We were saddened by the departure from our screens of some TV shows for children. Last week, however, we were heartened to see that the Saturday-morning show for kids, “Tropang Potchi” (GMA 7), had transformed from being a typically loud “fun-fun-fun” program, into a more varied, eventful and substantial show that tries to provide young viewers with more than just a spasmodic series of giggling fits.
The new “Tropang Potchi” still fields pretty much the same set of young talents, but they’re given more to do than just act zany and silly.
Recently, it taught young viewers the basics of animation and puppetry, and also dramatized what kids can do to protect and defend themselves against bullies on campus and in the neighborhood.
The sequences on bullying were most welcome and relevant, because the incidence of acts of intimidation and even violence on school campuses is on the rise.
Most assaults go unreported, so young victims should be empowered by greater knowledge and awareness to uphold their rights and to know how to seek help from their parents and teachers.
But the show’s handling of its feature on bullying, though well-intentioned, lost points on believability and practicality. There was a tendency to take the fantasy, “cute” and blithe routes in confronting and solving the problem.
Alas, in a young bullying victim’s real life, the problem cannot be finessed away so easily. So, if the show wants to really help its young viewers, it should stop being so escapist and blithe in its solutions.
It would also help if some of the show’s young hosts wouldn’t be so porma and siga in their hosting and performing styles.
We know that TV people think that those styles are preferred by local viewers, but we believe that knee-jerk cheerfulness, pa-cute antics and “little-adult” and siga behavior are turn-offs because they’re so generic and push-button.
What makes for greater empathy with viewers is a natural projection, genuine understanding of the material being depicted or enacted, sincere rapport, a child-like disposition and inborn “smarts.”
We’ve had it up to here with all those TV kids who act like they came from the same cookie-cutter talent factory, all of them shouting and screaming and being “energetic” and “cute” and “siga.”
So, it would really be great if, aside from the new features and approaches it has recently unveiled, “Tropang Potchi” could also teach other kiddie shows to be more natural, substantial and creative, with their young hosts behaving like real people, instead of antic automatons of cuteness and relentless good cheer!