Gerbert (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Gerbert is a Christian-based children's television series, the namesake of which is a puppet reflecting moral positivity. The series was produced by Emmy award
-winning producer David Freyss.
The Gerbert character was created and performed by Andy Holmes, of Abilene, Texas
. Holmes first developed a program using Gerbert for hospitals to show children to help them get over their fears of hospitalization. The Gerbert TV series was created by HSH Educational Media Inc. in 1987. The TV series first aired on the CBN Cable Network
, which later changed its name to CBN Family Channel and then to the Family Channel. Along with Andy Holmes, other writers include Greg Perkins and Mark Holmes. The first shows were taped in Virginia Beach, Virginia
at the CBN studios and all other shows were taped in Irving, Texas at the Studios at Las Colinas.
Gerbert first aired in the mornings on the Christian Broadcasting Network
's The Family Channel
) (now ABC Family
) from 1988 to 1991, and was also sold as a video series in WalMart and Christian book stores. Gerbert has aired on Christian television stations and networks continuously since its 1988 debut. A secular version, with the religious material edited out and replaced, was produced for PBS
in the mid-1990s. Gerbert aired in the late 2000's on Kidmango. Gerbert currently airs on Smile of a Child
.
At the end of many episodes of Gerbert, the camera would zoom into a dark hole in a hollow tree, cutting to a 3-4 minute episode of Ploom. Ploom was a white, plume-like puppet
who could speak only in nonsense syllables.
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning producer David Freyss.
The Gerbert character was created and performed by Andy Holmes, of Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
. Holmes first developed a program using Gerbert for hospitals to show children to help them get over their fears of hospitalization. The Gerbert TV series was created by HSH Educational Media Inc. in 1987. The TV series first aired on the CBN Cable Network
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
, which later changed its name to CBN Family Channel and then to the Family Channel. Along with Andy Holmes, other writers include Greg Perkins and Mark Holmes. The first shows were taped in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
at the CBN studios and all other shows were taped in Irving, Texas at the Studios at Las Colinas.
Gerbert first aired in the mornings on the Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
's The Family Channel
Television networks preceding ABC Family
The cable television network ABC Family has gone through several different owners during its history. Stipulations in sales terms for the network require that the network maintain the word "Family" in its name.-CBN Cable :...
) (now ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
) from 1988 to 1991, and was also sold as a video series in WalMart and Christian book stores. Gerbert has aired on Christian television stations and networks continuously since its 1988 debut. A secular version, with the religious material edited out and replaced, was produced for PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in the mid-1990s. Gerbert aired in the late 2000's on Kidmango. Gerbert currently airs on Smile of a Child
Smile of a Child
Smile of a Child TV is a Christian children's channel affiliated with Trinity Broadcasting Network that offers programming 24 hours per day, seven days a week...
.
At the end of many episodes of Gerbert, the camera would zoom into a dark hole in a hollow tree, cutting to a 3-4 minute episode of Ploom. Ploom was a white, plume-like puppet
Puppet
A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....
who could speak only in nonsense syllables.