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That's Ms. Flip-Flop To
You!
by Kathy Rudzik
Most
of you will recognize the Olympic gold medallist Mary Lou Retton,
but now she's doing flips for PBS! Retton is currently
producing and starring in a new children’s show called Mary Lou’s
Flip Flop Shop.
The show is aimed at the sorely
neglected 4-7 year old age range in the TV world. Mary Lou's Filp-Flop
Shop includes a cast of ever-changing local children, eccentric
characters, reminiscent of H&R Puff ‘n Stuff, and in
the center of the fun is energetic host, Mary Lou.
 The
idea for The Flip Flop Shop was born when Mary Lou Retton and
her husband, Shannon Kelley, were out on date. After winning the
gold in 1984, Mary Lou had made various TV and film appearances,
toured as a motivational speaker and authored two self-help books.
In discussing the future of her career, she knew it would be
kid-oriented. “Children have always been a passion of mine”. So
eight years, and three babies, later, Mary Lou's Flip Flop
Shop came to be.
The Flip Flop Shop
is an educational show designed to get kids to use their bodies as
well as minds. Mary Lou recognized that there is a growing problem
among today’s youth - obesity. Children today spend a lot more
time in front of the television. Mary Lou acknowledges that even her
own children spend more time indoors than she did in her day. Which
led her to the conclusion, “if your kids are going to be sitting
in front of the TV, make it useful”.
In The Flip Flop Shop, Mary
Lou encourages “kids to lead active,
healthy lives”. She does this through lessons in nutrition and “creative
movement”. It is not gymnastics, not exactly dance, but easy for a
preschooler to follow. All this set to an impressive forty original
songs. But the Flip Flop Shop is not only about activity.
Each episode follows the children and colorful cast as they solve
various everyday problems. Topics include being different, sharing,
insecurity, rejection and cooperation. Mary Lou says many of the
shows stories were inspired by what goes on in her own home. As
executive producer, Mary Lou has her hands in every aspect of the
show. It’s tough work for a mother of now four daughters, but she
wouldn’t have it any other way. “Its mine. It is my baby”. She
also hopes that parents “feel safe about leaving [kids] in front
of the TV” with her.
The show is on hiatus right now as
Mary Lou cares for her latest addition, a fourth daughter named
Emma. It will begin shooting again in the new year in Houston, where
it is already quite a hit. Mary Lou is now recognized around town by
a new generation, not as an Olympian, but as the host of the Flip
Flop Shop.
Also in stores
is the video version of Mary Lou's Flip Flop Shop! one can buy a
copy at Wal-mart and online at amazon.com.
Mary
Lou's Flip Flop Shop 6 Everyone
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