`Wishbone,” the series that stars the pooch with a penchant for prose, returns for a second season with eight new episodes that introduce kids to the great classics of world literature. Word is out, however, that creator Rick Duffield and dog trainer Jackie Kaptan have given Wishbone more `paws on’ scenes this season.
“I began wanting to invent a show for families that showed a dog’s point of view,” says Duffield in a telephone interview from his office at Big Feats! Entertainment in Richardson, Texas. “I have always had dogs, and I found it entertaining to look at my dog and imagine what he would say about what’s going on.
“Dogs seem so expressive. I feel like they should be saying something, so I enjoy putting words into a dog’s mouth–it’s low-tech family entertainment.”
“Wishbone” is based on an odd concept–a talking Jack Russell terrier whose imagination is sparked by events that transport him into the pages of a literary classic, where he assumes the role of the lead character. But it works for kids because kids love the nonsensical element of a talking dog who wears weird clothes and performs amazing tricks.
Kids are attracted to Wishbone the same way they were attracted to TV’s talking horse “Mr. Ed” 36 years ago. There is something enormously entertaining and timeless about an animal that talks, cracks jokes and has an opinion about life.
“Wishbone’s” seasonal special, “Halloween Hound: The Legend of Creepy Collars” (4:30 p.m. Friday, WTTW-Ch.11), is taken from the literary adventure of Washington Irving’s 1819 classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The humdrum interpretation dawdles from the present, where Joe, Wishbone’s owner, believes he is plagued by bad luck, to the 19th Century schoolroom of Ichabod Crane, where Wishbone assumes the role as the lovelorn and superstitious schoolmaster. It’s only when Wishbone treats his viewers to some tricks that the special starts to roll. In this particular episode, the spunky terrier bobs for apples, faints over Joe’s smelly socks and displays love for the enchanting Katrina Van Tassel.
In an upcoming episode titled “Bone of Contention” (inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Courtship of Miles Standish”), Wishbone falls in love with Priscilla and they build a log cabin together. In that episode, Wishbone writes a letter with a pen and saws wood.
Although these scenes seem comical, the material is serious stuff with episodes based on the works of such literary greats as Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and William Shakespeare. According to Melanie Munnell, associate story editor, a team of literary advisers keeps episodes authentic through conferences designed to make sure the production is faithful to the original text.
This season, Duffield dug deep into the classic archives of literature for lesser known titles. But the main reason kids watch “Wishbone” is because “they love to see where his adventures will take him,” Duffield says. “We have a unique opportunity to introduce kids to material they may not otherwise hear of. It’s an advantage because of Wishbone’s attraction.”
New episodes of “Wishbone” begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
– “Zoom!,” the 1972 groundbreaking show that introduced the word “interactive” to television, is back for one monthbeginning Nov. 2 at 10:30 a.m. on WTTW-Ch. 11. Kids of the ’70s will remember that “Zoom” is where they learned secret languages like Ubbi-Dubbi (a variation of pig Latin), silly songs, cool riddles and great jokes. No stuffed animal puppets, no condescending adults, no commercials, just seven kid hosts from Boston running around in jeans and bare feet sharing their dreams, secrets and fears. The new “Zoom” has been retooled for 21st Century kids, and the producers are asking for input and ideas from their audience. If the response is good, the series may return to the Kideo lineup. Send your poems, artwork, riddles, stories, games, plays, questions and videos (10 seconds to 2 minutes long) to Zoom!, Box 350, Boston, Mass. 02134, or fax at 617-787-1639 or e-mail: zoom@wgbh.org or visit Zoom! on the World Wide Web (www.wgbh.org/ZOOM).
