// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Saugut say to its date? Gut feeling I like you.
| Saugut | |
|---|---|
 The purple wild boar Franz Ferdinand, the main character of Saugut. | |
| Created by | Thomas Brezina |
| Country of origin | Austria |
| Production | |
| Running time | 5 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ORF1 |
| Release | 6 September 2008 |
Saugut is an Austrian children's television series which was produced by Austrian broadcaster ORF and created by the children's author Thomas Brezina, featuring a purple wild boar mascot, Franz. It first aired on ORF 1 at 6am on Saturday 6 September 2008 as part of the Okidoki children's programming block.[1] It was broadcast on ORF 1 from 6 September 2008 until 8 January 2011 when it moved to the ORF Eins channel, where it was broadcast until 2018.[2]
In 2010 it received a nomination for a Goldener Spatz (Golden Sparrow) Award, from a German children's festival.[3]
Plot
[edit]The show centres on Franz Ferdinand, a purple wild boar mascot (portrayed by a hand puppet) who has an "unusual perspective on the human world" and an "endearing naivety".[4] Originally an ordinary wild boar living in the forest, Franz Ferdinand is pursued by unscrupulous researchers. A bolt of purple lightning transforms him into a talking, purple wild boar. Following this transformation, he takes up residence with a young teacher named Vivi, where he plays pranks on her, her boyfriend, and her neighbors.
Cast
[edit]- Team
- Vivi: Sigrid Spörk
- Ronni: Nikolaus Firmkranz
- Oma Olga: Inge Maux
- Frau Krautapfel: Biggi Fischer
- Herr Krautapfel: Eberhard Wagner
- Guests
- Manuel Ortega, Missy May, Arabella Kiesbauer, Klaus Eberhartinger and many more.
Development
[edit]The show was described by ORF director Wolfgang Lorenz as a "labor of love". He was quoted as saying "For us, children's programming is far more than just fulfilling an obligation; it is a fundamental part of our mission to show that we are here for the youngest audience members, too". By September 2008, ORF was airing 32 hours of children's television a week. Children's Thomas Brezina was hired to create the series, featuring the purple wild boar mascot Franz.[1]
Other programs
[edit]In April 2010, a spinoff show, the Sau-Schlau-Show was launched, a quiz show in which Franz Ferdinand hosts guests and asks them questions. Franz Ferdinand also appeared in other short segments where he took on roles such as a secret agent, a superhero, or a singer. These short clips were aired during the Sau-Schlau-Show, similar to commercial breaks. Guests on the Sau-Schlau-Show included Gerda Rogers, Manuel Ortega, Jazz Gitti and Eva K. Anderson.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "ORF 1 ist "Okidoki": Neues Kinderprogramm gestartet". Der Standard (in German). 11 September 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
- ↑ "Franz Ferdinand" (in German). fernsehrserien.de. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
- ↑ "Presse" (PDF) (in German). goldenerspatz.de. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
- ↑ "Franz Ferdinand" (in German). Wunchliste.de. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
- ↑ "ORF überarbeitet Kindersendung" (in German). Horizont. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2026.