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Childrens Media Consultant has the skinny on a number of series that have been greenlighted (greenlit?) on the kiddie networks.
If you’re a
Nickelodeon is set to debut the first primetime The Backyardigans movie: Super Secret Super Spy. It’s a James Bond-ian hour long special where Pablo plays the role of an international spy. Using a host of gadgets and a car that doubles as a boat, snow mobile, and a several other vehicles, he is off to thwart Uniqua aka, the Lady in Pink.
It really is a pretty cute movie as Tasha plays the role of Miss T who directs Pablo to prevent the Lady in Pink from getting 3 containers that would allow her to carry out her diabolical plan. In the process viewers travel to Miami, London, Switzerland, and the Caribbean trying to track down the containers.
As in all Backyardigans shows, a sound track rolls throughout the episode. This one has a jazz line that runs throughout and Cyndi Lauper performs theme song.
The show will air from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, September 17th on Nick Jr. The following day on September 18th, the DVD will be available which will also feature 2 other episodes of The Backyardigans and a Cyndi Lauper featurette.
PBS Kids will air a new show in fall 2008 called What’s the Big Idea?. The show’s educational goal is science readiness and it will be produced by The Jim Henson Company.
In a sketch-comedy format, What’s the Big Idea? focuses on an inquisitive youngster named Josh who explores everyday questions that preschoolers find fascinating. The 40×30-minute series will be created using the Henson Digital Performance Studio, which is a proprietary technology that allows puppeteers to perform digital characters in real time to create a more spontaneous result.
Starting September 10th, Noggin will begin airing Bill Cosby’s Little Bill. It will air at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and a 1:30 p.m. on weekends.
Angela Santomero and Samantha Freeman are the creators of Super WHY. The duo worked together on Blue’s Clues and wanted to take that show’s emphasis on educational research and do the same thing with Super WHY!. The two learned from Rosemarie Truglio, the VP of education and research for Sesame Street.
“This show is designed to be education, whereas some shows use research more for appeal,” explains Freeman. “Appeal is also part of our goal; but it’s there to help them learn.”
PBS Kids has premiered a new show where kid superheroes inspire preschoolers to embrace literacy and a love of books.
The kids on the show are inspired from famous fairy tales and include:
As soon as a problem arises, Whyatt calls his friends to the Book Club, where they transform into reading-powered superheroes: Alpha Pig with Alphabet Power, Wonder Red with Word Power, Princess Presto with Spelling Power, Super Why with the Power to Read and Super YOU with the Power to Help. Together, they are the “Super Readers,†jumping into books (literally) to find answers to everyday preschool challenges.
In the premiere episode Jill keeps knocking down Pig’s tower and he wants her to stop! The Super Readers fly into the Three Little Pigs story and come face to face with the big bad wolf himself. Along the way viewers learn about friendship, opposite words, and words ending with ALL (small, tall, etc.). Both my 4 year old and 6 year old enjoyed it, and especially my younger daughter who is looking to be able to read like her big brother can.
The story moves along at a nice pace, and the characters are likable. Plus kids probably will learn key elements of reading, without feeling like they’re learning something.
PBS Kids has made a huge commitment to this show, with an initial agreement for 65 episodes. The first season which debuted on September 3rd appears to have 20 episodes.
For more see Children’s Media Consultant’s review of the bevy of literacy focused TV shows debuting this fall.
Well in time for Halloween (and doesn’t the Halloween season start just as soon as back to school stuff ends, like in mid-August?) Playhouse Disney has release Mickey’s Treat - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
In this adventure, Mickey and his pals journey to the Trick-or-Treat Tower for Pete’s big Halloween Party. Many surprises await and The Sensational Six need a couple of tricks to reach the tower in time for the festivities. Also, episodes “Goofy the Great†and “Doctor Daisy, MD†capture the magical spirit of Halloween while showcasing how cooperation and teamwork go a long way in getting out of any sticky situation.
PLUS, a bonus Halloween episode with the cast of another Playhouse Disney favorite, Little Einsteins. In “A Little Einsteins Halloween,†Leo, June, Quincy, Annie and Rocket plan a night of trick-or-treating at a European castle and are joined by some spooky visitors. In true Little Einstein spirit, this Halloween adventure illustrates simple examples of teamwork, friendship and compassion, stimulating curiosity and learning along the way.
To create Disney fun in your own home and get the Halloween party started, the DVD also includes a party planning guide and special Halloween recipes from Mickey and his pals.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’s Halloween DVD joins a list of other DVDs already available from preschool television favorites including:
Nickelodeon has announced that the teen network The N! and the preschool channel Noggin will split up. They had been sharing the same channel, and flipping from the little kids to older kids at 6pm.
As a parent who has Noggin on while I’m getting dinner ready, I like this move. Sometimes it would switch over at 6pm and I’d look up to see stuff that really a preschooler doesn’t need to be seeing.
It will mean competition for Sprout’s The Goodnight Show as there will be another preschool alternative in the evenings.
A Coming of Age at Nickelodeon: Noggin and the N Will Get Their Own Channels - New York Times
On Monday August 20th Nickelodeon will debut their newest preschool show, Yo Gabba Gabba with a simulcast on Nick Jr. and Noggin at 10:30am.
The show is a different style than the typical Noggin/Nick Jr. fare in that instead of the shows being “stories” each episode is a series of short yet related segments. The premise is that DJ Lance Rock has a robot and 4 monsters that he brings to life. The show uses several modern music themes to convey messages about trying new foods and brushing your teeth.
The press release states, “This fresh, inventive music series will captivate preschoolers and caregivers with a hip, diverse slate of original music and infectious lyrics.” After seeing the premiere episode, Eat, I certainly would agree with the infectious part. My kids have been singing “Try it you’ll like it” ever since.
Still, I just don’t get the appeal of the show. The monsters and robots aren’t particularly engaging or endearing characters. I didn’t find the music, at least in the premiere episode, to be very interesting. The kids were entertained, but as a parent I found it to be annoying.
The show does have a number of guest stars slated for this season including: Elijah Wood in the premiere episode (“Eatâ€), Mya, The Shins, Sugarland, Rahzel, Tony Hawk, Laila Ali, Sean Kingston, Nikki Flores, Hector Jimenez, Smoosh, The Aquabats, The Aggrolites and Cornelius.
The show is jointly produced by creators The Magic Store and Wild Brain who brought us Higglytown Heroes. The Magic Store was founded in 2005 by “Gen X†dads Christian Jacobs, Justin Lyon and Scott Schultz. The studio’s first project, Yo Gabba Gabba!, was produced independently in two half-hour episodes. After creating an online viral frenzy with the trailer, the show ultimately found a home on Nick Jr.
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