136:
Technician" a.ka. Vid Tech and an MPT "Vid Kid Club" were created for families to join. New York native and
Maryland resident Robert Heck was hired for the Vid Tech role, using his nickname "Bob". While Bob the Vid Tech was played by an adult, he acted like an elementary age child who gets excited about learning and sharing his experiences. Collaborating with creators and producers Jonathan Slade and Susie Shaw, Heck also began portraying the other characters in his Vid Kid world, such as Momma Vid Tech, his brother Biff and Pop Quiz. He also provided the voice for his
149:
199:
182:
170:. In the late 1990s Maryland Public Television re-branded "The Children's Channel" block of programming as "MPT Kidworks", still featuring the aqua-colored jacket wearing Vid Tech. In 2002 it was announced that there would no longer be any new interstitials and that the station would rely on the 200 that had been produced, but production continued for the next 7 years under the umbrella of
31:
161:
To localize the on-air content and connect parents and young viewers with a local
Maryland personality, short videos known as interstitials were produced by MPT and placed in between national PBS kids shows. Shot in studio and on location and ranging in length from 15 seconds to 1 minute, Bob would
144:
that began each longer format special program. Bob also had a friend named
Brianna, played by singer Parris Lane, who was added in the summer of 2000 and acted as an on-air floor director and camera person for the daily broadcasts. Production of Bob the Vid Tech interstitials and specials ended in
194:
Acting as an Emcee on behalf of MPT's Vid Kid Club, Heck made regular appearances at malls, hospitals, schools, concert halls and festivals to perform and meet and greet his Vid Kid fans. Larger events, known as Vid Kid
Roadshows, featured live stage performances with Bob and his "partner-in-fun"
211:
Longer format specials enabled Bob and his young viewers to explore and learn various subjects in more depth. Beginning with 1993's
Holiday Special and ending with Big City Adventure in 2009, twelve specials were produced. With broad themes such as history, space, water, music, communication,
135:
Discontinuing its daytime broadcasts of instructional television ("ITV") in 1993, MPT rebranded the time slot as "The
Children's Channel" with additional PBS Kids programming. In need of a local personality and membership outreach to connect with the station's children's audience, a "Video
123:
257:: (1998) Originally known as "Vid Kid: Meeting the Challenge". Bob meets a group of very special Vid Kids—children with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities—and tags along with them as they learn, among other things, how to sail and ride horses
322:
Bob the Vid Tech productions won many children's category and technical Emmy awards from the
National Capital Chesapeake Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, as well as a CINE Golden Eagle and Telly Award.
212:
transportation and food, Bob would go on an adventure to learn as much as he could about each subject. The original open theme music was produced by Don Barto and was later replaced by musician David Zee in 2000 to accompany the
1233:
749:
273:: (2001) Originally known as "Vid Kid: Music to my Ears". Bob the Vid Tech feels left out when he realizes he's the only one who doesn't know how to play an instrument in the Vid Tech family.
373:
1168:
1228:
1223:
1208:
265:: (2000) Originally known as "Vid Kid: Blast Into Space", Bob reaches for the stars with the Maryland Science Center, Goddard Space Flight Center and NASA to save his brother Biff
1238:
461:
440:
577:
1218:
1118:
957:
858:
1213:
1108:
1133:
936:
506:
1183:
1006:
907:
531:
365:
178:
at his inauguration and discussed how they shared the same name. Bob's last televised outing was visiting the
Maryland Special Olympics in 2009.
1178:
1143:
1093:
1098:
202:
In the 2006 MPT special "Bob the Vid Tech: Planes, Trains and
Automobiles", Bob rode inside a Ford Model T with MotorWeek host John Davis.
301:
293:
237:
152:
Bob the Vid Tech (Robert Heck) discusses a blue screen shot with producer Frank
Batavick for the Kids and Family music video in 2002.
185:
Maryland Public Television's children's host Bob the Vid Tech making an appearance at the Pee Wee Preakness event in Baltimore, MD.
753:
340:
229:
436:
581:
1173:
1148:
882:
277:
1153:
309:
285:
261:
269:
245:
985:
510:
1123:
932:
253:
1103:
297:: (2006) Trying to get to his Vid Tech family reunion in Cucamonga, California, Bob learns all about transportation
140:
friend Sid the Vid Fish. Each of these characters was featured at various times in short interstitials and in the
116:
911:
394:
1158:
1163:
148:
221:
535:
1188:
556:
198:
1138:
816:
122:
1088:
415:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1000:
837:
795:
774:
728:
707:
686:
665:
644:
623:
602:
485:
181:
344:
30:
1202:
1083:
886:
175:
1078:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
213:
171:
167:
163:
141:
1073:
166:
to language to imagination, visiting people and places from around the state,
981:
126:
Members of MPT's Vid Kid Club pose with host Bob the Vid Tech in the 1990s
249:(1997) Bob goes back in time and experiences Maryland history first hand
115:
was an on-air children's host and a series of television productions for
645:"A Vid Kid Fable: The Day The World Stayed in Bed 1996 Emmy Submission"
174:
with producer Frank Batavick. In 2003 Bob spoke with Maryland Governor
289:: (2004) Bob learns how people have communicated throughout history
883:"Maryland Public Television's Children's Special Receives Cine Award"
137:
1113:
1149:
Maryland Public Television's Children's Special Receives Cine Award
197:
180:
147:
121:
1128:
908:"The 36th Annual Telly Awards: Planes, Trains and Automobiles"
1234:
Local children's television programming in the United States
1184:
The 36th Annual Telly Awards: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
241:: (1996) What would happen if no one ever got out of bed?
1193:
1174:
MPT wins 11 regional Emmys Fox Channel 45 wins eight
817:"Bob the Vid Tech: The Mystery of the Missing Pizza"
532:"Silvan Learning Center Has Given a $ 10,000 Grant"
366:"MPT to double airtime devoted to children's shows"
95:
90:
82:
74:
69:
61:
53:
45:
37:
21:
1144:The Vid Kid Road Show is coming to a mall near you
796:"Bob The Vid Tech: Planes, Trains and Automobiles"
462:"Gov. Ehrlich Favors Third Person When Bob Speaks"
302:Bob the Vid Tech: The Mystery of the Missing Pizza
233:: (1995) Bob learns all about life under the sea
1179:Maryland Public Television earns five Emmy Awards
1109:Maryland Public Television earns nine Emmy Awards
1034:Bob the Vid Tech: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
395:"Robert Heck Bio, Baltimore City Public Schools"
294:Bob the Vid Tech: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
238:A Vid Kid Fable: The Day the World Stayed in Bed
305:: (2008) Bob explores the world of agriculture
1029:Bob the Vid Tech: Mystery of the Missing Pizza
313:: (2009) Bob learns all about Baltimore City.
225:(1993) Bob reads a bedtime story to children
8:
1239:American television shows featuring puppetry
281:: (2002) Bob learns the importance of water
1229:2010s American children's television series
1224:2000s American children's television series
1209:1990s American children's television series
750:"Bob The Vid Tech: Water, Water Everywhere"
557:"New Year's Eve for Kids at Port Discovery"
507:"Bob the Vid Tech hosts children's concert"
230:Vid Kid Field Trip to the National Aquarium
1189:Kidvid host gets another school board term
1054:The Bob The Vid Tech special open sequence
29:
18:
1134:Bob the Vid Tech hosts children's concert
1114:David Zee Composes Music for MPT Vid Tech
1044:Bob the Vid Tech: Water, Water Everywhere
933:"MPT wins 8 National Capital Emmy Awards"
840:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
798:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
777:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
731:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
710:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
689:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
668:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
647:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
626:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
605:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
488:. American Archive of Public Broadcasting
278:Bob the Vid Tech: Water Water Everywhere
1219:2010 American television series endings
1164:Robert Heck, Master of Ceremonies, BCPS
1159:Robert Heck Bio, Baltimore City Schools
1124:MPT wins 8 National Capital Emmy Awards
1049:Bob the Vid Tech: Meeting the Challenge
838:"Bob The Vid Tech's Big City Adventure"
775:"Bob The Vid Tech: Message in a Bottle"
332:
1214:1993 American television series debuts
1005:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
998:
1039:Bob the Vid Tech: Message in a Bottle
310:Bob the Vid Tech’s Big City Adventure
286:Bob the Vid Tech: Message in a Bottle
7:
1104:Barney visits MPT, bearing glad news
1084:Bob the Vid Tech Interstitial Videos
1024:Bob the Vid Tech: Big City Adventure
958:"Channel 5 Cleans Up Again at Emmys"
341:"Maryland shifts ITV out of the way"
859:"Local Emmy Award Winners for 2002"
262:Bob the Vid Tech: Blast Into Space!
86:Steve Smith, Bob Mixter, Kathy Pugh
1089:Maryland shifts ITV out of the way
666:"VId Kid Lost in Maryland History"
270:Bob the Vid Tech: Music to My Ears
14:
1119:Local Emmy Award Winners for 2002
580:. Herald-Mail.com. Archived from
578:"Concert strikes chord with kids"
246:Vid Kid: Lost in Maryland History
1099:Nourishing children's television
1139:MPT VID KID CLUB trademark logo
988:from the original on 2024-09-07
939:from the original on 2024-09-07
914:from the original on 2024-09-07
756:from the original on 2024-09-07
534:. Baltimore Sun. Archived from
443:from the original on 2016-03-04
376:from the original on 2016-03-04
254:Vid Kid: Meeting the Challenge!
78:Jonathan Slade, Frank Batavick
1:
1079:Visiting the Special Olympics
509:. herald-mail. Archived from
437:"MPT makes changes amid cuts"
343:. current.org. Archived from
729:"Vid Kid: Music To My Ears"
119:("MPT") from 1993 to 2010.
1255:
885:. highbeam. Archived from
397:. baltimorecityschools.org
117:Maryland Public Television
49:Maryland Public Television
16:1993 TV series or program
819:. Oregon State University
168:such as his local library
28:
708:"BTVT: Blast Into Space"
559:. Harbor Magic Baltimore
216:by editor Steve Smith.
1129:Children's Productions
416:"More Parenting Tools"
214:updated open animation
203:
186:
162:explore subjects from
153:
127:
99:June 1, 1993
1169:Jonathan F. Slade bio
603:"Holiday w/ Bob Heck"
222:Holiday with Bob Heck
201:
184:
172:"MPT Kids and Family"
151:
125:
41:Children's television
1094:More Parenting Tools
1059:Finding the number 3
624:"Vid Kid Field Trip"
57:Don Barto, David Zee
54:Theme music composer
962:The Washington Post
863:The Washington Post
75:Executive producers
687:"Bob The Vid Tech"
486:"Vid Kid Roadshow"
204:
190:Public appearances
187:
154:
128:
439:. Baltimore Sun.
370:The Baltimore Sun
110:
109:
62:Original language
1246:
1074:Program Specials
1064:Days of the Week
1011:
1010:
1004:
996:
994:
993:
978:
972:
971:
969:
968:
954:
948:
947:
945:
944:
929:
923:
922:
920:
919:
904:
898:
897:
895:
894:
879:
873:
872:
870:
869:
855:
849:
848:
846:
845:
834:
828:
827:
825:
824:
813:
807:
806:
804:
803:
792:
786:
785:
783:
782:
771:
765:
764:
762:
761:
746:
740:
739:
737:
736:
725:
719:
718:
716:
715:
704:
698:
697:
695:
694:
683:
677:
676:
674:
673:
662:
656:
655:
653:
652:
641:
635:
634:
632:
631:
620:
614:
613:
611:
610:
599:
593:
592:
590:
589:
574:
568:
567:
565:
564:
553:
547:
546:
544:
543:
528:
522:
521:
519:
518:
503:
497:
496:
494:
493:
482:
476:
475:
473:
472:
458:
452:
451:
449:
448:
433:
427:
426:
424:
423:
412:
406:
405:
403:
402:
391:
385:
384:
382:
381:
362:
356:
355:
353:
352:
337:
113:Bob The Vid Tech
106:
104:
91:Original release
33:
23:Bob the Vid Tech
19:
1254:
1253:
1249:
1248:
1247:
1245:
1244:
1243:
1199:
1198:
1154:Heck on the Web
1020:
1015:
1014:
997:
991:
989:
982:"Archived copy"
980:
979:
975:
966:
964:
956:
955:
951:
942:
940:
935:. stardem.com.
931:
930:
926:
917:
915:
910:. tellyawards.
906:
905:
901:
892:
890:
881:
880:
876:
867:
865:
857:
856:
852:
843:
841:
836:
835:
831:
822:
820:
815:
814:
810:
801:
799:
794:
793:
789:
780:
778:
773:
772:
768:
759:
757:
748:
747:
743:
734:
732:
727:
726:
722:
713:
711:
706:
705:
701:
692:
690:
685:
684:
680:
671:
669:
664:
663:
659:
650:
648:
643:
642:
638:
629:
627:
622:
621:
617:
608:
606:
601:
600:
596:
587:
585:
576:
575:
571:
562:
560:
555:
554:
550:
541:
539:
530:
529:
525:
516:
514:
505:
504:
500:
491:
489:
484:
483:
479:
470:
468:
466:Washington Post
460:
459:
455:
446:
444:
435:
434:
430:
421:
419:
418:. Baltimore Sun
414:
413:
409:
400:
398:
393:
392:
388:
379:
377:
364:
363:
359:
350:
348:
339:
338:
334:
329:
320:
209:
192:
159:
133:
102:
100:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1252:
1250:
1242:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1201:
1200:
1197:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1069:Birthday Party
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1026:
1019:
1018:External links
1016:
1013:
1012:
973:
949:
924:
899:
874:
850:
829:
808:
787:
766:
741:
720:
699:
678:
657:
636:
615:
594:
569:
548:
523:
498:
477:
453:
428:
407:
386:
357:
331:
330:
328:
325:
319:
316:
315:
314:
306:
298:
290:
282:
274:
266:
258:
250:
242:
234:
226:
208:
205:
191:
188:
158:
155:
142:open animation
132:
129:
108:
107:
97:
93:
92:
88:
87:
84:
80:
79:
76:
72:
71:
67:
66:
63:
59:
58:
55:
51:
50:
47:
43:
42:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1251:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1017:
1008:
1002:
987:
983:
977:
974:
963:
959:
953:
950:
938:
934:
928:
925:
913:
909:
903:
900:
889:on 2016-04-09
888:
884:
878:
875:
864:
860:
854:
851:
839:
833:
830:
818:
812:
809:
797:
791:
788:
776:
770:
767:
755:
752:. Thinkport.
751:
745:
742:
730:
724:
721:
709:
703:
700:
688:
682:
679:
667:
661:
658:
646:
640:
637:
625:
619:
616:
604:
598:
595:
584:on 2016-03-04
583:
579:
573:
570:
558:
552:
549:
538:on 2018-05-20
537:
533:
527:
524:
513:on 2016-03-04
512:
508:
502:
499:
487:
481:
478:
467:
463:
457:
454:
442:
438:
432:
429:
417:
411:
408:
396:
390:
387:
375:
371:
367:
361:
358:
347:on 2016-03-04
346:
342:
336:
333:
326:
324:
317:
312:
311:
307:
304:
303:
299:
296:
295:
291:
288:
287:
283:
280:
279:
275:
272:
271:
267:
264:
263:
259:
256:
255:
251:
248:
247:
243:
240:
239:
235:
232:
231:
227:
224:
223:
219:
218:
217:
215:
206:
200:
196:
189:
183:
179:
177:
173:
169:
165:
157:Interstitials
156:
150:
146:
143:
139:
130:
124:
120:
118:
114:
98:
94:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
40:
36:
32:
27:
24:
20:
990:. Retrieved
976:
965:. Retrieved
961:
952:
941:. Retrieved
927:
916:. Retrieved
902:
891:. Retrieved
887:the original
877:
866:. Retrieved
862:
853:
842:. Retrieved
832:
821:. Retrieved
811:
800:. Retrieved
790:
779:. Retrieved
769:
758:. Retrieved
744:
733:. Retrieved
723:
712:. Retrieved
702:
691:. Retrieved
681:
670:. Retrieved
660:
649:. Retrieved
639:
628:. Retrieved
618:
607:. Retrieved
597:
586:. Retrieved
582:the original
572:
561:. Retrieved
551:
540:. Retrieved
536:the original
526:
515:. Retrieved
511:the original
501:
490:. Retrieved
480:
469:. Retrieved
465:
456:
445:. Retrieved
431:
420:. Retrieved
410:
399:. Retrieved
389:
378:. Retrieved
369:
360:
349:. Retrieved
345:the original
335:
321:
308:
300:
292:
284:
276:
268:
260:
252:
244:
236:
228:
220:
210:
193:
160:
134:
112:
111:
22:
176:Bob Ehrlich
1203:Categories
992:2024-02-15
967:2015-07-23
943:2015-07-23
918:2015-07-23
893:2015-07-23
868:2015-07-23
844:2015-07-23
823:2015-07-27
802:2015-07-23
781:2015-07-23
760:2015-07-23
735:2015-07-23
714:2015-07-23
693:2015-07-27
672:2015-07-27
651:2015-07-23
630:2015-07-27
609:2015-07-23
588:2004-03-07
563:2012-12-28
542:2015-07-23
517:2015-07-23
492:2015-07-28
471:2003-01-18
447:2003-01-18
422:2015-07-23
401:2015-07-23
380:2015-07-27
351:2015-07-23
327:References
103:1993-06-01
70:Production
46:Created by
195:Brianna.
1001:cite web
986:Archived
937:Archived
912:Archived
754:Archived
441:Archived
374:Archived
207:Specials
164:numbers
131:History
101: (
96:Release
83:Editors
65:English
318:Awards
145:2010.
138:puppet
38:Genre
1007:link
1194:MPT
1205::
1003:}}
999:{{
984:.
960:.
861:.
464:.
372:.
368:.
1009:)
995:.
970:.
946:.
921:.
896:.
871:.
847:.
826:.
805:.
784:.
763:.
738:.
717:.
696:.
675:.
654:.
633:.
612:.
591:.
566:.
545:.
520:.
495:.
474:.
450:.
425:.
404:.
383:.
354:.
105:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
