Friday, August 17, 2007

Already with the mo 'Gabba Gabba'

It hasn't even aired yet and my 2-year old is already singing it's songs and requesting 'mo gabba gabba.' The show in question is Nick Jr's Yo Gabba Gabba, and the promos for it are insanely addictive. The show features giant muppets ala The Banana Splits, a hip-hop beat, regular segments from Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh and rapper Biz Markie, and a slew of guest stars like Elijiah Wood, The Shins and Tony Hawk.

Started by two members of the band The Aquabats (Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz,) Yo Gabba Gabba looks to capture the growing genre of parents who avoid Disney and the like in favor of more original programming for their youngsters. If you've ever purchased a Ramones onesie, an indie rock compilation for kids (like Play,) or Chuck Taylor kid shoes, you are (like me) the target here.

The design and tone of the show draws inspiration from shows we grew up on like H.R. Pufnstuf, The Banana Splits and (later) Pee-wee's Playhouse, making it more then just a wink to the parents in the room. As a result, when the toys and clothes come later in the fall, they're not just going to be in toddler sizes. Look for clothing from Paul Frank (and his kids line Small Paul) to feature Yo Gabba Gabba characters, including adult hoodies. Frank's character Julius the monkey even makes an appearance on the show.

Like most children's programming, music is crucial for communitation, and so along with original songs like "Party in My Tummy" and "Jumpy Jump Jump," the show will also feature guest musical artists like The Shins (playing "It's OK, Try Again",) Smoosh, Rahzel (The Roots,) Mya, Supernova and country artists Sugarland.

Playlist: Artists scheduled to appear on Yo Gabba Gabba

Could it be that child's voice that I hear saying 'mo gabba gabba' is actually me?

Yo Gabba Gabba premieres Monday, August 20th at 10:30 AM on both Nickelodeon and Noggin.

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2 comments:

Robert Burke said...

Thanks for the tip! I was totally unaware of this. I just set the DVR to record the season.

Shawn Anderson said...

beware... it's like crack for the kiddies (and the adults!)