So, I know I’m totally going to give you the idea that all my kids do is watch TV, and this is completely one hundred percent not true.
However, the TV they do watch gives me something to write about, so here it is.
Forget Lazytown (as though I could forget it—it’s my single most popular entry ever)—Sophia got bored with Lazytown because it’s been the same five episodes in rotation for the past two months. The show to watch is The Backyardigans. How much do I love this show? I am tempted to watch it when the kids aren’t around. I sing the songs as I do the dishes. There are only nine episodes so far and I have all nine on our TiVo. I force people just visiting our house to watch some of this show.
I love this show.
Tyrone, Tasha, Pablo, Uniqua, and Austin
The Backyardigans is a show about five friends—Tyrone the moose, Tasha the hippo, Pablo the penguin, Uniqua the ladybug, and Austin the kangaroo (actually, I’m not sure what Austin is, and he’s the Backyardigan we see the least of anyhow)—who get together every day and have some theme to their play: ghosts, Tarzan, knights and quests, Mounties, Vikings. They all take roles in their adventure that pretty well fit with their personalities. At the end, they repair to one kid’s house for snacktime.
In between, there’s singing, dancing, and general silliness. What’s extremely excellent about this show is that there’s stuff in there for grownups that’s not sneaky or salacious: it’s just on a level most kids aren’t going to find funny in the same way. For example, three Backyardigans are chasing the Yeti across the North Pole:
TASHA
We need kayaks to cross
this water.
They suddenly spy three KAYAKS on the bank of
the river.
TYRONE
Well, that certainly is
convenient.
That line cracks me up everytime.
The songs in this show are incredibly memorable. While doing the dishes I like to sing the songs the Vikings sing as their Viking ship rounds a very powerful whirlpool, “You’ve Got To Hold On Tight”:
You've got to hold on tight Hold on tight You've got to hold on tight Hold on tight You've got to hold on tight with all your Viking might.
Darin’s favorite bit is when they sing a limbo while trying to avoid the laser beams during a super-secret spy mission.
This show has reignited my love of musicals, which has been dormant for some time. (My insistence on musical-only writing music has been helped by the fact that I dug out our CD collection and ripped about 150 of them recently. Of course, I can’t find the one I’m looking for, Linie 1. Sigh.) I want to write a children’s musical, I’m so inspired by this show.
Anyhow: The Backyardigans is on Nick Jr. I highly recommend checking it out.
(Tyrone the moose is my favorite, by the way. In case you’re wondering.)
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Update 2/16/05: Wow, lots of comments here! This entry is listed pretty high on Google when you search for “The Backyardigans” so I’m going to assume someone from Nick Jr. has found it. (Hi there! More Backyardigans episodes, please!)
A number of people have posted asking about Backyardigans-themed birthday supplies and other merchandise. As far as I’ve been able to find on the Web, there isn’t any! It might not be licensed yet or might not have gotten to stories yet. All I can say is: Hurry it up! You’ve got lots of customers waiting. If anyone does know of legit Backyardigans stuff, let me know and I’ll put it on this page.
I found a number of Backyardigans songs on LimeWire. I don’t know where they’re from, since a few things tell me they’re not recorded right off of the show. If the production company wanted to put out a CD with each and every song from the show on it, they’d have a bestseller. I think there are plenty of parents out there who wouldn’t mind putting that music on for their kids, and I’d rather pay royalties to the songmakers!
Evidently a new bunch of episodes will start airing in a week or two. I can’t wait…and I think the kids are excited too. All I can say is, keep ’em coming! More! More!
Update 8/11/05: The Backyardigans’ eponymously named CD is now out! The Backyardigans has 19 great songs on it, although it doesn’t include my personal favorite, “You’ve got to hold on tight.” I had downloaded some of these songs from Limewire, but I’m much, much happier having the actual CD in my hot little hand now.
Update 1/28/06: Wow. This entry has 747 comments!
There are a couple of Backyardigan DVDs out now, which means you don’t have to keep every episode on your TiVo any more.
The Snow Fort: Contains “The Snow Fort”, “The Yeti”, “Knights Are Brave and Strong”, and “Secret Mission”.
It’s Great To Be A Ghost: Contains “It’s Great To Be A Ghost”, “Monster Detectives”, “Key to the Nile”, and “Pirate Adventure”.
Polka Palace Party: Contains “Polka Palace Party”, “Heart of the Jungle”, “Viking Voyage”, and one I haven’t seen before — having tea in the Gobi desert. (Maybe it hasn’t aired yet?)
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Update 1/05/09: Yowsa. I am amazed at how lively this entry still is!
In response to many (many, many) comments on here: I came up with the idea that Uniqua is a ladybug from my then-4-year-old (who’s now about to be 9, but still loves the Backyardigans). I’m in complete agreement with everyone who says that Uniqua is just that: unique. I wasn’t paying a whole bunch of attention at the time, and I went with my 4-year-old’s assessment of Uniqua’s identity, ‘kay?
We love The Backyardigans too. I actually love it more than my son does, and he really loves it!
I have them all on TiVo too.
Thanks for the pointer to this interesting show. I set it up on season pass for Tivo yesterday and it looks like they are running a marathon today (its taped 5 episodes this morning!).
The kids were glued to this show and kept asking to see more episodes this morning. The pirate episode was very well done.
Thanks again for the pointers.
Oh and my boys didn’t like Lazytown at all. After 5 minutes, my oldest son Zachary said, “Daddy.. I don’t like this movie. Can you put on something else.” My youngest loves Dora and Blues clues which I still think are my favorites for them to watch.
It also airs on CBS on Saturday mornings, along with most of the rest of the Nick Kids lineup (Blue’s Clues, Dora, etc.). Very nice for those of us who don’t have cable.
I also love this show, probably more than my 14 month old. Although it does mesmerize her! Is there any place to find the lyrics to their songs? In particular, I’m looking for the song about the smelly lake. It’s hilarious and could come in handy 🙂
We love the Backyardigans too! We discovered the show in early November and have all the episodes on TiVo as well. (I wish new ones would come out soon). It’s funny how the songs stick in your head! My son (2 1/2) and daughter (11 months) watch it all the time! My daughter bounces up and down to the music…it’s so cute! My mother in law loves it too because of the signing and the choreography. It’s very entertaining for all! “I love being a Princess” and “A Pirate says Ugh” are so catchy!! I also love the lullaby to the memaid in the Pirate episode (hush, hush, hush little mermaid, goodnight).
This is a wonderful show that I would recommend to all moms and dads! Enjoy!
We love the backyardigans, too! I especially loved the Mountie episode, because my husband is a Mountie. I was just sorry he was sleeping when it was on.
Quality children’s programming is so hard to find. I love this show because the characters are usuing their imaginations and humour to entertain. Have you ever seen “George Shrinks”? ANother great show, maybe only available up here in the far north.
Treasure,Treasure,were looking for treasure, and the Backyardigans are a treasure, catchy song, great character, good story line..we need more treasure
I love the Backyardigans beyond belief! Uniqua is my favorite. I have downloaded the songs and sing them to my boyfriend.
Hope there’s a second season!!
Glad to see I’m not the only one writing about the Backyardigans. Uniqua is my favorite. I gotta be honest, I didn’t realize she was a ladybug till you said so. I thought she was a little monster – but a good one.
You can actually download their songs – if you dare….
Uniqua is my favorite. I gotta be honest, I didn’t realize she was a ladybug till you said so.
Well, Sophia said she was a ladybug, and that seemed right. But I see on TV Tome that “Uniqua is her name, and also her species – with her purple skin, pink spots, and dainty antennae, she doesn’t look like any other creature on the planet.” So maybe she’s not a ladybug.
You can actually download their songs – if you dare….
Where? Where? Where?
First, for the person who wants the song lyrics, go to http://www.nickjr.com and on the Backyardigans page, they have downloadable song sheets.
As for downloading songs, I supposed I shouldn’t admit it, but you can download a bunch from Lime Wire. I have the theme and Secret Agent (which sounds like an Astor Piazzolla tango to me!). I believe A Pirate Says Arrggghh! is also there.
Now that you’ve got me thinking Uniqua is a ladybug, that’s what she’ll be to me – I just love her slightly stuffy-nosed speaking voice.
I can’t believe I’m not the only ! I too have all the episodes on TiVo, and I just sang the lullaby to my 13 month old from the Viking Voyage episode.
If I ever need to get anything done around the house, I can’t count on my son staying put during that show.
I have a 2 1/2 year old grandson who loves the Backyardigan’s, but not more than me and his Mom and his Nana.
I heard them before I saw them and told my wife that thee was a gret new kids show that sounded like a Broadway musical. When I saw those little rascals dance I just laughed and laughed.
Now to my point. Where are they? We have been searching our cable including all of the Nick channels for three days now with not a sign that they ever existed.
WE WANT OUR BACKYARDIGAN’S BACK!! AND WE WANT THEM BACK NOW !!
What happened? It doesn’t matter to us if they run the same episodes over and over until they create new ones. Each time we watch we learn more of a particular song or just hear a memorable little voice again (like Uniqua or any of them really) of hear “Hold on Tight”, etc. You get my drift~
We are in South Texas and have Time Warner cable.
We want them back…….now!
Okay, I too am relieved. I am 32 years old and I can’t get enough of them, especially Uniqua. I was at a hotal in New York and it came on and I realized that I actually like the characters and the songs. Most of all I absolutely love the choreography!!!! I have been hooked ever since. I am going to look for the songs out there, I will find them!! My husband thinks I’m crazy, but even he starts singing the songs long after the show is over.
My newphew LOVES this show… if i didnt love it so much myself im sure i would have thrown TiVo out the window no matter what the situation hes bound to come and say i wanna watch backyardigans. now my newphew has somewhat of a speech problem, well he was just slow to learn. but he knows backyardigans for sure. sometimes at night when he drifting he’ll whisper “tyrone, uniqua…..”
I need the lyrics to the song Please and Thank you on the cd “The Adventure Begins.. The Backyardigans… Thank you for your help Crystal
We also adore the Backyardigans. I especially like their theme song.
My son was just dancing with Tasha on a Nick Jr “commercial.” (He’s 19mos, so his dancing is a lot of fun to watch)
Wow – great to see so many other people are watching the Backyardigans as well (with us parents).
My kids know all the episodes and songs – we’ve got them on TIVO as well of course.
Can’t wait for the new ones – any word on when we can expext them?
OK. I am 13 yrs old and my friend who is in 3rd grade.. and he watched that show and the show was sooo cool! I only saw one episode though but i love it! It was the one when Pablo was the Yeti and he sung the song Yeti Stomp. Well i was at this Radio Disney Noon Yrs Eve thing [i go there every yr because my dad has a stand there] and they were givin out there soundtrack for those few episodes and i am obsessed w/ that CD now! I like know all the words to all the songs. I love that show and i want 2 watch it all the time! I love the theme song 2! Its the best! Also i play piano and im tryin 2 find the notes to it! So i have to go so i can find the lyrics. ~Bye~
I LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I HEART THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I HEART THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I HEART THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I HEART THE BACKYARDIGANS!
I HEART THE BACKYARDIGANS!
We LOVE the Backyardigans too!!! I ask all my friends and family memebers about the show and NONE of them have a clue!!!!! I would like to make my son’s first bday a backyardigan party. Any one have a clue if this is possible??? I looked on birthday expressions.com but no luck. Pleae help, his bday is next month. Thanks! Glad to find other ppl who know greatness when they see it.
ha…well i have only seen one episode of this show AND I LOVE IT, im 13 by the way..ha i know im a little old but thats ok. The Yetti is awesome! keep more of the yettis comin
My 19 month-old only watches 2 shows & this is one! I think his fav. I, too, am looking for party supplies. I know, I’m early. But I know how hard Rolie Polie Olie was to find last year!! If anyone knows where Backyardigans supplies are please email!!!
Uhhm… I am 19, and saw this at home over Christmas Break since my mom does home day care…and I am addicted. I love it. love the song, love their dancing, they’re hilarious 🙂
I think this show is wonderful! I’m nineteen years old and my little brother got me hooked! The viking adventure is my favorite. I love the lullaby the vikings sing to the mermaid so much that I’m hunting for the lyrics to it. I want to do a mermaid theme to my daughter’s room when I have one some day, and this lullaby would be so perfect to sing to her! Anyway, Woo-hoo for the Backyardigans!
UNIQUA IS NOT A LADYBUG, SHE IS NOT LIKE ANY CREATURE ON THIS PLANET, HENCH SHE IS UNIQUE, AKA, UNIQUA… AUSTIN IS THE NEWCOMER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HE IS A KANGAROO….
I am 19 (yes, pathetic I know) and I just wantched an episode of The Backyardigans with my 12 yeard old sister. I have never loved a show more than I love this one! I’m a performer of musical theater, and when I saw Tyrone doing pull-backs in his tap number in the Ghost episode, I was clapping and cheering. My sister and I watched the characters sing and spot their turns like pros, and we can’t wait to watch another episode. Hooray for people over the age of 7 who adore this show! Long Live The Backyardigans!!
“Spy maple syrup”
“In case we need something sticky”
“Do Doo Doooo”
I too love the Backyardigans. My daughter is 14 months old and sways in time to the music. I happened on it by chance while watching prime time in the day time and now I don’t even bother switching back to my TV we just watch her 1/2 hour. I also love how there are no commercials and lots of songs. My fav. is the viking episode with the lullaby song. I can’t get enough of these guys. FYI some enterprizing people are selling Backyardigans stuff on e-bay!
What a fabulous show. I am really ready for some new episodes though. We also have them DVRd and it’s a staple on our television. Great music!!
My husband has also gotten on the Backyardigans kick. We do the opening dance and closing dance as a family with the TV characters. The repetition is helping my daughter with moves in her 2yr old dance class.
I have three kids ages 6, 6 and 3 and they absolutely love the Backyardigans. My son loves to pretend that he is Tyrone. He know all of Tyrone’s lines and tells the rest of us who we can be depending on the episode. The show has all the kids up and dancing — they love to do the limbo! The music is wonderful and we all love the characters.
Can I just say that I am addicted to the Backyardigans? We recently discovered tham at our house and we can’t say enough good things about a show that teaches kids to play in their backyards and make-pretend. The songs are SO sweet and the voices so memorable. I LOVE their songs! Oh ya, my daughters do too!!! Do they have any videos out???
My husband and I LOVE the backyardigans. Even my 9 month-old who has a small attention span will watch the whole show! I hope the episodes come out of dvd very soon!
HI EVERYONE
IM A NEW MOTHER AND MY NEWBORN SON LOVES WATCHING THE BACKYARDIGANS. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IT ONLY COMES ON IN THE MORNING. ALSO ON DEMAND HAS HAD THE SAME EPISODE ON ITS LIST FOR 1MONTH ALREADY(THE YETI) ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT I CANNOT FIND ANY BIRTHDAY DECORATIONS FOR HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY OF THEM. I REALLY WISH THEY CAN TREAT THIS SHOW LIKE IT WAS SPONGEBOB OR SOMETHING. BY THE WAY MY FAVORITE IS UNIQUA. AUSTIN IS A KANGAROO.
Our 2 yr old screams with joy everytime we play the Backyardigan videos on Nickjr.com. I mean, it is really hard for us to get her away from the computer once she’s “Riding the range” or doing “The Yeti Stomp”. Is any of their stuff on Dvd yet? Or at least a cd. The songs are great.
I am looking for party goods on the Backyardigans. Any help is appreciated.
I just printed coloring sheets from Nickjr.com of some of the carracters. My son loves the show.
Thanks Lori
I just wanted to say me and my 2yr old son can’t get enough of the BACKYARDIGANS. THE ROW YOUR BOAT SONG ON THE YETTI EPISODE IS THE BEST!!!!! WE DONT EVEN SING ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT THE OLD WAY ANYMORE. ME AND MY SON WATCHED THE YETTI EPISODE ABOUT 4 TIME ON ON-DEMAND AND WE KEPT REWINDING IT BACK TP THAT SONG . WE LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS WE WISH THEY HAD DVD’S WHEN THEY COME ON WE ARE AT WORK/SCHOOL SO WE ONLY SEE THE ON THE WEEKENDS OR ON ON DEMAND!!!!!!
Wow! What a show! We never miss it. It’s on twice a day here. The only drawback….WE NEED MORE EPISODES!!!! This is truely the best cartoon out there. My son’s favorite is “Ridin the Range”. He grabs his cowboy hats (one for me and one for him) and jumps on my back everytime it comes on and I sing, “ridin the range, ridin the range, ridin the range” and he does the “AH HOO” part. How hilarious!!!
Yay!!!!!!! Im 13, and am WAY relived that there are people older than me who like the show! Count your blessings, I have to go to school when its on, and only get to see it on saturdays….. if I get up.
YAY AGAIN!!!!!!! ~Nikki
MY 1 YEAR OLD LOVES THE BACKYARDIGANS! NO MATTER WHAT ROOM HE IS IN AT HOME, HE RUNS STRAIGHT TO THE TV WHEN HE HEARS THEM START TO SING. THIS IS THE ONLY SHOW HE WILL ACTUALLY SIT AND WATCH.
I am amazed and relieved to find others that seem to love The Backyardigans. I have been watching with my children and can not stop talking about each show. We are musical theater buffs in this house and jump w/ joy to see a cartoon modeled after a musical.
I hope it stays on. We have seen a lot of nick cartoons come and go.
I TOO AM A ‘BACKYARDIGAN’ LOVER. IT STARTED ON A LONG DAY AFTER TEACHING A PRE-SCHOOL/KINDERGARDEN CLASS. HALF OF THEM LIVE WITH ME SO THE DAY HAD JUST BEGAN. I TURNED ON THE T.V AND THERE WAS THIS AWESOME SONG THAT WENT ‘YOUR BACK YARD FRIENDS THE BACKYARDIGANS’ AND IT FIT THE LITTLE BUNCH OF REAL LIFE BACKYARD FRIEND THAT I WATCH AFTER SCHOOL. AND FROM THAT DAY FORTH WE WATCH OUR FAVIORATE SHOW EACH AND EVERY DAY.
if anyone knows how i can get that song “Yeti Stomp” please do tell, if there is a cd or if someone can send me the file or a link to download it, please email me with any information, my daughter is 4 and loves that song, and as the father i am, i trying my hardest to find this song, please help a needy father indeed,
thanks to all email me to nicholasbowton@aol.com with any info!!!
YETI YETI YETI YETI YETI!!!!! How do I go about adopting Pablo? He would make a really good fit in our family. I am more excited about this show than Dora when it first came out. I am hopeful that by Christmas of 2005 they will have Backyardigans merchandise in the stores. I would like more information on this show so if anyone could pass it along to me I will be sure to give you a “snow belly!”
Sincerely,
A Snowy North Expert
Look on eBay for Backyardigan products. I found a sample cd (only four songs) and even party favors featuring the fabulous fivesome. Hope this helps! Also, they are on Nick Jr. and Noggin here in the Dallas area.
Stomp, Stomp, Stomp…
wow you guys really like don’t you??!?!?!?
well you know what!!!! 32 years old and over aren’t supposed to watch shows like that!!! those shows are for your 3 year old kids!!!! leave the show to them don’t hog it!!!!
and why on earth are you trying to download the music!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?
weirdos
I discovered backyardigans while channel surfing a few weeks ago. and it was love at first sight! My girlfriend confessed to me that she had a favorite animal at the San Diego zoo when she was a little girl. It was a Hippo named Puddles. I have been teasing her and calling her Tasha. Today they had a promo for the show in which they showed the gang in an Egyptian location and I was all excited to see the episode, but when it came on, they went to the jungle to return a wormen to his family. But Tasha was not in the entire episode. WHY NOT! Is she on strike for more pay? Did she get killed along with Paul McCartney? Is Nick Jr. looking for a replacement? My girlfriend Vickie would be perfect. I am very disappointed in the production company for leaving Tasha out. I may have to write a song about what has happened to her. Of course if someone would send me a video of an episode or two I could be calmed down. Naturally Tasha must be present and I won’t accept a body double. My address is 3810 So. Redwood Road Apt# 2036 West Valley City, Utah 84119.
Does Anybody know where I can get a song by the Backyardigans, its called “I want my river back”
please let me know, because my 4.5 yr old daughter loves it and so do We.
Thanks.
Gustavo.
Just tapped into this site. On behalf of my sister who is the layout supervisor on Backyardigans – THANKS for liking the show!!! (if you actually watch the credits, you’ll catch the name Virginia Mielke). The team at Nelvana is hoping Nick Jr decides to continue the show – so tell Nick Jr!!!
Darlene Mielke
My daughter loves this show also. Does anyone know where to buy the toys or dvd’s if they even have any out there.
This is the best show ever and I am 27…lol I watch it even if my son is sleep