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NO ARTIFICAL FLAVORS OR COLORS ADDED - Pancake Mountain is a kids' show adults will love, too

By Amber Drea & Anna Breshears, Fall 2005
photo by Elise Moore

Ted Leo! The Evens! Shonen Knife! No, this is not the lineup for an awesome rock concert. You'll find these bands and more on the Washington, D.C.-based children's show Pancake Mountain.

Expanding on the ideas of Chicago's own TV dance party for kids, Chic-a-go-go, Pancake Mountain offers cartoons, "news" reporting, faux commercials, and interviews with musicians like Fiery Furnaces, Scissor Sisters, and George Clinton. Instead of dumbing it down and repeating everything 20 times, creator Scott Stuckey appeals to younger minds through witty word play and great music.

"Since I've started the show, I've gotten a ton of CDs and e-mails from bands that do 'children's music,' which is great, but it kind of misses the point," says Stuckey, who grew up in D.C.'s punk scene. "Really good art, whether it is music, film, or what-have-you, transcends age, race, and gender."

Even the show's star puppet, Rufus Leaking, poses more interesting and probing questions during interviews than most late-night talk-show hosts. "Are you even a little bit happy when it's cloudy?" he asked Shirley Manson at the WHFS Festival press conference.

Exposing kids to good music is the show's main focus, but social and political issues also are addressed in a fun, imaginative way. Blueberry Boy stresses individuality by not caring that everyone calls him names for loving blueberries so much his face turns blue. PM newscaster Rock Rogers urges viewers not to dress their dogs in Santa suits while anti-consumerism messages scroll up the screen. "I don't think you can be too young to be aware of how the media manipulates you," Stuckey says. "[Kids] are growing up to have the 'buy this to be cool' mentality instead of learning how to make their own choices based on what they truly like."

Formerly only available on DVD via pancakemountain.com, Pancake Mountain began airing on DCTV Channel 10 in August 2005. But Stuckey hopes to achieve national syndication and urges fans to help by contacting their local cable-access stations. "I know it goes against a lot of the DIY and punk beliefs, but I believe the "belly of the beast' theory," Stuckey says. "to bring down these giant corporations and broadcasters, you have to be part of the machine."