Popular Mechanics for Kids
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2015) |
| Popular Mechanics for Kids | |
|---|---|
 Opening logo | |
| Directed by | Jean-Louis Cote, Serge Marcil, Zsolt Luka, Sid Goldberg |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 72 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Jonathan Finkelstein |
| Running time | 30 minutes (approx.) |
| Production companies | Global Television Network Hearst Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | Global TV |
| Release | 7 September 1997 – 8 October 2000 |
Popular Mechanics for Kids (sometimes abbreviated to PMK) is an educational Canadian television series based on Popular Mechanics magazine. It was notable for starting the careers of Elisha Cuthbert, Jay Baruchel and Tyler Kyte. The show's intent is to teach viewers how things work. It was awarded the Parents Choice Award in 2003, and was nominated for the Gemini Awards.
The series aired on Global TV from 1997 to 2001. the first season of episodes aired from September 1997 until July 1999. the second season of episodes aired from September 1998 until July 2000. the third season of episodes aired from September 1999 until July 2002 and the fourth season of episodes aired from September 2000 until July 2003 and re-runs of the show continued to air on many channels until 2008. It piloted on BBC Kids and Discovery Kids until December 31, 2009. After the closure of Discovery Kids Canada, BBC Kids stopped airing reruns in all countries except Canada. The reruns on BBC Kids in Canada ended on May 14, 2011. As of 2013[update] re-runs of the show continue to air on Knowledge Network. Along with Cuthbert and Baruchel, the cast included Charles Powell, nicknamed "Charlie" for the series, Tyler Kyte (who joined the show with Jay in the second series), and eventually Vanessa Lengies.
The show was filmed primarily in Montreal, Quebec, and is currently distributed on VHS / DVD by Koch Vision.
The show was produced by Global TV Network and Shaw Media in Canada, Hearst Entertainment in USA and finally "TVA International" in Canada for the last episodes in 2001.
Episode overview
The show starts off with an overview of the episode. The hosts, (Elisha, Tyler, Jay, and later Vanessa) then start their adventures on the show (amusement park, snowboarding, surfing, visiting a science museum, etc.) Throughout the adventures, short, educational segments are shown.
In the segment "Charlie's Experiment / Tip", host Charlie, and sometimes the other hosts, demonstrate an experiment. He sometimes answers frequently asked questions about related science topics. At the start of season 3, one of the hosts (usually Vanessa) would go on a third adventure. The show then comes to a close, with the co-hosts saying "See you next week!".
There have 4 VHS videos called the How Do They Build? and they were hosted by a boy named Mike and a miniaturized man named Pop[1]
Cast
Segments
- Maniac Brainiac
- Cool Tool
- Charlie's Experiment/Tip
- Mechanix with Nix and Tix, later known as just Nix & Tix
- Action!
- Coming Up on PMK
- Rewind
- Fast Forward
- FACTory
- Under the Hood
- Gear Gutz
- Sparks
- System Error
Episodes
Pilot episode: Popular Mechanics for Kids Season 1 Ep 1 "Underground"
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired (Canadian dates) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | |||
| 1 | 22 | September 7, 1997 | February 8, 1998 | |
| 2 | 22 | September 6, 1998 | January 24, 1999 | |
| 3 | 22 | September 5, 1999 | January 30, 2000 | |
| 4 | 6 | September 3, 2000 | October 8, 2000 | |
DVDs
A number of VHS copies (and later, DVDs) have been released by Koch Vision and E1 Entertainment.
- Slither and Slime and Other Yucky Things
- Radical Rockets and Other Cool Cruising Machines
- Rip Roaring Rollercoasters and All Access to Fun
- Gators, Dragons and Other Wild Beasts
- Super Sea Creatures and Awesome Ocean Adventures
- Lightning and Other Forces of Nature
- X-Treme Rides
- Roller Coasters
- Firefighters and Other Lifesaving Heroes
- Zoos
- Garbage
- Popular Mechanics For Kids: 4 DVD Box Set
- Popular Mechanics For Kids: 6 DVD Box Set
- Popular Mechanics For Kids: The Complete First Season
- How Do They Build Bridges [2][3]
- How Do They Build Skyscrapers [4][5]
- How Do They Build Tunnels[6][7]
- How Do They Build Spaceships[8][9]
References
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=K2YEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT53&lpg=PT53&dq=popular+mechanics+for+kids+how+do+they+build&source=bl&ots=_fb_siqL99&sig=ACfU3U2loirnHKCtnc8rf_fOG-eZD2kbIw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiluNSUxarpAhWkhXIEHXo1A0M4ChDoATAQegQIChAB#v=onepage&q=popular%20mechanics%20for%20kids%20how%20do%20they%20build&f=false
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126169/mediaindex?page=2&ref_=ttmi_mi_sm
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=K2YEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT53&lpg=PT53&dq=popular+mechanics+for+kids+how+do+they+build&source=bl&ots=_fb_siqL99&sig=ACfU3U2loirnHKCtnc8rf_fOG-eZD2kbIw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiluNSUxarpAhWkhXIEHXo1A0M4ChDoATAQegQIChAB#v=onepage&q=popular%20mechanics%20for%20kids%20how%20do%20they%20build&f=false
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126169/mediaindex?page=2&ref_=ttmi_mi_sm
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=K2YEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT53&lpg=PT53&dq=popular+mechanics+for+kids+how+do+they+build&source=bl&ots=_fb_siqL99&sig=ACfU3U2loirnHKCtnc8rf_fOG-eZD2kbIw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiluNSUxarpAhWkhXIEHXo1A0M4ChDoATAQegQIChAB#v=onepage&q=popular%20mechanics%20for%20kids%20how%20do%20they%20build&f=false
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126169/mediaindex?page=2&ref_=ttmi_mi_sm
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=K2YEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT53&lpg=PT53&dq=popular+mechanics+for+kids+how+do+they+build&source=bl&ots=_fb_siqL99&sig=ACfU3U2loirnHKCtnc8rf_fOG-eZD2kbIw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiluNSUxarpAhWkhXIEHXo1A0M4ChDoATAQegQIChAB#v=onepage&q=popular%20mechanics%20for%20kids%20how%20do%20they%20build&f=false
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126169/mediaindex?page=2&ref_=ttmi_mi_sm
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=K2YEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT53&lpg=PT53&dq=popular+mechanics+for+kids+how+do+they+build&source=bl&ots=_fb_siqL99&sig=ACfU3U2loirnHKCtnc8rf_fOG-eZD2kbIw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiluNSUxarpAhWkhXIEHXo1A0M4ChDoATAQegQIChAB#v=onepage&q=popular%20mechanics%20for%20kids%20how%20do%20they%20build&f=false
External links
- 1997 Canadian television series debuts
- 2001 Canadian television series endings
- Educational television series
- Television series produced in Montreal
- First-run syndicated television programs in the United States
- Television shows based on magazines
- Science education television series
- Global Television Network shows
- 1990s Canadian children's television series
- Television series by Entertainment One
- Television series by Corus Entertainment
- Canadian children's reality television series