Film & TV2 min(s) read
Published 18:05 05 Jan 2021 GMT
A bizarre Danish children's television show about a man with the world's longest penis has divided viewers on social media.
The stop-motion claymation show premiered on the Danish public-service channel DR Ramasjang on Saturday, January 2, and is aimed at kids between the ages of four to eight.
Take a look at the intro for the series in the video below:
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According to Entertainment.ie, John Dillermand (which roughly translates as 'John Pee Pee') is a light-hearted show about a mustachioed man who boasts the world's largest member.
But Dillermand's organ isn't just for show. According to clips and images which have surfaced on Twitter this week, the title character's penis is more like a prehensile third limb.
Indeed, in certain sequences, Dillermand can be seen using his genitals to steal ice cream from a child, bounce up and down, and even tie up a string of colorful balloons.
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the offbeat show has provoked intense debate in its home country and abroad about the suitability of the subject matter for children.
Some critics branded it inappropriate and profane. For instance, one person commented on the channel's Facebook page: "I'm deeply outraged and think it's SO perverted and inappropriate TV for young children. I can't believe my hard-earned tax dollars going to s*** like this!!!"
Another viewer wrote: "My money shouldn't go to sponsor all your now pornographic material on all dr channels!! ... What the hell is this to send in the best time on a kids channel!! Yikes, you should be ashamed!! [sic]"
However, others have defended the merits of the program. For example, one Facebook user wrote: "Full support for John Dillermand from here! The series is entertaining for both children and adults."
Discussing the show's value, child and family psychologist Erla Heinesen Højsted told DR.dk:
"We must not fear being violated, we must instead fear lack of quality. And Danish children's TV has a very high quality.
"It should also be able to make us discuss, but there is no reason to be alarmed about what we show our children here in Denmark."
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Højsted added: "When you are a child, you do not have much control over yourself, you do things and make many mistakes. So does John Dillermand.
"Instead of hiding his mistakes, he always strives to make amends, and that is an incredibly important thing for a child to get involved with."
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Meanwhile, associate professor and child researcher Erik Sigsgaard told DR.dk: "One of the worst things that can happen to a child is that it is inhibited in expressing its natural childishness.
"Proper children's television can counteract this, and Danish children's television has done so for the past 50 years."
Per RTL Today, the head of DR Ramasjang Morten Skov Hansen has since issued a statement saying that John Dillermand will continue to be aired as planned.
