Special Friends: Starring You On Kazoo

This is a bit of a one-note show, and if you're familiar with the sound of the kazoo, a rather cacophonous note, at that. The show begins with Brett, a shy lad, standing back from a group of children who are playing. When the kids invite him to join them, Brett invites the viewer to come along. Once he's installed in the group, it turns out that Brett not only is definitely not shy (he begins giving orders fairly quickly), he's also got an acting career ahead of him. (If the sound of the kazoos doesn't set any nearby adult's teeth on edge, Brett's line delivery certainly will.) The kids make various animal and travel sounds on the kazoo, take a trip to the Land of Make-Believe, and get left in a barn-while Brett goes out in the woods to sing a "special song" to viewers. Picture the Care Bears made flesh, and you've got a pretty good idea of the range of this program. Ostensibly, this program is meant to "stimulate the imagination." It's funny how some of the newer programs designed to get kids to think for themselves, do so by not spending a dime on the visuals. Because this is essentially a gimmick tape, the gimmick is included with each tape, and is essential to the program: ergo, purchasers will also get to process a kazoo with the video. Not recommended. (Available from: Lights, Camera, Interaction!, 431 Post Road East, Suite 520, Westport, CT 06880;1-800-2-VIEW-IT.)