The Official Teletubbies Topic

[Shrek]

Meet Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po, the stars of the all-time classic educational show, the Teletubbies. The show went down in TV history for it's psychedelic sequences, high production values, and controversial nature. Although it only ran from 1997 - 2002, the series has had a massive cultural impact all across the world, frequently being mocked and parodied even to this day.

Teletubbies are strange creatures that have televisions implanted in their stomachs and growths emerging from their heads. They dwell in a sci-fi inspired environment called the Tubbytronic Superdome, and live with a sentient vacuum cleaner called Noo-Noo. Many bizarre occurrences happen in each episode, such as the Teletubbies showing footage of children on their stomachs, Noo-Noo causing a fracas only for the Teletubbies to abuse scold him, and the psychedelic "magical event" that occurs once per episode.

There is also quite a bit of controversy revolving around the series, like the character of Tinky-Winky being accused as a homosexual role model. Another hilarious piece of controversy revolved around the Teletubbies toys spouting inappropriate phrases such as, "faggot faggot, bite my butt" and the also entertaining, "fatty, fatty", both said by a Po doll. which I actually own.

So, do you have the shameful secret of watching this show as a child? What impact do these characters have on your life, if any? Discuss these embarrassing secrets here.

Edited November 18, 2012 by Shrek

[Endy]

I used to watch this as a kid...and it scared the living fuck out of me.

that god damn sun....

[Wraith]

I didn't watch this show as a child because those fuckers scared the shit out of me.

[...]

LET IT STARE INTO YOUR SOUL

[SIXTH-RATE SOMA]

Shrek, you need some sort of medal for making these topics man.

What do I think of Teletubbies? They were like proto-horror flicks to baby-me. I'm not sure if I should thank the little creeps for helping me deal with true terror, or if I really should just retch at the whole concept. Maybe both.

[Conando]

I remember walking in and seeing my sister watching it once. I saw the sun baby, and that was it. Walked right out of that room and never looked back.

[Antronach]

I have absolutely no idea if I watched this show when I was growing up, since I don't remember stuff from that far back. I remember one summer being stuck watching the PBS stuff with my little sister who liked the stuff. We'd change it to Price is Right cause it's less creepy.

[Andrew Albacia]

I remember it being a new controversial thing because they didn't speak properly and all kids would become stupid due to it. I was already 10/11 when it started, so I have no memories of this actually being relevant, I'm afraid. My Dad used to get me colouring books and stuff from it as a joke, since he knew it really annoyed me.

It's frightening stuff though.

[Klinsy]

I'm remember this, It was my forth favorite show as a very little kid next to Mr. Rodgers, Sesame Street and Blue Clues. Watching it years later make it me realize how surreal the concept was.

Oh and about that sun.

[Andrew Albacia]

Oh and about that sun.

Oh no... I really do feel ancient NOW.

[Heybunny]

I'm remember this, It was my forth favorite show as a very little kid next to Mr. Rodgers, Sesame Street and Blue Clues. Watching it years later make it me realize how surreal the concept was.

Oh and about that sun.

Good lord... That is beyond messed up.

[Shane]

I'm remember this, It was my forth favorite show as a very little kid next to Mr. Rodgers, Sesame Street and Blue Clues. Watching it years later make it me realize how surreal the concept was.

Oh and about that sun.

[-Mark-]

But then they'd have to be even fatter to allow for 16:9, which would no doubt cause further controversy in the show potentially influencing child obesity.

EDIT: Also looking back on this as an adult, I'm thinking bad things about the shapes of the antennae on Dipsy and Po's heads.

Edited November 18, 2012 by -Mark-

[JonoD]

This show had all manner of creepy aspects... Most chilling were those little side stories which didn't feature the Teletubbies themselves.

Subject A: The Fuzzy Bear and the Scary Lion

Maybe its just the uncanny valley kicking in... but isn't something about that Lion talking and the bear sticking its tongue out just... disturbing?

Subject B: The Doll's house

That doll at the end... Well, the puppet is pretty standard given what kids TV in the UK has given us before (Rosie and Jim, Tots TV etc) but something about this puppet feels... off.

[Stritix]

I started watching this show from age 1-3, but then grew out of it when I discovered Cartoon Network.

[iDEATH]

I was a little too old for them when they came out so I never really watched it properly.

That said, I have massive respect for the show, I've watched interviews with it's creators and it's one of the most intelligently put together programs for toddlers I've ever seen.

Everything about the world and the characters were created for the purpose of giving children as much educational content as possible while still entertaining them. One example I can think of off the top of my head is they found out kids that age have trouble learning something if only shown it once, that's the reason that the teletubbies show videos on their stomachs, then shout "again again" and show the exact same video twice.

Very smart show.

[Sonic the Hedgehog in 3D]

TELETUBBIES IS BAD FOR YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE TINKY WINKY CARRIES A HANDBAG AROUND

The innocent world of the Teletubbies is under attack from America's religious right.

The Reverend Jerry Falwell, a former spokesman for America's Moral Majority, has denounced the BBC TV children's show. He says it does not provide a good role model for children because Tinky Winky is gay.

Cheerful Tinky Winky, the purple character with the triangular aerial on his head, carries a handbag - but apart from that seems much the same as his friends Laa-Laa, Dipsy and Po.

The characters are famous for their use of baby language, including the catchphrases "eh-oh" meaning "hello", and "uh-oh" for "oh dear".

But the Teletubbies have made the Rev Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, hot under the collar. He decided to "out" Tinky Winky in the February edition of his National Liberty Journal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/276677.stm

[Stacy]

Hated this show, I hated it then I hate it now.

So yeah did I mention I hate this show?

Seriously though its hard to explain why I disliked it. I was 6 or 7 when this show came out and two of my friends and some of my class liked it and I didn't. I found dumb to be honest compared to other little kids shows of the time.

I think also some of the hype at the time annoyed me.

Then again maybe of some of you wouldn't get the appeal of shows I watched like Rosie And Jim, Brum, Playschool, Clangers and Pingu. I can't remember any others though I am sure I watched a few more.

If someone starts remember the Tweenies topic? I am going to feel prehistoric!

Edited November 18, 2012 by BW199148

[Dr. Homem]

Am I the only one who didn't find this creepy or ugly at all? I loved the whole show.

[Milo]

Aside from the aforementioned doll house scene (that scene when he stares directly at the audience at the end.....), the Bear/Lion segment (the way those things move alone is enough to list them at the bottom of the uncanny valley), I didn't find this sun or the show overall very scary at all. I always liked Noo-Noo (the vacuum cleaner thing) as well and the tap-dancing bear, although the CGI used for that scene is really dated to the point that scene too comes off as a bit creepy, although it's definitely not as bad as the other two in my opinion). Lovely music though.

Edited November 18, 2012 by Zinos

[Rexeljet]

I was around 3 years old when the show started, so I suppose I was maybe too old for it (because it was literally a baby show- by that time I was watching shows like Thomas the Tank Engine and Pingu- and within a year my favourite show was Dexter's Laboratory) but my brother sometimes watched it and I do remember the horrifying lion/bear skit.

I think Barney might be worse, but I've never liked the Teletubbies.

[buba]

I liked to watch it when I was a kid.

I even had a Tinky Winky doll that said something when you pressed is belly and some video tapes.

[Yoko/葉子]

Tummy toast!

[Rexeljet]

I liked to watch it when I was a kid.

I even had a Tinky Winky doll that said something when you pressed is belly and some video tapes.

Would that be the one that caused lots of controversy because the "again, again!" sounded like "I got a gun!"?

[JezMM]

the all-time classic educational show, the Teletubbies.

I literally learned nothing from this show. D=

But no, really, it's pure visual stimulation material for pre-schoolers and not much else.

Tubby Custard/Toast did always look delicious though. They released them as actual products but the tubby custard was just strawberry yoghurt.

Pfft.