:: Earl Green - Freelance Television Writer / Producer ::

I was always of the opinion that a children’s programming block needed to have some appropriately wacky IDs and interstitial material. Early on, I had literally been a part of such a project, going on-camera (for the last time ever, please, God) as “Explorer Earl,” imploring kids (and their parents) to adopt this week’s pet from the Fort Smith Humane Society. Though I dreaded being an on-camera personality, this gig did have its perks - I got my two best friends in the world for free from the Humane Society (one of whom later made several Halloween 1996 appearances as the Fox 46 Black Cat). But having done my time as Explorer Earl, I decided to concentrate on giving our kids’ block some real personality…and some very strange IDs. In one, shown above, we zoom out (in Lightwave 4.0, naturally) on a bust of Beethoven, as the opening chords of the Fifth Symphony are heard. Within seconds, a large cow drops out of the sky with a plaintive “moo,” squashing the statue and then laying there on its side. This was just one example of several surreal pieces which (hopefully) made viewers laugh in between cartoons. It would be summer 1997 before I wound up someplace where creating a distinctive brand for kids’ programming was a big priority.