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Kidsongs is an American children's media franchise which includes Kidsongs Music Video Stories on DVD and video, The Kidsongs TV Show, CDs of favorite children’s songs, song books, sheet music, toys and an ecommerce website. Kidsongs was created by producer/writer Carol Rosenstein and director Bruce Gowers of Together Again Video Productions (TAVP), both of whom are music video and television production veterans. The duo had produced and directed over 100 music videos for Warner Brothers Records (WBR) and took their idea of music videos for children to the record label. Warner Brothers funded the first video, “A Day at Old MacDonald’s Farm”. Shortly thereafter, a three way partnership between TAVP, WBR and View-Master Video was formed with TAVP being responsible for production and WBR and View-Master responsible for distribution to video and music stores, and toy stores respectively.

History

The home video series was launched with four Kidsongs Music Video Stories episodes at New York's Toy Fair in January 1, 1985. "A Day at Old MacDonald’s Farm” was one of those first four and has sold over 4 million copies and won the Vira Award. Each half-hour Music Video Stories episode features 10 to 15 songs, in a music video style production starring talented kids. They sing and dance their way through well known children's songs, nursery rhymes, and covers of pop hits from the 50's, the 60's and the 70's—all tied together by a simple story and theme.

The TAVP/WBR/View-Master Video (Viewmaster was acquired by Tyco in 1992-1994) partnership produced fifteen Kidsongs episodes of the Music Video Stories. In 1995, WBR and TAVP bought out Tyco's distribution rights and produced an additional 3 View-Master videos: "Country Sing-Along", "Billy Biggle's Favorite Songs", and "Boppin' with the Biggles" and 2 KidVision videos: "Let's Put on a Show" and "Baby Animal Songs", as part of a new venture with another division of Warner Bros.--Warner Vision. In 1997, TAVP acquired all rights from WBR/Warner Vision and become the sole owner of all Kidsongs properties.

Later in 1997, TAVP entered into a distribution/production agreement with Sony Wonder which resulted in the production of four more titles: "I Can Dance!", "I Can Do It!", "Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday" and "Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles". That agreement ended in 1998 and in 2002 distribution rights were licensed by Image Entertainment who continues to distribute the videos.

Members of Kidsongs Kids

Home video series

From 1985 to 1998, 25 Kidsongs home video episodes encompassing 300 children's songs, nursery rhymes, and cover versions of adults' pop songs were produced featuring a variety of subjects that are of interest to kids: animals, birthdays, the zoo, the amusement park, camp adventure, fantasy, vehicles and general silliness. 14 have been certified platinum by the RIAA, with 5 of them having sold more than 2 million copies. As of now, the videos have sold over 19.5 million copies.

The following is a list of Kidsongs music video titles available on VHS:

• A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm (A Day at Series Video) (1985)
• I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (1986)
• Good Night, Sleep Tight (1986)
• Cars, Boats, Trains and Planes (1986)
• Sing Out, America! (1986) (Retitled "Home on the Range" in 1990 and later "Yankee Doodle Dandy" in 2002)
• A Day with the Animals (A Day at Series Video) (1986)
• What I Want to Be! (1986)
• The Wonderful World of Sports (1987) (Retitled "Let's Play Ball" in 1990)
• A Day at the Circus (A Day at Series Video) (1987)
• A Day at Camp (A Day at Series Video) (1989)
• Ride the Roller Coaster (1990)
• Very Silly Songs (1990)
• A Day of Fun (A Day at Series Video) (1991) (VHS Release Only)
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1992)
• Play Along Songs (1993)
• If We Could Talk to the Animals (1993)
• Country Sing-Along (I Can Series Video) (1994) (Retitled "I Can Go to the Country!" from 1997-1998)
• Billy Biggle's Favorite Songs (1994) (Retitled "My Favorite Songs" in 2003)
• Boppin' with the Biggles (I Can Series Video) (1994) (Retitled "I Can Bop with the Biggles!" from 1997-1998)
• Let's Put on a Show (I Can Series Video) (1995) (Retitled "I Can Put on a Show!" from 1997-1998)
• Baby Animal Songs (I Can Series Video) (1995) (Retitled "I Can Sing Baby Animal Songs!" from 1997-1998)
• I Can Dance! (I Can Series Video) (1997)
• I Can Do It! (I Can Series Video) (1997)
• Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday (1998)
• Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles (1998)

Television series

The Kidsongs Television Show debuted in September 19, 1987 with 26 episodes distributed by Orbis Entertainment. The half-hour, live action episodes featured the Kidsongs Kids running their own TV show in a top 8 countdown style show featuring music videos from the Kidsongs home video series. The syndicated show ran on network affiliates primarily on Saturday mornings. It garnered excellent ratings and ran for 2 years before moving to the Disney Channel for another four years. The show won the prestigious Excellence in Children's Programming Award from ACT. In 1987-1988, in season 1, this show was called The Kidsongs TV Show.

In 1994, a new version of the television series was developed by Rosenstein and produced in conjunction with Chicago public television station WTTW and distributed by American Public Television to PBS stations nationally. Airing as part of the PBS Kids, "Ready to Learn" block, "The Kidsongs Television Show" aired throughout the country and by 1998 reached 89 percent of households. Many of the original Kidsongs videos were used in the public television series along with new educational content and in-studio guests. The kids are joined by the adorable fantasy characters Billy and Ruby Biggle and their magical friends from Biggleland. The Biggles help the children resolve their problems and concerns in a comforting and kind way. They address age-appropriate issues, such as not wanting to share, jealousy, friendship, telling the truth and patience.

Seasons Two through Five of The Kidsongs Television Show totalled 80 episodes. The series ran on Public Television for six years winning critical acclaim. Currently, fifteen episodes of The Kidsongs Television Show are available on DVD, and the series is also available in its entirety on digital download through iTunes and Amazon Instant Video.

Cast

Adults

• Mary Laub - Mrs. Dipplewhite - Doris "Mrs." Dipplewhite (Guest) (Season 1, Episode 16 called "It's a Kid's World (Show 16)")
• Matthew Devore and Unknown Woman as Sailors (Guests) (Season 1, Episode 25 called "Counting Down the Chart (Show 25)")
• Michael "Mike" the Dog - Himself (Guest) (Season 1, Episode 25 called "Counting Down the Chart (Show 25)")
• Julene Renee-Preciado (credited as Julene Renee) - William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle (Hosts) (Voice) (Seasons 2-5) and their Mother (Voice) (Season 5)
• Frat Fuller - William "Billy" Biggle (Host) (Costume) (Seasons 2-4)
• Frit Fuller - William "Billy" Biggle (Host) (Costume) (Season 5)
• Joseph E. Fuller - The Biggle Chef (Costume) (Season 5)
• Amy Manlapaz - Ruby Biggle (Host) (Costume) (Season 2)
• Kimberly Bretto-Smith - Ruby Biggle (Host) (Costume) (Season 3)
• Marilyn Rising - Ruby Biggle (Host) (Costume) (Seasons 4-5)
• Jetta E.Q. - Freckles Biggle and the Biggle Chef (Voice) (Season 5)
• Shari Douglas - William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle's Mother (Costume) (Season 5)
• Kimberly "Kim" Harris - Freckles Biggle (Costume) (Season 5)
• Stephanie DuBois - Stephanie "Mrs." Wilson (Season 2-4)
• Leif Jonasen (Season 2) and Roger Scott (Season 3) - Roger "Mr." Forbes
• Russ "Pete" Fremin (Season 4) - Jack "Mr." Frost

Kids

• Raven Symone (Guest in Learning a Lesson (Katie's Little Lie))

The Kidsongs Kids

Original/ABC version

Season 1

1987–1988

• Crew: David Chan, Todd Alyn Durboraw, Tina Marie Espinoza (Episodes 20-26), Julie Ann Gourson, Hillary Hollingsworth, Tiffany Johnson, Nicole Mandich, Robert "Robby" Rosellen, Scott Trent
• Hosts: Christopher "Chris" Lytton, Triskin Potter

Revival/PBS/PTV version

Season 2

1994

• Crew: Christopher "Chris" Aguilar, Janessa Ray (A.K.A. Janessa Beth), Marcus "Mark" Humphrey II, Megan Miyahira, Hassan Nicholas, Katharine "Katie" Polk, Melanee Ann Shale, Janet Veyts, Kevin Williamson, Jr., II
• Hosts: Christian Buenaventura, Alexandra "Alex" Palm (A.K.A. Alexandra Picatto), William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle

Season 3

1995

• Crew: Lynsey Bartilson, Jessica Fried, Brooke Garrett, Ryan McCutchan, Megan Miyahira, Hassan Nicholas, Maiya Norton, Casey Rion, Shira Roth, Dava Schatz
• Hosts: Aaron Harvey, Alexandra "Alex" Palm (A.K.A. Alexandra Picatto), Lynsey Bartilson (2 episodes), William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle

Season 4

1997

• Crew: Asa Karsten Bernstine, Kamran Kamjou, Brady Kimball, Michael Minden, Megan Miyahira, Troy Mullins, Evan "Corny Boul"/Miriam "Mimi/Juggles" Paley, Sara Perks, Lana Richards
• Hosts: Tiffany Burton, Sergio Centeno, William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle

Season 5

1998

• Hosts: William "Billy"/Ruby/Freckles Biggle

Airing history

• USA
  • ABC (Season 1 Only; 1987-1988)
  • NBC (Season 1 Only; 1988-1989)
  • The Disney Channel (Season 1 Only; 1989-1992)
  • PBS (PTV/PBS Kids) (Seasons 2-5 Only; 1994-2002)
• Canada
  • TVOntario (????-????)
• United Kingdom
  • CBBC (????-????)
  • Spacetoon (2000–Present)
• United Arab Emirates (Arab League)
  • Spacetoon (2000–Present)
• India
  • Spacetoon (2000–Present)
• Indonesia
  • TV Anak Spacetoon (2005–2013)
• Spain
  • Spacetoon Espana (2000–Present)
• Portugal
  • Spacetoon Espana (2000–Present)
• Philippines
  • Radio Philippines Network (1988-1990)
  • People's Television Network (1990-1993)
  • GMA Network (1993-1999; 2004-2006)
  • TV5 (Philippines) (2010–Present)
• Other
  • Spacetoon English (2005-2011)

Trivia

• In 2000, In United Arab Emirates, On Spacetoon, The American Kidsongs Television Show was dubbed into Arabic.

References

1. ^ http://www.kidsongs.com/aboutkidsongs.html
2. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0332985/
3. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0742685/
4. http://www.imdb.com/company/co0152386/#productionX20company
5. Home Video Publisher, Vol. 8 No. 32, 2/24/1986
6. Bruce Haring, "Gold, Platinum...", Variety, Jan. 26, 1993
7. "Video Review's Critics' Choice Awards", Video Review, April 1987,page 77
8. Reuters, New York Times Business section, May 24, 1989
9. Business Wire, "Warner Home Video to Distribute Warner Vision", February 5, 1996
10. Scott Hettrick, "Sony Wonder Joins..." Hollywood Reporter, July 10, 1997, page 3
11. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database
12. Tom Bierbaum, "After Success In Homevideo, 'Kidsongs' Bouncing into NBC TV",Variety, July 8, 1987, page 20
13. "The Kidsongs Television Show Launched", TV Facts Figures & Film, September 1987
14. ^ Jeanne Spreier, "'Kidsongs' In Tune With Children", Dallas Morning News, March 23, 1998, page 51
15. The Kidsongs TV Show, WTTW Chicago Carriage Report, February 1998
16. Tim Kiska, "Great Kid TV Debate: Entertain or Educate?", Detroit News, July 1, 1998, page 1E

External links

• Official website
• Kidsongs on Internet Movie Database
• Template:Tv.com show

• American children's television series
• Radio Philippines Network
• National Broadcasting Network
• GMA Network
• Associated Broadcasting Company
• PBS network shows
• American music television series
• Television series about television
• Preschool education television series
• Early childhood education
• BBC children's television programmes
• 1980s American television series
• 1990s American television series
• 1987 American television series debuts
• 1998 American television series endings
• Orbis Communications