#Lotta from Carl the Collector

[sophiebyers]

Autism and PBS Kids (Edit: I had forgotten about Frazzle from Sesame Street)

[ur-fav-is-autistic]

Lotta from Carl the Collector is Autistic!

[littleraccooncarl]

I'm very late for this because I've been busy, but here are the Carl the Collector episodes airing next week!

Rhythm Blues/Giving Up The Ship - When Lotta is frustrated learning a new dance, she comes to see it is okay that she experiences music in her own colorful way. / Sheldon worries about telling Carl that he doesn't want to play their favorite pirate game anymore. (sounds like we'll be getting an episode about Lotta's synesthesia!)

The Artifact Collection/Mothership Day - Arugula and Carl are on an adventure as archaeologists! With each obstacle they face, they discover you can be afraid and brave at the same time. / While practicing his theremin performance for his Mama on Mother’s Day, Carl spots a UFO! (this is a subtle nod to the fact that Arugula wants to be an archeologist when she grows up)

The Lost Yo-Yo/Rainy Day - Carl’s medium-sized fuchsia yo-yo is missing from his collection! The Lost and Found Detectives are on the case - time to look for clues. / A rainy day changes Carl’s pool day plans and he’s stuck inside – now what is he going to do?

Twin Sister Hamster Sitters Incorporated/The Sneaker Collection - Nico and Arugula start a hamster sitter business! But, can the sisters agree on what the hamsters need to be comfortable and happy? / Carl is afraid to tell his Mama the new shoes she bought him are too tight and his feet feel like burritos!

The Gratitude Collection/The Pet Rock Collection - Carl and Sheldon are on THANK YOU mission! But, when their good intentions create a traffic jam, will everyone be in the mood for gratitude? / Carl shows his friends the right way to play with pet rocks, but his friends have other ideas.

[identity-library]

Disability (TV Shows)

A:

Action Heroine Cheer Fruits (2017)

Genki Aoyama (Monoplegic - Cane/Wheelchair User)

Action Pack (2022)

Eon (Down Syndrome)

Adventure Time (2010)

Finn Mertens (Amputee)

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013)

Akela Amador (Blind)

Daniel Sousa (Amputee - Crutch User)

Gordon (Blind)

Leo Fitz (Brain Damage)

Alladin (1994)

Mechanicles (Low Vision)

All The Light We Cannot See (2023)

Marie-Laure (Blind)

Alma's Way (2021)

Eduardo "Eddie" Montoya (Cerebral Palsy - Crutch User)

Lauren (Unspecified Disability - Wheelchair User)

American Dad (2005)

Artemis (Unspecified Disability, Wheelchair User)

American Dragon: Jake Long (2005)

Peg Leg Pat (Amputee)

A Million Little Things (2018)

Eddie Saville (Paralyzed, Wheelchair User)

Amphibia (2019)

Angwin (Blind)

Captain Grime (Amputee, Partially Blind)

Lysil (Blind)

Stumpy Stumpson (Multi-Limb Amputee)

Arrested Development (2003)

Buster Bluth (Amputee)

Jack Dorso (Paralyzed)

J. Walter Weatherman (Amputee)

Marky Bark (Prosopagnosia/Face Blindness)

Rita Leeds (Unspecified Intellectual Disability)

Arthur (1996)

Binky Barnes (Allergy - Food)

Buster Baxter (Asthma)

Carl Gould (Autistic)

Francis Haney (Dyslexia)

Fred (Colour Blind)

Fritz Langley (Arthritis)

George Lundgren (Dyslexia)

Jenna Morgan (Allergy - Food)

Jessica (Allergy - Food)

Keith Powers (Autistic)

Lydia Fox (Paralyzed, Wheelchair User)

Maria Pappas (Stutter)

Marina Datillo (Blind)

Mr. Morris (Asthma, Allergies - Dust, Food, Pollen)

Nemo (Allergy - Food)

Nigel Ratburn (Hard of Hearing)

Pickles the Clown (Allergy - Animal)

As We See It (2022)

Harrison Dietrich (Autistic)

Jack Hoffman (Autistic)

Violet Wu (Autistic)

Atypical (2017)

Sam Gardner (Autistic)

Avatar: Legend of Korra (2012)

Ming Hua (No Arms)

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)

Combustion Man (Multi-Limb Amputee)

Teo (Paralyzed, Wheelchair User)

Toph Beifong (Blind)

B:

Battlestar Galactica (2004)

Felix Gaeta (Amputee)

Beastars (2019)

Ebisu (Albinism)

Gohin (Partially Blind)

Louis (Foot Amputee)

Orion (Albinism)

Big City Greens (2018)

Bill Green (Amputee)

Big Mouth (2017)

Caleb Linden (Autistic)

Lars (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Big Nate (2022)

Amy (Cerebral Palsy - Wheelchair User)

Breaking Bad (2008)

Walter White Jr. (Cerebral Palsy)

Bridgerton (2020)

Dolores Stowell (Deaf)

Lady Danbury (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Cane User)

Lady Stowell (Deaf)

Lord Remington (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Bluey (2018)

Dougie (Deaf)

Bob's Burgers (2011)

Courtney Wheeler (Congenital Heart Condition)

Rudolph "Regular Sized Rudy" Stieblitz (Asthma)

Bodies (2023)

Elias Mannix (Limp - Traumatic Injury - Cane User)

Bones (2005)

Jack Hodgins (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Zack Addy (Autistic)

Bungou Stray Dogs (2016)

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (Unspecified Chronic Lung Condition)

Bungou Stray Dogs (2024)

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (Unspecified Chronic Lung Condition)

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000)

Zeb Nebula (Amputee)

C:

Call the Midwife (2012)

Sally Harper (Down Syndrome)

Carl the Collector (2024)

Carl (Autistic)

Forrest (ADHD)

Lotta Fox (Autistic)

Chicago Med (2015)

Isidore Latham (Autistic)

Colin from Accounts (2022)

Colin (Wheelchair User)

Community (2009)

Abed Nadir (Autistic)

Jeremy Simmons (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Covert Affairs (2010)

August "Auggie" Anderson (Blind)

Craig of the Creek (2018)

Jackie (Deaf)

D:

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (2012)

Chrissie (Unspecified Disability - Crutch User)

Max (Autistic)

Daredevil (2015)

Matthew Murdock/Daredevil (Blind)

Stick (Blind)

Dead End: Paranormal Park (2022)

Hercules (Unspecified Limb Difference)

Nora Khan (Autistic)

Zagan (Amputee)

Deca-Dence (2020)

Natsume (Amputee)

Demon Slayer (2019)

Gyomei Himejima (Blind)

Dinosaur Train (2009)

Dennis Deinocheirus (Autistic)

DinoSquad (2007)

Liam (Asperger's Syndrome)

Dirty God (2019)

Jade (Facial Difference)

Doc McStuffins (2012)

Wildlife Will (No Legs)

Doug (1991)

Chad Mayonnaise (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Dragon Tales (1999)

Lorca (No Wings, Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

DuckTales (2017)

Black Heron (Amputee)

Della Duck (Amputee)

E:

Elena of Avalor (2016)

Cristina (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Emmerdale (2018)

Ryan Stocks (Cerebral Palsy)

Empire (2015)

Lucious Lyon (Amputee)

ER (1994)

Kerry Weaver (Congenital Hip Dysplasia)

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)

Woo Young-Woo (Autistic)

Extreme Ghostbusters (1997)

Garrett Miller (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

F:

Fairy Tail (2009)

Gildarts Clive (Multi-Limb Amputee)

Family Guy (1999)

Ellen (Down Syndrome)

Joe Swanson (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Stella (Deaf)

Fear the Walking Dead (2015)

Wendell Rabinowitz (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Fireman Sam (1987)

Hannah Sparkes (Unspecified Walking Disability - Wheelchair User)

Josie Phillips (Amputee)

Fish Hooks (2010)

Chief (Amputee)

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2004)

Wilt (Amputee)

Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)

Edward Elric (Amputee)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)

Edward Elric (Amputee)

Lan Fan (Amputee)

G:

Game of Thrones (2011)

Bran Stark (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Jaime Lannister (Amputee)

Tyrion Lannister (Dwarfism)

Gargoyles (1994)

Halcyon Renard (Unspecified Illness, Wheelchair User)

Glee (2009)

Artie Abrams (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Becky Jackson (Down Syndrome)

Glitch Techs (2020)

Miko Kubota (ADHD)

Goldie & Bear (2015)

Marian Locks (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Gravity Falls (2012)

Mr. Poolcheck (Amputee)

Grey's Anatomy (2005)

Arizona Robbins (Amputee)

Christina Yang (Dyslexia)

Lucas Adams (ADHD)

Nick Marsh (ADHD)

Virginia Dixon (Autistic)

Growing Up Fisher (2015)

Mel Fisher (Blind)

Guilty Crown (2011)

Ayase Shinomiya (Bilateral Lower Limb Amputee - Wheelchair User)

H:

Hailey's On It (2023)

The Professor (Partially Blind)

Hamster & Gretel (2022)

Gretel Grant-Gomez (ADHD)

Happy Tree Friends (1999)

Cuddles (Epilepsy)

Handy (Double Arm Amputee, Seizure Disorder)

Mouse Ka-Boom (Deaf)

Russell (Amputee, Partially Blind)

The Mole (Blind)

Tiger General (Amputee, Partially Blind)

Hardball (2019)

Jerry Stevenston (Cerebral Palsy - Wheelchair User)

Harley Quinn (2019)

Barbara "Babs" Gordon/Batgirl (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Sy Borgman (Amputee, Wheelchair User)

Hazbin Hotel (2024)

Lute (Amputee)

Vaggie (Partially Blind)

Hawkeye (2021)

Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Deaf)

Maya Lopez/Echo (Deaf, Amputee)

Heartbreak High (2022)

Quinni Gallagher-Jones (Autistic)

Heartstoppers (2022)

Felix Britten (Wheelchair User)

House (2004)

Gregory House (Chronic Pain - Cane User)

Human Resources (2022)

Alice Wong (Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Wheelchair User)

Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Komugi (Blind)

I:

Inside Job (2021)

Andre Lee (Tourette's Syndrome)

Reagan Ridley (Autistic, Amputee)

In the Dark (2019)

Murphy Mason (Blind)

InuYasha (2000)

Kaede (Partially Blind)

J:

Jessie (2011)

[Future] Jessie Prescott (Partially Blind)

K:

Kim Possible (2002)

Betty Director (Partially Blind)

Felix Renton (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Sheldon "Gemini" Director (Amputee, Partially Blind)

L:

Land of the Dead (2005)

Charlie Houk (Intellectual Disability, Partially Blind)

Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003)

Clyde (Amputee)

Locke & Key (2020)

Logan Calloway (Double Amputee)

Loudermilk (2017)

Roger Frostly (Upper Limb Difference)

M:

MacGyver (2016)

Matilda "Matty" Webber (Dwarfism)

Malcolm in the Middle (2000)

Stevie Kenarban (Asthma, Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (2014)

Adorabat (Amputee - Lower Limb)

Badgerclops (Amputee - Upper Limb, Partially Blind)

Mao Mao (Amputee - Tail)

Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series (1996)

Baron Von Licktenstamp (Amputee, Partially Blind)

Duke L'Orange (Partially Blind)

Miles From Tomorrowland (2015)

Gong Gong (Unspecified Disability - Wheelchair User)

Milly Molly (2008)

Ellie Zelig (Blind)

Mixmups (2023)

Giggle (Spine Curvature - Wheelchair User)

Pockets (Partially Blind)

Mom (2013)

Adam Janikowski (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Mr. Munson (Blind)

Monster High (2022)

Bunny Earickson (Down Syndrome)

Deuce Gorgon (Dyslexic)

Finnegan Wake (Limited Mobility)

Meowlody (ADHD)

Twyla Boogeyman (Autistic)

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023)

Eli (Unspecified Disability - Wheelchair User)

My-HiME (2004)

Mashiro Kazahana (Unspecified Disability - Wheelchair User)

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2010)

Kerfuffle (Amputee)

Scootaloo (Underdeveloped Wings)

Stellar Eclipse (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Twist (Speech Impediment)

N:

NCIS (2003)

Carol Wilson (Dwarfism)

James "Jimmy" Palmer (Diabetes)

Delilah Fielding-McGee (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Marty Pearson (Dwarfism)

NCIS: Los Angeles (2009)

Hetty Lange (Dwarfism)

Joelle Taylor (Amputee)

NCIS: New Orleans (2014)

Patton Plame (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Never Have I Ever (2020)

Rebecca Hall-Yoshida (Down Syndrome)

New Amsterdam (2018)

Elizabeth Wilder (Deaf)

Lauren Bloom (ADHD)

New Girl (2011)

Winston Bishop (Colour Blind)

Ninjago (2011)

Bob (Deaf)

Cyrus Borg (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Jacob Pevsner (Blind)

No-Eyed Pete (Blind)

O:

OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017)

Doctor Greyman (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Red Action (Amputee)

Once Upon a Time (2011)

Blind Witch (Blind)

Seer (Blind)

One Piece (1999)

Issho (Blind)

Kikunojo (Upper Limb Amputee)

Roronoa Zoro (Partially Blind)

Shiki (Bilateral Lower Limb Amputee)

Shanks (Upper Limb Amputee)

Zeff (Lower Limb Amputee)

Only Murders in the Building (2021)

Theo Dimas (Deaf)

Paulette (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Our Flag Means Death (2022)

Black Pete (Cleft Lip, Lisp)

Israel "Izzy" Hands (Amputee - Lower Limb)

Lucius Spriggs (Amputee - Finger)

P:

Panic (2022)

Dayna Mason (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Parenthood (2010)

Max Braverman (Autistic)

Paw Patrol (2013)

Park Ranger Rose (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Rex (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Pelswick (2000)

Pelswick Eggert (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Peppa Pig (2004)

Mandy Mouse (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)

Hephaestus (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Cane User)

Person of Interest (2011)

Harold Finch (Chronic Pain - Cane User)

Phineas and Ferb (2007)

Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Multi-Limb Amputee)

PJ Masks (2015)

Ivan/Ice Cub (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Polly Pocket (2018)

Lila Draper (Diabetes)

Rahim (Deaf)

Puppy Dog Pals (2017)

Lollie (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Pupstruction (2023)

Roxy (Amputee, Wheelchair User)

Q:

R:

Raising Dion (2019)

Dion (ADHD, Asthma)

Esperanza Jimenez (Osteogenesis Imperfecta - Wheelchair User)

Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja (2012)

S. Ward Smith (Blind)

Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure (2017)

Hook Foot (Amputee)

Hook Hand (Amputee)

King Edmund (Amputee)

Lord Demanitus (Partially Blind)

Reddy Eddie Go! (2023)

Eddie (Autistic)

Roswell, New Mexico (2019)

Alex Manes (Amputee)

RWBY (2012)

Cinder Fall (Partially Blind, Upper Limb Amputee)

James Ironwood (Upper Limb Amputee)

Mercury Black (Bilateral Lower Limb Amputee)

Trivia "Neopolitan" Vanille (Mute)

Yang Xiao Long (Amputee)

S:

Sesame Street (1969)

Ameera (Spinal Cord Injury - Wheelchair/Crutches User)

Aristotle (Blind)

Julia (Autistic)

Katie (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Linda (Deaf)

Tarah (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Tyrone "Traction" "TJ" Jackson (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Sex Education (2019)

Aisha Green (Deaf)

Isaac Goodwin (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Shake It Up (2010)

Cecelia "CeCe" Jones (Dyslexia)

Shameless (2011)

Neil Morton (Brain Injury - Wheelchair User)

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)

Entrapta (Autistic)

Tallstar (Amputee)

Silent Witness (1996)

Clarissa Mullery (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Sofia the First (2012)

Cassandra (Blind)

South Park (1997)

David Nelson (Dwarfism)

James "Jimmy" Vulmer (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Crutch User)

Kyle Schwartz (Asthma)

Nathan (Down Syndrome)

Ned Gerblanski (Amputee)

Philip Argyle (Diabetes)

Scott Malkinson (Diabetes)

Sophie Grey (Diabetes)

Stan Marsh (Asthma)

Thomas (Tourette's Syndrome)

Timmy L. Burch (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Speechless (2016)

J.J. DiMeo (Cerebral Palsy)

Spirit Riding Free (2017)

Eleanor Kimble (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Geordi La Forge (Blind)

Star Wars Rebels (2014)

Kanan Jarrus (Blind)

Station 19 (2018)

Robert Sullivan (Chronic Pain)

Stumptown (2019)

Ansel Parios (Down Syndrome)

Supernatural (2005)

Bobby Singer (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Eileen Leahy (Deaf)

Pamela Barnes (Blind)

Superstore (2015)

Garrett McNeil (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Nicki (Dwarfism, Unspecified Disability - Wheelchair User)

S.W.A.T. (2017)

Dominique Luca (Dyslexia)

T:

Teamo Supremo (2002)

Larry/Laser Pirate (Partially Blind)

The Baby-Sitters Club (2020)

Stacey McGill (Type 1 Diabetes)

The Big Bang Theory (2007)

Emily (Deaf)

Sheldon Cooper (Autistic)

The Casagrandes (2019)

Carlos "CJ" Casagrande Jr. (Down Syndrome)

The Dragon Prince (2018)

Amaya (Deaf)

Claudia (Amputee)

Leola (Autistic)

Sol Regem/Anak Araw (Blind)

Villads (Blind)

The Endlings (2020)

Finn (Fanconi Anemia)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

James "Bucky" Barnes (Amputee)

The Flash (2014)

Hartley Rathaway/Pied Piper (Deaf)

The Ghost and Molly McGee (2021)

Juniper "June" Chen (Autistic)

The Good Doctor (2017)

Shaun Murphy (Autistic)

The Lion Guard (2016)

Ono (Low Vision)

The Little Mermaid (1992)

Gabriella (Deaf)

The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1888)

Papa Heffalump (Allergies)

The Office (2005)

William "Billy" Merchant (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

The Owl House (2020)

Dell Clawthorne (Partially Blind)

Eda Clawthorne (Amputee)

Hieronymus Bump (Low Vision)

Luz Noceda (ADHD)

The Pitt (2025)

Jack Abbot (Lower Limb Amputee)

The Proud Family (2001)

Bebe Winans (Autistic)

Johnny McBride (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

The Rookie (2018)

Tim Bradford (Unspecified Learning Disability)

The Secret Saturdays (2008)

Solomon "Doc" Saturday (Partially Blind)

The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021)

Jocelyn (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

The Simpsons (1989)

Anton Lubchenko (Amputee)

Bart Simpson (ADHD)

Carl Carlson (Diabetes)

Charles Montgomery Burns (Limited Mobility)

Dia-Betty (Diabetes)

Dubya Spuckler (Partially Blind)

Duffman (Dyslexia)

Gary Coleman (Dwarfism)

Hans Moleman (Limited Mobility)

Herman Hermann (Amputee)

Jasper Beardsley (Amputee, Diabetes, Limited Mobility)

Jitney Spuckler (Scoliosis)

Joe C. (Celiac Disease, Dwarfism)

Kearney Zzyzwicz (Dyslexia)

Krusty the Clown (Heart Disease)

Ling Bouvier (Diabetes)

Maya (Dwarfism)

Melvin Van Horne (Lactose Intolerance)

Milkhouse Van Houten (Allergies, Asthma, Lactose Intolerance)

Monk Murphy (Deaf)

Ralph Wiggum (Intellectual Disability)

Rod Flanders (Diabetes)

Sideshow Mel (Lactose Intolerance)

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005)

Bob (Dyslexic)

The Walking Dead (2010)

Connie (Deaf)

Hershel Greene (Amputee)

The Wild Thornberrys (1998)

Bethany Gibson (Cerabral Palsy - Wheelchair User)

The Wire (2002)

Butchie (Blind)

The 100 (2014)

Raven Reyes (Chronic Pain, Nerve Damage)

This Close (2019)

Kate (Deaf)

Michael (Deaf)

Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go (2021)

Bruno (Autistic)

Total Drama (Franchise)

Cody (Allergies)

Jay (Allergies, Lactose Intolerance)

Mickey (Allergies, Lactose Intolerance)

Hezekias "Zee" (Limb Difference)

U:

V:

Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016)

Takashi "Shiro" Shirogane (Amputee)

W:

Wild Kratts (2011)

Leah (Deaf)

X:

Y:

Years and Years (2019)

Rosie Lyons (Spina Bifida - Wheelchair User)

Yuki Yuna Is a Hero (2013)

Sonoka Nogi (Paralyzed)

Togo Mimori (Paralyzed - Wheelchair User)

Z:

#:

101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997)

Tripod (Amputee)

101 Dalmatian Street (2019)

Da Vinci (Autistic)

Dawkins (Autistic)

Delgado (Unspecified Mobility Disability - Wheelchair User)

9-1-1 (2018)

Christopher Diaz (Cerebral Palsy)

9-1-1: Lone Star (2020)

Mateo Chavez (Dyslexia)

[tumblydovereviews]

A Very Carl the Collector Thanksgiving

Well, Thanksgiving is here, and I'm grateful for a lot of things this year. I'm grateful to still be alive after my hospital scare (IYKYK), I'm very thankful for my family, friends, and good grades, but topically, I'm grateful for the fact that Carl the Collector managed to turn out to be much, much better than I thought it would be.

Before we start the official look into Carl, I just want to preface by saying that I am not autistic. I was tested, but never diagnosed or suspected to be, and I personally don't identify as autistic either. When writing this review, I knew deep down that my perspective on this show would be different from those who can relate to characters such as Carl and Lotta respectively, and I wanted to note that beforehand to prevent any confusion or contempt.

That being said, when I first heard the theme song for Carl the Collector, I was unimpressed to say the least. While the song wasn't bad per say, it wasn't necessarily all that great either, at least in regard to the standards that other PBS Kids shows have cemented. This outlook ultimately caused me to lose a tad bit of hype for the show. I was still looking forward to it, but not necessarily bouncing off the walls for it either.

On November 14th, Carl the Collector dropped on the PBS Kids Video app. I watched an episode or two, and I was pleasantly surprised.

The show has a different vibe from most other PBS Kids, and to an extent, most modern preschool shows, and that's a good thing. It's much more laid-back and calmer; the show is relaxing in the sense that it's not too slow and not too fast either, giving 2000s vibes in some sort of way. The plotlines of each episode are paced in the sense that they're not overly condensed with conflict but not too bare boned either.

Carl and Lotta may be autistic, but they aren't ostracized or treated as different. Carl's special interest in collections isn't necessarily a magical thing or an awful detriment- it's just a natural part of him. I especially love that the collections aren't always the center of the plot and occasionally just act as a catalyst. In 'The Fake Mustache Collection,' for instance, Carl's several collections are used to try and create differences between Nico and Arugula and serve as the contrast needed to help Carl's other friends tell the difference between the two identical twins.

The characters in general are easy to root for. Their motivations are apparent, and the reasonings for their actions are as well. Through their bond, themes of identity, belonging, and friendship are all displayed. The morals of the show that the narrative tries to convey aren't shoved into your face. It's honestly a good break from the more 'preachy' PBS Kids shows like Rosie's Rules. Those type of shows aren't bad but it's a tad bit exhausting to watch the same lessons being stated over and over again like a broken record.

This is a fairly short review for a variety of reasons. I wanted to get something out for Thanksgiving, and I genuinely want you to take a moment and watch the show yourself. A single segment is just 11 minutes long, and if you're in the United States or any other territories, you can watch the entire show and clips for free (as of November 28th, 2024) on the PBS Kids website or app. The cast and crew of this show have all done a commendable job in shaping Carl into the great creation that it is, and in a world where the future of American public broadcasting is becoming more and more uncertain, the importance of supporting your favorite shows has just become more significant.

So this Thanksgiving, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, if you have the time, who not watch an episode of Carl the Collector? It's sweet, calming, and the perfect watch if you want to relax and just enjoy the moment.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

[90363462]

His death was announced by his publicist, Zach Farnum. No cause was given, but Mr. Lewis had been in poor health for some time.

Mr. Lewis was 21 in November 1956 when he walked into Sun Studio in Memphis and, presenting himself as a country singer who could play a mean piano, demanded an audition.

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His timing was impeccable. Sun Records had sold Elvis Presley’s contract to RCA Records a year earlier and it badly needed a new star to headline a roster that included Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.

Mr. Lewis more than filled the bill. His first record, a juiced-up rendition of the Ray Price hit “Crazy Arms,” was a regional success. With “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” released in April 1957, he gave Sun the breakout hit it was looking for.

Although initially banned by many radio stations for being too suggestive, “Whole Lotta Shakin’” reached a nationwide audience after Mr. Lewis performed it on “The Steve Allen Show.” It rose to No. 3 on the pop charts and sold some six million copies worldwide, making it one of the biggest hits of the early rock ’n’ roll era.

Overnight, Mr. Lewis entered into direct competition with Presley. As Mr. Lewis saw it, there was no contest.

“There’s a difference between a phenomenon and a stylist,” he told the record-collector magazine Goldmine in 1981. “I’m a stylist, Elvis was the phenomenon, and don’t you forget it.”

In November 1957, Sun released “Great Balls of Fire,” a high-octane sexual anthem written by Otis Blackwell, whose other songs included the Presley hits “All Shook Up” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”

The song again featured Mr. Lewis’s distinctive barrelhouse piano style, with the left hand insistently beating the keys and the right executing rippling glissandos, while he gave a leering swoop to lines like “Kiss me, baby — mmmm, feels good.” The record reached No. 2 on the pop charts, selling more than five million copies in the United States alone.

His scorching performing style suited his material. Mr. Lewis, sometimes called by his childhood nickname the Killer, discovered that audiences loved it when he kicked his piano bench aside and attacked the keyboard standing up. Possessed by “the Devil’s music,” as he called it, he writhed and howled, raked the keyboard with his right foot and tossed his wavy blond hair until it looked like a fright wig.

“Nobody had a more creative approach to the music or a more incendiary approach to performing it,” Peter Guralnick, the author of the definitive two-volume Presley biography, said in an interview for this obituary. “He had the ability to put his stamp on every kind of material he recorded.”

But Mr. Lewis fell as quickly as he had risen. In 1958, as his third hit, “Breathless,” rose to No. 2, he embarked on what was meant to be a triumphal tour of Britain. Reporters discovered that the young girl traveling with him, Myra Gale Brown, was his 13-year-old bride — and his cousin — and that Mr. Lewis had still been married to his second wife when he recited the vows for his third marriage.

Asked by reporters if 13 wasn’t a little young to be married, Ms. Lewis said: “Oh, no, not at all. Age doesn’t matter back home. You can marry at 10 if you can find a husband.”

The revelations caused a scandal on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr. Lewis cut his tour short and returned to the United States, where he quickly discovered that his career as a rock star was over. His recording of “High School Confidential,” from the movie of the same name, eventually came out — Sun feared to release it after the scandal broke — and reached No. 21. But his subsequent records failed miserably.

Sun, which Mr. Lewis would leave in 1963, was reluctant to promote him. Many radio stations refused to play his music. Concert dates dried up. Mr. Lewis seemed mystified by the response. “I plumb married the girl, didn’t I?” he said to one reporter.

A New Path

Reduced to performing in small clubs for a few hundred dollars a night, Mr. Lewis found redemption in country music. At Smash Records, which signed him in 1963, a string of failures led producers to suggest that he return to his roots and record some purely country songs.

It was a natural fit. Both of his biggest rock ’n’ roll hits had topped the country charts, and his soaring, resonant voice, in the vein of Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams, lent itself equally to up-tempo honky-tonk numbers and cry-in-your beer laments.

His first country release, “Another Place, Another Time,” reached No. 4 on the Billboard country chart in 1968, and he scored Top 10 country hits that year with “What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me),” “She Still Comes Around (to Love What’s Left of Me)” and “To Make Love Sweeter for You.”

His hot streak continued into the 1970s. He would eventually record nearly two dozen Top 10 country singles, ending with “39 and Holding” in 1981, and nearly as many Top 10 country albums. He even managed to creep onto the pop charts in 1972 with a recording of the Kris Kristofferson song “Me and Bobby McGee” and a cover version of the Big Bopper hit “Chantilly Lace.”

Years of heavy drinking and drug abuse began to take their toll, however, and his life for much of the 1970s and ’80s was a sad catalog of family catastrophes, health crises and run-ins with the I.R.S. and the police.

His troubled son Jerry Lee Jr. died in a car crash in 1973.

In September 1976, while watching television at his wife’s house, Mr. Lewis accidentally shot his bass player, Norman Owens, in the chest with a .357 Magnum handgun after announcing, “I’m going to shoot that Coca-Cola bottle over there or my name ain’t Jerry Lee Lewis.” Mr. Owens survived and filed a lawsuit.

Two months later, Mr. Lewis drove his Lincoln Continental into the front gates of Graceland, Presley’s mansion in Memphis, just hours after being arrested and jailed on a drunken-driving charge. A guard later told the police that Mr. Lewis, waving a pistol, had demanded to see Presley and refused to leave.

Repeat visits to hospitals and rehabilitation centers ensued. Internal bleeding from a tear in his stomach lining almost killed him in 1981.

His fourth wife, Jaren Pate, drowned in a friend’s swimming pool in 1982. His fifth wife, Shawn Michelle Stephens, died after taking an overdose of methadone in 1983.

In 1985, after doctors removed half his stomach to correct a bleeding ulcer, Mr. Lewis slowly began to settle down.

His marriage to Kerrie McCarver ended in divorce in 2004.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Coghlan Lewis; his children, Jerry Lee Lewis III, Ronnie Lewis, Phoebe Lewis and Lori Lancaster; his sister, Linda Gail Lewis, who is also a singer and pianist; and many grandchildren.

Myra Lewis’s book “Great Balls of Fire: The Uncensored Story of Jerry Lee Lewis,” published in 1982, inspired the 1989 film “Great Balls of Fire!,” with Dennis Quaid playing Mr. Lewis. The film and book, as well as Nick Tosches’s biography “Hellfire: The Jerry Lee Lewis Story,” also published in 1982, contributed to a renewed interest in the singer. (“Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story,” by Rick Bragg, was published in 2014.)

His recordings were repackaged by Rhino Records in “Jerry Lee Lewis: 18 Original Sun Greatest Hits” and “The Jerry Lewis Anthology: All Killer No Filler!,” a compilation of 42 of his rock and country hits. The German company Bear Family reissued virtually every note he ever recorded for Sun and Smash in the boxed sets “Classic Jerry Lee Lewis: The Definitive Edition of His Sun Recordings” and “Jerry Lee Lewis: The Locust Years.”

Sure Yet Wild

Jerry Lee Lewis was born on Sept. 29, 1935, in Ferriday, La., to Elmo Lewis, a carpenter, and Mamie (Herron) Lewis. When he was a boy, he and two of his cousins, the future evangelist Jimmy Swaggart and the future country singer Mickey Gilley (who died this year), liked to sneak into a local dance hall, Haney’s Big House, to hear top blues acts perform.

He showed an aptitude for the piano, and his father borrowed money to buy him one. “The more he practiced, the surer the left hand and wilder the right hand became,” Mr. Tosches wrote in “Hellfire.”

At 14, he was invited to sit in with a band performing at a local Ford dealership, which was celebrating the arrival of the 1950 models. He played “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee” — the tune, a hit for Sticks McGhee in 1949, would be a minor pop hit for Mr. Lewis in 1973 — and took home nearly $15 when someone passed the hat.

He soon became a regular at clubs in Natchez, just across the Mississippi River, and on the Natchez radio station KWKH. His deeply worried mother, a Pentecostal Christian, enrolled him in the Southwestern Bible Institute in Waxahachie, Texas.

“I didn’t graduate,” he told The New York Times in 2006. “I was kind of quit-uated. I was asked to leave for playing ‘My God Is Real’ boogie-woogie style, rock ’n’ roll style. I figured that’s the way it needed to be played.”

After selling sewing machines door to door, Mr. Lewis tried his luck in Nashville, without success. “I remember it very well,” he told Colin Escott and Martin Hawkins, the authors of “Sun Records: The Brief History of the Legendary Record Label” (1980). “I was turned down by every label in town.”

A hardscrabble life on the road ensued. “My father would load that old piano onto the back of his truck, we’d drive somewhere, unload it, I’d give a show, we’d pass the hat, he’d load it back on again, and we’d go home and see what we’d got,” he said.

In desperation, he and his father sold 33 dozen eggs and, with the proceeds, headed for the studios of Sun Records. Initially he planned to sing country music, but the producer Jack Clement urged him to try rock ’n’ roll. The label on his first single billed him as “Jerry Lee Lewis With His Pumping Piano.”

The Sun period was brief but eventful. After cutting his first record, Mr. Lewis worked as a studio musician for the label.

He was in the studio on Dec. 4, 1956, when Presley dropped by for a friendly visit, sat down at the piano and began singing rhythm-and-blues songs and hymns with Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Mr. Lewis in an informal session later released as the album “Million Dollar Quartet.” The session inspired a popular musical of the same name, by Floyd Mutrux and Mr. Escott, which opened on Broadway in 2010, ran for a year, and then played Off Broadway for another year.

With the success of “Whole Lotta Shakin’,” Mr. Lewis’s performance fee rose from $50 to $10,000 in a matter of months. He was invited on “American Bandstand” and appeared in “Jamboree,” a 1957 rock ’n’ roll film that also featured performances by Frankie Avalon, Fats Domino, Mr. Perkins and others.

Later in his career, despite his success as a country singer, Mr. Lewis sometimes confessed to hankering after the old rock ’n’ roll days. “You know, if I could just find another like ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’,” he told Mr. Guralnick in a 1971 interview. “Some records just got that certain something. But I ain’t gonna find another. Just like I was born once into this world and I ain’t gonna be born again.”

In 2019 he suffered a serious stroke that left him unable to play the piano. A year later, however, he recorded an album of gospel songs in Nashville and, during the session, found that his right hand had begun moving, allowing him to pound the keys. (That album has yet to be released.)

Before then he had been recording sporadically, often with younger artists eager to work with one of rock ’n’ roll’s founding fathers. On albums like “Last Man Standing” (2006), “Mean Old Man” (2010) and “Rock & Roll Time” (2014), he performed with the likes of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Page, Neil Young and Kid Rock.

The idea that the greatest names in rock should come to him struck him as perfectly natural. “I’m the only one left who’s worth a damn,” he told Goldmine in 1981. “Everyone else is dead or gone. Only the Killer rocks on.”

In 2022 — 36 years after he was one of the first inductees in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — Mr. Lewis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was too ill to attend the ceremony, and Mr. Kristofferson accepted the award in his stead.

In a statement the day his induction was announced, Mr. Lewis said, “To be recognized by country music with their highest honor is a humbling experience.” He added, “I am appreciative of all those who have recognized that Jerry Lee Lewis music is country music and to our almighty God for his never-ending redeeming grace.”

Jerry Lee Lewis, the hard-driving rockabilly artist whose pounding boogie-woogie piano and bluesy, country-influenced vocals helped define the sound of rock ’n’ roll on hits like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” and whose incendiary performing style expressed the essence of rock rebellion, died on Friday at his home in DeSoto County, Miss., south of Memphis. He was 87.

[sophiebyers]

Every Autistic Character from PBS Kids : Duck the Great Western Engine from Thomas and Friends, Ord from Dragon Tales, Frazzle from Sesame Street, Carl Gould from Arthur, Julia from Sesame Street, AJ Gadgets from Hero Elementary, Andy from Caillou, Sid from Sid the Science Kid, O the Owl from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Max from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Dennis from Dinosaur Train, Lotta from Carl the Collector, and Carl from Carl the Collector

[littleraccooncarl]

The Philadelphia Inquirer published an article about Carl the Collector's Pennsylvania influence!

A new character is making his big debut — and children’s television history — this week on PBS Kids.

Carl happens to be the Collector, a bighearted little raccoon on the autism spectrum, who along with one of his animated furry friends, will be the network’s first neurodiverse central characters in a series created for children ages 4 to 8. The creators behind the show hope real children will see themselves in Carl and his friends.

For local viewers, Fuzzytown — the home of Carl and his crew — may look familiar.

That’s because it’s Narberth.

“Narberth is a big part of it,” said Zachariah OHora, creator of Carl the Collector and an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books.

OHora, who’s lived in the Montgomery County borough for the past 16 years, basically mapped out Narberth for the show’s animators, from its houses to its downtown, the regional rail station, the library, even the iconic old clock. “Anybody who’s been here, if they see the show, they’ll recognize right away that’s where it is.”

OHora is well-known to some parents for his beloved kids’ books, like My Cousin Momo. Originally from New Hampshire, he lives in Narberth with his wife , their two teen sons, and a dog named Waffles.

Some of the seeds for Carl the Collector were sown about a decade ago when OHora’s sons attended Belmont Hills Elementary, a Lower Merion school where children with special needs get additional services and help but attend class with their general education peers as much as possible.

“It was just a lightbulb moment for me,” said OHora. “My kids were just friends with everybody right out of the gate. It took away any kind of stigma or mystery and normalized that people are different, operate differently, and think differently.”

It was very different from the schools he grew up with.

“I was like, ‘This is the way it should be.’”

Around that time, Carl the character had begun stirring in OHora’s imagination. And then a contact he had made at PBS approached the children’s author to see if he might have any interesting program ideas.

The series, premiering Thursday, breaks new ground for the children’s network. While other shows have had neurodivergent characters, PBS Kids officials say this is the first time they are the stars.

“Representation is critical to our mission, and we’re proud to debut the PBS Kids series to feature central characters on the autism spectrum,” said Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager of PBS Kids. “We always say we want our content to be both a mirror and a window: showcasing characters who reflect their lived experiences and introducing audiences to kids who are different from them.

“Carl the Collector builds on this commitment by portraying a close group of neurodivergent and neurotypical friends, modeling how all of us can be helpful, supportive, and appreciative of each other’s ways of thinking, and importantly, how we can all sow seeds of empathy and understanding for one another.”

The show puts that into practice both on and off the screen. In addition to Carl the raccoon and Lotta the fox, both on the autism spectrum like an estimated one in 36 children, according to the CDC, the series has a character with ADHD and others with their own unique challenges.

Meanwhile, the show’s production team includes neurodiverse writers, animators, advisers, and others. The voices for Carl and Lotta are provided by two children on the autism spectrum. Some of the staff have contributed their own experiences in the making of the show.

For Lisa Whittick, the series director and mother of a son on the spectrum, working on Carl the Collector has brought her professional and personal lives together in a meaningful way. She said it would have been helpful if a show like this was around when her son was younger.

“If a show like this had been out back then when he was growing up, I think he would have been diagnosed a lot earlier because we would have seen some of the traits that we are reflecting in Carl and Lotta,” Whittick said. “It also would have alleviated a lot of the stress and unknown around what the diagnosis meant and not be scared of it.”

She thinks the show will help children both on the spectrum and those who are not.

“I think this series is going to go a long way in teaching kids who are neurotypical empathy and learning what autism looks like,” she said. “I absolutely think my son would have benefited greatly from a show like this, and he would have loved it because it’s actually very funny and fun as well.”

And, of course, there is the Philadelphia-area angle in all of this. And what’s Philly without a cool, weird mascot?

“There’s a pizza place that the kids always eat in, and it’s called Pyramid Pizza,” OHora said. “An arm comes out and it’s a pizza yeti, who is one of my favorite characters in there that fans of Gritty and the Phanatic will love.”

Philadelphia gets its props, too.

Carl lives with his mom in Fuzzytown, but he also spends part of his time with his dad, who lives in an apartment in a nearby city that will seem a whole lot like Philly, with perhaps a whiff of Brooklyn, another city where OHora has lived.

Carl’s mom and dad, who aren’t married, are great co-parents, OHora said. Having two rooms in different homes can be a challenge for a youngster on the spectrum like Carl, he added, as it can also require adjustment for neurotypical kids. It’s just another way children may see themselves or kids they know in the series.

That’s one of OHora’s hopes for the show.

“I hope people love it and they love Carl,” he said. “I hope it spreads empathy for neurodiversity, and I hope that neurodiverse kids and caretakers see themselves in it, and that neurotypical people can understand a little bit more.”

(Looks like I was wrong, Carl's parents ARE divorced, not just separated)

[littleraccooncarl]

One week until Carl the Collector premieres! I'll go over all of the episode titles that have been released so far

The Plushie Collection/The Bouncy Ball Collection - When Carl's growing plushie collection starts taking over his bedroom, he turns to his friends to help him get organized. / Carl's bouncy balls have escaped, and they are bounce-bounce-bouncing all over the neighborhood. (my commentary: according to a post on a certain evil bird site, "Writer @ aashrr was inspired by her own love of plushies and not wanting to give them away for the #CarlTheCollector episode "The Plushie Collection"" aashrr is Ava X. Rigelhaupt, a writer for the show who is also autistic. This should be interesting. "The Bouncy Ball Collection" sounds like a chaotic episode, maybe it'll be distressing for Carl)

The Fake Mustache Collection/The Lint Dinosaur Collection - Nico is tired of being mistaken for her twin sister, Arugula. It's up to the Detail Detectives to observe what makes the twins unique. / Carl gets upset when Nico breaks the Lint Dinosaur Monday rules and makes a Lint Monster instead. (my commentary: both of these episodes center Nico, it seems. I can understand Nico wanting to be distinct from Arugula, as they look exactly the same and there's literally no way to tell them apart other than their voices. I also understand Carl being upset with things not going his way. I used to be like that when I was younger too. Occasionally I'm still like this)

Lemons!/The Butterfly Collection - Carl surprises Sheldon with a lemonade stand, but when Sheldon runs off, Carl is confused. Does Sheldon not want to be friends anymore? / Carl's caterpillars are turning into butterflies, and he's excited to start a butterfly collection. (my commentary: It's interesting how some titles, like "Lemons!" don't follow the title pattern of "The X Collection." I'm sure we've all seen that one "lemonade stand! lemonade stand!" promo that PBS Kids plays nonstop, and it seems that it gave away what really happens - Sheldon just doesn't want to get lemon juice in his eyes. I don't know how a butterfly collection would work though. I bet the episode will involve Carl having to let the butterflies go)

Whole Lotta Lotta/Leaf It to Carl - When Skyler calls Lotta 'headphone girl,' she's determined to find a way to let her know that she's more than that. / Everyone is unsure about the new kid after he caused a hullabaloo on the playground. Are all the rumors about him true? (my commentary: Carl and his friends do go to school after all! We don't know who Skyler is, as she's not in Carl's social circle. I don't think Skyler is intentionally trying to be mean, but I can see why Lotta would be upset. As for "Leaf It to Carl," this one's a bit of a mystery. There's a new kid in school and he causes a "hullaballoo." What did he do? And then the kids start spreading rumors about him. It seems that Carl is going to investigate if the rumors are true. Why is "leaf" in the title though? I bet the commotion the new kid caused had something to do with leaves)

The Tool Collection/The Stick Collection - Carl stretches the limits of honesty when he gets a universal screwdriver for his birthday. / When a storm creates a hole in the walkway to his house, Carl wants it fixed, until he discovers his friends have turned it into something magical. (my commentary: Carl is going to be dishonest and we'll get the 'honesty is the best policy' lesson. How does he stretch the limits of honesty though? Does it involve his screwdriver? As for "The Stick Collection," I bet that Carl's friends are gonna fill the hole with sticks or something)

The Fall/The Word Collection - When Carl freezes after Nico falls, he shares something about himself to help her understand why he didn't know what to do. / Carl learns a new word - shindig. Will he get to say it just the right way at just the right time? (my commentary: I think Carl is going to state point blank in this episode that he's autistic. If he's telling Nico this for the first time, how did she and the others not know? "The Word Collection" will probably involve Carl going to a party)

The Remote Control Collection/The Super Blue Moon Sleepover - Forrest can't wait to try everything at the Fuzzytown Friends Picnic, but his excitement gets him into trouble when he won't wait his turn. / Carl is hosting a Super Blue Moon Sleepover, and everything must go according to his plan. (my commentary: Forrest is confirmed to have ADHD, and it definitely shows in the description for this episode. I bet Carl will use a remote control to "pause" and "slow down" Forrest or something. The latter episode seems like another episode where Carl gets upset that things don't go his way)

A Forrest of Plans/The Marble Collection - Forrest makes too many plans on the same day and leaves a trail of disappointed friends. / Carl and Arugula are building an epic marble run, but despite many attempts, they can't quite seem to get the marble to run! (my commentary: yeah, seems like another episode where it's made obvious that Forrest has ADHD. I forgot to mention this in my commentary on "The Fall," but I like how Carl seems to do things with Nico and Arugula as individuals, unlike many other works of fiction where twins are joined at the hip no matter what)

The Magic Trick Collection/Listen Coach - Carl and Nico argue over who gets to have Arugula as their magician's assistant, but what does Arugula want? / Carl realizes he has trouble listening when playing with a cool collection. Can Sheldon teach him how to become a good listener? (my commentary: speak of the devil, this episode involves Carl and both of the twins. It seems like both of these episodes involve listening. Carl and Nico aren't listening to what Arugula wants, and then Sheldon has to become Carl's 'listen coach')

The Sticker Collection/The Baby Stuff Collection - Carl realizes his favorite sour pickle scratch-n-sniff sticker lost its smell. He must get that sour pickle smell back! / Carl notices that his baby blanket, Knit-Knit, has a hole in it. What could have happened? It's a Knit-Knit mystery! (my commentary: I think there's a clip of the sticker episode in one of the promos or that one behind the scenes video on the PBS Kids website. This episode is also referenced in the theme song, where Carl smells a sticker and imagines flying on slices of pickles. "The Baby Stuff Collection" has cuteness overload potential)

The Puffball Collection/The Bottle Cap Collection - When Lotta competes in the Fuzzytown Music Maker Championship, the noise on stage becomes too much and she needs to leave. / When Carl forgets his bottle cap collection at his dad's house, he must find a way to make it through the night without it. (my commentary: it's been confirmed that Lotta is sensitive to loud noises, so her becoming distressed by the noise on stage is not surprising. Maybe Carl will put puffballs in Lotta's ears to block out the sound. Also; "his dad's house"? Carl doesn't live with his dad? This could mean his parents are divorced)

A Wiggle Waggle Worries/The Pine Cone Collection - Sheldon can't wait for Carl to play his favorite beach game, but Carl is nervous. What if he can't play as well as his friends? / Lotta lost her favorite blanket and her friends are determined to help her find it. (my commentary: we need to keep this episode AWAY from the creepo who runs that one "shirtless cartoon boys" blog. I wonder how pinecones will factor into the plot of "The Pine Cone Collection.")

(there's a 4096-character limit, apparently. will be continued in a reblog)

[littleraccooncarl]

Carl the Collector has been reviewed by Common Sense Media, who gave it a 4/5 and a Common Sense Selection seal of approval. To be honest, I don't really like this website that much because some of their reviews (such as the Codename: Kids Next Door one) are just awful, and the user reviews open the floodgates for Karens and bored teenagers who hate on kids shows for no reason. In fact, there is a one-star review by a 17 year old already, but don't pay attention to it. However, it is good that they gave Carl a relatively positive review. Apparently, there's a paywall on their site after reading three articles, so I'll just copy and paste what they wrote here:

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Carl the Collector is an animated series about a young raccoon with autism (voiced by Kai Barham, who is also neurodiverse) and his woodland creature friends in Fuzzytown. The series celebrates inclusion and encourages noticing each other's similarities and differences. Characters are kind, helpful, and empathetic, learning to express their emotions and work through problems together. There's no iffy content, making the series appropriate for all ages

Any Positive Content?

Positive Messages - Positive messages around including different types of friends in your play, with a focus on neurodivergent friends on the autism spectrum. A strong focus on being kind and helpful to others, as well as expressing your emotions and working through problems together.

Positive Role Models - The characters are all kind, helpful, and empathetic to one another. They model how to work through problems and how to express emotions. They often put others' needs and interests before their own. They do not always get along, but they work together to make it right.

Educational Value - The show models positive problem-solving and social-emotional skills.

Diverse Representations - The show features two characters on the autism spectrum, the lead character Carl the raccoon and supporting character Lotta the fox. They each experience autism in different ways. The characters don't talk about autism, and don't point out the autistic characters' differences. Behind-the-scenes, the production team includes neurodiverse writers, animators, voice talent, and advisors. Other representation includes Forrest the squirrel, who has a tree nut allergy, and Carl whose parents are separated (Carl spends some time living with each). Gender-wise, the supporting characters are both boys and girls, and includes Carl's best friend Sheldon who is an empathetic and sensitive boy. The characters are all animals, and none have an implied race.

What's the Story?

In CARL THE COLLECTOR, Carl (Kai Barham) is a warm-hearted autistic kid raccoon who loves to collect different items. He is extremely detail-oriented, and appreciates all the special qualities of his various collections which range from fake mustaches to bottle caps. Whenever he has a problem, Carl calls up best friend Sheldon (Peter Laurie) the beaver with his walkie-talkie. Carl and Sheldon's other Fuzzytown friends Lotta the fox, Forrest the squirrel, and twin bunnies Nico and Arugula also join in on the day's adventures. They work together to help Carl with everyday problems like organizing his massive stuffed animal collection or tracking down his runaway bouncy ball collection. Carl's Mama (Heather Bambrick) guides the kids as they work through difficult problems and disagreements. They learn about each other's similarities and differences, and have lots of fun along the way.

Is It Any Good?

Creator Zachariah OHora (children's book writer and illustrator) calls his universe of characters "Fuzzytown," and Carl the Collector is sure to give kids and grown-ups the warm fuzzies. Its characters are super relatable: They try really hard to be good friends, but they don't always get it right. They have troubles recognizable to any young kid (like being asked to part with precious stuffed animals). The voice actors sound like real kids, making it seem like the characters could be a friend in real life. OHora's exquisite art is featured in the show's animation, and watching feels like jumping into a picture book. Grown-ups will appreciate the slow, calm pacing and overall gentleness of the show.

Carl the Collector is the first PBS KIDS show to feature a main character on the autism spectrum, and it does a great job of showing how two different characters (Carl and supporting character Lotta) experience autism differently. It simultaneously shows true-to-life characteristics of people with autism, without calling out the differences in a way that feels othering. The neurotypical kids on the show treat the neurodiverse kids the same as their other friends, while having extra sensitivity to how Carl and Lotta interpret the world. It's a beautiful celebration of appreciating everyone's unique qualities.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the empathy characters show in Carl the Collector, or when one character is able to understand the feelings of another character. Sheldon is really good at understanding how Carl is feeling, and helping him to work through tricky situations. Can you think of how Sheldon is empathetic to Carl?

All of the animals in Carl the Collector are really good at communicating how they're feeling. Can you think of a time in the story when one character told another one how they are feeling?

Carl and Lotta are on the autism spectrum, which means their brains and bodies experience the world differently than people who are not on the autism spectrum. How are your friends different than you? How do you find a way to play together even though you're different?

This review confirms that Carl's parents are separated, which is different from being divorced. A legal separation is when a couple lives apart from each other but are technically still married. It's basically like a 'cooling off' period.

[littleraccooncarl]

Here's another Carl the Collector related interview!

Zachariah, [in] tackling this series, the subject matter may seem difficult or even taboo to some people, but it feels like this show is already part of the zeitgeist. It just feels very familiar. What made you want to create the show? 

Zachariah OHora: It's been nine years in production, so it's been a long time coming. At the time, it just seemed obvious that we should have more stories about this. I had some experience—at that time, my kids were going to school. They attend an inclusion school, and we're lucky that they could go there. In all of the classrooms, there were kids with different needs. It was a lightbulb moment for me; it normalized the idea that people have different needs.

My kids were friends with everyone, and they accepted each person as they were. It was a moment where I realized, "Oh, yeah, this is the obvious thing." If everyone has more exposure to the whole spectrum of humanity, then we’ll all understand each other better, and the world will be a better place. That's how it started.

Lisa, I know you've been a part of some of my favorite shows. I grew up watching Martha Speaks, and I thought you were a storyboard artist for it. This is a really cool full-circle moment. Coming on to direct, how has it been collaborating with Zachariah to help bring these ideas to life?

Lisa Whittick: Zach has been amazing to work with. He really trusts us at Yowza! [Animation] to fulfill his vision for the show. Zach is obviously an illustrator, and taking those flat drawings and the perspective he created and turning them into an actual show is a bit of a challenge.

Early on, we came up with certain rules for Fuzzytown that we needed to stick to regarding perspective. Not everything is going to look perfect, and that's the point: we don’t want it to look perfect. The environment isn't perfect, and people aren't perfect either, right? So it's a nice, full-circle thing that way. It’s been amazing working with Zach. He’s a really incredible creator.

The aptly titled production company, Fuzzytown Productions. When I looked at the key art and, in general, this episode, the illustrations and animation elicit a very warm and fuzzy feeling—a safe space, in a way. I'd love to know, as an illustrator, your inspirations for the drawings prior to the animation. ZO: It's a lifelong thing. When I was a kid, I collected comic books and wanted to be a comic book artist. I also loved picture books. I admire Ben Shahn, an illustrator from the '50s and '60s known for his heavy black lines. Inspiration comes from so many places. The other part of it is just working with what you have. There are things that I am terrible at—I can’t draw realistically—but I lean into the things I can draw so it's all those elements.

Some writers on staff are neurodivergent. Ava Rigelhaupt is part of the team. It’s incredibly necessary, and almost mandatory, to bring these voices into the show. What was that dynamic like in the writer's room? What perspectives did you all have when crafting the storylines?

ZO:  The point from the beginning was that we wanted an inclusive atmosphere as possible, with different voices. We don't need to hear only my voice. We wanted an authentic representation of all the kids and parents that we show in the series and in order to do that, we have to have the same range of people writing. And that's what we attempted to do. And it's been really, really great. Lisa technically is not in the writer's room, but when we go through [story] boarding, she has so many ideas, too. On every level of the production, some people are adding valuable additions to how the stories get crafted that no one person could do.

LW: We also have, not just neurodivergent writers, but we have neurodivergent animators. The voice actors are neurodivergent as well for Carl and Lotta. That's Kai Barham and Maddy Mcllwain. And yeah, it's a really collaborative process where I feel like it's becoming more of an outlet for autistic voices to be heard throughout the entire production, which is really, really great.

We can't forget about our star, Carl, and how he moves throughout the show, as well as the lead character, who loves collecting things and being around family. When it came to crafting Carl as a character, what was that process like? Was he an amalgamation of people or kids? How did that come to be?

ZO: I originally came up with Carl as he looks now, with the sweater vest and everything else. Often, when I create characters, they don't come with a backstory, so I'll make a drawing or usually a card for my wife if I've upset her and need to say I'm sorry. I try to think about what the cutest animal with the cutest outfit possible would be. Not that Carl was created that way, but sometimes these characters will hang on the wall of my studio for a year, and then they start to talk to you and reveal their personalities the more you draw them.

Eventually, a story and scenarios develop. Carl followed a similar process. I want to emphasize that a lot of the development occurred when we got to the animation stage. There were different aspects of Carl that had to be figured out from an animation standpoint—things I hadn't even considered. 

LW: Once Zach provided us with the artwork and the story premises, we had to work closely with advisors to ensure we were accurately portraying the autism aspects of Carl's personality. We worked with two advisors, and many of the crew members also contributed. As a parent of an autistic son, many of Carl's mannerisms—like the stimming and pacing—are things I've observed in my son as he grew up so it feels like he is an amalgamation of various people.

From the perspective of an audience—whether it’s a parent, a caregiver, or a young child watching—they know it’s authentic, and that’s the best part. I also noticed there's a character named Forrest, a squirrel with a tree nut allergy. I want to talk about that for a minute because I love the humor behind it. When developing the other characters and their personalities, was it just ideas that came to you, or what was that process like?

ZO: I try to think about characters in a similar way. I focus on three elements: humor, a little bit of weirdness, and a lot of heart. I'm always trying to incorporate those three aspects. With Forrest, he has ADHD; he runs around really fast and is quite impulsive. I considered the different things that can make us feel isolated from our families or communities. For a squirrel, eating nuts is a staple, so having a nut allergy—which many kids can relate to—would be particularly tough. There’s a great pizza place around the corner, and he loves pizza, which is his favorite food. So it’s about addressing serious issues while adding a touch of levity, making it relatable and fun to watch.

Do you two have a favorite character that out of all of the people, all of the characters in the ensemble, is there one that sticks out to you?

LW: Forrest is the funny one. He's the one that I think the audience is really going to love because he's got all these funny little quirks and sayings and just the way he moves. I do really love him. I do have a kinship with Mama, Carl's mom. I feel like she's me, and everything that she is thinking and doing, I've thought and done all those things before. There's going to be a lot of parents out there with neurodivergent kids who are going to really relate to her.

ZO: Carl was the first, so Carl is the closest to my heart. There are some ancillary characters that we are starting to explore that are also my secret favorites. There's a skunk who's a DJ named Jam Master Spray, who I really love, but we haven't actually really gotten deep into his story yet. There are those other little fun characters that have come out of this process that we're waiting to explore.

[ur-fav-is-autistic]

carl and lotta from carl the collector are autistic (canon!!!)

Since there are two characters, I will post them separately!