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The Backyardigans

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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.

backyardigans.jpg

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?)

 
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?

Filed Under: TV

Comments

  1. My neice LOVES the backyrdigans. You can find great mercahdise, from shoes to bithday invites on E-bay!!

  2. Austin should get with Uniqua.
    I’ve got it all planned out in my head.
    Austin is moving away and uniqua is especially upset
    so she kisses him goodbye and tells him not to forget her.
    And then 14 years later when they’re 21 or so they reunite and on it goes from there…..

    See how boring school can get?!
    That I think up these things?!

  3. Uniqua should be with Tyrone and Pablo should be with Tasha. Austin should wait for a new girl to move in. I disagree completeley with the person who said that Uniqua should get with Austin.

  4. Uh, thanks for that Jamie!!!
    Seriously!
    No… Tyrone should get with Tasha because they have the same shaped heads, and Austin and Uniqua, and then Pablo waits for somebody else.
    …
    Or not
    …
    Don’t worry, I’m an Austin fan. I don’t like Tasha so there’s only Uniqua. Unless someone else comes in too, like you said.
    I don’t know!!!
    They soooo have to make a movie and put some drama in it!!!

  5. The songs are great and there is a sublte sense of humour, it’s really a very clever show, my 3 1/2 y.o. watches them every morning. We need more shows! I should be getting ready for work, but I’m kind of glued here….

  6. heyy backyardigan fans!! i am absolutely in ♥ with the backyardigans!! i found a list of all the episodes and we in america have not seen at least 7 of them!!!! i am so disappointed!! also my cousin, my brother and i all dont like tasha because we think she is way too full of herself

    1) in the yeti episode where she keeps bragging how she is the “frozen north expert”

    2) in the key to the nile episode where she is just wayy too snotty for never saying please or thank you

    3) in the knight episode where she says she rules the whole backyard (which is the whole wide world since they have the whole wide world in their yard to explore) and also she says “bring me this” they say “yes your majesty”

    4) the ghost episode when she boasts that she is not afraid (im glad tyrone got her in the end)

    ok im done dont hate me!!!

    i do have to say that i like tasha’s “theres in echo in this canyon” song though….

    the backyardigans should soooo be on more than once a day!!! how about prime time or something!

    WRITE BACK TO ME PEOPLE!!! i noticed how hardly anybody writes back on this page… i want to be written back to!!!!

    I ♥ U BACKYARDIGANS!!

  7. WOW! my favorite episode was the super villans and heros!! Do the people who play the vioces of the characters sign also? just a quick Q.

  8. What’s with the new episodes? On Noggin they talk about a Country Polka one and a South Dakota one, but the episode is one of the older ones?

  9. omg!! i love the backyardigans!! its lyk my new favorite show, my friend jus told me about, and now i get up every morning to watch it!! i think im gonna buy the CD! and i want a backyardigans charm for my bracelet. The songs are great and there is a sublte sense of humour, it’s really a very clever show, my 3 1/2 y.o. watches them every morning. That is my fav show and it is so neat that even adults like u can watch tv shows i used to watch dora the explora every day.Oh my goodness I thought I was alone.

    i love all of the backyardigans but its nice to no that Uniqua is a ladybug i always thought she was unique and thats why she was named Uniqua i love Pablo and uniqua the best though they are so funny

    bye for now
    Lacie

  10. The Backyardigans is mine and my son’d favorite show as well. This the best kids show ever in my book, only tp be beat by the old seasme st back in my day =)

  13. Okay, last one for now…. 🙂

    I had been searching for videos or DVDs on the Backyardigans for my 2 year old daughter, and had come across the information that each character has a singing actor, a voice actor, and (I’m not 100% sure of this…) a dancing actor. Such as, Uniqua’s speaking voice is LeShawn something but her singing voice is Jamia something (forgive me for not remembering the last names…just showing you what I mean).

  14. I have tripplets they love the backyardigans! I am looking for party decorations with this theme for their 2nd birthday 08-27th…does anyone know where to find anything backyardigans?

  15. Wow! I just searched for Backyardigans and found all this! My son and I love the show and never miss it. Did you know that Noggin also airs it. In fact, I have On Demand and can find out which episode will be on and Noggin has listed episodes we’ve never seen on Nick Jr. So, Nick Jr. better hurry up and show more. We just adore this show! And love the songs. They are very catchy and we sing them all day.

  16. The Backyardigans is a HUGE hit with both my 2 & 6 year old daughters. Thay absolutely love to sing and dance along with the shows.

  17. Kohls has recently added some Backyardigans merchandise–shirts, pajamas and sneakers. I could not find party stuff anywhere but ebay, and it wasn’t that great. I am making my own from some of the things on the nickjr web site. My local bakery is making pictures on a cake of the characters from a picture I printed out.

  18. My nephew loves The Backyardigans. His birthday is coming up so we decided to do a Backyardigans themed party. The party is supose to be a Backyardigans showdown where all the the girls wear jeans skirt and a hat and the boys wear jeans and a bandana. The problem is that the Backyardgians show isn’t as popular as the othe Nick jr. shows. Meaning that there aren’t alot of supplies or party favors in stores. So i was wondering if any one knows where to find any Backyardigans supplies to please email me, to ensure that this little boy has the best birthday ever.
    P.S i love the Backyardigans

  19. Whew I thought it was just me that LOVES this show along with my 5th and last child. Nothing like a 40 year old woman singing along with a toddler and my favorite Tasha!

    I have had my very own preschoolers in my house for 20 years and this ranks right up there with the best!

    We will definitly have a Backyardigan birthday party in our backyard with lots of make-believe.

    Thanks for the great website!!

  20. my 4 yr old and i love the Backyardigans, too. clever and adorable, aren’t they? my parents (the grandparents) just saw and episode and were raving about it to me…a cartoon that is enjoyed by ages 1-99, well 1-54 anyways…how often does that happen. and by the way, i found this site searching for a Backyardigans birthday cake. c’mon now, i know there are tons of creative bakers out there…what are you waiting for?

  21. My daughters birthday is in November, I would like to make it a BACKYARDIGAN birthday party but it is rare to find things…She will be 2 years old and LOVES the show…I got her a DVD so far online because I had called stores (Chicago) and they were out after they came out. She dances and stumps like them…..
    I hope they start selling some BACKYARDIGANS b-day party supplies soon…

  22. Excuse me, but all of the Backyardigans are newcomers, not just Austin. If they say that Austin is the new kangaroo on the block, they are WRONG. Austin is just timid. Tasha is also timid sometimes. And in the episode “It’s Great to Be a Ghost”, Tasha fibs by saying she is not afraid of anything. She truthfully IS afraid of ghosts and haunted houses, as in the episode. By the way, how did they come up with the name Backyardigans?

  24. It is NOT Corwin C. Tuggies, it’s Corwin C. Tuggles. What, are you stupid? TV Tome is WRONG! You all know better than that! Corwin C. Tuggles performs Tyrone’s singing (not talking) voice. I saw that on the Treehouse TV website.

  26. Pablo is NOT a penguin. He is a CROSS between a bluebird and a penguin. Could Uniqua be a tortoise with a pair of antennae, no shell, and pink spotted skin?

  27. What song is “Go, Go, Go”? Is that song on The Backyardigans? And on which episode of The Backyardigans is “You and Me to the Rescue”?

  28. All of the Backyardigans are unique in cetain ways, not just Uniqua. Plus, all of the Backyardigans are like each other (including Uniqua), in the way that they are all Backyardigans, or Backyard Friends. Actually, there are eight Backyardigans, not just five, because there are eight houses at the beginning of each episode, but we only see five of them during the first season. We do not see the other three until later in the program, during the next season.

  29. I HAVE A ALMOST 3 YEAR OLD AND EVERY TIME THE BACKYARDIGANS COME ON AND THE VIDEO “RIDING THE RANGE” COME ON HE DRAGGES HIS HORSE OVERE TO OUC TV AND JUMPS ON HIS HORSE AND RIDES WITH THEM. (ITS A ROCKING HORSE!!) WE LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS!!!!!!!

  30. My daughter is 2 and she is in love with the backyardigans,Well I have to say I like them alot also.We have the cd and a dvd that is always on when they aren’t on tv, and the cd is in the car and that is first thing she says when we get in. I just wish they would make toys of them my daughter would go crazy. If anybody knows where I can find toys let me know please!!

  31. My daughter has been captivated by The Backyardagiand since she was about 5 months old! From the time the first piano cord starts and the characters start singing she is extatic! She starts waving to them claping her hands. It’s the cutest thing in the world. The very first episode we caught was the one about them finding Tiki Beach. “Mystery Lifegaurd” has become our favorite song to sing. My husband and I will be making dinner and find ourselves singing that song to her, and “Rad Moves!” I’ve been looking for merchandise forever and finally came across some Uniqua underware, and pajamas at Kholes. Everytime we go into Toys “R” Us, we ask about them and everytime the answer is, “your the 5th person to ask me about them today, no, we still don’t have anything on them.” It’s very frusterating! WHAT’S TAKING SO LONG?????? We want everthing Backyardagians!! Keep us posted, PLEASE!!!!!
    Thanks,
    Alexis Lietzan, Fredericksburg, Virginia.

  32. OUR SONS BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP…… DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET BACKYARDIGANS STUFF?????? ANYONE????

  33. they know youre a pirate when they hear you say ARRG!!!! im 19 and love this show. its kewl! 🙂 ~*~*~*~*JoHn~*~*~*~*~

  34. Hey, tasha and Austin are not Husband and wife in Knights are brave and strong, Tasha is not timid, there are not 8 backyardigans with more appearing in the 2nd season, Uniqua is not a tortoise, pablo is not a cross betweena bluebird and a penguin, and the song you and me to the rescue is on the snow fort.
    Go go go is from race around the world, on the backyardigans.
    They’re called backyardigans because they play in the backyard and they kind of own it.
    They go out for adventure: Backyard-igan.
    All your q’s answered in one easy entry.
    :):):):):):):):):):):)
    luv Tam

  35. I have song files saved in my yahoo e-mail account if you want to e-mail me I’d be happy to forward them to you. FOR FREE!!!!!!

    I have 66 songs from the following episodes including the begining and end theme songs (869k):

    Great to be a Ghost (4475k)
    • Great to be a Ghost (Part 1)
    • Great to be a Ghost (Part 2)
    • Hide and Go Boo
    • What’s So Scary ‘Bout That
    • When I’m Booing

    Heart of the Jungle (5916k)
    • Hey Sherman
    • I’m Tarzan
    • Into the Thick of It
    • Its Raining

    Key to the Nile (5545k}
    • 3 Presents for the Sphinx
    • I Love Being a Princess (Part 1)
    • I Love Being a Princess (Part 2)
    • I Want My River Back
    • Please and Thank You

    Knights are Brave & Strong (4956k)
    • A Message (Part 1)
    • A Message (Part 2)
    • A Message (Part 3)
    • Knights are Brave & Strong
    • Queen Tasha
    • Stinky
    • Uniqua is Brave & Smart & Strong

    Pirate Treasure (4904k)
    • A Pirate Says Aargh (Part 1)
    • A Pirate Says Aargh (Part 2)
    • Scurvy Pirate
    • Falling Off a Log
    • Treasure (Part 1)
    • Treasure (Part 2)

    Quest for Flying Rock (5269k)
    • Float, Flutter, Fly
    • Flying Rock
    • Questing
    • Shake
    • Trudge

    Riding the Range (4685k)
    • Dance by the Light of the Moon
    • Echo in the Canyon
    • Riding the Range (Part 1)
    • Riding the Range (Part 2)
    • Texas Here We Come (Part 1)
    • Texas Here We Come (Part 2)

    Secret Mission (5003k)
    • Secret Agent (Part 1)
    • Secret Agent (Part 2)
    • Secret Agent Limbo
    • Sneaking & Hiding (Part 1)
    • Sneaking & Hiding (Part 2)
    • Treasures of Ancient Egypt

    Snow Fort (3831k)
    • I’m A Mountie
    • Ski Patrol
    • Snowball Duty
    • Someone’s In There

    Surf’s Up (4587k)
    • Cruisin the Dunes
    • Ho Daddy
    • Rad Moves (Part 1)
    • Rad Moves (Part 2)
    • Surf’s Up
    • Tiki Beach

    Viking Voyage (4129k)
    • Extra Extra Tough
    • Hold on Tight
    • Hush Little Mermaid
    • If You want to be a Viking (Part 1)
    • If You want to be a Viking (Part 2

    Yeti (3949k)
    • Is Too
    • No Way
    • Row Your Boat
    • Snow Going
    • Yeti Stomp

    PLEASE NOTE: The songs are in Windows Media (.wma) format you have to convert them to a wav file in order to burn them to CD they are NOT the greatest sound quality but they do the trick for our kids!

    ***THE FILES ARE QUITE BIG AS YOU CAN SEE PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH ROOM IN YOUR IN-BOX TO ACCOMADATE THESE LARGE FILES THIS WILL HELP ME AVOID GETTING ERROR MESSAGES STATING THAT YOU ARE OVER YOUR QUOTA***

    My e-mail address is

    myzermodsquad@yahoo.com

    Stacey

  36. Backyardigans DVD (10 Episodes)

    The Backyardigans DVD contains the first 10 episodes of thier first season. It was recorded to a DVR and then to DVD using 6-hour mode. The quality isn’t great, but it’s decent enough for a toddler to enjoy. This DVD is a BACKUP copy, so you must have previously recorded these episodes yourself, and in purchasing this DVD you certify that you have done so.

    these are the episodes on the DVD:

    1. Viking Voyage
    2. The Heart of The Jungle
    3. The Snow Fort
    4. Secret Mission
    5. The Key To The Nile
    6. Riding The Range
    7. Knights are Brave & Strong
    8. It’s Great To Be A Ghost
    9. Pirate Treasure
    10. The Yeti

    To purchase this DVD For only 7 dollars (US FUNDS) please click on this link

    http://www.jimtrottier.com/cms/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&Itemid=&func=view&catid=24&id=1214#1214

    I have have bought this DVD for my Children as well as for my nephew! Let me tell you it does do the trick! You can tell that yes it’s recorded from the television but IT”S THE BACKYARDIGANS!!

    well worth the 7 dollars in my books!

    Stacey

  37. I’m 12, almost 13 and i LOOOOVE the backyardigans. My favorites are Uniqua and Austin and my favorite epi. is the flying rock, such a cute catchy song, when they’re finding the flying rock

  38. My 4 years son and I just discovered The Backyardigans and this is his (our) new “fever”. You know kids use to change from one hero to another; well as he’s been growing up, he’s been through Pooh, to Barney, to Veggietales, to Power Rangers, and now The Backyardigans. His father, when first viewed the ‘famous and most talked about cartoons’, he chocked because of the contrast between the Power Rangers (and its monsters and battles), and he went like: what a change!!!! He was not expecting anything like The Backyardingans.

  39. My 4 years son and I just discovered The Backyardigans and this is his (our) new “fever”. You know kids use to change from one hero to another; well as he’s been growing up, he’s been through Pooh, to Barney, to Veggietales, to Power Rangers, and now The Backyardigans. His father, when first viewed the ‘famous and most talked about cartoons’, he chocked because of the contrast between the Power Rangers (and its monsters and battles), and he went like: what a change!!!! He was not expecting anything like The Backyardingans.

  40. I am looking for clothing and DVD’s in the Cincinnati area for my 14 month old son. We just love the backyardigans cartoon, it is the best ever made. Also does anyone know where I could possibly find a halloween costume of one of the characters?

    Thanks so much.

  41. I’m happy to learn that I am not the only adult who loves this show! I bought the Backyardigans CD the other day and my 4 year old daughter and I have been listening to it nonstop! I’m disappointed that Ridin’ the Range isn’t included on the CD. They need to do another CD.

  42. My daughter just LOVES The Backyardigans. I have them all on tape so we can watch them over and over again. I tend to sing and dance along with her to the songs. Her Birthday is in December and I want to do a Backyarigan theme but ant find anything. Ebay has some stuff but I want the invitations, hats, plates, napkins, etc. Do any of you moms and dad have a website or something, so I can find these thing?

  43. My 10 month old daughter will not stop fussing unless the backyardigans come on either TV or on a cd in the car! I love these guys(and girls)! So much better than the other shows on tv. She will not watch Seaseme St. for more than 4 minutes, but this show shes loves, but I feel bad. Everyone else in the family who has babies turning one are all having Elmo show up and decor as such, but with my daughter what am I to do? Can’t have Elmo, she isnt into him.. would love to do the Backyardigans theme, but cant find anything anywhere. Did anyone have any luck with merchandise? I suppose I can get to old-skool and start sewing to create Tyrone and Pablo and Uniqua, but what a process. If anyone has any idea, I am all ears. The party will be around Thanksgiving, so Im in rush mode. Thank everyone and lets keep posting till we get more Backyardigan..the way it should be !

  44. I really like The Backyardigans. I’ve seen all twenty episodes. I think that my favorite one is Monster Detective. Tasha has a really pretty voice and Uniqua does too. Pablo is small and sweet and Tyrone is really relaxed. Austin is really friendly. I like all the characters. I think someone said Uniqua and Austin should get together, but i disagree, there two different speacies!

    ~Noname

  45. Ok, I am really happy to see that there are other adults who LOVE the Backyardigans as much as I do. My 2 y.o. daughter and my 20 m.o. nephew watch the show every day and we all dance along to the great music. My nephew even calls our friend Eddie “Yeti Yeti Yeti”! I just bought my daughter a three piece Backyardigans outfit from Khols for her birthday and we are having our bakery make a cake with a picture of all 5 characters that I downloaded from the web. My favorite line: “Thats funny, not funny HaHa, but funny weird” from the Cast Away episode. Favorite song: Rockabilly Lullaby.

  46. I love backyardigan’s mmusic and everyone thinks i’m wierd, but who cares. i’m so glad that all of you other people like them too! my favorite singer is uniqua and my favorite character is pablo. they are so adorable! i LOVE their songs, every one should, no matter what age!

    Sparkle and shine!:P

  47. my 2 daughter’s love thebackyardigans, they know all the words to the songs, and they even dance with them,,,, thank you and keep them coming,,, welove to watch,,,, i’m even into them and i’m 29

  48. this is the best TV programme for kids I have come across – pity there are not any videos as my daughter is mad for them. merchandise can only be found on ebay – why! let me know if you have found a supplier if my daughter out grows it I wont! cuppa tea and backyardigans sets me up for the day!

  49. Regarding party supplies: You can log onto nickjr.com and find a link to the Backyardigans Western Party which includes a treat recipe, cards and decorations, and activities and games. Once you log onto nickjr.com, go to the left side where you’ll find “Quick Search”. Click on Nick Jr. Party, in the drop down menu, click on Party Packs. There you’ll find a list of Nick Jr. shows with party packs.

  50. As everyone before me in this entry’s thread, my children and I too love the Backyardigans. I’m not so enthralled by the animation as by the music. It truly is awesome. The songs are SO memorable I catch myself singing them as I do chores, or for no reason at all. My current favorite: Eureka. Ohmy. When Uniqua and Tasha start singing their part of the song, I almost cry from the cuteness of it all — their dancing is also unforgetable! If anyone ever finds it on CD, please, PLEASE email me, so I can go out looking for it! Thanks so very much! 🙂