Dear Noggin:

To: Jim Jinkins, Creator, Pinky-Dinky-Doo



From: Shelah the Blogger



First of all, congratulations on the new show. You’ll be pleased to know that all four of the children in my care are upstairs right at this very moment, watching “Grumpy Alligator” for the umpteenth time (yes, the greatest invention in recent history is the DVR). You and the people at Noggin did a fantastic job promoting the show. In mid-March my 4 year-old daughter, Annie, started counting down the days until Pinky Dinky-Doo debuted. To say she was excited is an understatement.



But just like great new restaurants often take a month or two to work all of the kinks out, there are definitely a few problems with Pinky Dinky-Doo. First of all, what’s the deal with just having three episodes? When Wonder Pets debuted on Nick Jr. a few months ago, they started out with eight or ten episodes. And I’m sorry to tell you this, but as much as my daughter loves Pinky, she’s already totally grating on my nerves. Wonder Pets got old after the twentieth watching, but at least we had a good variety of episodes and the show looks and feels sort of innovative. An animated, imaginative, do-gooder, alpha female? Not so innovative, I’m sorry to say.



If you don’t want parents to put Pinky Dinky Doo on their lists of banned shows (mine currently includes LazyTown, since the Stephanie/Sportacus, January/July relationship gives me the willies, and Barney—no explanation needed), then you really need to work on the dialogue. Yessiroonie, Positoonie? I feel so dumb just typing that. And my husband and I spent a good portion of Saturday afternoon coming up with dirty and evil permutations of Pinky’s name (Stinky Dinky Poo anyone?). Seriously though, I want to watch shows with my kids so we can talk about what they’re learning, but I don’t think I can bring myself to watch Pinky again for at least a few days.



My advice? Make her a little edgier and a little hipper. Instead of “yesseronie, positoonie” you might try “dude, that rocks!” I know she’s not supposed to like pink, so maybe she should wear a little more black, or come across an issue she can’t solve in 11 minutes. But please, do something. The show has only been on for a week and my patience is already wearing thin If the show doesn't appeal to the adults who are forced to watch it (or listen to it in the background) with their offspring, it will never survive. Right now you've got the four year-olds satisfied, but it's time to work on their parents.

--originally published 4/19/06