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WordGirl

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This article is about the television series. For the fictional character, see List of WordGirl characters § WordGirl/Becky Botsford.
WordGirl
File:WordGirl title card.jpg
WordGirl title card
GenreChildren's television series
Created byDorothea Gillim
Developed byDorthea Gillim;
Jack D. Ferraiolo
Directed byDavid SanAngelo
Voices ofDannah Phirman,
Tom Kenny,
Maria Bamford,
Cree Summer,
Ryan Raddatz,
Patton Oswalt,
Fred Stoller,
Larry Murphy
Jack D.Ferraiolo,
James Adomian,
Grey DeLisle,
Jeffrey Tambor
Narrated byChris Parnell;
Rodger Parsons (Interstitials; uncredited)
Theme music composerSteven D'Angelo and Terry Tompkins
Opening themeWord Up It's WordGirl
Ending themeWord Up It's WordGirl (Instrumental)
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes78
(63 aired as of 4/01/11)
Production
Executive producersDorothea Gillim (Season 1);
Deborah Forte (as of Season 2)
ProducersWill Shepard (Season 1);
Danielle Gillis (as of Season 2)
Production locationsBoston, Massachusetts
Running time30 min.
Production companiesScholastic Productions
Soup2Nuts
Original release
NetworkPBS (PBS Kids GO!)
ReleaseSeptember 3, 2007 (2007-09-03) –
present

WordGirl is an American children’s animated television series for children aged 6-12, produced by the Soup2Nuts animation unit of Scholastic Entertainment for PBS Kids. The show began as a series of shorts that premiered on PBS Kids GO! on November 10, 2006, usually shown at the end of Maya & Miguel; the segment was then spun off into a new thirty-minute episodic series that premiered on September 3, 2007 on most PBS member stations. This animated show is aimed at people seven and older and is designed to teach about the expansive English language and its vocabulary. This is also the second (The first was Liberty's Kids) PBS Kids program to have a TV-Y7 rating.[1] The first two seasons each have twenty-six episodes; on June 10, 2009 it was announced that a third season was ordered, and it began airing on many PBS stations August 23, 2010, consisting of an additional twenty-six episodes. The show has been renewed for three additional seasons in August of 2010.[2]

The show is also seen on some educational networks in Canada, including Knowledge in British Columbia and TVOntario. The program is also syndicated internationally in places such as Australia and Italy, and also airs on Discovery Kids Latin America. The Spanish version is called "Chica Supersabia" (Super-wise girl) and it is translated and dubbed in Caracas, Venezuela, and the Brazilian version is called "Garota Supersábia". There's a Catalan version called "La Súper Mots" and a Portuguese version called "Super Sabina". The show, however, has not been well-received in Latin America and Brazil, where many parents have stated that the show is too violent and inappropriate for Discovery Kids' preschool audience. [3][4]

Background

The show's creator, Dorothea Gillim, believes that children's shows often underestimate children's intelligence:

Part of my mission is to make kids' television smart and funny. I feel as though we’ve lost some ground there, in an effort to make it more accessible. WordGirl's focus is on great stories, characters, and animation. If all those elements are working, then you can hook a child who may come looking for laughs but leave a little smarter.

[5][6]

Each eleven-minute segment in each episode (except for the first three episodes) begins with verbal instructions to listen for two words that will be used throughout the plot of that episode. The words (examples include “diversion,” “cumbersome,” and “idolize”) are chosen according to academic guidelines. The reasoning is that children can understand words like “cumbersome” when told that it means “big and heavy and awkward.”[5]

News anchor Jim Lehrer agreed to do a mock interview with WordGirl. Jack D. Ferraiolo, who developed the series with Gillim and served as the series' head writer in Season One, received an Emmy for his work on WordGirl.[7]

Plot

The series stars WordGirl, an alien with superpowers whose (inexplicably) secret identity is Becky Botsford, a 10½ year old fifth grade student. WordGirl was born on the fictional planet Lexicon (also a term referring to the vocabulary of a language or to a dictionary) but was sent away after sneaking onto a spaceship and sleeping there. Captain Huggy Face, a monkey who was a pilot in the Lexicon Air Force, piloted the ship, but lost control when WordGirl awoke, and crash-landed on Earth (more specifically in Fair City), a planet that affords WordGirl her superpowers, including flight and super strength. WordGirl utilizes these powers to save her adoptive home, using her downed spacecraft as a secret base of operations. WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face fight crime together.

WordGirl was adopted and provided an alter ego by Tim and Sally Botsford, who gave her the name Becky. While in her alter ego, she has a younger brother, TJ, obsessed with WordGirl, but still unknowingly a typical sibling rival to Becky. The Botsford family keeps Captain Huggy Face as a pet, naming him Bob. Becky attends Woodview Elementary School, where she is close friends with Violet Heaslip and has a crush on school newspaper reporter Todd “Scoops” Ming.

WordGirl tries to balance her superhero activities with her "normal" life. Doing battle with a rather odd grouping of villains, such as the Butcher, who can call into existence most any type of meat; senior citizen Granny May, with her knitting needles and projectile yarn; her former friend Professor Steven Boxleitner, who became the evil Dr. Two Brains thanks to an albino mouse fusing his brain with the animal; ten-year-old genius and colossal robot builder Tobey McCalister; and The Whammer, who speaks by interjecting the word "wham" in the most inopportune sentences. At the same time, she must worry about maintaining her second life as Becky, keeping people from discovering the truth and living normal family situations.

Format

Often, short animated segments are shown in between and at the end of episodes. "What's Your Favorite Word?", ostensibly hosted by Todd "Scoops" Ming, is a series of vox populi interviews asking random children what their favorite words are and why. A short game show segment called "May I Have A Word?" airs following each eleven-minute segment. This segment features the game show host, Beau Handsome, asking three contestants the definition of a particular word. Yet another segment features the interstitials announcer (Rodger Parsons) asking Captain Huggy Face for a visual demonstration of a certain word (such as "pensive" or "flummoxed"). When Captain Huggy Face correctly demonstrates the meaning of the word, a definition is given, followed by a victory dance by the chimp sidekick.

Companion Website

The companion site to WordGirl lives on PBS Kids, and was built by interactive firm Big Bad Tomato. It contains vocabulary-building games, a section where children can submit their favorite word, a video page with clips from the show, a "Heroes and Villains" section with character biographies and activities, and a PBS Parents section with episode guides, lessons, a site map, and more activities to play at home.

Characters and voice cast (2007-present)

Main article: List of characters in WordGirl
Cast
Voice Actor Character(s)
Dannah Phirman Becky Botsford/WordGirl, Clair McCalister, Edith von Hoosinghaus, Chuck's mom
Chris Parnell The Narrator, Exposition Guy, additional voices
Tom Kenny Dr. Two-Brains, TJ Botsford, Two-Brains' Henchman #1, Warden Chalmers, Brent the Handsome Successful Everybody-Loves-Him Sandwich Guy, Phil, additional voices
Cree Summer Granny May, additional voices
Patton Oswalt Theodore "Tobey" McCalister III, robots, additional voices
Fred Stoller Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy
Jack D. Ferraiolo The Butcher
Pamela Adlon Eileen, a.k.a. The Birthday Girl, additional voices
Maria Bamford Violet Heaslip, Sally Botsford, Leslie the Assistant, additional voices
Ryan Raddatz Tim Botsford, Todd "Scoops" Ming, Beau Handsome, additional voices
Mike O’Connell Bill the Grocery Store Manager, Big Left Hand Guy, additional voices
Elliott Gould The Masked Meat Marauder
Ned Bellamy The Coach
Brian Posehn Glen Furlblam
James Adomian Captain Huggy Face/Bob (script readings), Robber, The Candlestick Maker, Security Guard, Curator, Raul Demiglasse, Hunter Throbheart, additional voices
H. Jon Benjamin Reginald, InvisiBill, additional voices
Ron Lynch The Mayor, additional voices
Jeffrey Tambor Mr. Big
Larry Murphy The Amazing Rope Guy, Reporter, Dave, Principal, Mr.Best, additional voices
John C. McGinley The Whammer
Amanda Plummer Beatrice Bixby / Lady Redundant Woman (first voice)
Grey DeLisle Beatrice Bixby/Lady Redundant Woman (second voice), Ms. Question, Mrs. Ripley, additional voices
Rose Abdoo Great Granny May
Darran Norris Seymour Orlando Smooth, Nocan the Contrarian
Mike Phirman The Narrator's Brother
Peter Graves Mr. Callihan
James Mathis Tiny Big, additional voices
Ed Asner Kid Potato, The Butcher's father
Jen Cohn Bank Teller (first voice), Rich Old Lady, Ms. Champlain
Stephanie Sheh Bank Teller (second voice), Lill Mittens, additional voices
Robin Reed Ms. Libri, the bookstore owner
Judy Greer Ms Dewey, the librarian
Andy Dick Milt (Ms. Dewey's assistant)
Nick Kroll Ruben Grinder
Wayne Knight Police Commissioner Watson (second voice), additional voices
Brian Doyle-Murray Police Officer
Jim Gaffigan Mr. Dudley
Matt Besser Zachry Zany, Male News Anchorman, additional voices
Rodger Parsons Interstitials Announcer (uncredited)
Danielle Schneider Female News Anchorman, additional voices
William Mapother Guy Rich
Kristen Schaal Victoria Best, additional voices
John Henson Captain Tangent
Amy Sedaris Ms. Davis, additional voices
Orlando Brown Tommy "His Dishonor"
Kelly Miyahara Emily
Kevin McDonald Vocab Bee, Chief, Judge, The Baker
John Kricfalusi Police Commissioner Watson (first voice)

Episodes

Season 1 (September 2007-January 2009)

Ep. Airdate Segment 1 Segment 2
1/101 9/3/2007 Tobey or Consequences High-Fat Robbery
2/102 9/14/2007 You Can’t Crush City Hall Two-Brain Highway
3/103 9/21/2007 Coupon Madness When Life Gives You Potatoes...
4/104 9/28/2007 Jerky Jerk Becky's Birthday
5/105 10/5/2007 Chuck! Down With Word Up
6/106 11/23/2007 Mr. Big Book Ends
7/107 11/30/2007 Super-Grounded Mouse Army
8/108 12/21/2007 Tobey’s Masterpiece Chuck the Nice Pencil Selling Guy
9/109 12/28/2007 The Birthday Girl Granny-Sitter
10/110 2/15/2008 Mr. Big’s Big Plan Vocab Bee
11/111 2/22/2008 Shrinkin’ in the Ray Department Store Tobey
12/112 4/11/2008 Chuck E. Sneeze Swap Meat
13/113 4/18/2008 Granny’s Goodtime All-Cure Spritzer Mecha-Mouse
14/114 4/25/2008 Princess Triana and The Ogre of Castlebum Heat Wave, Crime Wave
15/115 5/26/2008 Thorn in the Sidekick Crime Takes a Holiday
16/116 5/27/2008 Meat With a Side of Cute Mr. Big Words
17/117 6/13/2008 Two-Brains Forgets Banned on the Run
18/118 7/11/2008 Have You Seen The Remote? Sidekicked To The Curb
19/119 7/23/2008 Lady Redundant Woman A Game of Cat and Mouse
20/120 8/15/2008 The Masked Meat Marauder Sandwich World
21/121 9/12/2008 Violet Superhero Big Business
22/122 10/13/2008 The Handsome Panther The Butcher, the Baker, and the Candlestick Maker
23/123 11/3/2008 Mousezilla Villain School
24/124 11/28/2008* Return of the Reprise of Lady Redundant Woman A Simple Plan
25/125 1/1/2009* Granny Mayor Tobey Goes Good
26/126 1/2/2009* Bongo Rock Dr. Three Brains


* - These episodes are listed as Season One episodes although they premiered in Season Two

Season 2 (November 2008-July 2010)

Ep. Airdate Segment 1 Segment 2
27/201 11/4/2008 A Vote for Becky Class Act
28/202 2/16/2009 The Two-Brains Boogie Field Day Fund with Robo-Tobey
29/203 2/17/2009 Slumber Party Pooper Line Lessons with Lady Redundant Woman
30/204 3/23/2009 Mr. Big's Dolls and Dollars Great Granny May
31/205 3/24/2009 Theme Park WHAMpage Chuck Makes a Buck
32/206 4/30/2009 Highway to Harvati Tiny Big
33/207 5/1/2009 I Think I'm a Clone Now Answer All My Questions and Win Stuff
34/208 5/4/2009 Bonkers For Bingo The Ballad of Steve McClean
35/209 10/23/2009 Tobey's Tricks and Treats Escape Wham
36/210 6/19/2009 Pretty Princess Premiere Where's Huggy?
37/211 7/13/2009 Robo-Camping The Stew, The Proud
38/212 7/14/2009 Who Wants Candy? Chuck's Brother
39/213 9/7/2009 Becky and the Bard Monkey-Robot Showdown
40/214 10/12/2009 The Wrong Side of the Law (Two-part episode)
41/215 10/13/09 Two-Brains Quartet Big's Big Bounce
42/216 10/14/2009 The Young and the Meatless Mr. Big's Mini-Golf
43/217 10/15/2009 Nocan The Contrarian Meat My Dad
44/218 11/23/2009 Who Is Ms. Question? Lunch Lady Chuck
45/219 12/10/2009 Oh, Holiday Cheese Ch-ch-ch-change Day
46/220 12/28/2009 WordGirl Makes a Mistake (Two-part episode)
47/221 3/1/2010 Earth Day Girl A Hero, a Thief, a Store and It's Owner
48/222 2/15/2010 Opposite Day Granny's Book Club
49/223 5/3/2010 Wham Up! Seeds of Doubt
50/224 5/4/2010 Wishful Thinking Lady Redundant Woman Gets The Blues
51/225 7/19/2010* Win a Shiny New Car The People vs. Ms. Question
52/226 7/20/2010* Oh, What a Tangled Knot You Tie, Amazing Rope Guy Kids Action News


* - Emily from May I Have a Word still have a Season 2 voice, even though she has a Season 3 voice (current voice) on July 6, 2010.

Season 3 (August 2010-present)

Ep. Airdate Segment 1 Segment 2
53/301 8/23/2010 Bummertime The Homerun King
54/302 9/13/2010 Granny and Clyde Too Loud Crew
55/303 9/14/2010 The InvisiBill Hand Birthday Town
56/304 9/15/2010 Pretty Princess and Mr. Big Power Hour Cleanup in Isle Eleven
57/305 9/16/2010 When Chuck's Mom is Away That's Entertainment
58/306 10/12/2010 Victoria Best Showdown at the Super Secret Spaceship Hideout
59/307 11/08/2010 Captain Tangent Chuck and Brent Ride Again
60/308 01/03/2011 Bend it like Becky Questionable Behavior
61/309 02/08/2011 Cherish Is the Word Granny's Intuition
62/310 01/17/2011 Bampy Battles Bots Truth, Revision, and the Lexicon Way
63/311 04/01/2011 The Straw That Broke Two Brain's Back* Nocan, The Evil Ingredient Finding Guy
64/312 TBA/TBA/2011 The Robot Problem (Two-part episodes)
65/313 TBA/TBA/2011 Caper or Plastic (Two-part episodes)
66/314 TBA/TBA/2011 A Simple Plan (Two-part episodes)
67/315 TBA/TBA/2011 Lady Redundant Woman Best is Bad Becky A.K.A. The Birthday Girl
68/316 TBA/TBA/2011 Victoria Goes Wrong? Eileen Entertainment
69/317 TBA/TBA/2011 Tangent missing Pirate Tiny Big is return
70/318 TBA/TBA/2011 Becky's Sad day Broken badly Mr. Big
71/319 TBA/TBA/2011 Darn Rats Big Robots! The Boss for Clone Becky is Back
72/320 TBA/TBA/2011 Becky is Afraid (Two-part episodes)
73/321 TBA/TBA/2011 Lesson Planet for Mr. Big Violet is frustrated
74/322 TBA/TBA/2012 Becky's Big Break Nocan & Captain Tangent
75/323 TBA/TBA/2012 Tobey vs. People The Unbearable Loudness of WordGirl
76/324 TBA/TBA/2012 Switch a Word Up's Mr. Big
77/325 TBA/TBA/2012 Sandwich World Use you're imagenation for Eileen the Last Adventure of Birthday land
78/326 TBA/TBA/2012 Robots vs. Heroes Final Battle for Giant King Kong Bob


^ - The PBS Kids GO & PBS Kids are cancelled so they put the airdate Unknown.


* - Note: The End of the Missed Show of The Pretty Princess, Becky Botsford starts to crying for the first time ever.

DVD releases

There have been two DVDs released, Word Girl: Earth Day Girl and Word Girl: Tobey's Tricks and Treats.

Earth day girl features the following episodes:

  • 221 a: Earth Day Girl

Rest TBA

Toby's Tricks and Treats features the following episodes:

  • 209 a: "Toby's Tricks and Treats"
  • 213 a: "Becky and the Bard"
  • 219 b: "Lunch Lady Chuck"
  • 203 a: "A Vote for Becky"
  • 203 b: "Class Act"
  • 122 b: "Villain School"
  • 109 a: "Tobey's Masterpiece"
  • 211 a: "Who Wants Candy?"

References

  1. ^ PBS Kids Programs - WordGirl
  2. ^ Cluster of Animation Studios Grows Up Around Watertown, The Boston Globe 5 September 2010
  3. ^ http://comunidad.tudiscoverykids.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/123101243/m/790100994 Discovery Kids LA community forum: WordGirl = inappropiate for small children (in Spanish)
  4. ^ http://comunidade.discoverykidsbrasil.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/139100243/m/358103994 Discovery Kids Brazil community forum: Post of complaints against WordGirl (in Portuguese)
  5. ^ a b Jensen, Elizabeth (2007-09-02). "A New Heroine's Fighting Words". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Bynum, Aaron H. (2007-06-18). "'The Adventures of WordGirl' Animation Emerges on PBS Kids". Animation Insider. Retrieved 2008-06-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Spero, Johannah (2008-06-18). "Local man lands Emmy for 'WordGirl'". Wicked Local Newburyport/The Newburyport Current. GateHouse Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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