Paw Patrol — the Nickelodeon children’s show in which animated dogs and their human friend repeatedly save the day — is not being canceled despite rumors to the contrary, Yahoo TV reported.
In the wake of the George Floyd protests, two popular TV shows that deal with law enforcement have been canceled. Cops , which had been on air since 1989, was recently dropped from production after 33 seasons, seemingly out of concerns that the series glorifies the police. Similarly, Live PD , which was similar to Cops in its cinéma vérité depiction of police work — but with added commentary — has also come to an end after four seasons.
Paw Patrol is like Cops and Live PD inasmuch as it obliquely references the police. In the show, Ryder, a 12-year-old boy, heads a team of dogs, each with a special role — Marshall fights fires, Rocky digs, and Skye flies overhead. Chase, whose outfit resembles a police officer’s uniform, provides investigative duties and chases antagonists when necessary.
Since Paw Patrol is a children’s show, the stakes are always appropriately low. In one episode, for example, the team came together to rid the town of a stinky plant. In another, the team rescued two dimwitted townsfolk whose boat was swallowed by a giant sea slug.
In the wake of Cops and Live PD being canceled, some people had the impression that Nickelodeon was going to cancel Paw Patrol . From there, the notion that Nickelodeon is canceling the series began to get traction on Twitter.
You know Democrats have really lost it when the two pillars of their police reform plans are: 1. Defunding Police. 2. Banning Paw Patrol. pic.twitter.com/19c0nR0vzG
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) June 11, 2020
The left is tearing down statues of Christopher Columbus, getting Paw Patrol and Live PD canceled, and pushing to defund the police.
This is not progress—it’s mob rule and madness.
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) June 11, 2020
Yahoo TV writer Taryn Ryder noted that one person on Twitter linked to a 2018 article about Paw Patrol in The Onion , which is a satirical newspaper that does not report actual news.
The New York Times published an article, “The Protests Come for ‘Paw Patrol ,’ ” which suggested that any talk of canceling the show comes from a place of humor, and not an actual call to ban it.
Right-leaning newspaper The Federalist even came to the series’ defense, with writer Jordan Davidson opining that the show “promote[s] safety, heroism, and show children what it’s like to work together with a team.”
Despite the rumor that George Floyd protesters have their eyes on seeing Paw Patrol canceled, the show does not appear to be facing cancellation in the immediate future. So far, Nickelodeon has publicly said nothing about the show’s fate. Further, the phenomenally popular series — which has spawned merchandise, a live touring show, and a feature film scheduled for theaters later this August — was recently renewed for an eighth season.
