Nostalgia Reignited as Comedian Shan Ray Sparks “Cool Catz vs. Barney” Debate
For many South Africans, primary school afternoons once followed a familiar and comforting routine — being dropped off by the school bus, rushing out of uniform, washing socks and shirts in preparation for the next day, and settling down with a simple egg-and-tomato-sauce sandwich before switching on the television. Among the beloved programmes of that era was the local children’s show Cool Catz, a staple for 90s and early-2000s kids.
However, comedian Shan Ray has stirred a humorous cultural debate by questioning whether Cool Catz truly deserves its nostalgic pedestal — especially when placed alongside the global children’s phenomenon, Barney & Friends.
Ray, a Johannesburg-based stand-up comedian known for his sharp social satire and distinctly South African humour, regularly draws inspiration from everyday local experiences. This week, he transported audiences back to their childhood memories, reigniting a light-hearted yet surprisingly passionate discussion on social media.
Reflecting on a comment thread he encountered, Ray said he was “angered” by a user who claimed Cool Catz surpassed Barney. For him, the comparison was impossible to justify — and even a little outrageous.
“Someone said Cool Catz was better than Barney, and that person said wild things,” Ray remarked. “What did Cool Catz teach us? Nothing. It was just individualism. One character wanted to sleep, another wanted to dance — you had to wake him up. One guy was just sleeping the whole time; it reminded me of living with a drug addict.”
While delivered in jest, Ray’s comments have revived a spirited battle between two childhood favourites, with social media users divided between global purple-dinosaur fandom and loyal Cool Catz nostalgia.
Whether one preferred the upbeat South African felines or Barney’s lessons in friendship and imagination, one thing is clear — the memory of those simple, after-school television rituals remains deeply cherished.
Author: Mpheza Clara Manda
Luska, Zambia
Senior Correspondent
