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• Nick Jr. show makes the childless want to conceive

  Jezebel has a video clip from Nick Jr.'s Yo Gabba Gabba. In it, the not-terribly-bright host of a dance party is upset because no one is dancing. Super Robot Martian Girl shows up and tells the dimwit that no one is dancing because...there is no music. (Really.) So she saves the day at a dance party by beaming in a band, 'Josie and the Pussycats' style, who play a song called "Martian Girl," which is apparently a cover version of "Nice & Wild's freestyle classic Diamond Girl." (I admit publicly that I have never heard the original song, and I also admit that I am not embarrassed to admit this.) As with so many blog entries, the best stuff is in the comments... Read More... Posted Apr 22 2008, 05:33 PM by Brett Singer with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: television, video, childless, yo gabba gabba, nickelodeon, jezebel, comics, comic books, Brett Singer, stoners, nick jr, super robot martian girl, dj lance, children's shows

• Dora: She's a Character

  I don’t know how it happened. One day, my darling daughter was happy with Seame Street, madly in love with Elmo. The next, seemingly as if by decree, she's spouting Spanish and rolling up every stray piece of paper and calling it Map. Yes, like every other two-year-old, the girl had discovered Dora. And I absolutely hate Dora. Nothing against her per se, I just hate cartoons (I know, I am going to have to turn in my GenX membership card, especially since I also loathe, wait for it, the Brady Bunch). But I am hating her a little less now after reading this, part of NPR's fascinating "In Character" series that looks at iconic, albeit fictional, people. A ton of research went into creating Dora. She could have been ... Read More... Posted Apr 14 2008, 04:33 PM by AmyinMotown with | with no comments Filed under: television, nickelodeon, Dora, NPR

• PBS Kids Launches Pay Service

  PBS has figured out one way to combat their shrinking government funding. The New York Times reports that PBS is launching a new service called PBS KIDS PLAY! (all in caps, with the exclamation point, as in "What is PBS KIDS PLAY!"), that will offer various learning games, and also video clips of shows such as "Mister Rogers Neighborhood" and "Curious George." The cost will be $10/month or $79/year. The extremely friendly FAQ page...   Read More... Posted Mar 14 2008, 11:00 AM by Brett Singer with | with no comments Filed under: preschool, education, disney, websites, PBS, nickelodeon, mynoggin, preschooltime, learning services, nogging, pbskidsplay

• Blank Screen: Kids TV Network Says "Get Out!"

  I’m going to try to not be too cynical about a TV channel's attempt to promote kids’ health. I’ve got to believe the intentions are good and that station officials really do want kids to stop watching (for a bit) and get up off the couch and go play. Or it’s a publicity stunt. In any case, here goes:         Read More... Posted Sep 28 2007, 05:37 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: television, fitness, nickelodeon, F.B.I., kids health, television watching, kids activities

• Nickelodeon Tells Kids to Turn Off the TV

  I am SO glad that Nickelodeon has my kids' best interests at heart. After all, who would know more about kids than a kid's TV station? But get this: now Nickelodeon is telling kids to TURN OFF the TV! How can that be? I thought, like, their business was TV; why would they want us to turn it off? Read More... Posted Sep 11 2007, 07:35 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: television, nickelodeon, Sponge Bob, noggin, kids and TV, Nicktoons

• Spiffy News About Jack's Big Music Show

  Fans of Jack's Big Music Show, your wishes have finally been answered: Viacom will release a compilation DVD, Let's Rock!, on October 23, 2007. The DVD will contain four episodes: the premiere episode "Little Bad Wolf," "Groundhog Day," which starred Jon Stewart and featured a music video by a bald Steve from Blue's Clues and The Flaming Lips' Steve Drozd, "How Mel Got His Groove Back," and "Jack And The Bean Stalk," a never-before-seen episode. While I'm pleased they're finally releasing a DVD from the show, I'm still somewhat disappointed...    Read More... Posted Aug 31 2007, 01:10 PM by ChagHolland with | with 10 comment(s) Filed under: Nick Jr., nickelodeon, jack's big music show, noggin

• Super Secret Super Spy Sounds Super Fly

  Fans of Pablo, Uniqua, Tasha, Tyrone, and Austin, get ready to set your DVRs. An hour-long The Backyardigans movie, Super Secret Super Spy, will premiere on Nickelodeon on Monday, September 17 at 7:00 PM. The DVD will hit stores the next day. Set to a jazz soundtrack, the movie will send the five friends to London, Miami, Switzerland, and the Caribbean. In the upcoming weeks, Nick Jr.'s website will feature activities, crafts, and online games inspired by the movie. But the coolest thing about the movie is... Read More... Posted Aug 24 2007, 01:22 PM by ChagHolland with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: children's television, Nick Jr., nickelodeon, backyardigans

• Things Fall Apart: Huge Mattel Recall!

  A massive recall has been initiated by toy company Mattel this week, and there's an excellent chance that one of the affected toys is in your home if you have a toddler pining for Elmo or Dora. Almost a million toys were affected (One! Million! Toys!), although 2/3 of those were stopped at the retail level from reaching consumers when Mattel contacted toy sellers like Wal-Mart and Toys 'R Us to halt sales of the lead-covered toys. These aren't the cheap little dollar-store toys we usually talk about that have been recalled; nope, these are highly visible, could-be-in-your-home toys. Read More... Posted Aug 02 2007, 09:07 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 11 comment(s) Filed under: elmo, safety, nickelodeon, mattel, recalls, dora the explorer, things fall apart, sesame workshop, toy recall

• Dora and Spongebob Shill for...Edamame?

  When my husband has a business dinner or an evening out with friends, I feed the girls macaroni and cheese and put them to bed early. When I have a night out, he packs them up and takes them out for sushi. I don't really get how this is fun for him, but whatever. Going out for sushi with my kids involves the 4.5 year old shelling edamame as fast as her 3-year-old sister can eat them, which is really freaking fast. The older child hasn't allowed a soybean to pass her lips in at least three years, but she's a pod-popping machine. Would she be swayed to the soy side if she got her hands on a package of edamame with Nickelodeon characters emblazoned upon it? Probably not. I don't think she'd eat one if Cinderella herself appeared in a pumpkin coach and begged her to try it. And the little one doesn't need tricks like this to enjoy her soy. But hey, if you hear that someone's making Wonderpets mixed green salad in a bag, would you let me know? That could be useful. Posted Jul 13 2007, 11:43 AM by Patti with | with no comments Filed under: healthy eating, nickelodeon, vegetables, snack food, cartoon characters

• Yo Gabba Gabba! Finds a Home, er, "Crib" on Nick Jr.

  Nick Jr. has announced it has picked up a new original half-hour preschool series, Yo Gabba Gabba!  The 20-episode live-action magazine-style series will use music and song to highlight simple life lessons and universal experiences in the lives of preschoolers. The series (which already has a cult following) is scheduled to premiere on Nick Jr. in Fall 2007. Yo Gabba Gabba! "puts the funk in preschool" and stars Host DJ Lance Rock who brings to life five friendly toy characters in a colorful land full of song and dance.  The magazine-style format of the series is infused with a retro style and beat driven music.  Yo Gabba Gabba! will feature animated segments, real kids and special guests, in addition to a vibrant world of puppet characters who are all ready to sing, play, and dance along with your little hip-hoppers – as soon as they hear the magic words, "Yo Gabba Gabba!" Check it out, fo' sheezy, yo! Posted Jan 23 2007, 07:01 AM by Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) with | with no comments Filed under: preschool, children's television, Nick Jr., yo gabba gabba, nickelodeon