Strollerderby : Nick Jr.

Beyonce Shines on Wubb Idol

JeanneSager — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:01:00 GMT

Forget Sasha Fierce. Beyonce's got a new alter ego - and she's blonde-haired and blue cheeked.

The songstress is lending her voice to a new character on Noggin's Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and can we just say she shines in the role?

We've gotten a look at a sample cut from the show, set to air May 1 at 1 p.m. on Nick Jr. followed by a prime-time appearance Sunday, May 3, at 7 p.m. on Noggin. Heading up a three-part girl group (sound familiar?) Beyonce stars as "Shine," the lead singer for the Wubb Girlz as Wuzzleburg gets its sing on.

She'll debut the new "Sing a Song" on the show as part of Wubb Idol, the Wubbzy-ied version of American Idol.

Want a sneak peek? Call the kids over and click here (this will launch your Windows Media Player, don't be alarmed - that's what it supposed to do).

Jack Black Drops In on Yo Gabba Gabba

JeanneSager — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:05:00 GMT

You either love Yo Gabba Gabba or you detest the H&R Puff N Stuff out of it.

Kind of like Jack Black, the over the top, goofball star of . . . pretty much EVERYTHING these days.

When we at Babble heard the two were coming together, we just had to have a look. Want to know what happens when Jack Black runs out of gas and lands in Gabbaland?

First, if you're a Jack Black fan, you're going to love the show on April 3. And if you're not, you might still love it. A surprisingly subdued Jack - with some equally surprising blonde highlights (what's that all about Jack?) limps his unleaded motorbike into Gabbaland to find the inner workings of DJ Lance Rock's boombox deserted.

Creeped out, Jack hops around like only a chunky guy with total and complete self esteem (and I mean that in the very nicest of ways - I dig his confidence) can, singing about the possible dangers lurking. Basically, kids, he lets you know it's OK to be scared, but Toodee, Plex, Foofa and the whole gang don't let scared last for long. They're inviting Jack to parties (outside of the tummy) and exchanging dance moves (think Travolta and do the disco roll).

This one should shut down the doubting Thomases who think the show tries too hard to play funky and misses the kid friendly mark. You can't go wrong with singing, dancing and solving real kid problems. Throw in the guy who voiced Kung Fu Panda, and you've got them hooked. Since we all know YGG plays it to the adults too, here's a few things to watch out for - 30 Rock's Jack McBrayer and Human Giant's Paul Scheer tell the knock knock joke of the day (which I refuse to spoil for you).

Oh, and Jack Black in DJ Lance's orange jumpsuit? PRICELESS.

Get a look at clips of the show over at EW and tune in to Nick Jr. at 1:30 ET/PT on Friday, April 3 to catch the whole thing.

Review: My Wubbzy Little Valentine

JeanneSager — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:24:00 GMT

The hottest game on NickJr.com might wow you. It's not Dora. Not Jack and his musical pals.

It's Wubbzy.

With some two hundred sixty million plays, the game featuring the little yellow critter of indeterminate origins (is he animal, mineral, vegetable?) has captured our kids' hearts. Now he's looking to keep those hearts pitter pattering with a DVD release timed for the Valentine's season.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! A Little Help from My Friends hits stores today, to go along with the recently launched second season of the show. Split into episodes about the value of friendship, it's a movie that highlights just why I've let Wubbzy worm his way into my daughter's heart.

It's creative.

When Wubbzy gets tired of his friends doing everything for him, he decides to bake up a chocolate doodle-berry cake all by himself - only to let things get out of control when he goes hog wild on making it extra fantastic. When the cake batter blows up and out the door and on through Wuzzleberg, buddies Widget and Walden save the day - doing for their little yellow buddy as they always do.

What's going to come next from Widget's tinkering or Walden's scientific explorations is anyone's guess; and the humor that ensues is just right for the pint-sized. Silly, but still sweet, Wubbzy's worth watching so they can learn the value of trying something new and doing it with good friends.

Image: Amazon

Desert Island Disks – Kid Music Edition

Cole Gamble — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Everybody has played the Desert Island Disks Game: if you were stranded on deserted island for the rest of your life, what 5 compact disks would you bring? That’s right; I said compact disks, no IPods. I know my list would at least have OK Computer and Weezer’s Blue Album on there somewhere. But I just concocted a variation on the game: what if the 5 disks you chose had to be kids’ music? Don’t claw you’re face off just yet; there’s some pretty decent kids music out there. I think I’d have to take some Backyardigans and that new Yo Gabba Gabba CD that came out.

What about you? What would you take if it could only be kids’ music? Let’s get a big, fat list going.

Mo' Gabba Gabba

Matt Wood — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:57:00 GMT

Not that you need any more reason to watch Nick Jr.'s "Yo Gabba Gabba!," the live-action, breakbeat disco freakout winning the hearts and booties of kids and parents everywhere, but it will be premiering four new episodes the week of Monday, November 26. The new shows will feature Laila Ali (aka the Champ's daughter), country group Sugarland, reggae crooner Sean Kingston, and Japanese indie-rocker Cornelius. If that's not sufficiently all over the map for your musical tastes, Biz Markie will return to teach beatboxing in his "Beat of the Day" segments.

It does my heart good to see this show doing so well. It makes me think of something the Beastie Boys could have done if they were on the Sesame Street production team during the Paul's Boutique era. My only hang with the show is that I fear I may be more into it than my son:

"Look Boy, it's Biz Markie! C'mon, beatbox with me!"

"I want to see the robot again, Daddy."

Maybe I need to download one of the show's iron-on transfers and make him a Plex T-shirt to win him over. But I will say this and stand by it: there can never be too much Biz Markie on TV.

Spiffy News About Jack's Big Music Show

ChagHolland — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:10:00 GMT

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. My kids and I have been big fans of this show since it premiered on Noggin in 2005. I even tracked down the show's creators and interviewed them earlier this year. But where is all the merchandise? Viacom has only issued a CD and this DVD. My son would kill for a Jack stuffed animal. Considering you can buy anything with Dora, Diego, or The Backyardigans plastered all over it, it would be nice for Viacom to throw Jack (or Mel) a bone.

Super Secret Super Spy Sounds Super Fly

ChagHolland — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:22:00 GMT

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 that Cyndi Lauper will be singing the theme song, "The Lady In Pink." I'm a big fan of Cyndi Lauper and it seems she's a big fan of the show. Said Lauper about the show: "It's real music that isn't dumbed down like most kids' music is. The characters are also fantastic -- strong, smart and lovable. The Backyardigans shows kids how fun it is to use one's imagination and in this video-crazed age there is just not enough of that in most kids' daily lives."

I think my wife and I like The Backyardigans more than our kids do. We love the songs and the dancing. Especially the dancing. So yeah, there's a damn good chance I'll be watching this before heading out to the bar to catch Monday Night Football.

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

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:01:00 GMT

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!

A New Kind of Torture for Parents: "Blue's Room"

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 02:56:00 GMT

My kids watch a lot of television. I try not to let it get out of control, and I try not to let them watch anything too violent or gory, like say, the news. I really try to keep it to mostly educational programming, and generally shows designed for children. My kids can sing the entire theme song to "Little Einsteins". We TiVo "Blue's Clues", "Sesame Street" and "The Backyardigans". I usually let them choose what they like but here are some kids shows that I find completely unbearable. "Barney" is a good example one of these. This is a NBHH - a no "Barney" household.

The great thing about TiVo (Yes, I love TiVo so much that I would marry it if I were single and it would have me.) is that I am ordinarily able to avoid any accidental contact with the shows for children that I really hate. Sure, every once in a while we accidentally catch the first couple minutes of "Oobi" at the tail end of "Dora" or something, but I am spared from my children ever accidentally seeing "Teletubbies" again. They could always catch it at Grandma's house, but at least it won't happen in my home.

Something terrible has happened in TV world. Nick Jr. tricked me. They tricked me into watching "Blue's Room", a live action puppet show that has some of the characters from "Blue's Clues" but is infinitely more annoying. It recorded under the guise of a normal episode of "Blue's Clues", but when I played it for my twins it was this train wreck. It features Blue, a talking dinosaur puppet (I think it's a puppet) and the worst song since "Journey to Ernie" that is on every episode about writing crap down in a journal. This song makes me want to stab myself with a sharp stick to dull the pain. There also may or may not be a talking pretzel involved. I have been trying to block it from my memory ever since I accidentally watched it the first time.

Of course, my kids love it. Oh, Traci Paige Johnson, why do you torture me so? What did I ever do to you?

Strollerderby : Nick Jr.

Beyonce Shines on Wubb Idol

What Do Madonna and Peanut Butter Have in Common?

NBA's Eddie House and Son Hoop it Up at Cartoon Network

Jack Black Drops In on Yo Gabba Gabba

Jack Black Drops In on Yo Gabba Gabba

Four Creepiest Animals Turned Adorable Kids Characters

We Hate Kids' Shows Too; Really

Harry Potter Book Sells for $19K - Too Much?

Ready for Easter? Peter Rabbit's Gone Green

Review: My Wubbzy Little Valentine

Review: Olivia the Pig Comes to Nickelodeon

Babble Talk: When It's Too Cold to Play

What Could a Baby Really Do in Four Hours?

Sasha and Malia See Hogwarts with Harry

Desert Island Disks – Kid Music Edition

Mo' Gabba Gabba

Spiffy News About Jack's Big Music Show

Super Secret Super Spy Sounds Super Fly

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

A New Kind of Torture for Parents: "Blue's Room"