Coming In for a Landing at PBS

The award-winning children’s animated series “Jay Jay the Jet Plane” arrives today on PBS, joining the PBS Kids “Ready to Learn” lineup. The network will air 40 half-hour episodes--14 new installments along with 26 episodes that were previously shown on the Learning Channel.

The 3-D animated series geared for preschoolers follows the adventures of a curious 6-year-old jet plane named Jay Jay and his airplane friends who live and have fun at the Tarrytown Airport, a magical place where imagination takes flight.

Each episode of “Jay Jay” includes two stories with songs and explores such subjects as holidays, birthdays, friendship and safety.

“Jay Jay” is the brainchild of David Michel, who quit his job as a Dallas-based marketing executive because he couldn’t find quality TV available for his son John, then 3. Michel poured his life savings into creating three “Jay Jay the Jet Plane” home videos. Partnering a few years ago with Porchlight Entertainment, he transformed “Jay Jay” into a popular series on the Learning Channel, and it has won 12 national awards for excellence.

Michel, who is also the executive producer of “Jay Jay,” discussed the genesis of the series and its long road to PBS.

Question: How did you make the transition from business executive to creating “Jay Jay the Jet Plane”?

Answer: I was head of sales and marketing for a medical consulting firm, and the particular job I had had me traveling a lot . . . logging over 100,000 miles a year. While I was traveling I was away from my son, who was 2 1/2 years old. I was gone for two to three nights a week. When I returned home, I had the privilege of doing bedtime with my son. At bedtime I would tell him stories. I would tell him about daddy’s travels and pretty soon he was mesmerized by the stories. It was the highlight of both of our days.

I had a great job, but what I didn’t have was a real passion for what I was doing. I said the legacy I want to leave on this planet should center around small children because I had a real passion at the time for doing things for small children. It really led to the idea of doing something on television that would really make a difference.

Q: “Jay Jay” originally was a home video series. Was it difficult to muster interest in the project?

A: From the very first home video that was created seven years ago this summer, we knew we had something really special. My company, Wonderwings.com Entertainment, just did it ourselves. I went to a duplicator and duplicated 10,000 copies, and I called stores and I self-marketed it. I put a big, full-page ad in Parents magazine thinking the way to go would be direct-response print advertising. It was a huge flop. So we then took our message directly to consumers with direct-response television ads on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. That worked extremely well because we were taking our message directly to the kids.

Q: Was “Jay Jay” on home video done in 3-D animation like the TV series?

A: It was kind of like “Gumby” before. It was models we pulled around on sets. It was very primitive, but the fundamental essence of the show was very much intact.

Q: How long did the TV series air on the Learning Channel?

A: We aired for a little over a year there. I produced three made-for-home-video programs using this very primitive style and developed some initial momentum in the series and locked in the character. I don’t have any production experience or background. I knew I couldn’t do this alone. My goal from the very first moment was to have a daily show on PBS. I went in search of a partner and ended up partnering with what was at the time a very small company called Porchlight Entertainment . . . because from the first moment I felt a creative connection. Porchlight arranged the production of 26 half-hour shows and got a broadcast commitment on the Learning Channel. For PBS we are producing 14 additional episodes.

Q: Do you write the shows?

A: We actually have a team of five writers. My role in the series after getting Porchlight involved is really one of creative approval. When we go through the writing process for new stories, I will brainstorm with the five writers and they will submit premises to me.

Q: What do your son and daughter think of the series?

A: They think it’s pretty cool that dad makes TV shows. The show is really geared to the preschool audience, but we have noticed that older brothers and sisters love the stories and the shows just like their parents do. The magic of the show is the fact that it is fundamentally very well developed, with interesting characters that have wonderful stories told about them.

Q: Has Jay Jay helped young children overcome their fear of flying on planes?

A: Absolutely. I can’t tell you how many letters, e-mails or calls I have gotten over the past five years . . . parents telling me that on their child’s very first airplane flight, the only way they were able to get the child to go was to take Jay Jay with them--the plush toy or the video. One of the things that you will notice is that the characters may be in predicaments [but] they are never in danger. We are careful to stay on the gentle side.

* “Jay Jay the Jet Plane” airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on KCET. The network has rated it TV-Y (suitable for young children).