If you grew up in the eighties, you probably have a weird, deep-seated fear of green slime and a very specific curiosity about a girl named Moose. It’s a strange legacy. You Can’t Do That On Television (YCDTOTV) wasn't just a sketch show; it was a revolution that basically built the foundation of Nickelodeon. And at the center of that chaotic, slime-drenched universe was Moose You Can't Do That On Television—otherwise known as Christine McGlade.
She wasn't a polished child star. That was the whole point. While kids on other shows looked like they were heading to a Sunday brunch, the cast of this Canadian import looked like they’d just finished a messy game of tag in a gravel pit. Christine, nicknamed "Moose" because of her height and a general lack of grace as a kid, became the face of a generation that didn't want to be told what to do. Honestly, she was the anchor of the show for nearly a decade, surviving more buckets of green goop than anyone else in history.
Why Christine McGlade Became the Iconic Moose
It started in Ottawa. CJOH-TV was just a local station trying to fill time with something low-budget. Roger Price, the show's creator, didn't want professional actors. He wanted real kids who were loud, slightly annoying, and capable of delivering a punchline while covered in flour. Christine McGlade walked into that audition and somehow became the straight man for an entire decade of madness.
She wasn't supposed to be a star. None of them were. But her chemistry with characters like the disgusting cook Barth (played by the legendary Les Lye) turned a local experiment into a global phenomenon. People forget that for a few years in the mid-80s, YCDTOTV was the highest-rated show on cable in the United States. It beat out everything.
The nickname "Moose" stuck because it felt authentic. In a world of "Tiffany" and "Brittany," here was a girl named Moose. She wore oversized flannel shirts and had hair that was usually a bit of a mess. She was relatable. You've got to realize that before the Disney Channel era of perfection, seeing a girl like Moose You Can't Do That On Television leading a show was actually kind of revolutionary.
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The Slime, The Locker, and The Firing Squad
The show had a rhythm. It was predictable in the best way possible. If you said "I don't know," you got slimed. If you said "Water," you got soaked. Christine was the primary target for these gags because she was the host. She was the one trying to keep the "show within a show" running while everything fell apart around her.
The slime itself? It was basically a mixture of green food coloring, oatmeal, and sometimes cottage cheese or baby shampoo. It smelled terrible. According to various cast interviews over the years, if that stuff sat under the hot studio lights for too long, it started to rot. Christine spent hundreds of hours in that mess.
But it wasn't just about the physical comedy. The show tackled "adult" themes in a way that would probably get a producer fired today. They had a recurring sketch involving a firing squad. Let that sink in. A children's show where a kid is tied to a post while a bumbling executioner tries to kill them. It was dark. It was cynical. And Christine McGlade’s "Moose" persona was often the one questioning the sheer stupidity of the adults in charge.
The Reality of Being a Child Star in 1980s Ottawa
Life wasn't glamorous for the cast. They weren't making Hollywood money. Most of the kids were paid small stipends, and they still had to go to regular school. Imagine being the most famous teenager in North America on Saturday and then having to show up for 10th-grade math on Monday in suburban Canada.
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Christine has spoken in later years about how she eventually outgrew the show. She started when she was a young teen and stayed until she was 21. Think about that. Most people are trying to figure out their lives at 21, and she was still getting dumped with green slime by a man in a chef's hat.
By the time she left in 1986, the show was transitioning. New cast members like Alanis Morissette—yes, that Alanis—were coming in, but the soul of the show left when Moose walked away. It’s hard to replicate that specific brand of deadpan sarcasm she brought to the screen.
What Happened to the Cast?
A lot of people wonder if there’s a "curse" on the show. It’s a bit of a dark rabbit hole.
- Les Lye, who played almost all the adult roles, passed away in 2009. He was the backbone of the production.
- Abby Hagyard, who played the Mom, became a staple of the fan convention circuit.
- Kevin Kubusheskie, another long-time cast member, eventually moved into production.
As for Christine, she didn't chase the Hollywood dream. She didn't move to LA to try and land a sitcom. Instead, she stayed in Canada, went to art school, and eventually became a very successful digital producer and educator. She’s spent much of her adult life in the tech and design space, which is a wild pivot from being the "Moose" everyone knew.
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The Legacy of the Green Slime
You can't talk about Moose You Can't Do That On Television without talking about the slime. It became Nickelodeon's entire brand. The Kids' Choice Awards, the orange blimp, the messy game shows—all of it exists because a low-budget show in Ottawa decided to pour goo on Christine McGlade's head.
The show was actually banned in some places. Parents hated it. They thought it was disrespectful to authority. They weren't wrong, honestly. The show’s entire premise was that adults were either incompetent, cruel, or just plain weird. It gave kids a sense of agency. It told them that it was okay to think for themselves.
How to Revisit the Golden Era of YCDTOTV
If you're looking to scratch that nostalgia itch, it's actually harder than you'd think. Because of music licensing issues and the sheer age of the master tapes, the show isn't widely available on major streaming platforms like Netflix or Disney+.
- YouTube Archive Channels: There are several dedicated fans who have uploaded high-quality rips of the original broadcasts, including the commercials from the 80s, which really adds to the vibe.
- Shout! Factory Releases: They released a "Best Of" DVD years ago. If you can find a copy on eBay, grab it. It contains the most iconic episodes featuring Moose.
- Fan Conventions: While rare, cast reunions do happen. There’s a very dedicated "Slime Con" community that keeps the history alive.
Final Thoughts on the Moose Era
Looking back, Moose You Can't Do That On Television represented a very specific window in time. It was the bridge between the variety shows of the 70s and the high-energy "attitude" of the 90s. Christine McGlade wasn't trying to be a role model, which is exactly why she became one. She was just a kid who was "kinda" over it, "sorta" annoyed by the adults, and completely willing to get messy.
We don't really see shows like that anymore. Everything now is so polished and brand-safe. There was something dangerously fun about a show that felt like it was being run by the kids while the teacher was out of the room.
If you want to dive deeper into this world, start by looking up the "Project 131" archives. It’s a fan-run database that tracks every single episode, every cast member, and every time someone got slimed. It’s a rabbit hole, but for anyone who remembers the sound of that locker door opening, it’s a trip worth taking. You should also check out Christine McGlade's current work in digital literacy; seeing the "Moose" we grew up with as a sophisticated tech leader is the ultimate proof that there is life after the slime.