miles-husoy's reviews

Very few Japanese people I've talked to know this show or have even heard of it...and I'm from the Lower Mainland of BC. How do *I* know of it, though? Well, a Japanese friend of ours who lives in Burnaby taped us an episode X number of years ago when she visited her home country. My family and I, back in those days, were into Japanese programs...oh, and let's not forget the CM's! There was no internet then, so it wasn't possible to research these programs or know more about them. I kind of miss VHS tapes but I kind of don't. Well, I thought Hai, Akko desu (eng: Hi, I'm Akko or Hi, This Is Akko) was quite entertaining, especially one vignette where the kids meet their new pets, the green iguanas, that frighten the adults. When I was learning Japanese again in 2010, I fell in love with Hai, Akko desu again and have been watching the YouTube uploads. I even shelled out for the extremely rare soundtrack CD. Hai, Akko desu certainly isn't phenomenal, but it's pure entertainment when you're in the right mood. Apparently in the manga on which it was based, Akko had a third child, but it did not appear in the anime. Kazue Komiya, who did Akko's voice, has done lots of overdubbing work on Hollywood movies, including Kathy Bates and Whoopi Goldberg. This show is hardly broadcast anymore even in Japan, but apparently it was popular in the Middle East, as Arabic dubs have shown up on YouTube. And why did so many people rate it 1? It's not horrible at all.

Again, I'm surprised that I'm from Canada and I love this show, but very few Japanese people I've talked to have heard of it. Then again, many people who were born in Canada don't know who Gordon Lightfoot or Bruce Cockburn are.

Since the lockdown boredom of 2020, it's become a tradition for me to watch all 65 episodes each summer. Though Swans Crossing is more or less a product of its time, it's still a wonderful show. The production value is sparkling if a bit cheesy now, the acting is believable, the background music is great, the dialogue is, well, realistic, and overall, it just makes you feel so good when you watch it. Plus, I'll bet lots of guys wish they could double-date with Mila and Glory. If I had been the right age at the time, I know I would have. I think the reason Swans Crossing tanked is because it was merchandised way too soon. I couldn't believe dolls were made, and they were terrible caricatures too, especially before viewers could become "acquainted" with the characters.

It should be noted I'm willing to bet that the only reason anybody remembers Swans Crossing at all is because of the theme song. It is incredibly catchy...and it could have and should have been a 90's pop hit. I never watched the show when it was new because I was 6 but I did see the ending credits right before Merrie Melodies Starring Bugs Bunny & Friends on what used to be KSTW 11. Kind of a paradox those two programs were side by side, no? It's a shame the show is now forgotten otherwise because it had potential, and at least Brittany Daniel got a career out of it, even though most of the productions she's been in have been forgettable. If it comes out on DVD, I'll buy it. But in any event, I love this song! No question about that.

I loved, LOVED this show in the 90's when I was in grade school. When I tried watching this show again in February 2014 (I was 27 at the time), I was sick at home with a bad head cold. At that time, I thought the show was cheesy and outdated. But giving it another try in 2021, I know now that it was and still is heartwarming and thought-provoking...for any age, really. I think what turned me off originally in 2014 was the production value. Some segments are still a little childish, but it had its moments even for adults. I'd take a dose of The Puzzle Place over most of what PBS aired after they got rid of Square One TV (when if it all is that show ever going to be released on DVD?!), and it was far better than Barney & Friends.

So what exactly made the show so good? I can think of a few reasons:

-The idea for the show came about because of the Los Angeles race riots involving the Rodney King beatings and the associated white policemen who were acquitted.

-Most of the puppeteers came from Sesame Street and the show was produced by Lancit Media, who were responsible for Reading Rainbow.

-No two kids were the same ethnicity, and that was the point, to celebrate their diverse backgrounds.

-Careful research was made on all the ethnicities.

-Some episodes were heartwarming, including Leon not being invited to his white friend's birthday party just because he was black.

-Besides racial harmony, it also talked about the equality of boys and girls.

-Sizzle and Nuzzle were so cute, and the subplots involving them were just as entertaining.

-Guest stars included Ernie Hudson, Sinbad, Amy Hill, Patti LaBelle and Nia Peeples, as well as Lynne Thigpen as the Chief from Acme Crimenet.

-The Puzzle Place itself was the perfect spot to let loose and have fun.

-Many real-life children wished they could be teleported to The Puzzle Place.

Also, if you'd like a good history of the show, check out the Defunctland documentary on YouTube.

If they ever release The Puzzle Place on DVD, I'll buy it. It needs to become popular again.

We just keep asking for something that we're never going to get. So look, Sesame Workshop, how's this? Burn all the episodes onto some DVD-R's, and, for a reasonable fee, send them out to all the fans. I mean, it's not like we're ever going to see this show again in reruns (I think we've all given up on that), so how could it possibly hurt? This is one of those rare shows that people of all ages can enjoy, which is quite hard to find in this day and age. It was wildly entertaining, and that's something hard to find as well. I'm bored of waiting for it come to back to the public. There's no excuse for withholding it for so long, thus ensuring its place in obscurity and meaning people will soon forget it altogether. This show has to be better known to everyone, especially today's children. I realize having it off the air adds to its mythical value, but there's no point in letting it drift away any longer. Quit scaring us. It's just not interesting anymore.

Wishbone was a wonderful show. It didn't last long and it didn't get much media attention. That's awful! Wishbone (the dog) was so cute and he had quite an imagination for literary works. The children were also talented and well-behaved. Wishbone was a well-produced, high-talent show, and it was MUCH better than Sesame Street or Barney. Additionally, I'm glad to see that some episodes have been released on DVD. I hope to track them down and actually hope that PBS will see it in their heart to release more of them (or even the whole series - in fact, when will they wake up and release Square One TV or Mathnet?). I hope that within the next ten years, Wishbone will still have people talking.