Creepy Kids Shows

There are several kids shows these days that I think are, well, a bit creepy. One of these shows is Yo Gabba Gabba, a new program on Nick Jr. There are good lessons during the show, but I'm still not sure I understand the premise. There is this super flamboyant guy (DJ Lance, actually a pretty likeable character) who has this little suitcase filled with these weird little creatures. He takes them out and they dance and play. Then they also show real kids dancing around and participating in Atari-style video games. They have this guy "Mark" who does bizarre drawings and also usually have a guest dancer (like Elijah Wood, Tony Hawk, etc.). Olive's favorite part is "Cool Tricks" where a kid displays some fun trick or talent they have. The show is not bad, it's just weird. All the clothes etc. look like it was a show from the 70's. And everyone seems a little trippy and perhaps stoned. But my biggest concern is that in the introduction song, they say, "This is Fufa...she's freakin' happy" - WHAT????????? She's freakin' happy???? I once said that in HIGH SCHOOL and was grounded. "Freakin'" is a bad word, isn't it?? I don't think it's something we should be teaching our children. I really have a problem with this. However, as weird as the show is, it does have some good songs and lessons that Olive loves like "Try it, you'll like it" (about snacks, not drugs...at least I think...), songs about brushing your teeth, sharing, "Don't bite your friends", and others. So when the intro song is on, I always talk over or sing over that part with my own lyrics. Granted, she's not quite 2 years old (and some would argue that she shouldn't be watching tv - these are the people without kids), but I don't want her hearing that. I find it extremely inappropriate.

Another show Olive likes is Max & Ruby. Overall, this is a pretty good show and Olive really likes Max, who is the younger bunny brother and quite a rascal (like Olive). Ruby is his annoying older sister. The only problem I have with this show (besides Ruby being annoying) is that there are no parents. Ruby takes care of Max and takes him with her everywhere (including to Bunny Scout campouts, when she "babysits" Baby Huffington - a neighbor baby bunny - and while she flirts with this other bunny that her and her friend Louise have a crush on). Their grandma is in the show occasionally, but they do not live with her. They never show the parents or even mention them. When Dennis & I watch this with Olive (she sometimes watches it before bedtime), we always complain about the lack of parental supervision. It's weird and I think that while these shows are geared towards kids and having them be independent, at least in the other shows, they show the parents sometimes and the kids can always go to them for help. I don't like these absentee bunnies.

Lazy Town is another super bizarre show. I have not watched it enough to have any idea what it's about, but the characters themselves just give me the heebie jeebies. Look at them!! I saw a few minutes of it the toher day and was so weirded out by it that I turned it off. Of course Olive said, "Lazy Town, Lazy Town" but nope, I just think this is too odd. I prefer the good 'ole cartoons, not these half-humans, half clay-mation or whatever they are. Too weird for me. But if you want to know more about it, click on these two sites: 1 and 2.