History Series / SaluteYourShorts

The [[WelcomeEpisode first episode]] introduced Michael Stein (Erik [=MacArthur=]), the NaiveNewcomer, to the existing ensemble cast, which was set up as a SixStudentClique. The other campers included:

The only authority figure in sight is Kevin "Ug" Lee (Kirk Baily), the dim-witted loser guy counselor. Dr. Kahn, his superior, is only heard through loudspeaker (voiced by series creator Steve Slavkin[[note]] Not, contrary to popular myth, by Ben Stein.[[/note]]).

The title of the show comes from a common prank in initiating new campers. Older, jerkier campers would loot their luggage, steal their underwear, and run them up the nearest flag pole to let them flap in the breeze. Seeing how there's no way to ''un''-steal it, the appropriate response is to "stand at attention, click your heels, and salute your shorts!"

* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: Dr. Kahn, the camp director, who 'appears' only as a disembodied voice over the loudspeaker. Someone once hung a sign on a goat saying "This is Dr. Kahn", and all they got was a loudspeaker request to remove it.

* RealWomenDontWearDresses: As an in-universe example, Telly is ''pathological'' about this. In "Zeke the Plumber", the forfeit she offers if Budnick succeeds in spending a night in the clearing where Zeke is alleged to have died is that she will wear a dress for a day, a nod to her Zeke-related nightmare about being trapped in a dance hall wearing a ball gown.

* TheVoice: Dr. Kahn.
-->[[AC: Dr. Kahn: Man or Myth?]]

*** "To quote one of my favorite philosophers Baloo the Bear: '[[Disney/TheJungleBook He is gone, man. Solid gone]]'."

A 1991–92 Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} sitcom centered around a group of kids at summer camp Anawanna, ''Salute Your Shorts'' was a network contemporary of such shows as ''Series/ClarissaExplainsItAll'', ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete'', and ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'', and like those three tends to be among the more clearly and fondly remembered pieces of the era (making it a prime candidate for the NostalgiaFilter). The fact that the show's NoBudget, real-kids look and feel overlap so well between the Canadian productions that characterize '80s Nick and the Orlando-shot '90s Nick shows helps (''Shorts'' itself was made in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles.)

* In one episode Ugh was eating a meal, which just so happened to have ants from Sponge's ant farm crawling all over it because it was knocked over. Ugh doesn't notice anything wrong until one of the peas starts ''crawling''. Cue vomit discretion shot and donkeylips informing the other campers that Ugh threw up over everything 'including the Kahn's sofa!'

* SoapBoxSadie: Z.Z. In most episodes this is mild to the degree it is present at all -- she is usually among the nicer and more easygoing campers, as well as a bit of a dreamy {{Cloudcuckoolander}}. But she makes up for it with a vengeance in "The Environmental Party", when she is loudly opinionated, pushy, and harshly judgmental to the point that she comes off as less reasonable and likable than Dina, who actually tries to help her out until Z.Z.'s harshness drives even her away. Her hippie folk song about saving the environment [[CrowningMomentOfFunny eventually devolves into outright, literal yelling at people]].

* ReplacedTheThemeTune: In the first half of Season One, the closing credits music is an instrumental version of the show's theme song. In the second half and in all of Season Two, it's a calm/peaceful-sounding stock tune.

* TeensAreMonsters: Played straight in many instances. Possibly justified, since Anawanna is such a crappy camp.

* TVTeen: Played completely straight. Although they evolve/develop a bit during the second season, the characters generally remain married to their respective high school stereotypes. Michael is somewhat of a subversion, since he's less easily stereotyped than the others. The downside is that he had no real personality to speak of. So maybe, in this case, it would've been better if he DID have some kind of stereotype attached to him! Probably he's meant to be the "average guy".

* PublicDomainSoundtrack: Used a lot, though not exclusively. Tchiakovsky's "March Slav" is frequently used. The show's famous classical music soundtrack is used a bit less often in Season 2, with generic stock music being the norm by that time.

A 1991–92 Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} sitcom centered around a group of kids at summer camp Anawanna, ''Salute Your Shorts'' was a network contemporary of such shows as ''Series/ClarissaExplainsItAll'', ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete'', and ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'', and like those three tends to be among the more clearly and fondly remembered pieces of the era (making it a prime candidate for the NostalgiaFilter).

[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes The series is not available on DVD.]] With the announcements that ''Series/TheWonderYears'' and ''Series/{{Batman}}'' will finally be available in the format, ''Salute Your Shorts'' is now the #1 most requested show not released on DVD, according to tvshowsondvd.com.

* CringeComedy: Ug has a few instances of this. Such as when he awkwardly tries to mingle with the theater security guard and shamelessly flirts with the concession stand hostess in "Sponge's Night Out."

** Donkeylips showed he had some decent wrestling chops in one episode. He is also a very clever strategist as shown in "Capture the Flag".

[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes The series is not available on DVD.]] With the announcements that ''Series/TheWonderYears'' and ''Series/{{Batman}}'' will finally be available in the format, ''Salute Your Shorts'' is now the #1 most requested show not released on DVD, according to {{Website/TVShowsOnDVD}}.com.

--->'''Budnick:''' Wait, dirty old magazines or old dirty magazines?

* AdultsAreUseless: Well, only ''one'', really...Camp counselor Kevin "Ug" Lee. But he's still useless.

* PreviouslyOn: At the beginning of "Budnick Loves Dina, Part 2". Donkeylips uses flag signals explaining the events that happened in "Part 1" as Sponge writes them down while we cut to the accompanied clips from said episode. In-universe: they do this to get another merit badge. However, a bee was buzzing around Donkeylips and he tries to swat it with his flags, confusing Sponge.

* PreviouslyOn: At the beginning of "Budnick Loves Dina, Part 2". Donkeylips uses flag signals explaining the events that happened in "Part 1" as Sponge writes them down while we cut to the accompanied clips from said episode. In-universe: they do this to get another merit badge. However, a bee was on Donkeylips and he tries to swat it with his flags, confusing Sponge.

* WeWantOurJerkBack: In "Budnick Loves Dina," Budnick starts cleaning up his act to make himself more attractive to Dina. This just creeps out the rest of his peers, and it makes Dina less attracted to him because [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys she liked him better when he was a jerk]].