Beakman's World

Infobox television
show_name = Beakman's World


caption = The "Beakman's World" logo.
format = Children's television series/Education
runtime = 26 minutes
ratings = TV-Y
creator = Jok Church
starring = Paul Zaloom
country = USA
network = TLC CBS
first_aired = 1992
last_aired = 1998
imdb_id = 0106367
tv_com_id = 2527

"Beakman's World" is an educational children's television show produced by ELP Communications, Columbia Pictures Television, Universal Belo Productions, and Columbia TriStar Television Distribution. The program was based on the Universal Press Syndicate syndicated comic strip "You Can With Beakman and Jax" created by Jok Church. It premiered in September 1992, on The Learning Channel (TLC) cable network and in national syndication (225 stations, a freshman year record). On September 18, 1993 it moved from national syndication to CBS Saturday morning children’s lineup. At the peak of its popularity, it was seen in nearly 90 countries around the world. The series was cancelled in mid-1998. Reruns returned to national syndication in September 2006. The show ran about the same time as and covered topics similar to "Bill Nye the Science Guy". As of today, a Spanish dubbed version airs on Univision (titled "El Mundo de Beakman") as part of its "Planeta U" programming block. Reruns are still aired in syndication, and Fox owned and operated station WXIN-TV 59 Indianapolis continues to air reruns.

Synopsis

The program starred Paul Zaloom as Beakman, an eccentric scientist who performed comical experiments and demonstrations in response to viewer mail, to illustrate various scientific concepts from density to electricity to flatulence. When his experiments were successful, he would often exclaim "Zaloom!", referring to his last name.

Over the years, Beakman was aided in his experiments by a female assistant, just as in the comic strip on which it was based. However, the assistant's name (originally Jax in the comic strip) was changed (and in fact was not the same one throughout the show's run): from 1992-1993, it was Josie (Alanna Ubach), from 1993-1995, it was Liza (Eliza Schneider), and from 1995-1998, it was Phoebe (Senta Moses). Beakman was also assisted by his "lab rat" Lester. In the pilot episode, Lester was a puppet, but in every subsequent episode he was simply a clueless, difficult man (Mark Ritts) in a tattered rat suit. In a running joke, it was never asserted that his character was actually supposed to be a rat; rather he was specifically identified by himself and others as a guy in a rat suit. Sometimes unwilling to help out, Lester was often persuaded by Beakman with the promise of food. An "unofficial" member of the cast is the unseen cameraman, Ray (played by prop-master Ron Jancula's hands), who assists Beakman by handing him various items, such as the "boguscope"; Ray, accordingly, has a sensitive crush on the show's unnamed makeup lady. Actress Jean Stapleton also appeared on the show as Beakman's mother, "Beakmom". In some of the skits during the show the character Professor I.M. Boring (also played by Paul Zaloom, in a dual role) makes appearances and talks about various science topics.

One segment of the show was the famed "Beakman Challenge". During this, Beakman would challenge Lester to do a basic scientific feat. During the first season, virtually every challenge related to either Air Pressure or Bernoulli's Principle. The show addressed this during the second season, by having Lester exclaim to Beakman (as he was explaining the science behind a trick) "AIR PRESSURE! IT'S ALWAYS AIR PRESSURE!"

At the beginning and end of the show, as well as before or after commercial breaks, the show featured short scenes portraying puppet penguins, Don (voiced by Bert Berdis) and Herb (Alan Barzman), at the South Pole watching Beakman’s World on television. The penguins were named after Don Herbert, who starred as Mr. Wizard in "Watch Mr. Wizard". Mark Ritts (Lester) was also one of the puppeteers operating the penguins.

As of now, "Beakman's World" currently plays in weekend syndication in the United States and in several other countries. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Television in the U.S. and Sony Pictures Television International in other countries.

Awards

"Beakman’s World" was nominated for and won numerous awards:
* Excellence in Media's Silver Angel Award (1993)
* International Monitor Award for Outstanding Audio Post Production (1993)
* Television Critics Association nomination for Outstanding Children's Program (1993)
* Ollie Award - American Center for Children's Television (1993)
* Parent's Choice Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in Children's Programming (1993)
* Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Live and Tape Sound Mixing and Sound Effects (1993-1994)
* CableACE Award for Best Children's Programming 7+ older (1994)
* International Monitor Awards for Best Achievement in Children's Programming and Best Audio Post *Production in Children's Programming (1994)
* Nominated for Seven Daytime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Children's Series (1995)
* Daytime Emmy Awards (2) for Outstanding Achievement in Live and Tape Sound and Sound Effects (1994-1995)

DVD Release

On September 7,2004 a DVD entitled "The Best of Beakman's World" was released. [ [http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Beakmans-World-Best-Of-Release/3930 Beakman's World - Best of Beakman's World, The DVD Information | TVShowsOnDVD.com ] ] This DVD is a direct transfer of the VHS of the same name, and only features experiments and segments taken from "The Beakman Challenge". There have yet to be any full-episode releases on VHS or DVD.

Exhibit

In 1998, the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal opened an interactive exhibit called "Beakman's World On Tour", based on the television show. The convert|4000|sqft|adj=on exhibit toured dozens of cities in the United States.cite news|url=http://www.cincypost.com/living/1998/beak030298.html|title=Beakman's World: Museum hosts hands-on show|author=Connie Yeager|first=Connie|last=Yeager|work=The Cincinnati Post|publisher=E. W. Scripps Company|date=1998-03-02|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040906044215/http://www.cincypost.com/living/1998/beak030298.html|archivedate=2004-09-06]

References in pop culture

* In the "X-Files" episode "Roland," after a man is murdered by having his head submerged in liquid nitrogen and shattered, Mulder remarks "I don't think they'll be performing this trick on "Beakman's World"."
* In the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" episode "Girl in Gold Boots", the agent from the Institute of Mad Scientists said Pearl Forrester was "not fit for a spot on Beakman's World."

See also

* Mr. Wizard
* "Columbia Pictures Television" Distribution"

External links

* [http://www.beakmansworldtv.com/ Official "Beakman's World" Site from Sony Pictures Television]
* [http://www.beakmansworldtv.com/where_to_watch.html Where to Watch "Beakman's World"]
* [http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/4567/ Beakmaniac's "Beakman's World" Fansite]

References