The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Under the Influence episode celebrates Canadian brands

**Posted by betaylored** March 22, 2025 1:52 pm

https://x.com/terryoinfluence/status/1903476116855181599?t=F437F6x-KcteOsh6En_wfg&s=19

thought I'd flag this because of the timely subject matter

**Posted by RadioActive** March 23, 2025 8:07 pm

This was actually a repeat of an old episode, but it was worth re-listening to it.

At the end, Terry O'Reilly mentions "The Friendly Giant," the old CBC kids' show, and notes that it originated at an educational station in Wisconsin. Bob Homme, the Giant himself, was asked to bring the show to Canada and he did.

By sheer accident, I stumbled on a YouTube video of one of those old made-in-the U.S. shows from Madison, Wisconsin, way back in 1953 - some five years before it was on the CBC. All the elements that most of us remember are there - the "chair to curl up in," Rusty the Rooster and Jerome the Giraffe (both voiced by a different actor) and of course, the command to "Look Up, Look Waaaay Up."

It was a simple show but it worked in those more innocent and longer attention span days. You can see this rare vintage video below.

**Posted by newsguy1** March 23, 2025 8:42 pm

I loved The Friendly Giant when I was a child.
At the end I always waited for the moment when the cow jumped over the moon.
Also a fave was Chez Helene, which actually did teach me some French words with Suzie Mouse and Helene.
On the US side Captain Kangaroo was a must.
Later there was JP Patches... an irreverent clown from Washington State who Matt Groening has admitted was his inspriration for Krusty.

**Posted by RadioActive** March 23, 2025 9:09 pm

newsguy1 wrote:
Later there was JP Patches... an irreverent clown from Washington State who Matt Groening has admitted was his inspiration for Krusty.

**Posted by mace** March 24, 2025 6:25 am

newsguy1 wrote:
I loved The Friendly Giant when I was a child.
At the end I always waited for the moment when the cow jumped over the moon.
Also a fave was Chez Helene, which actually did teach me some French words with Suzie Mouse and Helene.
On the US side Captain Kangaroo was a must.
Later there was JP Patches... an irreverent clown from Washington State who Matt Groening has admitted was his inspriration for Krusty.

I always preferred Rocketship 7 because the Captain didn't have cartoons. Yes I know Captain Kangaroo was meant to be educational for children. However, from a kids point of view, educational stuff was for school. When watching tv I want to be entertained. Cartoons deliverd that.