This is really, absolutely brilliant (Charlie and Lola)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Charlie and Lola
Date:	12/12/08 (90 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cute characters

Disadvantages: Incorrect use of the English language!

I don't remember being really young, so I can't comment on the TV I watched as a toddler. What I can comment on is my little brother, ten years ago, and the children's TV he watched. The show of the moment was Teletubbies, criticised for the gobbledygook the characters spoke. At the time, my parents told me it was no different to Bill and Ben when they were growing up. Whatever people said, I found it interesting to note how much communication is non-verbal. Well, now I have a child of my own, and am back watching children's TV. One of my son's favourite shows is Charlie and Lola, and it brings me back to the same issue that Teletubbies and Bill and Ben had.

Charlie and Lola is a cartoon focussing on the adventures of the brother and sister of the title. These adventures are very normal, day to day things, like eating a lolly in the sun or looking after a dog. The cartoon is on the BBC and lasts around 15 minutes each episode.

The draw of the show comes in the irresistible Lola, her voice and her speech. Lola's voice is very childlike and cute, and she speaks in a funny way. Everything she says is like this "I am absolutely very hot". She always uses two words where only one is needed, and it's really funny to watch. Of course, this brings me back to Bill and Ben and Teletubbies: Lola does not talk properly. Her grammar is flawed, and this is a show that is having an impact on our children - a negative impact maybe?

Quite why kids TV has always been intent on not 'talking proper' is an interesting topic. For me, it seems they want to give the kids a sense of excitement. Little kids spend all day surrounded by adults who all talk the same, but here's someone who sounds different. The big question is 'does this have a negative impact on our children'? For myself, I would say no. my son (2 this month) can communicate pretry well already, and he hasn't adopted any Lola-isms that I can detect.

To me, Lola is cute, and to my son the whole show is a winner. I don't know why, but I have a sneaky suspicion he thinks Lola is cute too.

Summary: A great little show