Mike Teavee
Mike Teavee (alternately as Mike Teevee or Mike T.V.) is a character in the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its subsequent films. He is, as his last name implies, an avid television fan and, in the 2005 movie adaptation of the book, a video game fan as well. Mike's parents felt that television was a fine choice for raising a child. They can always keep track of him and lay his food right by the TV. He is portrayed by and Paris Themmen and Jordan Fry in the two film adaptations.
Like the three children that precede him, Mike symbolizes one of the Seven Deadly Sins: wrath and maybe sloth.
Mike in the book
In the novel, first published in 1964, Mike was particularly obsessed with violent gangster films. He wore "no less than eighteen toy pistols of various sizes hanging from belts around his body". He liked to act out gangster shootings and "pumping [them] full of lead". In the book he is 9 years old.
Mike in the 1971 film
He was depicted by Paris Themmen in the 1971 film adaption as dressing in a cowboy outfit and emulating the stars of his favorite western TV show. In the 1971 film, Mike is not quite 12 years old.
In this film, Mike is portrayed as more greedy than in the book (he asks if Slugworth will pay extra to know about the Wonka mobile).
Mike in the 2005 film
In the 2005 movie adaptation, Mike (Jordan Fry) dresses like a modern American kid. He's actually quite a bright boy despite him watching too much TV, but he's the first one to tell you and considers everyone else beneath him, especially Willy Wonka. An overdose of video games has also given him a very short fuse. Mike claims to have found his Golden Ticket by analyzing the other ticket finds and calculating where the next ticket would be, thus needing to purchase only a single Wonka bar. In the 2005 film Mike is 12 years old.
Similarities with Mike
Despite all these differences, each version of Mike Teavee share similarities. In all versions he loves violence and pays little attention to what is going on around him when the TV is on. Ironically, in all versions he is also the most questioning and incredulous of some of the bizarre elements of Willy Wonka's factory (who always says he's mumbling). Also, he shows complete disinterest that he found the fourth Golden Ticket.
Mike's downfall
In the story and both films, he gets shrunken down by impulsively disobeying Mr. Wonka's request to stay away from the Television Chocolate camera. Television Chocoate was intended to send bars of chocolate to television sets around the world, providing free samples of Wonka's candy. After the bar is sent by the Television Chocolate camera, it can be taken and eaten from a television set, which amazed those still in the tour (Charlie and Mike). The Television Chocolate camera transmits Mike to a television set across the room, in the process reducing Mike to a size that will fit on the screen. When his parents say he won't be able to go back to school, or do anything in general, Mike says he'd still be able to watch TV. This causes Mr. Teavee to scream and say "I'm throwing away the TV once we get home! I'VE HAD IT with television!", and in turn causes Mike to throw a hissy fit. Fortunately, Wonka has him stretched in the taffy pulling/gum stretching machines,(it was gum in the book,taffy in the movie) but the Oompa-Loompas overdo it and accidentally make him a very thin giant. However, Wonka notes that at least he will likely be a star basketball player. The second part of the latter, however, was omitted from the 1971 movie but comically portrayed in the 2005 edition.
Mike Teavee Song
Plot
This song was the last Oompa-Loompa song. It took place in the Television Room, in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. It was sung by the Oompa-Loompas after Mike Teavee was sent by television. In the 2005 film Mike is sent because he wants to prove Wonka's an idiot.
What it Talks About
In the book, the Oompa Loompas sing about how TV is bad for children's brains, and how they should read books other then watching TV. In the 1971 film it says it makes children dumb, and ask "why don't you try simply reading a book?". In the 2005 film the Oompa Loompas mention how television is bad for childrens' brains, and it makes them dull and blind, as mentioned in the book.
Times sung
In the book it is sung right after Mike Teavee is sent for stretching. In the 1971 movie it is sung right after Mike Teavee is sent for stretching. In the 2005 film it starts to be sung the second Mike Teavee appears on the TV screen, and Mike gets hurt and thrown around.
The 2005 song is done as Mike finds himself jumping from one television program after another, as an Oompa Loompa is changing channels with a remote control. He alternates between an MTV style video of an 80's Hair Band, a Psycho style shower scene, two Oompa-Loompas playing Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, a news broadcast (WNN - the Wonka News Network), a cooking show, and a psychadelic 1960's Beatles concert, with all performers on all of the channels being Oompa Loompas. With its rock music theme, the song borrows styles from KISS, Queen, and The Beatles.
Portion of lyrics
Book
The most important thing, we've learned,
As far as children are concerned,
Is never, never, NEVER let,
Them near your television set
Or better still just don't install,
The most idiotic thing at all.
1971 Film
What do you get from a glut of TV?
A pain in the neck and an IQ of three
Why don't you try simply reading a book?
Or could you just not bear to look
You'll get no!
You'll get no!
You'll get no!
You'll get no!
You'll get no commercials!
2005 Film
The most important thing
That we've ever learned
The most important thing we've learned
As far as children are concerned
Is never, never let them near
The television set
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
Never, never let them!
Never, never let them!
| Novels | |
|---|---|
| Films | |
| Theatre |
|
| Video games | |
| Music | |
| Candy | |
| Parodies |
|
| Miscellaneous | |
