Movies - Mike Teavee

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	Movies - Mike Teavee

Mike Teavee (full name Michael Teavee; this is alternately spelled 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 believed they could always keep track of him and lay his food right by the TV. He is portrayed by Paris Themmen and Jordan Fry in the two film adaptations.

Like the three children that precede him, Mike symbolizes one or more of the Seven Deadly Sins: wrath and perhaps sloth.

Mike in the book

In the novel, first published in 1964, nine-year-old 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 full of lead".

He also became very angry if anyone stopped him from watching TV, his parents included. His mom and dad are very critical of their son for his excessive TV watching, and are trying their best to stop him from being so angry and hateful.

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 11 years old.

This film portrays Mike in a more greedy manner than the book (he asks if Slugworth will pay extra to know about the Wonka mobile). Despite this, he is called adorable by Willy Wonka beforehand. He also has a few friends back in Marble Falls, Arizona named Billy, Maggie and "Fishface".

Mike in the 2005 film

In the 2005 movie adaptation, Mike (Jordan Fry) dresses like a modern American kid. He is actually quite a bright boy despite his excessive TV time, but unfortunately he is quick to state this. He also considers everyone else beneath him, especially Willy Wonka. An overdose of video games has given him a very short fuse. Mike 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 and lives in Denver, Colorado. In a similar fashion to the book, Mike's parents are trying to stop him from being so angry. He also seems to not have many friends in this version.

Similarities with Mike

In every version, Mike 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 once he finds the fourth Golden Ticket.

Mike's downfall

In the story and both films, he is shrunk by impulsively disobeying Mr. Wonka's request to stay away from the Television Chocolate camera. Television Chocolate was intended to send bars of chocolate to television sets around the world, providing free samples of Wonka's candy. After the bar is teleported by the Television Chocolate camera, it can be taken and eaten from a television set, which amazed the children 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 television 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 every basketball team in the country would be looking for him. This was comically portrayed in the 2005 edition, but omitted from the 1971 movie. Also, in both movies, the line about throwing away the TV is omitted.

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.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Mike Teavee ]

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