ZOOM: Back to the 70s

What set the Emmy Award-winning ZOOM apart from most children's programs was the fact that kids were creators, as well as the target audience. As the multicultural cast sings in the opening theme, “Everybody's writing the show!” Adults produced, directed, and co-wrote the material, but the cast consisted entirely of minors, while the episodes incorporated stories and ideas suggested by viewers (approximately 10,000 letters arrived each week). ZOOM: Back to the 70s presents highlights from the first six seasons (with 49 different cast members appearing between 1972-77), while a bonus disc adds four full 28-minute episodes. Aside from musical numbers, ZOOM featured jokes, plays, recipes, “raps” (or unscripted conversations) on pre-selected topics, and profiles of people ranging from a stop-motion animator to a ham radio operator. Compared with other public television staples, such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company, ZOOM concentrated more on creativity and self-expression than basic reading and writing, targeting a slightly older kid demographic. Although WGBH brought the show back for seven seasons beginning in 1999, this set is pure ‘70s. For those who have difficulty understanding the ZOOM version of pig latin, Ubbi-Dubbi, DVD extras include a DVD-ROM guide to the made-up language, as well as a behind-the-scenes slideshow, printable ZOOM cards, and ZOOM computer wallpaper. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)