Teletubbies makes play for diversity

By DONNA PETROZZELLO NY DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Creature feature: The Teletubbies

'Teletubbies,' the occasionally maligned though very popular children's series about four alien-like creatures with TV screens in their bellies, will return in January with segments pushing diversity. The new twist will be a series of 10-minute segments, titled 'Teletubbies Everywhere,' at the start of 'Teletubbies' episodes that air during the weekday afternoon PBS Kids block.

The new segment has 'Teletubbies' characters Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po using shapes and numbers, but also will include short, live-action films that feature children from various countries playing in their hometowns.

Many of the films have an educational message, while others are meant to illustrate playtime in other cultures, said David Levine, vice president of producer Ragdoll Limited.

'We want to give the audience something new, but also maintain the strengths of the 'Teletubbies' characters,' Levine said. 'This is a way to show viewers at a young age children who are different from them. Ideally, seeing children who are different will become part of their everyday life.'

'Teletubbies' was launched in 1997 and was a hit with children, but became a punch line for comics after a magazine published by the Rev. Jerry Falwell suggested that Tinky Winky was gay.

In addition to the new short segments, Ragdoll will provide episodes of 'Teletubbies' to PBS stations next year that haven't yet aired in the U.S.

The move to add an element to 'Teletubbies' in the U.S. comes shortly after crews tore down the show's original studios in England. Editions of 'Teletubbies Everywhere' are being taped at new studios in the U.K.

In other moves, Ragdoll will introduce its series 'Brum,' starring an animated car, on The Learning Channel and Discovery Kids next year, and has sold the rights to 40 episodes of its short-film series, 'Open a Door,' about children around the world, to Nickelodeon.

AGC FAQ and FUN STUFF http://www.dreamwater.net/agc/mainpages/agcfaq.html BLIND ITEM REHASH:

What's the big deal? The little films of children at play have always included a wide range of races and nationalities doing a wide range of activities.