We Need To Talk About How Cursed Bop From ‘In The Box’ Was
There’s no denying Aussie kids’ TV shows were really bonkers.
Watching back on shows we grew up with as an adult can raise a lot of questions. Are the hosts really OK? Do the kids participating have free will? Did the storylines ever really teach us anything or did they just traumatise us?
Unfortunately, I was recently reminded of the existence of Bop, perhaps the most cursed children’s character of all time.
For those who are unaware, Bop was an integral and terrifying part of Channel 10’s kids’ TV show In The Box which aired from 1998 to 2006.
Here’s a little refresher of what Bop was all about:
Yeah, I know. I’m not crying either, I just have water leaking continuously out of my eyes and I haven’t slept in days since finding this.
Now because I am a sucker for punishment, I went down a road not often taken. I sat back and watched a good 30 or so minutes of In The Box to try and figure out WTF Bop was all about. Did I learn anything? Absolutely not. Have I left 47 voicemails for my therapist? Yes.
Here’s why Bop from In The Box was the creepiest motherf*cker out.
1. He had a terrifying voice and made way too many groaning and moaning noises for a kids’ TV show.
brb going to go stab my eyes out pic.twitter.com/Hey2oekBQW
— Tahlia Pritchard (@Tahls) August 26, 2019
Please watch the above and tell me it won’t give you absolute nightmares.
2. All the kids left in his care looked like they were being held hostage.
no one on this show was ok, that kid has seen shit he still can’t talk about today pic.twitter.com/enK20R6LVx
— Tahlia Pritchard (@Tahls) August 26, 2019
Case in point: look at the sheer terror in this little girl’s eyes when Bop asks what she needs to remember when they go bike riding.
After she answers “helmet” he says “Aaaaand?” before moving CLOSER TO HER while she tries to think of another answer.
He then asks if he can come over one day to help her ride her bike.
She’s every adult woman stuck at the pub with a creepy dude hitting on her and no way to escape.
3. Even the hosts couldn’t deal with his loud breathing and moaning as he caused general chaos.
Good sir, WHAT are you doing?
Look at old mate in the green shirt, he’s about to crumble.
4. It was virtually impossible to sit through an episode without wanting to punch him and/or call in an exorcist.
Like this episode where he just constantly blows his whistle THE WHOLE TIME.
THE. WHOLE. GODDAMN. TIME.
BECAUSE “IT SOUNDS GOOD”.
I’m not religious but I’ve now said five prayers begging God to permanently erase this from my memory.
5. And the show had the worst, guaranteed-to-get-stuck-in-your-head closing song of all time. Especially when Bop’s dulcet tones got involved.
I simply refuse to put a smile on my dial and I will NOT see you in a little while.
I think it’s safe to say we’re all grateful Bop eventually got back in his box and stayed there.