Polka Dot Shorts
Encyclopedia
Polka Dot Shorts is a children's television show from TVOntario
in Canada
, but which has been broadcast around the world. It was created, produced and story edited by Jed MacKay, creator of TVO's successful show Join In!
, and veteran children's TV writer/producer/composer. Approximately 180 episodes were produced from 1993-2001, all of which were produced by MacKay and directed by Michael McNamara. The series won a Gemini Award
from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television in 2000 for Best Pre-School Program or Series.
The show is based on the earlier Polka Dot Door
, and stars that show's characters Polkaroo, Humpty, Dumpty, Marigold and Bear in their own world. The characters are portrayed by "physical theater" actors in large costumes; Marigold's performer, for example, had a ballet and circus background. The actors' ability to convey a wide range of emotion with neither moving mouths or eyes was seen as truly awe-inspiring. Charles Schott ("Bear") was a Gemini Awards Finalist for Best Performer in a Pre-School Series, in 2002.
Originally, each episode started with a human host (Deborah Drakeford) who would introduce each episode to a gathering of children as she was about to read the story from a book. The stories themselves were dramatized by actors in large suits, playing the puppets from Polka Dot Door, while the reader provided the dialogue. A new character was added to the Polka Dot Door family - Polkaroo's pet, named Bibble. Although Bibble was only capable of making sounds that loosely resemble "bibblebibblebibble", he was able to bibble in various tones which indicated his mood.
At one point in every episode, one or more of the characters would discover a large pair of polka dot
shorts, and exclaim, "A great big pair of polka dot shorts! How did they get there?" Polkaroo's usual response would be, "I haven't the foggiest!"
Another special feature of the show was that some episodes were done entirely in rhyme, in which case the character who found the polka dot shorts would exclaim, "Polka dot shorts, a great big pair! How on earth did they get there?"
After the first two seasons the shows were re-edited. The human hostess/storyteller was cut, and the show's action started immediately.
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but which has been broadcast around the world. It was created, produced and story edited by Jed MacKay, creator of TVO's successful show Join In!
Join In!
Join In! was a Canadian educational children's television show which aired on TVOntario between 1989 and 1995. It was created and produced by Jed MacKay, who also wrote all of the show's original songs. The first two seasons were directed by Doug Williams. The next four seasons were directed by...
, and veteran children's TV writer/producer/composer. Approximately 180 episodes were produced from 1993-2001, all of which were produced by MacKay and directed by Michael McNamara. The series won a Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television in 2000 for Best Pre-School Program or Series.
The show is based on the earlier Polka Dot Door
Polka Dot Door
Polka Dot Door was a long-running children's television series produced and broadcast by TVOntario from 1971 until 1993. The show, which aired Monday to Friday, was set in a large playhouse...
, and stars that show's characters Polkaroo, Humpty, Dumpty, Marigold and Bear in their own world. The characters are portrayed by "physical theater" actors in large costumes; Marigold's performer, for example, had a ballet and circus background. The actors' ability to convey a wide range of emotion with neither moving mouths or eyes was seen as truly awe-inspiring. Charles Schott ("Bear") was a Gemini Awards Finalist for Best Performer in a Pre-School Series, in 2002.
Originally, each episode started with a human host (Deborah Drakeford) who would introduce each episode to a gathering of children as she was about to read the story from a book. The stories themselves were dramatized by actors in large suits, playing the puppets from Polka Dot Door, while the reader provided the dialogue. A new character was added to the Polka Dot Door family - Polkaroo's pet, named Bibble. Although Bibble was only capable of making sounds that loosely resemble "bibblebibblebibble", he was able to bibble in various tones which indicated his mood.
At one point in every episode, one or more of the characters would discover a large pair of polka dot
Polka dot
Polka dot is a pattern consisting of an array of filled circles, generally equally sized and spaced relatively closely in relation to their diameters. Polka dots are most commonly seen on children's clothing, toys, and furniture, but they appear in a wide array of contexts...
shorts, and exclaim, "A great big pair of polka dot shorts! How did they get there?" Polkaroo's usual response would be, "I haven't the foggiest!"
Another special feature of the show was that some episodes were done entirely in rhyme, in which case the character who found the polka dot shorts would exclaim, "Polka dot shorts, a great big pair! How on earth did they get there?"
After the first two seasons the shows were re-edited. The human hostess/storyteller was cut, and the show's action started immediately.