Hello again, "Mat Yoyo"

[RonRon]

SINGAPORE: If you were a child in the '80s, you will remember what a hit the Malay-language children's television show "Mat Yoyo" was.

In fact, it was so popular that it ran for a whopping 12 years.

And that is probably the reason it is being resurrected in a big way.

An all-new "Mat Yoyo" will have four separate versions and casts: The show will air in English on MediaCorp TV okto, with Kim Wakerman as the host; in Mandarin on Channel 8, with Ya Hui as host; in Malay on Suria, Danial Asriq as host; and in Tamil on Vasantham, with Ebi Shankara.

Explained Ryo Leong Ngai Fong, head of promotions and publicity for "Mat Yoyo": "We wish to create a wholesome show for pre-schoolers that is infused with local flavours and values. It is therefore appropriate to have four versions in all of our four main languages."

"Since 'Mat Yoyo' was such an iconic and successful programme in the '80s, refreshing it now will also speak to the parents who would have grown up watching the show. Both parents and children can now have a common local icon to relate to."

The new "Mat Yoyo" will retain educational values, the interactive storytelling segment and the two feline characters, Yoyo and Yaya, each played by four different children between the ages of five and 11.

According to 23-year-old Shankara ("100 Wishes"), who will host the Vasantham version, he remembered watching the original "Mat Yoyo" at the age of six.

"Back then it was one of the few locally produced shows and one of the few kids shows that actually aired on TV," he said.

"It was one-of-a-kind because it featured audience interaction. My mum and my grandma speak Malay so they kind of deciphered it for me, but the show was so good that you didn't need to know the language. It transcended that. You just enjoyed the colours and the activities."

So, how does the new version compare?

"The take is very different," said Shankara, who was "really excited" when he was asked to host it.

"I think they have made it smarter, and they don't undermine the children's intellect by slowing things down or making it very kiddie."

Actress Ya Hui, on the other hand, had not seen the original version, but she decided to do it after talking to TV personality Dennis Chew. "He said it was his favourite show," she said.

Her take on the show?

"We sing and dance and teach them certain values, like filial piety and politeness," she said, adding that she was a little apprehensive about taking on the task.

"I have a fear that dealing with kids today can actually be a big challenge, because they think out of the box! A few days ago I went to rehearsals in sunglasses because my eyes were puffy."

"The kids said, 'You cannot drink Milo because you are wearing sunglasses. You have to take them off before you can drink it.' I was like, 'I look like a panda.' A kid replied, 'Then you should go to China because people will take care of you there.'"

She laughed. "They gang up on me and bully me! They're very, very smart."

Yes, today's kids have raised the bar - so it looks like Mat Yoyo will have to as well.

- TODAY/vl

Catch Mat Yoyo on

Suria

Starting Jan 1, Sundays at 10am

okto

Starting March 5, weekdays at 9am, 11am and 1pm; repeats on Saturdays and Sundays at 9am and 11am

Channel 8

Starting April 1, Sundays at 10.30am

Vasantham

Starting June 29, Fridays at 6.30pm

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

yup remembered this show. Nowadays mat yoyo means m&d yoyos to me anyway.