New Zoo Revue
Encyclopedia
New Zoo Revue is an American
half-hour children's television show that ran in syndication from 1972-1977. Stations usually broadcast the program in the early or middle part of the morning hours, when many pre-schoolers were watching it as well as similar shows such as the franchised Romper Room
and CBS
's Captain Kangaroo
. Rights are managed by Las Vegas based Media and Technology Solutions, Inc. and is in development to bring back the show with a new contemporary version and is working with original creator Doug Momery.
, bragging, or patience
.
Though hosted by humans Doug (Doug Momary
) and Emmy Jo (Emily Peden), who in real life were married
, the show featured its costumed adult-sized puppet characters, primarily Freddie the Frog
(voiced by Joni Robbins), Henrietta Hippo
(voiced by Larri Thomas), and Charlie the Owl
(voiced by Bob Holt).
Other characters included Frieda the Frog; Mr. Dingle (played by a costumed Chuck Woolery
), an elderly postman, store-keeper and Jack-of-All-Trades; and Mrs. Goodbody (played by veteran character actress Fran Ryan
), a nosy neighbor who serves as an advice columnist for The All-New Zoo Gazette.
The show was a recipient of awards and recommendations from the National Education Association
and the National School Board Association.
While the show all but faded away by the early 1980s, repeats of New Zoo Revue became in demand once again in the late 1990s, when the FCC's "E/I
" rule went into effect.
The show was made infamous by an unreleased "blooper" where Joni Robbins who played Freddie the Frog yelled out "Ah, go f*ck yourself Charlie!". The profanity-laced "blooper" went on from there.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
half-hour children's television show that ran in syndication from 1972-1977. Stations usually broadcast the program in the early or middle part of the morning hours, when many pre-schoolers were watching it as well as similar shows such as the franchised Romper Room
Romper Room
Romper Room is a children's television series that ran in the United States from 1953 to 1994 as well as at various times in Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom...
and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
. Rights are managed by Las Vegas based Media and Technology Solutions, Inc. and is in development to bring back the show with a new contemporary version and is working with original creator Doug Momery.
Concept
The 196-episode musical comedy format show conveyed the concepts of cooperation and guidance for living in contemporary society. Each episode dealt with a topic like moving away, courtesyCourtesy
Courtesy comes from old french 'courteis' is gentle politeness and courtly manners. In the Middle Ages in Europe, the behaviour expected of the gentry was compiled in courtesy books...
, bragging, or patience
Patience
Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the...
.
Though hosted by humans Doug (Doug Momary
Doug Momary
Douglas R. Momary is an American writer, actor, producer, and composer for television and film. Most notably, he was the co-writer and co-creator of the 1970s children's TV show New Zoo Revue, in which he also starred, alongside his wife Emily Peden....
) and Emmy Jo (Emily Peden), who in real life were married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, the show featured its costumed adult-sized puppet characters, primarily Freddie the Frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
(voiced by Joni Robbins), Henrietta Hippo
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
(voiced by Larri Thomas), and Charlie the Owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
(voiced by Bob Holt).
Other characters included Frieda the Frog; Mr. Dingle (played by a costumed Chuck Woolery
Chuck Woolery
Charles Herbert "Chuck" Woolery is an American game show host. He has had long-running tenures hosting several different game shows. He was the original host of Wheel of Fortune from 1975–81, the original incarnation of Love Connection from 1983–94, and Scrabble from 1984–90...
), an elderly postman, store-keeper and Jack-of-All-Trades; and Mrs. Goodbody (played by veteran character actress Fran Ryan
Fran Ryan
Fran Ryan was an American character actress featured in television and films. She was born in Los Angeles, California....
), a nosy neighbor who serves as an advice columnist for The All-New Zoo Gazette.
The show was a recipient of awards and recommendations from the National Education Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
and the National School Board Association.
While the show all but faded away by the early 1980s, repeats of New Zoo Revue became in demand once again in the late 1990s, when the FCC's "E/I
E/I
E/I, which stands for "educational and informative," refers to a type of children's television programming shown in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission requires that every full-service Terrestrial television station in the U.S. show at least three hours of these television...
" rule went into effect.
The show was made infamous by an unreleased "blooper" where Joni Robbins who played Freddie the Frog yelled out "Ah, go f*ck yourself Charlie!". The profanity-laced "blooper" went on from there.
Characters
- Henrietta Hippo is a tutu-wearing, genteel Southern BelleSouthern belleA southern belle is an archetype for a young woman of the American Old South's upper class....
type, who was a bit shy. - Charlie is a serious, know-it-all scientist/inventor owl who lived in a tall tree equipped with an elevator.
- Freddie the Frog is always ready for a good time but was a bit naive. While the same size as the other adult-sized characters, Freddie was characterized (at least in some episodes) as a school-aged child.
- Mr. Dingle, the friendly elderly postman.
- Mrs. Goodbody, the nosy neighbor, occasionally dropped by.
Guest stars
- Composer Henry ManciniHenry ManciniHenry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
, as well as Jim BackusJim BackusJames Gilmore "Jim" Backus was a radio, television, film, and voice actor. Among his most famous roles are the voice of Mr...
of Mr. MagooMr. MagooQuincy Magoo is a cartoon character created at the UPA animation studio in 1949. Voiced by Jim Backus, Quincy Magoo is a wealthy, short-statured retiree who gets into a series of sticky situations as a result of his nearsightedness, compounded by his stubborn refusal to admit the problem...
and Gilligan's IslandGilligan's IslandGilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
fame, made cameos on the show. - Jesse WhiteJesse WhiteJesse White may refer to:*Jesse White , film and television actor*Jesse White , Illinois politician*Jesse J. White, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives*Jesco White, the West Virginia "Dancing Outlaw"...
, best known as the original MaytagMaytagMaytag Corporation is an American home and commercial appliance company, headquartered in Newton, Iowa, that is a division of the Whirlpool Corporation.-Company history:...
repairman in Maytag's TV commercials, guest starred on a few episodes. - June LockhartJune LockhartJune Lockhart is an American actress, primarily in 1950s and 1960s television, but with memorable performances on stage and in film too. She is remembered as the mother in two TV series, Lassie and Lost in Space. She also portrayed Dr...
, best known for her roles on LassieLassie (1954 TV series)Lassie is an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie named Lassie and her companions, human and animal. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax and was televised from September 12, 1954, to March 24, 1973...
, Lost in SpaceLost in SpaceLost in Space is a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968...
and Petticoat JunctionPetticoat JunctionPetticoat Junction is an American situation comedy produced by Filmways which originally aired on CBS from 1963 to 1970. The series is one of three interrelated shows about rural characters created by Paul Henning; the others are The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.The setting for the series...
, guest starred on one episode. - Richard Dawson, host of Family FeudFamily FeudFamily Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
and co-star of The Running ManThe Running ManThe Running Man is a science fiction novel by Stephen King, first published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman in 1982 as a paperback original. It was collected in 1985 in the hardcover omnibus The Bachman Books...
, guest starred in the "Time Travel" episode as a knight from medieval England.