Some History About MUZZY

Some brief history about the children's language learning program, Muzzy.
SUBSCRIBE: / @tymforhistory
HASHTAGS: #history #muzzy #90s #languagelearning

[@codexfordianus]

Is that a Snuggle bear behind you? 🥲

[@tymforhistory]

It is Snuggle.

[@AFnord]

I was thinking of Muzzy just the other day, so what a coincidence. In Sweden this show was sent for free to schools, paid for by a branch of the Swedish public broadcasting service called UR, and was shown to 3rd graders in their English class. Mostly just remember the bad guy repeating the word "invisible" during a scene, which while funny might not have been the most useful word to teach kids who are just learning the basics of the language (though in all fairness, most kids at this age had already been exposed to English through TV, as dubbing wasn't the norm here apart from shows specifically targeted at young kids), and of course the clock eating.

[@CoconutPanels]

I remember it from Poland. I literally learned the words like 'fat' because of the queen. I still remember the quotes like 'I like clocks'.

[@zefciu]

I remember at the beginning they also added some live scenes done by Polish actors, but they were so terrible, that they dropped them.

[@ethervagabond]

"Je suis la jeune fille." That line was burned into our brains. We'd randomly quote it at times, not knowing what it meant. It was only when I got to high school and took French class that I learned I had been calling myself a girl the whole time lol

[@eltiolavara9]

you awakened an ancient memory

[@Wilderness-Will]

I can totally see why people think that's Dr. Pulaski; it really does look and sound a LOT like her, but it's just off enough that it's clearly someone else. These ads ran for YEARS; I remember these and Zoobooks ran the same ads for longer than anything else I can remember seeing on Nickelodeon during the late '90s-early 00's. Great video!

[@ryanschroeder2956]

Before the duolingo days

[@striveneveryield]

I legit haven’t thought about Muzzy in like 25 years so those hearing those commercial clips was like cracking open a vault in my brain

[@tookeydookey]

I have (and archived) the ESL version on VHS where they speak American English instead of British English. I remember renting the Spanish VHS set from my library in the early 2000s and vaguely remember it. After then, I found a German VHS set at a book sale (along with both Spanish DVD sets) which only contained the English tapes. I only have the ESL VHS and Spanish DVD sets now but it's still weirdly nostalgic coming back to these every once in a while!

[@r66fplaysgames]

1:50 I think that I have seen that "Norman" character somewhere else. I think that he was also featured on the PBS Kids TV show "Between the Lions". It has been quite a while since I've seen both Muzzy & Between the Lions.

[@js32096]

Was surprised the vid had less than 300 views. Good video. I’ll check out your other stuff

[@jutnezproductions]

Funny, I'm a 2000's kid, and I remember learning French from Muzzy in the late 2000's/early 2010's when my arts teacher used it. Never knew how popular it was in the 90's, but I remember doing quite a few activities related to it in what I think was Grade 4.

[@loszhor]

Nostalgia bomb!~

[@ishouldhavetried]

I remember being sad because we were poor and couldn't afford Muzzy 😭

[@MP-qq2js]

I remember this running in Poland in the early 90s

[@ideologybot4592]

well there's something that hadn't registered in my brain for 30 years. thanks I guess.

[@JJMcCullough]

Fun video. I only know it from the memes! In fact I made even a meme entirely based on Muzzy’s reputation alone. What was your personal experience with it?

[@tymforhistory]

Hey JJ, wow I’m a big fan dude! This channel pretty much exists because of you, thanks for stopping in! I experienced Muzzy only through commercials growing up. I remember thinking it was a product that could magically make you know a second language, thus the hefty price tag.

[@JJMcCullough]

@@tymforhistory awesome! I’m so flattered to know I’ve had an influence on you! I hope you share more personal stuff in your videos! I always like hearing about how creators interacted with the things they’re talking about.

[@tymforhistory]

@JJMcCullough thanks for the advice! It is my goal to insert myself more being that it is my nostalgia too.

[@ZipplyZane]

Before I watch the video, here's what I can remember from the commercial: Not the name of the product. The weird bear thing, which I presume is Muzzy. "Je suis le grand [word I could never understand]" Girl points at self: "Je suis la jeune fille" "Yes, that is French they're speaking, but, no, these children aren't French, they're American." "Un, deux, trois" (singing)

[@devonoknabo2582]

Weirdly enough I got introduced to muzzy in gondoland thru the Esperanto version somehow.

[@gugurupurasudaikirai7620]

I remember watching the French VHS when I was very young. Wasn't all that effective, I still don't know French now. Haven't even thought of Muzzy in a very long time

[@tearoses9940]

Muzzy seems so familiar to me, but I don’t remember ever watching it. Maybe my elementary school library had a poster with the logo and characters on it? Or maybe another classroom had it?

[@NextToToddliness]

In Diné bizaad [Navajo Language] "nímazí" means "round", which is how my older brother got his nickname "Muzzy". Linguistics are fun.

[@Vidgmchtr]

My first guess for the actress is Lois Lillenstein of Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show, but they don't exactly look the same.

[@lukas3446]

loving ur videos so far. commenting for engagement lol

[@Sheerspeechcraft]

I loved Muzzy as a kid

[@Slabvandagda8147]

As a Brit who started education in the 90s this was such a staple of my lower school. We were shown the French one so it is burned in my brain as "Moozi". Every time I bring this series up with people all I get is blank stares and repeated "What the hell"s haha

[@allsmiles3281]

Watching this at school was the highlight of my day

[@jiffyviv5341]

me and my friends started sending bjork's debut album cover to each other as a type of rick roll amongst our friend group and you sir have just bjorked me

[@FutureHH]

i think i watched it sometimes during elementary school in Italy in the second part of the 90's. I understand 0 english at the time but the dude that always said Clever sticked with me lol.

[@georgeh5075]

Big nostalgia, I never really learnt anything from it...but it was funny as a kid

[@Myrope]

Awesome vid! Also loving the Björk Debut album cover behind you :)

[@tymforhistory]

My favorite album cover

[@Myrope]

@@tymforhistory Solid choice!

[@necromanzer52]

I had the Spanish version. It was completely useless and taught me nothing.

[@droojohnson]

Thanks algorithm. You got it right this time

[@Domebuddy]

Alright, i need more informational useless content, keep the uploads coming.

[@clurgee4923]

Shiyattttttt

[@sirellyn]

Thatcher's time in the UK was EASILY one of the best times the UK had ever seen. They STILL use a lot of the pop culture from it even today, and most people who lived through it reflect fondly on it. What is this revisionist history crap?

[@garateaser]

I had that in my childhood, i learned absolutely nothing from that cartoon/game