New Zoo Revue - New Zoo Revue: First Season (2004) (Box Set)

Having originally aired in 1972, NEW ZOO REVUE has regained much of its original audience thanks to a wave of TV-based nostalgia. Although conceived as a children's show, the core audience largely consists of adults who either saw the show first time out, or have heard about it through its cult word-of-mouth reputation. NEW ZOO REVUE has two human hosts, Doug and Emily, who work alongside a variety of creatures, including Charlie The Owl, Henrietta Hippo, and Freddie The Frog. The basic premise of each episode was to teach kids simple lessons in life, but the real appeal lies in the totally bizarre visuals that unfold on screen. Doug sings horrendously off-key songs and wears some increasingly strange outfits, while the animals go through some very odd dance routines. The makers clearly had a lot of fun constructing the show, and as the original audience has grown older, many of them have returned to the show wondering what on earth it was they saw all those years ago! The sense of fun is infectious, however, and this is a great example of early children's programming.