By the Bel: The Best Kids' TV Show Adapted From a Book Goes to...

Published August 8, 2011
Category: By the Bel, Columns

I believe Round the Twist started the golden age of TV for kids and young adults. It took the strange, ridiculous and the roll-on-the-floor funny stories penned by the genius author, Paul Jennings, and brought them to life in the most wonderful way. You may all have been read, or picked up a copy of Paul’s books at some stage in your life. You may not even have known you were reading his work, but his quirky work is unmistakable

Some of the short stories that stick in my mind are the ones I was read in grade 3, the year after the TV series was released (Now you maths whizzes can figure out how old I am later). Having moved schools from a very back water country town, to an even more back water country town that just had better TV reception, I was shocked to hear stories of stomach-churning grossness and ‘far out there’ tales of tattoos on children – and gas, lots and lots of gas.

To see these books come to life on the TV screen was more than anyone could have expected. It became the much talked about cult classic of the playground. “Did you see what Bronson did?” ”Linda is way hot.” “Did you have nightmares?”

So without further ado I’ll give you the youtube clip of Episode 1 from back in 1989, Skeleton on the Dunny,

where we are first introduced to the Twist family. The family consisted of Tony (dad), Pete and Linda, (twins) and Bronson (younger brother). They move into a lighthouse and right from the world go, the fun never stopped. The first season was released in 1989. The second season was released in 1994. The third season was released in 2000 and the final season in 2001. I can only confess to watching the first 2 series, even if it was through my fingers, or from behind the lounge chair. I can bet you a fair sum of money that anyone over the age of 15 knows the lyrics to that theme song, and since the program has gone through many, MANY replays, that age could go even lower.

I really hope there can be a second golden age for young adult audiences. What was your favourite Paul Jennings story, and was it converted into an episode of Round the Twist?

Marianne here:

As I was posting Bel’s blog today, I had a sudden desire to hear the music. Round the Twist was on of my favourite TV shows of all time. Here’s a fan video for you to sing to, with lyrics underneath.