Kids' Radio (station)

This article is about the radio station. For the episode, see Kids' Radio.

Kids’ Radio

Location

Odyssey

Owner

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Manager

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Principal

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Board Chairman

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Type of Organization

Radio Station

First Appeared

#36: “Kid's Radio”

Last Appeared

#866: “Rumpelstiltskin: A Wee Little Tale”

Description

KYDS Kids' Radio is a radio station run out of Whit's End. The station broadcasts from sunup to sundown and has a very limited range; Tom Riley's farm does not even receive the signal (“Kids Radio”, #457: “Opportunity Knocks”). While the station doesn't necessarily broadcast continually, it has been used to tell many stories.

"Kids' Radio" is an interesting plot device, as it plays into AIO in numerous, but very different, ways. For instance, several episodes of AIO are nothing more than a half-hour length "Kids' Radio" program. Usually, the AIO episode begins as normal, after which a character (usually Connie Kendall) introduces the "Kids' Radio" program to Odyssey residents. In this way, real listeners skip through the Odyssey fictional universe and enter a second-layer fictional universe such as The Twilife Zone. (For example, the pilot episode for The Twilife Zone is the only content of episode #288: “The Twilife Zone”.) Actress Katie Leigh portrays Connie Kendall's wrap-around of the broadcast of The Twilife Zone, as well as Rodlyn Serly, the host of The Twilife Zone who is fictional even in Odyssey. Thus, with these programs, there is a double-layer of fiction.

Other AIO episodes contain "Kids' Radio" programs, but from the perspective of the Odyssey fictional universe. For example, the episode #294: “Unto Us a Child Is Born” concerns the play-writing, directing, recording, and live-radio drama on "Kids Radio" (live in the Odyssey fictional universe, not in reality). The same is the case with episodes of Candid Conversations with Connie, sports programs, and others.

It is implied that "Kids' Radio" is not in continual live broadcast, as characters sometimes use the studio (located in Whit's End) to conduct private conversations, as in episodes #488 – #489: “Under the Influence” and #335 – #336: “Love is in the Air”.

History

The idea behind KYDS "Kids Radio" began in episode #36: “Kids' Radio”. Brad Dillard, a local youth, convinced Whit to allow him to use some old equipment at "Whit's End" to produce a radio station for kids' programming. His slogan for the station was "created for kids by kids." Though many of the children of Odyssey expressed interest, Brad could not convince enough others to actually work on the production. Brad's father, seeing his son overworked, asked Whit to discontinue the station's operation, and he sadly did so.

Whit and Tom Riley later resurrected the station in the episode #114: “The Big Broadcast”, reintroducing "Kids Radio" as a medium for conveying biblical truths to the children of Odyssey.

In #168: “The Curse” it is mentioned that a radio station in Connelsville made a deal with Whit to broadcast some of the content on Kid's Radio.

In #TTC01: “Here Am I”, Whit introduced the invention of Interactive Kids' Radio.

In #721: “The Holy Hoopster” a new "Odyssey Owl Radio Network" is mentioned. Judging from the fact Whit is co-host, it's possible this is a collaboration between Odyssey Middle School and Kids Radio.

Shows on Kids' Radio

Ask Dr. Wise - Robert Mitchell's radio advice show
Candid Conversations with Connie - Connie Kendall's radio talk show
The Jimmy Barclay Show - Jimmy Barclay's radio talk show
A Moment in Time - a show that looks at events in history
O.T. Action News - Biblical news broadcasts
Twilife Zone - A show that tells satirical stories
Adventures in the Bible - hosted by Whit
Various local sporting events
Possibly the Odyssey Owl Radio Network
Playhouse of the Airwaves

The Jimmy Barclay Show

Main article: The Jimmy Barclay Show.

The Jimmy Barclay Show was what Whit was letting Jimmy broadcast on "K-Y-D-S Kid's Radio". Though he started out innocent, a meeting with "Cryin' Brian Dern" soon changed that. After that, Jimmy recorded an embarrassing conversation between Whit and Eugene where Eugene told Whit that he didn't have a license. Jimmy soon broadcast clips of that conversation on air, and Whit shut him off, scolding him for what he did. Later, as Jimmy was walking, he hears Brian Dern on the radio making fun of him on the radio. Turns out, Dern recorded his and Jimmy's conversation, too. Later, Whit goes to Dern's station. Dern thought Whit was going to yell at him, but was pleasantly surprised to hear Whit thank him, because in Whit's view, Dern taught Jimmy a good lesson the hard way. This is all explained in A Tongue of Fire.