Thingee
Encyclopedia
Thingee is a puppet which was used as an unofficial ambassador and icon for New Zealand
children’s television during the 1990’s, appearing in multiple television shows such as The Son of a Gunn Show
, and also children's programme, What Now
. He appeared on T-Shirts, dolls, puzzles and advertising all over New Zealand.
and George, he was generally shown from the shoulders up, with one arm.
in 1987. Viewers first saw what was believed to be perhaps the egg of a dragon, Thingee existed in egg form for several weeks on the show until he hatched. Thingee first teamed up with Jason Gunn in 1988 when Jason took over as host for After School. Jason and Thingee continued working together in 1989 on After 2.
From 1992 on he co-hosted Jason Gunn
vehicles and The Son of a Gunn Show
. They later starred in the straight to video film Jason and Thingee’s Big Adventure. Thingee also appeared in celebrity editions of Wheel of Fortune and Face the Music
in 1992.
From 1996 he was a host on the Sunday morning television show What Now
, where it was revealed that the character was an alien and eventually Thingee made contact with his people and made the decision to return home to his own planet. As a result, the character was retired from New Zealand Television.
2007 - Thingee came back to TV on the TVNZ lifestyle show "Good Morning".
2008 - A further appearance on "Good Morning", due to the TVNZ Goodnight Kiwi
returning to the airwaves.
2010 - Thingee appeared once again on "Good Morning" in celebration of the 50th anniversary of TVNZ.
2010 - in a dream on the show "wanna ben"
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
children’s television during the 1990’s, appearing in multiple television shows such as The Son of a Gunn Show
The Son of a Gunn Show
The Son of a Gunn Show was a long-running New Zealand after-school, children's television show, hosted by Jason Gunn, that aired on TVNZ from 1992, to the final episode in 1995....
, and also children's programme, What Now
What Now
What Now is a long running New Zealand children's television program that premiered in 1981. It is filmed before a live studio audience at Whitebait Productions in Christchurch....
. He appeared on T-Shirts, dolls, puzzles and advertising all over New Zealand.
Appearance
Thingee was usually presented as a grey humanoid thing with large bulbous eyes, a large toothless snout and a domed head. In a similar manner to the Rainbow characters ZippyZippy
Zippy may refer to:*Zippy , the name of the mascot for the University of Akron Zips*Zippy Race, a motorbike-driving arcade game*Zippy , a character in Rainbow, a British pre-school children's television series...
and George, he was generally shown from the shoulders up, with one arm.
Character history
Thingee first appeared on After SchoolAfter School
After School may refer to:* After-school activity, special activities that are done at the school after the day is over* After school special, a type of television program-Films:* After School , a 2003 Singaporean film...
in 1987. Viewers first saw what was believed to be perhaps the egg of a dragon, Thingee existed in egg form for several weeks on the show until he hatched. Thingee first teamed up with Jason Gunn in 1988 when Jason took over as host for After School. Jason and Thingee continued working together in 1989 on After 2.
From 1992 on he co-hosted Jason Gunn
Jason Gunn
Jason Gunn is a New Zealand television personality. He is now best known as the main host of the hit New Zealand entertainment television show, Dancing with the Stars, Wheel of Fortune, and The Rich List.- Early career :...
vehicles and The Son of a Gunn Show
The Son of a Gunn Show
The Son of a Gunn Show was a long-running New Zealand after-school, children's television show, hosted by Jason Gunn, that aired on TVNZ from 1992, to the final episode in 1995....
. They later starred in the straight to video film Jason and Thingee’s Big Adventure. Thingee also appeared in celebrity editions of Wheel of Fortune and Face the Music
Face The Music (game show)
Face the Music was an American television game show that aired in syndication from January 14, 1980 to September 1981. The show tested contestants' knowledge of popular music songs, and association of song titles with famous people, places and things....
in 1992.
From 1996 he was a host on the Sunday morning television show What Now
What Now
What Now is a long running New Zealand children's television program that premiered in 1981. It is filmed before a live studio audience at Whitebait Productions in Christchurch....
, where it was revealed that the character was an alien and eventually Thingee made contact with his people and made the decision to return home to his own planet. As a result, the character was retired from New Zealand Television.
Appearances after retirement
2001 - Thingee helped co-host the What Now 20th birthday Party.2007 - Thingee came back to TV on the TVNZ lifestyle show "Good Morning".
2008 - A further appearance on "Good Morning", due to the TVNZ Goodnight Kiwi
Goodnight Kiwi
The Goodnight Kiwi, later also called TV Kiwi, is a character in an animated short which has been used to signal the end of nightly broadcasts on Television New Zealand channels. The animation was introduced in 1975 on TV2, and used on South Pacific Television between 1976 and 1980. Between 1980...
returning to the airwaves.
2010 - Thingee appeared once again on "Good Morning" in celebration of the 50th anniversary of TVNZ.
2010 - in a dream on the show "wanna ben"
Appearances in Popular Culture
Thingee’s eye famously popped out on a live broadcast of Son Of A Gunn, and this has become an iconic Kiwi pop element, gaining enough notoriety to appear in the opening credits of each episode of the show Eating Media LunchEating Media Lunch
Eating Media Lunch was a satirical New Zealand news show hosted by Jeremy Wells. It aired on TV 2 and online on from 2003 to 2008. The show was frequently controversial during its run.- Notable episodes :...
.