‘Alma’s Way’ comes to PBS

Posted on September 21, 2021March 14, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

When you first hear there is a show about Puerto Ricans living in the Bronx, you might think about the Jets and the Sharks from West Side Story. Well, if you think this new PBS Kids show is anything like the atmosphere in that film, you are way off. While the central character, Alma, is Puerto Rican, her Latin heritage does comes into play (like the Alaskan heritage does in Molly of Denali) however the main focus is on learning to solve problems.

As Linda Simensky, Head of Content at PBS Kids, said, “In each story, Alma uses ‘Think-Through’ moments to stop, listen and process in the face of a tough decision and reflects and takes action while demonstrating social awareness.” Simensky added, “We hope this inspires kids to find their own answers to problems, express what they think and feel, and recognize and respect the unique perspective of others.”

Although Alma is the central character, there is a diverse cast that plays and solves problems along with her. They are made up of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

Alma’s Way is the brainchild of Sonia Manzano who based it on her own childhood growing up in the Bronx in a Puerto Rican family. Although she has Puerto Rican heritage, Manzano considers herself first a New Yorker and wanted to show the diverse borough of the Bronx in a way that entices love and understanding among neighbors. “I was always walking that bicultural tightrope that is America, that is the Bronx.”

“All of the characters on the show are based on my real relatives,” Manzano explained, “and I had a cousin Eddie …” Her cousin had polio however she adjusted that in this show. “So our character on the show has cerebral palsy, …”

The Executive Producer, Ellen Doherty, explained that they worked with doctors from Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh to advise them on this character. According to one doctor, who was consulted about the Eddie Mambo character, “If he’s walking a short distance or around the house, he might not need his crutches, but for a longer distance he would need his crutches. So it is really a choice based on what kids would do.” In that they are able to accurately portray this sweet little boy.

Summer Rose Castillo, who voices Alma, claimed, “I’m a lot like Alma because she’s a little girl and she’s from the Bronx. She’s Puerto Rican, and I’m Puerto Rican. And she loves to explore her world, and I do too. I love to go hiking with my family, and I also like to figure stuff out as well.” When asked what she learned from being part of the show, she quickly replied, “So what I have learned from doing the show is that I could believe in myself, trust in myself and never be afraid to dream big.” And that, in a nutshell, is the goal of Alma’s Way.

Alma’s Way is geared for ages 4-6 and premieres on PBS Kids October 4. Thinking for themselves is what the show aims to impart on kids, and that is a lesson worth learning.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Donkey Hodie’ comes to PBS Kids

Posted on May 2, 2021March 14, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

The new preschool show Donkey Hodie is absolutely adorable and will definitely be a popular series for kids, between 3-5. This Donkey Hodie is the granddaughter of Donkey Hodie from the original Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

This show is done with puppets rather than pure animation, which is the format in which Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is produced. This presented a little difficulty for the show due to the Covid restrictions, which is why it was postponed a little, however it is now showing on PBS Kids with all the fun and flavor of the adorable characters.

I had a chance to talk with some of the members of the team. When I enquired about making this a puppet show rather than an animated one, Haley Jenkins who is the puppeteer for Donkey Hodie, responded, “I’m so happy that the show is done with puppets, of course, because I love puppeteering. But, also, if you think about what are all of the children’s shows or characters that you really feel nostalgic for, when you really come down to it, so many of them are puppets.” She also said that puppets are more accessible to kids than an animated 2D character. “Because as a viewer, you realize that that character actually exists. It’s real. It’s not an animated character that you can’t actually hug in real life. Somebody could meet, potentially, Purple Panda or Donkey or Bob Dog. Pet Bob Dog on the head. Like that’s a real thing, and kids really relate to that.”

Adam Rudman, series executive, producer, director, writer, and puppeteer added, “Then you’ve got a real world, too. You have a real world that these characters live in that’s all hand—made. Everything — you can see the texture, you can see the fabrics that go into it. Not only can you hug the characters, but you also feel like you could go to someplace else. You could go to this world.” That is definitely something that differs from animated locations. This is why the creators went with this format, and its something kids will favorably respond to.

So, will there be an online presence so kids and their parents can continue to learn and enjoy the characters after watching the show? Chief Creative Officer of Fred Rogers Productions and series executive Ellen Doherty said there will definitely be more to do and explore with the characters.

“There will be a gorgeous website which features the puppets and has — it’s going to have a bunch of games. It’s going to have activities and video, of course.”

We all know that merchandising is a big part of today’s world. When I asked about plush characters for kids to hug and play with, Doherty told me there would be that aspect of merchandising along with other things. Parents, get out your wallets because your kids will undoubtedly ask for these characters. They are so adorable, even I would like one.

Donkey Hodie now airs on PBS Kids.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘Arthur’ turns 20

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

The beloved character and star of the PBS series Arthur is turning 20 this month. The little aardvark has been a popular character on TV for two decades and in his animated series continues to bring in new fans for his aardvark antics.

The series began in 1996 and has been broadcast in over 80 countries bringing in 7 million viewers each month. With 7 Emmys, a big presence on Facebook (1 million followers), and ranked as one of the “50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time,” Arthur has a loyal fan base that now encompasses several generations of viewers who have stuck with the little guy year after year and introduced him to their own children.

With the books based on Arthur’s adventures by Marc Brown, Arthur and his friends help kids with problem solving and issues that are part of their lives. “I could never have dreamed, 20 years ago, the wonderful adventure I was about to have with Arthur,” said Marc Brown, creator of Arthur, “It’s been so much fun working with the many talented, smart people who make Arthur happen. I think what’s most rewarding for all of us is using the medium of television to try and make children successful.”

Besides the books and the long-running TV show, PBS has created an Arthur App which contains several games, each focusing on different skills and fun. With over 15 levels, there is always something new and exciting to keep kids occupied as well as help them develop teamwork skills.

“PBS is committed to using the power of digital media to educate and inspire,” said Ira Rubenstein, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Digital, PBS. “As part of fulfilling this mission, PBS offers more than 40 apps for kids and parents. With engaging games and popular ARTHUR characters, Arthur’s Big App leverages the educational potential of touchscreen technology to help children develop the teamwork and collaboration skills that will prepare them for success in school and in life.”

“Arthur has reached generations of fans through engaging characters and compelling storytelling,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “Arthur embodies PBS Kids’ commitment to help children learn important social-emotional skills, such as managing their emotions, building friendships and developing self-esteem.”

The new season of Arthur premiers October 10, 2016. Join Arthur and all the characters (Buster, Francine, D.W., Alan, Muffy, Binky, Kate, Sue Ellen, George, Fern, Emil, and the rest of the loveable little guys) for new fun and adventures. Even Buster has a podcast, which adds to the relevancy to this day and age. Helping kids deal with issues, problems, and acquire skills to focus on life and goals is what Arthur is all about.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

‘Ready Jet Go!’ Premiers on PBS Kids

Posted on February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

Ready Jet Go! is the newest series for 3-8 year-olds on PBS Kids. This animated show revolves around a group of neighborhood kids who have all kinds of adventures, thanks to the new kid on the block, Jet Propulsion. Jet is an alien from the planet Bortron 7, and he and his parents introduce the earth kids to some out-of-this-world exploits while the local kids teach their new neighbors about life on Earth. The Propulsion’s pet is a combination
cat/dog/raccoon/kangaroo/ rabbit named Sunspot who joins in the adventures.

Every episode includes some interesting question about space, like why isn’t Pluto still considered a planet? Each episode has two 11-minute animated stories as well as a live-action interstitial that educates viewers about various things like the Space Shuttle. Dr. Amy Mainzer, an astronomer with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, hosts these little interstitials.

Dr. Mainzer is excited about being part of this program and sparking kids’ interest in space and space exploration. Her own interest began when she was 6 and she has followed the stars ever since.

The show focuses on teamwork, and as Dr. Mainzer explained to the media, “Science is about teamwork. Science, there’s a kind of a misconception that it’s a lone scientist alone in a dark laboratory with a lab coat and big glasses and all that, and nothing could be further from the truth in my experience.”

Dr. Mainzer said, “Basically, you’re working with a big group of people that try to solve some really complicated problems, and you’re joking around and you’re laughing. And the sense of humor is what allows you to survive the tough times, right? So that’s, I think, one of the things we want to convey through the show, is that science is about teamwork, cooperation, working together, trying to solve hard things. And if you do that, you can actually find solutions to some really difficult problems.”

When she was a kid, Dr. Mainzer researched on her own and admitted, “This is the show that I would have wanted to have when I was a kid. This was the show I was looking for but couldn’t find. And it was really lucky that I had a very supportive mom. As I like to say, my mom knows probably more about liquid helium than a lot of physics graduate students do, because she was a great listener. And it just goes to show, you don’t have to have parents and family who are in the sciences, who are in engineering, to produce somebody who goes on to become a STEM professional science, technology, engineering, and math.”

Jet is a hero to earthlings Sean, who is really into science, and Sydney, who is into science fiction. And another earth girl is little Mindy, a 4-year-old who isn’t allowed to go farther than the neighbor’s backyard, so she has to stay on Earth when the others take off in the flying saucer. But she’s OK with that. However she might be in for some out-of-this-world adventures in the second season. (A little tidbit from the producer.)

And yes, while the kids work together they have fun too, and there are plenty of great songs in the show as well. Plus, each episode has a curriculum like the sun is at the center of our solar system, failure is not he opposite of success but is a stepping stone to success, there are different kinds of stars, etc.

Ready Jet Go! premiers Monday, February 15, 2016 on PBS. Blast off with this new series filled with fun characters and interesting facts. This is something parents will enjoy watching with their kids – and might learn something too!

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