Category: Uncategorized

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Tell us about yourself and how you came to produce and write television shows as a career.
Through a very long, winding, twisted road. I graduated University with a degree in political studies, and since I didn’t know where to line up for a job in “political studies,” I turned to the thing I always got the most joy out of while in school… drama and theatre. I managed to land some television and theatre jobs as an actor, but what really brought me the most satisfaction was writing/performing sketch comedy. It completely hooked me into wanting to write more; specifically half-hour comedies.

And so, with zero television experience, I started at the bottom as a production assistant and slowly worked my way up the ladder, gaining experience along the way (I would also tell anyone who would listen that what I really wanted to do was write). Eventually, I got a crack at a small writing job, and that went well enough that I got a slightly bigger writing job, and on and on it goes until you find yourself writing/producing television as a career. Note: I intentionally left out the part about sleepless nights and countless anxiety attacks.

What was your favorite television show when you were growing up?
I loved such a wide range of shows. As a kid, I was a huge fan of The Muppet Show and Looney Tunes. I also watched a lot of sitcoms, like WKRP in Cincinnati, Happy Days, and Cheers. And of course, Star Trek.

What are the steps that go into your role in writing and producing an episode of Odd Squad?Everything starts in the writing room. We have such an amazing group of writers who work on Odd Squad, along with the insanely creative guidance of co-creators Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman. As for the nuts and bolts of writing/producing an episode…

First, I like to hear story pitches from everyone in the room. What is the episode about? This could be a fully fleshed-out concept to the smallest nugget of an idea. Once I find a story idea I’m excited about, we get into the nitty gritty of breaking down the beginning, middle, and end of that story on a whiteboard. It’s a huge team effort, with everyone pitching ideas, jokes, story twists and turns, and of course, the math curriculum.

Generally speaking, we’ll spend an entire day planning out just one Odd Squad episode. From there, a writer will be assigned to write an outline for that story; generally speaking, it’s a 4-5 page document. This outline is shared with our curriculum advisers, Fred Rogers Productions, Sinking Ship Entertainment, and PBS for their thoughts/notes. After that, we move to writing the actual script. The entire process—from the start of an idea in the writing room to a first draft script—takes about a month.

Then, we start the process of sharing that script with our production team (from casting, to costume, to visual effects, to locations, and every other department you can imagine). Along the way, we make changes where necessary, and generally try to keep improving the script as we go. I don’t think you’re ever really finished writing a script until you hear the director yell, “Action!” …and even then, I like to come up with new ideas or jokes on the fly. In a nutshell, it is a very long process. Much like this long-winded answer.

What is your favorite episode of Odd Squad?
There are so many! The best I can do, under this intense pressure, is give you my Top Three:

1. “Drop, Gadget, Repeat”… an homage to the Tom Cruise film Live, Die, Repeat (aka, Edge of Tomorrow). It found our agents stuck in a time loop. Brilliantly written by Tim McKeon, skillfully directed by Stefan Scaini, and it probably has my favorite closing line of ANY Odd Squad episode ever. Which I won’t tell you. Go watch it.

2. “Odd Squad: The Movie”… this is technically four episodes, because it was a 1-hour movie, but I’m putting it in on the list. I was lucky enough to write this episode alongside Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman, and it was directed by the insanely talented J.J. Johnson. We all had so much fun making this because everyone went all out to make it epic. With a guest appearance by Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), along with the one-and-only moment where the cast of seasons one and two come together to save the day. I may have also had a guest appearance as a villain named Rod, from the Rod Squad.

3. “Extreme Cake-Over” Probably one of the craziest episodes we’ve ever done. When a virus that turns people into cakes spreads through Headquarters, the agents try to contain the outbreak. I remember breaking this story in the room, and we all had so much fun coming up with jokes; you could really “feel” that it was going to be a special episode. Fantastically written by Charles Johnston, directed by the brilliant Warren P. Sonoda, and the kids put in a top-level performance throughout the episode. Fun fact: we originally wanted to set this episode on a plane and call it “Cakes on a Plane.”

4. I know, I know… I said ‘Top Three,’ and here I am, still writing. Buuuut I’m actually giving a nod to an episode that hasn’t aired yet, so think of this as a gift. I’m so incredibly proud of how the new season of Odd Squad—featuring the Odd Squad Mobile Unit—is turning out. Keep your eyes peeled for a half-hour episode titled “Slow Your Roll.” It’s our version of the movie Speed, with the agents trying to stop their out-of-control van after it has been taken over by a villain. Amazing performances.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love to read, catch up on other TV shows, and spend time with my wonderful wife and two kids. Is this the most boring answer ever written? Yes. Yes it is.

Without sharing spoilers, what are you most excited about for the Odd Squad Season 3?
It’s the first time we’ve had four main agents, rather than the traditional twosome, which has opened up a lot of interesting character dynamics. One of those agents happens to be 500 years old, and she’s becoming one of the most unique characters we’ve ever seen on Odd Squad. There’s also an incredibly mysterious and surprising villain this season.

I’ve already said too much.

Watch Odd Squad weekdays on PBS KIDS. Tune in to the two-part Season 3 premiere, "Odd Beginnings," February 17 on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

PBS KIDS today announced DONKEY HODIE, a new social-emotional series for children ages 3-5 created by Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. DONKEY HODIE is slated to premiere nationwide on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms in winter 2021.

The imaginative puppet series follows the adventures of Donkey Hodie, the granddaughter of the original Donkey Hodie character (now known as “Grampy Hodie”), a puppet from MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, who appeared in 59 episodes of the beloved classic children’s show from 1968-1993. The new multiplatform show is filmed at WTTW, the flagship PBS station in Chicago.

DONKEY HODIE is inspired by the quirky, funny side of children’s TV pioneer Fred Rogers and his mission to help young viewers navigate the frustrations and challenges of childhood. It is set in the land of Someplace Else, which was created by Rogers on MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD.

In every episode, Donkey Hodie, a sweet, yellow donkey with a magenta mohawk, along with her pals, Purple Panda, Duck Duck and Bob Dog, empower preschoolers to dream big and overcome obstacles in their own lives, to work hard and persevere in the face of failure, to be resourceful and discover they are capable of solving problems on their own—and to laugh themselves silly along the way.

New, original music will be featured in DONKEY HODIE—along with reimagined versions of Fred Rogers’ original songs—to reinforce and underscore each story’s positive message. Each episode of DONKEY HODIE will include two 11-minute, character-driven stories with accompanying short form content. The series is currently in production for 40 half-hour episodes.

Along with the television series, DONKEY HODIE will offer digital content for kids, parents and teachers, launching in tandem with the series. DONKEY HODIE games will be available on pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Games App, along with clips and full episodes streaming across PBS KIDS’ video platforms, including the free PBS KIDS Video App. Parent resources, including tips and hands-on activities to extend the learning at home, will be available on the PBS KIDS for Parents site, and PBS LearningMedia will offer classroom-ready materials for teachers, including video excerpts, games, teaching tips and printable activities.

###

Contacts:
Lubna Abuulbah, PBS KIDS; 703-739-8463; labuulbah@pbs.org
Alison Grand, Grand Communications; 212-584-1133; alison@grandcommunications.com
Gabrielle Torello, Grand Communications; 917-312-2832; gab@grandcommunications.com

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Common Sense Media has named Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Odd Squad two of the 10 Best Kids' TV Shows of the Decade (2010-2019).

The article noted that as the amount of children's programming exploded, the way kids watched TV also shifted with the advent of on-demand viewing services. The shows were picked based on their representation of positive role models, learning potential, and entertainment value.

We're grateful to share this honor with our partners at 9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films, Sinking Ship Entertainment, and PBS KIDS.

Click here to read the full list of shows named in the article.

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

We are thrilled to announce that Fred Rogers Productions has been named #3 in Production for Kidscreen's annual Hot 50, which recognizes the leading children's media companies. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our industry peers who voted for us, as well as our production partners and viewers.

The ranking follows the 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 2018 and a rebrand that was implemented to better champion Fred Rogers’ growing production slate and expansion into digital distribution, games and apps.

“One of the great things about being part of the public media system is we not only produce the TV shows, we get to make the digital experiences, too, and engage with the community on the grounds of public TV stations across the country,” says Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer.

Now in its sixth year, the Hot50 is determined by Kidscreen’s 16,500-plus print and digital subscribers through votes for the most happening companies in children’s entertainment.

A complete list of this year’s Hot50 companies can be found on Kidscreen’s dedicated microsite.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Can you tell us about yourself and how you came to work on Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood?
I am a mom and grandmom. I have a son and daughter, and I have four grandchildren ages 19, 11, 9, and 6. Currently I direct The P.R.I.D.E. Program, which is a Pittsburgh-based initiative at the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development that aims to help young Black children develop a positive racial identity.

I came into the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood work at the invitation of Bill Isler, former CEO of Fred Rogers Productions, because I had worked for the company years ago when it was called Family Communications, Inc. During that time, I was the director of the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Childcare Partnership, which was a program designed to help child care providers use the television program consistently and intentionally with the children in their care. I subsequently worked as a consultant on the development of a couple Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood trainings—one called “What Do You Do with the Mad That You Feel?” named after the song, and one called “Challenging Behaviors.” My history with the company is probably what inspired Bill to invite me to join the team.

What was your favorite television show when you were growing up?
Well, I’m pretty old, so my memories of programs from my earliest years are foggy. I do remember watching cartoons on Saturdays, shows like The Flintsones and the Jetsons, but the ones I remember more vividly are programs I watched as a pre-teen and teenager, such as The Patty Duke Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gilligan’s Island. I loved them, but they were all very very white. It wasn’t until shows like Julia with Diahann Carroll were produced that I was able to see characters who at least looked a little more like me.

What are the steps that go into your advisory role in making an episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood?
I’m basically involved at two stages, as well as in a unique kind of way. The first is the brainstorming stage, when the new ideas and the related content are discussed and hashed out with all the participating team members. Those are so much fun, because they represent an opportunity to do some things with the show that are completely new while also revisiting themes that have really connected with the audience, which illustrates a desire for more.

The second stage is in reviewing and responding to multiple iterations of the actual scripts. It’s a lot of work, but I really enjoy that phase because the writers are so creative and clever—at times, I find myself laughing at my desk at work or on my couch at home in response to some of the things Daniel does and says. Sometimes, I think Arielle (Reed, production coordinator at FRP) and Chris (Loggins, FRP producer for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) might get tired of hearing the same comments from me—“Oh my God, I love love love this script!”

Because I’m African American, I also help the team with issues that relate specifically to Black characters on the show. For example, there’s an episode in which Miss Elaina gets her hair fixed in a new style, so the team asked for my advice about what to put in her hair, how the parts in her hair should look, and how it was actually styled via the animation.

What is your favorite episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood?
“Daniel Gets Mad.” It’s the episode where Daniel and Prince Wednesday want to go out to play on the beach, but they can’t because it’s raining. I haven’t seen it in a while, so I had completely forgot that even Mom Tiger says she’s mad about the rain, which models such a great way to empathize with a child who is so angry that they’re kind of stuck. Like so many of the episodes, the conflict is not resolved instantly; instead Daniel manages to calm himself enough to think even though he’s still not happy about the rain. That’s one of the many things that I think distinguishes the show. It’s focused on social emotional issues and ways children’s emotions are managed. It doesn’t sugar coat what’s happening with children, but offers very realistic portrayals, and it shows that while it does in fact take time for children to grow and learn there are things adults can do to scaffold that for children.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
One of my favorite things to do after 1. being with my grandkids and 2. listening to reggae music, which I could do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is 3. watching foreign police, detective, or drama series. I have subscriptions to Hulu, Netflix, Acorn, and Britbox—the last two offer programming that’s primarily from the UK or Australia. I also have watched Swedish police dramas, which are very well done, and no, the subtitles don’t bother me at all.

Watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood daily on PBS KIDS.

 

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Pittsburgh, PA, December 11, 2019 – Fred Rogers Productions, the celebrated nonprofit children’s entertainment producer behind the Emmy Award-winning PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, and Peg + Cat, has promoted Ellen Doherty to Chief Creative Officer, a newly-created position. In her new role, Doherty will oversee an expanding portfolio of children’s content across multiple platforms and manage a growing team of creative professionals. She reports directly to President and CEO Paul Siefken.

“Ellen is a creative dynamo who has done a fantastic job expanding our ‘Neighborhood’ with extraordinary content,” said Siefken. “From her oversight of our award-winning portfolio to exceptional new projects in development, Ellen has been instrumental at every stage of the creative process, and we’ll continue to benefit from her know-how and talent.”

“Being part of the Fred Rogers Productions team and its commitment to develop and deliver top quality educational media for kids and families is a true joy,” said Doherty. “I’m excited about the milestones we’ve achieved with our current series and look forward to introducing audiences to our new projects, which will provide them with even more outstanding content to engage with and learn from together.”

Doherty, who joined Fred Rogers Productions as Executive in Charge of Production in January 2016, oversees the creation of television and digital content for the company’s existing multiple Emmy Award-winning PBS KIDS series—Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Odd Squad. She also helms the development of new properties, including the Emmy Award-winning Through the Woods, a short-form, preschool series she created in 2017. In addition, she served as the program’s head writer and executive producer. In 2018, Doherty was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like, the 50th anniversary tribute to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Since Doherty joined the company, Fred Rogers Productions has won 58 awards. In 2019 alone, the company earned 18 awards, including five Daytime Emmys: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series); Odd Squad (Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series; Outstanding Writing for a Children’s Preschool Children’s, Family Viewing; and Outstanding Directing for a Children’s, Preschool Children’s or Family Viewing Program – Odd Squad: World Turned Odd); and Peg + Cat (Outstanding Original Song in A Children’s or Animated Program – “Making a World With My Friend”).

An Emmy-winning producer and writer with more than 20 years’ experience in children's media, Doherty was previously executive producer and story editor of the PBS KIDS series, Cyberchase. She oversaw production of television and digital content, including several short-form video series, for the program over six seasons. Doherty began her career as an associate producer on the award-winning PBS KIDS series, Reading Rainbow.

Doherty holds a B.A. in Communications from Boston College.

About Fred Rogers Productions
Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated, Emmy Award-winning children’s series include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

# # #

Press contacts:
Grand Communications
Alison Grand
212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com

Laura Liebeck
845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Fred Rogers Productions is pleased to announce that Odd Squad has been nominated for two Kidscreen awards:

Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Odds and Ends

Best Live-Action Series

We are proud to share this honor with our partners at Sinking Ship Entertainment.

Kidscreen honors the best work in children’s television and digital media. Programming, Broadcasting and Digital category finalists will continue on to a final round of judging, and winners will be announced at the Kidscreen Summit in February 2020.

 

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Fred Rogers Productions is pleased to announce Odd Squad has won a 2019 BAFTA Children’s Awards for International Live Action. We are thrilled to share this honor with our partners at Sinking Ship Entertainment. This is the first BAFTA win for both companies.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. BAFTA’s annual British Academy Children’s Awards recognize and celebrate excellence within film, television, and games.

Read the full list of winners here.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

How did you get into prop building for television shows?
Honestly, I’ve been building my own replicas and costumes since the age of five (gauntlets from Cleopatra 2525, and wearable claws from X-Men) They were terrible and made of popsicle sticks and paper maché, But I was sure proud of them at the time. I never considered prop building in the realm of career possibilities. I was a hobbyist cosplayer and I’ve always enjoyed building and construction, but it wasn’t until my second year of college when the institution I was attending developed a new practical film effects course where things began to click. Long story short, I took the course and it opened my mind to what was possible, proceeded to drop out. And then somehow found my way into the industry and never looked back!

What was your favorite television show when you were growing up?
Oh, I watched a lot of television. And still do. Growing up however It it was all about Power Rangers, Digimon, Reboot, Beast Wars, Buffy, CCS, Farscape, and beyond all else STAR TREK (so much Star Trek). Honestly everything I watched then and continue to love now is in the genre of fantasy and sci-fi. From an early age I was captivated by stories that took me into another worlds. Magics, aliens and monsters were always my jam.

What steps go into your role in an episode of Odd Squad?
I’m actually incredibly lucky to have scored a gig like Odd Squad, the crew is amazing and props team are the coolest bunch of weirdos you’ll ever meet. The amount of creative freedom is lovely. Occasionally the process is very structured, and designs get drawn up and approved before they are sent my way. However most of the time I get a look at the script and find out it calls for some kind of outrageous build, like a super high-tech containment unit, an army of robots, or even 1,000 balloon animals! I’m usually given liberty to just dive in and create whatever I think that it would look like! And then my coworkers help dial my ideas back to reality. Also now I’m proficient in balloon animals!

What is your favorite episode of Odd Squad?
Without question it’s gotta be "Odds and Ends." What’s not to love? It’s an extra-long episode where the villains are more maniacal than ever, the wackiness is cranked up to 9,000, there’s gadgets galore, and a super awesome Mech Suit. That’s a win in my books.

What's your favorite Odd Squad gadget?
Truth be told I can’t actually talk about my favorite gadget until the debut of the new season on Odd Squad. However my second favorite gadget is definitely the Dimension-a-nator. Opening portals to other dimensions with a flick of a switch! Yes, please. It’s one way to live out my Sliders fantasy.

What do you like to do when you're not working?
In the shop or out, you can always find me with a book in my bag or an audio book blasting in my ears. I still love to work on my own cosplays. I definitely play a lot of video games (currently Warcraft3 but I’m very hyped for the new Pokémon). When not plopped behind a screen, my partner and I are out on the lake or hiking a new trail up north. Despite all of my stationary habits, I do enjoy being active.

Watch Odd Squad weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

Posted on by Mike Kozak

Get to know Sonia Santarelli, a producer at Brown Bag Films for Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. She chats about her favorite television shows growing up, and how even gives a tease of the forthcoming Season 5!

How did you become a producer of children's television shows?

I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in television! In high school I gravitated to media arts classes where we learned everything from operating TV cameras and using editing software to producing our own mini segments for the school’s own TV network (which I hosted). Naturally, I thought my path in television was to be on camera—a charismatic and poised television host of a daytime lifestyle segment! Boy was I wrong.

After completing an undergrad in English Literature, I headed into a Post Graduate program for Television Writing and Producing. Throughout the post graduate program, I discovered the world of animation, and I was intrigued to learn more. The world was fast paced and exciting, but also rewarding! After an internship in Development, I was offered the Production Coordinator role on a pre-school series—I was hooked! From then I went on to serve as Production Manager and produce various animated shows. Each new show allowed me to build my skill sets and knowledge—always learning and growing every step of the way.

Being a part of a team that creates content for children that entertains, educates and impacts their lives is so rewarding, and I am lucky to have a career that doesn’t feel like a job. I enjoy every moment and am so glad that the choices I made as a young adult have led me down this path!

What was your favorite television show when you were growing up?

I watched A LOT of Barney as a child. I knew all the songs and dances. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I can still recite the song, “I love you, you love me…” – haha! I also watched Pasquale, the Italian chef! I was glued to the TV when he was on. His singing was so captivating, and he was always cooking up something delicious.

What steps go into your role in producing Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood?

Daniel Tiger is a show that has so many moving parts, and as the producer on the series, I oversee all stages of the production from script to screen. Working alongside the production team, I ensure all notes are addressed and carried through each department from script to design, music, voice records, Leicas, and animation—to name a few.

Coupled with working closely with the production team, I also work alongside the 9 Story New York team and the Fred Rogers Productions team to ensure each stage of the production remains on brand, on schedule, and on budget.

While the producer on any series has the important responsibility of managing the production, it really is thanks to the talented team on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood that we are able to create such fun, inspiring, and rewarding content for children across the world.

What is your favorite episode of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood?

There are so many fabulous episodes of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, each with a positive message that teaches children to be kind and how to navigate through new moments—all values and teachings that will last a lifetime! Currently, we are working on a very special episode for season 5 that lives close to my heart. It’s all about celebrating our differences, and I can’t wait to share this episode with the world.

What do you like to do when you're not working on the show?

I love to travel!! Exploring (or as I like to call it, wandering) new countries and cities is so rewarding. I collect experiences and moments on each trip—near or far! I have been so fortunate to visit some truly amazing places from Europe to Asia.

I also love to cook! I find peace in the kitchen—experimenting with different ingredients and sharing meals with friends and family. Maybe that’s all because of Pasquale?

Watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood daily on PBS KIDS.

 

More News

Fred Rogers Productions Names Christopher Arnold COO

October 2, 2019

Former Schell Games Executive to Help Lead Award-Winning Producer of Children’s Entertainment

Meet Our Neighbors: Kevin Morra

November 22, 2019

Get to know Kevin Morra, a prop builder at Sinking Ship Entertainment. He talks about his work on Odd Squad, his love of Star Trek, and his on-the-job experience with balloon animals.
More News