Place," she is also the host of The
Learning Channel's (TLC) six-hour
morning lineup of educational
shows, which runs from 6 a.m.-12
p.m. weekdays.
The violence- and commercial-free
block of programming known as
"Ready, Set, Learn!" features pro-
grams woven together by themes of
the day — Monday is color day,
Tuesday is animal day, etc.
Three new series premiered on
"Ready, Set, Learn!" this week: "Big
Garage," an animated show revolving
around a fleet of energetic taxis and
their adventures in Taxitown; "Bingo
and Molly," designed to help young
viewers build their social skills
through following the adventures of
seven forest friends; and
"Skinnamarink TV," featuring chil-
dren's entertainers Sharon, Lois and
Bram.
The new shows join old favorites:
"Kitty Cats," "David the Gnome,"
"Wisdom of the Gnomes,"
"Puppyland," "Swamp Critters,"
"TLC Elementary School" and, of
course, "Rory's Place," which alter-
nates with "Rory & Me" in the 11-
11:30 a.m. time slot.
In addition to hosting her show
and the programming block,
Zuckerman is preparing to promote
her fourth and yet untitled album of
children's songs due out this fall. Her
other CDs include I'm Just a Kid,
Make Believe Day and Little
Hollywood.
Zuckerman's love of performing
began in childhood. Although she
enjoyed watching shows like
"Captain Kangaroo" and the "Soupy
Sales Show," she spent most of her
time in her family's back yard with
her two sisters, creating and perform-
ing in a number of neighborhood
shows.
"That was a very important cre-
ative process as a child which I think
all children have inside of them," she
said. "Children are intrinsically cre-
ative."
This love followed her into her
adult life. As a jingle singer and
nightclub performer, she found suc-
cess in the Washington, D.C., area.
However, her real success came
after she had her first child. Finding
only a handful of quality children's
performers who ventured further
than lullabies, she decided to create
her own songs for her son.
With writing partner Tom
Guernsey, she developed a number of
catchy songs for preschoolers that
teach self-esteem, hygiene and a vari-
ety of other issues. She packed her
material into lively concerts and soon
began recording albums.
"I don't think life is ever what we
plan for it to be. We 4take a lot of
twists and turns," she said.
It was only a matter of time before
her talent was noticed by producers
who tapped her for television. The
Learning Channel launched its
"Ready, Set, Learn!" programming
for preschoolers in 1992, and "Rory
& Me" joined its lineup in 1994.
Featuring Zuckerman and a "6-
year-old" female puppet friend
named Reddy, the show quickly took
off, snapping up some prestigious
honors including two Parent's Choice
Awards.
"[The awards] pay attention to
promoting high quality material for
children, so it is a great honor to
have them," Zuckerman said.
As more puppets, including a "5-
year-old" boy named Duncan and an
adult alligator named Buster joined
the cast, a new name was in order for
"Rory & Me." The show, now called
"Rory's Place," continues to offer the
same format, which includes seg-
ments on professions, animation and
songs.
And Zuckerman continues to per-
form on the road, while her husband
stays home with their children.
Having taken her show to 18 of the
largest 20 cities in America and per-
forming in over 250 concerts, this is
the part of her career that
Zuckerman likes the most.
"The best part is getting out in
front of a live audience of children
and performing," she said. "I know I
have touched them when they sing
along.
As for the future, Zuckerman
plans to continue her role as national
spokesperson for the National Head
Start Association and will perform in
Head Start classrooms across the
country. She would also like to
record an album with her mother
and sisters, together with whom she
began singing in the car on family
trips.
"My dad couldn't carry a tune, but
my mother and my sisters all have
such beautiful voices," she said,
adding that her mother performed
Yiddish songs at her son's bar mitz-
vah last year. "It would be nice to
preserve that." ❑
"
„
Roger s
the only e *t=18''fi' te
the
uren
-Xe hr sa w itnes
g f° 6r A P i aetni0n
, s ed
explosion in childrens
From "Arthur to Theodore
Tugboat," from. "GuLlah Griitah
Island" to "Shirling Time Station,')
three stations offer full morning
blocks of progra.trinaing while others
have a smattering in their daily line-
ups. In fact, over 100 children's televi-
sion shows have been created and pro-
duced in the past two decades and
most now have accompanying fan
clubs and Internet sites.
The follPwitig is a short list of new
favorites and where they can be
on the dial (check your Ion
"
" w ee arr hem pups
explore the world from
settee.
"David the (-.;tiornei vsr
c;nomes," The Learning Cher e l
(TLC). Gnome families are featured
in stories of their daily lives which fea-
ture problem-solving, teamwork, fair-
ness and a host of other issues.
• "Gullah. Gullah Island,"
An African-Mierican family sib
and learns different lessons
th e
ries and otherSesaitt.
Lessons.
• "Artlut Publicroadcastin
Station
ous show
features'
tual
encounters
peers and siblings at school' and
home.
• "Barney & Friends," PBS. The
10/3
1997
99