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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. Oh my gosh! I love the Backyardigans! I’m 15 and have been off of school for 3 days, and I’ve been watching it every day! The songs are so cute, and I’m actually entertained by the show. It’s awesome!

  2. Ridin’ the Range Ridin’ the Range Let’s go Ridin’ the Range Ya Hoo! The kids ride Papa around the living room to this one. My favorite line is Tasha singing “In a snappy buckskin vest…” And the Dance by the light of the moon scene is the best. The kids watched at daycare and came home wanting to watch it and we didn’t even know what it was. Now all are DVR’d and we watch one every morning before breadfast. There is a new one that I think we’ve watched 8 times in the last 2 days — the Flying Rock. And here I sit at work and I can’t get ‘Float Flutter Fly’ out of my head. But I love it and can’t wait for more!

    Peg in Milwaukee WI

  3. We love the Backyardigans and are looking for Tyrone, my daughter is 3 and says she loves him so I would love to find some sort of stuffed doll for her. I would like to find them all They are the best I love them as much if not more then her. So if anyone has really found something please email me where I can order them.
    camdenrayneann@msn.com

  4. We love the Backyardigans! I love them as much if not more than my kids, if anyone knows where I can get Backyardigans stuff please email me. camdenrayneann@msn.com We have looked everywhere. My 3 year old loves Tyrone she says he is the best I have to agree with her, he is our favorite. Please let me know.

  5. 1st of all i gotta say the show kicks butt! I’m 14 years old and the 1st episode i ever saw was the yetti one…i watched and i fell in love….o ya, and i pissed my pants laughing. I was with my best friend and we were laughing hysterically at pavlo(i no, its pablo but my friends dads name is pavlo and hes so awesome so pavlo it is)now I dont remember who it was above that said that this show should only b 4 kids but it almost made me cry when i read it…(well maybe not quite to that point) i may be a LITTLE immature at times….*shifty eyes* but i know a good show when I c it! and 4 ur information, i am NOT hogging it….you can go get your own…this other time when I was watching it, thay were pirates and one ofems like QUICK, start digging! and all of a sudden a shovel appears outta nowhere and im all like WHAT THE FRIG! YOU CANT DO THAT!?!? IT MAKES NO SENCE! and all ofa sudden Tyrone was like “hey look, a shovel, well that certainly is convenient!” and it musta been the best day of my life…wow i could go on rambling about how SUPER COOL AND AWESOME they are but ill just shut up now…..and Steph, never 4get, my dads beautiful guys…wow th@ was good tymz….and UGH! austins my fave!

  6. I luv da Backyardigans! I mean their songs are way different than any other kiddy show. And they have cute characters, I lyk Tyrone. He’s cool. And Austin is real cute. I really want to know the theme song to the show. It’s so cute. I don’t like Blues clues or dora the explorer, but this show is different, they have good songs!!! Luv dis show.

  7. Boy I tell ya, this show is IT! My son knows every one by heart. I also have them all on Tivo and I see that new ones are coming out. For some reason though, “Secret Mission” scares my son so he won’t watch it. But all the rest I can’t tear him away from. I have a DVD recorder at home and recorded them on DVD for our trip to Florida in the car. I cannot wait for the DVD’s to come out. Take care folks!

    Phil

  8. My son and whole family love this show I found out about it from my mother she watches my son when i at work and she was telling me that when the show comes on my son who is 18months pick his little chair and sit in front of the tv and watches it .So i’m trying to find party decartion for his party but can’t seeem to find the theme any were if any one knows please inform me

  9. OMG WE LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS, I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW MANY OF US DO TOO! THIS IS GREAT! WE ARE LIKE HUGE GROUPIES! OF OUR KIDS CARTOON! THIS IS AWESOME, OUR FAMILY AND I ALL DO THE CLOSING DANCE TOGETHER, MY SON, OWEN , WHO IS 2 HAS THEM DOWN PAT AND MY SON, COLIN, WHO IS 4, IS DOING GREAT WITH HIS MOVEMENTS, BECAUSE OF THIS SHOW! I LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS SOOOOOOOO MUCH! SERIOUSLY I SING…”IF U WANNA B A PIRATE…..A PIRATE A PIRATE SAYS ARHHHHH! LIKE 20 TIMES A DAY AS WELL AS MY HUSBAND, THEY’RE MUSIC IS LIKE A REGGAE MUSICAL ANIMATED STYLE IS UNBELIEVABLY DONE SO WELL, THE MUSICIANS OF THIS SHOW NEED TO BE AWARDED BY US! JUST THIS WEBSITE ALONE HAS ENOUGH PEOPLE TO START A WORLDWIDE PETITION!
    BOMP..BOMP..BOMP DOIN’ THE YETTI STOMP! ALL DAY LONG I AM OBSESSED AND MY KIDS THINK I’M CRAZY! LOTS OF LOVE FOR STARTIN THIS SITE! ROCK ON! I AM A PROUD ‘YARDIGAN GROUPIE!

  10. Hi!! I just stopped in here because I have a new favourite show. My daughter is 6 months old and I DO NOT allow her to watch tv. but one day I was channel surfing and came across the backyardigans! I absolutely adore this show. We sing the theme song with them and she screaches and lights right up. This is the one show I allow her to watch. They are just so darn cute! Thanks Krysta from Canada

  11. I found the names of the voice talent for the Backyardigans:

    Jonah Bobo – Austin
    Reginald Davis Jr. –
    Kristin Danielle Klabunde – Tasha (singing)
    Jamia Simone Nash – Uniqua
    Naelee Rae – Tasha (voice)
    Thomas Sharkey –
    Corwin C. Tuggies –

  12. This show is so cute! I am in love with all the characters! My three year old son asks me to sing the backyardigan song (viking lullaby) to him everynight before he goes to bed! I would rather watch this than anything else! WTG Nick Jr! Does anyone knows where I can download the Viking Lullaby? I would really love to get it! No one on LimeWire has it yet! If anyone knows, let me know too! Glad to see that I am not the only one drooling over a kids show!

    —

    Now people, stop reading and go watch more Backyardigans!

    —

    Peanut Out

  13. I am 13 years old and I love the Backyardigans. My little sis got me and my 12 year old friend hooked up. My friend thinks uniqua is a pig but it clearly states she is a ladybug. HA! Anyway i watch the show every day (or tape it on Tivo).
    My favorite character is Puablo and my favorite episode is Tarzan.

    “I’m tarzan the very stong,ooh”

  14. I am 13 years old and I love the Backyardigans. My little sis got me and my 12 year old friend hooked up. My friend thinks uniqua is a pig but it clearly states she is a ladybug. HA! Anyway i watch the show every day (or tape it on Tivo).
    My favorite character is Puablo and my favorite episode is Tarzan.

    “I’m tarzan the very stong,ooh”

  15. I love this show! I need to know where you can get the stuffed animals and other toys that relate to the show. My niece and I are big fans!

  16. i love the backyardigans!
    hi pablo! hi uniqua! hi tasha! hi tyrone! hi austin! you are sooo cute!

  17. Ilove the show. I like it so much. I watch it so much. My favorite is the penguin!

  18. I adore The Backyardigans. My mom has a Daycare and I make sure all the kids sit quiet so I can enjoy the show in peace…lol…I recorded the song on my phone and plan on finding the theme for my cell phone ring. My mom hears me singing the songs so much she catches herself dancing and singing too. She still can’t beleive that I’m 20 and now decide to pay attention to cartoons. I just can’t get enough of The Backyardigans. By the way, does anyone know why Austin is shown the least? My favorite is Pablo, especially when he does that “hold tight” musical and I love the way Uniqua speaks, she’s so cute and I love Tasha for her cleverness and I love…Oh what the hell I love em’ ALL!!! LOL

  19. I’m a 45 year old retired army vet. Have a kid in college and one almost finished with high school. Even though my wife and daughter think I’m crazy – I love the Backyardigans. Every Saturday morning at 11:00 I have to watch. I love the singing and dancing and pretending and just being a kid. Warms my heart.

  20. I first saw the show around halloween on chanel 11 while cleaning the kitchen. We don’t have cable so my son can only watch it at grandmas. however the show was really cute and caught my attention. My son sings well hums the theme song everytime it comes on. Jaydah even dose the dances the best he can at two years old. Calls Pablo Bable. Its adorable. I love the show and I cant wait till movies and other merchandise is available .
    Jaydah’s Mom

  23. PLEASE IF ANYONE CAN MAKE A VIDEO OR DVD OF THE BACKYARDIGANS!!!!MY SON RALPH, 4 YEARS, IS A BIG FAN. HE’LL GO HOME FROM SCHOOL AT 11:00 AND THE SHOW AIRS AT 9:00. HE MISSES ALL THE EPISODES. HOPE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE SOON…

  24. I loveeeee the BACKYARDIGANS. My daughter watches it three times a day and can’t live without it. Even her brother 6,8 are addicted and myself.
    Does anyone know where I can get party favors for a birthday party.My daughter wants BYDigans only for her party.

    Salem Dania’s mom 2yrs old

  25. HELP!!!!!!

    we’re moving to the middle east in august and my 2 year old daughter and i will be going thru TERRIBLE backyardigan withdrawals unless the y come out with all the episodes on DVD soon!!!

    we even have my “no musicals” kinda guy husband singing ” a message. a message…i have a little message….” from the knight’s tale….

    UNIQUA, you’re a doll!

    If anyone knows of how e can secure copies of the episodes or if someone wants to burn us copies, we are WILLING to PAY!!! email:> arnilynne@hotmail.com

    sing-dance on backyardigani’s!

  27. I LOVE THE BACKYARDIGANS! im watching them right now lol…their awesome i love their pirate song i dont know what its called but its awesome please send me the songs

  28. I am searching for backyardigans party supplies. If anyone can help me please email me. My daughters bday party is in April and I am hoping something comes out by then.My email is radioteeth@aol.com

  29. We love the backyardigans!They are BIG in my house. I have a 10 month old and the first time he ever danced was to the theme song and I was hooked ! When he is in a bad mood or crying we sing the songs and he smiles it is so cute and we find our selves sinnging the songs in the van at the park lol.I have 2 outher boys 8 and 11 and they sit and watch it with there lil brother.It used to be on twice a day but they put another show on at 1pm why???? I have been looking for cds ,dvds anything and I cant find anything???????!!!!!!!! If you have any ansewrs let me know ,we love The Backyardigans !!!!!
    P.S. I hate lazy town! take it off and put the Backyardigans on in its place
    Thank you,

  31. all i could say that i like the backyardigains yall matter of fact im wacthing it right now.

  33. I am in fifth grade and i love the show. I don’t know why it’s just so cute i mean they sing and know how to do the charleston. My favorite is the hippo, Tasha. (i am typing this as i am watching the secret agent episode 🙂 ),\. I wish they would come out with more episodes because i keep catching the same episodes. Sometimes during school i start singing the song in my head and can’t continue with my work until i finish the song! Check out the show sometime

  34. I LOVE THE BACKYARDAGIANS OR HOWEVER YOU SPELL IT, AND I AM FIFTH GRADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  35. oh my gosh! I jus watched a Backyardigans epidsode like 2days ago! It was the Yetti one. It’s such a cool show. I’m 13 yrs old and I love this toddler show! I got my 17 yr old sister hooked onto this show too! I’m suprised that there are other people older than me that like this show too. I’m from Canada and this show is awsome! I gotta tell my cousin from the United States about this show!

  36. i love the backyardigans they are sooooooo adorable my kids are soooooo addicted to them but i am not sure who loves them more me or the kids they are glued to the television as we speak watching treehouse waiting for them to come on.

  37. I love the backyardigans more than my 1yr old daughter i think. hehe

    I LOVE the new disco one. Float Flutter flyyyyyy…

    My fav is tawsha and i love when she does SHake your body. so cute. i sing that song all the time.

    cant wait for toys etc to come out. they totally need a soundtrack!

  38. I love the backyardigians! My favorite episode was “Quest of the flying rock!” Some of my favorite songs were: Questing,questinq,questing, I love being a princess, scurvy pirate, please and thankyou, yeti stomp, laser limbo.

  39. Hey! I just watched my very first episode of the show and was prompted to find out more about it. I love it! I couldn’t believe how captivating it was. I am a college student and while I was doing my homework my five year old daughter was watching this show and fell in love with it. I found myself paying more attention to the show than my homework. I agree that a soundtrack would a be a great idea if all the songs are as attention getting as the one’s I heard today. Great show. Coodoes to the creators. 🙂

  40. My 2 yr old daughter and I love The Backyardigans. I can’t deny it anymore after getting caught watching it a few times while my daughter was sleeping. I have programmed my DVR to record every new episode. I just love the songs, they are quite addicting. I love the variation with their themes(such as reggae, classic music, and hip-hop) My favorite Backyardigan has to be Pablo, he reminds me of my 10 month old nephew. I am anxiously waiting for their merchandise to hit the stores. I am dying to do my daughters room in Backyardigan theme. And my sister is hoping and praying she can do a Backyardigans theme for here sons 1st birthday in April. I don’t understand why the creaters of this show are treating use like this, the anticipation is killing me !!!!!! WE NEED BACKYARDIGAN MERCHANDISE NOW!!! I refuse to get anything fake, I want to fully support this show.

  41. my son is 3 yrs old and we love to watch the backyardigans. he knows all the songs by heart, he even sings them when they are not on. i cant wait for them to come out on dvd.

  42. My 2 year old daughter LOVES Backyardigans, and so do her daddy and I! She had the opening song and dance routine down pat within a couple weeks of watching it, complete with turns, and lifting her leg just like Uniqua does at the end pose. She is now obsessed with pirates, thanks to the pirate episode. Sometimes I hear her say “Arrr” in her sleep. My husband says that the Backyardigans remind him of N’Sync! My daughter also says “Ahem, O Princess” when she wants our attention sometimes, too. Definitely an incredibly addictive show, and Nickelodeon needs to market it way more.

  43. My family and I love the Backyardigan.My daughter Alexa, who will be 4, cracks up on the intro when Tyrone does his kick dance.For people without Tivo or digital recorder check out Ebay for the 11 esp. of the Backyardigan.The backyard crew are old school in my house because of the songs and dances that they performed and we can see the different nationalities of each character which is a big plus. This show is a winner in our house.I enjoy watching this show with my daughter and I am 40 yrs old black male and we have the shows on our digital recorder. We monitor all the programs she watches. We also like Lil Bill,and rolie polie olie.

  44. I am 14 and the Backyardigans is one of my favorite shows, and I have only seen it once. So I went onto Nick Jr. website and found out when it comes on. It’s a shame it only lasts thirty minutes. I love yellow and I love hippos. So as you probably guessed… Tasha is my favorite. To me she has the cutest voice and the best personality. In my opinion the best FAMILY show in a long time. My mom even loves it.

  46. My little Sofia is Backyardigans #1 Fan!!! What a great show – I agree with all of you about the quality of the program. I just wanted to pass along some info for the little fans. Since we couldn’t find any party paraphenilia for my daughter’s 2nd birthday last week, I had a fabulous designer make her a bracelet featuring each of the characters. It is the best quality and is a true likeness to the characters. She is on ebay as id gonefishing5678 or you can find her internet site at http://www.acsalaska.net/~littlejack. It was Sofia’s absolure favorite present and she hasn’t taken it off yet! Please let her know I sent you – I can’t say enough great things about this bracelet!

  48. Hello All! WOW! I never realized how popular the show was until the kids started yelling and screaming for it. As someone who knows first hand how hard it is to get the episodes for the kids, I’ve recorded all the first season episodes on my DVR recorder for all who are interested. The quality is not DVD quality but the kids really love it!
    I also have the full length CD available if anyone is interested in that also. I ask only for a small donation for my time and the cost of DVD/CD. Please email if you’re interested. Thanks!

  49. I have a back-up copy for sale of my own personal DVD recording of the Backyardigans first season for $10 and also a back-up of the music CD for $5. If anyone is interested please email me. The kids just love it and I went crazy looking for the DVD episodes and CD music until I decided to record from the TV to my DVR recorder. Not dvd quality but the kids just love it. Email with any questions, I know how frustrating it is looking for a DVD to buy that doesn’t exist.

  50. OMG, I can’t pull my son away from “Quest For The Flying Rock”. He is a junkie to this show, and I gotta admit his parents are too. Funny thing, we were at a flea market in Florida and my son found the Backyardigans CD. We paid a $1 for it and that all he wants to hear in the car.

    And glad I wasn’t the only one to notice why Austin isn’t shown very much. I think him and Uniqua have the cutest voices.