Bob Homme: The American-Born Friendly Giant Who Became a Canadian Icon
Canadian children enjoyed the presence of a friendly giant in their lives nearly a decade before the Maple Leaf flag was officially raised outside their schools. This iconic figure was none other than Bob Homme, the creator and star of the beloved television show The Friendly Giant, whose roots trace back to the very dawn of television and to Wisconsin, where he was born.
Early Beginnings and Broadcast Career
A lifelong enthusiast of music, Bob Homme embarked on his broadcast journey at a campus radio station in 1947. According to the podcast Canadian History Ehx, Homme approached the station's management with a concept for the show a full six months before it even secured its television license. This early vision laid the groundwork for what would become a cornerstone of Canadian childhood entertainment.
The Rise of The Friendly Giant
The Friendly Giant made its debut on May 8, 1954, and later migrated north when a CBC executive discovered an episode in 1958. To say the rest is history would be a significant understatement. Homme, alongside Canadian actor and writer Rod Coneybeare, who voiced the characters Rusty the Rooster and Jerome the Giraffe, recorded more than 3,000 episodes with the CBC. Each 15-minute segment focused on a single topic, framed by consistent opening and closing themes and routines, as detailed in a Maclean's article reproduced by The Canadian Encyclopedia and etched into the collective memories of a nation.
Cultural Impact and Cancellation
The show was ultimately cancelled in 1985, but not without a powerful public outcry. The CBC was inundated with real, paper letters from devoted viewers, and Members of Parliament raised questions in the House of Commons. Progressive Conservative MP Barry Turner famously stated in the House, "The Canadian youth of tomorrow will be deprived of an unmistakable element of pure Canadian goodness," highlighting the show's deep cultural significance.
Legacy and Posthumous Controversies
Bob Homme, an unmistakable figure in both Canadian and American contexts, passed away in 2000. However, his legacy faced challenges years later when a skit at the 2007 Gemini Awards created a rift between the national broadcaster and his family. According to a 2010 National Post article, the unauthorized use of Jerome and Rusty prompted the Homme family to repossess props from the CBC Museum, including the puppets involved. The iconic castle background from the show reportedly remains with the state, symbolizing the enduring yet complex heritage of this television treasure.
