The Popcorn Popper/transcript

This article is a transcript of the Between the Lions episode "The Popcorn Popper" from season one, which aired on April 24, 2000.

Announcer Bunny: [Announcer Bunny pops out of the hat.] Announcer Bunny here. Check out what's coming up, here on Between the Lions!

Sloppy Pop (song) [for a bit]

Announcer Bunny: If you think that was fun, watch this! [Announcer Bunny goes back in the hat]

Cleo: Between the Lions is funded in part by...

Theo: A Ready to Learn grant from the United States Department of Education.

Cleo: Through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Theo: That was great, Cleo.

Cleo: Shh! There's more.

Theo: Oh.

Cleo: Major support for Between the Lions is also provided by..

Theo: The Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Cleo: The Park Foundation. Dedicated to education and quality television.

Theo: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Cleo: The Charles H. Revson Foundation.

Theo: And the Institute for Civil Society.

Female Announcer: There are lot of things would pass along to our kids. The one of the most important of all, is a lot the books. Between the Lions is brought to you in part by eToys. Where great ideas come to you.

Male Announcer: And the cow says...

Boy: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmoooooo! (Laughing)

Male Announcer: Words just wouldn't be the same without O's. Cheerios. A proud sponsor of Between the Lions and helping children learn to read.

[Theme song]

[Scene 1]

Children: The Popcorn Popper!

Leona & Lionel: [Leona was picking a book, so Lionel can read to Leona] No. This one? ''Uh-Uh. This one? No. ''This one? No. Uhhhhh... This one? ''No way. ''Uhhhhh... This one? I don't think so.

Leona: Momma, Daddy! (x4)

Both (Theo & Cleo): What is it wrong, Leona?

Leona: Momma, Daddy! Lionel is my designated reader today and he won't read to me.

Lionel: Yes I will!

Leona: Uh?

Lionel: Leona just doesn't want to read the books that I like!

Theo: Well, uh, [coughing] have you tried looking for a book that you both like?

Lionel: Good Idea.

Leona: Mmm!

Lionel: Wait a second... I don't like anything that she likes.

Cleo: Oh, well, now, let's see what we've got here. Oh! How about, The Popcorn Popper?

Theo: Yummy!

Lionel: The Popcorn Popper, that's a good one. I like that.

Leona: I like that one a lot.

Lionel: Mom, You're like a genius or something.

Theo: Well, she's better than that, Lionel... She's a lion.

Cleo: Oh...

[Theo and Cleo purring, then Cleo sniffs]

Cleo: I smell Patrons!

Theo: Oh?

Cleo: Cubs, we'll see you later. Theo, to the main desk.

Theo: Right behind you, Cleo, my dear. [Theo and Cleo went inside the library]

Lionel: "The Popcorn Popper by Pops Popadopoulis" A popular through a nonexisting author. [Lionel opens a book & reads to Leona] Once upon a time, there was a young girl who really loved popcorn.

Young Girl: Mmm... Do I love Popcorn.

Lionel: One day, she was digging in her garden, when suddenly, a popcorn popper popped out of the ground.

Young Girl: A popcorn popper! I wonder how it works.

Lionel: Luckily, the popcorn popper came with instructions.

Young Girl: But unluckily, I do not know how to read. I know, I'll ask someone to read to me. Hey! Can anyone here read to me?!

Lionel: But alas, no one in the town knew how to read either.

Young Girl: Oh, if only someone could read to me, then I could make popcorn.

Lionel: Suddenly, a woman popped out from behind a poplar tree.

Young Girl: Are you a fairy godmother?

Designated Reader: [laughs] Even better, dear, I'm your Designated Reader. I read to people who don't have anyone to read to them. I'm very popular

Young Girl: Cool! Can you read the instructions? [Young Girl gives the instructions to Designated Reader]

Designated Reader: Positively. [clears throat] "Instructions: To start the popcorn popper say: Popcorn popper, pop, pop, pop. Popcorn popper, do not stop".

Lionel: Suddenly, the popcorn popper started popping.

Young Girl: [muffling] Mmm... Yummy. [back in regular voice] Well, that will be all, Designated Reader.

Designated Reader: All right, I'm off to read a bedtime story in Ottawa.

Lionel: ''She popped back behind the poplar tree and was gone. Soon, the popcorn popper popped popcorn all over the town. Before long, the population was pooped from all the popping.''

Town man: Hey, enough already! Stop the popper!

Townspeople: Yeah, Stop the popper! (x3)

Young Girl: I can't, I don't know how! [crying] Oh, if only my designated reader were here.

Lionel: Suddenly, the designated reader popped up out of the popcorn.

Designated Reader: [mumbling with a mouth full] [swallows; laughs] I mean you called.

Young Girl: Oh, Designated Reader, could you please stop the popcorn popper.

Designated Reader: Hey, I'm a reader, not a magician. [laughs]

Young Girl: But you can read the instructions.

Designated Reader: Positively. "To stop the popcorn popper say: Poppity boppity, pop, pop, pop. Hoppity poppity, hop, hop, hop. Dop and a loppity. Lop and a doppity. Pop and the boppity. Stop, pop, stop".

Lionel: ''Instantly, the popcorn popper stopped popping. The townspeople put all the popcorn in little bags and went to the movies. After that, the Designated Reader taught everyone in the town how to read. They read "Mary Poppins".''

[The story was over]

Leona: [Lionel closes the book] Yummy! Oh, that story always makes me hungry. [Lionel sighs] I sure wish we had some popcorn.

Lionel: Yeah, me, too. I wish we had a popcorn popper.

Leona: Yeah, well... we could if we asked Click to take the popper out of the book.

[Both Lionel and Leona look at each other]

Both (Leona & Lionel): Click!

Click: Click the mouse, entering with style!

Lionel: Hey, Click, could you please drag and drop that popcorn popper out of this book?

Click: Of course. [beeping, clicking]

Leona & Lionel: [popcorn popper comes out of the book] Wow... Wow...

Click: And I can underline it, too. [beeping, clicking]

Lionel: Uh, that's okay, Click, thanks anyway.

Click: Well, how about something in a nice border? [beeping, clicking]

Leona: Uh, no, no, Click.

Lionel: We just want you to drag and drop it okay, Click?

Click: I never get to be creative.

[the instructions flew out and landed on the bushes, and the popcorn popper lands softly]

Lionel: Wow. Whoa, cool, huh?

Leona: Yeah! All right, thanks, Click.

Click: Would you like me center it for you?

Both (Leona & Lionel): No.

Click: Very well... Exiting unappreciated. [Click goes back down]

Lionel: What do you say we make some popcorn?! Yeah, all right. I, uh, whoo... How do you get this thing started again?

Leona: Oh, I remember the instructions to get it started.

Lionel: So do I!

Both (Leona & Lionel): Popcorn popper, pop, pop, pop. Popcorn popper, do not stop. [the popcorn popper rumbles and starts popping]

Lionel: Whoa, Lookout... here it comes. Yeah, Exactamundo! Ooga-Chucka, Ooga-Chucka, Ooga. [both laugh and munching]

[the scene takes place at Barnaby B. Busterfield III statue]

Barnaby B. Busterfield III: Do you have any idea what all this popping can lead to?

Both (Walter and Clay Pigeon): Popcorn!

Walter: Lets, uh...

Clay: Uh... go!

Walter: Yeah, let's go!! [both Walter and Clay went out; Barnaby B. Busterfield III grumbles]

Barnaby B. Busterfield III: The fools... once you've unleashed the power of the popcorn, it cannot be stopped!

Cleo: Popcorn. [The Grey takes the letters, "o" and "p" out of the word, popcorn] Op.

[The Vowelles segment]

Announcer: And now, lovers of the vowels, "A," "E," "I," "O," "U" and sometimes "Y", the Vowelles are stopping the show, with the short "o" sound from their bopping hit word, "Top"!

The Vowelles: [singing repeated short "o" sound to soul tune] [song ends; cheering and applause]

[ Gawain's Word segment]

Knight: And now it's time for...

Gawain: Gawain's Word (x2)

[crowd cheering]

Gawain: Excellent! Gawain here once again at blending fields where two brave knights in armor will charge together at high speed and make a word. Competing today, we have a sir "H"...

Silver Knight: [saying in H sound]

[crowd cheering]

Gawain: And on your right, sir "Op."

Gold Knight: Op.

[crowd cheering]

Gawain: Blend On, Dudes.

Gold Knight & Silver Knight: H. Op. H. Op. H. Op. H. Op.

Both (Gold Knight & Silver Knight): Hop!

Gawain: Hop. Excellent! That's Gawain's word for today! And this is Gawain saying hop on back, and we'll see you next time on... Gawain's Word (x2)

[ Denyce Graves Segment]

Announcer: And now, World-Reowned Mezzo-Soprano Ms. Denyce Graves will sing the sound of the letter "O" in the word, "opera."

[conductor's baton taps]

Denyce Graves: [singing short "O"]

[cheering and applause]

[Scene 2; cubs and pigeons munching while the popcorn popper is popping]

Lionel: Oh, I'm full.

Leona: Yeah, you know, I'm kind of full, too.

Lionel Oh, no more popcorn. That's enough.

Both (Walter and Clay Pigeon): No, it's not enough!

Clay: Mm-mm, Mm-mm.

Lionel: Hey, you're right! [all laughing]

Leona: More!

[The Great Smartini segment]

Announcer Bunny: [Announcer Bunny pops out of the hat.] It's magic time with The Great Smartini.

Arty Smartypants: Hey, thank you very much cute little Announcer Bunny.

Announcer Bunny: [Announcer Bunny pops out of the hat.] And this is his beautiful assistant, the remarkable Smarmy Marmy Smartini!

Marmy Smartypants: You're too kind.

Arty Smartypants : And now I, The Great Smartini, will do my amazing trouser-defying short "o"--"aw''-- trick. Marmy, may I have two words that have the short "o"-- "aw"-- sound in them, please?

Marmy Smartypants: Here, Sonny Boy Great Smartini are the words, "popping" and "popcorn" [Arty flips each card what Marmy said].

Arty Smartypants: [people applausing] Thank you, Marmy. I will now put these words into my smartypants. [Arty puts the cards in his pants] And now, I will say a magic word, do a magic dance-- Yes, I'll do a magic dance in my magic smartypants. [Arty grabs a card from the left and reads the word] "Obrocadobra"! [Arty starts dancing when rhythm starts] Ooh! Ahh! Dancing Smartypants, Ooh, Ahh! [his pants starts shaking] Ooh! Popping Popcorn! Whoo! [people applausing] 

Marmy Smartypants: [with her popcorn bag] Oh, Popping Popcorn! Oh! Oh, give me some! Oh, Oh, Oh!

[Toung Twisters segment]

Dragon: Now twist your tongue around this one.

Each Person: Choppers chop, shoppers shop. (x8)

Little Girl: [Giggling]

[The Abstract segment]

Cleo: Shop, slop, stop, top, pop.

[Scene 3; cubs and pigeons munching while the popcorn popper is popping]

Lionel: Oh, I'm full! That's enough popcorn!

Clay: No, it's not enough!

Lionel: Yes, it is! [to Leona] Leona, what do we say to stop the popper?!

Walter: Stop! No, stop stopping! If you stopped the popper, it would be, uh...

Clay: Um, Um...

Both: Terrible!

Leona: Uh, I think it's, uh... "Poppity, boppity, pop, uh, stoppity, stoppity, stop."!

Lionel: No, no, no, that's not it! It's, uh "Poppity, boppity, stoppity stop."!

Leona: No, that's not it! "Poppity, bippity, bip..." Oh, I can't remember the right words.

Lionel: Uh, neither can I!

Both (Walter and Clay Pigeon): Yay! [they started munching]

Lionel: Quick, put the lid back on!

Leona: Oh, the lid!

Lionel: Whoa! ''[Lionel and Leona puts the lid back on and stopped popping. Walter and Clay Pigeon felt sad. But, the popper rumbles while Lionel is yelling, and continues popping after exploding when Lionel and Leona fell down.]''

Both (Walter and Clay Pigeon): All right!

Lionel: "Doppity, loppity, boppity..." [both Lionel and Leona yelling]

[Fred Says segment]

Fred: [Fred was making popping noises, while, rising up.] [repeating "L" sound] "Loll." "Loll." "Loll." "Loll." "Loll." [Fred takes the letter "I"; repeating short "I" sound] "Loll... i." "Lolli." "Lolli." "Lolli..." [Fred brings the word "pop"] "pop"! [Fred was making popping noises] "Lolli...pop." "Lollipop..." [slurping] "Lollipop."

[ The Adventures of Cliff Hanger segment]

Announcer: [The Adventures of Cliff Hanger book flies out and opens it] Flying off the shelf again, it's the continuing daring and dangling adventures of...CLIFF HANGER!!! Today's adventure: "Cliff Hanger and the Big Ape and the Banana Drop."

Helicopter Chorus: [Cliff hanging on the cliff] ♪ Cliff Hanger! Hanging from a cliff. And that's why he's called Cliff Hanger! ♪

Cliff Hanger: Excuse me! Excuse me!

Announcer: [Cliff Hanger snaps his fingers] We find Cliff Hanger where we left him last hanging from the cliff.

Cliff Hanger: [the branch breaks a bit] "Can't hold on much longer!"

Announcer: [Cliff Hanger looks down at the Ape] Suddenly below him, Cliff Hanger sees a very big Ape. [Cliff Hanger takes his Survival Manual out of his backpack] Quickly, Cliff reaches into his backpack and extracts his trusty Survival Manual. [Cliff Hanger flips the page reads the manual] Using his expert decoding skills, Cliff begins to read.

Cliff Hanger: "When you see a very big Ape, disguise yourself as a very big banana. Then, let yourself drop."

Announcer: [Cliff Hanger puts the manual back in the backpack and taking the Banana suit out, puts it on, and releases the branch, then the Ape grabs the banana and opens up that Cliff Hanger is in the suit] Has brave Cliff Hanger made his escape at last?

Cliff Hanger: [waving his fingers] Thanks, you big Ape.

Big Ape: This is not a real banana, this is a man in a banana suit! [The Big Ape squeezed the banana peels when Cliff Hanger flew up and down to catch the cliff]

Helicopter Chorus: [Cliff hanging on the cliff] ♪ And that's why he's called Cliff Hanger! ♪

Cliff Hanger: [the branch breaks a bit] "Can't hold on much longer!" [Sunset]

[The Word Doctor with Dr. Ruth Wordheimer]

Announcer: And now "The Word Doctor with Dr. Ruth Wordheimer"

Dr. Ruth Wordheimer: Hello.

Announcer: Here's Dr. Ruth.

Lionel: I found it, I found it. I found the instructions.

Lionel: "To stop the popcorn popper say: Poppity boppity, pop, pop, pop. Hoppity poppity, hop, hop, hop. Dop and a loppity. Lop and a doppity. Pop and the boppity. Stop, pop, stop".

Walter: I'm getting full.

Lionel: Now we have to figure out how to get rid of all this popcorn before Mom and Dad gets back?

Leona: When Mom and Dad sees this mess, you're gonna be in big trouble.

Lionel: Me! Taking the popper out of the book thing was your idea.

Leona: Why would you listen to me? You're not suppose to listen to me.