Muppet Central News - New CTW network Noggin premieres

For the last eight or so months, this rumored channel finally became a reality on January 31, 1999. Here is a rundown of the shows that are presented daily:

12:30 a.m. The Electric Company
1:00 a.m. The Electric Company
1:30 a.m. 3-2-1 Contact
2:00 a.m. Sesame Street Unpaved
3:00 a.m. The Electric Company
3:30 a.m. 3-2-1 Contact
4:00 a.m. Sesame Street Unpaved
5:00 a.m. Eureeka's Castle
5:30 a.m. Allegra
6:00 a.m. 123 Sesame Street
7:00 a.m. Blue's Clues
7:30 a.m. Gullah Gullah Island
8:00 a.m. 123 Sesame Street
9:00 a.m. Gullah Gullah Island
9:30 a.m. Allegra
10:00 a.m. Blue's Clues
10:30 a.m. Eureeka's Castle
11:00 a.m. Blue's Clues
11:30 a.m. 123 Sesame Street
12:30 p.m. Gullah Gullah Island
1:00 p.m. Electric Company
1:30 p.m. Electric Company
2:00 p.m. Wild Side
2:30 p.m. 3-2-1 Contact
3:00 p.m. Square one TV
3:30 p.m. Ghostwriter
4:00 p.m. Nick News
4:30 p.m. Doug
5:00 p.m. Blue's Clues
5:30 p.m. Electric Company
6:00 p.m. Sesame Street Unpaved
7:00 p.m. CRO
7:30 p.m. Doug
8:00 p.m. Doug
8:30 p.m. Ghostwriter
9:00 p.m. 3-2-1 Contact
9:30 p.m. Square One TV
10:00 p.m. Nick News
10:30 p.m. Sesame Street Unpaved
11:30 p.m. Sesame Street Unpaved

The shows that air in the morning hours (6:00 am to 12:30 pm) are geared for the younger set. The shows from 1:00 pm to 5:30 are for the more mature children, and the ones afterward are family oriented programs.

Now, for the real reason to be happy: We are enchanted with old episodes of such series as "Sesame Street", "The Electric Company", "3-2-1 Contact" and "Square One Television". All of these series have spent years and years in the Children Television Workshop's vault.

The "Sesame Street Unpaved" episodes are the REAL creme-de-la-creme, for they consist of archived episodes. Within the first two days, three episodes from the mid 70s have aired (including two from the fondly remembered "Hawaii" episodes), and the one where Maria and Luis got married (1988).

The "Sesame Street" episodes that air in the morning hours are more recent. These (so far) have been the episodes from the 1993-94 season, when the show went "around the corner."

"The Electric Company" is another classic series that has been off-air since 1986. Regulars in this show have included Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno and Bill Cosby. "3-2-1 Contact" is a more "science"-oriented show, which began in the early 80s, I believe. "Square One Television" ran for three or so seasons and deals with mathematics as its main focus.

Familiar Nickelodeon shows turn up: "Gullah Gullah Island", "Blue's Clues", "Doug" and "Eureeka's Castle" are established series now seen on both networks (Nick and Noggin).

About the ONLY (and I use that term very loosely) somewhat annoying aspect is that halfway through each show, about a two-minute gap occurs in which a "Noggin" sequence is featured. These include Nickelodeon features such as "Inside Out Boy" and "Ted the Head", OR it can be older people who are talking about their childhood, or it could be kids from different countries talking about their lifestyle. Either way, it does cut into each and every show, and so it can get a little annoying, since the CTW shows had no commercial breaks at all!

So, despite the few flaws, this is a great channel for young and old. So far, the only satellite company that appears to carry it is the DISH Network, and a select few cable companies are planning for it as well.

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