Fred didn't live on an island, although he did enter 'Fred Penner's Place' (a clearing in the woods) via a hollow log. It is a wonderfully gentle and welcoming show, and Fred seems like the nicest man in the world. It's a very simple structure for a television show, but I think that's what made it so successful- Just Fred interacting with the audience (althought there were occasional guests and puppets), singing songs and telling stories- and always with the gentle message to "take good care of each other" at the end. I love listening to him sing "The Cat Came Back", and older songs like "happy feet". In the later years of the show additional sets were added (the hollow hut and another clearing), but I think it's at it's best (and sweetest) when it's in it's simplest form- Fred, a guitar or harmonica, some songs, a word of the day and little else. If you grew up in Canada between 1985-is and 1997-ish, you grew up with Fred!
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aileenleadbetter13 October 2005
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neodebisu24 May 2008Loved this show as a kid, about 18 years ago. I always had a vague memory about the show, and could never find information about it. Thank you for helping me find this, IMDb users! From what I do remember about the show, at the beginning of each episode, a guy crawled through a log to get access to a secret clearing in the woods. There, he would play his guitar and sing songs. The show aired sometime in the 80's and perhaps early 90's.
By any chance, does anyone remember a show which would air around the same years as this show where there was a woman walking around with a net. I can't remember if she was catching bugs or animal watching. Does this ring a bell for anyone? -
for 12 years we had lots of entertainment, singing, and happiness from that crazy guy who lived on a island, in a forest. i think he lived on an island, but i'm not sure.
The show starts with the legendary Fred penner, walking through a forest, with very memorable guitar music playing. he climbs through a log into his home, which happens to be a patch of grass in the forest, along with a small shack. he talks and sings in there, entertaining children with everything he knows. then of course, there's puppets, which keep the show happy. and of course, word bird is a favorite, but his call is depressing. he sounds sad every time he comes flying in, but in other words, the show is good.
The reality of this show is gone. i mean, the guy must get crazy after not seeing a human on an island somewhere. and eventually, word bird must annoy him to the point he wants to blow the bird's head off. (and of course, how do the puppets get to the island? it's not like they take the boat everyday.) and of course, Fred penner jumps around the island in the end, so he must be going bonkers in some sort of way.
but this show is forgotten. only Canadian kids remember him now. and i remember him as 10 / 10. so that's what i rank this. 10 / 10 -
I used to watch this show back in the early 1990s, maybe even as far back as the very late '80s. It was during my earliest days of watching TV (or at least the earliest days I can remember watching TV), back when I also watched the world famous "Sesame Street". Unlike that show, "Fred Penner's Place" certainly wasn't world famous, but for many kids in North America, it was definitely something special!
Each episode would begin with Fred Penner (a popular kids' singer/musician/performer) crawling through a hollow log in a forest after walking around. At the other end of the log was his home, a clearing in the forest. Once there, he would talk to his viewers, tell stories, and sing songs while playing his guitar. Also included in the show was the "Word Bird," who came along to deliver a word. Guests often appeared on the show as well, joining Fred in his various activities.
It has obviously been a long time since I last saw this show, probably years before the show ended, but judging from what I saw way back, it was a show that could entertain and possibly educate kids of a certain age! Many years have passed since "Fred Penner's Place" came to an end, but I'm sure that many who were kids during the show's run and got the chance to see it still have fond memories! -
I vaguely remember watching this show as a child. It was on Nick Jr. for a little bit, and I watched it pretty much every day that I could. It made me ask my parents for a guitar every Christmas and birthday when I was 8 years old to 14 when I kind of gave up and decided that after I got a job I would buy one myself.
I only recently remembered about this show, spawned by me seeing the final episode of David the Gnome circulating on the internet. I've been seeking out all the good shows from Nick Jr. recently and this was one of them.
Godspeed, Fred Penner, wherever you are. I hope you're not still on that island. After that long without human contact I would go insane and kill all the puppets. Anyway it was a great kids show.