Friday, September 24, 2021

Come On and ZOOM (Chapter 5)

 

Chapter 5: Tell Me, Tell Me What to Do


Auditions for Season 3 of ZOOM were held and the season was filmed in 2000. The new season was ready in 2001. Caroline and Kenny stayed in the cast, while five new ZOOMers were introduced. Their names?:


…Kevin Barrette, otherwise known as Buzz…


…Eric Rollins…


…Frances Dormond…


…Kaleigh Cronin…


…and Rachel Redd. Just like Caroline, Kenny, Claudio, Jessie, and Ray in the previous season, we got enough time to know these new ZOOMers.


This season also had a few changes as opposed to the first two seasons. One was the intro - the beginning of it was shot outdoors, about the ZOOMers picking each other up and heading to the show, and had the ZOOMers saying their name and doing something like blowing bubbles or looking through a telescope when they were introduced, making it more reminiscent of the 70s intros.

The Address/E-Mail song was replaced by a few new E-Mail songs. Remember, the PBSKids.org site domain was introduced when this season was in production, so it was on the new songs, replacing the old "triple w dot pbs.org" lyric the first two seasons had. In one episode, the ZOOMers did a sound off song about the PBSKids.org link!



CafeZOOM interferes with ZOOMZnacks and ZOOMa Cum Laude became ZOOM Into Action.


…and most episodes ended with one of the ZOOMers on a computer reviewing a part of the ZOOM section of PBSKids.org.


The same year Season 3 premiered, not all things would be sunshine and rainbows at ZOOM, as on September 11th, the Twin Towers caught on fire and collapsed during a plane crash. Things were about to get serious.


The Season 3 ZOOMers reunited for a special that aired days after 9/11 called "America's Kids Respond," in which they talked about their experiences and feelings with the infamous terrorist attacks.



Once 2000 became 2001, it was time for auditions and taping for Season 4 of ZOOM. The new season, which was the most important ZOOM season ever, premiered in 2002.

"But Maddie," I hear you saying, "why was Season 4 the most important ZOOM season?"

Why? Because this season introduced us to a goddess sent down from heaven, the best person ever, ALINE BARTA!!! She was a new ZOOMer this season.


Other new ZOOMers this season included Matt Runyon, who would go on to become the most underrated ZOOMer in the show's history…


…Garrett DiBona…


…and Edgar Estuardo Alvizures, otherwise known as just Estuardo. Kaleigh, Caroline, and Rachel stayed in the cast.

I believe nothing new changed during this season, except for maybe the fact that the website promos took place by a computer on the set (where Matt had his introduction in the theme song).

After Season 4, America remembered 9/11 on its first anniversary, so ZOOM released a special called "America's Kids Remember." The special not only featured Caroline and Aline (being the amazing and awesome ZOOMer the latter is), but also former ZOOMers Alisa, Kenny, Buzz, Eric, Kaleigh, and Rachel, as they talked about their experiences with 9/11 and looked back on the attacks a year later. This special was filmed in 2002, either during or after Season 5 (I’m assuming during, as we can see the ZOOMers in this special with the Season 5 ZOOMers in a picture on the ZOOM website).


…this was the cast I was referring to in the last paragraph. Most TV shows have four seasons, and ZOOM hit five when the fifth season was picked up. Caroline, Kenny, Rachel, Kaleigh, Zoe, Alisa and the gang proved they had enough stardom as Sesame Street, Arthur, Barney & Friends, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Thomas & Friends, Teletubbies, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Between the Lions. Season 5 taped in summer 2002 and aired in 2003. Caroline, Aline, Estuardo, and Garrett remained in the cast, and welcomed three new ZOOMers…


…Kortney Sumner…


…Mike Hansen…


…and Elena Sheih, otherwise known as Shing-Ying.


This season's intro started with the ZOOMers playing baseball. Other than that, I think it didn't have any changes.


During this season, three ZOOMers hosted a special on PBS Kids called the PBS Kids Pet-tacular. The ZOOMers totally should've gone on to other kids shows, especially Aline. She SHOULD'VE hosted the Sunny Side Up Show on Sprout. That I would've LOVED to see her do.

You know how I said Season 3 had changes to the show? The next season had EVEN MORE!

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: https://ohtwoonethreefour.blogspot.com/2021/09/come-on-and-zoom-chapter-4.html?m=0

NEXT CHAPTER: https://ohtwoonethreefour.blogspot.com/2021/09/come-on-and-zoom-chapter-6.html?m=0

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