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The Upside Down Show
Genre	Comedy Surreal comedy Slapstick
Created by	Belinda Ward David Collins Shane Dundas
Written by	Billy Aronson Judy Freudberg Tony Geiss Joey Mazzarino Luis Santeiro P. Kevin Strader Belinda Ward John Weidman
Directed by	Peter Cudlipp Julie Money
Starring	David Collins Shane Dundas Amanda Bishop
Voices of	Emma de Vries Virginia Goodfellow Mat McCoy Alice Osborne Adam Smillie
Narrated by	Adam Smillie
Composer	David Chapman
Country of origin	Australia United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Michael Bourchier Kurt Mueller
Producer	Wendy Gray
Cinematography	Ian Jones
Editor	Simon Martin
Camera setup	Both single-camera and multi-camera
Running time	24 minutes
Production companies	Blink Films Noggin LLC Sesame Workshop Nickelodeon Australia
Original release
Network	Noggin (U.S.) Nickelodeon (U.S.) Nick Jr. (Australia)
Release	16 October 2006 (2006-10-16) – 2 February 2007 (2007-02-02)

The Upside Down Show is a children's television series produced by Sesame Workshop, Noggin LLC, and Nickelodeon. It was made for Nickelodeon's sister channel Noggin, which launched as a joint venture between Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop. The series is set in a strange apartment building where the doors and windows lead to a variety of unusual rooms. It is presented by brothers Shane and David (played by the Umbilical Brothers), who live in the apartment building with their sidekick Puppet, their neighbor Mrs. Foil, and a group of fuzzy creatures called the Schmuzzies. In each episode, David gives the viewers an imaginary remote control that affects the characters and their surroundings.

The series was inspired by the Umbilical Brothers' adult-oriented comedy act SpeedMouse, which was also based on the idea of an imaginary remote. Producers from Nickelodeon and Sesame saw SpeedMouse and ordered a pilot episode based on it, which became The Upside Down Show. The pilot was successful, and in 2005, Nickelodeon ordered a season of 13 episodes. The show was written and produced in New York, and it was filmed in Sydney, Australia. The cast and crew featured a mix of Australian and American talent. While creating the series, the writers intentionally included jokes for adults as well as children; Shane Dundas likened The Upside Down Show to making "an adult show for kids."

In 2010, the Umbilical Brothers announced that they had completed a script for a special-length episode titled The Upside Down Movie, which would act as a proper finale for the series. Nickelodeon Australia provided funding for the movie's script development, but the project needed support from outside investors to start filming, which never occurred. As recently as March 2017, the Umbilical Brothers have stated that they are still interested in making the movie and trying to find support for it.

History

Production

The show's concept is based on SpeedMouse, a live comedy act that the Umbilical Brothers performed for adult audiences in the 1990s. The plot involved an invisible remote control that dictated the Brothers' actions on stage. Shane Dundas called the remote "a handy idea that we took directly from SpeedMouse and it all grew into a whole another animal." Producers from Noggin and Sesame Workshop enjoyed the remote control in SpeedMouse and believed that the physical comedy would lend itself to a family-oriented television show. Noggin and Sesame approached the Umbilical Brothers with plans to develop a series, and the Brothers accepted.

In developing the series, the creators set out to make an "adult show for kids"—adapting the adult-oriented SpeedMouse for a wider audience while also adding layered jokes for parents and older viewers. According to Shane Dundas: "with The Upside Down Show the mantra was 'Well, kids are going to love this but we really want to make sure there are gags in there for the grown-ups as well!'" David Collins elaborated, "The series is filled with gags that will fly over the heads of little ones and straight into the face of the parent stalking behind them. Some of these gags we had to fight for."

A half-hour pilot episode was produced from December 2004 to March 2005. It followed Shane and David searching for the beach, and this storyline was later reworked into a story for the main show. For the pilot, the show's art department glued the entire living room set to the ceiling to give the appearance of an "upside down" room; in the final series, the camera is simply turned around at various points to create the upside-down illusion. The character of Puppet had a different design, and he was named "Stretch" in the pilot. Shane and David also wore different costumes: simple T-shirts with swirl designs on them. In April 2005, the pilot episode was screened at MIPTV Media Market, but it was never aired on television.

The pilot was successful, and Noggin ordered a full season of 13 episodes in 2005. They aired in fall 2006. On 27 December 2006, in an interview with the New York Post, Shane Dundas stated he was unsure if the series would be renewed for a second season, and that Noggin/Nickelodeon would make a final decision in February about renewing the series. On June 1, 2007, the Umbilical Brothers announced on their website that the series would not be renewed for a second season, and that Nickelodeon USA had decided to end the series after a single season. Unlike Nickelodeon USA, the Australian branch of Nickelodeon was strongly committed to the series and wanted to continue it.

Broadcast

In the United States, the series was first shown on the main Nickelodeon channel as a "sneak peek" on 13 October 2006. Afterward, the series was shown exclusively on Noggin, which aired the show's 13 episodes over a month-long period from October to November 2006. Noggin aired the episodes slightly out of order; it showed "Art Museum" and "Farm" (episodes 3 and 11) as the premiere episodes, then aired the remainder of the show in its original production order. In Australia, Nickelodeon premiered the episodes on a more sporadic schedule; the series debuted on 25 August 2006 and did not air the last episode until February 2007.

Unfinished finale movie

In September 2008, the Umbilical Brothers announced that "there is a script in development for a movie version of The Upside Down Show." In January 2010, David Collins announced that the script had been finished, and that the project would be titled The Upside Down Movie and act as a series finale. Collins also confirmed that Nickelodeon Australia was "hugely supportive of trying to get the film made and have been partially funding the script development." The Umbilical Brothers started an online petition to demonstrate public support of the movie, but the project did not receive enough support from outside investors to start filming. In March 2017, Collins stated that he was still trying to find support for the movie.

Characters

• David – The older of the two brothers who wears a striped polo shirt and tan-colored shorts. He has super-sensitive hearing and a super-sensitive sense of smell. He is more laid-back than Shane but still tends to get distracted by small things. He loves the Schmuzzies and acts as their good friend, translator, and mentor. He was played by David Collins.
• Shane – David's younger brother, who wears brown pants and a blue T-shirt with a fast forward symbol on it. He is more frenetic and hyperactive than David, but he is also a quicker thinker and comes up with many interesting ideas. Shane tends to get annoyed by the unpredictable nature of the Remote, since it often interrupts his daily activities. He was played by Shane Dundas.
• Mrs. Foil – The brothers' friendly, off-beat neighbor who lives in a different apartment. She is blonde and plays the tuba, which she brings with her even when swimming and camping. She tends to appear in odd places at odd times, including many of the "Wrong Turn" rooms, where she is often dressed up in different costumes. She was played by Amanda Bishop.
• Puppet – The brothers' sidekick, roommate, and best friend. He dreams of becoming an actor and film director, and he can often be found practicing monologues or writing screenplays. He is interested in Shakespeare and enjoys playing unconventional roles. He is generally more rational than Shane and David, but is often just as silly as the boys. Puppet was performed and voiced by puppeteer Mat McCoy. He speaks in an American English accent.
• The Schmuzzies – A group of small, fuzzy creatures who live throughout the apartment. They come in a wide range of bright colors and speak a language called Schmuzzish ("Schmello, Schmuzzies!"). Shane sometimes appears to be scared of them, while David is good friends with them and is fluent in their language. The Schmuzzies were performed and voiced by three puppeteers: Emma de Vries, Virginia Goodfellow, and Alice Osborne.
• The Voice – An authoritative male voice who sometimes speaks to Shane and David, generally reminding the duo to knock before entering a room. The Voice sometimes demands specific types of knocks before giving the boys consent to enter a room. He was voiced by Adam Smillie.
• Action Fingers – Shane and David's superhero alter-egos, played by their hands with two fingers used as legs. They are named Knuckles (on Shane's left hand) and Pointy (on David's right hand). The Action Fingers appear whenever there is a small problem that needs solving, and their moves are accompanied by dramatic theme music. Their name is a pun on "action figures."
• Fido the Fly – Fido is Shane's imaginary pet fly who lives behind a tiny door in the apartment. He is an avid tennis player, enjoys techno dance music, and plays the trumpet. Fido communicates by buzzing (voiced by Shane), which only Shane can understand.
• Spot the Chair – Spot is David's pet chair. He likes to play a game called "Fly on the Chair" with Fido, whom he is good friends with. With the help of the Remote's "rotate" button, he is able to roll over. He only appears in "Pet Shop" and very briefly in "Picnic."
• Bob the Blanket – Bob is a talking white blanket belonging to David, who also performs his voice. He speaks in a rough voice with an American accent and employs a sardonic wit. Bob only appears in "Barbershop" and very briefly in "Camping."

Episode structure

Each episode begins with a cold opening showing one or both brothers in the middle of an activity. David introduces "the Remote" by pretending to hold a remote control. He explains that the Remote can control the action on-screen. He demonstrates by pressing various buttons, which control Shane's actions. The remote also has "wild card" buttons that cause strange or undesired effects. The main one is the "Upside Down" button, which causes the camera to shift to an upside down shot and can only be undone with the "Right Side Up" button. After explaining it, David offers the Remote to the viewer and gives it to them by reaching off-screen. The brothers ask the viewer to "press the Play button" to start the episode. This results in the viewer accidentally pressing the wrong button and putting the brothers in a bizarre situation.

The brothers encourage the viewer to press a button that will reverse the effect. The brothers commonly tell the viewers not to press the wrong button again, which results in a repeat of the same situation before the viewer is again encouraged to reverse the effect. Finally, the boys ask the viewer to press play, which starts the show's theme sequence. This sequence features the Action Fingers running and jumping over the show's title and credits. It ends with them running up to the apartment door, knocking on it, and opening it.

The episodes always begin in Shane and David's living room. Every episode features their sidekick Puppet and the Schmuzzies, who live with the brothers in their apartment. The central objective of each story is for Shane and David to get to a certain location. The brothers spend the episode searching for the location through the various doors, windows, and other places in their apartment. The brothers occasionally request help from the viewers, asking them to press buttons on their remote. Their journey takes them to three "Wrong Turn" rooms. The brothers' neighbor Mrs. Foil appears in the different rooms in various costumes, either helping them on their quest or unintentionally causing more trouble for them.

At one point on their journey, the brothers always encounter a child who teaches them something and sets them on the correct path. Eventually, they locate their destination "for the very first time" and visit the place in fast motion. The show ends with Shane and David back in their apartment. During the last few minutes of the show, they give the viewer an imaginary souvenir to thank them for their help throughout the episode.

Episodes

Home media

The complete series DVD was released on a two-disc set on 19 January 2012 as a manufacture on demand Amazon exclusive.

Reception

Critical reception

The series was critically acclaimed for its humor and broad appeal. Larisa Wiseman of Common Sense Media gave the series a 5-star review, calling it "refreshingly original; each episode is filled with clever jokes, puns, music, and tons of physical humor." Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "The Upside Down Show is not only good, but good for you ... But what matters most is that it is delightful ... I noticed, as I watched the show for the first time, that I was sitting cross-legged on the floor about a foot from the TV screen, absolutely entranced." Susan Stewart of The New York Times thought the series was "perfectly calibrated" for children and older viewers. Entertainment Weekly's Eileen Clarke wrote, "Tired of all that 'educational' stuff on TV for kids? Here’s a show that will let them wallow in the wacky, surf in complete silliness, and bandy in the bizarre." Writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, Evan McEvoy called the series "good enough to steal a few viewers from adult morning TV."

Awards

The Upside Down Show received three awards, all in 2007. Because the series was written and produced in America and filmed in Australia, it was eligible for awards in both countries. The show's opening theme won the Creative Craft Daytime Emmy Award for Main Title Design. The series also received a Parents' Choice Award Silver Honor for Television. Nick Jr. Australia received a Logie Award for The Upside Down Show in the category Most Outstanding Children's Program.

Notes

1. Nickelodeon Australia produced the pilot episode and provided funding for the main series.

References

1. Stewart, Susan (16 October 2006). "Press Play to Control the Grown-Ups". The New York Times. Their dialogue ranges from cutely inane to delightful and dovetails beautifully with their physical comedy.
2. Cooper, Marnie (16 September 2006). "TV shows aplenty for the juice-box kids -- Networks put on their thinking caps to develop quality programs". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, TN: Gannett.
3. ^ Kaplan, Don (27 December 2006). "Quitting Kids TV – 'Upside' Duo Talk About Getting Out Just As Hit Series Is Getting Started". New York Post. Bald-headed Shane Dundas and frizzyhaired David Collins who play brothers and use slapstick
4. ^ "Sesame, Nick go Upside Down". C21 Media. 17 March 2005. New York's Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon Australia and local prodco Blink Films are coproducing a new preschool series, The Upside Down Show.
5. ^ "The Umbilical Brothers – Speedmouse: The Return Of The Roadie at Royalty Theatre – Adelaide Fringe Interview". The Clothesline. 25 February 2016.
6. ^ Collins, David (30 January 2010). "Grab Your Remotes and Click for an Upside Down Movie!". This petition will show investors with insight and imagination that there is a great love of the show and they should join forces with Nickelodeon Australia (who by the way has been hugely supportive of trying to get the film made and have been partially funding the script development, but I digress).
7. ^ Collins, David (9 March 2017). "The Umbilical Brothers on Facebook". Out of curiosity - How many of you would like to see an Upside Down Show Movie? I have 2 hrs to collate likes and shares. Aaaand go.
8. Collins, David (18 January 2019). The Upside Down Show: 'Camping' Fun Fact.
9. ^ Collins, David (3 September 2019). "The Upside Down Show pilot photos".
10. ^ "Noggin Orders 'Upside Down'". TVWeek. 6 December 2005.
11. "The Umbilical Brothers - Home". 19 June 2007. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 19 June 2007 suggested (help)
12. "TV Listings: Friday, October 13, 2006". Newspapers.com. Boston, MA: The Boston Globe. 8 October 2006.
13. ^ "Preschoolers Take Control of Their Own Virtual TV Remote on NOGGIN's New Original Series, The Upside Down Show Premiering Monday, October 16". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020.
14. "The Upside Down Show - Starts August 25th @ 6:35PM on Nick Jr". Nickelodeon Australia. ViacomCBS. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006.
15. "The Umbilical Brothers on Facebook". 21 September 2008. There are no new episodes for the Upside Down Show...there is a script in development for a movie version of the Upside Down Show.
16. "Nick Jr. Characters: Mrs. Foil". Nick Jr. Australia. ViacomCBS. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006.
17. "Nick Jr. Characters: Puppet". Nick Jr. Australia. ViacomCBS. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006.
18. "Nick Jr. Characters: The Schmuzzies". Nick Jr. Australia. ViacomCBS. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006.
19. https://www.amazon.com/Upside-Down-Show-Season-Discs/dp/B005XE00M6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546963730&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Upside+Down+Show%3A+Season+1
20. Wiseman, Larisa (2006). "The Upside Down Show TV Review". Common Sense Media. Jim Steyer.
21. Lloyd, Robert (18 October 2006). "Not only good, but good for you".
22. Stewart, Susan (16 October 2006). "Press Play to Control the Grown-Ups". The New York Times.
23. Clarke, Eileen (12 October 2006). "A show that goes Upside Down? Whoa..." Entertainment Weekly.
24. McEvoy, Evan (17 October 2007). "The Upside Down Show". The Sydney Morning Herald.
25. "Complete list of 2007 Creative Craft Daytime Emmy Award winners". Los Angeles Times.
26. "Parents' Choice Awards: Spring 2007 Television". Parents' Choice.
27. "49th Annual TV Week Logie Awards (2007)". TV Week. 6 May 2007. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012.
28. "Noggin's Aussie show puts kids in control". C21 Media. 7 December 2005. The 13-episode series, a copro between Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon Australia and Aussie prodco Blink Films, features comedy duo The Umbilical Brothers.

External links

• The Upside Down Show on Nick Jr. (Australia)
• The Upside Down Show at IMDb
• Umbilical Brothers

• 2006 American television series debuts
• 2006 Australian television series debuts
• 2007 American television series endings
• 2007 Australian television series endings
• American children's television series
• American preschool education television series
• American television shows featuring puppetry
• Australian children's television series
• Australian preschool education television series
• Australian television shows featuring puppetry
• Nick Jr. original programming
• Noggin (brand) original programming
• Television series by Sesame Workshop