While children and television aren’t exciting subject matter, we do need to address this topic, just to lay some groundwork. From educational PBS programming to anime to classic Warner Brothers, and even the Disney empire, children’s programming has one thing in common with all parents. It has been more than a babysitter to our children. It’s been our expensive, exclusive, bilingual au pair, our Mary Poppins, if you will. Even the staunchest anti device mom needs a solo potty break every now and then. Thank you, Philo Farnsworth. Without you there would be no Sesame Street. We wouldn’t have experienced the slapstick antics of Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. Morgan Freeman wouldn’t have starred in Shawshank Redemption because The Electric Company would never have existed (just google Shoo Shoo Sunshine if you weren’t aware). Lastly, we wouldn’t have Barney, the great purple one. Yep, we’re about to talk about all things Barney the dinosaur and one beautiful Saturday when kindergarten Chynna had a brush with fame.
One fall morning in 1996, I dropped my 3 kids off at 2 different schools & hightailed it to our historic downtown area, where a stage had been set up for a live broadcast of my favorite radio station, Kidd Kraddick in the Morning. In addition to meeting Kidd, Kellie, Big Al, and Burt (whatever happened to Burt), there was an interesting highlight. They announced that the Barney show, headquartered in Allen, would be holding a casting call in Dallas. They were adding one local child to the cast. Faster than you can say momager, I leapt into action. Of course, they must pick Chynna. There was no other logical choice. I explained it all to her, very diplomatically. It would be a long day. We would probably stand in line for hours. We mustn’t be sad if she didn’t get picked. Barney probably wouldn’t be there. She was all in. At 6 am the next Saturday, I loaded my Surburban down with snacks, sandwiches, one 5 year old child, one grandmother, and myself. Big Dallas, here we come.
To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://www.etypeservices.com/Forney%20MessengerID423/
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.