Hip-hop kiddie TV taking over: It's 'Yo Gabba Gabba!'

My brother Sergio was the first to introduce me a while back to "Yo Gabba Gabba!," a TV show aimed at kids that he was almost as excited about as my nephew, Eligh, his youngest of two. No. He was basically a lot more excited about it than Eligh appeared to be. I quickly saw why.

Toddlers are the target audience, of course, but with that unmistakable hip-hop flavor and humor, and all those cool celebrity guest spots, "Yo Gabba Gabba!" is the kind of kiddie show that is drawing ardent adult fans. And inevitably, stoner college kids.

But now I gotta go, cuz there's a party in my tummy.

Comments

[cindylu]

This has to be the best thing I've seen in a long time. Thanks for the introduction. I might need to get Nick Jr or Noggin...

[Daniel H.]

HAHA! It's soo rad. But I neglected to mention it's also a little prog-rock, with those guest bands n stuff. YOOOOOO,GABBA,GABBA!!

[Caro]

Back in the day (the late 80s), Pee Wee's Playhouse served the same function. It was a kiddie show with lots of stuff for grown-ups. Larry "Cowboy Curtis" Fishburne, Tito the totally gay soccer player, Gary Panter designs and Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo) music.

[camilo]

My ex-girl couldn't understand why I was Tivo'ing this show almost a year ago. "That's a kid's show!!," she would say with that twinge of haterishness in her voice.
YGG would show twice on Nickelodeon (i tivo'd both eps.); once at 11am, and again at like 1:00 or 1:30pm.
I'm an informal expert if anyone wants to hit me up. (I know, Sun is just cool like that.) "drunken with self promotion," as DMH sayz.
So, like my favorite celeb guest has to be the corny Elijah Wood spot, and my favorite song is "Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose" sung by Foofa and Toodee (it was Foofa, right?)
Anyways, there's a version sung by The Shins on some YGG soundtrack, but their's lacks the heart and subtle sadness of the version the show characters sing.
Much respect to former Devo dude Mark Mothersbaugh, who does that ultra quirky drawing session that reminds me of Bill Cosby's "Picture Pages," only fresher.
This is getting long (hmm. I should just do my own post, then..), but I gotta mention how super sic widit the animation on this show is. The people who contribute are top notch. Kind of like the excellence in craft that went into "The Electric Company," any of you yunggins remember?
Kinda cool, they want to bring it back:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/arts/television/12elec.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=%22Electric+Company%22&st=nyt&oref=slogin

Shout-out to PR diva Rita Moreno! East Coast, baby!!