Try It You’ll Like It: Reconsidering Yo Gabba Gabba

My family was a little late to the Yo Gabba Gabba party— a Nick Jr. show that premiered in 2008. We were Sprout channel devotees, but the buzz on Yo Gabba Gabba sparked my curiosity. I’d read that the program featured fun, musical guests, including Weezer, The Ting Tings and The Roots, as well as celebrities like Jack Black and Elijah Wood. My kids love music, so I thought, why not give the show a try?

DJ Lance in his cool, orange track suit

At first, I felt duped. Clearly the show’s creators were reaching out to a generation of parents like me, who were born in the early 70’s. The show’s host, DJ Lance Rock, wears a furry orange hat, matching track suit and white sneakers. He looks like he could be a member of Deee-Lite (a band that rose to fame during my college years). Come to think of it, a lot of the psychedelic dance scenes in Yo Gabba Gabba seem inspired by Deee-Lite’s “Groove is in the Heart” music video.

Deee-Lite's Lady Miss Kier goes crazy

The show’s main characters can best be described as the Muppets meet the Uglydolls. Brobee, a green hairy monster with awkwardly long arms, is a modern day version of Oscar the Grouch. Muno is a tall, one-eyed red monster that is equal parts Big Bird and said Uglydolls. There’s also a pink creature named Foofa, a robot named Plex and Tootee: a blue cat/dragon hybrid.

Could the YGG crew be inspired by Uglydolls?

Muno: one of the characters from YGG

Most of the shows scenes feature these characters singing songs with a lesson attached. In between, are segments with preschoolers dancing in hip, Yo Gabba Gabba-themed clothing. The background colors are neon yellows, oranges and greens. Or sometimes, one of the featured dancers will be transformed into an Atari-like video setting, reminding parents of their Pac Man and Asteroid days of yore.

At this point, I’m thinking, okay, I get it. My kids are important, but I am Yo Gabba Gabba’s target audience. The show’s creators are smart enough to know that they have to appeal to preschoolers and their parents (not unlike Sesame Street). Their intentions are obvious, which made me want to forget Yo Gabba Gabba altogether. Come on, I thought, do you really think I’m that easily hooked? Uh huh.

The Aquabats costumes look familiar...

I found myself singing songs like “We Are the Tiny Ugly Germs,” while sweeping up crumbs after dinner, or “Don’t Be Afraid (It’s Okay),” when my daughter wakes in the middle of the night. But the biggest hook came in the form of Yo Gabba Gabba’s Super Music Friends Show. When the Aquabats—dressed in swim costumes reminiscent of Batman and Robin from 1968—sing the lyrics to their song “Pool Party,” it’s hard not to smile: Holy guacamole/we’ve got chips/so come and take a dip/cause my pool rips! And we all loved the Aggrolites singing “Banana,” an infectious reggae song that had us dancing for days.

Biz Markie drops a new beat

The Super Music Friends segment won me over. Suddenly, I felt like I was in college all over again. Yo Gabba Gabba was introducing me to new music and I liked it. And that wasn’t all. Other features from the show were grabbing me too. Biz Markie, best known for the 1989 hit, “Just a Friend,” offers kids the fun, Biz’ Beat of the Day. Watching my three and four-year olds try beat boxing is a hilarious experience—it never gets old.

Yo Gabba Gabba’s creators: if you’re reading this, congratulations! You have officially won over this reluctant, seventies-born Mom, and turned her into a fan.

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Nothing Says Happy Holidays Like an Oversized Nightie

The nightshirt in question

The holiday catalogs have arrived, and even though I can’t afford much this year, I still look. Most of them offer the expected—Pottery Barn’s picture perfect décor, LL.Bean’s cotton flannel shirts and Hanna Anderson’s red and green striped pajamas. Sure, these companies might mix it up with a few added styles, but other than a sale, new holiday tag line or special offer, the content never really changes.

Out of all the catalogs that have come in the mail, Orvis has tripped me up this year, not with their catalog design or product offerings, which are typically dowdy women’s clothing, pet beds, travel and hunting gear, but one singular product… the oversized “Sleeps with Dogs,” nightshirt, selling for $59.

Now don’t get me wrong, I have purchased items from this family-owned, Vermont company—a hallway bench, a wax jacket for my husband, a dog bed—but who in their right mind is going to want to pronounce, “I sleep with dogs?” It’s like asking your spouse never to have sex with you again. And this from a woman who sleeps in a fleece, sweatpants and wool socks for most of the winter.

I realize there are people who sleep with their pets. In fact, I have married aunt who has a guest room, where she and her dog bunk together. She watches late night television, reads and cuddles up with her big, furry companion, all in the name of respecting her husband’s early bedtime. But would she wear this shirt? No. Why? The woman has some taste.

Who, I want to know, would give this shirt to someone? Of all the holiday gifts you could choose, would you land on the “Sleeps with Dogs” nightshirt? Well, maybe if you didn’t like that person much.

So dear Orvis buyers, I get that your customers are dog lovers. I get that you sell leashes, feeding bowls and coffee mugs with Golden Retrievers on them. But the Sleeps with Dogs nightshirt should go straight to the Annual Tent Sale in a large bin for $1.99. And if I’m wrong, let me know. Of course, if you redesign it for a real dog, like a St. Bernard, then the “Sleeps with Dogs,” nightshirt might be a hit.

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Will’s First Encounter with Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera and Heidi Klum on Project Runway

I was lounging on the couch, eating red Twizzlers and watching Project Runway, where the contestants were designing a Bob Mackie-inspired dress for guest judge, Christina Aguilera. The show is my number one guilty pleasure (reading Entertainment Weekly from cover to cover is a close second), and in rare moments when I can watch Project Runway uninterrupted, I’m in a pure state of couch potato bliss.

Just when the contestants’ models were about to walk the runway, a call came from upstairs. “Mama! Where are you?” Will is getting his two-year molars—his finger is almost always lodged into the corner of his mouth—and he’s having trouble sleeping. Even though Project Runway was recorded on the DVR, I didn’t want to wait for the ending. I asked him if he wanted to watch a show with me, which might as well have been a rhetorical question.

We cuddled together on the couch, and I wondered (briefly) if Project Runway was appropriate for a two-year old. Unless one of the models walked down the runway naked, which I knew wasn’t happening, I couldn’t imagine the show would make an impression on his young mind. He pointed to Christina Aguilera. “Who’s that girl?” he wondered. I told him she’s a singer. Will paused and considered her for a moment. “She needs a sweatshirt,” he said.

Christina on the judging panel. Could she be chilly?

I looked at Christina’s bare arms and low-cut blue dress and had to agree. “Yes, Will,” I said. “She could probably use a sweatshirt.” I thought about Aguilera in her pre-motherhood, Dirrty days, wearing nothing but chaps and a muddied bikini top in a music video, and thought her blue number was decisively more conservative. But still. This is Project Runway, couldn’t she have stepped it up a notch, especially for the fashion savvy Tim Gunn? A two-year old and his mother certainly think so.

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Thanks Pottery Barn Kids

PBK's Ultimate Barbie Dream Room

Pottery Barn Kids arrived in the mail last week, and as I’m apt to do, I tossed the catalog aside. The high prices, combined with the über-organized kids’ rooms are too much for me. The catalog’s photography instills feelings of inadequacy, as in; I wish my play space looked that good. Or more accurately, I wish I could afford a room like that. I understand that catalogs have to visually appeal to customers to sell merchandise, but I’m asking, does anyone know a kid whose room reflects the catalog? Infants don’t count here. I’m talking moving, active, curious kids with lots of toys and books. Is a Pottery Barn Kids’ room really possible?

One thing that I never imagined was finding my 3-year old flipping through the pages of the PBK catalog. After dinner, I discovered her eyeing a spread that celebrated, “50 Years of Barbie,” with a sub-headline that reads, “Inspired by her classic style, our exclusive bedding creates the ultimate dream room for your biggest Barbie fan.” Who knew Barbie had classic style? I think back to some of the hot pink 80′s numbers my Barbie wore, and classic doesn’t come to mind, but I digress. Lauren was eyeing the all pink bedroom with great interest. I asked her if she liked the room, and she said, “Yeah (as in duh, Mom). It’s all pink!”

A few days later, we were in her bedroom, and she casually brought up the catalog. “Do you know, I saw that room in that book, and everything was pink. The bed was pink. The walls were pink. It was pinkalicious!”* I laughed out loud—amazed by how Pottery Barn Kids could influence a 3-year old. I mentioned that pink was already part of her room—there are pink rosebuds in her quilt and throw pillows. Plus I like that her walls are a contrasting blue, no need to go all Pepto Bismol here. “But I want it,” she said. “I want a pink room.”

Sigh. What’s a parent to do? I’m going to hold out hope that her favorite color changes. If not, I guess you’ll find Ted and I painting her room pink one weekend. But there is no way I’m buying a Barbie duvet cover, coordinating dupioni silk quilt and tulle bed skirt. That’s where I draw the (pink) line.

*Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann & Elizabeth Kann is one of Lauren’s favorite books, and definitely worth a read.

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Love the Drama

Johnny Drama: King of the One-Liners

Entourage: Season 5 is available on HBO on Demand, and I’m convinced that these funny, half-hour episodes are designed for parents with little kids. The show—about a hot, young celebrity named Vincent Chase, and his 3 quirky friends—offers escapism at its best. Anyway, all of this TV watching has been eating away at my late night writing time, but who can resist a show with quotes like this one:

“A lot of great artists are late to potty train.” -Johnny Drama, explaining why he was still wetting his bed at age 8.

My nearly 2-year old son, Will, isn’t at all interested in the potty, but this line gives me new found hope. See? Watching TV is good for something other than procrastinating.

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The Show Must Go On

Jon and Kate

While I’m not proud to admit it, I’ve been following the saga that is Jon & Kate Plus Eight. It’s hard to avoid the attention-getting Yahoo! headlines and television news stories about the couple’s rocky relationship.

I started watching the show after having a second child—15 months after the arrival of my first. In its early days, Jon & Kate Plus Eight brought me some much-needed peace of mind. If this couple could manage eight young children then I could certainly handle two.

My husband questioned my devotion. “This show is painful to watch,” he said. “We live this stuff everyday.” And while he made a point, I continued to tune in, taking notes on how Jon and Kate Gosselin managed family trips, discipline, chores and schedules.

But I stopped watching right around the time my daughter transferred from a crib to a toddler bed. It took her forever to settle down at night and with our downtime dwindling away, the last thing I wanted to do was watch similar challenges unfold on television.

Flash forward to the current season, where tabloid fodder has taken center stage. I had invested time in the Gosselin family, and I wanted to see if they could make it through a difficult period.

When I last left Jon and Kate, they were living in a modest, Pennsylvania home. They now lived in a sprawling compound, complete with security guards, due to trouble with the paparazzi. And recent episodes featured visits from other television stars, including celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. This new Jon & Kate Plus Eight seemed too Hollywood, too forced.

I would have given up on the show altogether if there wasn’t the very real undercurrent of a couple struggling with their relationship. Sure, it’s awkward and uncomfortable to watch two people bicker and slowly break down, but it is real.

During the course of our 13-year marriage, my husband and I have seen close friends struggle and divorce. The separation often feels like a death—the two people you know so well are no longer a unit—and it hurts. You want them to get past the tough period, and come out better on the other side.

I imagine this is why viewers are still tuned in to Jon & Kate Plus Eight. Their audience feels as though they know this family, and they want assurances that everything will eventually be okay.

And will Jon and Kate make it? During Monday night’s episode, when the couple announced their separation, Kate said she didn’t want to continue alone. And Jon said it’s hard to say what will happen.

I’d prefer to see the Gosselins walk away from the show, but who knows what contractual agreements Jon and Kate have with TLC, or if life doesn’t seem as hard or lonely when you’re in the public eye. Whatever the reason, I’ll be watching—as long as my children go to bed on time.

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Mother of Invention?

 

Does this woman have super organizational powers?

I have a love/hate relationship with Cookie magazine. On one hand, I appreciate their overall concept—to offer content that balances the needs/wants of both parents and children. I enjoy casually browsing through a spread of office-ready outfits, as much as I like their fun suggestions for kids’ books and music.

That being said, it’s hard to believe their fashion editor thinks the average parent can afford a $559 tote bag, or would be crazy enough to buy a $187 silk, Marc Jacobs jumpsuit for a 4-year old. But I get it—this is a glossy, Condé Nast publication. Cookie is more about inspiration than reality.

Still, after reading the May issue’s Smart Cookie: Mother of Invention, a section that features savvy entrepreneurs and parents, I was ready to throw Cookie out the window.

May’s Mother of Invention features a Beverly Hills mom and high-end designer named Kelly Wearstler—best known for her hosting gig on Bravo’s Top Design. According to the article, Wearstler took it upon herself to makeover her son’s classroom, which she says, felt like a closet.

The writer does her best to make Wearstler appear just like you or me, citing that the designer—despite her busy work schedule—drives the boys 90-minutes round trip from Beverly Hills to their school in Los Angeles each day. And after all that driving, she still takes time to have dinner with her family.

And maybe Wearstler really is an über-mother. I’m sure she doesn’t have extra help at the house or a driver. I mean, when you’re working on hotel projects in Miami and Anguilla, plus designing a home-linens collection for Neiman Marcus, you wouldn’t need those perks, right?

So, I’m able to suspend belief until the part of the article that discusses Wearstler’s organizational tips for parents:

 “Just try to have a place for everything,” she advises. “If you’re organized, your kids will be organized,” she adds with a laugh, perhaps realizing how hopelessly high her standards may be. “My boys know they’re not supposed to mess up the house.”

This tidbit struck a chord. In my former life without children, I was very organized. Now I try my best, but really, it’s hard—even with neat shelving units from IKEA for my kids’ toys. So, I’m having trouble relating to the Mother of Invention at this point.

Wearstler’s boys are 2-plus years older than my own children. And maybe 5 and 6 year olds have organizational skills that are highly developed. I don’t know. But at 2 and 3, my children don’t really care if the house is organized or not. Sure, Lauren recognizes that I like a clean house. In fact, just last week, while Ted was shampooing our bedroom carpet to remove a pee stain, she beamed at me and said, “Daddy is making Mommy happy!” But will she pee on the floor again? Probably.

And I’ll admit it. Maybe I’m a little jealous of Wearstler. If her boys are really that organized, than she’s more than just the Mother of Invention. She should be Mother of the Year.

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