Gullah Gullah Island

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Gullah Gullah Island
Gullahlogo.gif
Created by Maria Magdalena Perez
Kathleen Minton Capano
Kit Laybourne
Presented by Ron Daise
Natalie Daise
Theme music composer Peter Lurye
Composer(s) Billy Straus
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English, introducing Gullah
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 70
Production
Executive producer(s) Maria Perez-Brown
Kathleen Minton Capano
Kit Laybourne
Camera setup Videotape; Multi-camera
Running time 24 minutes
Production company(s) Magnet Productions (season 1) & Magnet Productions (A Nickelodeon Company) [season 1]
Perez-Minton Productions, Inc. /Nickelodeon Productions with Copyrights
Distributor Viacom Enterprises (1994–1995)
Paramount Domestic Television (1995–1998)
Release
Original network Nickelodeon
Picture format SDTV (480i)
Original release July 6, 1994 (1994-07-06) –
January 9, 1998 (1998-01-09)
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Gullah Gullah Island is an American musical children's television series that was produced by and aired on the Nickelodeon network from 1994 to 1998.[1] The show starred Ron and Natalie Daise, who also served as the cultural advisors, and was inspired by the Gullah culture of Ron Daise's home of St. Helena Island, South Carolina, part of the Sea Islands.[2][3]

Origin and development

Ron Daise's book Reminiscences of Sea Island Heritage was published in 1987. He and his New York-born wife, Natalie Daise (née Eldridge), followed by creating and touring with a multimedia show, Sea Island Montage, based on the book as well as stories from oral histories of elderly St. Helena Island residents.[4][5] After one of their performances, the Daises met with an executive producer from Nickelodeon.[6] Creator Maria Perez-Brown had planned on building a multicultural program featuring a "magical island" and was inspired by the Daises to use the Sea Islands and elements of Gullah culture.[7][8][9] Part of Nickelodeon's initiative to broaden its preschool programming, Gullah Gullah Island was the first show of its kind to star an African-American family set in an indigenously black community.[6][10] The show's originality caused some upfront concerns. "We were apprehensive about naming it 'Gullah Gullah Island'. We wanted to make sure the portrayal was positive and didn't in any way poke fun at the culture or the community," Ron Daise said of creating a show based on an existing culture.[11]

Format and production

Gullah Gullah Island is a sing-a-long half-hour live-action show.[2] The format was part of a 'flexible-thinking' initiative that taught children to make good choices rather than using a rote memorization.[8][12]

The series revolves around a family headed by Ron and Natalie Daise, playing fictionalized versions of themselves, set on the fictional "Gullah Gullah Island". Additional cast featured the Daise's actual children Simeon and Sara among others, including a full-body puppet tadpole, Binyah Binyah Polliwog ('Binyah' is the Gullah word for 'island native'.)[13] The show was taped and recorded at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando at Universal Studios Florida, with the show Clarissa Explains It All shot on the same set (interior and exterior).[6][14][15] Outdoor shots featured Beaufort, South Carolina and Fripp Island.[11][16] Charleston, SC was featured in one episode when the family took a trip to the City Market.[17][18]

Episodes are presented with a unified plot and not separate segments, featuring singing, dancing, learning and encouraging children think about things like taking care of yourself, animals, telling the truth, social skills, and problem solving.[12][19] The show also highlights the culture and language of Gullah, descendants of former slaves who live on the Sea Islands off South Carolina and Georgia.[18]

Reception

Critical reception

Critical reception of the show was consistently positive; both as a children's show and as groundbreaker for African American programming, it was praised for "vividly colored sets, infectious sing-alongs, unique character accents and quirky humor that defined the show and introduced millions of children to an overlooked but centuries-old branch of African American culture."[5] It was described as "a combination summer camp, cheerleading session and music video."[20] The issues, especially with the first season, had to do with show's depiction being unrealistic. "The songs were lively and catchy, the kids were cute and the general theme was unlike other kids' programming," Jenifer Managan of Chicago Tribune wrote. However;

...it stars "perfect" parents, Ron and Natalie Daise, who with their three children (who never fight), neighbors and friends seek to entertain and socially educate kids through a sing-song series. While the show encourages active participation from at-home viewers, the dictionary responses and incomparable energy from the Daises make normal parents look like misfits. Perhaps as the show seasons, the lip-syncing will improve and the characters won't be so picture-perfect.[11][12]

In 1996, TV Guide named the show one of "10 best children's shows".[5] During its original broadcast, it was Nickelodeon's highest-rating preschool show averaging more 750,000 viewers per episode.[10][14][19]

Awards

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Episode Result
1995 Parents' Choice Award[21][22] DVDs - Home Video Gullah Gullah Island: Sing Along With Binyah Binyah Won
1996 NAACP Image Award[21][23] Outstanding Educational/Informational Youth or Children's Series/Special Gullah Gullah Island Nominated
1997 NAACP Image Award[21][23] Outstanding Educational/Informational Youth or Children's Series/Special Gullah Gullah Island Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award[21][23][24] Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series Kathleen Minton (executive producer), Maria Perez-Brown (executive producer), Diane Fazio (supervising producer), Stephanie N. Jones (coordinating producer) Nominated
Writers Guild of America Award[21] Children's Script Eric Weiner Look Who's Balking Nominated
1998 NAACP Image Award[21][23] Outstanding Educational/Informational Youth or Children's Series/Special The Christmas Special Nominated
Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special Ron Daise, Natalie Daise The Christmas Special Nominated
2000 NAACP Image Award[21][23] Outstanding Educational/Informational Youth or Children's Series/Special Gullah Gullah Island Nominated

Broadcast, syndication and marketing

The show ran for 4 seasons from 1994–1998, with a total of 66 episodes. Several special home video releases accompanied the original broadcast, including: Binyah Binyah's Surprise (1994),[25] Gullah Gullah Island: Play Along With Binyah and Friends (1994),[26] Gullah Gullah Island - Dance Along with the Daise Family (1997),[27] and Gullah Gullah Island Christmas (1998).[28]

Reruns of Gullah Gullah Island aired on Noggin (now Nick Jr.) from February 2, 1999-April 2004 and again from 2008–January 1, 2012. The series began airing in reruns on BET and Centric on April 16, 2012.

Home videos of the show were released on VHS format by Sony Wonder from 1995-1996 and later by Paramount from 1996-1998. As of February 7, 2012, every season of the series is being released to DVD through Amazon.com's MOD (Make On Demand) program.[29] Nickelodeon licensed a series of children's books, musical cassettes and "Binyah Binyah Polliwog" plush animals.[14]

The first 37 episodes are available to watch on the Noggin subscription service as of October 14, 2015.

Cast

Vanessa Baden, James Edward Coleman III, Ron Daise, and Natalie Daise - Themselves

  • Manolo Villaverde - Abuelo
  • Iris Chacón - Ms. Juana
  • Pixee Wales - Grandma Pixee
  • Mike Walker - Ranger Mike
  • Corey Hayes - Himself
  • Marcus T. Paulk – Himself
  • Simeon Othello Daise - Himself
  • Shaina M. Freeman - Herself (1994–1997)
  • Tristin Mays - Shaina (1997–1998)
  • Cristian Sola - Miguel (1997)
  • Sara Makeba Daise - Sara (1994–1997)

Mia Barrington, Gregory Davis II - Themselves

  • Armando Guerra - Armando (1994–1997)
  • Philip D. Garcia - Binyah Binyah (1994–1996) (Notice: Philip Garcia was killed in a car accident in 1996, which is why Justin Campbell had the role of Binyah Binyah for the 3rd season)
  • Justin Campbell - Binyah Binyah (1996–1998)
  • Ana Christina Randolph - Marisol

Bryan Nguyen, Jessica Gorski - Themselves

and

  • James J. Kroupa - Chansome

and

  • Hillary Hawkins - (Singing Voice of Vanessa)

cast from The Simpsons, Misery Loves Company, Too Something, and Married... with Children

Episodes

Season 1: 1994–95

Ep # Title
01 "Ron's Birthday"
02 "Charleston Market"
03 "The Binyah Binyah Polliwog Show"
04 "Gullah Gullah Island Day"
05 "Going Places"
06 "Yes I Can"
07 "Rain, Rain Go Away"
08 "Baby Animals"
09 "Oops!"
10 "James' Treasure Box"
11 "Please Don't Eat the Alstons"
12 "Carnival"
13 "Relaciones Familares"
14 "The Green Show"
15 "The School Show"
16 "Say What?!"
17 "Rhythm & Rhyme All the Time"

Season 2: 1995–96

Ep # Title
18 "Let the Games Begin"
19 "Friendship-Just the Perfect Blendship"
20 "Natalie's Sick"
21 "Taking Care of Business"
22 "Double Dutch"
23 "Look Who's Balking"
24 "Move Your Body"
25 "My Favorite Things"
26 "Beat It!"
27 "Armando's New Home"
28 "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most"
29 "Whose Friend Are You Anyway?"
30 "Gullah Gullah Ghoul-Land"
31 "Things that Go Bump in the Night"
32 "The Pet Show"
33 "The Ego That Ate GGI"
34 "The Talent Show"
35 "Grandmas and Grandpas"
36 "Get Out of My Hair"
37 "Feeling Soup"
38 "Mercy Mercy Me"
39 "Miss Ella Mae Breadsticks"
40 "Shaina's Birthday"

Season 3: 1996–97

Ep # Title
41 "What's Up with Jobs?"
42 "Away All Boats"
43 "How You Sound"
44 "The Gullah Gullah Games"
45 "Chansome's Big Surprises"
46 "A Day at the Beach"
47 "Binyah Binyah's Parade"
48 "Animal See, Animal Do"
49 "Food, Glorious Food"
50 "Home Alone With Grandma"
51 "Fixing A Hurt"
52 "Special Places"

Season 4: 1997–98

Ep # Title
53 "Simeon's Day"
54 "Family Day"
55 "The Mighty Cootas"
56 "Campout"
57 "Here Come the Hatchlings"
58 "Binyah the Barbarian"
59 "Magic Show"
60 "Gullah Rocks"
61 "Stray Dog Blues"
62 "James' New Buddy"
63 "The Hottest Day of the Year"
64 "A Barrel of Laughs"
65 "Binyah Goes to School"
66 "A Gullah Gullah Christmas"
67 "Big and Small"
68 "The Big Sleepover"
69 "Lightning is Frightening"
70 "Polliwog Day"

Binyah Binyah!

In 1997, five episodes of a Gullah Gullah Island miniseries titled Binyah Binyah! were produced at the now-defunct Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida.[30] A separate theme song written by Sean Altman[31] was given to these episodes. The miniseries also featured several new puppet characters in addition to the original cast, and focused on polliwog Binyah Binyah journeying to locations outside of Gullah Gullah. Ron and Natalie Daise were a part of the cast as well.[32] Since the show's debut, none of the episodes have made any releases through VHS, DVD, or through online.

References

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External links

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  30. ↑ http://www.lyonpuppets.com/binyah.html
  31. ↑ http://www.seanaltman.com/sean97b.shtml
  32. ↑ http://articles.courant.com/1998-02-22/news/9802210141_1_gullah-gullah-island-puerto-rico-perez-family/5
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