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Teletubbies
- Hosts of the British import children's series TELETUBBIES/PBS/1997
who were created by Anne Wood and designed for an infant audience.
The program featured four dwarf-like roly-poly creatures with
antennas on their heads who lived in a landscape of gently rolling
hills.
Named Dipsy (Lime Green), Tinky Winky (Purple), Laa-Laa
(Yellow), and Po (Red), the Teletubbies frolic, giggle, dance, and
say "again" when they want to re-watch short films that are
broadcast from the little TV screens found in their fuzzy stomachs.
Their favorite phrase is "Uh-oh."
A smiling baby-faced sun overlooks
the Teletubbies fantasy land and then sets in the distance at the
close of each show after each of the Teletubbies wave "Bye-bye."
TRIVIA NOTE: When Teletubbies debuted
on PBS in April of 1998, TV executives criticized the tiny creatures
for speaking in baby talk and for being "vaguely evil."
In February,
1999 wire services reported that J.M. Smith, senior editor of Rev.
Jerry Falwell's Lynchburg, Virginia-based National Liberty Journal,
warned parents that Tinky Winky was a bad role model for children
because he "might" be gay.
The evidence? He is a purple–the
gay-pride color; and he sported a triangular shaped antenna–the gay
pride symbol. (Psst! he also carried a red purse).
For weeks, the
talk shows and comedians had a field day with this little Teletubby
tidbit. Later, in the March issue of National Liberty Journal Falwell said he didn't "out" Tinky Winky and thought him a
"sweet-looking character."
In addition, J.M. Smith said "We weren't
saying that he's gay...we were saying that 'other sources' were
saying he was gay."
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