I thought I'd seen everything until I realized I hadn't seen anything - evidence of this being "In Your Backyard TV."
What is "In Your Backyard TV?" It is a show - term loosely applied - that was created by a family in Bellmore. For you non-Long Island readers, that's pretty due north of Jones Beach...
OK, geography lesson complete, what is "In Your Backyard TV" and why am I blogging about it? Because it gets an airing tomorrow afternoon at the New York Television Festival (2:30 at the New World Stages in Manhattan on 5oth between 8th and 9th.) This is not a professional production by even the wildest stretch of the imagination and those attendees who stumble into the screening shouldn't expect one; it's a cross between a home movie and an industrial one, worked over by Photoshop or some modestly priced 3D computer graphics software package. This is not fancy television, and as far on the opposite spectrum from "professional" as a TV show could possibly get, which is part of its quirky charm. But there it is anyway - on the screen at a major TV festival tomorrow.
What is "In Your Backyard TV?" It's the creation of Charlie and MarySue Roocke, and their kids Ally and Charles. Per the "backyard" tag, they've taken their camera and explored various natural facets of the Island, like seals, beaches, and even mythic creatures - something called the "Snollygoster" (don't ask because I don't have an answer.) In some instances there is material from other places, like Florida, so it's not entirely "in their backyard," so to speak.
The kids and dad appear on screen, and joke around. Every now and then, the family dog, Pepper, gets a starring role too while the family kibitzes about LI, snakes, whatever. No Emmys are forthcoming. None are anticipated.
What's interesting about this show, however, is that it was created as a way for the parents to stay engaged with their kids. Here's Charlie, as quoted on his website: "We [husband and wife] sat down and plotted out a course of action [and] and thought? What is the best way to spend more time with our children, make a living and enjoy ourselves? Hmmm….well Hmmm…our brains started to hurt! Then we got it!!! Let’s create a TV show. So what if we don’t have any experience in TV and we are not professional actors….. NO! We are like you, we are professional PARENTS!!!"
Here's the website for more. There's another screening Sunday.