By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Photo/submitted
Westborough – Math has gotten, in some cases, a bad rap. But two Westborough High School (WHS) graduates hope that with their new series that they have created for public television, they can show kids that math can actually be fun.
The show, “Odd Squad,” created by Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman, for PBS KIDS, focuses on two young agents, Olive and Otto, who are part of the Odd Squad, an agency whose mission is to save the day whenever something unusual happens in their town. A math concept is embedded in each of their cases, as Olive and Otto work together to problem-solve and correct the ‘oddity’ in each episode. The show premieres Nov. 26. (For times visit wgbh.org/schedule and type in Odd Squad in the search bar.)
McKeon and Peltzman both attended WHS in the early 1990s, but because Peltzman was a senior when McKeon was a freshman, their relationship was that of a casual acquaintance.
“Adam says we didn’t know each other very well in high school, but I totally knew him and his friends as the super cool seniors who were writing and putting on plays,” quipped McKeon.
Both McKeon and Peltzman were enthusiastic thespians at WHS.
Peltzman’s favorite role was that of Ralph in “Ralph Roister Doister”. While at WHS he co-wrote and co-directed a one act comedy called “The Last Girl Scout” which was his first experience writing a script which was produced.
“I was in every play I could possibly be in during my four years at Westborough High School. One of my favorite roles was Gary in ‘Noises Off’ – it’s a frantic farce with lots of running around and slamming doors. The cast and crew plus lots of parents and volunteers built a two-story set on wheels that I still can’t believe a high school pulled off. My senior year, I co-wrote and put on a play with friends called ‘Bad Tuna’ about — wait for it — friends trying to write a play,” said McKeon.
“Bad Tuna” was McKeon’s first experience writing a script that was produced. The show garnished an enthusiastic response from its audience and fueled McKeon’s desire for comedy.
“Getting laughs as an actor is great, but when I heard people laughing at jokes that I wrote, that was the most satisfying and I was hooked,” he shared.
After graduating from WHS (’92), Peltzman went on to earn an English degree at Wesleyan University. McKeon (’95) attended the University of Mass. where he earned both an English and creative writing degree. He later earned a master’s in screenwriting from the University of Southern California.
Prior to their collaboration on Odd Squad, the duo were leading what they refer to as “parallel lives” – McKeon in Los Angeles and Peltzman in New York. McKeon worked as a writer and head writer on a variety of television shows, most recently, “Adventure Time” for the Cartoon Network and “Gravity Falls” for Disney. He also wrote a few episodes for “Wallykazam!” on Nickelodeon which was created and produced by Peltzman. Peltzman wrote for shows such as “The Electric Company,” “The Backyardigans” and “Blue’s Clues.”
With their shared loved for screen writing and a mutual love of goofy but smart comedies, it was only fitting that McKeon and Peltzman collaborate to create Odd Squad for PBS KIDS.
“We loved the idea of creating a funny live action show in which kids are in charge. And we particularly loved that such a show could teach viewers something valuable in the process,” Peltzman said.
“We definitely wanted to create a world run by kids and a world in which anything can happen,” added McKeon. “My favorite part about the show – and a goal from the beginning – is that no matter how odd the problem, the kids remain calm, cool and collected. They got this. In the world of Odd Squad, it’s usually the adults who are losing it. But our kid agents are always there with a hand on their shoulder telling them not to worry. It’s all going to be okay.”
Both McKeon and Peltzman are passionate about promoting math education. It is their hope that every episode of Odd Squad provides a funny, visually interesting, action-packed, character-driven way to help kids (ages 5-8) learn math.
