Sep. 15th, 2004

Oh...

Sep. 15th, 2004 08:56 am
hel_ana: (Default)
my... I can hardly wait for the sequel

(Hartford, CT) — CHANUKAH ON PLANET MATZAH BALL, a new half-hour PBS special tells the story of a group of lovable aliens who learn the true meaning of Chanukah. With animation, live-action puppetry, and original music that even includes a boogie-woogie number, the music-driven program is fun for adults as well as children while imparting solid information about the ancient Jewish holiday for people of all faiths.

Produced by Yale Roe Productions for the Jewish Heritage Series, Inc., and presented by Connecticut Public Television, this special—premiering on public television stations nationwide in December 2003 (check local listings)—begins on a bright, yellow star. But…actually, it isn’t a star at all. It’s a matzah ball…The Planet Matzah Ball.And on the Planet Matzah Ball live furry aliens who happen to be Jewish. These furry creatures with Jewish stars at the ends of their antennas know very little about the Jewish holidays, or what it means to be Jewish. However, this year, on Chanukah, they’re going to find out.

As the story goes, on the eighth night of Chanukah, a menorah traveling through space lands on Planet Matzah Ball. This strange object puzzles the aliens, but a note attached to it explains that it is a menorah, used on the holiday of Chanukah on Planet Earth. Since the aliens know they are Jewish, they want to use the menorah too—but how?? What should they put in all those tiny little holes? Crayons? Lipstick? Hot dogs? Oogy, the nine-year-old member of the alien family is determined to find out!

Oogy looks through his super-powered telescope, and observes four kids having a Chanukah party in Cleveland, Ohio. He’s certain if he keeps watching, he’ll find out what to do with the menorah! As Oogy observes them, a clever, informative story unfolds. Through animation and song, he learns the history of Chanukah and its traditions. After doing “The Latke Boogie Woogie,” he learns what potato latkes are and why we eat them. And an animated dreidel known as “Spinderella” explains everything Oogy ever wanted to know about those Chanukah tops.

Yet as evening approaches on Earth, Oogy fears he will never learn what to do with the menorah. Will the sky become too dark for him to see how they use it?! But just as the sun sets, the earthlings put candles in the menorah, lighting up the skies everywhere, for Chanukah.

A companion television special—THE SEDER ON PLANET MATZAH BALL—will be released in March 2004 through PBS Plus to coincide with the Passover holiday season.

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