Strollerderby : nickelodeon

Crush of the Week: Marc Summers, Double Dare & What Would You Do?

editors — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Women everywhere can be thankful that Marc Summers was able to triumph over his OCD long enough to host one of the all-time messiest shows on TV. Marc won us over with his humor, sass, warm smile, and luscious hair. Not getting enough Marc in your life? No worries...after the kids go to bed, moms can get a extra helping of Marc’s yumminess by tuning in to see him on Food Network’s Unwrapped. Heck, I sure wouldn’t kick him out of bed for eating cookies.

And for that, he is our Crush of the Week --Lauren De Luca

Photo: Food Network

The JumpArounds: HSM for The Preschool Set

Amy Kuras — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:01:00 GMT

Who are The JumpArounds? You probably will know that all too well very soon.

The JumpArounds are a fictional band which Nickelodeon is basing a new summer series around. There’s Shout. Marina, Kiki, and Twist (Twist and Shout are males), who apparently go around uttering phrases like “hip hop and pop!” or “Cool beans!” when they are happy about something.

The press release from Nickelodeon calls it this: “…a new, original live-action comedy series that teaches preschoolers about music appreciation and how to express their feelings and emotions through movement, song and instrumental music. Set to original pop songs, the 20-episode half-hour series also introduces kids to the fundamentals of music such as melody, rhythm, tempo and performance styles.”

I call it grating. Watching the relentlessly upbeat, chipper videos, all I could think was “Seriously? They got rid of “Jack’s Big Music Show” for this?

But actually, I think it’s not aimed at all at the little kids who loved Jack’s. No, I think it’s directed right at the somewhat older kids whose parents let them watch “High School Musical” and whatever other similar stuff is getting churned out of the Disney factory.

Those movies are, really, way too old for the kindergarteners and even preschoolers who I know watch it, but the JumpArounds are the same boppy choreography and wholesome, insipid music as those franchises but aimed at the little-kid set.

It’s enough to make me turn to Yo Gabba Gabba, really. And Yo Gabba Gabba creeps me out.

Wonder Pets! is Back With Eartha Kitt

JeanneSager — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:08:00 GMT

Still bummed that Jack's Big Music Show strummed its last dulcimer with no hopes of Dr. String bringing it back?

Sorry, can't help you there. But I still have good news!

The Wonder Pets! will save another day! Nickelodeon has approved a third season for Linny, Tuck and Ming Ming, set to kick off next month.

Beginning May 18 with an appearance by the late, great Earth Kitt as a cool cat signing smooth jazz, the first week of new shows will include a tribute to every animal teamwork has worked to save in the past. It's a special commemoration of the milestone "hundredth rescue," set to air Friday, May 22 at 10:30 a.m.

There's a reason this show has won a Daytime Emmy, folks. The hamster, turtle and little duck are the kind of team we want to cuddle . . . and then fill up with pieces of celery. Polite. Sweet. And cute enough our kids might one day convince us to get the real thing.

Try walking through a playground signing "the phone, the phone is ringing" and find a parent who doesn't chime in. They save us from some seriously bad TV.

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.

Nickelodeon Asks Kids to Unplug - For a Minute that Is

SunnyChanel — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Nickelodeon is asking kids to unplug. Well, not from TV but all games and gadgets. Why would they do such a thing? They’re asking for kids to unplug for Earth Day to “symbolize a commitment to helping the environment.” But they’re not requesting that kids detox from media all day, heavens no. They’re asking for one minute, and that minute doesn’t include TV. And that minute is conveniently scheduled for 9pm on April 22, when most of their demographic will be fast asleep.

Really? One minute? Can’t our kids handle and hour, a day, or even a week?

But beyond the unplugged minute, they may also be urging viewers, as they have in the past, to go our and play for “three hours one day each year.”

What do you think would be a good length of a media fast?

Source

UPDATE: Chris Brown's Skipping the Kid's Choice Awards

JeanneSager — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:01:00 GMT

As I previously reported, Chris Brown has been lobbying kids to vote for him in the upcoming Kids' Choice Awards on Nickelodeon. The TV channel has ignored some five thousand parent signatures on a petition asking for his removal from the process.

But someone's listening - Chris Brown says he'll skip the Kids' Choice Awards. Finally, one RIGHT choice for a guy who has made some pretty major mistakes recently - as you can see by the original post (BELOW).

I've always thought that celebrities are put on too high a pedestal where kids are concerned. They're human, just like the rest of us.

But the Kids' Choice Awards have put parents in a particularly tight spot this year - Chris Brown is up for an award, and he's lobbying hard for kids to cast their votes.

In a post put up on Brown's Myspace page on Thursday, Brown asks kids to vote for him as Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song, providing direct links to the Kids' Choice voting site where they can do so.

Yes, this is the same Chris Brown accused of beating girlfriend Rihanna to a pulp before the Grammy's. What's more - he's up against her in the Kids' Choice Favorite Song category, which pits his "Kiss, Kiss" featuring T-Pain against Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" as well as Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" (which is a whole OTHER post right there) and "Single Ladies" by Beyonce.

In general, the Kids' Choice Awards, a Nickelodeon invention spun off of their 1986 Big Ballot vote, are pretty harmless. It lets kids feel involved. But let's face it, the kids are not always weighing in on kid-friendly fare (hello "I Kissed a Girl" - about sexual experimentation). And after years of trying to make celebrities who don't have the shiniest of pasts into child role models, the awards force the issue. You will be in front of kids, so you better shape up.

Chris Brown only highlights that it doesn't work that way, and it never has. He's hardly the first to fall down on the "role model job." Whitney Houston hosted twice in the 1990s, the first Kids' Choice host to take the job two separate times. Talented singer, no doubt. But would you want your kids looking up to a reported crack addict?

Musicians, actors, athletes are regular people. Regular people with talent. That doesn't make them good people. There are thousands of stars worthy of your kids' adulation, but it isn't because they've been catapulted to stardom. It's their hearts, their good deeds outside of the limelight as much as in.

Unfortunately, we've put these celebrities front and center for our kids. Chris Brown is there, and there's no escaping either the pull of his music or the disgusting example of domestic violence. What are parents going to do now?

Image: Mix Matters

It's a Circus Out There for The Wonder Pets

JeanneSager — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:32:00 GMT

If your kids wrap blankets round their shoulders and play Linny, Tuck and Ming Ming, you'll probably be parked in front of the TV come Monday night.

The Wonder Pets are off to join the circus, and your family is invited. Babble got a look at what the prime time special promises for your kids. So pull out a bowl of peanuts and get the cotton candy ready, we're headed to the Big Top!

Life is never boring for three classroom pets with the tin can phone that rings off the hook with calls for help, but even the Wonder Pets get wistful for another life. When Linny, Tuck and Ming Ming take the flyboat out for a spin to check out the circus train riding through town, they catch sight of a lion cub who needs saving. Little do they know they'll land themselves an act.

It's a change from the largely repetitive make-up of The Wonder Pets, which attracts kids with its familiarity, but The Wonder Pets Join the Circus highlights just what makes the show a hit with kids. Plenty of animals, a storyline that's easy to follow and a group of best friends who are together through thick and thin - especially if there's celery involved. When the ringmaster (or ring-penguin in this case) calls for separate acts for the show, the trio kick it teamwork style.

The half hour show airing from 8 p.m. to 8:30 (EST) on Monday on Nickelodeon kicks off a week of new episodes, featuring the voice talents of Anne Meara and husband Jerry Stiller and the three young stars who voice the pets themselves. Get the kids ready with coloring pages and circus recipes from Nickelodeon this weekend, then grab your blanket cape and settle on the couch for an elephant-poop free trip to the circus.

Image: Nickelodeon

Sights of the Circus Extended to Visually-Impaired

Disney, Nickelodeon At War Behind the Scenes

Amy Kuras — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:01:00 GMT

It’s unpopular to say so, but I honestly don’t know how parents got anything done before the advent of not one, but two, little-kid oriented channels on cable TV (not to mention to glory that is PBS). Before I had kids, they were not going to watch TV at all. Then, well, there was the unfortunate confluence of a big deadline with a sick babysitter and yeah, out came the Elmo and it’s been a slippery slope ever since.

What we may not realize, though, is there is a cutthroat business behind those cuddly animated characters and exuberant singing movers. Disney Channel and Nickelodeon have been in a pitched battle for years, stealing executives, ideas, and inspiration from each other and battling it out for the eyeballs of our kids.

This NYT article outlines some of that fierce rivalry, although the shows they mention skew a little older than the Babble dynamic for the most part (I am sorry, but a five year old should not be watching High School Musical or Hanah Montana –and seriously, George Lopez outperformed almost anything else? Really?). But a little look at the cutthroat competition is really interesting., not to mention how they try to keep tweens and teens interested in the channels once they graduate from Dora and Mickey.

Dora Grows up—Stops Exploring, Starts Shopping

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Yes, that toothpick-legged, sexy-haired silhouette to the right is the new Dora the Explorer.

According to Nickelodeon, an older, more fashionable Dora line—“featuring fashion dolls and accessories” (sold separately)—will be released in the fall and marketed to tween girls.

The new Dora will go to middle school in the big city and have a “whole new fashionable look.” The keystone of the new doll will be online play, in which kids can change Dora’s clothes and accessories—and also solve a mystery if they feel like it.

It’s no mystery why Nickelodeon would team up with Mattel to expand Dora the Explorer (cha-ching!), but did they really have to shamelessly transform Dora from a fearless outdoorswoman whose best friends are talking animals into a materialistic fashionista? Tween girls are bombarded with enough worries about clothes and appearance as it is.

Considering most children’s obsession with “big kids,” I’m worried that even three- and four-year-old lovers of Dora will be turned on to this stereotypical fashion doll, rather than following Dora and Boots on bilingual humanitarian missions in the great outdoors.

What do you think about the new Dora line--sad makeover, or a way for kids to maintain their connection with a powerful female character?

Image: businesswire.com

Also on Babble:

Liveblogging Toy Fair: Everything You Need to Know About Tween Dora

Review: Olivia the Pig Comes to Nickelodeon

JeanneSager — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:32:00 GMT

She's here, she's finally here! The porcine answer to Eloise has made it to Nickelodeon - or she will on the 26th - and we offer a look-see at Olivia the pig's first day on TV.

For those of you who haven't met my favorite piglet, she's the book version of author Ian Falconer's niece. Prone to driving her mother bananas with the things a six and three-quarters kid does best (opting out on naps, recreating her favorite paintings from the museum on her bedroom walls), Olivia has earned Caldecott Honors on the page.

Now the star of Olivia Saves the Circus, Olivia Forms a Band, and, of course, Olivia, has her own half-hour show on Nickelodeon. Abandoning Falconer's favored clean black and white - with splashes of red for a passionate pig - the animated version is full-color. But what it loses in terms of artistry, the TV version gains with the time allowed to bring Olivia's winsome "sixness" to life.

Broken into two storylines, the premiere episode explores the big sister/little brother rivalry made famous on Falconer's pages - putting Olivia in a tizzy when her father reveals baby brother Ian will one day grow up to be bigger than her. After all, what's the point of being the big sister if you aren't the biggest? Olivia tries convincing Ian to stop drinking milk, and warns he'll miss out on the fun of hide and seek and game time if he grows up. But when Dad reveals there's fun to be had in grown-up-land, and big sisters will always be big sisters, the sibling rivalry drops back down to normal levels.

Part two takes a snow day for a spin, and imagination takes over the house. With the flakes flying, Olivia's mom brings home her brood and two of Olivia's friends for a playdate - while the piglet turns her family house into the luxe accomodations of the Olivia hotel. Ian plays the hotel's ghost - and scares the guests - until an electric outage taxes even Olivia's imagination of how to make the hotel to the stars keep running.

Olivia makes great strides toward improving brother-sister relations in kid shows. Olivia is annoyed by Ian, but the two cobble together a friendship of sorts - with a bit of gentle pushing from their parents. The show makes a point not to celebrate Olivia's irritation with Ian, but not to downplay it either. It highlights the imperfect relationship between brothers and sisters in the best way - allowing for improvement. The result is somewhere in the middle of the perfection that is the Pinky Dinky Doo and Tyler symbiosis and the domineering Ruby to misunderstood bunny Max.

If I sound like I'm gushing, I'm sorry. I was biased walking into a screening of the first episode; after all, I named my dog Olivia after Falconer's books. But with repeated requests from my pre-schooler to watch Olivia again. . . and again . . . and again . . . I'm not the only one who sees a hit. Airing at 11:30 a.m. eastern and pacific on the 26th, all-new episodes will air all week long. Can't wait? The family can get ready with a pile of Olivia crafts, iron-ons and games over at the Nick Jr. site.

Image: Nickelodeon

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UPDATE: Time Warner and Viacom Reach Agreement, SpongeBob Saved

Brett Singer — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:52:00 GMT

The war has ended, and we are all winners -- the kids can watch Dora, the grown-ups can watch Colbert. Technically, the kids can also watch Colbert, and the grown-ups can even watch Dora.

Viacom and Time Warner have reached an agreement, terms to be fleshed out later, that will keep the various channels on the air for Time Warner Cable subscribers, according to the New York Times. Perhaps they took Dora's advice to "stop and think" for a minute.

One interesting idea did come from this, however, via the comments below: pay-per-minute television. I like it. They'll never DO it, but I like it. It would probably greatly reduce TV viewing in most households. "Hey kids, there's a Spider-Man marathon on! 65 episodes in a row!" (That was this morning, actually.) If you add, "It'll only cost us a dollar a minute!" I might just pick up a book, y'know?

Anyway, for now, everyone can keep watching their favorite shows. And thank goodness -- isn't there a new "Hills" spinoff? (Note: if there is, I don't know what it's called because I don't watch that show. But somebody must.)

Original post follows below:

*-*-*-*

If you get your TV service from Time Warner Cable and your kids love them some SpongeBob and Dora The Explorer, you might want to stock up on DVDs.

Viacom wants an increase in the fee Time Warner pays to carry their channels, and Time Warner doesn't want to pay it. The deadline is midnight tonight. What channels are those? A partial list: Nickelodeon, MTV, VH-1, Comedy Central. So no Diego for the kiddies, and no Daily Show and Colbert Report for you. (Or for your kids, if they enjoy a humorous take on current events.)

Unsurprisingly, both sides think they are right. In a press release, Viacom says the following: " Ultimately…if Nickelodeon, COMEDY CENTRAL, MTV and the rest of our programming is discontinued - over less than a penny per day – we believe viewers will see this behavior by their cable company as outrageous." The fee increase Viacom is asking for is "about 25 cents a month, or $3 a year, per subscriber for its package of channels," according to the LA Times. Time Warner says its about Viacom trying to make up for decreased ad revenue: the LA Times quotes Time Warner Cable spokesman Alex Dudley as saying, "Advertising revenue stinks so they are looking to stick our customers for the difference. We have to hold the line for our customers. They are holding our customers hostage for a bunch of networks with sagging ratings and only one or two good channels."

Personally, I've felt for years that it should be possible to pick and choose which channels you actually want to receive. For example, Comedy Central, sure. But no one in my house watches Nickelodeon, so that one can go. Of course, that's not how it works. Oh well.

The thing is, while both sides may or may not have valid points in this matter, customers don't really care. It's not like Time Warner will offer refunds if they drop the Viacom channels from their lineup (although I suppose they might if it lasts long enough). But I think it you ask cable customers, the vast majority would say that they pay too much for their service. Take away channels that they actually want to watch, and that makes it even worse. It's two rich companies fighting with each other over more money, and while they fight, I don’t get to watch "The Hills." (Note: I don't actually watch "The Hills." That's just an example.)

Anyway, midnight tonight. If Viacom and Time Warner can't come to an agreement by then, bye-bye Dora and Jon Stewart. Let's see what happens.

Source: LATimes

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Nick to Cover Inauguration for the First Time

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Both Inauguration Day and Nickelodeon just got so much cooler. For the first time in its history, Nick will send its young reporters to Washington, D.C. in January to cover the presidential inauguration for the younger set.

Nick will feature excerpts from Obama’s speech, interviews with young people about his election, and coverage of past presidents getting sworn in. The election coverage will air during commercial breaks and between regular shows in primetime (all right, it’s SpongeBob with a side of politics, but what six-year-old would willingly sit through Obama’s whole inaugural speech?).

Kids seem to be as excited as parents about Nickelodeon’s increased political involvement this election season. 2.2 million kids voted in Nick’s online election (with Obama beating out McCain by a slightly smaller margin than in the actual election). And Nick sent reporters to both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. (The Dems granted Nick’s teen reporters access to the convention floor, while the Republicans did not.) The fact that Sasha and Malia are the same age as many of Nick’s viewers has probably helped get kids as excited about the new First Family as about Dora the Explorer.

So on January 20, the answer to the question, “Can I puh-lease watch kid TV?” is, “Of course! Just let me open this bottle of champagne first....”

Photo: nickjr.com

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Nickelodeon Kids Pick The President Poll - Who Won?

SunnyChanel — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:03:00 GMT

It looks like the TV lovin' kids of Nickelodeon-land are a lot more divided about politics than the book worns of the Scholastic crowd. Over two million kids voted for who they would like to see as President of the United States in Nickelodeon’s “2008 Kids Pick the President” election. They told the kids that they are “letting you pick the issues AND the president, because the next four years affect you just as much as any adult…and could affect your future even more!” So, who did the wee ones pick?

Barack Obama! But it was a close race with Obama getting 51% (1,167.087) of the votes versus John McCain getting 49% (1,129,945) of the votes. The results of the Scholastic Poll were 57% for Obama and 39% for McCain. But Obama won both, will the kids have their say? What do you think?

Morning News: Financial Crisis, Campaigns Would Be Hilarious If They Weren't So Sad

Madeline Holler — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Love this: the FBI is now investigating four of the failed institutions at the heart of this whole "sudden" financial collapse and trigger of the $700 billion dollar federal bailout proposal. Because it's only obvious in hindsight that there was fraud going on? All those ads and emails and stories on NPR didn't make them suspicious? Laugh through the tears, people, laugh through the tears!

Bush is finally a uniter! A bi-partisan group of lawmakers is saying no to blank checks, no to relenquishing authority and no to no oversight -- burned one too many times, guys? (Stage whisper: Patriot Act).

But help -- free help! -- is on the way. One of the world's richest men -- and certainly the richest to ever drive a Ford Taurus -- Warren Buffett, said he would invest $5 billion dollars in Goldman Sachs, which has been flailing in all this turmoil. Buffett's confidence is boosting others' confidence in some markets. Though we doubt they'll be asking to take the ol' Taurus out for a ride. Or for tips on frugal living.

Let's fill up on a serving of empty calories in today's Daily Palin! Our favorite female VP candidate from Alaska left her telepromptered comfort zone (but quickly retreated to the needy arms of her much less charismatic running mate) and spent a day putting faces with all those names she learned last week. She survived her day with Uncle Henry and friends and lived to tell about it! But she won't. The maverick who says she's all about openness and transparency allowed reporters a whole 29 seconds of access during her meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. But no questions.

Campbell Brown went on a tear last night calling McCain's campaign "sexist" for shielding the possible VP from the press. Even Fox news is pissed. Palin's press pool has threatened a boycott, blah, blah (like that'll happen). Just take the pretty pictures, people!

Enough about Palin, let's talk about you ... you and your fat kids. They're watching too many commercials for unhealthy food between episodes of iCarly and SpongeBob SquarePants and the other 22 hours of Nickelodeon programming. The network had pledged to use its popular characters to advertise spinach and oranges but they were just shitting us and we all knew it.

Good thing you're kids are not on Medicaid because after eating Shrek "fruit" snacks -- as advertised on kids health channel Nick Jr. -- they're going to get cavities. Your kids will get them filled. Kids on Medicaid will be left with rotting teeth and bleeding gums.

Finally, fertility. Nicole Kidman credits her recent successful conception and pregnacy with swimming in fertile waters. And here we thought Sunday Rose had more to do with Keith Urban's fertile swimmers.

Photo: 4mercury.com

They Say: Autism is Linked to Watching TV

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:15:00 GMT

If you ever suspected it was no coincidence that the rise in childhood autism began around the same time as the advent of cable TV, a Cornell study shows you were on to something.

Researchers at Cornell University claim to have established a definite link between autism rates and TV watching among toddlers in California, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Oregon. Beginning in 1980, when cable TV brought Nickelodeon and other children’s programs into people’s homes, autism rates rose most sharply in counties with a high percentage of homes with cable. Specifically, the Cornell study found that “roughly 17 percent of the growth in autism in California and Pennsylvania during the 1970s and 1980s was due to the growth in cable television.”

And studying the amount of time children watched television based upon particularly rainy and snowy years in the Western states (bad weather is known to increase child TV watching), the researchers concluded that “just under 40 percent of autism diagnoses in the three states studied is the result of television watching.” Although it’s possible that these numbers reflect a relationship between autism and staying indoors (not watching TV), these numbers are much more conclusive than any of the numerous studies looking to establish a link between autism and vaccines.

The Cornell researchers are advancing no theories as to why increased television watching among toddlers causes an increased likelihood of an autism diagnosis, but it’s possible the link is related to the fact that the ability to process visual data develops in the first three years of life; children with autism exhibit abnormal activity in these areas of the brain.

It may be time that researchers turned their attention away from chemicals and genetic links in the search for a cure for autism. If something as simple as avoiding TeleTubbies and Baby Einstein could help lower autism rates, this is something every parent needs to know.

Photo: Cleveland Leader

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Is it fair to take pictures of Britney's kids?

Brett Singer — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:53:00 GMT

You may have heard about the photographs of Britney Spears smoking while 2-year-old Sean Preston was playing with her cigarette lighter. Well, the actual photo doesn't quite show that. Here it is:

Now, far be it from me to disagree with the celebrity media machine, but this doesn't look as bad as it sounds. In this pic she looks to be taking the cigarettes away from her child. That would be the right thing to do. The better thing to do would be to not smoke at all, and especially not in front of your kids. Second-hand smoke is very dangerous, especially to little lungs. It also makes me wonder if she was smoking while pregnant, which would be much worse. My guess – and I have nothing to back this up – is that she probably was. As a former smoker, I know how hard it is to quit, and it looks to me like the Britster is quite the nicotine addict.

Here's the part that gets me: the photos were taken at her house. Why? Presumably a photog with a mega-ultra-zoom lens – a "Pavarotti", as El Federline famously referred to them on his ill-fated rap album – was suspended from a helicopter or something and took the shot through her window or on her balcony.

She's a celebrity, and over 18 (although emotionally she might be, like, 12, but let's not go there). But her kids aren't. Not to sound like a celebrity defending dipstick ("LEAVE...BRITNEY...ALONE!"), but maybe there should be a law that prevents the kids from being photographed, at least when they're at home. As someone points out over at MomLogic, they didn't ask to be in this bizarre situation.

There are celebrities whose children you almost never see candid pictures of – Madonna, Howard Stern, Christie Brinkley, and I'm sure there are dozens more that I can't think of at the moment. Of course, those people aren't the unbelievable mess that Brit appears to be. At best, this photo shows poor judgment on her part, not only the smoking but also hanging out with her kid in front of an open window where a sleazoid photographer can get a clear shot. Um, curtains? A really high hedge? Move someplace else?

Of course, if nobody wanted to see the pictures, they wouldn't be worth anything, and photographers wouldn't take them. But that's a different topic.

Here are the rest of the photos. Hey, at least she looks pretty good in her bikini.

images: popsugar.com

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Nick Jr. show makes the childless want to conceive

Brett Singer — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:33:00 GMT

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:

I may be a frigid childfree dyke, but this show makes me want to have babies STAT!

Every time I see a Yo Gabba Gabba clip somewhere on the internet I think to myself "must remember to watch this when high" and "must remember to watch this when have kids". The former will likely come up a few hundred times before the latter is an issue, but still...

So if we see another baby boom, especially among the stoner population, we have DJ Lance and crew to thank. Enjoy

I've never seen Yo Gabba Gabba, but apparently it teaches kids about comic books and features musical interludes by Biz Markie. So I may have to give it a try, with or without the kids.

image: Roberson's Interminable Ramble

Dora: She's a Character

Amy Kuras — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:33:00 GMT

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 a squirrel, a martin, and was very nearly a bunny –but interestingly, never a human boy.

She became a Latina girl because Nickelodeon's Brown Johnson had been to a conference on race and gender at the same time producers were developing the show and discovered Latinas were not well represented in the media at all, especially children's media.

So they created a seven-year-old girl who was named for the last syllable of the feminine of the Spanish word for explorer – exploradora. Writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez inspired her last name.

Interestingly, her short bob, tomboyish outfit of shorts and a t-shirt and the fact she's never identified as being from any specific part of Latin America were all carefully crafted aspects of her character.

What they don’t tell us? Who created that ridiculously annoying Boots. Because I would like a word with that guy.

PBS Kids Launches Pay Service

Brett Singer — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:00:00 GMT

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 on the site has lots of helpful info, including a list of local member stations that offer discounts on the service to donors (only a few are listed but they suggest checking back later to see if your station gets added). The "elevator pitch" (their words) refers to the enterprise as a "personalized learning service" where "your child will learn a comprehensive preschool and kindergarten curriculum, based on national educational standards, by playing with PBS KIDS characters." The "personalized" part means that you can track your child's progress; in fact, you can have four separate "learning profiles" per account, meaning siblings can play (or PLAY!) at no extra cost.

This isn't the only "virtual preschool" (my term) on the market: Disney offers Preschool Time Online ($9.95/month or $49.95/year), and Nickelodeon has MyNoggin ($9.95/month, $7.95/month if you commit to 6 months, $5.95/month if you commit to a year). Both require a credit card for the free trial, whereas PBS KIDS PLAY! does not. The sites also look like they were created by a large media company, which of course they were. One synergistic benefit of signing up with the bigger companies is that you get a free subscription to their magazines (My Noggin or Family Fun) included with your fee.

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, if anyone is getting money for a service such as this one, I'd prefer it to be PBS. On the other hand, are these services meant to replace preschool? Is this some bizarro method of homeschooling, and/or of giving your kid a leg up once they start kindergarten? And since it costs money, has anyone studied its effectiveness? Should a three year old be spending this much time in front of a computer? What happened to flash cards, or just plain ol' having fun? How many questions can I ask in a single paragraph before my head starts to hurt?

Personally, I'm a fan of preschool. Thing 1 benefited greatly from it, socially and educationally. Thing 2 is there now and we love it. Of course, this is in Manhattan, where preschool is the only daycare option for working parents, so our reasons for sending the kids there were practical as well as educational.

After a quick review of the three sites, it seems that PBS KIDS PLAY! is the least commercial and, at least in their "pitch," the most educationally minded. If any of you use these services or is considering it, let us know in the comments.

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

Madeline Holler — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:37:00 GMT

I’m going to try to not be too cynical about a TV network'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:

Saturday, Nickelodeon will stop airing for three hours beginning at noon (EDT/PDT). The idea isn’t that kids should click over to Cartoon Network. Rather, the station programmers hope kids will go outside and play.

A few hours after programming resumes, kids can watch the network's "Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge" (6 p.m. EDT/PDT), which will feature other kids who have taken up exercise, their challenges and success stories. The blank screen non-program and health challenge are the product of an ongoing project of Nickelodeon’s and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Three hours of dead air in the afternoon hardly seems like enough. But it’s a start. I wonder how many kids that blank screen will jolt out of the TV stupor. I wonder how many will wind up playing video games instead. Also, what about Nick Jr., the companies network for preschoolers? They don't appear to be taking part.

Maybe the network will do it again next year, and bring the other children’s television channels along with them. Then ESPN and Food Network the year after that and the whole family might wind up at the park.

Nickelodeon Tells Kids to Turn Off the TV

Karen Murphy — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:35:00 GMT

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?

Strange but true...Nickelodeon is "joining the fight against childhood obesity by encouraging kids to turn off the TV." Yay Nickelodeon! How altruistic! They care! Yes, on September 29, Nickelodeon and its sister stations, including Nicktoons Network, Noggin and Nick G.A.S., will go dark.

For THREE WHOLE HOURS.

(That's 1/8 of a day)

While most kids are at school or napping.

Way to go, Nickelodeon! Show us how you care! Show us your sacrifice! (Just not during Prime Time)

Oh, and when the lights come up again? There'll be a Sponge Bob Marathon. In case you're in withdrawal or something.

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.

Things Fall Apart: Huge Mattel Recall!

Karen Murphy — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:07:00 GMT

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.

Here's a list of all the affected toys.

Apparently Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop, who license the characters Dora and Elmo respectively, will be initiating third-party product testing to ensure something like this doesn't happen again. While that's probably a relief to toddlers everywhere, it doesn't speak to the larger problem of outsourcing in a country that may or may not share the same safety regulations as the countries it exports to.

And at the consumer level, we have no way of knowing where that cat food, those tires, or those toys were made, and whether they might ultimately be harmful because of either inadvertently or willfully relaxed safety standards. Which means we are relying on our own government and the largesse of companies that profit from what we buy to protect us and our children from harm.

Ugh. Right now I feel like crawling into a cave.