Mary Lou Retton Starts “Flip Flop Shop”

Mary Lou Retton gained international fame in the 1984 Olympic Games by becoming the first U.S. woman to win the Gold Medal in the all-around women’s gymnastics competition, and by winning more medals than any other athlete at the ’84 Games. Mary Lou’s latest project, besides being a mother to four, will be acting as host of “Mary Lou’s Flip Flop Shop,” a new educational show airing on PBS stations across the country. The show’s 13 half-hour, live-action episodes, aimed primarily at preschool and elementary children between ages 4 and 7, teach both physical growth and social development skills through lessons brought to life by Mary Lou, five costumed characters and a cast of children in the Flip Flop Shop, a fantasy playroom. The show features visits to the fruit bowl to help children learn that fruit is not only good to eat but also good for them, and the Gallery, an art wall that showcases paintings created by children around the world to introduce viewers to art. As in most children’s shows, this one has many original songs, forty in fact, throughout the 13 episodes. All this done in order to teach important life lessons to children while encouraging them to lead active, healthy lifestyles through “creative movement.”

The show is created by Shannon Kelly, Mary Lou’s husband, and is produced in their hometown of Houston, Texas. Almost all of the 97 cast and crew members are from the Houston area as well. Mary Lou herself also serves as Co-Executive Producer for the show. This is the first PBS children’s series to be filmed in high-definition wide screen format. #