Pinwheel (1976–1990) User Reviews

Itf it's a school day, it must be Pinwheel on Nick!

[Sylviastel · 8/10 · 16 June 2008]

For years, Pinwheel was the children's show that featured cartoons and live action figures. I barely remember this Canadian show but I do have fondness for the early Nickelodeon days when everything was new and fresh. They went to Canada and got their children's programming during the day and even into the night. Pinwheel was ideal for kids even today. The show lasted several hours sometimes and slowly it was cut back over the time. Pinwheel was a great programming effort for kids of my generation. I still vaguely remember the cartoons and the live action but I felt comfortable and at home watching Nickelodeon. The shows aren't the same now as it was once was but nothing good lasts forever but I'll have my memories.

Cute show

[Catherine_Grace_Zeh · 8/10 · 13 August 2008]

I used to watch this show when I was a little girl. When I think about it, I remember it very well. If you ask me, it was a cute show. One thing I sort of remember is the theme song. In addition to that, everyone was ideally cast. The writing was also very strong. The performances were top-grade, too. I hope some network brings it back so your kids can see every episode. Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that I'll always remember this show in my memory forever, even though I haven't seen every episode. Now, in conclusion, if some network ever brings it back, I hope that you catch it one day before it goes off the air for good.

Where can I find the elephant-bee thingies?

[spiegelrs · 9/10 · 26 December 2006]

I am searching for photos or video clips of the short cartoons aired as part of Pinwheel that featured a bee that looked a little like an elephant, flying around from flower to flower. The bee did not talk; it just made cute little squeaks and groans. Its wings fluttered fast like a hummingbird's, and it had a long trunk for a nose. I think there may have been a couple of them who flew around together. I am pretty sure that this was one of the short animated clips from the old Pinwheel television show, but it could have been on another Nickelodeon show. Any help finding some information about these little creatures or even some photos or video clips is appreciated.

A plethora of childhood memories wrapped up into one (incredibly-long) show

[Clint Ford · 25 April 2002]

In my youth (I am now 26), I had a yearly habit of visiting my Grandparents for a month during each Summer.

There was never much to do-- but thankfully, my late Grandmother could provide me with an endless supply of peanut butter and cable.

My show of choice was "Pinwheel". Within this 8 hour show (Yes. It aired from 6am to 2pm, I believe), I would sit for hours and watch "Hattytown Tales", "Simon, In The Land of Cartoons", "Paddington Bear", and "Chapi Chapo".

I was never a big fan of the puppets and the sketches they were included in. I loved the vignettes they included in the show, such as the ones I listed above. I always had to tune in to see what light-hearted predicament Sancho and Carrots would encounter today... or what mischief Paddington would get into to again infuriate Mr. Brown. What colors would Chapi and Chapo dance with in the World of Shapes? What would happen to Simon as he jumped the fence into the land of Cartoons this time?

My desktop wallpaper is a screenshot of "Hattytown Tales" and my "Start Windows" and "Exit Windows" sounds are the Hattytown theme song. I also downloaded the 1971 intro to "Chapi Chapo"-- a French claymation sketch-- and showed it to my 4 year old daughter. When Chapi and Chapo finished the song and danced away into the World of Shapes, my daughter began crying... because SHE wanted so badly to go with them.

Overall, "Pinwheel" was a blessing to many, many children born in the '70's and '80's. I only wish I could find some copies of the show or it's sketches so that my daughter can grow up with the same joys it brought me.

10 out of 10.

Where Has The Time Gone?

[shannasman9 · 10/10 · 23 September 2007]

I remember this show sort of (I'm now 22 years old). I remember watching it when I was a kid. It would be on in the afternoon during the week and I'd watch it from beginning to end. I only remember listening to the theme song at the end of the show and feeling all kiddish again. Oh how I wish that Nickelodeon would bring it back to me all these years later. It would take me back to when I was 2 years old again. The best years of my life were when I was young. Anyways I'd have to say that I don't remember the human actors or the puppets used in this show but I do remember the opening song and how the whole show started. So if anyone from my time frame remembers this show as well as i do then so be it. Thank You.

Childhood Memories

[bcbishop-2 · 10/10 · 22 October 2009]

I was born in 1979, and I remember literally growing up with this show. My friend and I used to play "Gotcha Last" every single day. I have so many great memories of this show.

I don't remember Bill Cosby being part of the show, but I just bought it on DVD a week ago at www.freewebs.com, so we'll see.

I'm really glad that this show got high ratings. I would recommend it to anyone with children and anyone who plans to have children. It is such a wholesome, positive show. Any child will benefit from the values and lessons taught in every episode. And I promise you, you will love playing "Gotcha Last" as much as I love playing it with my baby girl.

Where Would Nickelodeon Be Without Pinwheel?

[geatornez82-202-283937 · 6/10 · 16 August 2015]

I have only very vague memories of "Pinwheel." I remember the theme song and the characters, and some of the other little cartoons shown during it's run, but ask me to go into details about episodes, then you've lost me. My family didn't get cable until 1987, when I was five, and even still, I was more of a "Sesame Street" kind of gal. The cartoons I remember best were "Emily," "Hattytown Tales," "Bod," "Paddington," "Curious George," and "Bunny in the Suitcase" (which I think was my favorite out of all the cartoons they played). The show may have been a "low-budget Sesame Street rip-off" (seriously, someone did describe it as such), but if you stop and think about it, would Nickelodeon be the channel it is today if not for "Pinwheel?" Give this show a break, people. It's a cute little show for little kids, and without it, you might not even have Spongebob Squarepants. Think about that.

Puppets that were almost too boring to be creepy.

[elena-corinne · 2/10 · 16 April 2022]

This show is the reason people think television is bad for kids. It was meant to keep kids zombified by bright colors and twinkling music long enough for their mothers to get some housework done, and because Mom also wanted enough time after housework was done to down a few glasses of wine, the show was eight hours long. Do you know how ungifted a child has to be to watch HOURS of the same asinine puppet-beasts singing maniacal ballads about nothing? The vegetables were ALIVE. The produce at the produce stand had names, and they spoke and interacted with the same beings who intended to chop them to bits for salad. It was sick. Why would any child want to spend forever in the Victorian house so similiar to that of their great grandparents, the setting of the child's first experience with funerals? It was not intended to be educational, just appealing to small children. Putting aside the cynicism of that purpose, it simply failed to appeal to me, and I was the target age during its original run. Hearing the theme song meant it was time to find my mom so she could change it to Looney Tunes or something.

Pinwheel Pinwheel Spinning Around

[chastity779 · 29 April 2002]

I watched this show daily as a young child and have very very fond memories of it. This show out shows any show we have on television right now. It is beyond me why reruns aren't being shown on Nickelodean, which is where I watched it. They need to have channels for reruns of all of these great shows that this generation is missing out on. This show was a classic. I especially remember the snail with the living room on the inside of his shell.

Pinwheel Pinwheel Spinning around. Look at my pinwheel and see what I found.

[lostangel-2 · 22 May 2003]

Pinwheel Pinwheel Spinning around. Look at my pinwheel and see what I found.

I can't remember much of this show, because I Was so young when it was on, but I do remember loving it. Nick needs to wake up and remember what made the network and rerun this show. The kids today don't know what good programming like this is.

Pinwheel Pinwheel where have you been?

Pinwheel, Pinwheel, Spinning Around

[goldandglass · 22 February 2002]

I remember watching this show at my Grandparents' house a lot, and I can still sing the theme song. Some of the cartoon bits included the British "Simon" (who liked to do drawings) and Emily ("whoopee"). I had thought the show lasted for hours and hours, and it turns out I was right! I wish Nickelodeon still had Pinwheel, it was such a great show, if not as slick as the shows for kids today.

An artistic treasure

[notoriouselicious · 23 July 2004]

Granted, it's been a long time since I viewed Pinwheel but I remember it very fondly!! All of the different animations were unique and inspiring. I wold love to watch it again with new eyes! Ebenezer was a bad bad guy but I remember his perfectly shaped pancakes that were featured frequently. Pancakes were his obsession.

I scoff at those who put it down. Sure it wasn't Sesame Street however, I don't think it was trying to be the same! Sure there were puppets but it surely added to a child's imagination capabilities and it offered something more than mainstream America at that time.

Thanks to those who put it on the air and I wish we could view it today.

I remember this show!

[dootuss · 21 December 2001]

Being a little kid one time ago (i'm now 18), i have some memories of this great children's show which was on Nickelodeon. The puppets were great, and i loved the forein cartoons the show had on (mine being Simon and the land of chalk drawings). Then one day in 1989 Pinwheel got cancelled, and after that occurred children's programming began to sell out which continues to happen today.

I wish they would air this show on Nickelodeon again. This would do great for Nick Jr. I think Nickelodeon should ditch Blue's Clues, and Bob the builder (which both sold out) for this timeless classic. But sadly, that might never happen. But still i'll never forget this great children's show. LONG LIVE PINWHEEL!!!!

Pinwheel

[user32929 · 1 February 2006]

I loved this show, Plus and Minus, Jake and the sound boxes. Bill Cosby with the picture pages. I missed this show. I wish they would release it so that my children could benefit from the wonderful teachings that this show gave. Because of Pinwheel I learned to count and I learned how to read faster than other kids. Please release the show on DVD. There are so many other children out here would love the show. My brother and I used to watch this EVERYDAY. I remember that Pinwheel was better because it had more cartoons. The hats, Winnie the Pooh. I even remember the fly bugs. Especially the one that couldn't count higher than the number one. I even remember Ebenezzer. Please put it out there.

SPIN THAT PINWHEEL

[hardcorekicks2000 · 26 October 2004]

I don't remember pinwheel being that long as one show, I remember them showing a few episodes back to back. My favorite was the bird in the tree that wore the Napoleon hat, and Simon. I still know the theme song to pinwheel and Simon. My little brother and I Grew up watching this and Sesame Street but Pinwheel was our fav! We would watch Pinwheel and that show about the woman in the department store with the mannequin that came to life but couldn't leave the store, and the little mouse that lived in the doll house. We love Nick, and when I got to go to Nick Studios I cried and the Tour lady kinda laughed but I was the only one who knew anything about the old shows, I was the only one over the age of 9 on the tour.

Pinwheel and Today's Special

[lawNorder · 21 April 2005]

I saw someone's comment about a show about watching Pinwheel and a show about a department store and just HAD to comment. Although the only thing I remember about Pinwheel is its theme song and Paddington Bear, I remember being content watching it for hours on end at my grandfather's house. Sesame Street had nothing on Pinwheel for me.

And Today's Special! Does anyone else remember that? Oh, I loved that show even more than Pinwheel, which is saying a lot. Like Pinwheel, I don't remember much about it, except I distinctly remember that mouse for some reason. I wish these shows were shown in reruns somewhere. I would love to show them to my future children so they could see that Sesame Street wasn't all there was for us children of the '80s.

Chapo and Chapi were so cute!

[matysse · 17 April 2001]

For some reason, I started remembering seeing the show on the "Nickelodeon" channel back when I was eleven and babysitting my cousins. I particularly remember the French animated short about "Chapi and Chapo", but I wish I could find some more info about it here on imdb, or if it still plays anywhere in Europe, or if the animators did anything else. Anyone know anything? If so, post a comment.

It all coming back

[emsjayshay21 · 10 October 2004]

I remember Pinwheel, but not much of it. Bill Cosby was awesome, remember Picture Page? I do remember the snail and his shell/living room, but I don't remember the show being 8 hours long, probably because my mom would not let me watch it for eight hours. I would have however, it was an awesome show. Don't get me wrong, I love cartoons, and a recent one on Nick is called Static Shock has caught my 4 year olds interest. It is decent, meaning it has a clear "good guy" who shows the "bad guy" the error of his way without violence. But real live actors interacting with puppets and cartoons will always catch peoples attention in any genre with any age group. Look at SNL, Crank Yankers, Sesame Street. Two classics, and one real funny show, using the same premise as Pinwheel. Bring it back, at least on Boomerang.

I can't believe I found it!!

[arica434 · 15 August 2002]

Some time ago I was trying to recall the children's show that Bill Cosby hosted and thanks to this site I've found it! I LOVED this show. I would be interesting in buying any videos if there are any out! I'm sure my kids would enjoy it as well!

i LOVED this show when i was little

[woowoowoonin · 22 January 2001]

i had completely forgotten about this show until i found it here at imdb. if they ever repeat it, i definitely urge you to watch this with your children. though not quite as good as sesame street, it is certainly better than barney or any of the other "edu-tainment" programs created just so parents have to buy lunchboxes and underoos. though in my head i know i may be a little off, my heart and my inner child insist i give this program a perfect 10.

Pinwheel

[jenngalloway · 3 February 2005]

I would love to have Pinwheel to come back on television. This is the greatest show for kids that I have ever seen. I watched Pinwheel everyday as a child growing up. I remember being so upset because it went off the air. I would get out of kindergarten at 11:30am and I can still remember telling my mom that I couldn't wait to get home so I could watch Pinwheel. I don't think a day went by when I didn't watch Pinwheel. It is a clean, educational show that is great for kids. I have never seen another show like it, it was amazing how they put that show together. I just had a child of my own now, and would love for her to be able to watch it. Please put Pinwheel back on television, even if it's only re-runs!!

Greatest Children's Show Ever!

[melbatoast78 · 7 April 2005]

Wow do I miss Pinwheel...I grew up at the prime age of Pinwheel (I was born in '78) and I remember watching this show for hours each day before I went to kindergarten. I had actually forgotten about a lot of the cartoons shown on it, until I recently read other reviews here on IMDb.com and started trying to find more info on the internet. It's sad that there isn't much out there. My favorites were always the Bunny who came out of the suitcase, Chapi Chapo (that has to be THE catchiest tune ever!) and the Magic Roundabout. It's just such a shame that we can't see past episodes or seem to be able to purchase them anywhere. But if by some small chance there is someone out there who has copies of the show, PLEASE contact me! I found a website about Pinwheel, and I'm not sure how outdated it is, but the rumor is that if enough people send email to: [e-mail] and ask for Pinwheel to be aired again, Nickelodeon will consider it. It might be a far stretch, but maybe if we all try...anyway, even if we never see it again, it'll live in our hearts forever.

The Best Kids Show

[mrham1 · 16 December 2005]

I agree with the previous comment on this show. I remember all the times of laughs I had with it. Who could forget Plus and Minus, and one of my favorites, the guy Ebineezer. The previous commenter is right, in theses kids do need to see these shows. Sadly with Viacom being the parent owner of Nickelodeon, most likely that will never happen. Keep those fingers crossed!!!!!! Also, who could forget Smitty the news guy? He always cheered me up. Ahhh.. memories... (= Pinwheel was indeed the best kids show ever. Along with Todays Special, and the all awesome Mr. Rodgers, Kids shows will never again today be what they were. I figure the best thing we as consumers can do is constantly write and voice ourselves to Nickolodeon, Viacom, and perhaps anyone else who can help make dreams come true, actually happen.

A few of us didn't like it.

[jarrod-2 · 15 August 2005]

Although all of the previous comments are positive, there were some kids, including myself, who didn't enjoy the show. I remember finding it tedious and largely unwatchable (I was born in April 1980, so I was in the target age group when I was watching it). I distinctly recall changing to other channels or leaving the room when it was on. Luckily, I don't remember it well enough to have the song stuck in my head as a friend of mine (who really hated it) does.

Today's Special (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198253/), which some other comments have mentioned was pretty good though. My favorites on Nickelodeon back then were Danger Mouse (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081848/) and You Can't Do That On Television (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078714/).