The Crunch! (partially found Nickelodeon UK interactive show; 2005)
The show's logo.
Status: Partially Found
The Crunch! was a morning TV block on Nickelodeon UK, presented by comedians Ed Petrie, Mark Felgate, Beth Palmer, and Sy Thomas. The show was filmed daily "as live,"[1] and took place in the basement of Nick Towers.[2] It featured studio games and skits that aired between Nicktoons and live action shows. The program also featured celebrity guest performances and interviews. At the time, The Crunch! was the only breakfast show aimed at kids.[3]
The Kid Crew and Interactive Programming
The Crunch! was envisioned as an interactive show that gave kids an active role in the production.[3] In addition to features that allowed viewers to engage online,[4][5] each episode featured a Kid Crew of four kids who helped with various production tasks, such as sound technician or camera operator.[3] The Kid Crew also participated in studio games and skits, and were described as being quite vocal.[2]
Notable Skits
The show featured many memorable skits. One of The Crunch!’s highlights were the humorous skits involving the show’s signature substance S.C.U.M.M. (an acronym for Sticky, Clammy, Unpleasantly Messy Materials). Noteworthy skits included the SCUMM Gameshow, SCUMM Nationals (a mock horse race), the SCUMM Auction, and SCUMM-Ba-Yah (a musical scout camp skit, complete with hippie commune members). The presenters often played recurring characters for these skits, showcasing their comedic versatility.
Schedule, Programming, and Popularity
The Crunch! aired weekday mornings from 7-9am from 2005-2006. It also aired briefly as an afternoon block. There was also a summer edition known as The Crunch!: Summer Sizzle. Nickelodeon shows that aired during the block included Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, My Parents Are Aliens, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly Odd Parents.[4][6] At one point, The Crunch! was the highest rated programme on Nickelodeon UK.[7] The Nick Towers illustration produced for the show by The Boy Fitz Hammond was an iconic part of Nickelodeon UK branding in the mid-2000s.[8][5]
Availability Status
The show survives only in a few brief fragments or clips, such as those found as part of presenter demo reels or Nickelodeon fan edits. Very few of such clips have surfaced. Due to Nickelodeon parent company Viacom's lack of archiving,[9] it is likely that the only surviving archive of the show comes from home recordings made by viewers. No complete episodes are known to exist.
Gallery
Images
The Crunch! opening logo 1.
The Crunch! opening logo 2.
Videos
External Links
References
- ↑ Sean Pruen production resume. Retrieved 18 Sep '21
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 DigitalSpy discussion The Crunch!. Retrieved 18 Sep '21
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Crunch! Press Release from The Independent. Retrieved 18 Sep '21
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Archived nick.co.uk site with interactive games, show schedule. Retrieved 18 Sep '21
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Archived Interactive Nick Towers Illustration for The Crunch!. Retrieved 18 Sep '21
- ↑ Archived nick.co.uk site with show schedule for The Crunch!. Retrieved 18 Sep '21
- ↑ June 23 2005 UK multi-channel ratings, shows The Crunch! as top-rated Nickelodeon UK programme. Retrieved 18 Sep '21
- ↑ Interview with Illustrator The Boy Fitz Hammond. Retrieved 18 Sep '21
- ↑ Jonah Travick describes the lack network of archiving for Nickelodeon's Slime Time Live. Retrieved 18 Sep '21