Genre RealityComedy Country of origin United States | Directed by Morris Abraham Composer(s) Bruce Miller Original language(s) English | |
Kids Say the Darndest Things is an American comedy series hosted by Bill Cosby that aired on CBS as a special on February 6, 1995, then as a full season from January 9, 1998 to June 23, 2000. It was based on a feature with the same name in Art Linkletter's radio show House Party and television series, Art Linkletter's House Party, which together aired mostly five days a week from 1945 to 1969.
Contents
Synopsis
The premise of the show is that the host would ask a question to a child (around the age of 3 to 8) who would usually respond in a "cute" way. The show sometimes would "flashback" to Linkletter's show, Art Linkletter's House Party, with Cosby joined onstage by Linkletter to introduce the vintage clips. It would show kids (of the time), with their same "cute" reactions of whatever Linkletter would ask or say to them. Cosby also provided some of the humor in the show. Paul Griffin played a major role in the book.
Production
Kids Say The Darndest Things was produced by CBS Productions with the co-production of LMNO Productions and Linkletter's company, Linkletter Productions. Linkletter's production company displayed Sam Berman's caricature of Linkletter (or at least his head), which was originally for NBC's promotional book, published in 1947. Berman's caricature illustrated Linkletter's People Are Funny.
In other media
In 2005, Robert Johnson and Albert Evans adapted the show into a full-length musical comedy.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, British television network ITV produced their own version of the show entitled Kids Say the Funniest Things. It was presented by Michael Barrymore, and was a production of LWT. It ran from 27 December 1998 to 1 October 2000. A third series was recorded in 2001, but never aired because of the revelations surrounding Stuart Lubbock's death at Barrymore's home.
Australia
There was also a version in Australia entitled Kidspeak, hosted by Andrew Daddo on the Seven Network for several seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s (decade).
Singapore
The Television Corporation of Singapore (now Mediacorp) produced a show with a similar concept called Kids Talk Back, that was first broadcast in 1999 and hosted by actor and radio host Andrew Lim. The show featured interviews with young guests, in addition to hidden-camera segments filmed in schools and kindergartens. Gurmit Singh hosted a similar show in 2003 entitled Gurmit's Small Talk.
India
In India, Colors TV produced their own version of the show titled "Badmaash Company - Ek Sharat Hone Ko Hain" hosted by "Juhi Chawla". Sun TV also produced the Tamil Language version of the show called "Kutties Chutties" which airs every Sunday.
Italy
In Italy, Rai 1 produced their own version of the show titled "Zitti tutti! - Parlano loro" hosted by "Carlo Conti" in 2000.