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Episode Info Transcript

"Chopsticks!" is an episode of Oobi from season three.

Summary

The family goes out for Chinese food. A nice waiter named Nick shows the family how to use chopsticks. With persistence, Uma overcomes her frustration and finally learns how to use chopsticks.NickJr.com (source)

Plot

Oobi is in the living room, filling out a coloring book. Grampu calls him to the kitchen for dinner. Oobi walks over to Grampu, and they invite the viewers to call Uma. Uma rushes to the kitchen and accidentally knocks Oobi over. When he gets back up, Grampu tells the kids that they're going to a Chinese restaurant. Before leaving, Uma decides to put on a dress and bring her purse.

The next scene shows the family arriving at the restaurant. Nick, the waiter, sets up some tables in the back. Oobi and Uma notice the restaurant's paper lanterns and listen to the festive music. Oobi spots a statue of three horses, made from jade. Grampu chooses a table and sits down. Nick greets the family and brings them an appetizer: a bowl of crackers with duck sauce. He gives them a menu, which Grampu reads out loud. Grampu orders shrimp, Oobi orders an egg roll, and Uma orders dumplings.

While the family waits for their food, they walk over to a wall of photos. The first one shows a city in China, the second shows a Peking opera singer, and the third shows a family of hand puppets at the Great Wall of China. Nick comes back and tells them that his family is from China. Uma asks if he's Chinese, and he explains that he's Chinese-American. He tells the family that their dinner is ready, and they all walk back to the table.

Grampu asks for some chopsticks and shows the kids how to use them the "hard way." Oobi decides to eat with chopsticks, too, but he uses the "easy way." Uma is determined to use chopsticks the "hard way," but she can't figure them out. The next scene shows Kako interviewing kids about their favorite foods.

The scene cuts back to Uma, who is still trying to use chopsticks. She goes to Nick, who is eating a dish of raw jellyfish. Nick offers to help. He shows Uma how to hold, squeeze, and lift chopsticks... all while shoving the jellyfish into Grampu's mouth. After Nick's demonstration, Uma tries herself. She uses them perfectly and is very proud. Nick gives her a paper umbrella and a fortune cookie, which says that she's a chopsticks expert. Oobi waves "goodbye" to the viewers as the episode ends.

Characters

Gallery

Scenes

Production photo

Trivia

  • According to photo data on the Glass Wings Puppetry website, this episode was filmed on January 15, 2004. (source, see metadata)
  • A photo on the restaurant's wall shows two hand puppets visiting Pudong, Shanghai, with humans in the background. This is the only episode where actual humans are seen outside of an interview segment.
  • Each picture on the wall of photos uses a real stock image as a backdrop.
  • Although they're too small to see in the episode, various brand names and buildings appear in the photo of Shanghai: the Oriental Pearl Tower, Philips, Seiko, McDonald's, Youngor, and even Asahi.
  • The scene where the family arrives at the Chinese restaurant is featured in the opening theme for season three.
  • Nick's bow tie is the same one that Maestru wears. Coincidentally, both of them were played by James Godwin.
  • Nick's comments about being Chinese-American imply that the series takes place in the United States. The exact setting of the show has never been revealed.
  • The menu has two other items that the family doesn't order: a bowl of rice and a bowl of soup.

Navigation

ve Episodes
Season 1 (shorts) "Slide!" • "Follow the Leader!" • "Pretend Catch!" • "Peekaboo!" • "Tag!" • "Dance!" • "Share Pretzels!" • "Watermelon!" • "Soup!" • "Hot Dog and Ketchup!" • "Empty and Full!" • "Popcorn!" • "Worm!" • "Apple Picking!" • "Pretend Wind!" • "Dig!" • "Hide and Seek!" • "Nature!" • "Music!" • "Guitar!" • "Bongo Drums!" • "Quiet Read!" • "Clap Hands!" • "Painting!" • "Macaroni Jewelry!" • "Paint Shapes!" • "Pinch Pot!" • "Drawing Game!" • "Neighborhood Art!" • "Toothpaste!" • "Wet and Dry!" • "Bubble Bath!" • "Feelings!" • "Cake!" • "Flush!" • "On & Off!" • "Prince Oobi!" • "Bubbles!" • "Tea!" • "Ice Cream!" • "Water Games!" • "Guess!" • "Bird!" • "Cat!" • "Puppy!" • "Animal Cookies!" • "Itsy Bitsy Spider!" • "Toys!"
Season 2 "Camp Out!" • "Uma Swing!" • "Uma Bathroom!" • "Dance Class!" • "Kako's Puppy!" • "Uma's Birthday!" • "Asparagus!" • "Haircut!" • "Grampu Day!" • "Make Pizza!" • "Showtime!" • "Oobi's Car!" • "Garden Day!" • "Piano Lesson!" • "Uma Chicken!" • "Sleepover!" • "Play Ball!" • "Build Fort!" • "Petting Zoo!" • "New Friend!" • "Uma Sick" • "Playdate!" • "Make Art!" • "Rainy Day!" • "Pretend Circus!" • "Make Music!"
Season 3 "Video!" • "Grown-Up!" • "Shopping!" • "Uma Dreams!" • "Chopsticks!" • "Clean Up!" • "Kako Dinner!" • "Sign Language!" • "Halloween!" • "Checkup!" • "Uma Trip!" • "Frieda Friend!" • "Neighborhood!" • "Uma Preschool!" • "Theater!" • "Baby!" • "Chez Oobi!" • "Valentine!" • "Parade!" • "Babysitter!" • "Recital!" • "Dinosaur!" • "Nature Walk!" • "Sing!" • "Fishing!" • "Superheroes!"
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