Lazy Town: The New Crazy, 'Mazin Show
by pippadaisy - Written: Sep 22 '04 (Updated Jan 11 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: encourages healthy habits for kids, entertaining too!
Cons: it's a little bit strange until you get used to it
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line is happy to see someone encouraging kids to eat some fruit.
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| pippadaisy's Full Review: LazyTown |
With September comes the start of school, and of course, the start of the new television season on most of the major networks. The new season on the children's networks is always traumatic as some shows that were favorites (Oswald) are replaced with new shows that Mommy often hates.
One new show that appeared on the morning Nick Jr. line-up on Nickelodeon is the Icelandic import Lazy Town that, oddly enough, both Mommy and kids enjoy.
::: About Lazy Town :::
Lazy Town is actually an entire brand founded in 1995 by Icelandic aerobics champion and fitness guru Magnús Scheving. What started out as a children's book was followed up by a stage show, CDs, videos, and now encompasses an entire line of products including children's supplements, clothing, toys, games, and now the television show.
Lazy Town the television show features Scheving as Sportacus, the town superhero, Julianna Rose Mauriello as Stephanie, the newcomer to Lazy Town and niece of the mayor, and Stefán Karl Stefánsson as Robbie Rotten, the villain and sworn enemy of Sportacus.
The rest of the town's populate is comprised of puppets, including the Mayor, Bessie Busybody, and all the children. Stephanie, as the new girl in town, is constantly surprised by the unhealthy habits of the Lazy Town kids (one eats too much candy, one never leaves his computer, another is selfish, and the last never follows the rules. Add in Robbie Rotten who only leaves his life of sloth and snacking to try to foil Sportacus, and you'll see that Stephanie and Sportacus have their work cut out for them.
Each episode features a storyline about changing from an unhealthy habit to a healthy one in ways that don't sound preachy. One excellent example is a race between Robbie Rotten and Sportacus, who teams with all the kids. Sportacus talks about "Sport Candy" which is his name for fruit, and when Robbie Rotten sneaks Sportacus a candy apple, Sportacus is felled quicker than Superman with kryptonite.
In another episode, Ziggy, the candy addict, gets a taffy-making machine from Robbie Rotten, which threatens to overrun the town with candy.
Each episode features at least one song and dance routine (Mauriello is a Broadway veteran at the tender age of thirteen) and enough gymnastics from Sportacus to get any kid up off the couch and bouncing along.
::: Impressions :::
The first time we watched the show I honestly thought it was beyond strange. However, once you get past Robbie Rotten's false chin, spandex outfit, and cartoonish features and Stephanie's pink hair to the message, you'll find one of the most impressive shows to air on children's television in a long time. From the articles I've seen on the Lazy Town empire in Iceland, it's encouraged children there to be more healthy, and providing that the show continues to work its magic on Nick Jr. and some of the associated marketing finds its way to the States as well (for what child can resist healthy snacks from their favorite characters), the same might hold true for American children as well.
::: But Do Kids Really Watch? :::
I can tell you that as I hit a few pages to bookmark in preparation to write this review earlier in the day, my 30-month-old saw pictures and immediately said "LazyTown!" He already identifies with the characters and the show, and hopefully the message is starting to sink in as well.
Recommended:
Yes
Type of Program: Educational
Program Quality: Thought-provoking, original material
Best Suited For: Whole Family
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