Tuesday, January 27, 2009

CURRENT CROP OF TV KIDSHOW "CLOWNS"

I grew up watching the 1970s revivals (or repeats) of 1950s and 60s TV clowns like Bozo, Clarabelle (from The Howdy Doody Show), the Town Clown (on Captain Kangaroo) and Soupy Sales.

Here in New Jersey we also got Floyd Vivino and pals on WWHT Channel 68's The Uncle Floyd Show.

Now, in addition to DVD box sets of Pee-Wee's Playhouse and The Weird Al Show, my six year old gets to enjoy...



The best known and most popular of all contemporary children's television clowns, Sesame Street's "Mr. Noodle" played by Bill Irwin (and assisted by Mr. Noodle's brother, Mr. Noodle (Michael Jeter) , Mr. Noodle's sister, Ms. Noodle (Kristen Chenoweth) and another Noodle family member that I haven't yet seen) on PBS...


and The Big Comfy Couch's Loonette (originally played by Alyson Court, now by Ramona Gilmour-Darling) and all of her Clowntown friends, also on PBS...



the silent physical and visual slapstick comedy of the town's inhabitants on Discovery Kids' Brum...


the Disney Channel's Bunnytown features the Laurel & Hardy-like silent comedy team of Red and Fred...


Shane and David (The Umbilical Brothers) of Noggin's The Upside Down Show...





and Brian Stepanek of the Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, now featured in his own Mr. Bean-like series, Brian O'Brian...



So, if you've got pre-schoolers or kindergardeners at home, set your TiVOs!


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat,
Thought you might like to know that in the Brum picture the robber on the right is in fact Martyn Crosswell AKA Spanners the Clown from England. He's also an exeptional whiteface clown of the european kind who appeared at one time with The Konyots.

Jay N. said...

are there any pictures of the town clown from captain kangaroo I grew up watching him in the seventies and I remember that clown I believe he was an auguste who lived in a wagon