DEVELOPING an easy-sell type of TV Series for the young ones; which as a foundation has precepts of being entertaining yet educational, and has a plus that teaches proper manners, protocol and imparts an old-fashioned sense of right and wrong to its youthful viewers. In other words the work to implant a strong Moral Compass in the still underdeveloped minds of the pre-schoolers is a prime goal of the production team.
THE half-hour format usually revolved around the trouble that was currently a new, strange and insurmountable problem for one of the show's three anthropomorphic humanoid-animal characters. The animal child-like trio, consisting of Henrietta Hippo (Hazel Shermet), Charlie the Owl (Sharon Laird) and Freddie the Frog (Yanco Inone), who apparently served as the show's choreographer; judging by her background of other credits.**
ROUNDING out the regular cast were writer, creator and "your Friend, Doug" (Douglas Momary) and "his Helper, Emmy Jo" (Emily Peden. Woo, woo, woo, woo!). The two were and remain real life Husband & Wife.
WE see that two recurring characters that had recurring roles were portrayed by Jesse White (the original 'Maytag Man') and the ever popular Chuck Woolery, the perennial good-lookin' guy and game-show host.
AS previously mentioned, each installment involved a problem encountered by one of the three animal friends, followed by the eventual solution and understanding being achieved with the parentally wise and loving help of Doug & Helper Emmy Jo (Woo, woo, woo, woo, again!).
USUALLY the story of the problem and solution was told by the way of song & dance numbers. The dances were used were most basic and simple in nature and (at least to this writer) the songs were pretty much the same as the next. This was not necessarily a bad thing, for it surely made it easier on the uptake for the pre-schooler audience that they were playing to.
PLEASE, don't think that we are being too critical or harsh on Mr. Douglas Momary & his Helper, Miss Emily Peden (Woo, woo, woo, woo-for the last time, honest!). The NEW ZOO REVIEW was a favourite in our house hold; especially when Daddy was always vigilant in reminding the kids that it was coming on the TV; but not over Channel 11, WTTW, which is our PBS Affiliate here in Chicago.*** And that, Schultz, reminds us of another great attribute that NEW ZOO REVUE possessed.
PRODUCING and getting the series on the air was done by Mr. Momary's own company, without the funds that are provided by such sources as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, nor from any contributors to local Public Broadcasting Stations, like you.****
OBVIOUSLY being an old-line, free enterprise entrepreneur; Doug and Emmy Jo (Woo, ) did it the old-fashioned way, they earned it! OUR hats off to you Douglas & Emmy Jo (Woo, .); for the rewards you reaped must surely extend even to this day; as NEW ZOO REVUE continues not only in local station re-runs, but also in video (VHS and DVD)!
NOTE: * Although the series was produced long before our age of Super-Political Correctness, this business of being MCP's was already very much with us! (That's 'Male Chauvinist Pig', Schultz!)
NOTE ** No Schultz, that's not John Lennon's 2nd wife. That's Yoko Ono.
NOTE *** Any fairness (be it in a 'Fairness Doctrine' or not) would require us to inform you the reader that Chicago has not one, but two (that's 2,count 'em folks), PBS affiliated stations. The other is WYCC, Channel 20, which is a service of the City Colleges of Chicago.
NOTE **** If it seems that we are down on the practice of funding PBS, National Public Radio (NPR for short) or any otherwise traditionally self supporting, free enterprise exponents. For example, a highly successful PBS show of long tenure is SESAME STREET: which has racked up untold million$ in royalties from Toys, Games and ventures such as SESAME STREET ON ICE and a multitude of licensed toys & stuff. And yet, they continue to receive underwriting from YOUR Tax Dollar$. Why?
POODLE SCHNITZ!!
THE half-hour format usually revolved around the trouble that was currently a new, strange and insurmountable problem for one of the show's three anthropomorphic humanoid-animal characters. The animal child-like trio, consisting of Henrietta Hippo (Hazel Shermet), Charlie the Owl (Sharon Laird) and Freddie the Frog (Yanco Inone), who apparently served as the show's choreographer; judging by her background of other credits.**
ROUNDING out the regular cast were writer, creator and "your Friend, Doug" (Douglas Momary) and "his Helper, Emmy Jo" (Emily Peden. Woo, woo, woo, woo!). The two were and remain real life Husband & Wife.
WE see that two recurring characters that had recurring roles were portrayed by Jesse White (the original 'Maytag Man') and the ever popular Chuck Woolery, the perennial good-lookin' guy and game-show host.
AS previously mentioned, each installment involved a problem encountered by one of the three animal friends, followed by the eventual solution and understanding being achieved with the parentally wise and loving help of Doug & Helper Emmy Jo (Woo, woo, woo, woo, again!).
USUALLY the story of the problem and solution was told by the way of song & dance numbers. The dances were used were most basic and simple in nature and (at least to this writer) the songs were pretty much the same as the next. This was not necessarily a bad thing, for it surely made it easier on the uptake for the pre-schooler audience that they were playing to.
PLEASE, don't think that we are being too critical or harsh on Mr. Douglas Momary & his Helper, Miss Emily Peden (Woo, woo, woo, woo-for the last time, honest!). The NEW ZOO REVIEW was a favourite in our house hold; especially when Daddy was always vigilant in reminding the kids that it was coming on the TV; but not over Channel 11, WTTW, which is our PBS Affiliate here in Chicago.*** And that, Schultz, reminds us of another great attribute that NEW ZOO REVUE possessed.
PRODUCING and getting the series on the air was done by Mr. Momary's own company, without the funds that are provided by such sources as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, nor from any contributors to local Public Broadcasting Stations, like you.****
OBVIOUSLY being an old-line, free enterprise entrepreneur; Doug and Emmy Jo (Woo, ) did it the old-fashioned way, they earned it! OUR hats off to you Douglas & Emmy Jo (Woo, .); for the rewards you reaped must surely extend even to this day; as NEW ZOO REVUE continues not only in local station re-runs, but also in video (VHS and DVD)!
NOTE: * Although the series was produced long before our age of Super-Political Correctness, this business of being MCP's was already very much with us! (That's 'Male Chauvinist Pig', Schultz!)
NOTE ** No Schultz, that's not John Lennon's 2nd wife. That's Yoko Ono.
NOTE *** Any fairness (be it in a 'Fairness Doctrine' or not) would require us to inform you the reader that Chicago has not one, but two (that's 2,count 'em folks), PBS affiliated stations. The other is WYCC, Channel 20, which is a service of the City Colleges of Chicago.
NOTE **** If it seems that we are down on the practice of funding PBS, National Public Radio (NPR for short) or any otherwise traditionally self supporting, free enterprise exponents. For example, a highly successful PBS show of long tenure is SESAME STREET: which has racked up untold million$ in royalties from Toys, Games and ventures such as SESAME STREET ON ICE and a multitude of licensed toys & stuff. And yet, they continue to receive underwriting from YOUR Tax Dollar$. Why?
POODLE SCHNITZ!!