Glaring Omissions on the VH1 Child Stars Series

I was loving VH1's "100 Greatest Kid Stars" series last week. It gave informative updates on former child stars I had all but forgotten about, stars like Quinn Cummings ("The Goodbye Girl," "Family"), Lara Jill Miller ("Gimme a Break") and Cynthia Nixon, who I knew from "Sex and the City" but had no idea she was also a child star, featured in one of my favorite teen movies, "Little Darlings."

Still, there were some blatant omissions on the show. I know, I know, they can't name every child star from the past 40 years, but some of the stars that they forgot about clearly should have been included. For example:

-- Jay North. The original Dennis the Menace from the TV series. That kid was a McCauley Culkin way before Culkin's time. He was adorable and a great actor. And they didn't even mention his name.

--Leif Garrett. And Donny Osmond, for that matter. Yes, VH1 did include some teen singers in their countdown, but they chose to include New Kids on the Block's Joey McIntyre in lieu of truly great pop stars. Crazy, I tell you!

-- Kim Richards. The greatest child star of the '70s and early '80s. She starred in Disney films like "Escape to Witch Mountain' and television series like "Nanny and the Professor." I expected her to make the top 10 and she didn't even make the top 100?

--Johnny Whitaker. Red-haired child star of "Family Affair" fame and then Saturday morning's "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters," this kid was a bona fide poster child for child stars in the '60s and '70s. Remember him? VH1 sure didn't!

--Billy Mumy. The ultimate child star, in my opinion. Watch any TV show from the 1960s-- from "Bewitched" to "Twilight Zone" to "My Favorite Martian" -- and this kid has guest starred on it. VH1 didn't deem him worthy, but Cindy Brady makes the list?

I'm still scratching my head over that one.....

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Where have all the child stars gone?

Have you seen the VH1 series "The 100 Greatest Kid Stars of All Time?"  For a pop culture enthusiast like me, it's a great little package of interesting tidbits. And a nice walk down memory lane.

It's a five-part series, so I've only seen the first two night's worth, but I've already learned a ton.
For instance, did you know that Peter Olstrum (the kid who played Charlie in the 70's film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory") is now a veterinarian on a dairy farm? And Alison Arngrim (aka Nellie Olsen) does a one woman comedy show, rehashing her "Little House on the Prairie" days. Lara Jill Miller, the youngest daughter from the show "Gimme a Break," was a lawyer for a while, but now she does cartoon voice over work. And Candace Cameron Bure, formerly DJ on "Full House", is HOT now-- and she's a mom of three to boot!

So far they've showed the first 40 people on their list, and I can't help but wonder who the other 60 will be. How can they choose a mere 100? Because there's been so darn many great kid stars over the years!. ike, whatever happened to that adorable kid Ricky Segall from "The Partridge Family?" Will he be remembered? And what about the girl who played the annoying Margaret on "Dennis the Menace?" And how many Bradys will make the list? No doubt about it, this show is a pop culture fanatic's dream come true!

Stay tuned.....