channel and Toon Disney when I get a chance to. They bring back memories of Elementry school and how I wish I was still there and not in high school!(LOL) Recess deserves a full 10/10 stars!

Smart and funny- really made my Saturday mornings

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 18 January 2010]

Recess is so good as a show. I am 17 now, but before they stopped showing it on Terestrial TV, I watched it religiously every Saturday morning, and it made my morning. Thank goodness for Virgin, whenever it's on on Toon Disney mostly I watch it. Recess is funny and smart, and just such joy to watch. The animation is great, very colourful and smooth, and reminds me of Disney when they were making quality shows like Darkwing Duck and Talespin. There are two kinds of categories where theme tunes fall under, one that grates on your nerves and one that is irresistibly catchy. The Recess theme tune falls under the latter, for it is wonderful. The scripts are funny and witty, and the story lines while mostly taking place in one location are original. The characters are engaging enough, TJ is quite mischievous yet he is the sort of boy who you can't help warming to. His friends are feisty Spinelli, geeky Gus, genius Gretchen, giant softie Mike and sporty Vince. I have to say Spinelli is my favourite, she is like me in some way in the way she behaves. And there is always room for someone to hate, in this case Randall.The teachers are great fun too, Principal Prickley while strict and clearly doesn't like TJ is still a fun character, while Miss Finster is priceless. All in all, I love this show, I watch it when it is on on Virgin. 10/10 Bethany Cox

I Love this show

[yolandacspeedebuyers · 10/10 · 14 April 2019]

I Love this cartoon I still watch it....I hope they come up with new ones

Amazing childhood programme

[asha-xxx · 10/10 · 1 January 2019]

Brilliant kids programme! Love the old sense of humour, unlike today's TV! Funny for all the family to watch.

The greatest school-related ABC cartoon ever!!!

[stephenchase-63504 · 10/10 · 18 February 2021]

The greatest episode is all the Christmas specials!!

A 90's Classic That Still Holds Up Today

[sufyaanrashid95 · 7/10 · 2 June 2023]

"Recess" is a beloved animated series that aired from 1997 to 2001. As someone who grew up watching the show, I was excited to revisit it and see how it holds up today. I'm happy to say that "Recess" is still a fantastic show that stands the test of time.

The show follows a group of six friends and their adventures during recess at their elementary school. The characters are all unique and lovable, with distinct personalities that make them fun to watch. The show's humor is also a standout feature, with plenty of witty jokes and clever references that will make both kids and adults laugh.

One of the things I appreciate about "Recess" is how it tackles important themes like friendship, teamwork, and standing up for what is right. The show has a great message for kids, encouraging them to be themselves and to value their friendships.

The animation style may seem dated by today's standards, but it still has a charming and nostalgic feel that adds to the overall experience. The voice acting is also top-notch, with memorable performances from the cast.

Overall, "Recess" is a 90's classic that still holds up today. It's a fun and heartwarming show that has something for everyone. Whether you're a fan of the show from your childhood or just discovering it for the first time, "Recess" is definitely worth watching.

best Disney cartoon

[Siloty · 10/10 · 17 June 2008]

ahhhh to be young again and in the fourth grade. less work. more fun. imagination. freedom. exaggerated places where people belong on the school ground. wild kindergardeners.

this show is a really great watch. the characters are unique and have strong personalities. and not just the main characters like T.J, Vince, Gretchin, Spinelli, Mikey and Gus. but others like the Diggers, the Ashleys, Tubby, Wenlow, Randall, King Bob, and even some of the teachers themselves like Ms. Finster and Ms. Grotkey and even the principal himself: Principal Prickly.

this show has a great collaboration of characters and even if some of the stories seem exaggerated (hey thats what younger school life was like) you can actually relate to these characters. and a lot of the episodes have quite a deep story to them as well. as soon as i find these cartoons on DVD i definitely am buying them.

Recess

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 24 May 2005]

This used by one of the best reasons to get up early on a Saturday morning. This cartoon was just one of the best weekend treats when I was younger. Basically it is showing all the adventures that all the kids of an American school have in Recess. The main kids are T.J. (the boss), Vince (the cool one), Mikey (the greedy fat simple one), Gretchen (the smart nerdy one), Gus (the wimp) and Spinelli (the tough girl). There were some other good characters during Recess that the main kids dealt with. There was the mean playground minder Miss Finster with her young sneaky spy-like assistant, Randall. There was the constant watcher (of T.J. especially) and manager of the school Principal Prickley. There was also the ruler of the playground, the teenager King Bob (anything he said had to be done). This is very good from time to time, the kids will love it if they like Disney and Saturday morning cartoons. Very good!

RIP

[desiraelily · 10/10 · 17 February 2020]

Jason Davis (Mikey Blumberg) 1984 - 2020 35 Years of Age

just brilliant

[angelorwez · 7/10 · 18 May 2022]

For a kid's show...this show really outdoes itself...

the brilliant writing...the phenomenal execution...if it wasn't directed at kids...i wonder what it could be....

the idea that kindergarteners are monsters with brains to plot and execute is gloriousss...i remember how we always thought kindergarten was awesome with the swings and the excess "recess" time they got...the creator took this and made it blossom into something wonderful...

i loooved loooved this show...sooo much.

Should have just Called it TJ the Special Kid.

[ThunderKing6 · 5/10 · 3 June 2019]

I find TJ gets jammed down my throat way too much in this series.

He is a juvenile delinquent yet still gets his way. He kisses up to adults and he is still seen as cool. He is needy, desperate and greedy yet his group of friends still worship him.

Vince is the athletetic, winner and TJs best friend. He likes to cook. Knows how to communicate with his friends without any insecurities.

Gus is the new kid. He looks whimpy. However Gus has a heart of iron. He is brave and knows about military transportation vehicles.

Gretchen is the smart kid. She knows about anything. Her hobbies are yoyoing and taking part in science experiments.

Spanilli is the tomboy, tough "girl" of the group. She likes to fight, hates being a girl and hates her first name. She has a secret crush on TJ (indirectly known). She has a talent in art.

Then there is Mikey...

Mikey is funny when he shouldn't be. I mean during some of his sensitive, over dramatic moments you can't help but laugh. He loves to dance, play soccer, poetry and can sing really well. His best friend of the group is Gus.

Honarable top 4 mentions: King Bob. A strict but fair king.

Diggers. I just like them because all they do is dig. Unfortunately they look like twins but are not related at all.

Story kid: has maybe a few appearances where he retells stories that may or not be true. Or he may or not be exaggerating.







Other than him the show is really good. TJ brings this show down to 5 stars.

One of the best shows ever from Disney.

[dootuss · 28 November 2002]

This is one of the greatest T.V. shows that Disney has ever made. The characters are unique, and have their own personalities, and the episodes are very creative, which I think is the main reason why this show is so cool. I also like this show since the characters can relate to us if you are, or were once a kid. Truly, an enjoyable half hour of animated bliss.

This gets a 10/10.

Great show! Disney should reboot this for olde times' sake.

[reactor4 · 10/10 · 16 April 2021]

I love the show. It has kind of reached the status of Pokemon for me in terms of nostalgia. It captures the soul of 90s pretty well. Well into my adulthood years, and I still take the time to re-watch one or two episodes from time to time. Disney absolutely needs to reboots this, albeit without making a travesty of it like it did with Scooby Do. I am sure most people would appreciate the same animation style better.

The Hierarchy of the playground

[Angelus2 · 10/10 · 16 November 2008]

This show took the audience into the world of the playground and made it something much more. In this world there are different groups, different classes....It wasn't made to educate simply to entertain and thats what it did with success.

TJ along with his friends, Gretchen, Vince, Gus, Mikey and Spanelli are at the bottom and therefore try to survive. The show combines some great comedy with some great plot twists and explores the different areas of the playground and the individuals.

The music at the start says it all...its a army beat that captures the audience, I have currently cousins who are watching the show and can't believe that I once watched this show with amusement...

Overall a great children's TV show..

King of the Playground Which is Saturday Morning Television

[sadrec1 · 10/10 · 18 December 2006]

Now, I know almost nothing about the inner workings of the standard Elementary K-6 school, being home-schooled, but I certainly hope it's like the sometimes harsh, often absurd, but always hilarious society-within-a-society of Third Street School presented in Paul and Joe's Recess. When I was around 9 and Animaniacs was going off the Air, I quickly turned to Recess to meet my SMC needs. And boy did it meet them. The best thing about recess is the world, which is a richly defined and fleshed out as the world in your average fantasy novel. Kindergarteners are a savage, Golding-esquire tribe of natives. Similarly named cool-girls dwell in a tire-pile clique house. A girl decked out in goggles and a flight jacket spends every moment of recess trying to go over the bar. Fifth and fourth graders are embroiled in a fierce class war. Nerds and injured children retreat to a basement to play d20 games and use strange construction toys. Popular stickers become a form of currency. A shady trench-coat-clad kid doles out contraband goods and a turban-clad boy doles out useless Zen animal proverbs. Ruling over all this chaos is King Bob, a Steely-Eyed sixth grader with his own secret service.

The characters within this world are great, as well. The central cast is a group of sixth; T.J Detweiler, a cap-wearing mischief maker and schemer is the de facto leader of the group. Mikey Blumberg is a rotund boy with a poet's soul and Robert Goulet's singing voice. Vince LaSalle is a trash-talking, competitive athlete. Gretchen Grundler is a bespectacled Renaissance girl. Spinelli is a stocking-capped,pigtailed tomboy with a love of pro-wrestling and a penchant for violence. Finally, Gus "The New Kid" Griswold is a dorky, wet-behind the ears transfer student and an army brat. The adventures they get involved in never cease to be fun. As fun as the students are, the Teachers are just as delightful. Muriel Finster is a savage dictator, ruling over the playground with an iron fist, seeming to always be right where T.J and the gang DON'T need her. Miss Grotke, the fourth-grade Home Room teacher, is a progressive, new-agey teacher. Finally, president Peter Prickley (brilliantly and stuffily voiced by veteran character actor Dabney Coleman), rounds out the central faculty, ineptly attempting to run the school with Finster always trying to pull the strings.

For some reason, Disney has decided to release more cruddy "Dinsey Channel Star" albums and DTV sequels of their movies instead of DVDs of this brilliant show. When it comes, though, I heartily recommend checking it out.

Great show, why did they cancel it?

[nauru-1 · 8/10 · 8 August 2006]

It is a GREAT show and they canceled it! If you've never watched it before I would advise you to. There is a movie or two. It is a classic show that should never be copied, and the characters are classic. Maybe if the people who watch the reruns watch it enough and post great comments, Recess could possibly go back on the air!!!! If you've ever heard of Family Guy, it was canceled and one year later it went back on the air. Hopefully Recess will be the same if they decide to put it back on the air. If you have watched all the episodes then watch the movies, they are just as good. It reveals things in the movie! I'm glad I was able to find this show.

I call it: R.E.C.E.S.S.

[byakuyataicho · 10/10 · 7 August 2006]

I loved this show. I'm still like "OOO, RECESS!" when it comes on. I'm a senior in high school.

This has the best use of nicknames and original characters. Swinger Kid, King Bob, The Diggers, Randall (yes, not a nickname, but worth mentioning), The Ashleys (scandalous), and the list just keeps on going.

The storyline was great, the humor was good, and the animation wasn't half bad (I liked it better in first season kind of stuff, but, meh).

The only thing I don't like about it to this day is that they only had one movie. Other than that, this show is VERY deserving of a 10. THIS is what Disney should stick with, not this Hannah Montana and That's So Raven nonsense.

Wanna buy a Winger Dinger?

10/10

[arielsiere · 10/10 · 10 March 2022]

Wow this what i call a masterpiece an awesome from Toon Disney your are doing a great job this show is just funny i love everything the animation is great.

Disney actually did something right for a change

[Op_Prime · 27 June 2000]

Disney can do great stuff with movies, but when it comes to tv shows they really stink. Examples of this include Disney's sickening Doug and stereotype filled Pepper Ann. But with this I am shocked. Somehow, Disney did not ruin this like they did with Doug. Despite having some Disney aspects, Recess is actually clever and fun to watch. For once, they came up with a show that children can relate. For the first time in years, ABC actually has a great cartoon. Recess is a winner.

I want this show and all the other Disney Television Animation shows on DVD! Recess was popular!

[jteka · 10/10 · 21 May 2016]

I want complete series DVDs of these shows: The Wuzzles Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears DuckTales The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers TaleSpin Darkwing Duck Goof Troop The Little Mermaid Raw Toonage Bonkers Marsupilami Aladdin Gargoyles The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show Timon and Pumbaa Quack Pack Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series Disney's Doug Jungle Cubs Nightmare Ned 101 Dalmatians: The Series Recess Pepper Ann Hercules: The Animated Series Mickey Mouse Works The Weekenders Teacher's Pet Buzz Lightyear of Star Command House of Mouse Lloyd in Space The Legend of Tarzan The Proud Family Teamo Supremo Let's hope Disney accepts this! Recess was a popular series to date!

Something I wish I still watched

[saxon_princess · 10/10 · 24 April 2007]

I was little when I started watching this of a Saturday morning on Saturday Disney, but now they have taken it off there so I never get to watch it. A group of six third grade school kids try and tackle life as a pre-teen and survive the horrors of their principal, a mean old hag of a teacher, a little snitch and a band of wild kindergartens. The kindergartens would probably be my most favourite thing out of the series, because I was once like them, well not exactly but you get the picture. Disney shows and movies are always a must see, especially P.O.T.C trilgoly, and they are always enjoyable in many ways. A great show and the movies of this are hilarious and fun to watch on a rainy day.

10/10!

[AnnaPagrati · 10/10 · 9 April 2022]

Okay literally I wasn't even born when this show was being broadcasted, but I used to watch it so so much when I was little! Such a well-made and nostalgic show!