Barnes & Noble

Produced in Montreal, Canada, between the years 1997 and 2001, Popular Mechanics for Kids is one of those pleasant surprises video-wary parents occasionally encounter on the screen. This box set includes 24 of the 70 or so episodes produced -- presumably the best, as they’re uniformly solid, a steady stream of edifying fun. Anyone expecting a sober scientific tour with the pointy-bearded editors of the venerable Hearst magazine will be sorely disappointed, as Popular Mechanics for Kids really is its own animal, despite the title. Episodes are built around a theme and usually take the various teen hosts off on field trips, from aquariums, zoos, and nature preserves to amusement parks and space camps. Greg Kinnear look-alike Charlie (Charles Powell) breaks up the various on-location segments with a bit of scientific clowning, performing experiments based on the show’s weekly theme. Charlie, though, is a sideshow, while the teen hosts act as the viewers’ surrogates. Natural, engaging, and appropriately anxious when the job places them in dangerous, unpleasant, or just plain icky situations, the show’s regulars include future 24 star Elisha Cuthbert, Tyler Kyte, Jay Baruchel, and Vanessa Lengies (Stick It). Each of the six discs offers four 25-minute episodes, including: Gators & Dragons and Other Wild Beasts; Radical Rockets and Other Cool Cruising Machines; Rip Roaring Roller Coasters and All Access to Fun; Slither & Slime and Other Yucky Things; Super Sea Creatures and Awesome Ocean Adventures; and X-Treme Sports and Other Action Adventures. The set affords considerable savings over the a la carte releases, and kids as young as three years old will find plenty to enjoy.

Product Details

• UPC: 741952631996
• Source: KOCH VISION
• Editions: Copy Protected
• Time: 9:12:00
• Sales Rank: 4,172

This set contains DVDs which may be available separately:

• Popular Mechanics for Kids [TV Series]

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