Minipops
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Minipops was a television series broadcast in 1983 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Focused primarily for younger viewers, it consisted of music performances on a brightly coloured set, featuring preteen children singing pop music hits of the time as well as older classics. The children were usually made to look like the original performers, including the clothing and make-up.
It was the brainchild of Martin Wyatt, whose young daughter Joanna had enjoyed huge success in France covering the song "Stupid Cupid" and Channel 4 initially embraced the idea to boost its flagging ratings. A nationwide search for amateur child performers was held involving a two day process.
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[edit] Reception
Though the series was a success for Channel 4, gaining 2 million viewers, little thought had been taken on the ethics of child performers, singing songs originally written for older artists and dressing and dancing in a provocative style often influenced by the original performance. Whilst embraced by children who loved the idea of ordinary children singing and dancing as they did along with their favourite songs, the show sat uneasily with some adults, capped by a performance from five year old Joanna Fisher who covered the Sheena Easton song "9 to 5" (known as "Morning Train" in the States) in nightclothes and included the lyrics "we make love".
In response the program started to draw criticism from commentators in the British media who suggested that portraying children in this manner, singing songs that often contained a subtext of adult content, was somewhat sinister (one such critic dubbing the show 'MiniWhores' at one point). Also the Daily Mail claimed that the Minipops were partly responsible for "the slaying of childhood". The following is an excerpt from The Observer article of 27 February 1983:
"Is it merely priggish to feel queasy at the sight of primary school minxes with rouged cheeks, eye make-up and full-gloss lipstick belting out songs like torch singers and waggling those places where they will eventually have places? The final act of last week's show featured a chubby blonde totlette, thigh-high to a paedophile, in a ra-ra skirt and high heels; her black knickers were extensively flashed as she bounced around singing the words 'See that guy all dressed in green/He's not a man, he's a loving machine.' Kiddieporn, a shop-window full of junior jailbait? And does the show thrust premature sexual awareness onto its wide-eyed performers?"
The child cast and the show's creators were somewhat shocked at the response and its misinterpretation and despite the ratings success, a change in personnel within the Channel 4 management caused its rapid cancellation.
A number of albums were released, however, which did very well in Canada, prompting the Minipops to hold a three week tour there, with the gang now enjoying controversy free success. This went on for sometime there until the popularity had run its natural course.
[edit] 2005 show
On 11 October 2005, Whatever Happened to the Minipops? was screened on Channel 4. This featured a history of the show, with interviews from the former Minipops and crew, and a reunion at the original theatre where the programme was filmed.
[edit] The Day Today
1994 BBC comedy The Day Today parodied Minipops in which the satirical news programme advertised a fictional 'Attitudes Night' on BBC Two, which looked back at past television shows to illustrate how attitudes have changed. One such example was the programme "Kiddystare, Channel Four, 1983" in which toddlers frolicked for the pleasure of adults.
[edit] The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz
2007 Channel 4, Joanna Fisher made a short appearance as a mystery guest in this Channel 4 anniversary quiz show in December 2007. Two of three teams correctly guessed she was a past performer from Minipops.
