Nanna's Cottage
Nanna's Cottage is a children's TV series produced by Polara Productions and created by husband and wife producing team Davey Porter and Karen Sponsler-Porter.
Nanna's Cottage | |
---|---|
File:Nanna'sCottagePoster.jpg Abigale "Nanna" Macaroon | |
Created by | Davey Porter Karen Sponsler-Porter |
Starring | Rachael Rizzo Greg Izay Lauren Stone Jason Booth Gracie Porter C.J. Walker Carly Walker Liza Clark Lydia Hale Austen Reeder |
Country of origin | United States |
Production | |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | Faith TV, TBN, Sky Angel Satellite Network |
Release | July 1, 2006 – present |
The show is about a 75-year old grandmother Abigale "Nanna" Macaroon, a world traveler and archeologist, who dispenses love and knowledge to her granddaugher and her friends about the world, and the importance of character. Every episode is filled with warmth, adventure, fun, music, valuable lessons and a little bit of magic.
The series debuted on multiple broadcast outlets in 2006:
- The ABC affiliates KEZI-9 (Eugene, Oregon), KDRV-12 (Medford, Oregon), and KDKF-31 (Klamath Falls, Oregon)
- Trinity Broadcasting Network
- Smile of a Child
- Faith TV on the Sky Angel Satellite Network
- Kids & Teens TV, a 24/7 children's channel on the Sky Angel network.
- Total Living Network, also on the Sky Angel network.
- Familyland Television Network
- God's Learning Channel
First Season Episodes
(By Broadcast Order)
- 1.1 "Welcome to Cottage Hamlet"
Nanna (Rachael Rizzo) introduces the characters of Cottage Hamlet; the kids learn the importance of friendship when Nanna and the kids take a trip to Pluto on Danny’s rocket ship.
- 1.2 "Time Well Spent"
Nanna (Rachael Rizzo) stays home while the kids are on a camping trip; Marvin sends Nanna on a treasure hunt; and traveling salesman Gilbert Gadgetseller (Gaylord Walker) visits the Cottage.
- 1.3 "Happy Birthday, Arbuckle"
Arbuckle (Jason Booth) thinks everyone has forgotten his birthday; the kids learn about electricity; and comedy ensues as Nanna (Rachael Rizzo) plans a surprise party for Arbuckle.
- 1.4 "The Great Cottage Hamlet Mystery"
Danny (C.J. Walker) becomes a detective to help solve the mystery of Trudy’s missing idea. Little Harry helps Marvin find Nanna’s missing North Pole diamond.
- 1.5 "Rushin' There, Russian Here!"
Nanna (Rachael Rizzo) takes the kids on a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, where they meet Sasha Playnowski (Spencer Hansen). Upon returning to the Cottage, they discover a certain stowaway in their luggage.
- 1.6 "Tick Tock Travelers"
Danny (C.J. Walker) invents a time machine to help Heather (Liza Clark) after she accidentally breaks Nanna’s priceless Babylonian urn. Misadventure ensues when they travel to Ancient Babylon.
- 1.7 "Everyone's a Winner!"
Trudy (Lauren Stone) learns a lesson about charity after winning a local sweepstakes; Heather (Liza Clark) discovers there’s more to winning than coming in first place.
- 1.8 "Bookworms"
During a book drive in Cottage Hamlet, Nanna (Rachael Rizzo) teaches the kids the importance of reading – and not judging books, or people, by their covers.
- 1.9 "A Clean Sweep"
A comedy of errors ensues when Nanna (Rachael Rizzo) gets a visit from an absent-minded chimney sweep (Jason Booth). Rosey and Anna Belle discover that superstitions can cause misunderstandings.
- 1.10 "Music, Music, Music!"
Cottage Hamlet is filled with the sounds of music as Nanna (Rachael Rizzo) revisits some of her favorite musical numbers from Nanna’s Cottage.
- 1.11 "Remember When..."
Nanna (Rachael Rizzo) and Gardener Gus (Greg Izay) recall some of their favorite adventures together in Nanna’s Cottage.
- 1.12 "There's Never Enough Gus"
A showcase of Gardener Gus’ (Greg Izay) favorite visits to Nanna’s Cottage.
- 1.13 "The Ones You Liked The Best"
The children of America pick their favorite segments of Nanna’s Cottage in this delightful episode.
Cast
The Adult Characters
Picture | Character | Actor | Description from Series Writer's Guide |
---|---|---|---|
File:Nanna.jpg | Abigale "Nanna" Macaroon | Rachael Rizzo | Age seventy-something, Nanna Macaroon is an insightful, caring and “fun” grandmotherly character. But she's no slouch! Having lived a full and adventurous life, Nanna has traveled the world over. She has led archeological digs, has enjoyed friendships with kings, queens and presidents, and has circled the globe on a tramp steamer, the S/S Hawaiian Pilot. |
File:Gardener Gus.jpg | Gardener Gus O'Hara | Greg Izay | Nanna's good friend and traveling companion, the Irish-born Gus is Nanna's “Man Friday,” a spirited fellow who lives down the lane with always a watchful eye on Nanna's Cottage. |
File:Arbuckle the dog.jpg | Arbuckle | Jason Booth | Arbuckle is a big, dumb, dopey dog who just happens to be the kindest, sweetest canine standing on four big legs. If there is a single word to describe Nanna's canine protector, it is LOYALTY. Arbuckle is fearless (to a point), smart (uhmmm... to a point!), and honest. |
The Puppet Characters
Picture | Character | Actor | Description |
---|---|---|---|
File:Marvin Micklewhite.jpg | Marvin | Davey Porter | Marvin can be loud, obnoxious, selfish, and is known to throw tantrums and pick his nose in public. Marvin provides conscience and lessons of right and wrong for our viewers and visitors to Nanna's Cottage. |
File:Little Harry.jpg | Little Harry | Dave Moppert | A bad little puppet who gives Marvin bad ideas. He tries to get Marvin to do bad things, and to tell big lies. He usually succeeds, until Marvin learns his lesson and tells Harry, “I’m not gonna do it!!!” |
The Kids
Picture | Character | Actor | Description |
---|---|---|---|
File:Rosey Smartidoddle.jpg | Rosey Smartidoodle | Gracie Porter | Seven-year-old Rosey is Nanna's granddaughter, and is a ball of happy, friendly energy. Rosey lights up any room she enters. Rosey is friend to all, and looks forward to enjoying the kind of life her Nanna has lived. |
File:Danny O'Hara.jpg | Danny O'Hara | Cameron J. Walker | Nephew of Gardener Gus, Danny is a genius. His many inventions are legendary in Cottage Hamlet lore. Kind of shy and soft-spoken, Danny is living proof that those who do the right thing, always try their best, and consider other people's feelings will get ahead in life. |
File:Heather Horsetrotter.jpg | Heather Horsetrotter | Liza Clark | Heather is an expert horsewoman who competes, competes, competes! With her gentle interaction with Nanna, Heather learns that competition isn't half the fun as the game itself. Heather has a crush on Danny, which he never quite realizes because he's so involved in his inventions and experiments. |
File:Fu Cheng.jpg | Fu Cheng | Lydia Hale | Fu Cheng appears to be the calm center of the room, but there is an impish glee that comes from Fu Cheng just as easily! She is as smart as they come, and she is very musical! |
File:Andy Puddlesplash.jpg | Andy Puddlesplash | Austen Reeder | Andy is the cynic of the group. He can't believe that trains can travel to an island, that Rosey can talk to Arbuckle, that Gus can grow a whole shade tree in five minutes, or that Nanna's living room clock carries on conversations. Yet... much to Andy's surprise, these things actually seem to happen at Nanna's Cottage. |
File:Anna Belle Jingleheimer.jpg | Anna Belle Jingleheimer | Carly Walker | Related to the John Jacob Jingleheimer-Smith's of camp song notoriety, Miss Anna Belle is the inquisitive best friend of Rosey. Anna Belle keeps a journal of the many adventures of Nanna and company, and wants to be a newspaper reporter when she grows up. |
File:Bunny Hoppergrass.jpg | Bunny Hoppergrass | Bethany Smith | Bunny is a sweet, loyal, practical 7-year-old who is the doer of the group. She takes care of the details and makes sure all the kids are wearing their coats and galoshes. She helps Nanna in the kitchen and Gus in the garden. She tells it like it is and definitely knows right from wrong, and keeps everyone on track. |
File:Sasha Playnowski.jpg | Sasha Playnowski | Spenser Hansen | When Nanna and the Kids return from a trip to Russia, they discover Sasha Playnowski hiding in their baggage. Sasha wants to play all the time. ALL THE TIME! This can be a problem when there are chores to do and projects to accomplish at the cottage. Sasha needs to learn how to balance work and play, and how to pay attention to his surroundings and listen! |
File:Christopher the Geography Boy.jpg | Christopher the Georgraphy Boy | Ben Ballard | Christopher is a recurring character. Wherever the group travels, Christopher is there to greet them, dressed in native costume, and speaking with a local accent. Christopher gives the group insight into other countries and faraway places. |
File:Nanna'sCottagePoster.jpg | Nice Nick Micklewhite | Griffin Moser | Marvin's older brother. |
File:Nanna'sCottagePoster.jpg | Calvin Coalshovel | Evan Kossow | |
File:Nanna'sCottagePoster.jpg | Peter Pufferbelly | Ben Bailey | |
File:Nanna'sCottagePoster.jpg | Operissimo | Ben Taube |
Recurring Guest Stars
Picture | Character | Actor | Description |
---|---|---|---|
File:Neighbor Trudy.jpg | Gertrude "Trudy" Hazelnut | Lauren Stone | Nanna's next door neighbor, Trudy is the life of the party and is an often and welcome visitor to the Cottage. Trudy is an adult contemporary of Nanna's, and affords Nanna's character someone who is her direct opposite to play off of. |
File:Gaylord Walker.jpg | The Merchants of Cottage Hamlet | Gaylord Walker | Character actor, Gaylord Walker, plays the entire town of Cottage Hamlet (almost). Each time Nanna and the Kids visit a Cottage Hamlet merchant, it is Gaylord who is in make-up and costume. |
File:Captain Macaroon.jpg | Captain Carsten Macaroon | Tom Snyder | Whenever Nanna and the Kids go back in time via Danny's Time Machine, they usually stop aboard the S/S Hawaiian Pilot and visit with Nanna's late husband, the famous Captain Macaroon. It was aboard the tramp steamer that Nanna met Captain Mac, and found a little puppy in the cargo hold named Arbuckle. |
File:Nanna'sCottagePoster.jpg | Beatrice Bookshussher | Joy Doctor | Beatrice is the town Librarian. |
File:Nanna'sCottagePoster.jpg | Various | Don Moser |
Production Staff
- Davey Porter, executive producer
- Karen Sponsler-Porter, co-producer & costume designer
- Eric A. Stillwell, associate producer & head writer
- Kevin M. Sponsler, associate producer & station relations
- Lee Reeder, associate producer & writer
- Steve Ogle, line producer & technical director
- Penny Havlovick, production coordinator & stage manager
- Dave Moppert, assistant director & graphic artist
- Pete Noriega, art director
- Loren Starr, art director
- Sal Collura, director of photography
- Cynthia McCourt, hair & makeup
- Spence Palermo, sound
- Jason Booth, writer