So okay, I don't want to be a traitor to my kids' generation and all, but I just don't get some of the shows on TV today. I mean, come one, it looks like they they just fall out of some guy's head and put on some bright colours and take their cutesy songs - EW - and cover them up with some random "lesson" storylines and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so.
I am a self-professed TV addict. I admit it. I love TV. And, despite all recent reports to the contrary, I don't think that it's all that bad for kids. You just have to choose the shows they get to see, and the amount of time they get to watch them, judiciously. And, if at all possible, watch it with them. Get involved. Have conversations (however short) about what they've watched. Make up imaginative games using the plotlines that have just been used in their favourites shows. But I digress...
I'm actually here today to talk about The Backyardigans. How I can't stand them. And how, everytime it's on Treehouse in the timeslot that our preschooler is allowed to watch a show, I inwardly groan. I don't understand it. I am a HUGE proponent of creative programming for children. (I think that if I had the credentials, it would be a profession that I would be stellar at, and very passionate about.) And yet every single time that show is on TV, I can't wait for it to end. I think I have actually watched myself age while it was on.
It makes no sense. The Backyardigans stands for everything that I love. It's about children getting their butts out the door and using their imaginations to create new and exciting adventures. It involves original musical numbers, and I am a musical theatre geek. They use actual dancers to model the moves for the cartoon characters so that their actions will seem more realistic. Their storylines always have some life lesson to teach. The show is not at all obnoxious or loud like some shows I've watched **cough**DORA**cough**. All in all, it's a well-thought-out and extremely well-executed program. And yet the whole thing leaves me cold.
My head is telling me I should like it, but my gut is telling me something completely different. It irks me that I can't get the two to agree. And it confounds me that I have no concrete reason for not liking it. Does this happen to anyone else? Am I just a jaded, bitter, old fogey who has lost her love for life and youth? Please tell me I'm not alone...but I think that searching for fun in a Backyardigans show is as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie.
THUMBS DOWN (Shows that should be good but are, in fact, excruciating..)
THUMBS UP (Shows that are ridiculously good, or shows that I never thought I would like but somehow do..)
What shows would you add to these lists?? I'm curious.
**Photo credit: Nick Jr.
Oh dear. I actually love backyardigans, and would chose it over any of the others on either list. Can't stand any on your 'can't stand' list, but also can't stand any on the thumbs up list, besides yo gabba gabba. I still like sesame street, though it's rarely on - NOT elmo's world. HATE.
Posted by: kgirl | March 12, 2009 at 09:21 AM
I don't mind the Backyardigans, but don't love them either. I hate Bob the Builder. It's just dumb looking! I also hate Handy Many. Mostly because of Wilmer Valderama, I'm guessing.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Yo Gabba Gabba! My son does the "Peanut Butter Stomp," all by himself... If you haven't seen it, it's Mya's dancy dance (from the DVD.)
Posted by: Kelly | March 12, 2009 at 09:46 AM
I have the same top three 'thumbs up' list. Thankfully the boys like them too! I could probably watch Yo Gabba Gabba on my own. :-)
The kids like Dora and Diego too - I feel sort of 'meh' towards them. I wish they liked Sesame Street more.
Posted by: Emma | March 12, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Oh my GOD Bo On The Go GIVES ME HIVES.
and no mention of Caillou? The little @#$%^.
Posted by: daysgoby | March 12, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Oh my GOD Bo On The Go GIVES ME HIVES.
What, no mention of Caillou? The little #$%^.
We still love Arthur, although she doesn't like (and I'm sad about this) Sesame Street anymore! What kind of four-year old doesn't love Sesame Street??
I have lost all my cool-Mom cred. I so rocked Sesame Street.
Posted by: daysgoby | March 12, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Sorry...can't agree with your Thumbs Up list. In the Night Garden and Yo Gabba Gabba are awful. 4 Square is bearable.
Worst of all tho is Max and Ruby. Ruby is so bossy. And I'm sure Max should be able to say more than 1 word at a time. Ugh.
I don't mind Bo on the Go, but we rarely come across it in our TV watching.
Faves for us are: Word World, and many of the shows on Playhouse Disney.
Posted by: mapsgirl | March 12, 2009 at 01:49 PM
For the record, I used to LOATHE In the Night Garden. But, after being forced to watch it many times, I realized that it is actually quite charming. It's beautiful to watch - a very imaginative, dream-like set - and it achieves exactly what it sets out to do: lull over-excited children into the calm state that leads to sleep. Any night-time show that encourages children to sleep is aces in my book. I love sleep.
(And I know that many people love The Backyardigans - that's partly why it bugs me so much to dislike it. I can't put my finger on what is so off-putting to me..I was hoping someone out there could help me figure it out.)
Posted by: Mama Drama | March 12, 2009 at 03:00 PM
I also loathe In the Night Garden and am quite happy that the girl didn't stick with it for long.
She went through a Numberjacks stage (it's on TVO and is a British show where numbers solve mysteries). I like it.
And I do like the Backyardigans although she's not that into it.
Posted by: Mamalooper | March 12, 2009 at 05:35 PM
First of all I would like to say that I appreciate the "Clueless" reference.
Secondly, I dig "The Backyardigans".
I hate Hi-5, Caillou, Max and Ruby, Oobi, and Lazy Town.
Posted by: Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah | March 13, 2009 at 11:14 PM
I would have to say we LOVE the Backyardigans...... our son loves it (thank god) b/c there are words and singing etc...would hate for him to sit and watch subjects move around the screen and make silly noises that has NO educational tool to it....
The Backyardigans are bright and fun!!!
Posted by: J | March 15, 2009 at 10:20 PM
First off, I love your reasoning about TV with kids. Peanut really gets involved with the characters, and we have the toys which she creates elaborate stories with.
As for likes/dislikes: Peanut likes the Backyardigans, although it isn't one of her favourites. We love In the Night Garden around here, after giving it a few chances. Sesame Street is BIG around here, as is Pocoyo (I love the sassy and realistic kid-type behaviour Pocoyo exhibits). Oh, and Peanut is showing mad-love for Wonderpets around here. I hated it at first (especially the duck character), but once I realized it was an opera for kids, I liked it a whole lot more. Often there's some good lines in there for parents as well.
Hates? Definitely Fifi and the Flowertots. Hate hate HATE the typical expected female behaviour it demonstrates (despite the overalls), the overly high-pitched voices, the silly storylines. Not for us. Oh, and Thomas kinda creeps me out.
And Roll Play? I'm kinda partial because the creators are friends, and I've worked with the company. That said, I thought the first season wasn't terrific. The second season is SO much better because it is just one song per episode that they dance to, and it isn't cut together so quickly. Much MUCH better.
Posted by: b*babbler | March 16, 2009 at 01:53 PM
I love the idea of Roll Play, but it's the execution of it that is just not working for me. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's something that would be totally awesome seen live, but it doesn't transmit to TV very well. I would certainly be in the audience if they did a live performance somewhere.
That being said, I haven't seen the second season, so I'll give it another go.
Posted by: Mama Drama | March 16, 2009 at 03:32 PM
Don't like Backyardigans?? Bitter and jaded is definitely a possibility, however I won't go as far as my first knee-jerk reaction and suggest that you're just PURE EVIL.
(Nice comment for my first one on your blog, eh? I'm totally kidding about the evil bit.)
We love them over here. Love (most of) the stories, LOVE the dancing, and have bought several DVDs and all of the CDs.
You're pretty spot on with the "thumbs down" list, except that I do like Roll Play. I saw it in french for the first time and liked it even more (we just moved to Quebec in May and our boys are learning French).
Another one that I don't like in English, but appreciate it's educational value in French is Dora. While the constant repetition drives me bonkers in English, I like it in the French version as it really reinforces the vocabulary.
My 29 month old completely zones out to ITNG... too bad it's on AFTER bedtime.
P.S. I've subscribed to your blog. It's great.
Posted by: Amy @ Muddy Boots | March 18, 2009 at 10:35 AM
I ADORE the Backyardigans. But the first season was definitely better than the new episodes.
Posted by: Maria | March 20, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Huh? Are you sh*tting me? At least there is music and a plot to 'Backyardigans'. 'In the Night Garden' is mindless drivel with absurd and nonsensical noises (no vocabulary) and ideas. It is repetitive and lacks any educational value. Its calming music and images (at bedtime) are the only redeeming qualities. Shame on you. You should go hide your head under the Makka Pakka's pile of stones.
Posted by: KS | March 22, 2009 at 05:20 PM
KS - You're exactly correct. If you read my comment above, you will see that it's the calming music and images (at bedtime) that are what I like about the show. And, I did used to hate it, but giving it a chance, I find it surprisingly good - if watched in the right circumstances (at bedtime).
I find Backyardigan plots need some editing, and the music - other than the theme song - is forgettable.
Posted by: Mama Drama | March 22, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Nooo. You've been assimilated!!
It's the same brainwashing goop that made up the teletubbies. In any event, one thing is certain: the show is polarizing in its effect. On TreeHouse tv that broadcasts the show there is a forum with parents arguing both for its removal from the programming lineup. Very strong opinions both for and against.
If I speak to a shared perspective on both entertaining, calming and intellible, would you agree that Little Bear accomplished this? The music, themes and voices were very calming and I preferred it as an end of day routine. (shame on us, really. We should just be reading more-although I do read with them a lot.)
Posted by: KS | March 23, 2009 at 10:07 PM
KS - Yes, I do like Little Bear, eventhough I have huge problems with some of the fundamenatals of the show (Why are all of his friends - except for Emily - adults? Why are the parents fully clothed, and yet LB wears nothing at all - even in the dead of winter??) But after watching it for months on end - it showed right at our bedtime viewing window - it rather grew on me. I appreciated that no one was shouting at me, and that people behaved in an exemplary fashion.
And yes, sometimes I feel bad that TV is part of our (older) son's bedtime routine, but then I think -- I like vegging out in front of TV before bedtime. I find it relaxing. It's somewhat hypocritical of me to forbid it. Yes, I'm an adult and he's a child, but still...We read ALOT, point out words and letters in everyday life,
and both the Husband and I always have a book on the go. I'm not too worried about a love of reading becoming an integral part of our sons lives.
Posted by: Mama Drama | March 23, 2009 at 10:22 PM
LOVE the Backyardigans!
HATE in the Night Garden - I think it might be indoctrinating my son into some weird British cult.
Max and Ruby makes me laugh because it's SO BAD! Where are their parents anyway?
Posted by: Don Mills Diva | March 31, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Hi, just stumbled on your blog and had to comment since I love the Backyardigans. So does my two and a half year old. Your post even caused me to have a discussion with my husband about our favorite episode. He went with Cops and Robots. I am a big fan of Super Spy.
Posted by: Brie | April 04, 2009 at 08:17 PM
I've been subjected to kids' TV for more than 10 years. Oh, the horrors I could name. Caillou. Katie and Orby. PB&J Otter. Oobi. Out of the Box. Those are the ones that have scarred me most.
Personally, we LOVE Backyardigans. The kids are now also on a big Olivia/SuperWhy/Pinky Dinky Doo kick. I'm perfectly fine with any of those. Charlie and Lola and Rolie Polie Olie still rank pretty high on my list too.
Posted by: Erica | April 24, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Thumbs Down for any HalifaxFilms production, which includes Bo on the Go, Poko, The Mighty Jungle, hate Hate HATE Animal Mechanicals. These are the worst at recording 80% of the script to be used in every episode and then insert a few words - a la an automated phone system - to slightly change what the fillers require.
I used to love Sesame Street until it essentially became Elmo and Friends. They need to resurrect Barkley and focus primarily on the old-school characters like Grover, Oscar, Cookie Monster, Burt & Ernie, Big Bird, etc. ELMO MUST DIE!!!
I don't think there's any debating the all-time basement dwellers like Teletubbies and Barney. But my ultimate thumbs up for currently running program goes to Curious George. The kids love it, I love it, it's cute, funny, and educational with actual dialogue, new for each episode.
Posted by: jason | August 11, 2009 at 10:30 AM