Welcome to Pooh Corner
Welcome to Pooh Corner
| 18 April 1983 (USA)
SEASON & EPISODES
  • 1
  • Reviews
    Solemplex

    To me, this movie is perfection.

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    Derry Herrera

    Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

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    Frances Chung

    Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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    Gary

    The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

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    JohnnyItalian

    Some of these treasured 80s shows have been re-released on DVD like "He-Man & The Masters of the Universe," but those DVDs do not contain all the classic commercials and promos for other shows, which also stir up all the old memories when I see them on my tapes. Back then I didn't appreciate those old commercials. Maybe in twenty years I will wax nostalgic about some of the goofy reality shows that are on TV currently or get excited if I see a Playstation 2 commercial, but there was something so charming and exciting about the 8-bit Nintendo's upcoming "Mario Bros" game back then and none of that seems prevalent now. However, I also watched "The Disney Channel" a lot—mainly because none of the shows on that channel were interrupted with commercials. I came across a few episodes of "Welcome to Pooh Corner" on one of my tapes, and that show is truly 80s and truly a gem. It was the first Winnie-the-Pooh show to ever air (even before "The Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh" cartoon show) and it had all the campy charm and wholesome fun, which appealed to kids and adults. I know I am once again getting very nostalgic here, as I often do, mainly because I am growing older and hope to share some of my old memories with my kids someday—but even more so because these old shows were so wonderful! The Disney Channel as a whole was absolutely wonderful and is nothing like that anymore."Welcome to Pooh Corner" was a live action show about Pooh and his friends. It began with a narrator named Laurie, an older gentleman who wore warm and comfortable looking sweaters and had the most assuring voice in the world, and was to me, even more charming than Mr. Rogers. He would open the show with a book on his lap and one of the characters in the form of a stuffed toy on the table next to him—usually the character who was to be starring in that particular episode. For example, if the show centered on Roo, he would have a miniature Roo next to him and would begin to explain his dilemma—whether it was how he didn't want to eat his oatmeal or how he wanted to go play with Tigger instead of clean his room. This may sound silly, but there were great lessons to be learned and I just don't think shows of today contain these lessons. Then, the show went into The Hundred Acre Woods, where all the characters lived, and it used live puppets and scenic painted backdrops to show the settings. After the actual episode was over, the characters would do sort of a music video, where they would sing a song that relayed to the episode, and do an arts-and-crafts type segment where they'd show you how to make things like paper plate letter holders to hang in your home. I absolutely loved the show. It's lead-in was "Dumbo's Circus" which was a similar style show starring Dumbo and all his friends, but it didn't have a narrator and it was not nearly as good. I watched it occasionally, more because it was on right before Pooh. I never taped any of those shows, but again, I'd take that over any of the stuff that's on that network today. Back then, it seemed that the channel was there for kids to watch with their families, but now it seems like they are trying to reach the teenage audience and be more like a Nickelodeon-style channel with all it's sitcoms and advertising. I think the main charm of that channel was that it coincided with the huge popularity of Disney World, which was still pretty new in the 80s and the brand new Epcot Center and MGM Studios. There were often Orlando tour shows which aired that made you feel like you were in Florida and made you so excited about all things Disney. I remember my first Grizwald-like drive down to Disney World through South of the Border very clearly too. At Epcot Center, my favorite ride was Captain E-O and at MGM Studios, my favorite was the Backlot Tour where they showed you the TV sets of the "Golden Girls" and "Empty Nest" houses. Neither ride exists anymore. Another show was "Kids Incorporated" which was about a group of kids who had a band, but it always contained lessons of growing up but nothing too heavy and you never really had to ask your parents what the kids were talking about. It used popular 80s music in every show and it too, was truly a classic. "Donald Duck Presents" was another favorite, it showcased Donald and many of the old classic characters in some of their classic cartoon segments. On local TV, Disney was huge too, and "The Disney Afternoon" on Channel 11 featured "Gummi Bears," "Duck Tales," "Tale Spin," "Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers," and later "Darkwing Duck," "Goof Troop," and a few others which would come and go out of the rotation. Taking classic Disney characters like Baloo the Bear and Chip N' Dale, and focusing on their own current life (like Baloo became a pilot and Chip N' Dale became detectives) was a very popular and agreeable premise. Now you can't find any of those shows on TV. Not on local TV, and not on Disney. I don't know why this is so, because I feel that people in their 20s and 30s like me would love to expose the next generation to all of those same types of programs. Shows don't seem to carry over to the next era anymore, and I feel that by the time I have kids, I won't be able to relate to any of what they are watching. Soon enough, things like "Sesame Street" may even become extinct. At least I have these few tapes, which I will certainly save and show my kids someday.

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    tangoyank

    Just to add a few comments to what's already been written...I, too, really loved this show when I was a kid. It aired on The Disney Channel back in the days when the entire channel was built around Disney characters (now it seems aimed at young teenagers and tries to compete with Nickelodeon).This show used full-bodied costumes with animatronic heads for all of the Pooh characters except Roo (who was sometimes a sophisticated puppet, and at other times was played by a dwarf in a small body costume).The show did not use traditional sets in most cases but instead was filmed against blue-screen. However, unlike most mid-80s use of blue screen technology, this actually looked quite realistic and did not have the awkward or fake look that most blue-screen of the era exhibited. This show had a companion show called "Dumbo's Circus" that was made a few years later and used the same technology very effectively (that show had Dumbo and a bunch of new characters that were never seen outside this series).The show had an interesting structure. Each episode opened with an older-British-guy host (not Sebastian Cabot, though) who would begin reading from a Pooh story book and then you would go into the story. The main story lasted about 20 minutes, and then there were two more segments. The first was a music video for one of about ten or so songs they used over and over. The last segment was usually some sort of game, educational segment, or craft demonstration with one of the Pooh characters would speak directly to the camera and interact with the voice-over of the narrator. This was supposed to be a "practical" segment that taught something kids could learn and use, as opposed to just entertainment. Then there was a very catchy closing song that was used every day (the lyrics went something like "Toodle-oo, So Long, and Goodbye," and it was the best kids' closing song I can think of besides "The Song That Doesn't End" from Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop).Unlike most of the other Disney-produced Pooh shows, this one had original stories that did not come directly from the A. A. Milne books. It was really well-written and could entertain adults as well as children. It was not a baby-ish show. There were numerous holiday-themed episodes - I have specific memories of watching this show on Christmas morning.This show is really unique, original, and timeless. It has a visual sense unlike anything I've seen before or since (except it's sister show "Dumbo's Circus"). I'm not sure why Disney doesn't use this technology anymore becuase it doesn't look dated at all. What was so impressive about this show's look was that the colors were so vibrant and sparkled so brightly. As others have suggested, I wish Disney would re-run it or at least put it out on DVD.

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    xxlittlekittenxx

    The ending credits music to this show is running through my head as I type. It's amazing that you can remember something so well from years ago. I remember all the songs, a lot of episodes, and it was a lot better than the 'Book of Pooh' (that show is just too cutesy).The characters were people in full body costumes with remote controlled facial features. It was sort of like a Sid and Marty Krofft show from the '70s in that sense, sans the psychedelic campy quality. I believe that the host/narrator was none other than Sebastian Cabbot, who did indeed narrate the first Pooh cartoons.Now let me pour out the memories (tiny spoilers ahead, matey).I loved this song that Pooh sang about getting up on the right side of the bed, and one about Rabbit singing about trying new things (it had a magic act motif going on), and of course Piglet's song about what to do when you're scared ("I hum to myself, hm-hm-h-hm, and laugh to myself, ha-ha-ha-ha, and say 'everything's okay' to myself..."). Then there was a weird one with Owl singing about eyes. Tigger had a neat one; I remember the tune, but not the lyrics.As for the episodes, I remember one about a marching band, and since Tigger played the guitar and not a marching band instrument, he did the baton twirling/leading. And then there was one where Tigger did this trick on a swing and ended up hurting himself pretty badly. There was also one where Rabbit gave the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood gang some carrot seeds. While the others didn't take care of their sprouts properly, Piglet did it just right and ended up growing one big carrot.I also remember little things about certain episodes. Like Eeyore singing Tigger a song about taking your time, and Kanga singing Roo a song about what things were like when she was his age. In fact, I think throughout the whole episode the characters sang songs about what it was like when they were Roo's age.But one thing that stands out the most is the "Too Smart For Strangers" special. (I remember back in the '80s and early '90s the 'don't talk to strangers' thing was quite big in public service announcements and specials.) It was a special in which Pooh and Piglet explained the dangers of someone offering you candy or a ride out of the blue. And for me, it worked... perhaps a little too well. I remember after seeing that I wouldn't talk to ANYONE I didn't know. Pooh (or Piglet, or one of the live action actors) stated that if a stranger talks to you, scream "NO!" at them and run off. (I actually remember doing this on more than one occasion, one of which taking place in some store where a girl about my age at the time asked me if I liked these toys that were displayed, and I screamed "NO!" and darted off. It's kind of funny now that I think about it.)This show was on Disney channel for years, and I really miss it. In fact, if it was still on I'd probably watch it. I hope Disney airs it again, or at least put it on video/DVD. Kids today really need to see this.

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    ztonus

    "Welcome to you and how do you do? Everybody's waiting here at Pooh Corner Waiting for you and Winnie the Pooh to have a happy ho-kie-Pooh Time"I remember this back for when I was a kid. This show was a live-action version of the original cartoons. It began with the Narrator (Whom may have been the same narrator from the first movie). It contained the main story, with a song and short segment at the end.I often compare this to "The Book of Pooh". While "BOP" is a pretty good show, it doesn't compare "Welcome to Pooh Corner". First of all, "BOP" is much too built as a kiddie show. "WPC" had a more adult touch to it, while still appealing to kids. Actors wore costumes with talking heads, making a cool look for Pooh and friends.The only character I didn't like in this show was Roo, who looked too much like a puppet. The Roo in "BOP" is much better.

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