VeggieTales Comes to NBC
Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber open each episode by talking directly to the audience from the kitchen countertop. Bob is the straight man, while Larry is the crazy guy. They read mailbag letters and introduce stories to help answer the kids’ questions.
The videos teach lessons through Bible stories or pop-culture parodies. The first Veggie video (Where’s God When I’m S-Scared?) started with “Tales from the Crisper,” a horror-movie spoof. Bob and Larry sang “God Is Bigger Than The Boogie Man” to Junior Asparagus, who had just watched a FrankenCelery movie. Then, after a break for “Silly Songs With Larry,” the show continued with the Bible story of “Daniel and the Lion’s Den.”
Other Bible stories in the VeggieTales series include Esther, The Girl Who Became Queen (courage), Rack, Shack & Benny (handling peer pressure), Josh and The Big Wall (obeying God), Dave and the Giant Pickle (believing in yourself). Larry the Cucumber also portrayed Joseph in a Western called The Ballad of Little Joe. Larry will also play Moses in another Western called The Lone Stranger in 2007.
Some of the pop-culture parodies have included Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler (friendship), Lord of the Beans (using your gifts) and Minnesota Cukeand the Search for Samson’s Hairbrush (dealing with bullies).
VeggieTales has also done shows in the style of Dr. Seuss, such as A Snoodle’s Tale (self-esteem); and musicals in the style of Gilbert & Sullivan, like Lyle, the Kindly Viking (sharing).
My personal favorites are Madame Blueberry, about a shopaholic who overindulges at Stuff-Mart; and Sumo of the Opera, a mash-up of Rocky and Gilbert & Sulivan’s The Mikado.
Bob, Larry and Junior are joined by a colorful cast (okay, most of them are green), that includes British asparagus Archibald; French peas Jean-Claude and Phillippe; plucky rhubarb Petunia; comical gourds Jimmy, Jerry and Mr. Lunt; bossy zucchini Mr. Nezzer; Junior’s pal Laura Carrot; wise old Pa Grape; and terrified Scottish policeman Scooter Carrot.
Big Idea, the company that produces the show, made a full-length movie in 2002 about the Biblical story of Jonah. Another movie is on the way featuring The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything.
The Pirates made their debut during a “Silly Songs With Larry” segment. The silly songs are often the highlight of the show. Some of the best include “The Hairbrush Song,” in which the hairless Larry searches for his brush; “His Cheeseburger,” a epic Meat Loaf-style ballad sung by Mr. Lunt; and “Endangered Love,” Larry’s ode to his favorite soap-opera star, Barbara Manatee. My favorite is “The Belly Button Song,” a spot-on parody of the Backstreet Boys.
At the end of each show, Bob and Larry consult Qwerty the Computer for a Bible verse that reinforces the show’s message. If you’re not a Christian, don’t shy away from VeggieTales because of its religious message. It’s a very entertaining show, even for adults, and it teaches valuable lessons. The shows will be edited slightly from their original form to conform to federal educaton guidelines.
NBC will air VeggieTales at 10 a.m. Eastern, and then come back at 11 with alternating episodes of 3-2-1 Penguins and Larry-Boy. All three shows are produced by Big Idea. Penguins features a pair of twins who go on space adventures with a crew of penguins. Larry-Boy is the super-hero alter ego of Larry the Cucumber. He has three of his own Veggie episodes in which he battles The Rumor Weed, The Bad Apple (temptation) and The Fib from Outer Space. Big Idea also produced four cartoon episodes of Larry-Boy.
Do yourself a favor and watch VeggieTales – it’s better than almost every kids’ TV show out there.
