Tots TV

Tots TV
File:Totstv.gif Tilly, Tom and Tiny
Developed by	Ragdoll Productions
Starring	Tilly Tom Tiny
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original languages	English, French, Spanish
No. of episodes	276
Production
Running time	25 minutes
Original release
Network	CITV
Release	January 3, 1993 - April 27, 1998

Tots TV was a television show, produced by Ragdoll Productions and Central (later owned by Carlton Television) (Both Ragdoll and Central also produced Rosie and Jim and Ragdoll independently produced Teletubbies for the BBC). Tots TV was also broadcast in the USA on PBS from January 3, 1993 to April 27, 1998. It featured three ragdoll friends: Tilly, a French girl, with red hair, who spoke in basic French (in the U.S. broadcast, she spoke Spanish), Tom, a blue haired boy with glasses, and Tiny, the youngest Tot, who was smaller than the others and had green hair. The show won two BAFTA awards. In September 1999 Tots TV moved to Carlton because Central Television was going to be replaced by the network.

The show was written by Robin Stevens and Andrew Davenport who also played the characters Tom and Tiny in the show. Claire Carre, who also played as Tilly, wrote, along with Robin Stevens, the episode "Melon Chase". It was originally shown on ITV's children's television strand, Children's ITV; it heralded an era the broadcaster abandoned much programming for older children. The show is now broadcast in the UK on CBeebies, the BBC's children's television station on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Characters

• Tilly - Has red hair, wears bright yellow tights and is French (in the American version of the show, she spoke Spanish)
• Tom - The eldest male tot, has blue hair and is black. Sported blue dungarees and a yellow jumper as well as wearing glasses.
• Tiny - He has green hair and is the youngest of the group, wears a green cardigan
• Furry Boo - A small cheeky dog that the tots do not know about.
• Donkey - The pet donkey who lived in a stable in the Tots' garden.

Titles

Every episode began with an animated illustration of the tots' house, which faded into the real version; both were set to the theme tune.

Plots

Going out

Often but not always the Tots would go out to explore an everyday area on the human world. This often involved them helping out a young child. This also sometimes involved them using their magic bag (Sac Magique) which they always took with them, Tiny always carried it and Tilly always operated it. When asked to help it would always produce an item to help them in the situation. In some of the episodes they would go out and watch 'Jane' find out about different animals. A few episodes starred a man called 'Jaque' who would set up some sort of play area for some children, the tots would secretly watch him and the children play.

In one episode, the tots visit a glass blowing studio, where they watch a glass duck being made. Another episode shows the tots visit an animal park.

Staying in

In some episodes the Tots would do something in their house - the secret house. Because the full titles featured the tots leaving the house they were altered for such episodes. Sometimes these episodes would feature one of the tots reading the other two a story. These episodes always feature the reading tot preparing to read using dolls of the characters in the story. Apparently the other two were unaware they were preparing to read a story because they would always ring them up on their personal phone to ask if they wanted to listen to a story. This was despite the fact they all lived in the same house. In some of the episodes the tots would find an object such as a ball or a trumpet, which sometimes caused havoc. Whether the tots were in their house or out somewhere, they usually sang a song at some point.

Other

If the episode was a full-length double-bill (sometimes the 1st half with Jane or they would go out on a adventure and the second half an adventure in the secret house) in the earlier episodes with Jane, they would be joined with a 2 minute animation of a 'Noah's Ark' story (based on the toy Noah's ark in the secret house) or an animation of a picture that a viewer had sent into the program.

America

Over a few episodes the Tots went to America and showed them exploring the country. One of the places they visted was a diner. They also went to an apartment complex where outside lots of children did hip-hop dancing. There were 3 groups, each wearing matching coloured t-shirts. They also saw a saloon. When they returned to their house it was covered in dust.

The big treasure adventure

An hour long special was made where Tilly, Tom and Tiny go on a big adventure to find treasure by sailing across the sea in a pirate ship. The tots sail to an island where they find treasure. The treasure is accidentally dropped in the sea after Tom lets Tiny steer the pirate ship.

Productions

Central Television 1993 - 1997 Carlton Television 1997 - present

Episodes

Episodes Included:

• 1. Middle Of The Night
• 2. Hippo
• 3. Furry Beat
• 4. Tom's Trumpet
• 5. Old McTom
• 6. Tiny's Box Song
• 7. Tilly's Recorder
• 8. Castle
• 10.Cleaning Windows
• 11.Birthday Surprise
• 12.Naughty Little Pig
• 13.Tiny Leaves Home
• 14.Lost in the Supermarket
• 15.Postwoman
• 16.What's That Noise?
• 17.Vegetable Guard
• 18.Disco Machine
• 19.A Sticky Mess
• 20.Missing the Bus
• 21.Naughty Mysterious Person
• 22.The Dentist
• 23.Owl
• 24.Hedgehog
• 25.Peacock
• 26.Bus Ride
• 27.Rabbit
• 28.Space Robots
• 29.Tiny's Box
• 30.Rhino
• 40.Dreamy Tilly
• 41.Bike Ride
• 42.Donkey Ride
• 43.Fox
• 44.Camel
• 45.Roller Skating
• 46.Lemur
• 47.Snail
• 48.Hedgehog
• 49.Windy Day
• 50.Apple Picking
• 51.Kittens
• 52.Playground
• 53.Bike Ride
• 54.Dress
• 55.Peacock
• 56.Dog
• 57.Elephant
• 58.Big Balloon

Tots TV Movie

As of November 2009, there have been plans put forward for a movie by three loyal fans. They are working on a script, which includes guest appearances from celebrities (Not yet confirmed). The plot of the movie is also in the earlier stages of production. It is believed that the movie will be heavily welcomed by childhood fans of the show who grew up with it in the 1990's. It is hoped that filming for the movie will begin in 2010.

UK and USA DVD & Video History

• UK
  • Video Collection International (1993-1997)

Tots TV was a television show, produced by Ragdoll Productions and Granada(Both Ragdoll and Central also produced Rosie and Jim and Ragdoll independently produced Teletubbies for the BBC). Tots TV was also broadcast in the USA on PBS from January 3, 1993 to April 27, 1998. It featured three ragdoll friends: Tilly, a French girl, with red hair, who spoke in basic French (in the U.S. broadcast, she spoke Spanish), Tom, a blue haired boy with glasses, and Tiny, the youngest Tot, who was smaller than the others and had green hair. The show won two BAFTA awards. In September 1999 Tots TV moved because Granada Television was going to be replaced by the network.

The show was written by Robin Stevens and Andrew Davenport who also played the characters Tom and Tiny in the show. Claire Carre, who also played as Tilly, wrote, along with Robin Stevens, the episode "Melon Chase". It was originally shown on ITV's children's television strand, Children's ITV; it heralded an era the broadcaster abandoned much programming for older children. The show is now broadcast in the UK on Tiny Pop

Funding

• The Kavli Foundation
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Viewers Like You
• Thank You
• Kellogg's
• Intel
• Juicy Juice
• Wal-Mart
• Target Corporation
• Chuck E. Cheese's
• Knights Inn
• PBS Foundation
• Grant Thornton
• The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• WGBH Boston
• Dunkin Donuts
• Kimberly Clark

External links

• Tots TV at BBC
• Tots TV at IMDb