Memorable TV

UK / BBC1 / 3x25m-e / 1988

Writer: William Corlett / Novel:Robert Westall / Music: Rodney Newton / Executive Producer: Paul Stone / Producer: Brenda Ennis / Director: Ian Keill

Mystery drama serial. Three kids help an old man and get involved in the sinister mystery of the Watch House.

With:- DIANA MORRISON as Anne / SHERI SHEPSTONE as Prudie / JAMES GARBUTT as Arthur / MICHAEL NICHOLSON as Timmo / LINDA HUNTLEY as Pat  / LYNETTE DAVIES as Fiona 

UK / BBC/ 1950-80

An umbrella title for the BBC's afternoon children's programmes. Vera McKechnie and originally Patricia Driscoll presented. The original line up of programmes was Picture Book (Mondays) / Andy Pandy (Tuesdays) / The Flowerpot Men (Wednesday) / Rag Tag and Bob Tail (Thursday) and The Woodentops ( Fridays) . Other shows under the Watch With Mother banner included The Trumpton trilogy, Mary Mungo and Midge, Pogles Wood, Mr Benn and Bagpuss. In 1980 the shows title changed to See Saw.    

UK / Yorkshire / 26x20m-e / 1999-2000 

Novel: Richard Adams / Executive Producers: Simon Vaughan, Justin Boole, Steven Denure, Neil Court / Title Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Mike Batt / Producer: Beth Stevenson

Animated drama series. A group of rabbits search for a new safe home when their old warren is faced with destruction from builders.

Voices:- DAWN FRENCH as Buttercup / STEPHEN GATELY as Blackavar / RICHARD BRIERS as Captain Broom / JANE HORROCKS as Hannah / PHIL JUPITUS as Dandelion / RIK MAYALL as Kehaar

UK / BBC1 / 24x20m-e / 1991-92

Writers: Pip and Jane Baker / Producer: Angela Beeching / Director: Roger Singleton-Turner 

Scifi comedy series. The Alien Watt lives with an ordinairy family. Watt can change himself into inanimate objects and only young Sean knows of his existence.

With:- GARTH NAPIER JONES as Watt  / TOM BRODIE as Sean  / JESSICA SIMPSON as Zoe / SIMON COOK as  Tom Ruddock / HEATHER WRIGHT as Val Ruddock / MICHAEL GODLEY as Jones 

Australia / ABC-Southern Star-Burberry Prod-Film Queensland-Film Victoria-Australian Film Finance Corp / x30m-e / 1996

Creator: David McRobbie / Costume: David Rowe / Producer: Alan Hardy, Galia Hardy / Director: Paul Moloney / Books: David McRobbie

Teen comedy. Episodes in the life of Wayne Wilson as he tries to adjust to moving to a new area and starting a new school.

With:- JEFFREY WALKER as Wayne Wilson / RANI BROADWAY as Rupert / BROOKE HARMEN as Rosie / REGIS BROADBENT as Cousin Harris / CASSANDRA MAGRATH as Charlene Wilson / INGRID MASON  as Mrs Wilson / JAH'SHUA McAVOY as Squocka / RAINEE SKINNER as Wayne's Mum / TRACEY-LOUISE SMITH as Violet / NICK WATERS as Dad 

USA / CBS-MGM-Jack Barry-Dan Enright Productions/ 18x30m-e / 1976-77

Sports 'game show' hosted by Sonny Fox and Mark Maxwell-Smith. The concept involved teams with 6 members (each team coming from a different US state) taking part in a number of daft It's A Knockout style rounds. Winners of this one season only contest were a team from Oregon.  Joanna Kerns(Then known as Joanna Daverona) and Soupy Sales were the hosts/performers of the pilot seen on The CBS TV Network on Saturday afternoon January 11,1976.The show was a hit and CBS TV bought the series for it's Saturday afternoon lineup for the 1976/1977 tv season. But Ms.Kerns and Soupy never got a chance to host the series. Soupy got into a salary dispute with the show's producers,  they fired both Soupy And Kerns. Sonny Fox had hosted a simular zany,stunt like tv game show for kids "Just For Fun!"  Thanks to Kevin S. Butler for additional info on this entry.

UK / Yorkshire/Richmond / x25m-e / 1997-98

Writer: Paul Cornell / Music: Peter Davis / Producer: Sandra Hastie 

Children's drama series.  A group of schoolkids help out at their local radio station.

With:- ELLIE BEVAN as Kyla Kaine  / DANIEL BENNETT as James  / KRIS MILNES as Jacks / RUBY VISARIA as Annie Kumar / OLIVER GRIG as Steven / DAVID ROPER as Tony Horton / KATE HARPER as Kathy Kane / PHILIP WRIGHT as Rudyard 'Boz' Boswell / JADE WILLIAMS as Grace 

CBS / 13x30 minute episodes / 13 September 1997 – September 1998

Creator: Weird Al Yankovic 

He's not called Weird for nothing you know! In 1997 Weird Al Yankovic the pastiching singer (stacks of hits taking well known pop songs and adding funny lyrics "get yourself an egg and beat it" etc) was given his own Saturday Morning entertainment kids show and with his wacky mixture of comedy, animation, high quality guests and musical moments came up with a series that was avidly watched by more adults than kids. As the show was supposed to be aimed at kids, each episode was given a theme that Al had to investigate, with the usual disastrous consequences, every episode features funny fake ads, a bizarre animated spot called The Adventures of Fatman and tons of guest appearances from well known comedians and actors such as Drew Carey, David Bowie, Bill Mumy, Spinal Tap's Michael McKean, Emo Philips, Patton Oswalt from the King of Queens and Saturday Night Lives Victoria Jackson. Theres also a guest appearance by Fabio of all people. Weird Al was definitely pushing the boundaries of Saturday Morning TV and although his style is the kind of thing you'll either love or you'll hate you have to give him points for trying.

cast
Weird Al Yankovic / Eddie Deezen as The Guy Boarded in the Wall / Donavan Freberg as Baby Boolie / Stan Freberg as Papa Boolie, J. B. Toppersmith / Gary LeRoi Gray as Bobby the Inquisitive Boy / Brian Haley as The Hooded Avenger / Harvey the Wonder Hamster as himself / Ed Marques as Varna the Squirmese Cook / Paula Jai Parker as Val Brentwood, Gal Spy / Patricia Place as Mrs. Fesenmeyer / Jack Plotnick as Uncle Ralphie / Judy Tenuta as Madame Judy the Psychic / Danielle Weeks as Cousin Corky / Mary Yankovic as Mom / Nick Yankovic as Dad

UK / ITV / 8x25m-e / Dec 2001     

Director: Stefan Pleszczymski; / Producers: Mike Treen, Michael Haggiag / Derived from the Worst Witch books by Jill Murphy  

Fantasy drama series. Mildrid Hubble has left witch school and gone to a special college for witches and wizards to learn more about magic where her special and unique abilities are beginning to emerge.  

With:- GEORGINA SHERRINGTON as Mildrid Hubble / FELICITY JONES as Ethel Hallow / ABEILLE GELINAS as Cas Crowfeather / BOBBY BARRY as Nick Hobbes

USA / x30m-e / 1991

Teen high school set sitcom.

With:- RICK GALLOWAY as Walter Patterson / JOCELYN STEINER as Alex Moore / CHRIS LOBBAN as Kevin St James / JILL SETTER as Tara / DAVID PHODEN as Merv / MIKE SPELLER as Mr Lippman

UK / Carlton / 14x25m-e / 1999 -2000 (Season One: 21 September - 2 November 2000 / Season Two: 12 September - 24 October / Tuesdays 4.35pm)

Writer: Jean Buchanan / Music: Richard Attree / Executive Producer: Michael Forte,David Mercer / Producer/Director: Roger Singleton-Turner 

Children's sitcom. Stories of the Basham family, especially cartoonist father Greg. The programme mixed the live action with animated segments.

With:- JULIA WATSON as Judy Basham  / DANIEL HILL as Greg Basham / CLAIRE PARFITT as Chris Basham / DUNCAN BARTON as Jeremy Basham / DESTINY RYAN as Beatrice 'Buzzy' Basham / NICHOLAS HARVEY as Tim Basham  / LAURA ROLLINS as Caroline Saunders 

USA / NBC / 13x30m-e / 1975-76 (6 September 75 - 9 April 76)

Adventure series. The Andrews family, led by marine biologist mother Kate and Steve, a photographer, manage to get involved in adventure whilst travelling around Hawaii in their boat Westwind.

With:- NIKI DANTINE as Kate Andrews / VAN WILLIAMS as Steve Andrews / STEVE BURNS as Tom Andrews / KIMBERLY BECK as Robin Andrews 

USA / CBS-DePatie Freleng / 26x20m-e / 1977-79 (10 September 77 - 9 September 79)

Animated comedy. The final TV series for the myopic Mr Magoo, in this series Magoo had an equally myopic dog called 
McBarker.   

Warner Bros / x30m-e / 2002

TV's favorite animated Great Dane and his intrepid cohorts -- Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred --  stumble creature-related comedy mysteries in the 21st Century. Tying in with the big budget movie version starring Sarah Michelle Geller.

USA / NBC-Hanna Barbera / 1974

Animated exploits of a Volkswagon car, Wheelie and his girlfriend Rota Ree, as they did regular battle with the nasty Chopper Bunch (who were a gang of motorcycles).

Voices:- FRANK WELKER as Wheelie/Chopper / JUDY STRANGIS as Rota Ree / DON MESSICK as Scrambles / LENNIE WEINRIB as High Riser / PAUL WINCHELL as Revs

UK / BBC / 110x60m-e / 1950-56 black and white

Creator: Cecil Madden

Variety and entertainment series shown fortnightly on Saturday afternoons. Presented by Humphrey Lestocq and the puppet Mr Turnip (creator of whom was Joy Laurey).  

UK / BBC-Castle Communications / Madman Movies Ltd / 1x25m-e / 1995

Writers: John Broadhead, Joyce McAleer, Chris Randall, Keith Scobie / Executive Producers: Terry Shand, Geoff Kempin / Producer: Theresa Plummer Andrews, Michael Carrington, Bob Burrows

Animated Christmas drama with the famous song by Bing Crosby making an appearance.

Voices:- MELISSA SINDEN / JIMMY HIBBERT / ED BISHOP / PETER WHITMAN / DAVID HOLT / SHERRY LYNN / COREY BURTON

Yugoslavia-Germany/ Munich-Belgrade TV / 13x30m-e / 1968

Theme Music: On White Horses by Jackie

Drama series in which a young girl called Julia has adventures with some amazing horses, The incredible white Lippizaners, after going to stay with her uncle Dimitri. Thanks to Julian Mercik for his help in compiling this entry.

With:- Helga Anders as Julia / Helmuth Schneider as Uncle Dimitri / Franz Muxeneder as Hugo, the groom

UK / BBC1 / 6x25m-e / 1988

Writer: Berlie Doherty / Producer: Paul Stone / Director: Andrew Morgan

Drama serial. A young girl living on a farm in rural Derbyshire has her idyllic life shaken up.

With:- MARJORIE BONE as Jeannie  

UK / ITV / x25m-e / 1998-continuing

Writers: Malorie Blackman, Jim Eldridge / Titles: Julie Cafferty / Music: Goody, Coates, Haines / Design: Lynda Harris / Executive Producers: Michael Forte, David Mercer / Producer/Director: Dirk Campbell 

Sci-fi comedy drama series.A young boy makes friends with a wish granting alien.

With:- LOUIS McKENZIE as Ben Sinclair  / BRIAN BOVELL as Daniel Sinclair / NIMMY MARCH as Gina Sinclair 

UK / Southern / 6x25m-e / 1981 1 April - 6 May Wednesdays 4.20pm

Writer: Peter Eldin / Producer/Director: Michael Grafton-Robinson

Sketch series looking at various aspects of school life. 

With:- KENNETH WILLIAMS / ARTHUR MULLARD / RITA WEBB / PATRICK NEWELL / SHEILA WHITE

UK / BBC / 1970's and 1980's

Long running hobbies style show which each series came from a different part of the country and featured a different bunch of kids trying out various activities, the show's full title was actually Why Don't You Turn Off Your Television Set and Go and Go Out and Do Something Less Boring Instead.

UK / BBC1 / 6x25m-e / 1999 16 November - 21 December Tuesdays 4.35pm

Writer: Kjartan poskitt / Music: The Levellers / Executive Producer: Roy Milani / Producer: Jeremy Daldry

Science series. How everyday objects are related to other objects, in five easy stages. Presented by Ortis and Mary Anne Hobbs. 

UK / Thames 'Funny Ha-Ha' / 1x30m-e / 1974 

Writer: Adele Rose / Producer: Ruth Boswell / Director: Leon Thau 

Comedy.  The family of teenage Tess Carter try to dissuade her away from the dubious charms of her boyfriend.

With:- BARBARA MITCHELL as Kate Carter / HARRY TOWB as Geoff Carter / LYNNE MILLER as Tess Carter / PETER DALY as Joe

UK / TV-AM / 1984-92

Early morning children's entertainment shown at the weekends as part of TV-AM's breakfast time programming. Like all such shows this was a mix of pop music and comedy moments, cartoons etc. Presenters were initally Tommy Boyd, Arabella Warner and James Baker but later the more popular Timmy Mallett and Michaela Strachan were added. There was also a major spin off from 1986 called WACADAY this was also presented by Timmy Mallett. 

THE WIGGLES

Australia-UK / Wiggles Pty Ltd-GMTV / 26x15m-e / 1999

Writer: Don Arioli / Producer: Paul Field / Music: The Wiggles/ Executive Producers: The Wiggles, Wayne Covell

Children's preschool fun featuring the music group The Wiggles who are Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Greg Page. Also appearing were Leeanne Ashley, Leanne Halloran, Reem Hanwell, Paul Paddick and Edward Rooke. The Wiggles have taken off in a big way and there is currently more Wiggles merchandise than you can shake a stick at. The same show was broadcast slightly differently in the USA and Australia (on the 9 network) the episodes were 22 minutes long and had two extra songs. There are 26 episodes. They first appeared on the US Fox Family Channel in May 1999 and the same show has now been shown daily on the US Disney Channel. This version was also the one that was shown in Australia on Channel 7 in 1999. The Wiggles have now teamed up with the ABC and Disney for their latest show Lights Camera Action.