Beakman's World

I still remember the address... Josie's voice over the cartoon screen, "Beakman's World, P.O. Box 30087 Kansas City, MO 64112" No, I haven't seen an episode in over 14 years.

I remember as a kid my brother and I would make up a million questions to mail in to Beakman... we'd write them on construction paper cut into all sorts of wacky designs like they had on the show. And every time I had a GOOD one... one I just KNEW would actually make the show... there it was the next morning. "Dear Beakman, How do batteries work?" "Dear Beakman, what are Pixels?" (this was 1993) The best part was re-creating his experiments at home: making "movie glass" that you can break with your fist and not get hurt (and it tastes like a lollipop), or seeing if an egg or a tennis ball hits the ground first when you drop it off the top bunk (Mom wasn't too impressed with that one, even though they both hit the ground at the same time).

I wish they would bring this show back in some way, even in re-runs. Re-runs at some other time than five in the morning. I wonder if it's on DVD...

This show is nothing less than an absolute landmark in educational TV, and dare I say it, in TV in general. It was like they found the perfect formula: the characters, the timing, the scenery, the lines, the sound effects, and just about everything else. Good old Beakman could talk about *everything* using simple speech, good humour, enthusiasm, always aided by his assistant (originally Josie) and not-exactly-aided by the man in the rat costume, Lester. The three characters completed each other perfectly, and all through the episode, there was not a single second wasted: to every line, there was a perfect reply, and to every question, there was a perfect answer. This is brilliance and talent in their highest forms. Beakman's World can make me laugh harder than any adult comedy show out there can, and I still learn great things with it. It was a shame that Alanna had to leave the series ("Sister Act II", remember that?), and had to be replaced. Liza took herself too seriously, and didn't fit in too well with the other characters. Josie was unbeatable.

And of course, the show was cancelled. I doubt even Beakman could explain us how the execs had the courage to do that.

This show was so great. Why did they ever stop making it.

Beakman had the COOLEST experiment, the wildest hair, and the craziest assistants. Especially Lester the dim-witted Rat. Jean Stapleton as Beakman's mom was hilarious. Saturday morning TV was never the same when this show went away.

I wish I could find it on video.

I loved this show for so many reasons. It made science interesting to me for the first time, it was fast, funny and furious and it had one of the cutest ingenues as an assistant. Alanna Ubach made this show for me with her funny one-liners and quips; when she got replaced, it almost killed me, but at least Beakman and Lester, the down-on-his-luck-actor-in-a rat-suit, got me through it. The show had so many good things going for it; I just wish this show had been around in my youth, I could have been a better student than I was.

It was all about having fun and learning at the same time. I remember watching this anytime I could catch it on México's cultural channel by excellence (channel 11).

I watched it's reruns and never got tired of it because I have to admit that I learned a lot from it.

I didn't care if I was out of school or whatever, Beakman taught me on biology, science, physics aspects. I had a great time with the show's colorful art direction and atmosphere.

The performances were funny and witty. I just was addicted to this show. It's sad to admit that when puberty comes to you, you just can't help but forget about such great shows like this one.

I wish my kids will have the chance to watch it.