WHO WE ARE: It's peanut butter jelly time

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

For regular updates on popular culture, bookmark blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

A column about Australia by David Dale, published in The Sun-Herald. 26/4/2009
It crossed my mind to do an obituary for Humphrey B. Bear, now that his production company has gone into liquidation. But he doesn't deserve one.

This column's duties include the identification and celebration of national icons, a term that certain media have been applying to Humphrey. In theory, the funny old fellow has been entertaining and educating Australian preschoolers since 1965. In fact, Here's Humphrey was always a cheap and token response by Channel Nine to the rules requiring commercial networks to provide children's programming if they wanted to retain their broadcasting licence.

So instead of a eulogy for a boring bear, I'll take the opportunity to praise two fabulous fruits who are still very much alive - attracting 200,000 viewers whenever they're shown on ABC television and carrying the message about Australian creativity around the world. Unlike Humphrey, Bananas in Pyjamas have universal appeal. (Warning, other puns may become necessary in the course of this discussion.)

I first became aware of the yellow peril when my daughter was bitten on the finger by another three year old as they struggled for possession of a Bananas in Pyjamas beanie at kindergarten. I realised then that the ABC had created an addiction which provides a useful source of non-taxpayer funding but which can drive certain children to desperate action.

The devotion of the fans is a commentary on the power of the story. The phenomenon started as a cartoon shown during Play School in the 1980s, accompanied by this song: "Bananas in pyjamas are coming down the stairs, Bananas in pyjamas are coming down in pairs, Bananas in pyjamas are chasing teddy bears, Cos on Tuesdays they all like to catch them unawares."

In 1992 the ABC gave the Bananas their own series, with characters portrayed by actors in big hot suits (giving a new meaning to the phrase "slip on a banana skin"). Their world is Cuddles Avenue, where B1 and B2 occupy all positions of authority -- park rangers, nurses, crossing guards, beach patrol, car mechanics, road sweepers, and dispute resolution counsellors. Their neighbours are three teddy bears - dreaming Morgan, frivolous Amy and fussy Lulu.

The villain is Rat in a Hat, who runs all the businesses on Cuddles Avenue and whose mission is to sell dubious notions to the teddies. He likes to say "I'm a rat, I'm a rat, I'm a very clever rat!" followed by "Cheese and whiskers!" when his scams are foiled by the Bananas, whose catchphrases are: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, B2? I think I am, B1".

The five minute episodes teach tolerance, optimism, patience, scientific method, and dramatic structure. Most importantly, the Rat's tale demonstrated the dangers of uninhibited capitalism long before the current economic crisis came along to convince consumers over the age of five.

That kind of life lesson is why B1 and B2 are more deserving of our accolades than a large brown bear who never wore any pants and never said a word. When we start throwing round labels like "national icon", lets get our priorities right.

To discuss all this, go to Comments

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). For daily updates on Australian attitudes, bookmark http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

What a boring old bear is Humphrey. His only saving grace is that he did not talk - that would have made it worse.

by Andy Pandy on April 26, 2009 at 04:11 AM

Didn't the "bananas" cartoon start in the late 70's?

by Benno on April 26, 2009 at 06:12 AM

Aw, Humphrey must have had something going for him... I can (vaguely) remember being a big fan, and my 2 kids were too, although more-briefly & less-intensely than I.
But the Bananas ARE 1000 times better than that old mangy thing. Sad, but true.

by Malibu on April 26, 2009 at 07:38 AM

Showing my age, but I can remember not being able to afford to buy a Humphery B. Bear doll for my son, at the enormous cost (then) of $30!! Maybe the company deserved to go broke if its prices continued like that.
PS
When have Australians started calling peanut butter and jam sandwiches ....peanut butter and jelly!!

DD replies: They don't. It's a reference to an American song performed by a giant banana.

by Molly Malone on April 26, 2009 at 10:11 AM

I will never forget a visit to Adelaide several years ago. I walked past a dry cleaners in Nth Adelaide (near the then Channel 9 Studios) and looked into the window only to see a lifeless and defleshed Humphrey hanging on a hook. Pity the poor child fans who may have also witnessed this scene!

by Mark Montanet on April 26, 2009 at 10:58 AM

"The five minute episodes teach tolerance, optimism, patience, scientific method, and dramatic structure."
Seems from the headlines that flood our newspapers and TV news bulletins, that the lessons were either so poorly presented to the target audience that they didn't stick, or that the power of forces way beyond those that the "media" loves to think it's got are ultimately far more invasive.
What hope has any actor dressed up in a lame costume got compared to peer pressure, cultural biases ingrained through genarations and the desire to acquiesce to insatiable passions and emotional hunger?
There's no greater tolerance, optimism, patience, scientific method or dramatic structure today because of either B1, B2 or Humphrey... just a pile of people who've watched adult twerps dress up in inane costumes before acting out scripts that the authors proclaimed as having "social relevance" whilst demeaning the actual intelligence of their child target audience.
Humphrey was an insult to the intelligence of all concerned. When adults can finally create shows for kids that don't "talk down" in a way that is patronising or exploitative, we might be able for a fleeting moment to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, before getting back to doing the very thing that should have been done all along.
Crikey! Humphrey, B1 and B2 would have been enough to make me join a gang or get into some serious anti-social action, just so I wouldn't feel like I've been sucked into the drone creation programme of social obedience underpinnings that infest such shows! Why would it be any different for anyone else who takes affront at watching such drivel regardless of their age?

by Steve C on April 26, 2009 at 11:22 AM

I did enjoy Humphrey very much when Glyn Nicholas was his off-sider. Very funny.

by bectoria on April 26, 2009 at 01:59 PM

Humphrey is my favourite all time childrens character maybe casue I as young at the time! Who is old can understand the young. What amazed me was I was in Vietnam recently and there on free TV was Humphrey!!! With dubbing in Vietnamese!

by Goparra on April 26, 2009 at 03:26 PM

Now at 47: still remembering what "kids tv" was like then in the late 60's +, not only Humphrey on C9 (this show brought Miss Patsy onto everyone record player-another Icon of where r u now', C( also had the SFFS (Super Flying Fun Show) with Miss Marilyn, Rodd Hull/ later on Marty and EMU, Owly's School was C10's way, Romper Room for C7 - a few of the hosts there were most controversy off screen, but as always Aunty ABC had the greater variety with Play School (is Bernita still going), Adventure Island (Hosted by Jason Donovans mother Sue along with the legendary Liz Harris and with John Michael Howson as a clown) and the irrpressable Mr Squiggle, hosted by the other Legend of Aussie Kids TV. Miss Pat. Kids tv, like the old Warners Bros and Disney cartoons, were for the family in more ways than one. They were just simply good fun to watch, compared to the crud that is served up now.

by WSJ on April 26, 2009 at 04:12 PM

What ever happened to Fat Cat?

by Thin Cat on April 26, 2009 at 08:04 PM

My kids loved Bananas.. and it was everything that Humphrey the pant-less bear was not!!
But I heard 2nd hand that the guys who did the biggest money spinner for ABC were so underpaid that they had to also work as taxidrivers or kitchenhands or something!!

by Upside Down Miss Jane! on April 26, 2009 at 08:54 PM

I agree with the last comment,TV has a lot of crud and I think it will get worse as time go'es on.Even pay TV is bad,Too much sports and not a lot of good programs.I remember Owly's school even the magic circle club.the Mickey Mouse club which I was a member of.Those were wonderful shows and a lot of other good show also.I even liked Skippy.I wish they would bring them all back.Even the cartoons.

by suszanne on April 26, 2009 at 09:37 PM

What about Fat Cat and Friends........

by Bunyip on April 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM

I watched Humphrey in the 1970s but I agree with Steve C. There has nearly always been too much cheap ill thought out children's television serving only to fill a 'requirement'. Yes, it is patronising. Channel 9, had the 'Curiosity Show for older children many decades ago which I remember fondly. Probably the best children's television on the commercial networks at the time and a real landmark. Nothing like that would stand a chance now. Just hope there is a TV exec out there that has some vision about children's television. It is not likely though.

by Adam on April 27, 2009 at 05:39 AM

We all loved Humphrey - even if one of my sisters had a fight with him and burst into tears one morning when he refused to share his banana with her (she was yet to grasp the concept of television).
He was a lovely old codger, even if he didn't wear pants.

by CN on April 27, 2009 at 05:57 AM

"When have Australians started calling peanut butter and jam sandwiches ....peanut butter and jelly!!"
Since when have Australians eaten peanut butter and jam sandwiches anyway??
i liked Humphrey .. as an adult you can see that it was crappy but as a kid he was great. And it was kids who is was aimed at so they should get the say if it was good or not.
I'd let my kids watch it before a lot of the shows on now. :-)

by Jill on April 27, 2009 at 06:43 AM

What about Shirty the slightly aggressive bear. Hw was awesome

by Franky on April 27, 2009 at 06:56 AM

So the Male characters (ie B1 and B2) occupy all positions of authority, the female characters (ie the teddy bears) are frivolous and a bit stupid, often getting taken in by the scams of the Capitalist rat-in-a-hat (who, bears a strange resemblance to Shylock). Why not throw in a couple of golliwogs to do the cleaning?

DD replies: Good point. The ABC might well argue that B1 and B2 are not necessarily male. And of the teddies, Morgan is the most stupid.

by Stephen on April 27, 2009 at 08:55 AM

I have a signed autographed picture of Humphrey when he came to Broken Hill. One of my greatest treasures... wonder where it is now?

DD wonders: How did he hold the pen?

by Matthew on April 27, 2009 at 09:10 AM

Humphrey rules!!

by Joe Bloggs on April 27, 2009 at 10:01 AM

Humphrey was the be-all and end-all for me for quite a bit of my young childhood - my poor mother had to put up with shreaking tantrums on those days he wasn't on. What a great job the show did, providing simple joy to a joy for a bratty little boy. The B's are good, but can just never compare.
And wasn't Fat Cat dragged of the air by some overzealous, strangley moraled people who thought he was obscene for young children to watch? Maybe just a rumour I heard....

by David on April 27, 2009 at 10:03 AM

At the risk of being accused of a dinosaur...Can I also suggest some additional candidates as National Icons...Aggro (who can forget the intellectual conversations he had with his co-hosts) and Claude the Crow (ahh, the innuendo).
Whilst Play School has been mentioned before, as a bored dad at home seeing Miss Monica (wearing a one-piece jump suit) being �moulded� by the male host certainly made me more attentive to the education!

by Child at heart on April 27, 2009 at 11:36 AM

Poor Humphrey! I use to love Humphrey B Bear BECAUSE he didn't talk. Most kids believe that their toys talk to them, so by him not talking allowed the child to make up their own mind and think constructively. At least he got to stay on air longer than Fat Cat even though he didn't wear any pants. I was too old for Bananas In Pyjamas - and I couldn't quite see what was attractive about two yellow fruits dancing around compared to a lovely big cuddly bear.

by Mac1 on April 27, 2009 at 11:51 AM

David: Hear hear hear hear hear!!!!!!

by Lexi on April 27, 2009 at 12:32 PM

When did they change Humphrey from being a Gay old bear to the new crappy song they play now? Anyone able to find a recording of the old theme song?

by Thomas on April 27, 2009 at 12:38 PM

What about Claude Crow from Shirls Neighbourhood !

by steven guy on April 27, 2009 at 01:08 PM

I knew the "live" Humphrey (not the tv one) for many years & enjoyed playing cricket with him in a father & son team some years ago. He was a wonderful, caring man who was always there to help but more importantly, who just wanted to make children laugh. Unfortunately he is no longer with us, another one of those who were taken from us far too early, but I automatically think of GP whenever I hear Humphrey's name mentioned. To me he is an icon.

by PJ453 on April 27, 2009 at 02:57 PM

I vaguely remember him (if you remember the 60's, you weren't there).

by Rob on April 27, 2009 at 03:07 PM

I had a Humphrey toy, but remember not being a huge fan in my childhood in the late 70s/v early 80s. I think he put me off by not talking as did Fat Cat. However I do remember sitting while Miss Helena sat behind the magic mirror to see if all her children had had fun at play - my name is a very unusual one so I watched in vain!

As well as Play School and Sesame St, I remember growing up on a diet of The Goodies, The Kenny Everett Video Show, and Countdown. Used to throw tantrums when Countdown or The Goodies were not on. Also loved Doctor Who until it gave me nightmares. WonderWorld and the Curiosity Show were fixtures when I was older.

Still love the Goodies, and the old Countdown repeats on Rage and COuntdown YouTube clips.

by Strawberries on April 27, 2009 at 03:10 PM

Equal time for the zucchinis in bikinis! (Or are you just pleased to see me?)

by Poll hereford on April 27, 2009 at 03:12 PM

Cheese and whiskers! Rat In A Hat was never a villain!
He was just a bit silly!
And the Bananas would help him out of the kindness of their hearts.

by Mona on May 10, 2009 at 02:48 PM

The Sun-Herald

Who We Are

WHO WE ARE: It's peanut butter jelly time

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