The Teletubbies are back (and more terrifying than ever)

The Teletubbies are back (and more terrifying than ever)
(Image credit: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

A hapless TV executive sits in his darkened office, head in hands. "We've done it all," he mutters. "Transformers. G.I. Joe. Jem and the Holograms. Hell, there's a Boy Meets World sequel coming out soon. Is there any piece of children's entertainment that we haven't revived and strip-mined for whatever money might be left in it?"

He opens the blinds, and the sun shines in, reminding him of the terrifying, disembodied head of a cooing baby. "That's it!" he cries. "Teletubbies! We haven't rebooted that for a darker, grittier generation yet!"

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But don't worry, toddlers: These aren't your slightly older sister's Teletubbies. The new episodes will be "enhanced by CGI" as part of a push to give the series a more "contemporary look" — so presumably Tinky Winky will carry a Whole Foods bag instead of a purse, or whatever.

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Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.