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Hank Zipzer (TV series)

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Hank Zipzer
GenreSitcom
Created byHenry Winkler
Based onHank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Starring
Theme music composerOli Julian
Nick Foster
ComposersOli Julian
Nick Foster
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes39 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Anne Brogan
  • Hugo Heppell
  • Helen McAleer
  • Sue Nott
  • Melanie Stokes
  • Steven DeNure
  • Shayna Fine
  • Brigdet Goodman
ProducersJim Poyser
Richard Grocock
Ali Brayer Carron
Siobhan Bachman
Cinematography
  • Craig Feather
  • Len Gowing
  • Douglas Hartington
  • Andy Hibbert
Production companiesKindle Entertainment[1]
Walker Productions
DHX Media
Original release
NetworkCBBC
Release28 January 2014 (2014-01-28) –
12 December 2016 (2016-12-12)[2]

Hank Zipzer is a British children's television series created by Henry Winkler, based on the book series of the same name by Winkler and Lin Oliver. It stars Nick James as the 12-year-old dyslexic schoolboy, Hank Zipzer. Winkler also portrays Mr. Rock, Hank's music teacher. Unlike the books that took place in Winkler's native United States, the series takes place in London, in the United Kingdom. It also included a 2016 Christmas special, Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe. HBO Max began streaming all three seasons on May 13, 2022, and began streaming Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe on December 2, 2022.[3]

Plot

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The series focuses on the misadventures of Hank Zipzer, a 12-year-old schoolboy in London who is dyslexic. Hank's friends are named Frankie and Ashley, and Nick McKelty is his worst enemy.

Cast

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Cast list of Hank Zipzer
Actor Character Series Episodes
1 2 3 Special Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Special
Nick James Henry "Hank" Pete Zipzer Main 13 / 13 1 / 1
Chloe Wong Ashley Main — 13 / 13 —
Alicia Lai Ashley — Main — 12 / 12 13 / 13 1 / 1
Felicity Montagu Miss Fanny Adolf Main 13 / 13 12 / 12 13 / 13 1 / 1
Nick Mohammed Mr. Leland Love Recurring Main Guest — 9 / 13 11 / 13 1 / 13 —
Javone Prince Mr. Adam Joy — Main — 11 / 13 —
Juliet Cowan Rosa Main
Neil Fitzmaurice Stanlay "Stan" Zipzer Main
Jude Foley Nicolas "Nick" McKelty Main
Henry Winkler Mr. Rock Main
Jayden Jean-Paul-Denis Frankie Main
Madeline Holliday Emily Gabriela Zipzer Main
Vincenzo Nicoli Peter Zipzer "Papa Pete" Main
Dominic Coleman Micky "Mick" McKelty Guest —

Episodes

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Main article: List of Hank Zipzer episodes

The first season premiered in January 2014 on CBBC.[4] Unlike the books that took place in America, the series takes place in Britain. The second season began airing on 13 August 2015. Javone Prince made his first appearance as Mr. Joy in series 2, episode 5, "Hank's Hero". The third season began airing on 26 May 2016, which was followed by an 84-minute Christmas television film, Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe, in December 2016.

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
11328 January 2014 (2014-01-28)22 April 2014 (2014-04-22)
21313 August 2015 (2015-08-13)5 November 2015 (2015-11-05)
31326 May 2016 (2016-05-26)18 August 2016 (2016-08-18)
Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe12 December 2016 (2016-12-12)

Production

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Development

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Henry Winkler has stated that they "could not sell the show in America. We couldn't sell the books. They said, 'Oh Hank Zipzer is so funny...but we won't do the television show. So we sold it to the BBC."[5] At a later date, after the series was successful on the BBC, it was broadcast on the Universal Kids Channel in the United States.[6][7][5]

CBBC commissioned the series in 2013 to be produced by Kindle Entertainment, and filming commenced in October 2013.[8][9] Matt Bloom was the lead director on all three series.

Casting

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Nick James was cast as Hank,[10] while Henry Winkler was cast as the music teacher Mr. Rock (who was based on a music teacher Winkler once had in high school at McBurney).[6] Winkler said that the real Mr. Rock was the only teacher in his high school who believed in him.[11] In particular, when he was in the eleventh grade, this teacher told him: “Winkler if you ever do get out of here you are going to be great,” a statement that helped him get through school.[6][5]

Filming

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The show was filmed at St Catherine's Catholic High School in Halifax, Yorkshire for series 1–2. Series 3 was filmed at Birkdale High School in Dewsbury, Yorkshire.[12]

Series changes

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Second series

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On 9 June 2014, Cheryl Taylor, the CBBC Controller, announced that the show had been renewed for a second series of thirteen episodes.[4] Nick James, Henry Winkler, Felicity Montagu, and Nick Mohammed were all confirmed to return, as Hank, Mr. Rock, Miss Adolf, and Mr. Love respectively.[13][14] Additionally, Javone Prince joined the main cast as Mr. Joy.[15]

Jon Macqueen replaced script editors Lucy Guy and Danny Springs,[16] while Jim Poyser joined as a producer.[17] Returning writers include Mark Oswin and Madeleine Brettingham, who each wrote one episode and former script editor Lucy Guy, who wrote two.[18][19][20] Several new writers worked on the second series, including Jon Macqueen (two episodes),[16] Mark Evans (one episode), and Adam G. Goodwin & Jonathan Parkyn (one episode).[21]

Cancellation

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In April 2017, Neil Fitzmaurice, who plays Stan, Hank's father, confirmed that there will not be a new series of the show.[22]

Reception

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Release

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Announcements began to circulate in November 2013 that CBBC (the BBC's children's channel) had commissioned a television series of thirteen 30-minute episodes based on the Hank Zipzer books, while Kindle Entertainment, Walker Productions, and DHX Media partnered to create the series that would be debuting in early 2014.[23] Winkler also announced the debut of the series at the 2013 British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards.[24]

Broadcasts

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The show ran for three series (and one Christmas special), from January 2014 to December 2016 on the CBBC channel. All three seasons of the series stream globally on HBO Max,[25] and in the U.K. on BBC iPlayer.[26] HBO Max began streaming Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe on December 2, 2022.[27]

Awards

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Nick James won the British Academy Children's Awards for Performer for his portrayal of Hank Zipzer in 2016.[10] When discussing the award, James noted that he has received tweets from parents and children that the show has helped them understand and come to terms with dyslexia.[10]

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2016 International Emmy Awards Kids: Series Hank Zipzer Nominated
2016 British Academy Children's Awards Performer Nick James as Hank Zipzer Won[10]
2017 British Academy Children's Awards Comedy Hank Zipzer Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hank Zipzer - Kindle Entertainment". Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. ^ Neil Fitzmaurice [@Fitzyfella] (25 April 2017). "@BobHepburn1 @MattBloomFilms @HankZipzerTV @felicitymontagu @hwinkler4real @PENFOLD1P @rebeccaroot1969…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ What's New on HBO Max in December 2022
  4. ^ a b "BBC - CBBC announces second series of Hank Zipzer starring Henry Winkler - Media centre". www.bbc.co.uk. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver Discuss Here's HankHenry Winkler On His Inspiring Character 'Hank Zipzer' For Kids Suffering From Dyslexia". Today. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "'The Fonz,' Hank Winkler on His New Book - Hallmark Channel". Hallmark Channel. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Hank Zipzer: Universal Kids Channel". Universal Kids. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  8. ^ "BBC - CBBC announces new show, Hank Zipzer - Media centre". www.bbc.co.uk. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  9. ^ "BBC - Filming starts on CBBC's Hank Zipzer - Media centre". www.bbc.co.uk. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d "Nick James Interview Hank Zipzer & BAFTA Children's Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  11. ^ Blevis, Mark (21 January 2008). "Interview with Henry Winkler". Just One More Book!!. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Cast announced for Fonz's new children's TV show". www.halifaxcourier.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Hank Zipzer ≪ Tom George Film". www.tomgeorgefilm.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Nick Mohammed | United Agents". www.unitedagents.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Javone Prince on Twitter: ""@felicitymontagu: @PENFOLD1P #HankZipzer working with the brilliant inspiring Javone Prince. Lucky girl!!!!" Hahaha your a joker"". www.twitter.com. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Jon Macqueen | Rochelle Stevens & Co". www.rochellestevens.com. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  17. ^ "Jim Poyser | United Agents". www.unitedagents.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  18. ^ "DEBI ALLEN ASSOCIATES - CLIENTS - MADELEINE BRETTINGHAM". www.daamanagement.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  19. ^ "Hank Zipzer, season 2 | Mark Oswin's Comedy Business". www.markoswin.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  20. ^ "lucy guy | LinkedIn". www.linkedin.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Adam G Goodwin | Rochelle Stevens & Co". www.rochellestevens.com. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  22. ^ Neil Fitzmaurice [@Fitzyfella] (25 April 2017). "@BobHepburn1 @MattBloomFilms @HankZipzerTV @felicitymontagu @hwinkler4real @PENFOLD1P @rebeccaroot1969…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "CBBC to adapt Henry Winkler's Hank Zipzer series for television". Curtis Brown (agency). 3 November 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Henry Winkler Interview BAFTA Children's Awards 2013". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  25. ^ Petski, Denise (11 May 2022). "HBO Max Greenlights Peyton List Ghost Romance Special Event, Acquires Henry Winkler's 'Hank Zipzer' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Hank Zipzer". Apple TV. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  27. ^ Adams, Sam (1 December 2022). "The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, and Hulu in December". Slate. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
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