Fred Grandinetti of Watertown said his favorite television shows growing up were “Boomtown,’’ “The Uncle Gus Show,’’ “Bozo the Clown,’’ and “Major Mudd.’’ This month, he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his own children’s show that combines entertainment and life lessons.
“Drawing With Fred,’’ on Watertown Cable Access, features cartooning lessons, animated films, and original fitness and water safety segments frequently starring television actor Cuyle Carvin and actor, model, and art teacher Brandon Stumpf of Nashua. Grandinetti is writer, producer, and host of the show, which has won three CONTI [Continental Cablevision] awards for excellence in instructional and children’s programming.
Stumpf emerges as a genie from a bottle to introduce one of two special episodes commemorating the milestone. The first features three cartoon versions of “Aladdin’s Lamp,’’ along with 1994 footage in which Grandinetti instructs viewers in drawing Jeannie from “I Dream of Jeannie.’’
The second features “Popeye the Sailor Man’’ cartoons dubbed in Italian, followed by a water safety segment introduced by special guest Nicola Orichuia, co-founder of the Italian-American bookstore I AM Books, located in the North End. Orichuia also becomes an animated character in the episode.
In addition to invoking nostalgia for an era gone by through cartoons now considered vintage, Grandinetti hopes the positive messages in his shows and spin-off products influence viewers of all ages.
“The Cuyle Carvin Coloring Book’’ was a 2009 project promoting good fitness and nutritional habits, written by Grandinetti and illustrated by David Hudon of Tyngsborough. Last year’s “Different Worlds, Best of Friends,’’ an antibullying graphic novel on which Grandinetti and Carvin also collaborated, raised funds for the Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury and the California-based Troublemaker Foundation.
“Just like in the TV shows I loved as a kid, I use cute, imaginative ways to get important messages across,’’ Grandinetti said. “I’ve been very fortunate to work with a great group of people all these years who have helped me carry on the tradition.’’
“Drawing With Fred’’ is also available on cable access channels in Bedford, Needham,Salem, Adams, North Adams, Clarksburg, Cheshire, and Londonderry, N.H. For more information, visit wcatv.org and facebook.com/DrawingWithFred.
Cindy Cantrell
Cindy Cantrell may be reached at cindycantrell20@gmail.com.
