I really liked watching the older Zoom. The 1999 season. It was, in my opinion, a fun show for kids & teens. I liked how they had fun segments with stories, poems, ask the Zoomers, food, arts & crafts, etc. I think some of the arts & craft things we're actually pretty cool. For easy to make things, anyway. The cast was great too. I wish it still aired here. I was sad to hear about Jared N's death though. He was great. May he R.I.P. I hope the new season is as good as the older ones. I love the line "Come on and Zoom!", hehe. I attempted to make something they showed on there once a while ago and, well, it didn't come out as great as it looked on the show. Oh well. I recommend "Zoom" to kids.
20 Reviews
Great show!
Roody19 December 2001
It's a great show, I'm surprised no one has said anything about it yet. The kids have great chemistry with each other, and it helps a show this fun. The segments rely on submitted information, which is always cool for a kids show. The most recent season has been better than the previous seasons.
Started Off Awesome, Then Declined.
Movie-ManDan22 July 2015
Twenty-one years after the original show of Zoom was cancelled, PBS revived it with better production. I have never seen any episodes from the 70s, but the intros I've seen and things I read about it all say it was somewhat low-budgeted. I also hear it was better than this revival. Maybe it is, but I grew up with this version so this is the one I hold closest to me.
Zoe, Jared, Keiko, Pablo, Alisa, David and Lynese starred in the first and best season. This is the only season where I liked everybody. For anybody that does not know what Zoom is about, it follows a group of kids that have fun learning and simply have fun just have fun. There's arts & crafts, science, technology and drama. But the core of the whole thing is friendship and it really shows. I was just starting school when this premiered and it is what and where I aspired myself to be.
Zoe and Alisa were the only cast members that returned for season 2. I became so attached to all seven members of the first season that all the replacements seemed very inferior. I also didn't understand the concept of cast changes. Ray, Kenny, Caroline, Jessie, and Claudio joined the cast with Kenny and Caroline being the only new members I actually liked. The chemistry between the cast members really seemed to lack and some of the members didn't seem like they wanted to be there. Also, there were some uninteresting segments. These flaws stayed with the show throughout the rest of its run.
Kenny and Caroline made the return for the third season. They were joined by Kaleigh, Eric, Frances, Buzz, and Rachel. This was the only other season were I liked all the cast members. Although they were inferior to season 1's, most flaws in season 2 were lowered.
Season 4 was when I really stopped caring. Caroline, Kaleigh and Rachel returned, but I really didn't care about the new members. All flaws were back and higher than before, and all kids acted like: "Look at me. I'm on TV. I'm awesome." That vibe and flaws grew for the rest of the show's run. The last two seasons saw a change in format to become more hip. What a bad idea that was.
One thing I never liked about Zoom was the home video segments. That would always be when I'd stop watching and wait until the regular cast members would come back on. I still watch Zoom on Youtube so it is much easier to just skip over the boring video moments.
My 9/10 score is only for the first three seasons which are the only ones I like.
Zoe, Jared, Keiko, Pablo, Alisa, David and Lynese starred in the first and best season. This is the only season where I liked everybody. For anybody that does not know what Zoom is about, it follows a group of kids that have fun learning and simply have fun just have fun. There's arts & crafts, science, technology and drama. But the core of the whole thing is friendship and it really shows. I was just starting school when this premiered and it is what and where I aspired myself to be.
Zoe and Alisa were the only cast members that returned for season 2. I became so attached to all seven members of the first season that all the replacements seemed very inferior. I also didn't understand the concept of cast changes. Ray, Kenny, Caroline, Jessie, and Claudio joined the cast with Kenny and Caroline being the only new members I actually liked. The chemistry between the cast members really seemed to lack and some of the members didn't seem like they wanted to be there. Also, there were some uninteresting segments. These flaws stayed with the show throughout the rest of its run.
Kenny and Caroline made the return for the third season. They were joined by Kaleigh, Eric, Frances, Buzz, and Rachel. This was the only other season were I liked all the cast members. Although they were inferior to season 1's, most flaws in season 2 were lowered.
Season 4 was when I really stopped caring. Caroline, Kaleigh and Rachel returned, but I really didn't care about the new members. All flaws were back and higher than before, and all kids acted like: "Look at me. I'm on TV. I'm awesome." That vibe and flaws grew for the rest of the show's run. The last two seasons saw a change in format to become more hip. What a bad idea that was.
One thing I never liked about Zoom was the home video segments. That would always be when I'd stop watching and wait until the regular cast members would come back on. I still watch Zoom on Youtube so it is much easier to just skip over the boring video moments.
My 9/10 score is only for the first three seasons which are the only ones I like.
This new generation could really benefit from a show like this!
lemonlips_2426 November 2023
This show was an inspiration to me as a kid! I wanted to be on this show so bad, it looked like so much fun! I loved most of the cast (Caroline was my favorite), and they were very relatable since they were regular kids and not child starlets.
The segments inspired creativity, community, teamwork, and open dialogue. In this show, the kids demonstrate food recipes, homemade crafts, science experiments, comedy skits, games, etc. Additionally, there were discussions and conversations about the various issues that plague kids. The best part is that these were all ideas sent in from kids all across the U. S. This show predates Internet blogs and videos, but it seems that even with the Internet, much of that DIY content doesn't appear to be reaching people's minds, just their eyes. "If you like what you see, turn off your TV and do it!" (from the intro song) seems to be missing these days. So much on video platforms are feeding us creative methods, yet many of us are still not utilizing it. There's more consuming than constructing, which is becoming a huge problem, especially for younger people. One nice gesture was when WGBH (the PBS affiliate that produced the series) got some of the former cast members to recreate the projects they did on the show. That was in 2020; considering the circumstances, we as people were somewhat forced to get more creative in order to survive (and alleviate boredom since entertainment was being affected). I'm not sure why the impact is not the same, is it the medium that's being used or has our culture really shifted in such a bizarre direction?
Though this show is no longer being made or broadcast; there's plenty of episodes on YouTube. Those of us who grew up on this long-running PBS series can use this show's example to inspire kids in our communities, with or without the help of social media. As in actually constructing things and not just teaching or viewing them.
I also recommend "Fetch with Ruff Ruffman", since it became a good substitute after "Zoom" was cancelled.
The segments inspired creativity, community, teamwork, and open dialogue. In this show, the kids demonstrate food recipes, homemade crafts, science experiments, comedy skits, games, etc. Additionally, there were discussions and conversations about the various issues that plague kids. The best part is that these were all ideas sent in from kids all across the U. S. This show predates Internet blogs and videos, but it seems that even with the Internet, much of that DIY content doesn't appear to be reaching people's minds, just their eyes. "If you like what you see, turn off your TV and do it!" (from the intro song) seems to be missing these days. So much on video platforms are feeding us creative methods, yet many of us are still not utilizing it. There's more consuming than constructing, which is becoming a huge problem, especially for younger people. One nice gesture was when WGBH (the PBS affiliate that produced the series) got some of the former cast members to recreate the projects they did on the show. That was in 2020; considering the circumstances, we as people were somewhat forced to get more creative in order to survive (and alleviate boredom since entertainment was being affected). I'm not sure why the impact is not the same, is it the medium that's being used or has our culture really shifted in such a bizarre direction?
Though this show is no longer being made or broadcast; there's plenty of episodes on YouTube. Those of us who grew up on this long-running PBS series can use this show's example to inspire kids in our communities, with or without the help of social media. As in actually constructing things and not just teaching or viewing them.
I also recommend "Fetch with Ruff Ruffman", since it became a good substitute after "Zoom" was cancelled.
Best!!!
yggfan25 March 2019
ZOOM 1999 displays a tremendous example of what a kid's television show ought to be. A cast of 7 teenagers (4 girls and 3 boys) effectively meet the needs of a child by doing crafts, recipes, games, plays, and experiments sent in by viewers. They don't shy away from instruction manuals, don't talk down to viewers, and don't act like child actors unlike the cast of FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman. They straight forwardly, yet sensitively, address the child and encourage viewer submission. One of the biggest differences that they bring to kids TV is that they move at a noticeably hipster pace in their theme song and speech so as to cool the tendency of children to resort to a short attention span. Values are presented through hip, fun scenarios that help engage children.
ZOOM 1999 is a great choice for any parent to show their children. The show's Cast bring integrity to their show, but they are a bit older than their target audience (3-13), but it's the same with other shows. Contrast the Sesame Street character Gabi, she was seen in a few episodes over the years. Keiko and Eric were both 16 when they left the show. Anyhow, the cast show how all people can be friends with those who aren't hip. Their show, coupled with proper family life, really help build a child to be a hip individual, ready to be an empathetic, cool member of society as an adult.
ZOOM 1999 is a great choice for any parent to show their children. The show's Cast bring integrity to their show, but they are a bit older than their target audience (3-13), but it's the same with other shows. Contrast the Sesame Street character Gabi, she was seen in a few episodes over the years. Keiko and Eric were both 16 when they left the show. Anyhow, the cast show how all people can be friends with those who aren't hip. Their show, coupled with proper family life, really help build a child to be a hip individual, ready to be an empathetic, cool member of society as an adult.
I Find This Show Very Entertaining.
canadian_eh8821 August 2002
They have such a positive message. In the opening, they say "If you like what you see, then turn off the TV and DO IT!", they're saying that you should turn off the Television and go outside and play a game you see on the show, or do one of their experiments.
I love this show more than anything.
dimpzzzz16 July 2001
Only one word describes this show, amazing. Since the first season i've been hooked to this show. It's about 5 kids that speak their own language, teach how to cook, and show incredible videos from home viewers. I must say the wardrobe is the best i have ever seen. Bravo!
Zoom is fun and entertaining
jarofwar1 October 2003
This show is very different compared to others because there are no adults involved. The kids are the hosts and do games, experiments, snacks and just about anything that entertains and builds up knowledge. I personally like it, I mean love it, and it's great for the whole family.
Ideas from your head to that show!
aldeheid24 June 2000
Zoom is the best show on PBS and I heard that there was a Zoom in the1970s. It is a good show and the kids gets the ideas from their fans of the show and I would think that show is full of children that are really creative and does fun stuff and talk about a lot of things that how they do something easy and hard that kids do. It has great parts and my favorite part of the show when the children were on a video and showed their underwear and I laughed. Although, what a great show and I wuv it.
A Great Show For Kids
doublen55007 October 2000
Zoom is a great show for the youngans. Im in my last year of JR high and I love to watch it!! Basically, Zoom is show that has kids send in games, recipes, science experiments, jokes and riddles of their own creation and the 7 kids who star on the show play the games, cook the recipes, do the science experi- ments, tell the jokes and solve the riddles the kids send in. Zoom has some cool kids (the really cool ones are Jared and Lyn-ese from the first season of the new Zoom), but when they they started season 2 with Kenny, Caroline, Claudio, Ray, Zoe, Alica, and Jesse the show began to crumble. The kids were so perfect like when they say good game and they shake each others hands after they ended a game I started hating the show. They should bring back the kids from season 1 and keep Ray from season 2 for season 3.
It's hard to explain its appeal...
mille5230 November 2002
ZOOM is a curious thing. One minute you're just a kid watching ZOOM, and the next, you a horribly ashamed almost-teen who is quickly turning it to Lizzie McGuire or Boy Meets World, praying that no one finds out that you actually still watch ZOOM. I eventually got over myself and just faced the fact that I watched ZOOM, but it was still a very difficult realization to make. I hate ZOOM, I really do. And yet, one minute, I'm watching the stocks on CNN or the 6 o'clock News and then magically the next minute, the TV is mystically turning itself to PBS and ZOOM just happens to be on. TV's don't normally turn themselves, do they? It MUST be a sign, so I HAVE to watch it. In all seriousness (?) I despise ZOOM, but it was really great first season. It was great...to hate (and secretly watch, of course.) Overall, fun to watch, but it really did stink.
hahaha this show
sftbllchick2517 September 2006
one summer, around 6 years ago, my siblings and i were so bored that we watched ZOOM every afternoon. we thought it was the corniest thing ever, and made fun of the whole thing, starting from the theme song. We'd go to the website and send them fake recipes (like cookies, but we'd list dirty socks and thumbtacks in the ingredient list) and make up some retarded story off the top of our heads just for fun and email them, and send hate mail because our tasty recipes and wonderful stories weren't being put on the air. we decided that "matt" and "kailey" were in love and that "garret" was jealous and we made this book about it and sent it to them. after that, we thought it would be funny to make a book about what we thought about all the characters, but we lost interest in that one. yeah we were pretty dumb, but we were also like 7, 10, and 12. i'm sure my sister would have enjoyed the show, but didn't want to admit it as my brother and i laughed at it!
I think it was supposed to be nice
Icee_0716 October 2002
Okay, so I probably enjoyed watching the first season, because it was quite entertaining, but the other seasons were HORRIBLE! I mean, they should keep Pablo and the gang regardless of their age because the gang knew how it is to entertain people. So, out of 10 stars for all 3 seasons, I'll give this a 3. It was supposed to be a 9 because of the first season, but the others pulled it, so there!
Fun!
blossom11429 May 2002
This show is great. The hosts are kids...and kids are able to send in ideas for games and projects and recipes. They have all sorts of fun stuff for kids to try out. They also talk about issues that may face kids in school. It's a great show for any kid to watch after school and gives them plenty of ideas of things to do that are safe but fun. I recommend this show for anyone.
I used 2 like it!
jessicaf8 July 2002
I used to like this show when I was in 4th grade. (I was in 4th grade when the just started) But now I think it's just pointless and dumb. The cast doesn't think of their own ideas. Instead, they had kids all over the country mail stuff in. I guess the only part on the show that is o.k. is when they show you how cook recipes. Everything else is just dumb. I mean, who wants(or has the TIME) to sit and watch them play a dopey baal game or a staring contest game that someone has sent in. Or watch them make a structure that will cushion an egg when it is dropped from a certain height or watch them stir something in a bowl. This is NOT a t.v. show! (as it seems) If someone who works for PBS ever stops by this site and looks up Zoom and sees my message, I hope they do the right thing and take this crappy lecture and demo-speech show OFF the air!!
Zoom...brings me back to my childhood
Albernaz12 September 2003
I like Zoom. It was my favorite show growing up. Claudio was the man and Ray was ghraceful. Great show with morals to teach to you kids out there. Every episode had stuff to teach like going outside and playing, cooking, and more. The show really got the viewers involved with the program. great show.
My Kids Love It
KirbysWyfe19 January 2004
I appreciate the fact that Zoom is more than brain-candy, and gives kids ideas for things to DO. My kids (ages 3-7) love it, and are always on the lookout for new recipes, games, crafts, so they can "send it to Zoom!" The fact that Regular Kids submit most of the material makes it more appealing to Regular Kids.
Zoomer's names
zoomfantae4 June 2005
Garrett with two t's please whoever edits correct this and yes he is hot. His last name is DiBona. Lynese's last name is Browder. I absolutely love this show I have been trying to figure out if the rumors of the last season being season 7. I hope it won't be the last season! That would be terrible. I like this season of zoom. my favorite episode so far was the camp zoom one. I look watching the zoo mer audition tapes. Emily's tape was bad she kept st-stuttering. Taylor definitely reminds me of myself she is twelve and only weighs 60 pounds (lightweight, according to the episode when she floated on a raft they made) I am a lightweight person but not afro American. Kyle is gonna be hot when he grows up. I think shing will be well known. I think that Kyle and Noreen like each other. one day my mom watched the show and when she saw nick she was like 'that a boy?!' i said ya and she said she thought it was a girl.
Great kids show
strhoads5-113 November 2003
Zoom is a kids show, first of all. So what do you really expect? It's good for a children's show. The thing that makes it stand out is the fact that kids can send THEIR ideas in, and Zoom will use them. The only problem I have with Zoom is their new method of using the kids name. They only show the first name, and the first letter of their last name! They should show the WHOLE kids' name that sent it in! I think the old Zoom did this-why did they change? That's the only problem I have. I don't even mind the fact that Caroline did 4 seasons-when everyone else only did 1 or 2. I love the 2 specials about Sept. 11, 2001! Those were the highlights of Zoom. I also like any of the "behind the scenes" shows too. (I think they did 3 of these type of shows)
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