What is up with this Boobah show?

[3_opihi]

So today ds wants to watch a show, so I turn on PBS kids. And there's this new show on --"Boobah" I think its called. OMG!!! WTF!!! (Am I allowed to write that?)

It is *the weirdest* show I have ever seen Ds actually asked me to turn off the TV because it was so weird. What is the point of the show? At first I thought it was a ripoff of teletubbies, but its not...its even weirder.

Maybe, there really are aliens trying to take over the planet, and their evil plot is to hypnotize our children through strange, public television shows.....

[PurpleBasil]

Um, it's a British children's television show. Sorry you didn't find it to your tastes. If you do some internet search, you can learn about it's origins and purposes. It has helped with children exercising more.

If it is so bizarre and you suspect some greater evil behind it, perhaps you should make contact with the creators of the program. It is a very popular show so your distaste for it is in the minority. Like any teleivion program for children, there are a host of branded toys as well which are also hugely popular

[spatulagirl]

My husband and I sort of feel that way about the Wiggles. They creep us out but Ds loves them. I am pretty sure they are aliens too (especially Jeff!)

[serenetabbie]

I guess I am in the minority too. DD and I were over at another MDC mama's home when it came on......the kids looked at it for a minute, then ran off and played. The other mama and i looked at if in curiosity for about 5 minutes until she turned to me and said "I dunno about you, but I think I can feel my brain melting, do you mind if I turn this off?"! We both laughed and agreed it was a very strange show. Sort of reminded me of that Simpsons episode with the Japanimation seizure cartoon.

[hhurd]

The show in question was created and produced by the same woman that created the Teletubbies, btw.

[hubris]

I saw a few minutes of it yesterday and felt like I was on some sort of psychadelic drug. Seriously odd. How long has the show been on? I saw an article about it in the paper on Sunday and then yesterday, there it was as soon as I turned the tube on. I didn't know that it had been on long enough to be "very popular" over here - or is that just in the UK?

Oh, and re: the comparison to the Teletubbies - my understanding is that the same woman created them. I think they were aiming for an older viewing audience with Boohbah.

PBS Kids Boohbah site

[shanleysmama]

I don't like it either and neither do my kids, LOL. I saw it mentioned in a parenting mag and thought it might be interesting, but I don't know why these TV people have a fascination with short, rotund characters, especially since it's an excercise show! The boobah heads are weird, and my DD doesn't like the way their eyes move.

Plus, my kids are peeved that Dragon Tales got moved for this show, Dragon Tales is one of their favorites!

Melanie

[pixie-n-hertwoboys]

I know what ya mean! I saw it for the first time a few weeks ago... so I can't see how it is that popular yet. But we were peeved because it replaced zoboomafoo here and let me tell you that is a HUGE tragedy for my ds! oh the broken heart he has because its not on... he didn't even like the stupid boohbahs. I even called my pbs station to see what was going on and she told me the same thing about it promoting exersize for toddlers. UM my toddler doesn't need a TV show to promote movement. I let him watch pbs in the mornings because it has things he can learn from - like zoboo - he knows about more animals than any kid I know!

I think they're freaky myself.

Oh well. Nothing I can do as I already put my complaint in to pbs.

[Pynki]

I caught it this week.. I thought they looked a bit like silicone implants.. So maybe that was why they are called boobahs..

That was just my 1st thought.. I agree.. They do look like something I would have LOVED to watch in my pshycidelically drug induced pre-kid days.. :LOL (the lunatic is on the grass.. )

Anyway.. Slight tangent there sorry..

I really did like the teletubbies, and 4 or 5 yrs ago when they came on PBS people didn't like them.. Maybe it's the same thing.. I do know we REALLY don't like Barney.. I think that hee may be the biggest force of evil in the universe.. He creeps me out, and I'm not the only mom that thinks that.. When the talking Barney dolls came out ( oh.. 10 yrs ago or so) I was working as target, and would walk by the aisle they were in 1st thing in the morning and the dolls would be talking to each other... Creeps me out.. Just not right.. No Barney here..

SOrry tangent again.. Can't keep to an OP today..

Warm Squishy Feelings..

Dyan

[MaShroom]

every time i come to this forum to ask a question or post about something someone has already beaten me to the punch. today my question was about this boobah thing. it is so freakin' weird.

dd loves caillou (i can't stand the whiney little twerp) and she is on this kick where she loves to go to pbs kids and play the caillou games. right now this is ok with me because we are snowed in and i'll do anything to keep these kids from fighting. little cabin fever there.

so we get on the website and there is boobah. i just totally cracked up. we refer to my boobs as the boobahs and those things look strikingly like a tit.:LOL they even bounce a little like mine. stick a nipple on it and then maybe my 2 yo would pay attention.

i wondered if the same person who came up with teletubbies came up with boobah. what was she on??? personally, i do like the pretty colors, it reminds me of days long ago.

[3_opihi]

From the Boobah website:

"Who or what are the Boohbahs?
The Boohbahs are five colorful atoms of energy. Humbah, Zumbah, Zing Zing Zingbah, Jumbah, and Jingbah are powered by the laughter and joy of children they encounter all over the world."

And wait. There's more:

"Where do the Boohbahs live?
The Boohbahs live in a glowing white ball of light, the Boohball, which travels from country to country when called by children. Each Boohbah has a "recharging pod" within the Boohball. The recharging energy is created by the laughter of children when they play with the Boohball, the Boohbahs and the Storypeople. "




Seriously, though. I checked out the website, and the show has a good message, I suppose. Although, I don't really think children need to learn excersice from TV. Maybe it would have been better as a cartoon. Their heads do look a lot like boobahs.

[stayinghome]

ot....

Mamathistle thank you thank you thank you! I too can't stand calliou's incessant whining. And WHY don't his parents correct it?! I always tell my kids that if they want something or need to talk to me they need to speak in their normal voice. The parents are annoying too imo.

I've never heard of these bubbalooh things but you've all peaked my interest! I have to go and check it out...

[Moss's Mommy]

This is so funny. I've been hearing the tv in the morning, when I'm cooking and I hear that annoying.... BOOOOOOOOOBAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH. and it is driving me nuts... What is it?????

[Viola]

I guess because we have TiVo, I haven't seen it. I just record the shows on PBS that she likes. Dragon Tales is a must, then Sagwa and Caillou comes in third. Caillou annoys me greatly. Partly because he has no hair, and also his voice, but mostly because he'll say things like "I want to go to the beach too, Daddy!" And Daddy will say, "Oh, I'm sorry Caillou, we can't go to the beach today." Then the voiceover comes in, "Caillou was sad that he couldn't go to the beach today, he didn't want to wait for summer." Where is the part where Caillou starts screaming, "Why can't we go to the beach now, you're no fun! You never let me do what I want to do! We're getting in the car and you are driving me to the beach! I'm not getting in the car unless we drive to the beach. We're going to the beach because I want to go!" He is 4 after all.

There was one episode where his mom tried to take a nap while leaving Caillou to play with Rosie. I was pregnant and nap needy at the time and was going to be pissed if that worked out, but it didn't. :LOL

I haven't seen the Boobah show, but I just read an article about how toddlers get less exercise today than 25 years ago. The day I read that article, my daughter coincidentally came up and asked if we could go down in the basement ant exercise. So we went down and did a Leslie Sansone video together. She made it about a mile and a half before quitting. She might like the Boobah show--she still like Teletubbies even though she doesn't watch it. She probably would if I put it on.

[jackson's mama]

I must be in the "minority" : too - the show freaks me out. I *really* don't like the fact that these Boobah creatures don't have faces, just eyes. It is just WEIRD. Like the Teletubbies weren't wacky enough.

[Kim]

Posted by Suhternbelle:

Like any teleivion program for children, there are a host of branded toys as well which are also hugely popular

For this reason the Teletubbies were not allowed to be broadcast in many countries (Norway, Denmark, etc.). A show with product tie-ins before it is aired tells us that the creators are hoping to create little consumers rather than simply educate. And just because something is popular doesn't make it good for you. (McDonald's is everywhere, but we all know you shouldn't have a Big Mac every day.)

It has helped with children exercising more.

Is there a study that you are citing to back this comment up? Personally, I'd like to see the results of this study: Boobah's inspiring children's exercise vs. simply turning the television off.

BTW, I am not anti-television but I think the Boobahs are to be avoided. Dragon Tales and Berenstein Bears get a from me.

[Clarity]

DH and I saw it for the first time last night. He calls it "uncircumcised Teletubbies". It seems to have some baby-einstein influence, plus a dash more pscyedelia. I usually have a rule that we only watch shows that mommy likes too (so no calliou, dragon tales, or Barney). Mommy likes teletubbies, Wiggles (even with Jeff's lack of eyebrows) and Maisy. Bob the builder and Bear in the big blue house are ok too. Oobi and tiny planets too. Dora and Elmo sometimes but I like those less.

But DD did want to dance with them...and parts of the show made her laugh and laugh, which is not usually her tv reaction, she's 28m....she was downstairs with DH watching Boobah. I'll give it a chance even though I'm not sure I like it so much.

We do generally have a rule with a few exceptions, but if we watch the show we don't buy the products, and if we buy the products, we don't watch the show She's sometimes been given things, and she does have my pre-baby teletubby collection, but I don't like to both. I even am reluctant to buy media branded books...with characters that were books first it does cause a little dilemma.

[Momtwice]

Although, I don't really think children need to learn excersice from TV.

Shhhhhhh mamamaya! Don't let those TV execs catch you THINKING they won't like it!!!! :LOL

(ITA if you can't tell.)

[PinkSunfish]

We have a long history in the UK of producing surreal TV programmes for kids. Some of my favourites (I was born in the early seventies) were clearly written on large amounts of experimental drug usage .

Having said that the boobahs is very odd. I presume that US boobahs have US accents? I saw a trailer for it and all the "BOOO BAAAH" and giggling seemed strange even to me!

[pamamidwife]

arent' they made by the same people who did teletubbies? and wasn't teletubbies orginally created for rave "down rooms"?

lol - they look like little kewpie dolls in marshmallow peeps.