“” The show contained outrageous puns and veiled Cold War commentary that sailed over the heads of the children who were its primary audience “”
Isn’t that the formula for a successful kiddie show, one with jokes the parents can get a laugh out of too?
The best example of that was a Pinky & the Brain Christmas Episode where the mice were infiltrating Santa's workshop. The elves and reindeer were getting together for a celebration at Donner's house and the Brain responded [my paraphrase] "Somehow I don't find the idea of joining the Donner party to be all that appealing." Nothing like launching a cannibalism joke over the kids' heads to get the parents to laugh.
I just noticed that season 4 has finally been released on DVD many years after the first three seasons. Time to buy more DVDs.