Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po are back!
If you are a fan of Teletubbies and have been hoping for its eventual return, your wait is almost over. Netflix announced the show in its fall lineup of children’s programming, promising a “21st-century refresh,” which will be airing soon. This week they released the first trailer for the series reboot, and let’s just say it’s still weird as heck.
Teletubbies, which started on BBC in the late 1990s and aired on PBS Kids in the U.S in its original form until 2001, followed Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po, four alien-like children who danced their way around grassy meadows and into our living rooms. Each has TV screens for bellies and nightmare-inducing antennas that protrude from the tops of their heads, but they seem to capture kid’s hearts with their constant, incoherent blabbering. If that gives parents a few moments of peace to make coffee and stare out the window, we consider this new revival a win.
According to the press release, each of the 12 new episodes will include a new and original “Tummy Tales” song “that will have the entire family dancing along,” so you have that to look forward to each morning.
The show did have a brief revival in the U.S. 2014 on Nick Jr. in November 2015, but it went off-air again in 2018, so it’s the first time a new generation of kids will be introduced to the colorful group. If parents want to get a taste of the new Teletubbies, look no further than their Twitter account, a wild trip where they stan every pop star with reckless abandon.
BTS is always welcome in Teletubbyland! #HappyBirthdayJungkook @BTS_twt 💜💚💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/FKsBhHNelp
— Teletubbies (@TeletubbiesHQ) August 31, 2022
Tinky Winky was “Born This Way” and pulled some inspiration from @ladygaga for the VMA’s Red Carpet 📸 pic.twitter.com/RieiL5B67G
— Teletubbies (@TeletubbiesHQ) August 29, 2022
"Left foot, right foot, levitating, popstars, Dua Lipa with Sun Baby!" 🎶
— Teletubbies (@TeletubbiesHQ) August 22, 2022
HBD @DUALIPA come and visit Teletubbyland for real next time 💗 https://t.co/C2GNxoTdGh
Feeling like Beyoncé because, “I’M THAT TELETUBBY” 💛🐝 pic.twitter.com/WZiEdoswcB
— Teletubbies (@TeletubbiesHQ) July 29, 2022
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Tituss Burgess is on board to be the show’s new narrator. With five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for that show, he’s bound to inject something special into this one. If that’s not enough good news, there will also be a new Sun Baby to look forward to—you’re welcome.
The Teletubbies performers will be Rachelle Beinart, Rebecca Hyland, Nick Chee Ping Kellington, and Jeremiah Krage. Tummy Tales will be hosted by Julia Pulo.
Mark your calendars for November 14, when the first show will become available on the streaming service.
