Mike Teavee

Mike Teavee (occasionally spelled "Teevee" and "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.

Different versions of Mike

Perhaps because of technological and cultural changes over time, Mike has more variations in each version of the story than the other Golden Ticket Winners.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 full of lead". He was depicted in the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 1971 movie adaption as dressing in a cowboy outfit and emulating the stars of his favorite western TV show.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the 2005 movie adaptation Mike dresses like a modern teenager. 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, but except for his family. An overdose of video games has also given him a very short fuse.

Related Topics:
Teenager - Video game

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Both movies cast Mike as a boy, with a year age difference, as the 2005 Mike is 13 years old and the 1971 Mike is not quite 12 years old. However in the original novel he is described as being nine years old.

Related Topics:
2005 - 1971

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~