WHY DOES SPROUT NEED NICHOLAS? Sprout needs Nicholas to have an animated character in a promo. Nicholas is also the same age as the viewers.
The man in this picture was Mike Renzi, who died today. You may not know his name but you might know his work. Renzi was the music director of Sesame Street from 1999 to 2009, and wrote a few of the show's hits, including…
"The Anyone Who Loves to March in a Parade Parade…"
"Come Back Letter T…"
"A Cookie is a Sometimes Food," the song that sparked a certain rumor…
And the Broccoli rap from the above video I loved back then and still love today.
Anyways, his Sesame work is hard to hear now. Rest In Peace, Mike. You're in a better place now.
Two PSAs were made for the initiative. One with Nina from The Good Night Show helping the Pajanimals get ready for bed and talking about the Tuck-In.
…and the other featuring Nina reading to Star. This one incorporates clips from Sprout shows and blocks - as well as the purple television.
The initiative had its own section of Sproutonline.com. Coloring pages made to promote the Tuck-In included "Pin the Polka Dots on Chica's Pajamas" and "Make Your Own Pajamas." According to here, it appears Pitturo was on The Sunny Side Up Show once.
In 2010, Liz Filios and Chica of The Sunny Side Up Show held a pajama party on their block to promote the initiative and invited puppet characters from other Sprout shows and blocks. Similarly, Nina hosted pajama drive parties to promote the Tuck In as well.
Sprout, KidsHealth (who accredited the recipes on Sprout Diner and The Let's Go Show), and Mott's for Tots (Mott's preschool brand) created Sprout Smart, a parenting website about healthy living that focused on a new health-related theme each month (i.e. "The ABCs of Getting ZZZs" about sleep). The website launched in 2008, and the above video (which I uploaded on my channel a year ago) is a commercial for the site. As shown in the video's description, it was originally from the Multivu account on Dailymotion, but I got it from a different website since that video was removed from Dailymotion in 2019.
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| Image from It's All Free Online |
The logo was also used on forks and sippy cups.
The phrase "Sprout Please!" was considered a throwback to the “I want my MTV!" cry of the 80s.
Two commercials were made with people and characters saying "Sprout Please!," and they both ended with Sprout's usual female announcer saying "Ask for the Sprout channel in your neighborhood, call 1-866-9-SPROUT today or say 'Sprout Please!'"
The campaign also had its own website - which featured crafts, recipes, and coloring pages from Sproutonline.com, as well as a printable coloring page in which site visitors could talk about why they want Sprout.
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| Image from Millennial Marketing |
The logo was also used in country-wide banners and posters.
The Wiggles. When the happy clappy Australian band arrived on Sprout in 2009, the Sprout Please website was briefly renamed "Wiggles Please,"and was advertised in promos and country-wide.
I guess the logo was last used in 2010, but I may be wrong. Anyways, this was a great way to promote Sprout, and was pretty fun when it lasted.
Madeline Fretz - Hi, Sproutlets. Sixteen years ago today, a certain TV channel by the name of PBS Kids Sprout launched on digital cable. Six months prior, it was on Comcast on Demand. To commemorate the occasion, I written a series of posts RIGHT HERE, blogging about certain things. This was similar to how I uploaded a surplus of videos on YouTube on this day last year, and Let's Grow did the same six years ago.
Madeline Fretz - The Good Night Show sure has changed over its eleven years of broadcast. Let's take a look at what changed over the years:
In the Leo days, a lot changed since Melanie Martinez got fired. He had a different welcome and goodnight song.
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| Image from Twitter |
When Nina was introduced on December 18th, 2006, the Martinez welcome and goodnight songs came back, but there were also some changes made. The blue chair was now replaced by a blue crescent moon-shaped couch, even though the chair would have a presence in the Sprout floor of Philadelphia's Comcast Center (the original couch would also be in its spot a few years later). A new craft song was introduced, replacing the one Martinez sang. Crafts were dropped in 2011.
Season 4 was introduced on September 26th, 2007. This new season introduced Lucy Light the Way and inducted kids into segments such as stretches, sign language, and a new interview segment. Star would ask kids questions starting in 2011.
In 2011, not only were there new shows and the two changes I mentioned above, but the You and Me Tree was introduced, as well as Sprout a Sandy Story and the Clean Up Song. Nina also got new pairs of pajamas.
In 2015, with the introduction of Nina's World, Nina's dad(?) was introduced and in a new segment, Nina would tell childhood stories to Star in her Best Day Ever book. The blankets on the ground in the hills of Sprout were removed (see picture above).
For more changes, see here. Not only did PBS Kids Sprout launch as a channel sixteen years ago today, but The Good Night Show premiered at 6PM ET that night. This is my last post for tonight, as today I've done many posts for Sprout's sixteenth anniversary.
Madeline Fretz - When PBS Kids Sprout launched in 2005, the Georgia-based company Primal Screen was hired to make not only the logo, but the idents for both the channel and Sprout on Demand, which launched six months ahead of the former. One of the idents was the video you see above, originally uploaded on Primal Screen itself's website and then on the YouTube channel Let's Grow (named after Sprout's original slogan) in 2015, which was uploaded as one of a surplus of videos to commemorate Sprout's tenth anniversary, which is sorta like what I'm doing today on this blog.
In the ident, Angelina Ballerina bows and the curtains open. a mom hugs her son in his bed. Outside the boy's window, which appears to be by the beach, a boy and a girl propel their book-like boats, and the Sprout logo sprouts from a ship as the moon rises. Angelina was not featured in the Primal Screen video nor the Let's Grow upload, but on TV broadcasts, like these ones.
Speaking of TV broadcasts, this ident usually played before or after commercial breaks during The Good Night Show and also before Pajanimals music videos (judging by a video I remember seeing years ago). This ident is quite beautiful and relaxing, and a great example of Sprout's early years.
The Sunny Side Up Show launched on September 26, 2007, Sprout's second anniversary. A year later, in 2008, we were given an anniversary special a year in the making, Chica's Big Birthday Surprise. The special aired from 6PM to 9PM ET, which was the timeslot usually occupied by The Good Night Show.
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| Image from the Wayback Machine |
In the special, viewers were encouraged to send in birthday cards, wishes, and messages for Chica. In addition, the show Roary the Racing Car made its US debut on Sprout.
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| Image from Facebook |
Children's band The Dream Jam Band appeared in the special to perform a few songs, including one I found on Facebook and uploaded to my YouTube channel (see above).
Two videos of the special were available on the videos section of Sproutonline.com's Sunny Side Up Show website under "Special Guests." I'm assuming the videos were removed once Kevin Yamada left The Sunny Side Up Show. Time can never mend.
Boohbah was a British show starring five Grimace-like creatures emerging from balls and dancing. It was made by Ragdoll Productions, who also made Teletubbies.
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| Image from YouTube |
The show was one of many to premiere on PBS Kids Sprout as it launched on September 26, 2005. Six months prior, it premiered on Sprout on Demand under the "Children's Favorites" label and eventually in its own.
The show got its own Sprout Diner snack, ShishkaBoohbahs, and a Birthday Show activity, Boohbah Colorful Surprise Ball. The former was rethemed to The Hoobs and Babu from The Mighty Jungle, and the latter was themed after Chica in 2008.
The show left Sprout in December 2009.
You may be asking yourself, why am I blogging about this show today? Well, Boohbah is a special one because, on September 26th, 2005, when the clock struck 6AM ET, PBS Kids Sprout launched on digital cable. As a the ever resourceful Wayback Machine shows, Boohbah became the first show to air on the new channel.
Madeline Fretz - As we all know, PBS Kids Sprout launched as a video-on-demand service on Comcast in April 2005, and as a digital cable channel on September 26, 2005. Every year since then, Sprout has done something to celebrate, and here's a list:
As mentioned in a previous post, Sprout has done a series of things to celebrate its first birthday in 2006, but most of them were prior to September 26.
The next year, in 2007, Sprout had launched two new blocks, two new shows, and the fourth season of The Good Night Show on the 26th. Musical Mornings with Coo premiered at 6AM ET with Bounce, a direct-to-video series aimed at the autism spectrum, and The Sunny Side Up Show, a LIVE successor to The Birthday Show, premiered at 9AM ET with Play with Me Sesame, which was carried over from NOGGIN.
When the clock struck 6PM ET, it was time for Season 4 (or two, if we're not counting Melanie and Leo's tenures) of The Good Night Show. This new season introduced Lucy Light the Way, a game starring Lucy the Firefly, and real kids took part in stretches and interviews.
On September 26th, 2008, Chica celebrated her birthday, which I'll get to later today. On the same day, Sprout debuted HiT Entertainment's Roary the Racing Car.
In 2009, Sprout didn't do anything on the 26th, but rather then 21st. It rebranded with new graphics and bumpers and Season 5 of The Good Night Show premiered. This new season, which Nina appeared on The Sunny Side Up Show to promote, introduced Rubbadubbers.
In 2010, Sprout celebrated its fifth anniversary on the 25th. It introduced weekend editions of The Sunny Side Up Show, which took place in a refurbished Sunshine Barn set, and its first long-form original series, Noodle and Doodle, which aired on weekends.
In 2015, Sprout hit the big 1-0. And what did it do to celebrate? As celebrity Alyssa Milano became the channel's new "mom-bassador," the channel once again rebranded with new graphics and bumpers, dropping a few of its launch day shows. In addition, Nina's World premiered and The Sunny Side Up Show became Sunny Side Up, "moving" to an apartment in the big city.
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| Image from Twitter |
Madeline Fretz - Actor Willie Garson of White Collar passed away last Sunday, but I didn't pay attention. I learned about it now, and it's pretty devastating news to anyone who's enjoyed his work over the years.
However, us Sprout fans will remember Garson for his appearance on The Sunny Side Up Show in 2015, around the time they moved to New York City's 30 Rockefeller Plaza and started having celebrity guests.
Anyways, you will be missed Mr. Garson. Rest In Peace.
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| Image from MySavings |
When The Sunny Side Up Show launched in 2007, it had its own Birthday Song, an alternative to the traditional one people around the world use.
The song debuted in 2007, and was used before the hosts read birthday cards and wishes delivered to them by Mr. Mailman. It was also used during the nightly Today's Birthdays segments (which I'll get to tomorrow).
Additionally, the song was also sung by all the hosts (and Chica) in an online birthday greeting video.
With the 2015 revamp, the song was also revamped. The style was now pop-based and featured the hosts, characters, and real kids dancing to the song.
WHY DOES THE GOOD NIGHT SHOW NEED HUSH? Before Lucy the Firefly was introduced in 2006, Hush was originally the go-to for introducing shows coming up next - he blew bubbles in his bowl that had clips of the show coming on and, as mentioned earlier, appeared in the final continuity link for the host and the viewers to say goodnight and make a wish.
Starting with the site refresh in July 2015 (during Summer of Sprout, a few months before the 10th anniversary rebrand), viewers could celebrate their birthdays ON Sproutonline.com, something Sprout has never done before.
(I can't seem to find a picture of personalized birthdays)
It was just like the birthday wishes on Sunny Side Up - you could upload a picture of your child, type in his (or her) name, and make the screen his (or her) favorite color, all on his (or her) special day, and voila - they have a Sprout birthday surprise!
PBS Kids Sprout launched on September 26th, 2005. Prior to that, it launched on Comcast on Demand in April. Every September 26th, Sprout has done something new (which I'll focus on later this week). However, it celebrated its FIRST anniversary in 2006 much earlier. Here's what happened…
Sprout Diner premiered on the 18th…
Leo (played by puppeteer Noel MacNeal) was the guest host of The Good Night Show while auditions were still being held…
Firefighter Dayna Hilton, real kids, and Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog shared some fire safety tips leading up to the premiere of Fireman Sam in October…
PBS' Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks premiered with the "Grand Tails Day" marathon hosted by Grandpa Piggley…
…And finally, The Birthday Show (which I talked about yesterday) became a programming block on the 21st. So that meant it was not just Kevin Yamada reading birthday cards, but each (usually birthday-themed) show would be introduced by Mr. Mailman handing a child a birthday present, and Sprout characters like Big Bird or Angelina Mouseling would drop by to say happy birthday.
Well, I hope Sprout had a great birthday. They did lots of things at the time, maybe even more than the 10th anniversary! (Well, that was the day of the rebrand…)
The show premiered on Sprout on September 21st, 2009, which was also the day Season 5 of The Good Night Show premiered and Sprout rebranded with new graphics.
It aired on Sprout until 2011, when Season 6 of The Good Night Show premiered, although it was on the new Sproutonline.com that year.
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| Image from YouTube |
Sheinelle Jones is a co-host for the third hour of NBC's Today on weekdays. She is definitely someone who should belong in the Black Hall of Fame.
Jones appeared on The Sunny Side Up Show in early 2015.
To promote the show's launch, Sprout interrupted its shows at points by having the characters imitating Chica. The same thing also happened with people in a promo, in which Chica herself makes a cameo. A sneak peek of the series was shown on Halloween 2012, which makes sense because the show took place in a costume shop, and you wear costumes on Halloween.
In addition, an online "Squeakstakes" was held in which viewers would select costumes for Chica to wear on the day of her show's premiere.
The show, along with Noodle and Doodle, left Sprout on July 2017, a month before its inspiration dissolved and two months before Sprout became Universal Kids. However, the show returned to Universal Kids on May 20, 2019 in order to revive ratings and appeal to nostalgia. This was the same day Mofy and Moon and Me started airing on the channel. As of 2020, the show has left Universal Kids due to the channel airing "best of" blocks daily.
Over the years, Sprout has had a few brandings and ad campaigns to promote itself. Now, I’m not talking about the first, second, and third generations, but rather some of Sprout's ad campaigns and prominent brandings.
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| Image from YouTube |
Anyways, Sprout rebranded on September 21st, 2009, which was also the day Season 5 of The Good Night Show and Rubbadubbers premiered (even though "sneak peeks" were shown for the rebrand, like this one). The second generation consisted of "Sproutlet-constructed" intros which featured real kids and their parents playing and opening a cardboard shoebox which opened to the hills of Sprout - leading to the shows or blocks we were about to see. When the blocks ended, the parents closed the same box from the openings. This rebrand really made Sprout unique, and different from its competitors (such as Nick Jr. and Disney Junior).
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| Image from YouTube |
In addition, the promos that aired on the channel between shows ended with a box closing the promo screen, with the show title, time (or block), and cute illustrations depicted.
*Also* in addition, the box opening was also used online. A box with pictures of the Sunny Side Up Show hosts, Nina and Star, The Wiggles, Caillou, and Elmo would be opened, leading to the Sproutonline.com welcome page.
Anyways, the whole Sproutlet-constructed box thing was good for Sprout and was pretty fun when it lasted. Bar none.