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Teletubbies | |
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From left: Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po, and Tinky Winky | |
Created by | Anne Wood Andrew Davenport |
Developed by | Ragdoll Productions |
Narrated by | Tim Whitnall, Toyah Willcox, Eric Sykes |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 365 |
Production | |
Executive producers | David G Hiller Vic Finch |
Running time | 25 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | BBC |
Release | March 31, 1997 – January 5, 2001 |
Teletubbies is a BBC BAFTA winning children's television series, primarily aimed at pre-school viewers, produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Anne Wood CBE, Ragdoll's creative director, and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. Narrated by Tim Whitnall, the programme rapidly became a critical and commercial success in Britain and abroad (particularly notable for its high production values),and won its BAFTA in 1998.Although the show is aimed at children between the ages of one and four, it is a substantial cult following with older generations, mainly college students, who bought the customary regulation T Shirts.The mixture of bright colours, unusual designs, repetitive non-verbal dialogue, ritualistic format, and the occasional forays into physical comedy appealed to a demographic who perceived the show as having psychedelic connotations. Teletubbies was controversial for this reason, and also for a perception that it was insufficiently educational. "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!", a single based on the show's theme song, reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1997 and remained in the Top 75 for 32 weeks, selling over a million copies.
Overview
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The programme features four colourful characters: Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po, who live in a futuristic dome (the "Tubbytronic Superdome"), set in a landscape of rolling hills. The environment is dotted with unusually talkative flowers and periscope-like "voice trumpets". The only natural fauna are rabbits (although birds are often heard, particularly blackcaps and wrens). The climate is always sunny and pleasant save for occasional inclement days, with rain and puddles, and snow at Christmas time.The Teletubbies are played by actors dressed in bulky costumes, although the sets are designed to give no sense of scale. The costumes vaguely resemble large spacesuits, although the Teletubbies appear not to wear real clothes. They are instead furry, and have metallic silver-azure rectangular "screens" adorning their abdomens. These screens are used to segue into short film sequences, which are generally repeated at least once. When the series is shown in different countries around the world, the film inserts are to be tailored to suit local audiences. (The British inserts are default.)
The Teletubbies have the body proportions, behaviour, and language of toddlers. The pacing and design of the show was developed by cognitive psychologist Andrew Davenport, who structured the show to fit the attention spans of the target audience. The repetition of practically every word is familiar to everyone who has ever worked with young children. There was also help from Shatarra Willis the stage manager who helped the show to become a success.
The Teletubbies speak in a gurgling baby language which is the subject of some controversy among educationalists, some of whom argue that this supposedly made-up talk is not good for children. (A similar complaint was made forty years previously about another children's series, Flower Pot Men.)The Teletubbies are at the stage of understanding speech but not yet fully capable of articulating it, exactly like their target audience. They often simply groan in disapproval in situations where a human toddler would throw a tantrum. The Teletubbies' catch-phrases are "Eh-oh" (hello), as in: "Eh-oh, Laa-Laa", to which Laa-Laa will respond, "Eh-oh, (other Teletubby's name)", "Uh-oh", a common toddler response to anything that's not good, "Run away! Run away!", especially from Dipsy, and "Bye-bye" at least four times in a row. Laa-Laa, when flustered, will explode with "Bibberly cheese!", which is as angry as the Teletubbies get. But perhaps the most common exclamation is "Big hug!" which one or more of the Teletubbies will invariably call for during the course of an episode, resulting in an enthusiastic group hug.
All the Teletubbies say "Bye-Bye" three times. The narrator bids each Teletubby goodbye, and they disappear, but reappear a moment later saying "Boo!". The narrator then says "No", (which they copy) and proceeds to say goodbye to each Teletubby again. The sun is then shown setting, and the Teletubbies each say goodbye again, before jumping down a hole in the roof of their house. Finally, one Teletubby says goodbye a fourth time - they pop out of a hole in the house and say "Bye-bye!". For special episodes, and at the end of the "Fun With The Teletubbies" cassette, all four Teletubbies say "Bye-bye" in this way. Many of the occurrences of the show, including the end sequence, and the scene preceding the short film broadcast on a character's tummy were shot only once, and the same scenes are used in each episode. The surreal environment is an evocation of a toddler's perception of the world, where they are ordered about and told to go to sleep, while wonderful and mysterious things happen without explanation. A prominent feature of each episode is a radiant sun that has an image of a smiling baby superimposed upon it. The baby in the sun occasionally laughs out loud in short bursts. To adults the laughter does not seem to be in response to any stimulus or humorous developments in the plot line of the episode. There are some who believe the baby in the sun to be the most frightening "Big Brother" entity in the whole of childrens' television while others think it's the best part of the show.
Their diet seems to be almost exclusively "Tubby Tustard" (which is sucked through a spiral straw) and "Tubby Toast" (circular toast with a smiley face on it, which some have taken to be representative of LSD), and they are spectacularly messy eaters. In one episode, the "Tubby Toaster", the machine that makes "Tubby Toast" went seriously wrong and filled the Teletubbies' house with toast. Fortunately, one of their companions is Noo-Noo, a vacuum cleaner.Machines like Noo-Noo,the voice trumpets, and the televisions in the Teletubbies' stomachs were designed to show small children, who are born into a world surrounded by strange and powerful electronic gadgets, that technology is benevolent and helpful, not something to be afraid of. The Teletubbies' landscape is an outdoor set located in rural Warwickshire, England, at Sweet Knowle Farm, Redhill Bank Rd, Whimpstone, CV37 8NR (between Stratford upon Avon and Shipston on Stour, close to the River Stour).
In 2001, production was cancelled and it was announced that no new episodes would be produced. (However, BBC ran a few in-the-can episodes from mid 2001 to early 2002.)It is often alleged that this was due to substantial pay raise demands by the previously anonymous actors portraying the Teletubbies. However, since the four years of production had exceeded the target audience's age span, it was deemed that continuation was unnecessary, and the existing 365 episodes will be played in re-runs for years to come.
Character summary
Tinky Winky (purple)
Main article: Tinky Winky(Dave Thompson, Mark Heenehan, and Simon Shelton): Male. He is the largest of the Teletubbies, with a triangular antenna on his head. Tinky Winky is notable for the red luggage (described by the show as a "magic bag", but often described by other media as a handbag) he carries. His character has caused much controversy due to allegations that his character's behaviour carried homosexual undertones. He is also found performing his Tinky Winky Round and Round Dance in a ballet-style tutu from time to time, which is also often worn by Laa-Laa.
Dipsy (green)
Main article: Dipsy(John Simmit): Male. He has a straight dipstick antenna on his head, hence his name. His favourite item to wear and carry with him is his black and white hat. Dipsy is the most obstinate of the characters, and will sometimes refuse to go along with the other Tubbies' group opinion. His face is also notably darker than the rest of the Teletubbies.
Laa-Laa (yellow)
Main article: Laa-Laa(Nikky Smedley): Female. She has a curly antenna and is very concerned with the welfare of all. She's the best singer of all the Teletubbies. "Drama queen", party-girl and mother type. Her favourite thing is a bouncy, orange ball, which is almost as big as she is.
Po (red)
Main article: Po (Teletubby)(Pui Fan Lee): Female. Her antenna is short with a circle on top. Po is the smallest of all the Teletubbies and often the one who gets into innocent trouble. Her favourite thing is her scooter as she calls it ("Po 'cooter!"). Of all the Teletubbies, Po usually becomes most involved with the audience.
Noo-Noo
No gender specified. Noo-Noo seems to be both the Teletubbies guardian and/or housekeeper, due to its resemblance to a vacuum cleaner, which is its initial purpose in the house. Noo-Noo hardly ventures outside, instead remaining indoors and constantly cleaning with its sucker-like nose. It does not speak like the other characters, instead communicating through a series of slurping and sucking noises. At times, Noo-Noo gets annoyed with the Teletubbies antics and can vacuum their food or toys. This usually prompts the Teletubbies to scold Noo-Noo through a cry of "Naughty Noo-Noo!". Usually after this, Noo-Noo flees and the Teletubbies pursue it comically around the house until they grow tired, are distracted by something, or forgive Noo-Noo. This sequence ends with them hugging it, or with it shooting out their absorbed objects.
Other
The show also features the voices of Toyah Willcox and Eric Sykes, and occasionally Sandra Dickinson and Penelope Keith, all of whom provide narration; the only (semi)regular physical cast member is Tamzin Griffin, who plays the manic "Funny Lady".
The Teletubbies and their instruments
- Tinky-Winky: saxophone, flute, bassoon, clarinet, piccolo, oboe, recorder, English horn, and contrabassoon
- Dipsy: trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, cornet, sousaphone, and euphonium
- Laa-Laa: xylophone, triangle, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, timpani, castanets, maracas, tambourine, and glockenspiel
- Po: harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, banjo, and mandolin
Teletubbies 10th Anniversary events
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the premiere of Teletubbies, a series of events took place at the end of March through the beginning of April 2007.
- The characters appeared outside of Teletubbyland for the first time on March 21, 2007 in London, England at an invitation-only event to officially begin the programme's tenth anniversary year sponsored by BBC Worldwide, the programme's licensees.
- They appeared in the United States for the first time. They made appearances in New York City's Times Square, Grand Central Station, and Apollo Theater. They also appeared on The Today Show on 29 March 2007. The episode included the first ever televised interview with the actors outside of their costumes.
- A partnership was formed with Isaac Mizrahi in which Isaac designed Teletubbies-inspired bags to be auctioned off to benefit the Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks charities.
- A new line of clothing was launched to be sold in the Pop-Up Shop and other specialty stores.
- New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg announced March 28, 2007 "Teletubbies Day" and gave the key to the city to the Teletubbies.
TakeTheTeletubbiesTest.com
TakeTheTeletubbiesTest.com launched on 26 March 2007. On the website, users can create profiles, take "tests", ask Po questions, and submit their own pictures and videos. There was also a station set up at the Teletubbies Pop-Up Shop where visitors could record themselves giving their reactions to the Teletubbies programme and upload it onto the website.
Pop-Up Shop
- A Pop-Up Shop opened in New York City's West Village from March 28 to April 7, 2007. The opening night party was DJ'ed by MisShapes. A percentage of the store's profits went to the Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks charities.
- DJs from all different genres of music (electronica, funk, Brazilian jazz, old school hip hop, alternative rock and house music) played in the store in the evenings. Some evenings included DJ scratching lessons and record spin art.
- On April 6, 2007, the store held a 12-hour Teletubbies viewing marathon.
Teletubbies live events
Following the Teletubbies' appearance in New York City, they went on their first live European tour, performing shows in London, Paris, Bremen, Darmstadt, Halle (Saale), Hamburg, Köln, and Hannover.
Are You the 5th Teletubby?
Also in celebration of the Teletubbies' 10th anniversary, a contest is being held at 5thTeletubby.com where fans can create videos of themselves as the "5th Teletubby," a character of their own creation. Audio and video clips from the show are available on the website for the entrants to use in creating their videos.
Controversies
Tinky Winky
Tinky Winky started a still hinted-at controversy in 1999 due to his carrying a bag that looks much like a woman's handbag (although he was first "outed" by the academic and cultural critic Andy Medhurst in a letter of July 1997 to The Face).He aroused the interest of Jerry Falwell in 1997 when Fallwell alleged that the character was a "gay role model". Falwell issued an attack in his National Liberty Journal, citing a Washington Post "In/Out" column which stated that homosexual comedian Ellen DeGeneres was "out" as the chief national gay representative -- while trendy Tinky Winky was "in."This has caused many Christians to boycott Teletubbies because it makes them think that Teletubbies support homosexuality.He is also found performing his Tinky Winky Round and Round Dance in a ballet-style tutu from time to time,which is also often worn by Laa-Laa.(Supporters of the interpretation that Tinky Winky is gay may take this as evidence)
A February 1999 article in the National Liberty Journal, published by evangelical pastor Jerry Falwell, warned parents that Tinky Winky could be a hidden homosexual symbol, because "he is purple, the gay pride colour, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle, the gay pride symbol". A spokesman for Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Co., who licenses the characters in the United States, said that the bag was just a magic bag. "The fact that he carries a magic bag doesn't make him a homosexual. It's a children's show, folks. To think we would be putting sexual innuendo in a children's show is kind of outlandish", he added.
In May 2007, Polish Ombudsman for Children Ewa Sowińska revisited the matter, and planned to order an investigation. She said in the May 28 2007 edition of Polish magazine Wprost that the woman's handbag-carrying Tinky Winky could promote homosexuality.Journalists from Wprost mentioned claims the Teletubbies promote homosexuality, to which Sowińska replied that she had heard of the issue. The journalists then asked about Tinky Winky. "I noticed that he has a woman's handbag, but I didn't realize he's a boy", Sowińska told the magazine in an interview her office approved before publication, adding: "Later I learned that there could be some hidden homosexual undertones." Sowińska said she would ask her office's psychologists to look into the allegations "and judge whether it can be shown on public television and whether the suggested problem really exists."
But on May 30 2007, Sowińska said in a public statement that she no longer suspected the Teletubbies of promoting homosexuality. She said: "The opinion of a leading sexologist, who maintains that this series has no negative effects on a child's psychology, is perfectly credible. As a result I have decided that it is no longer necessary to seek the opinion of other psychologists." In an unrelated incident reported in 2000, a girl's Tinky Winky toy reportedly said "I got a gun". Kenn Viselman, then chairman of the Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Co., claimed the toy actually said "Again, again!", a catchphrase from the show. This thing about Tinky Winky saying "I got a gun" has also started controversies.
Po
A girl's Talking Po doll was thought to be saying "faggot faggot, faggot faggot, faggot faggot, bite my butt!", as well as "fatty, fatty". The toy was recalled and it was revealed to have said "fidit, fidit," ("fast, fast," in Cantonese)
Teletubbies in popular culture
At the height of the show's popularity, it was referred to widely in other shows and publications.
- Several episodes of The Simpsons contain references to the Teletubbies. Notable episodes include "Days of Wine and D'oh'ses" where a character called Gaa Gaa says "hurt everyone" which goes unnoticed because of the character's "cute name", and "Blame It on Lisa" in which Bart watches a Brazilian children's learning show called "Teleboobies" which has a different premise but the title is an obvious pun. In "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder", Homer dresses up as a Teletubby to entertain Maggie. His line, "...and I'm all man, in case you heard otherwise" is a reference to the Tinky Winky controversy. In "Missionary: Impossible", several PBS mainstays chase Homer for reneging on a pledge to donate money to public television. The crowd includes the Teletubbies whose headgear shoots laser bursts. On another occasion, the Teletubbies make what the announcer calls "their first live appearance since Tinky Winky was acquitted of manslaughter". Character Milhouse Van Houten is apparently a closet fan, as evidenced by his undergarments and his private TV viewing. Also on "Wild Barts Can't Be Broken", Milhouse has Dipsy and Tinky Winky briefs.
- In an episode of South Park called "Ike's Wee Wee", Mr. Garrison is watching the Teletubbies at home while stoned.
- The Australian sketch show Full Frontal included many sketches featuring "Telestubbies" named Tipsy, Drinky-Drinky, Blah and Paro. These four Teletubby look-alikes, emblazoned with Australian beer labels and with beer taps on their heads, would wander around aimlessly committing crimes.
- The New Zealand show Mai Time had a sketch entitled "Smellie Grubbies", the characters names being Stinky Winky(Wairua Rutene), Dipstick (James Sutherland), Mars Bar(Jordan Sutherland) and Poo(John Bright).
- In an episode of Grounded for Life, Claudia thought that Jimmy was high on drugs because he was laughing while watching Teletubbies. Eddie then asked Jimmy why he was laughing. Jimmy responded "Oh. Po tripped over Laa-laa and fell in the flower bed." Eddie then explained it to Claudia.
- In an episode of Arthur, Buster claims Muffy as "the fifth Teletubby" in "The Contest", the first segment of "The Contest/Prove It". There also seems to be at least three Teletubbies equivalents in the series, known as "Love Ducks", "Vidiboobies", and "Silly Squirrels".
- An episode of the TV sketch show Harry Enfield and Chums featured a "Telecockneys" sketch based on four Cockney characters Lovely Jubbly, Geezer, Beer Gut and Boff (together with the "Loo Loo") in a pub.
- In an episode of the British cartoon sketch show 2DTV, "The Talibannies" are featured, one of them being "Bin-LaLa", referencing the Taliban and Bin Laden.
- In the webstrip Sluggy Freelance dated 9 March 1999, the characters Torg and Riff discuss the fact that "Drinky Winky" from the "Teletubbles" is "an abusive drunk because of the bottle of booze he carries", says Torg reading from a newspaper. Riff counters saying "That's not a bottle of booze! It's his magic bottle that makes his problems go away! (...) never mind." Torg goes on reading, "The abusive side of Drinky Winky is demonstrated by..." to which Riff argues "Tipsy and Hoe had it coming!"
- In The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers, the "Rendoosian" word for "television" is "Telebooby", which sounds like "Teletubby".
- In 1998, Tom Fulp of Newgrounds created a spoof of Teletubbies called "Teletubby Fun Land"" which resulted in a law suit from the BBC. This resulted in a boost of notoriety and media exposure,and the video was renamed "Tellybubby Fun Land".
- In an episode of the HBO prison series Oz an allusion to a "Twinky Dink" is mentioned in conjunction with the comments made by evangelist Jerry Falwell's "outing" of Tinky Winky.
- In an episode of The Fairly Oddparents, when Timmy was trapped by his "imaginary" friend from preschool revived into real life, the "Teebietubbies" were ordered to attack him.
- In an episode of Kim Possible where a few characters are sent into television programmes, one of the channels shown features Teletubby-like creatures. An enormous one called Mr Sit-Down stomps on various villains over the course of the show by sitting on them.
- In the Robot Chicken episode "Junk in the Trunk", there is a segment in which the red Teletubby, Po, is shown smoking.
- In an episode of Whose Line is it Anyway?, during a game of Film/TV/Theatre Styles, Teletubbies was performed, with Ryan Stiles warning the others of the "evil purple one".
- In the Netherlands, the Dutch public channel had a version called De Teringtubbies. This was broadcast at Ned2, and was part of the BNN programming. It received various critics, many people (especially the young) thought it was funny, hilarious, and perhaps even cult, but at the same time, many people (including the creators of the Teletubbies) thought it went too far over the edge, for one Teringtubbie was called "Tietentubbie" (Titstubbie), a "tubbie" wandering around in a yellow Lala outfit, with her breasts hanging out of the costume, and the name of the programme literally ment Tuberculosistubbies. There were only 10 episodes made of The Teringtubbies.
- In one episode of Family Guy, Stewie is forced to watch Teletubbies after Lois catches him reading mature books. Stewie then gets sucked into the show and cannot get his focus off the TV until Peter changes the channel to watch his own programme.
- In 2007, Australian comedy team The Chaser sent a person in a Tinky Winky suit to a gay bar and a Polish club to see what the general reactions would be. Tinky Winky was welcomed into both establishments.
- The Doctor Who episode "The Sound of Drums" features the Master commenting on an episode of Teletubbies: "Televisions in their stomachs! That's evolution!" This is an allusion to the classic series story The Sea Devils, in which the Master is seen enjoying The Clangers and making a similar sarcastic comment on the characters.
- The BBC series Goodness Gracious Me presents a supposedly Indianised parody of the show, called Delhitubbies.
- The Stone Temple Pilots video of "Sour Girl" features creatures that interact with the band that heavily resemble the Teletubbies.
Teletubbies in other media
- In 2007, a Jeep commercial featured Jeeps driving through famous scenes in history and popular culture, including an Elvis Presley film, a Godzilla film, the moon landing, Woodstock, a Road Runner cartoon, a Jane Goodall documentary, Devo's "Whip It" music video, at the fall of the Berlin Wall, an episode of Lost, and in Teletubbyland with Laa-Laa and Po.
- In September, 2007, in a hazing ritual for the Boston Red Sox, pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka and his translator, Masa Hoshino, dressed as Dipsy and Tinky Winky, respectively.
Alternative names
Teletubbies has been broadcast in many different countries, thus involving a foreign title.
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Broadcasters around the world
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References
- Deconstructing Teletubbies... – Professor Gregory Gutenko, University of Missouri. Undated.Accessed: 2007-09-03.
- Literacy Today article regarding a study which found Teletubbies had a negative impact on toddlers in both vocabulary size and expressive language use.
- http://crossroad.to/text/articles/teletubbies10-99.html
- Sweet Knowle Farm is at coordinates 52°07′32″N 1°42′12″W / 52.125515°N 1.703446°W / 52.125515; -1.703446 (Sweet Knowle Farm)
- Rusak, Gary (March 12, 2007). "Teletubbies celebrate 10th anniversary in high style". KidScreen Magazine.
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(help) - "Teletubbies Pop-Up Shop".
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XKbqIAJtBg Video "Tinky Winky Gets Shot" at YouTube.
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E4DD1F3BF932A25751C0A96F958260
- BBC News article on the Polish gay Tellytubby controversy
- "Polish watchdog backs away from Teletubbies probe", cbc.ca, May 30 2007, , retrieved May 31 2007
- Dotinga, Randy (April 12, 2000). "Lawsuit to Target Teletubbies for Gun Talk". APBNews.
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(help) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJt1U_8UYBs Video "Tinky Winky Says 'I've Got A Gun'" at YouTube.
- http://crossroad.to/Q&A/Toys-Games/teletubbies.htm Teletubbies Q&A's
- Newgrounds Presents: Teletubby Fun Land
- Newgrounds Literature
- "Jeep Touts Timeless Fun" - Ad Week, July 30, 2007
- "Just Call Matsuzaka ‘Dipsy’" - The New York Times, September 17, 2007
See also
- Dipsy
- Laa-Laa
- Boohbah
- Tinky Winky
- Po (Teletubby)
- In the Night Garden
- List of Teletubbies episodes
- Earth house, the type of building they live in
External links
- Official Websites : UK USA
- Broadcasters: CBeebies (UK), PBS Kids (US)
- Teletubbies at IMDb
- Teletubbies producer
- Teletubbies episode list
- British Film Institute Screen Online
- Tomy Toys, a licensee.
- Combined Teletubbies site
- The BBC's Teletubbies site
- PBS's Teletubbies site
- Aerial view of Teletubby landscape (1999)
- Behind the scenes
PBS Kids original programming | |
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See also | |
- Articles with dead external links from March 2008
- Articles that may be too long from September 2008
- Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from September 2008
- 1990s fads
- Teletubbies
- PBS network shows
- Children's television series
- 1997 television series debuts
- 2001 television series endings
- BBC children's television programmes
- Fictional characters in children's television