Boohbah
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| Boohbah | |
|---|---|
| Format | Children's television series |
| Created by | Anne Wood |
| Developed by | Ragdoll Productions for Cole Entertainment |
| Starring | Emma Ainsley Alex Poulter Cal Jaggers Phil Hayes Laura Pero |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 104 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original run | April 14, 2003 – present |
Boohbah is a 2003 children's television programme produced by Ragdoll Productions. It was made for children between three and six years old. It premiered in April 2003 on ITV in the United Kingdom, and on 19 January 2004 in the United States on PBS, made by Anne Wood with scripts by Alan Dapre and Robin Stevens. Anne Wood also made the children's show Teletubbies. This show and Teletubbies are remarkably similar (For example, both have a"science fiction" theme). The website says, "The design of the show - visually and otherwise, draws upon early concepts in science, maths and art and combines these with ‘televisual magic’ to create a uniquely funny television experience." One of the show's trademarks is a child's voice pronouncing the show's name in sing-song (BOOH.....BAH).
There are 104 twenty-five minute episodes. The show can be seen in the USA on PBS Kids in HD. Boohbah is also shown in the Netherlands on Nick Jr.. "Boohbah" means "doll" in Hebrew, but it's not known if this influenced the name of the show, or even if the creators are aware of this.
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[change] Characters and features
[change] The Boohbahs
The Boohbahs are five furry, gumdrop-shaped creatures played by actors in full body costumes. Their thick, shimmery fur sparkles with tiny lights; their Kewpie doll style heads are hairless and feature big eyes with rows of lights for eyebrows. The official website (www.boohbah.com) describes them as "five magical atoms of power." They do not speak, but instead make noises like squeaks, squeals, and clicks. The Boohbahs can retract their heads into their furry necks. Each Boohbah is a different color. They are:
- Humbah (Yellow) - Emma Ainsley
- Zumbah (Purple) - Alex Poulter
- Zing Zing Zingbah (Orange) - Cal Jaggers
- Jumbah (Blue) - Phil Hayes
- Jingbah (Pink) - Laura Pero
[change] The Storypeople
The Storypeople are a diverse group of familial characters who inhabit Storyland and there participate in various innocent vignettes inspired by the presents (see below). They exist as wholesome archetypes. They are:
- Grandmamma (Linda Kerr-Scott) – An elderly yet spry woman. She has white hair and wears a dark pink housedress, white sweater, white socks, and red sneakers.
- Grandpappa (Robin Stevens) – An elderly yet spry Caucasian man. He has white hair and a white moustache; he wears a long-sleeved yellow shirt, dark gray slacks, red suspenders (UK: braces), and white sneakers.
- Mrs. Lady (Harvey Virdi) – A heavyset Indian woman. She has dark hair and wears a loose light blue blouse, loose bright pink pants, and pink sneakers.
- Mr. Man (Mark Ramsey) – A husky African man. He is bald and wears a short-sleeved bright pink shirt, white trousers, and black trainers.
- Brother (Manuel Bravo) and Sister (Vee Vimolmal) – Always paired, they both appear to be in their late teens. Brother: A Latino boy with short dark hair; he wears a bright blue t-shirt, bright red knee-length shorts, and white trainers with pink laces. Sister: An Asian (Thai) girl with hip-length black hair in a long ponytail; she wears a bright red t-shirt, bright blue capri pants, and white trainers with pink laces.
- Auntie (Sachi Kimura) – An Asian (Japanese) woman. She has short black hair and wears a long-sleeved lavender blouse, black trousers, lavender socks, and black shoes.
- Little Dog Fido (Dash) – A Jack Russell Terrier. He wears a scarlet collar.
They do not speak. (When Little Dog Fido appears, he gives an "arf!") Though they sometimes exhibit frustration or confusion, the Storypeople rarely, if ever, appear upset or sad. The Storyland segments are narrated by actor Chris Langham. In each episode the Storypeople magically receive an object sent to them by a child or group of children.
[change] The Boohball
One of the common features in Boohbah is the Boohball. The Boohball, a glowing white ball, is where the Boohbahs live, and it appears out of nowhere in various parts of the show. It travels from country to country when it is called by children. Inside the Boohball is a spinning recharging pod, where the Boohbahs recharge energy. It resembles five deep spoons with the handles linked, or, alternately, the hammocks resemble five fig halves. The energy is created by the laughter of the children when playing with the Boohbahs, the Boohball, and the Storypeople.
