After School (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids After School |
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|---|---|
| Created by | Ian Cumming |
| Presented by | Olly Ohlson (1981-1986) Richard Evans (1986-1987) Annie Roach (1986-1988) Jason Gunn (1987-1988) |
| Country of origin | New Zealand |
| Original language(s) | English, Te Reo Māori, Sign language |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-Camera |
| Release | |
| Original network |
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| Picture format | PAL |
| Original release | 2 March 1981 – 16 December 1988 |
After School was a popular New Zealand TV show for kids. It aired on weekdays from March 1981 to December 1988. The show was on TVNZ channels.
The first host was Olly Ohlson. He was the first Māori person to host a children's TV show in New Zealand. After School was also special because it used Te Reo Māori and Sign language. Later, other hosts like Richard Evans, Annie Roach, and Jason Gunn joined the show. A famous puppet character named Thingee also appeared on the show.
Contents
Why After School Was Created
The Idea Behind the Show
The idea for After School came from Hal Weston. He was in charge of children's shows at TVNZ. He wanted to have more Māori content on TV.
Choosing the Host
Producer Ian Cumming picked Olly Ohlson to be the host. Olly was chosen because he was a good role model for kids. He also knew a lot about Te Reo Māori.
Where It Was Made
After School was filmed in Christchurch at the TVNZ studios. The cool opening video for the show was made using Stop-motion animation. An award-winning animator named Ken Clark created it.
How After School Made a Difference
Using New Languages
The show was very important because it used Māori and Sign language. This was new for TV in New Zealand. Olly Ohlson's special goodbye phrase became famous. He would say, "Keep cool till after school," and use sign language too. This phrase was even suggested by his daughter!
The Story of Thingee
A puppet character named Thingee became very popular on the show. Thingee was an alien who hatched from an egg on TV. After After School ended, Thingee continued to appear on other kids' shows. These included After 2, The Son of a Gunn Show, What Now, and Jase TV.
Awards Won
- 1982 New Zealand Feltex Awards: Best New Talent (Olly Ohlson)
