I still remember the first day of second grade, even though it’s a little fuzzy. I came home overly distraught because I’d spilled tomato soup on my new shirt in front of my teacher, whom, at the time, I had a huge crush on. Still wearing the red badge of embarrassment as I entered my home, I recall how tubby little me sat down in the living room — bowl of ice cream in hand — and watched back-to-back episodes of Arthur.

By that point, my dejection had worn off. I was as happy as an entertained child could ever be.

Fast-forward to the first day of 12th grade. Minus the spilled soup, teacher crush and chubbiness, I’ll admit my habits of watching Arthur hadn’t changed. True, I associate the show with nostalgic memories of my youth, but there’s really something to be said about Arthur’s success — it’s the second longest-running animated series in the U.S. (behind The Simpsons).

This month, PBS is set to air the show’s 15th season, and I think the popularity of Arthur is attributable to its dual audience of the young preteen and the older, more mature viewer.

Arthur is unique in its efforts to instill educational life lessons in children’s minds. It teaches through a platform of realism, which many early-childhood educational programs lack. Episodes shed light on the reality of personal issues that affect children — the death of a family member, growing up with divorced parents, sibling relationships, fitting in as a new student and exercising to maintain a healthy weight. It also addresses health-related concerns, such as a grandparent’s Alzheimer’s disease or a friend’s dyslexia or cancer.

By delving into these topics, the episodes show realistic parent-child dialogue in natural matters that will likely arise in viewers’ lives. Most importantly, because Arthur shows its young characters taking initiative in social dilemmas, it encourages children to follow suit. Executive Producer Jacqui Deegan said: “We’re hoping to empower our young viewers to go after their goals and dreams — whether that means becoming a wheelchair basketball champion or expressing yourself through writing, drawing and making movies.”

But what also sets Arthur apart — why it still appeals to older viewers like myself — is its comical flirtations with pop culture. For example, the curse of the Elwood City Grebes, Arthur’s hometown baseball team, and their rivalry with the Crown City Kings, is a clear allusion to the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Satirical parodies of adult-oriented programs — such as Jeopardy!, Indiana Jones and Antiques Roadshow — serve to entertain older viewers.

And celebrity guests — whether it’s Jack Perlutsky relaying the message of personal voice in writing poetry, Koko Taylor teaching how to sing the blues or Lance Armstrong underlining determination in the face of challenges — appear in the show not only as role models but also as iconic figures working to drive home a particular episode’s message.

This young aardvark has attracted a cult following of both young and old viewers, a feat unmatched by most other educational television series. Arthur is revolutionary in treating young viewers with a sense of maturity and connection to reality, opening the door to curiosity (my inquiry into Middle Eastern culture sprang from an episode introducing Adil, Arthur’s Turkish pen pal.)

It’s clear why this lovable aardvark is still a household name today. Here’s to the next 15 seasons.

Ariel Dosetareh is a freshman Jewish studies major. He can be reached at dosetareh@umdbk.com.