TVKIDS
PBS KIDS has slated a week of new Donkey Hodie episodes, including a half-hour road trip special, to begin April 14.
The first of the episodes to premiere will be “Hee-Hee Hider Seekers,” which will introduce the new character Jeff Mouse, named in honor of Jeff Erlanger, a young guest who appeared in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 1981 and sang a duet with the host. Jeff Mouse was born with congenital muscular dystrophy and, like Erlanger, uses a power wheelchair to get around.
To portray Jeff Mouse authentically, Fred Rogers Productions worked with Disability Belongs, a disability-led nonprofit that works to empower people with disabilities to have a better future, and Permobil, a leader in power and manual wheelchair solutions. The character is voiced by actor Jay Manuel (Jay and Pamela), who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 3 and, like the character he voices, uses a power wheelchair.
In the half-hour special “A Donkey Hodie Road Trip,” airing April 17, Donkey Hodie, Cousin Hodie and Panda set out on a road trip, but their travels don’t go as planned. The one and only Trolley shows up to get them back on track.
