Motherhood Inspired Creation Of Kids' TV Show
December 23, 2004
By AMY ELLIS LUNA, Courant Staff Writer

The cast of "Hi-5" - an musical television series for preschoolers - is launching its U.S. tour at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts next Wednesday and Thursday, performing stories, songs and skits.

"Hi-5" is one of Australia's most popular preschool series, on the air since April 1999. It made its U.S. television debut with an all-American cast in February 2003 and is broadcast on The Learning Channel (TLC) and Discover Kids.

The U.S. version of the show - filmed and produced in Australia - is hosted by five young entertainers who will be coming to the Bushnell: Kimee Balmilero, Curtis Cregan, Karla Cheatham-Mosley, Jennifer Peterson-Hind and Shaun Taylor-Corbett. They will appear with their puppet friends Chatterbox and Jup Jup. The show's creator, Helena Harris, spoke to us from Australia.

Q: How did you come up with the concept of the television show?

A: The show has been going in Australia; we're in our seventh year. We have been the No. 1 show here ever since we went to air. The show originally was designed for children of today and at that time I actually felt like there was no real show out there that was addressing the problems of children today, including getting them up from in front of the screen and physically interacting with the show. And that's what this show does, apart from many other things. ... We believe very strongly that children are very different from one another and so we actually in every show put in something we hope for all children; children with different learning styles, children with different talents, children with different curiosity, those kind of things.

Q: You've created several children's programs. Have you been doing this for a while?

A: I actually was a producer and director of prime-time drama before I had children. When I had children I decided to put all my talents into children's television. So I've actually been working in children's television for 15 years.

Q: What types of people did you look for to cast for the show?

A: The cast had to be able to sing as easily as they talk. Singing has to come totally naturally to them, and you will hear the cast has five outstanding voices. If you're impressed by nothing else you will be impressed by their voices. Beyond that, they needed to have the capacity to be totally themselves on camera ... and to be able to show their heart.

Q: Does each show have one different theme?

A: Each show has a format, which in fact means that every presenter presents a different segment. So the segment is actually written by a specialist for that presenter and each segment address a different talent, a different learning style and that is in actually every episode. Beyond that, the weeks are themed; there is a theme that goes over a whole week. And that theme has a song of the week in it which is a pop song, which is with specially choreographed moves at the opening and closing of each episode. And the idea is that since children learn these moves, they are designed to developmentally strengthen the child. ... The kids have no idea, they are just funky dances really. But in fact there is a huge upside. Apart from the physical movement, there are many other upsides with choreographed moves.

Q: How important is educational children's television?

A: I think it would depend on what each parent considers is worthwhile time for their child. What is essential for us at Hi-5, and always has been, that we consider that every moment the child spends in front of the television should be worthwhile time; should be time that will benefit the child in the long run.

Q: The Hi-5 cast was recently in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What was that like for them?

A: I think a dream come true for them!

Originally published online at http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/tv/hc-oneonone1223.artdec23,1,652128.story?co\ll=hc-headlines-tv