Puneet Varma (Editor)

Kids Say the Darndest Things

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Genre
  
Reality Comedy

Presented by
  
Bill Cosby (1998–2000)

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.

Transmissions

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.

  • In 1973, Tammy Wynette had a number one country hit with a song titled, "Kids Say the Darndest Things".
  • In the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire, Daniel Hillard (portrayed by Robin Williams) says "Kids Say the Darndest Things" in response to his daughter Natalie (Mara Wilson) copying him shouting at his ex-wife Miranda (Sally Field) saying "They're my Goddamn kids too!" by saying "We're his Goddamn kids too" when she arrives at his new home to collect them from their visit early.
  • In the Family Guy episode "Brian Does Hollywood" (2001), Stewie Griffin stars in an episode of Kids Say the Darndest Things.
  • In the PBS animated series Arthur episode "Revenge of the Chips", Arthur and his family attend a filming of "You Do the Most Embarrassing Things" which is a parody of "Kids Say the Darndest Things".
  • In The Simpsons episode "Children of a Lesser Clod" (2001), Homer Simpson, Rod Flanders and Todd Flanders watch Kids Say the Darndest Things. Bill Cosby asks a boy what he likes to play. The boy answers "Pokémon!". Cosby starts talking nonsense, in reply to his answer.
  • In the Sheep in the Big City episode "Wish You Were Shear," (2001) Gamey McGameGame hosts a similar show, "Kids Say the Most Hysterical Things". McGameGame asks a child what his favorite breakfast is. He answers "pancakes" and McGameGame laughs hysterically, frightening the child.
  • McSweeney's Internet Tendency published a satirical listicle by Simon Pinkerton, "Rejected Titles for Kids Say the Darndest Things," based on common tropes from the series, including "Kids Often Misconstrue Colloquial English," "Kids Repeat the Terrible Things Their Parents Say In the Home" and "Something My Kid Said Alarmed His Teachers Enough to Raise Suspicions About Me."

    • References

    Kids Say the Darndest Things Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA