Trideo Kids

Tom McGrenery

Although it may be presented as all sweetness and light in for the cameras, behind the scenes a lot of work goes into the production of children's trideo. Perhaps more work is required to produce programming for Terra Nova's increasingly bored children than in any other type of visual media. For one thing, it can't all be done on computers. In order to play to a (hyperactive) live audience in the studio, children's trideo programmes often use actual puppets and people in costume, in addition to animated features.

The most popular kids' trids on the Hermes 72 network include:

CNLCTC's "One-Eyed Jack Show", in which the stories of the eponymous hero (see CNCS Leaguebook One) are introduced by a presenter who occasionally sings or announces a competition, before segueing to the episode in question.

The Republican Broadcasting Corporation enjoys a great success with its daily show, Cleriheu Avenue, starring Henri Hopper. Henri is an eight foot tall, bright blue, anthropomorphic hopper, who lives on the titular street with a variety of strange creatures and one human - Angry Commander Jean (see HGRB 1st ed., page 14).

The Mekong Dominion boasts some very popular animated children's trideo shows, such as Sparky Springer's Treehouse and MechaFlare: Chronicle of the Oblivion War (see AST Leaguebook Three).

Starting point: Going Live

The Player Characters are members of the cast and crew of a children's trideo programme, such as Cleriheu Avenue. With daily broadcasts, they must not only rush through rehearsals and maintenance, but celebrity interviews must be arranged, as well as research into the latest crazes on the streets of Terra Nova.

Stories will be based around an ensemble of characters - basically everyone who works on the show. The changing relationships and rivalries between various executives, crew and so forth should fill out the skeleton of the plot.

Variations

1. Out-take footage of a drunken presenter swearing at the kids has been stolen. The PCs must get it back before a rival station can air it.
2. The programme has moved to a new studio, but key equipment, such as costumes and puppets, has gone missing en route. The cast and crew have only an hour before the go on air. (Tip: make the players actually ad lib a kids' TV show, preferably with glove puppets).
3. A broadcast team gets sent to do a documentary slot in a hostile environment (desert, jungle, space, etc.)
4. There's a bomb in the studio! The PCs must get the children out without alerting the bomber to their intentions, lest he detonate the bomb early.
5. The programme's mascot dies during a broadcast. The PCs must get the pet's corpse off air without revealing its demise to the audience.
6. Rumour has it the programme is soon to be axed. Can the PCs keep their jobs, or will they try to jump ship before things turn bad?

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