It's approaching 20 years since I last saw this series, but it still resides quite clearly within my mind.
I should point out that I have only seen the poorly (and I mean really poorly) dubbed English version of this German children's programme, but if you can ignore the poorly cast vocals then you will find what I still think is one of the more interesting kids series produced.
In essence it's a story of a boy who 'swaps' his laugh for the ability to win any bet that he makes. The deal is done with a strange chap called the Baron who then has to ensure that all the bets the kid makes come true.
Most memorable for me is one of the first bets, where the kid bets that it will rain oranges; and low and behold a massive crate of oranges topples over (possibly on the top of a crane?) and thus it does indeed rain oranges!! I'm sure it has dated dreadfully (it wasn't exactly fresh when I first saw it as a child), but I still feel that it is an interesting premise for a kids programme and was handled in a reasonably sophisticated manner. Hopefully it's still being shown in some East-European country; I suspect it was one of those shows funded by a number of European TV producers and then dubbed into about 30 languages.
If you get the opportunity to watch it then I'd advise that you do, even if it is just to laugh at me treating a piece of televisual garbage with such reverence!!
I should point out that I have only seen the poorly (and I mean really poorly) dubbed English version of this German children's programme, but if you can ignore the poorly cast vocals then you will find what I still think is one of the more interesting kids series produced.
In essence it's a story of a boy who 'swaps' his laugh for the ability to win any bet that he makes. The deal is done with a strange chap called the Baron who then has to ensure that all the bets the kid makes come true.
Most memorable for me is one of the first bets, where the kid bets that it will rain oranges; and low and behold a massive crate of oranges topples over (possibly on the top of a crane?) and thus it does indeed rain oranges!! I'm sure it has dated dreadfully (it wasn't exactly fresh when I first saw it as a child), but I still feel that it is an interesting premise for a kids programme and was handled in a reasonably sophisticated manner. Hopefully it's still being shown in some East-European country; I suspect it was one of those shows funded by a number of European TV producers and then dubbed into about 30 languages.
If you get the opportunity to watch it then I'd advise that you do, even if it is just to laugh at me treating a piece of televisual garbage with such reverence!!