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Yo Gabba Gabba!
File:Yo-gabba-gabba logo.jpg
Created by	Christian Jacobs Scott Schultz
Starring	Lance Robertson
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	28
Production
Producer	Justin Lyon
Running time	23 minutes per episode
Original release
Network	Nick Jr.
Release	August 20, 2007 – present

Yo Gabba Gabba! is a children's television series currently airing on the Nick Jr. and Noggin cable networks in the United States and the Nick Jr. networks in the United Kingdom and Australia. Created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, the program is produced by The Magic Store and Wild Brain. Executive producers are Charles Rivkin and Jon Berrett.

The series premiered August 20, 2007 on Nick Jr. and began broadcasting February 23, 2008 on Noggin. It has been renewed for a second season to air later in 2008.

On April 30, 2008, the series received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling.

Overview

Hosted by a human character named DJ Lance Rock, the series features a mix of live-action segments with cartoonish costumed characters Muno the red cyclops, Foofa the pink flower bubble, Brobee the little green one, Toodee the blue cat-dragon and Plex the robot, plus many short animated sketches and musical numbers.

In its first season, the show featured a wide variety of guests, including Leslie Hall, The Shins, The Aggrolites, Cornelius, Biz Markie, Shiny Toy Guns, Supernova, Mark Mothersbaugh, Rahzel, The Postmarks, Sugarland, Tony Hawk, Low, Laila Ali, Elijah Wood, Mýa, The Salteens and series co-creator Jacobs' band, The Aquabats.

The absurd style of humor used in the show is intended, like The Aquabats, to appeal to adults through its manic, frenzied approach to wholesome messages, while at the same time carrying all the content of the average Nick Jr. program for the whole family.

Among the varied animation sequences during the show is Super Martian Robot Girl, designed by indie cartoonists Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer.

MP3 demos were available from an official Yo Gabba Gabba site as early as June 2006, before a network had picked up the show.

Cast

• DJ Lance Rock - (Lance Robertson)
• Muno - Josh Bally / David Crespin (voiced by Adam Deibert)
• Foofa - Emma Jacobs (voiced by Emma Jacobs)
• Brobee - Erin Pearce / Tara Pearce (voiced by Amos Watene)
• Toodee - Melissa Rossiter / Charme Morales (voiced by Erin Pearce)
• Plex - Lindsay Kraus (voiced by Christian Jacobs)

Gabba Gang Descriptions

• Muno

A red cyclops, Muno is easily worried and scared about trying new things. When he is scared of trying something new or something else, his friends are always there to comfort him and bring his confidence back. He is portrayed by Josh Bally and David Crespin and voiced by Adam Deibert.

• Foofa

A happy pink monster with a flower on top of her head, Foofa is an optimistic character. She is extremely maternal, as she will comfort anyone who is scared and encourage whoever's afraid to try something new. She is portrayed and voiced by Emma Jacobs.

• Brobee

Most likely the youngest of the Gabba gang, Brobee is, like Foofa, optimistic. It is revealed in the episode, "Birthday" that he is four years old. Brobee used to be selfish and not share his toys, but soon learned, "It's more fun to share!" Brobee is the only one who has a smiling costume and a frowning costume (used when he is anxious, sad or mad). When he suddenly becomes happy while the frowning costume is in view, an animated, colorful burst will appear and then Brobee will revert back to his smiling costume. Brobee is portrayed by Erin and Tara Pearce and voiced by Amos Watene.

• Toodee

A blue cat-dragon, Toodee is the "firecracker" in the Gabba gang. She is always full of energy, which is the main reason why she is usually the one who causes the problems that lead to a musical number, such as cutting in front of Foofa or taking Brobee's ball away without permission. She is portrayed by Melissa Rossiter and Charme Morales and voiced by Erin Pearce.

• Plex

Most likely the oldest of the five because of his knowledge and teaching of the others, Plex is a magic yellow robot. He is portrayed by Lindsay Kraus and voiced by Christian Jacobs. He can do tricks, such as stretching his arms out really far, solve difficult math equations (and remember the answer, too) and make things (and people) appear and move around with the antennae on top of his head. A red light on the top of his antennae blinks when his energy is low. If he does not make it to his charger in time, the screen where his eyes are will shut off and he will shut down. He is the only one who does not have his own land, and the reason for it is unknown. When he goes to bed, he must be hooked up to a machine station in Foofa's land. When one of his Gabba friends must learn something (for example, not cutting in line and trying new foods), Plex usually starts the song that goes along with the lesson.

Regular segments

• Mark's Magic Pictures, featuring Mark Mothersbaugh, teaching viewers how to draw an object or animal
• Biz's Beat of the Day, starring Biz Markie, demonstrating new beatboxing beats
• The Super Music Friends Show, featuring musical guests
• Dancey Dance Time, featuring celebrity guests performing dance moves with the characters
• Cool Tricks, in which a child or adult demonstrates a special talent (i.e. gymnastics, breakdancing, playing a theremin or hanging a spoon off their nose.)
• Storytime, where a child is narrating a story (i.e. Moochy & Pooty, Goon Fishin')
• Super Martian Robot Girl, featuring a helpful comic book-style superhero
• Learn with Plex, where Plex four steps on how to do something and repeats each step.
• Play Pretend with Muno, where Muno pretends to be something twice.
• Listen with Toodee, where Toodee listens to sounds and the first might be kind of silly.
• Color with Brobee, where Brobee thinks of a color, and it appears in the background.
• Play Games with Foofa, where Foofa wants to play a game and finds the answer easily.

Broadcast schedule

Canada

• Treehouse TV

United States

• Nick Jr.
• Noggin

United Kingdom

• Nick Jr.

Episodes

Pilots (2006)

Season 1 (2007-2008)

Season 2 (2008-2009)

Critical reception

Time magazine's James Poniewozik named Yo Gabba Gabba! one of the Top 10 new TV series of 2007, ranking it at #8.

References

1. "Nick Jr. Greenlights Second Season of Yo Gabba Gabba! and Orders 20 New Episodes of Critically Acclaimed Live-Action Preschool Music Series", PR Newswire, 18 December 2007
2. "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces 35th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations", 30 April 2008
3. Garofoli, Joe: "Preschooler TV goes hip with 'Yo Gabba Gabba'", San Francisco Chronicle, 17 August 2007
4. evandorkin: The Last Round-Up (Pre-TCAF)
5. Dollar, Steve: "Gimme Gimme Gabba Gabba", Print, September/October 2007
6. New York Magazine - Elijah Wood Does the Puppet Master
7. "Nick Jr. Begins Production on Season Two of Acclaimed Live-Action Preschool Music Series Yo Gabba Gabba!, Produced by the Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN, Beginning Monday, May 12", PR Newswire, 28 April 2008
8. Poniewozik, James: "Top 10 New TV Series", Time, 2007

External links

• Official website (Flash-enabled browser required)
• Nick Jr. site
• Yo Gabba Gabba Fansite
• Yo Gabba Gabba Forum

• Children's television series
• 2000s American television series
• 2007 television series debuts
• Nick Jr. shows
• Programs broadcast by Treehouse TV