Hey, It’s Photo Friday!

I think it’s safe to say if most people were pressed to name a PBS show that SESAME STREET would quickly come up. The long-running PBS kids series is firmly immersed in American pop culture for a reason. I know that’s the show that got me hooked on public broadcasting at a young age. So with that sort of popularity, merchandising for the hit educational program is a given. Here are a few Gund plush toys of characters from SESAME STREET. They’re small, about the size of a Koosh ball or Hackey Sack. I ran across a few a while back and the decorate one of the shelves in my office.

Sounds Familiar

“I do not catch scumbags, I study them.” – Jasper Tempest (Ben Miller), PROFESSOR T

Wednesday Trivia Question

In what country was Nicholas Ralph born?

Since ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL returns for its fourth season next month, I thought I’d ask a trivia question about the beloved series. So let’s look to star Nicholas Ralph, who plays James Herriot. I’ll admit to being skeptical of the actor being able to pull off the role since Christopher Timothy from the original series was so entrenched in my mind as the character. But I think I was hooked from that first episode. It’s a different take, almost a modern interpretation, but the heart and soul are still very much there. Of course, anyone adapting Herriot’s books would be a fool to not bring that element into it.

So Nicholas Ralph is an interesting actor to star in a hit show. It was his first on screen role since he’d started in theatre so the BBC were obviously taking a chance on an unknown. Good gamble, as it happens. He was raised in the Scottish highland town of Nairn and studied drama at Inverness College and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. However, Nicholas Ralph was not born in Scotland.

The country of his origin is not in the United Kingdom so we’re talking some place off the island of Great Britain. And no – it’s not Ireland, in case that’s where you’re thinking. The nation of Ralph’s birth is a former British Colony, which I admit doesn’t exactly narrow it down. So I’ll add the hint of it not being European. And assuming the actor wasn’t born at McMurdo Station (he wasn’t), that leaves only five continents.

So what country was it? In what nation was ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL actor Nicholas Ralph born?

Deep Dive: Just Watch Us Now

For many years, PBS would roll out an annual image campaign member stations could use to promote their programs and help brand their stations in the minds of viewers. These image packages were heavily produced and often unveiled PBS’ latest slogan. Flashback to 1990 when this little ditty graced our TV screens. It was “Just Watch Us Now!” and – let me be honest – I still find it catchy…

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

The midwives of Nonnatus House are back for a Christmas Day tradition. Don’t miss the CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL – tonight at 8 on PBS NC.

Ken Burns (American Buffalo) talks about the “complicated narrative” of his upcoming Revolutionary War project.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of African American religion beginning on THE BLACK CHURCH – Thursday at 7pm on the Explorer Channel.

Hey, It’s Photo Friday!

A quick shot of PBS NC long past. Back in the days were we were just WUNC, Channel 4 out of Chapel Hill, that’s how far back. I saw this picture on a wall in one of our production rooms and thought how much it looked like something I might have come across in the archives I inherited some years ago. So I share.

What’s the production seen in the photo? No idea. As I’ve said before, there’s no catalogue of all the shows we’ve aired or produced in the decades since our 1955 sign-on, which is sad, so I have no idea who’s pictured. Anyone who does has long retired or passed.

Sounds Familiar

“So all I have to do is wish?” “As far as I know; the training for this stupid job is practically nonexistent.” – Bernard Bottle (Alan Cumming) to Josephus (Lenny Henry), BERNARD AND THE GENIE

Wednesday Trivia Question

Who were Shari Lewis’ special dinner guests on the 1995 special LAMB CHOP’S SPECIAL CHANUKAH?

First off, I realize Hanukkah ended a few days ago but trivia is evergreen so the question still works. (And yes, I understand the various spellings but aside from the program’s title I use Hanukkah because it doesn’t set off my spell check.) That being said, you remember Lamb Chop, right? She was the feisty sock puppet anthropomorphic sheep partnered with puppeteer and ventriloquist Shari Lewis. Lewis had her own musical comedy show in the 1960s and was often seen with Lamb Chop and her assorted sock puppet pals on variety shows and game shows over several decades. In the 1990s, PBS launched LAMB CHOP’S PLAY-ALONG, an Emmy Award-winning kids show. The show spawned a spin-off (THE CHARLIE HORSE MUSIC PIZZA) and a few specials, including LAMB CHOP’S SPECIAL CHANUKAH.

The premise was simple: Shari was preparing a Hanukkah dinner for Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy. She ran into three show business friends at the market and invited them to the meal. Each was a real actor, playing himself. Each was known for various roles in film and television and each now has passed away. Sadly, Shari Lewis died in 1998 (her daughter Mallory continues her legacy, performing with Lamb Chop).

So who were they? Who were the human (non-puppet) guests Shari Lewis invited to dinner on the 1995 special LAMB CHOP’S SPECIAL CHANUKAH?

12 Days Of Christmas Cookies

‘Tis the season to beat holiday classics to death. I mean, seriously – who hasn‘t done their own version of the 12 Days Of Christmas by this point? But since this is SESAME STREET and Cookie Monster it gets a pass. So enjoy Sid and his ode to the 12 Days Of Christmas Cookies…

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

Celebrate Christmas in Scotland as Mary Berry spends a winter break soaking up her Scottish heritage and enjoying traditional festive delights. Don’t miss MARY BERRY’S HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS – tonight at 9 on PBS NC.

Dame Judi Dench (As Time Goes By) was feted at the Royal Albert Hall in a special holiday celebration featuring Eddie Izzard, Boy George and Ginger Spice.

At a time of heightened partisanship, discover how people across the country view the challenges before us and what can be done to surmount them. Explore AMERICA AT A CROSSROADS WITH JUDY WOODRUFF – Tuesday at 9pm on PBS NC.