Edutainment Show: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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{{quote|''"Well, Itchy & Scratchy are gone, but here's a cartoon that tries to make learning ''fun''! ...Sorry about this kids, but stay tuned; we've got some real good toy commercials coming right up, I ''swear''".''|'''Krusty the Clown''', ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''}}
{{quote|''"Well, Itchy & Scratchy are gone, but here's a cartoon that tries to make learning ''fun''! ...Sorry about this kids, but stay tuned; we've got some real good toy commercials coming right up, I ''swear''".''|'''Krusty the Clown''', ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''}}


As the trope's title implies, the '''Edutainment Show''' combines educational content with entertainment. As such, most shows in this genre are aimed at children; of course, some more mature fare may fit this definition, such as ''[[Myth Busters]]''. [[Cooking Show]]s, [[Science Show]]s, [[Nature Show]]s, and other [[TV Documentary]] formats (especially [[Docu Drama]] programs) may also count, if they are entertaining enough. Additionally, the definition has become somewhat blurred - these days networks often pass children's programs in particular as "edutainment," when their only actual educational content is pro-social themes, such as "work together as a team", "[["Reading Is Cool" Aesop]]" or "be a good friend to others."
As the trope's title implies, the '''Edutainment Show''' combines educational content with entertainment. As such, most shows in this genre are aimed at children; of course, some more mature fare may fit this definition, such as ''[[MythBusters]]''. [[Cooking Show]]s, [[Science Show]]s, [[Nature Show]]s, and other [[TV Documentary]] formats (especially [[Docu Drama]] programs) may also count, if they are entertaining enough. Additionally, the definition has become somewhat blurred - these days networks often pass children's programs in particular as "edutainment," when their only actual educational content is pro-social themes, such as "work together as a team", "[["Reading Is Cool" Aesop]]" or "be a good friend to others."


Many '''Edutainment Shows''' appear on PBS, the most famous example being ''[[Sesame Street]]''. Nickelodeon also has had quite a few in their "[[Nick Jr.]]" block, such as ''[[Blue's Clues|Blues Clues]]'' and ''[[Dora the Explorer]]'', as do specialized fact-oriented cable networks as The Learning Channel, Noggin, the many Discovery channels, the History Channel, and Animal Planet.
Many '''Edutainment Shows''' appear on PBS, the most famous example being ''[[Sesame Street]]''. Nickelodeon also has had quite a few in their "[[Nick Jr.]]" block, such as ''[[Blue's Clues|Blues Clues]]'' and ''[[Dora the Explorer]]'', as do specialized fact-oriented cable networks as The Learning Channel, Noggin, the many Discovery channels, the History Channel, and Animal Planet.
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** Verity Lambert fought to get the Dalek story on TV by playing the edutainment card. According to modern accounts, she told her boss, Sydney Newman, that the story could teach us that we must curb our more belligerent tendencies, with the barren, radioactive wasteland of Skaro as their logical conclusion.
** Verity Lambert fought to get the Dalek story on TV by playing the edutainment card. According to modern accounts, she told her boss, Sydney Newman, that the story could teach us that we must curb our more belligerent tendencies, with the barren, radioactive wasteland of Skaro as their logical conclusion.
* ''[[Dora the Explorer]]''
* ''[[Dora the Explorer]]''
** Its spin-off ''[[Go Diego Go]]''
** Its spin-off ''[[Go, Diego, Go!]]''
* [[Dragon Tales]]
* [[Dragon Tales]]
* [[The Electric Company]]: Both the 1971 version and the 2009 version, though the 1970s version is more well-liked/remembered. Given that the 70s version managed to license Spider-Man and features [[Morgan Freeman]], and managed to make both of them [[Narm]]y, being remembered is guaranteed.
* [[The Electric Company]]: Both the 1971 version and the 2009 version, though the 1970s version is more well-liked/remembered. Given that the 70s version managed to license Spider-Man and features [[Morgan Freeman]], and managed to make both of them [[Narm]]y, being remembered is guaranteed.
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* [[Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman]]
* [[Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman]]
* ''[[Fireman Sam]]''.
* ''[[Fireman Sam]]''.
* [[Food Detectives]]: An attempt to do for foodstuffs what [[Myth Busters]] does for high explosives.
* [[Food Detectives]]: An attempt to do for foodstuffs what [[MythBusters]] does for high explosives.
* [[Franklin]]
* [[Franklin]]
* [[Franny's Feet|Frannys Feet]]
* [[Franny's Feet|Frannys Feet]]
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* [[Humf]]
* [[Humf]]
* [[Infinity Limited]]
* [[Infinity Limited]]
* [[Its a Big Big World]]
* [[It's a Big Big World]]
* [[Jake and the Never Land Pirates|Jake and The Neverland Pirates]]
* [[Jake and the Never Land Pirates|Jake and The Neverland Pirates]]
* [[Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks|Jakers the Adventures of Piggley Winks]]
* [[Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks|Jakers the Adventures of Piggley Winks]]
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* Mr. Wizard's World
* Mr. Wizard's World
* [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]] is of the pro-social type - although occasionally larger words or terms that the younger audience probably won't understand, such as "tardy" or "hibernation", are defined (in-context). Interesitngly, the first season carried an E/I rating, but the second season has dropped it.
* [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]] is of the pro-social type - although occasionally larger words or terms that the younger audience probably won't understand, such as "tardy" or "hibernation", are defined (in-context). Interesitngly, the first season carried an E/I rating, but the second season has dropped it.
* [[Myth Busters]] spells out how the myths are tested, so you can learn quite a bit from that show, in the middle of [[Stuff Blowing Up]].
* [[MythBusters]] spells out how the myths are tested, so you can learn quite a bit from that show, in the middle of [[Stuff Blowing Up]].
* [[New Zoo Revue]]: 1970s children's show.
* [[New Zoo Revue]]: 1970s children's show.
* [[Newtons Apple]]
* [[Newtons Apple]]
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{{quote|'''[[The Stinger|Statler:]]''' Say, Waldorf, do you think this show counts as edutainment?
{{quote|'''[[The Stinger|Statler:]]''' Say, Waldorf, do you think this show counts as edutainment?
'''[[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf:]]''' Don't see why not. After all, it encourages people to quit watching and read books!
'''[[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf:]]''' Don't see why not. After all, it encourages people to quit watching and read books!
'''[[The Muppet Show|Together:]]''' Doh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho! }}
'''[[The Muppet Show|Together:]]''' Doh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho! }}


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[[Category:Show Genres]]
[[Category:Show Genres]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Edutainment Show]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Revision as of 19:24, 10 April 2017
"Well, Itchy & Scratchy are gone, but here's a cartoon that tries to make learning fun! ...Sorry about this kids, but stay tuned; we've got some real good toy commercials coming right up, I swear".
—Krusty the Clown, The Simpsons

As the trope's title implies, the Edutainment Show combines educational content with entertainment. As such, most shows in this genre are aimed at children; of course, some more mature fare may fit this definition, such as MythBusters. Cooking Shows, Science Shows, Nature Shows, and other TV Documentary formats (especially Docu Drama programs) may also count, if they are entertaining enough. Additionally, the definition has become somewhat blurred - these days networks often pass children's programs in particular as "edutainment," when their only actual educational content is pro-social themes, such as "work together as a team", ""Reading Is Cool" Aesop" or "be a good friend to others."

Many Edutainment Shows appear on PBS, the most famous example being Sesame Street. Nickelodeon also has had quite a few in their "Nick Jr." block, such as Blues Clues and Dora the Explorer, as do specialized fact-oriented cable networks as The Learning Channel, Noggin, the many Discovery channels, the History Channel, and Animal Planet.

In the United States, since 1990, networks are required to have 3 hours of educational material a week; the tag "E/I" (for "Educational/Informative") was created to denote such shows (though in the case of stations carrying Saved by the Bell, the rules are susceptible to Loophole Abuse if An Aesop is fit into the show in just the right way, and they can count as E/I). Now you know what the And Knowing Is Half the Battle is referring to.

For the Video Game counterpart see Edutainment Game.

Examples of Edutainment Show include:

Statler: Say, Waldorf, do you think this show counts as edutainment?
Waldorf: Don't see why not. After all, it encourages people to quit watching and read books!
Together: Doh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!

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