Hello Jack! The Kindness Show is now on Apple TV+. It’s all about how preschoolers can learn to allow a little kindness can go a long way. From Co-Creators and Executive Producers, Angela C. Santomero and Jack McBrayer also known from his role on 30 Rock is using the Three C’s-caring, connecting, and cascading with others to help kids’ problem solve. I had the opportunity to talk to Jack about what to expect.
The Kindness Show Inspiration
Every person has something that has happened to them that inspires the things that they create. Jack talks candidly about how compassion in his own life was the catalyst. He noticed how adults needed a refresher lesson on how they interact and treat each other. This lesson and the inspiration from the show, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood allowed him space to find a way to create the show as an inspiration for children now. It’s an interesting part of how the things that we go through makes room as lessons to help others.
Respect towards Children
When I was growing up children were to be seen and not heard. I am an 80’s baby so the ideal that respecting children was foreign then. Now as a parent it’s incredibly important to realize that children are human and come with feelings of their own. Jack talks about respecting children is a recuring theme. In episode one, Oliva played by Lucie Vuong is dealing with disappointment. Instead of glossing over her feelings, Jack acknowledges it and helps her to find a solution to her feelings using one of the Three C’s-Creativity.
Creativity is Explored
Using the ability to interact with others and using the Three C’s is helpful and fun to help children learn. Kindness is one of those lessons that transcends culture and brings people together. The cast of the show is extremely diverse. Having a diverse cast that works together is crucial. Kindness is one of the lessons that unfortunately adults are lacking a bit. We are adding in so many layers of life that the simple thought of treating others with dignity and respect is being lost in translation.
Act of Kindness
World Kindness Day is this Saturday and I wanted to know what one act of kindness was shown to him. He stated that one he would be amiss to not think about Tina Fey creating the role he is mostly known for on 30 Rock. Having someone see you and make something that you are able to do well is always nice. Jack also talks about the young actors on set that have given him handwritten letters. This is small acts of kindness that we don’t realize make a world of difference. Taking the time out to show love to someone else without anything else in return I hope is a lesson for the adults as they watch it with their children take away from the show.
Hello Jack, Warm Greetings Go a Long Way
I may be displaying my age, but my grandparents and parents always taught us not to walk past people without saying hello. Hello, was free as my parents would tell us. Nowadays we don’t speak. We are consumed with our phones and life that we rarely speak. One of my personal pet peeves is adults not showing kindness. The mean-spirited individuals just don’t help in making life bright. It in my opinion takes more energy to be mean to others. Jack reminds us of the beauty in saying Hello. Thus, the name Hello Jack The Kindness Show is a reminder of how warm a greeting can be.
Let’s Take Care of Each Other
If there is one thing that Jack wants the takeaway to be is to take care of one another. During the height of the pandemic Jack’s neighbors did an amazing job in checking in on one another. How amazing life would be if we extended the grace of checking in on one another would be? The world being able to look at one another as they would themselves is a terrific way to extend kindness.
Hello Jack, The Kindness Show is playing now on Apple TV+. It’s currently 7 episodes. Stream it now. It’s light and definitely filled with many ways of showcasing kindness in the most creative and unique ways.
A special thank you to Jack McBrayer, Apple TV + and all of the outlets that made it possible for me to conduct this interview. A special honorable mention to Okay Go the band who created the songs for each episode.
You can listen to the interview as a bonus episode of the Conversations with Toi podcast.
