"Are you ready to clown around?"
My friend Sara Jo recently posted something about The Big Comfy Couch, a children's show out of Canada on PBS that I watch fairly frequently with Adriana. Until today I thought three different girls had played the lead character Loonette the Clown, but upon further research (does Wikipedia count as "research?") I discovered that there are actually only two different girls playing Loonette. The reason this troubles me is because Alyson Court, the actress who originated the role, went through such a transformation in the ten years she played the role it's frightening. In the early episodes she looks fresh-faced and adorable:
Alyson Court, age 19. Sunglasses stylin', happy face smilin'.But ten years of clock stretches can almost kill a girl. I mean, can you imagine taping your boobs down every day and pretending your lady parts are hairless and have never been used? Tightening your throat and your, um, lips until your voice sounds like a ten year old? That would burst anyone's balloon. No wonder she looks like a bloated alcoholic by the later episodes:
A classic case of LOLCI: Laughing Out Loud, Crying Inside (Claudia Cogan, 2006) and Rockbottom (Sara Schaefer, 2006).Look, think about all of the actors who've had major roles in children's programming and how it has ruined their lives.
Paul Reubens as Pee-Wee Herman, age 33:
Paul Reubens, age 39. His Pee-Wee was his ultimate demise:
Steve Burns, age 23, with his buddy Blue:
Steve Burns, age 33:
Just another hipster living in Greenpoint. (Via his band's MySpace profile.)
Carolyn Castiglia as Pippi Longstocking, age 24. Her ability to morph into a 9 year-old girl is uncanny:
Steve Burns, age 33:
Just another hipster living in Greenpoint. (Via his band's MySpace profile.)Carolyn Castiglia as Pippi Longstocking, age 24. Her ability to morph into a 9 year-old girl is uncanny:
Carolyn Castiglia, age 25, right before she retired the role:
