Parpar Nehmad
Encyclopedia
Parpar Nechmad is a long-running Israel
i children's television program
, aimed mainly at pre-schoolers. The show premiered in January 1982 and rann until 2004. It was produced by the Israeli Educational Television
(IETV), and to this day remains successful in re-runs on IETV's home network, Channel 23
.
The show was originally produced by Shoshana Tzachor. Its head writer was Datia Ben Dor, who provided scripts for most of the early shows, as well as lyrics and music to many of the featured songs. The puppets were all designed by Yehudit Grinshpan. The show's title refers to a then well-known nursery rhyme
by Fania Bergstein
.
s. Each episode presents the young viewers with familiar situations from everyday life, and offers creative ways of solving various problems, as each situation is dealt with through songs and games. Aside from the basic plotline, most episodes also include a story told by one or more of the human actor
s, and sometimes short cartoon
sketches.
The location for most shows (until 1995) is a room filled with various shapes, such as poles and arches, vaguely resembling a room in a house. This deliberately surreal design is meant to give the impression of seeing the world from an infant's point of view, which is full of imagination
and creativity
.
, following the death of Yoni Chen, one of the puppeteers. It was revived in 1998 with a renewed and very different look. It now had a realistic house and a realistic back yard as the two main locations. The puppets were re-designed and there were considerable changes in the human cast as well.
Responses for the new version were mostly negative. Original creator Datia Ben Dor said in an interview (translation from Hebrew is non-literal): "The work on the show was no longer done with the proper care and sensitivity... it was no longer "Parpar Nechmad"... the name remained but the essence was gone".http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3326020,00.html The second version aired its final episode in 2004.
On July 18, 2008 it was first published that IETV
is planning to revive the show once again, and that auditions for the new human cast will soon be taking place. Reportedly, all four puppet characters will appear on the new version, which will focus on teaching children about good nutrition
and health
. http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/761/916.html It is yet unknown whether or not this version will include any of the original human actors.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i children's television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, aimed mainly at pre-schoolers. The show premiered in January 1982 and rann until 2004. It was produced by the Israeli Educational Television
Israeli Educational Television
The Israeli Educational Television is a state-owned public television network which used to concentrate on producing and broadcasting programs for schoolchildren. The first Israeli children's show, featuring Kishkashta, aired on Channel 1 in the 1970s and '80s...
(IETV), and to this day remains successful in re-runs on IETV's home network, Channel 23
Israeli Educational Television
The Israeli Educational Television is a state-owned public television network which used to concentrate on producing and broadcasting programs for schoolchildren. The first Israeli children's show, featuring Kishkashta, aired on Channel 1 in the 1970s and '80s...
.
The show was originally produced by Shoshana Tzachor. Its head writer was Datia Ben Dor, who provided scripts for most of the early shows, as well as lyrics and music to many of the featured songs. The puppets were all designed by Yehudit Grinshpan. The show's title refers to a then well-known nursery rhyme
Nursery rhyme
The term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
by Fania Bergstein
Fania Bergstein
Fania Bergstein was a Hebrew poet, born in 1908 in Szczuczyn, Congress Poland, Russian Empire. Fania Bergstein participated in the Zionist youth movement He-Halutz Hatzair. In 1930 she immigrated to British Mandate of Palestine, and joined Kibbutz Gvat. She died of heart failure at the age of 42,...
.
Overview
The show consists of interractions between humans and puppetPuppet
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....
s. Each episode presents the young viewers with familiar situations from everyday life, and offers creative ways of solving various problems, as each situation is dealt with through songs and games. Aside from the basic plotline, most episodes also include a story told by one or more of the human actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s, and sometimes short cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
sketches.
The location for most shows (until 1995) is a room filled with various shapes, such as poles and arches, vaguely resembling a room in a house. This deliberately surreal design is meant to give the impression of seeing the world from an infant's point of view, which is full of imagination
Imagination
Imagination, also called the faculty of imagining, is the ability of forming mental images, sensations and concepts, in a moment when they are not perceived through sight, hearing or other senses...
and creativity
Creativity
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
.
Revival
In 1995 the show's production was put on a long hiatusHiatus (television)
In television scheduling, a hiatus refers to a break of at least several weeks in the normal schedule of a broadcast programming. It can occur during a season of a television program, or can be between television seasons .- Planned hiatus :Many times television stations will implement a hiatus...
, following the death of Yoni Chen, one of the puppeteers. It was revived in 1998 with a renewed and very different look. It now had a realistic house and a realistic back yard as the two main locations. The puppets were re-designed and there were considerable changes in the human cast as well.
Responses for the new version were mostly negative. Original creator Datia Ben Dor said in an interview (translation from Hebrew is non-literal): "The work on the show was no longer done with the proper care and sensitivity... it was no longer "Parpar Nechmad"... the name remained but the essence was gone".http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3326020,00.html The second version aired its final episode in 2004.
On July 18, 2008 it was first published that IETV
IeTV
ie Television Cable Channel 1 is a local cable television station in Trinidad and Tobago and was the first local cable station in the country.-Availability:It is carried on channel 1 on the Flow cable system in Trinidad...
is planning to revive the show once again, and that auditions for the new human cast will soon be taking place. Reportedly, all four puppet characters will appear on the new version, which will focus on teaching children about good nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
and health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
. http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/761/916.html It is yet unknown whether or not this version will include any of the original human actors.
Puppet Characters
- Uza (performer: Irit Shilo) - a female goose. She is very clever and a fast learner. Her character traits are those of a know-it-all big sister.
- Shabi (performer: Itzik Gier / Avi Yakir) – a male snail. He is intelligent but slightly insecure. He tends to rely on Uza for answers.
- Batz (performer: Yoni Chen / Ami Veinberg) – a male turtle. He is a rather slow thinker, but far from being dumb.
- Nuli (performer: Ayelet Levin / Tzlila Yanai) – a female chick. The youngest of the puppets, she is inquisitive and gets excited easily.
- Pingi (performer: Galya Yishai) – a human-sized penguinPenguinPenguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
. He joins the show in later episodes as an immigrant from the North PoleNorth PoleThe North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
, and is very curious and friendly, yet tends to be obnoxious at times. His character was excluded from the new version, mostly because most viewers found him annoyning.
Human Actors
- Efi Ben Israel
- Uzi Chitman
- Dudu Zar
- Ofra Veingerten
- Shlomit Hagoel
- Guy Friedman
- Elinor Aharon
- Ofra HazaOfra HazaOfra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
(frequent guest in early episodes)
External links
- Parpar Nechmad- Classic seasons, on Israeli Educational TelevisionIsraeli Educational TelevisionThe Israeli Educational Television is a state-owned public television network which used to concentrate on producing and broadcasting programs for schoolchildren. The first Israeli children's show, featuring Kishkashta, aired on Channel 1 in the 1970s and '80s...
. - Parpar Nechmad- Newer seasons, on Israeli Educational TelevisionIsraeli Educational TelevisionThe Israeli Educational Television is a state-owned public television network which used to concentrate on producing and broadcasting programs for schoolchildren. The first Israeli children's show, featuring Kishkashta, aired on Channel 1 in the 1970s and '80s...
.