Nickelodeon

By “it” I mean the whole situation. I don’t know why folks are getting upset about a toy. But beyond that I don’t know why Dora is growing up in the first place. the creators say they are just keeping up with the times. Um yeah. Because Dora has been around so long? It’s not like we’re talking about a 25 year old show here.

The creators also say:

“Girls really identify with Dora and we knew that girls would love to have their friend Dora grow up with them, and experience the new things that they were going through themselves.

“The brand captures girls’ existing love of Dora and marries it with the fashion doll play and online experiences older girls enjoy.”

I don’t see this. Dora is a preschool icon. Kids want to be older than they are, they don’t want to go backwards. They move on from one phase to the next. I don’t know how many would want to grow up with Dora. And even if they did, I think they’d be hesitant to mention it much less dive into the merchandise.

Dora Saves Three Kings Day

Dora the Explorer has a new prime time special, Dora Saves Three Kings Day. This is another Dora cross-over episode where she teams up with Diego. The episode will teach preschoolers about Three Kings Day, also known as El Dia de los Reyes Magos, which celebrates the coming of the three Magi to offer gifts to the newly born king.

In the episode, Dora, Diego and Boots are at cousin Diego’s rescue center dressed up as kings for the Three Kings Day party at Dora’s house. They’ll ride on a horse, camel and an elephant to carry the presents, treats and special Three Kings cake to the party. The trio is ready to go when Swiper accidentally scares the animals away. There can’t be a Three Kings Day party without the animals and treats! They set out on an adventure to find the elephant at the five golden rings, the camel in the hot desert and the horse who is on his way to Dora’s house. Along the way they meet Dora’s friend Najim from Egypt and Nelly from Mexico, who help find the runaway animals.

Dora Saves Three Kings Day will premiere January 6th at 8:00 p.m. on Nickelodeon. Starting today, clips and sneak previews are available on NickJr.com.

Toot and Puddle Christmas Special - cr Nick Jr.

Noggin’s holiday slate consists of Warm and Fuzzy Marathons. They are airing a number of Christmas specials on Sundays through Christmas, and airing specially themed episodes for New Year’s as well. Toot and Puddle and Pinky Dinky Doo are the centerpiece shows. The complete slate of specials and premieres is below.

SUNDAY 12/14

10:00AM – Dora the Explorer “Dora Saves the Snow Princess” (1 hour)

12:00PM – Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends “Bug Talk/Befuddled Butterfly” (PREMIERE)

Dragon finds out that learning a new language is like a secret password into another world.

When Shimmer’s friend, Cookie, loses her butterfly instincts, Miss Spider and her bug clan must help her regain them before winter arrives in Sunny Patch.

4:30PM – Yo Gabba Gabba! “Christmas”

5:00PM – Toot & Puddle “Door Drawers and Floors/Abominable Toot” (PREMIERE)

Toot & Puddle’s house is becoming overrun with all of Toot’s travel souvenirs so they end up donating many of their treasures to the local museum for all to enjoy.

Climbing the mountains in Tibet with Puddle, Toot is so anxious to move ahead that he forgets to take the time to stop and enjoy where they are.

7:00PM – Toot & Puddle “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1 hour special)

SUNDAY 12/21

10:00AM – Toot & Puddle: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1 hour special)

4:30PM – Ni Hao, Kai-lan “Snowiest Ride”

5:30PM – Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! “A Great and Grumpy Holiday/The Super-Special Gift”

7:00PM – The Wonder Pets! “Save the Nutcracker” (30 min. special)

WEDNESDAY 12/24 (Christmas Eve)

8:00AM – Franklin’s Magic Christmas (90 Min. Special)

6:00PM – Dora the Explorer “Dora Saves the Snow Princess” (1 hour)

9:00PM – Toot & Puddle: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1 hour special)

THURSDAY 12/25 (Christmas Day)

7:00AM – Toot & Puddle: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1 hour special)

10:00AM & 10:00PM– Franklin’s Magic Christmas (90 Min. Special)

SUNDAY 12/28 RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH NOGGIN!

3:00PM – Pinky Dinky Doo! “Great Big New Year/Pinky Dinky Doo Year” (PREMIERE)

Tyler is curious why Jackson’s family doesn’t put up baby decorations for the New Year like the Dinky Doos because thought that was a TRADITION for every family. Pinky tells a story about when the Toilette family and the alien family come to visit Monkey Island for the New Year holiday. Big Sister Monkey can’t wait for her family’s New Year TRADITION: Baby Monkey dresses like a New Year’s Baby and hands out banana smoothies. But Daffinee can’t wait for her family TRADITION: to play “Happy New Year Clock Toss.” Bleepy Bloopy can’t wait for the his family TRADITION: an alien lightshow. They all want to do their TRADITION tonight and can’t decide which one they should do. Big Sister Monkey THINKS BIG and, when she sees everyone sharing the different food they brought, realizes they can share their New Year’s TRADITIONs too! So they do all three and it’s so much fun that it becomes a new New Year’s holiday TRADITION. Tyler asks why they hang baby stuff on New Year’s Eve and Pinky explains that Daddy was born on New Year’s Eve so it became a family TRADITION.

It is almost time for the New Year which means it’s time for a new calendar and a new storypad. But Tyler doesn’t want a new storypad or a new year because he isn’t MOTIVATED to try new things. So Pinky tells a story where she takes Tyler and Mr Guinea Pig on a walk through Made-Up Storyland on the last day of the Great Big Year. As they walk through the Garden of Last Year’s Stories they run into some of their old friends and remember the good times they had. They see Burpzilla, P. Piddy Pony, and Vicki Chicken, all of whom they invite along on their walk. But as they continue on their journey they come to the end of the path – a wall blocks the way to more characters and more new stories. It is time for Pinky to THINK BIG. Pinky takes up a piece of chalk and draws an entryway in the wall. On the other side there is more sidewalk and many more adventures to be had for Pinky and her friends. Tyler realizes that you can make up new stories while also keeping old favorites. He is now MOTIVATED to hear lots of new stories in the New Year. Pinky, Tyler, and their friends celebrate with a Happy Doo Year celebration.

Encores:

Wed. 12/31: New Years Eve @ Midnight!

Thurs. 1/1/09: New Years Day @ 3:00PM

5:00PM – Toot & Puddle “Year of the Pig/Robinson Toot” (PREMIERE)

It’s New Years in Woodcock Pocket and the gang is celebrating. All are happy and excited except for Dr. Ha Song, who is now a bit homesick missing his family in China. Toot sees this, so he devises a plan for everyone to surprise Dr. Ha Song with his very own Chinese New Years Party. Kung Hei Fat Choy! Toot and Puddle craft a dancing dragon costume, while Otto puts together some paper lanterns. With the help of a few additional townspeople, the team is able to surprise Dr. Ha Song, and have another great party!

Tired of Woodcock Pocket’s snowy weather, Toot travels off to the islands of Palau where he meets a crab. Together they have a carefree life of volleyball, snorkeling, and snoozing in a grass hut, on a secluded little island, until Toot has to return to Woodcock Pocket.

The month features the premiere of a new episode of Wow Wow Wubbzy titled A Great and Grumpy Holiday/The Super-Special Gift. In the episode Wubbzy and his friends go up to Mt. Zubba Bubba to get a Christmas tree for Wuzzleburg Square and are chased off the property by Old Man Grumpus.  Wubbzy sets out to soften Grumpus’ heart by decorating the perfect tree to surprise him. Grumpus is still as mad as a hornet until he sees Wubbzy’s present: his very own small-scale train.  The humbugger is so delighted that he brings the decorated tree down to Wuzzleburg for the big Christmas celebration.

The complete schedule follows:

December 5th

9:00 a.m. The Backyardigans “The Yeti”

9:30 a.m. Go, Diego, Go! “Diego the Hero”

10:00 a.m. The Wonder Pets! “Save the Penguin”

10:30 a.m. Dora the Explorer “South Pole”

11:00 a.m. Ni Hao, Kai-lan “The Snowiest Ride”

11:30 a.m. Max & Ruby “Max’s Mix Up/Max’s Snow Bunny/Max’s Snow Day”

12:00 pm. Dora the Explorer “Dora Saves the Snow Princess”

1:00 p.m. The Backyardigans “The Yeti”

1:30 p.m. Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! “A Great and Grumpy Holiday/The Super-Special Gift” (premiere)

December 12th

9:00 a.m. The Backyardigans “Secret of Snow”

9:30 a.m. Go, Diego, Diego! “Diego Saves Christmas

10:00 a.m. The Wonder Pets! “Save the Nutcracker”

10:30 a.m. Dora the Explorer “A Present for Santa”

11:00 a.m. Max & Ruby “Max & Ruby’s Christmas Tree/Grandma’s Present/Max & Ruby’s Snow Plow”

11:30 a.m. Yo Gabba Gabba “Christmas”

12:00 p.m. Dora the Explorer “South Pole”

12:30 p.m. Go, Diego, Diego! “Diego Saves Christmas”

1:00 p.m. The Backyardigans “Secret of Snow”

1:30 p.m. Wow Wow Wubbzy! “O Figgity-Fig Tree/Snow Day”

December 19th

9:00 a.m. The Backyardigans “The Snow Fort”

9:30 a.m. Go, Diego, Go! “Macky the Macaroni Penguin”

10:00 a.m. The Wonder Pets! “Save the Reindeer”

10:30 a.m. Dora the Explorer “South Pole”

11:00 a.m. Ni Hao, Kai-lan “The Snowiest Ride”

11:30 a.m. Yo Gabba Gabba “Christmas”

12:00 p.m. Dora the Explorer “A Present for Santa”

12:30 p.m. Go, Diego, Go! “Macky the Macaroni Penguin”

1:00 p.m. The Backyardigans “The Snow Fort”

1:30 p.m. Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! “A Great and Grumpy Holiday/The Super-Special Gift”

To kickoff the move Noggin has some new programming planned for New Year’s Eve including a 90 minute Franklin movie.

• 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure” (*TV Premiere)
• 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. (ET) “Dora Saves the Mermaids”
• 8:30 – 9:00 p.m. (ET) “Save the Wonder Pets!”
• 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. (ET) “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure”
• 10:30 – 11:00 P.M. (ET) “Great Jaguar Rescue”

In “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure,” Franklin is on a holiday break from school when he receives a surprise visit from his Aunt Lucy, an explorer whose specialty is finding archaeological treasures. This family reunion gives Franklin’s Granny the chance to relive her own childhood. When she mentions a box filled with treasures that she buried at Turtle Lake as a child, Franklin is intrigued. When Granny falls ill and Aunt Lucy remembers a talisman that was hidden in the famous box, a treasure hunt becomes extremely important. Franklin decides immediately to hunt for this remedy which could save his grandmother. His friends Beaver and Bear accompany him, with Aunt Lucy and her goddaughter Samantha, a headstrong little turtle with whom Franklin has a hard time contending with. It’s a difficult journey, but Franklin is ready to do anything to help Granny and it also gives him the chance to make new friends.

NICK JR: “Haunted Halloween” Marathon

• 9:00 a.m. The Backyardigans “Monster Detective”
• 9:30 a.m. Dora the Explorer “Boo”
• 10:00 a.m. Dora the Explorer “Dora Saves the Prince”
• 10:30 a.m. The Wonder Pets! “Save the Black Kitten/Yak, Pig, Dancing Bear
• 11:00 a.m. Blue’s Clues “Blue’s Big Costume Party”
• 11:30 a.m. Yo Gabba Gabba! “Halloween”
• 12:00 p.m. Dora the Explorer “BOO!”
• 12:30 p.m. The Wonder Pets! “Save the Black Kitten/Yak, Pig, Dancing Bear”
• 1:00 p.m. The Backyardigans “Scared of You”
• 1:30 p.m. Max & Ruby ”Max’s Jack-o-Lantern/Max & Ruby’s Perfect Pumpkin/Max’s Big Boo”