Bananas in Pyjamas

Bananas in Pyjamas
B1 and B2
Format	Children's Television
Directed by	Michael Ailwood Ian Munro
Starring	Ken Radley Nicholas Opolski
Narrated by	Karina Kelly
Opening theme	Bananas In Pyjamas performed by Monica Trapaga
Country of origin	Australia
Language(s)	English
No. of series	6+
No. of episodes	304+
Production
Executive producer(s)	David Panchak
Producer(s)	Adam Pockett
Running time	5 min
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	July 20, 1992 [1][2][3][4][5] – 2000
External links
Official website

Bananas in Pyjamas is an Australian children's television show which premiered in July 1992 on the ABC and Carlton Television. It has since become syndicated in many different countries, and dubbed into the native languages. In the United States, the "Pyjamas" in the title was modified to reflect the American spelling pajamas. The pilot episode was Pink Mug. The concept was inspired by the success of the song Bananas in Pyjamas, written by Carey Blyton in 1967, on Play School.^[6][7] This song, which had become a regular item on Play School, became the theme of the new series.

The main characters are two bananas named B1 and B2. Other characters include three Teddy Bears named Amy, Lulu and Morgan, and Rat in a Hat. The Bananas, the Teddies and Rat in a Hat all live in the same neighbourhood, a cul-de-sac called "Cuddles Avenue" at the end of a street.

The Bananas are noted for their common catchphrase, often said when the duo get an idea: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, B1?" "I think I am, B2!". Rat in a Hat also has two catch phrases - "Oh, Cheese and Whiskers!", usually stated when he has not succeeded at a task; and "I'm a rat, I'm a rat, I'm a clever clever rat", which he sings when he thinks of a good idea.

The characters were inspired by a 1967 song written for children by British composer Carey Blyton (nephew of renowned children's author Enid Blyton). The jaunty song describes (an unspecified number of) bananas in pyjamas chasing teddy bears, with a slight twist at the end where a musical sting emphasises that the bananas like to "catch them unawares". The lyrics for the song seem to be inspired by the 1932 Jimmy Kennedy lyrics to "Teddy Bears' Picnic."^[8][9]

The song was shown on the Australian version of Play School for many years accompanied by an animation depicting pairs of bananas in blue-and-white striped pyjamas. This led to a "Banana" plush toy being created as part of the 'toy cast', which formed the basis of the physical appearance of B1 and B2.

Given the age of the target audience, chasing teddy bears is not usually a plotline for the show itself, and when it is depicted, it is usually in a playful manner. More often, the bananas engage in activities in singing, dancing, and playing with the other characters, and bantering with each other.

The show was performed using human actors in elaborate costumes, in the style of the British Teletubbies or Tweenies. In the show's early days, the voices of the bananas were provided by the same actors as were inside the costume, but the original actors eventually gave up that aspect of the show and substitutes manned the hot, stuffy costumes. The show aired new episodes from its 1992 debut to its eventual run in syndication in 2000. The show aired appoximately three hundred episodes (the pilot episode was titled "Pink Mug") as well as four specials. Its debut in the United States was in 1995. It made videos and other media from 1995 to 1999. A toy line, developed by TOMY, debuted in 1996.

Characters

Main characters

B1

• Duncan Wass (1992-1993)
• Ken Radley (1993-2000)

B2

• Nicholas Opolski

Amy

• Sandie Lillingston (1992-1993)
• Mary-Anne Henshaw (1993-2000)

Lulu

• Taylor Owynns

Morgan

• Jeremy Scrivener

Narrator

• Karina Kelly

Recurring characters

Shane McNamara

• Rat in a Hat (1994-2000)
• Dr. Mouse the Nack (1994-2000)

Emma de Vries

• Maggie the Magpie (1994-2000)
• Tolstoy the Tortoise (1994-2000)
• Farm Animals (2000)

David Collins

• Tolstoy's Wife (1999)
• Farm Animals (2000)

Mal Heap

• Kevin the Butterfly (1992-93)
• Farm Animals (2000)

Farm Animals

There has been some confusion on Wikipedia about whether these puppeteers are correct. The following puppeteers are not credited as having played farm animals on any episodes, except Mal Heap is continuously credited as "Puppeteer" in the final season, as is Emma de Vries, also the puppeteer and voice for Maggie and Tolstoy. So overall, Mal Heap, Emma de Vries & David Collins get the overall credit for the voices and puppetry of the farm animals in the final season. However, before the final season (2000), the following actors puppeteered the farm animals...

• Camembert the Cow (Taylor Sweeney)
• Pedro the Pig (Jacob Matta)
• Gregory the Chicken (Matthew Hudak)
• Peck the Chicken (Aaron O-H)
• Dolly the Sheep (Maura McGinley)
• Flash the Cow (Jacob Matta)

See also

• List of Australian television series
• List of Australian Broadcasting Corporation programs

References

1. ^ Bananas And Pyjamas:ABC Official Website
2. ^ photo-me.co.uk
3. ^ BANANAS IN PYJAMAS
4. ^ Information australianscreen.com
5. ^ TVmen
6. ^ http://www.pluslicens.se/index.php/site/characters_details/bananas_in_pyjamas_characters/
7. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/children/bananas/about/
8. ^ Teddy Bear Picnic lyrics
9. ^ Bananas in Pajamas lyrics

External links

• Official website
• Bananas in Pyjamas at the Internet Movie Database