More Wiggles Wikipedia

The other interesting thing to note also has to do with The Wiggles. Currently, I'm re-writing their article's section about the group's "other characters" (Capt. Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog), and while doing a Google search on Henry and Jeff Fatt, who does his voice, I found a very interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald, written back in 2002, about the tenuous and difficult relationship the boys have had with the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

It seems that The Wiggles' first two TV series (not seasons; this is Australian TV, you know) were self-produced because the ABC refused to let them "be themselves" on their TV program. If the ABC had its way, they would've had to wear shorts and short-sleeved shirts (with Anthony Field's two large tattoos, that would've been an issue) and not speak while on camera. By 2002, though, they had worked out their differences and the ABC produced their subsequent series.

I'm not so sure that's a good thing. I wish that the Disney Channel broadcast The Wiggles' early shows. I remember groaning at it when I first saw it, but eventually it grew on me. It was so raw, so under-produced--unlike the over-produced kiddie TV shows here in America. The ABC series are obviously well-produced, and I think the show has lost some of its spirit and innocence as a result.

It's interesting, though, that not all was as smooth and golden for The Wiggles as they'd want us all to think.