Because I have principles, dammit

One of the most popular Flemish children's TV shows is built around this guy:

He's a gnome called Plop. They've gone for the rather traditional approach here: old guy, white beard. Noddy he is not.

Now this programme is a very big deal in Belgium and the Netherlands, so much so that there are three (I kid you not) theme parks erected in his honour, with a fourth one under construction. They are in fact so popular they have released several songs, the most popular of which gets played at children's parties and weddings (groan) and most people know the dance routine. I WISH I was kidding. Just in case my humiliation of my fellow countrymen and neighbours hasn't gone far enough, here's a link to a video of a typical performance, which you must not feel obliged to watch. Unless you enjoy to watch the humiliation of other nations, in which case enjoy.

Now you would think that such a popular show would have all kinds of amazing things going for it, but no. It's the most traditional thing you could imagine, and hugely un-PC. They've either never heard of political correctness or they're doing it on purpose. I'm guessing it's the former. Let me show you how bad it is by introducing four of the six main characters.

This guy is called "Lazy". He's basically a narcoleptic. He keeps falling asleep, no matter what is going on. I'm sure the Belgian and Dutch narcoleptics societies will join me in thanking "Lazy" for all he has done to improve their image.

This gnome is called Smul in Dutch, which would translate somewhere between "Gobble" and "Feast", I guess. He's the overweight one. I don't think I need to say any more.



Next up are the two female characters. There are only two, compared to four main male characters. They are given a mere supportive role in the series, but somehow I don't think that would be a feminist's main objection to them. I introduce to you:

The main female character, called Kwebbel, which is a more derogatory term for "Chatter". She is always trying to say something, and always being told to be quiet by the other characters, because she "talks too much."

And then there's "Narrow", as in thin. She's constantly "making herself pretty" with make-up and smiling prettily. The male gnomes fight over her and do anything for her, while "Chatter" is put down and ignored. Charming.




Obviously I'm horrified at the whole thing. It's unacceptable. I should start a boycot. To expose children's impressionable minds to this drivel is a crime.

Only - Marie likes it, so some Saturday mornings we will watch it together. (Or she will watch while I snooze - pot-ay-to, pot-ah-to.) And we have some of the songs on CD. Oh, and I've done the dance a couple of times. The biscuits which are shamelessly promoted in the programme taste okay, really. And we've been to two of the theme parks.

Damn.