A Show of Hands (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A Show of Hands |
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Scene from the episode "Painting"
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| Created by | Tim Lagasse |
| Directed by | Tim Lagasse |
| Starring | Tim Lagasse Jim Napolitano |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Production location(s) | University of Connecticut (Storrs, Connecticut) |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 1 minute |
| Production company(s) | Nickelodeon Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | Nickelodeon |
| Picture format | Black-and-white |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | 1992 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Oobi Oobi: Dasdasi |
A Show of Hands is a series of short films created by puppeteer Tim Lagasse for Nickelodeon. It was a predecessor to the television program Oobi. Each film is about one minute long and follows personified hands as they perform a small skit or a visual illusion. The series started airing on Nickelodeon as an interstitial program in 1992, and reruns were shown through 1997. The title is a reference to the phrase "show of hands," used literally to refer to a television show about hands.
Lagasse wrote, directed, and performed A Show of Hands at the University of Connecticut while earning his BFA in Puppet Arts. The series was shot in black and white, with the exception of the vanity card that appears at the end of each film. After the conclusion of the series, Lagasse went to work as a director and performer on Nickelodeon's Oobi, which features similar bare hand puppets as characters. His work on A Show of Hands was what led to him being cast on Oobi.
The films were positively received and won awards from UNIMA and Broadcast Design International. In 2001, Lagasse began performing an extended live version of the Show of Hands skits at the HERE Arts Center in New York.
Format
The films follow a similar format and include recurring elements. Each film opens with seven white-gloved hands forming a cartoonish face that announces, "And now, Nickelodeon presents A Show of Hands." The hands disperse and present the main part of the short. It involves individual hands silently acting out skits. Once the short finishes, an audience of hands gives a big round of applause. The films close with a shot of the Nickelodeon logo on a hand painted orange.
Cast
- Tim Lagasse - lead performer
- Jim Napolitano - ensemble puppeteer
Episodes
| Number | Title | Length (in minutes) | |
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| 01 | "Ballet" | 1:06 | |
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A group of hands performs a ballet routine.
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| 02 | "Bow Tying" | 1:00 | |
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Three hands learn that they must use teamwork to tie a bow onto a gift box.
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| 03 | "Holding Hands" | 1:06 | |
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A male hand tries to get a female hand to hold his hand by flirting with her.
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| 04 | "Magic Trick" | Unknown | |
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Two pairs of magician hands, one red and the other blue, appear and do magic tricks. They use a glass of water and some playing cards to create the illusion of two of the same card appearing.
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| 05 | "Painting" | 1:00 | |
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An artist hand tries to paint a portrait of another hand, but the other hand cannot keep still to hold a pose.
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| 06 | "Piano" | Unknown | |
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Two pairs of hands play a grand piano together.
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Awards
| Year | Presenter | Category/Award | Recipient | Status | Ref. |
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| 1993 | Union Internationale de la Marionette | Citation for Excellence | Tim Lagasse | Won | |
| Broadcast Design International | Broadcast Design Silver Award | Won |
