History Trivia / BeakmansWorld

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The show's cinematography and set design (cramped, dimly-lit but highly saturated colors, dutch angles, fish-eye lenses and extreme close-ups) is just about the most identifiably [[TheNineties '90s]] visual style you can possibly imagine. This, moreso than even the ScienceMarchesOn above, dates the show very specifically to the time when it was originally produced and aired.

* IAmNotSpock: Paul Zaloom's ''other'' main job is as a political puppeteer...and those shows are very much not safe for kids...

** And it's now being shown on [=MeTV=]...right alongside ''Series/BillNyeTheScienceGuy''.
*** As of 2021, the show is streaming again, now on the free service Creator/{{Tubi}}.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The original pilot originally had no LovelyAssistant, and [[http://www.puppetstudio.com/Beakman.Lester.html Lester was a rat puppet]] instead of a guy in a rat suit.

* UnCanceled: Creator/{{CBS}} shut the lights out after 65 eps, but fan outcry got it back; this was the reason for the second SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute above. And then they canceled it, fellow Sony series ''[[Series/WheelOfFortune Wheel 2000]]'' and ''Series/TheWeirdAlShow'' because nobody was watching them and replaced them all with Creator/{{Nelvana}} cartoons.

* ScienceMarchesOn: While the science in the shows is still completely accurate, some facts have been revised (for example, Pluto's not a planet anymore). The last episode of the first season is also HilariousInHindsight for this reason: in it, Beakman establishes an empirical process for the kids to answer any science question they have. The steps involved are:
** '''1)Formulate a Precise Question''',
** '''2)Home Resources''' (dictionaries and encyclopedias ''in print''),
** '''3)Phone Tips''' (calling a related expert on the topic) and
** '''4)Field Research''' (going to a library or other institution of learning). \\

* ThrowItIn: It appears the general rule of the director is "If what's shot is funnier than what's scripted, go with it." It seems this was largely a one-take show (and some of the screw-up first takes were thrown in as well, like Liza's cockroach freak-out.)

** You might note the similarities some of the background music has to that of ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}''. Denis Hannigan and Rusty Andrews composed background music for both shows.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Unlike most examples, it's been played enough times that there are plenty of tapes to be circulated; Netflix also offered the (almost) entire series at one point.

* ScienceMarchesOn: While the science in the shows is still completely accurate, some facts have been revised (for example, Pluto's not a planet anymore). The last episode of the first season is also [[HilariousInHindsight hilarious in hindsight]] for this reason: in it, Beakman establishes an empirical process for the kids to answer any science question they have. The steps involved are:

* HeAlsoDid: Jay Dubin directed one early episode after having directed a number of music videos, most frequently for Music/BillyJoel and Music/DarylHallAndJohnOates. Additionally, Dubin started out directing a number of commercials for the now-defunct [[InsanePropietor Crazy Eddie]] electronics chain.

** Zaloom played Beakman, almost every Famous Dead Guy, Professor Boring, and, when explaining what the doctor looks for during a check-up, Beakman's more timid brother.
** Ritts played Lester, one of the Montgolfer brothers, and, during the aforementioned check-up segment, the check-up doctor. He also operated Herb's puppet, though the voice itself was provided by Alan Barzman.

** A last-season segment on sound frequency had a Blues Brothers motif. Senta Moses (aka Phoebe) got her start in movies as a dancing extra in ''TheBluesBrothers''.

** Apparently, the crew were avid ''Series/{{Scrabble}}'' fans. (Producer Marijane Miller was a contestant on ''Scrabble''). Kinda weird though, since this show was produced by Sony, who at that point had acquired the rights to the [[Series/{{Jeopardy}} Merv]] [[Series/WheelOfFortune Griffin]], [[Series/TheJokersWild Barry &]] [[Series/TicTacDough Enright]], Creator/BobStewart, and Creator/ChuckBarris libraries; ''Scrabble'' was owned by [[Series/SaleOfTheCentury Reg Grundy]] (and is currently owned by Creator/FremantleMedia).

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Unlike most examples, it's been played enough times that there are plenty of tapes to be circulated, plus Netflix now offers the (almost) entire series.

** Downplayed with a missing ''segment''. In the Beakmania segment in the "Camels / Density" episode, depending on the version, you either get a "Doctor & Meekman" segment on strep throat, or a "Wide Beak-World of Sports" segment explaining how Michael Jordan can look like he's defying gravity. Syndicated reruns give the former; the Netflix version has the latter.
** Five episodes haven't been uploaded there on Netflix for whatever reason. They include two Josie episodes (Refraction-Magnets and Bees-Earthquakes), two Liza episodes (Bats-Energy and Snakes-Seasons), and one Phoebe episode (Sweat-Weighing a Car).

* ScienceMarchesOn: While the science in the shows is still completely accurate, some facts have been revised(for example, Pluto's not a planet anymore). The last episode of the first season is also [[HilariousInHindsight hilarious in hindsight]] for this reason: in it, Beakman establishes an empirical process for the kids to answer any science question they have. The steps involved are:

** In their second segment on optical illusions (focusing on 3-D pictures), they repeatedly make mention of recording the show so you can have more time to see the picture...via VCR. Now, you can just pause your Netflix playback.

* UnCanceled: CBS shut the lights out after 65 eps, but fan outcry got it back; this was the reason for the second SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute above.

** Apparently, the crew were avid ''Series/{{Scrabble}}'' fans. (Producer Marijane Miller was a [[http://vimeo.com/6659238 contestant]] on ''Scrabble'').

** However, for his part, whenever he is recognized as Beakman by students, they usually tell him how he inspired them to be scientists, and he says he'll never get tired of hearing that.

* HeyItsThatVoice: Don Penguin's voiced by Alan Barzman, who also did the Energizer Bunny commercials ("They keep going and going and...")

** You might note the similarities some of the background music has to that of ''{{Rugrats}}''. Denis Hannigan and Rusty Andrews composed background music for both shows.

** One notable example is the "measurement" segment when Beakman compares Phoebe and Lester's foot sizes to explain the need for standardized measurements. At the end of the segment he playfully tickles Phoebe's foot and she ''kicks him in the face.''

* ActorAllusion: One of Beakman's occasional exclamations was "Zaloom!"

** Well, their ages are never given, we just assume, since they're all [[TeensAreShort much shorter than Beakman]].
* HeyItsThatSound: Apparently, the crew were avid ''Series/{{Scrabble}}'' fans. (Producer Marijane Miller was a [[http://vimeo.com/6659238 contestant]] on ''Scrabble''.)

* MissingEpisode: Or, missing segment. In the Beakmania segment in the "Camels / Density" episode, depending on the version, you either get a "Doctor & Meekman" segment on strep throat, or a "Wide Beak-World of Sports" segment explaining how Michael Jordan can look like he's defying gravity. Syndicated reruns give the former; the Netflix version has the latter.
** Speaking of Netflix, five episodes haven't been uploaded there for whatever reason. They include two Josie episodes (Refraction-Magnets and Bees-Earthquakes), two Liza episodes (Bats-Energy and Snakes-Seasons), and one Phoebe episode (Sweat-Weighing a Car).