History YMMV / ChannelChasers

** [[spoiler:The DistantFinale features futuristic-looking buildings and flying cars in the background. Given that it takes place 20 years later, the movie was produced in 2003, and now we are in TheNewTwenties, it's safe to say that we aren't even ''close'' from having flying cars anytime soon.]]

** Many of the shows Timmy travels through would eventually no longer be airing on TV within years, or even months in a few cases, after the TV movie was produced and aired (and some, like the parodies of ''WesternAnimation/FatAlbertAndTheCosbyKids'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons'' were already over years before the show was made). That being said, there are some shows that are still around that were mentioned either on the actual show or on the "If I Lived in TV" deleted scene (such as ''Series/SesameStreet'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', and ''Wrestling/WWESmackdown'', to name a few examples).

* MoralEventHorizon:
** Vicky crosses this when she wrecks the Turners’ house and frames Timmy for it just to see him get punished.
** She crosses it even further later on when she plans to take over the world by going to the Dictator Channel with Timmy’s magical remote.

* FanonDiscontinuity: Not for the special itself, but rather everything ''after'' it. When ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' should have ended is a point of contention among the fanbase, but "Channel Chasers" is often held up as one of the best (if not ''the'' best) ending points for the series thanks to bringing a close to the very plot point that kick-started the entire series: Timmy's parents realize that they've been neglectful parents and aim to better show love to their son, and also learn that Vicky is a terrible babysitter and decide to fire her (though Timmy hits the ResetButton on that revelation). And while the DistantFinale scene shows Timmy becoming just like his parents in their absent-minded (due to the fact that when he becomes an adult, he'll forget that he had fairies), his kids thankfully also have Cosmo and Wanda to watch over them, ending things on a positive note.

* MoralEventHorizon: Vicky crosses this when she wrecks the Turners’ house and frames Timmy for it just to see him get punished.

* HarsherInHindsight: Timmy learning that he shouldn't worry about growing up and losing his fairies and enjoy his childhood while it lasts becomes more depressing to watch after a later special, ''[[Recap/TheFairlyOddParentsS8E2TimmysSecretWish Timmy's Secret Wish!]]'', revealed that [[spoiler:Timmy secretly wished for everyone to [[FloatingTimeline never age]] so that he doesn't lose his fairies]].

** [[spoiler:The DistantFinale features [[20MinutesIntoTheFuture futuristic-looking buildings and flying cars]] in the background. Given that it takes place 20 years later, the movie was produced in 2003, and now we are in TheNewTwenties, it's safe to say that we aren't even ''close'' from having flying cars anytime soon.]]

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Many of the shows Timmy travels through would eventually no longer be airing on TV within years, or even months in a few cases, after the TV movie was produced and aired (and some, like the parodies of ''WesternAnimation/FatAlbertAndTheCosbyKids'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons'' were already over years before the show was made). That being said, there are some shows that are still around that were mentioned either on the actual show or on the "If I Lived in TV" deleted scene (such as ''Series/SesameStreet'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', and ''Wrestling/WWESmackdown'', to name a few examples).

* HarsherInHindsight: Timmy learning that he shouldn't worry about growing up and losing his fairies and enjoy his childhood while it lasts becomes more depressing to watch after a later special, ''Timmy's Secret Wish!'', revealed that [[spoiler:Timmy secretly wished for everyone to [[FloatingTimeline never age]] so that he doesn't lose his fairies]].

* HarsherInHindsight: Timmy learning that he shouldn't worry about growing up and losing his fairies and enjoy his childhood while it lasts becomes more depressing to watch after a later special, ''Timmy's Secret Wish!'', revealed that [[spoiler:Timmy secretly wished for everyone to never age so that he doesn't lose his fairies]].

* FanonDiscontinuity: Not for the special itself, but rather everything ''after'' it. When ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' should have ended is a point of contention among the fanbase, but "Channel Chasers" is often held up as one of the best (if not ''the'' best) ending points for the series thanks to bringing a close to the very plot point that kick-started the entire series: Timmy's parents realize that they've been neglectful parents and aim to better show love to their son, and also learn that Vicky is a terrible babysitter and decide to fire her (though Timmy hits the ResetButton on that revelation). And while the DistantFinale scene shows Timmy becoming just like his parents in their absent-minded neglect (due to the fact that when he becomes an adult, he'll forget that he had fairies), his kids thankfully also have Cosmo and Wanda to watch over them, ending things on a positive note.

* ShallowParody: Of most {{anime}} with ''Maho Mushi'', though ''Franchise/DragonBall'', primarily, since it's the one Maho Mushi's animation and art style is based on. However, the title sounds like a reference to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' (short for "Pocket Monsters"), considering Pokémon was inspired by insect collecting as a hobby, and "Maho Mushi" means "Magic Bug" in Japanese.

** Creator/AlecBaldwin as every child's dream companion that must be kept a secret lest he be taken away by his corporate bosses, and the child in question is named Tim…my? A [[DistantFinale distant epilogue]] showing the children as adults, having moved on from their childhood adventures? [[WesternAnimation/BossBaby Huh?]]

* HilariousInHindsight: Apparently, Creator/ButchHartman has a thing for creating specials of his shows that feature an apocalyptic future that's trying to be avoided that also includes the main protagonist encountering a [[FutureMeScaresMe future version of himself]], [[spoiler:though unlike [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom Danny]], Timmy was fortunate enough to encounter a heroic version of himself]]. It also leads one to wonder who created the more horrible future: [[spoiler:Vicky or [[WesternAnimation/TheUltimateEnemy Dark Danny]]]].

* ShallowParody: Of most {{anime}} with Maho Mushi, though ''Franchise/DragonBall'', primarily, since it's the one Maho Mushi's animation and art style is based on. However, the title sounds like a reference to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' (short for "Pocket Monsters"), considering Pokémon was inspired by insect collecting as a hobby, and "Maho Mushi" means "Magic Bug" in Japanese.

* HilariousInHindsight: Apparently, Creator/ButchHartman has a thing for creating specials of his shows that feature an apocalyptic future that's trying to be avoided that also includes the main protagonist encountering a future version of himself, [[spoiler:though unlike [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom Danny]], Timmy was fortunate enough to encounter a heroic version of himself]]. It also leads one to wonder who created the more horrible future: [[spoiler:Vicky or [[WesternAnimation/TheUltimateEnemy Dark Danny]]]].
* ShallowParody: Of most anime with Maho Mushi, though ''Franchise/DragonBall'', primarily, since it's the one Maho Mushi's animation and art style is based on. However, the title sounds like a reference to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' (short for "Pocket Monsters"), considering Pokémon was inspired by insect collecting as a hobby, and "Maho Mushi" means "Magic Bug" in Japanese.

* ShallowParody: Of most anime with Maho Mushi, though ''Franchise/DragonBall'', primarily, since it's the one Maho Mushi's animation and art style is based on. However, the title sounds like a reference to Franchise/{{Pokemon}} (short for "Pocket Monsters"), considering Pokémon was inspired by insect collecting as a hobby, and "Maho Mushi" means "Magic Bug" in Japanese.

* ShallowParody: Of most anime with Maho Mushi, though ''Franchise/DragonBall'', primarily, since it's the one Maho Mushi's animation and art style is based on. However, the title sounds like a reference to Franchise/{{Pokémon}} (short for "Pocket Monsters"), considering Pokémon was inspired by insect collecting as a hobby, and "Maho Mushi" means "Magic Bug" in Japanese.

* FanonDiscontinuity: Not for the special itself, but rather everything ''after'' it. When ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' should have ended is a point of contention among the fanbase, but "Channel Chasers" is often held up as one of the best (if not ''the'' best) ending points for the series thanks to bringing a close to the very plot point that kick-started the entire series to begin with: Timmy's parents realize that they've been neglectful parents and aim to better show love to their son, and also learn that Vicky is a terrible babysitter and decide to fire her (though Timmy hits the ResetButton on that revelation). And while the DistantFinale scene shows Timmy becoming just like his parents in their absent-minded neglect, his kids thankfully also have Cosmo and Wanda to watch over them, ending things on a positive note.

* ShallowParody: Of most anime with Maho Mushi, though ''Franchise/DragonBall'', primarily, since it's the one Maho Mushi's animation and art style is based off. The title sounds like a reference to Franchise/{{Pokemon}} (short for "Pocket Monsters"), considering Pokemon was inspired by insect collecting as a hobby, and "Maho Mushi" means "Magic Bug."

* FanonDiscontinuity: Not for this special, but rather everything ''after'' it. When ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' should have ended is a point of contention among the fanbase, with this being held up as one of the best (if not ''the'' best) ending point for the series. It has all the elements of a good GrandFinale: Vicky is revealed to be a bad babysitter (at least until Timmy changes his mind), Timmy's parents realize that they've been neglectful parents and aim to better show love to their son, and the DistantFinale final scene shows Timmy as an adult with kids of his own. And while that ending does show Timmy as becoming just like his parents in their absent-minded neglect, his kids thankfully also have Cosmo and Wanda to watch over them, continuing the cycle.