Nickelodeon Introduces The Fresh Beat Band
August 11th 2009 by Dr.MOZ in Music, Toddler Products
If you have a toddler in the house, I’d like to introduce you to your new favorite group The Fresh Beat Band! By “favorite” I don’t mean that you’ll look forward to new releases or attending live events, but “favorite” in the way that you’ll soon spend more time watching and listening to the new Nick Jr. sensation than any other band in your music collection.
At first-glance, the squeaky-clean musical foursome (Marina, Kiki, Twist, and Shout) make the Wiggles look like street thugs. One visit to Twist’s room poster on NickJr.com, and you’ll see what I mean. If Twist is the band’s “sweet beat-boxer and rapper“, Nick Jr. might have a hard time introducing this group to parents that grew up with rap. On the other hand, the 20 episode series is marketed as a means to teach music appreciation and self-expression through music. Yesterday’s press release calls The Fresh Beat Band an “original live-action music comedy series” which makes me wonder if it might actually be tolerable. If they can mix a little content into the show that adults will find funny (à la SpongeBob Squarepants), they just might have something here. If not, we’re all in for a rough couple of years because Nickelodeon knows how to market to kids and the kids are going to love it either way.
In case you are wondering when your new super-fan status will begin, that would be on the band’s August 24th premiere. They are releasing two back-to-back episodes which will be followed by multiple encore presentations on NOGGIN…so don’t think for a second that you’ll be able to keep this one from the kids.
Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ
August 12th, 2009 at 4:49 am
Thanks for the post. My kids hated it and made fun of the losers in the “band”. How old was the brunette? Over 30?? I, as a parent, was not happy hearing the same song every 15 minutes for 2 days straight.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:44 am
So…does this mean that your kids didn’t make a Fresh Beat Band T-shirt using Nick’s fun and free iron-on design from the crafts section?
~ Dr.MOZ
August 13th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Kids will take to it like ant to sugar, mine did!
August 14th, 2009 at 12:02 am
I keep seeing these commercials with my 2 year old son. To be honest he hasn’t seemed to really care and he usually loves music. Plus the tall kid looks like he’s 22, which makes him seem out of place.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Kids will take to it like ant to sugar, mine did!
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:59 am
I’m not sure about the little ones, but I find them hilarious!
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:45 pm
My 2 year old daughter just adores them!!! Their music is very catchy and punchy!! Great melodies with an up-beat tempo!! Perfect for “2 year old” dance off’s!!!!!
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:34 am
how old is the dark haired girl? she looks pretty old…and she SUCKS! Her lips never seem to mimic what the music is portraying…High notes and she barely moves her mouth…lol…I think its a joke how the (and Im black) African American is acting like that guy from fresh prince and the other guy is Hip Hop? yea right! Why cant they both be? The black dude looks like an idiot…and the blonde boy looks like hes trying to hard..
August 25th, 2009 at 1:40 am
Both my daughter and I love them! I sing and she dances. We saw the two shows on Nick, it stinks I have to switch from Noggin to Nick but whatever.
I’ll have to do the iron-on for my daughter! Thanks Dr.MOZ.
I honestly don’t see the issue with them being adults. Anyone who sings on Noggin is an adult. The Laurie Berkner Band, for example, is the other band that you see frequently on Noggin, they are made up of adults. I kinda agree with KaeCee, the show is live-action, but the music numbers seemed to be already taped, like a music video. And no offense to Maria, but I feel sorry for you that you teach your kids to pick out losers of the group.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:15 am
my two and a half year old does not like the show…she would rather watch repeats of dora or wubbzy…i watched the first episode and was not impressed..it seems to be a rip off of the mickey mouse club and does not seem too toddler friendly…there seems to be little education in the show…i personally would like to see something better…i am disappointed in this show…
August 31st, 2009 at 6:05 pm
The shows are good, if you don’t like it change it. Do you prefer grown men or teenagers teaching your kids? It’s a show for all ages not only toddlers. Come on. give them a break. My kids like them and so do I.
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
My 21 month old daughter loves the fresh beats. My husband and I also like the show. I think that its a cute show and my daughter loves to dance to all the songs. My daughter use to be really into Barney and Yo Gabab Gaba. I am relieved that she like does not want to watch those shows anymore. So now her and I can enjoy to dance around and sing together.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I have to tell you this is the worst #### i have ever seen.. The songs are so God awful and the dance steps are garbage.. Please, I hope they get cancelled.. WHat the #### are Loco Legs? ####!!!
September 15th, 2009 at 7:58 am
My 3 1/2 year old son loves this show! He’s really into instruments, so anything with singing and dancing he’s into. It’s cute to see him trying to imitate the dance moves. I enjoy watching this with him and I can’t get the closing song out of my head!
September 15th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I also like the show. I think that its a cute show and my daughter loves to dance to all the songs. My daughter use to be really into Barney and Yo Gabab Gaba. I am relieved that she like does not want to watch those shows anymore.
October 6th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
My 14 month old daughter has learned to dance to the beats that they play (even though its on every 15 minutes) p.s how tall is that guy in the yellow? I’m 6’3 and he looks at least 6’5
November 4th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
My daughter loves to dance and adores these, I’m not too keen though due to the amount of times I have to watch the recorded shows lol
November 12th, 2009 at 11:34 am
My 4-year-old daughter loves them!! We couldn’t wait for their new show to premiere. We used to watch them before that, when Nick Jr. showed their videos randomly and they were called The Jumparounds. I DVR their shows everyday so my daughter can sing and dance with them anytime. I’ve been searching online and in the stores to buy shirts, bags, Cds, etc. If anybody knows of where it is available, except for the iron-on on Nickjr.com, please let us know!
December 11th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I keep seeing these commercials with my 2 year old son. To be honest he hasn’t seemed to really care and he usually loves music.
January 10th, 2010 at 11:15 am
i thought the comment about the black guy not being black enough and the white guy trying too hard to be street were hillarious. yeah we should probably take every opportunity to make people of color be bad stereotypes. and as far as the white guy trying to hard there is a reason that method man doesnt have a kids show…it wouldnt be appropriate for kids. you can only be so “street” in a show aimed to toddlers.
its just a kids show. your kid will be into it for a few months and then youll have to DVR something else for another few months.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:02 am
And i thought Yo Gabba Gabba was aweful! What kind of show is this?? i watched it a few times to see what kind of kids would like this show.. purely idiots.. why is the white dude rappin ..trying to be black perhaps?? ..i turn it on a few times a week and its the same songs everytime! they could at least switch it up a bit i always thought i was watching the same episode every single day!
January 20th, 2010 at 9:50 am
My kids love this show. I just wish they’d sing the theme song a little quieter
January 21st, 2010 at 1:09 pm
This show is bad. Not because the actors are adults, because the acting and the music are terrible. It comes off as a cheap way to work that winning ‘High School Musical formula’ on a younger demographic. Hard to believe it came from Nickelodeon. With all the quality options in the kid’s music genre these days (um, Yo Gabba Gabba is awesome), it’s hard to believe any parent would suffer through this.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:40 pm
My 3 year old loves this show. I think it’s cheesy. At least the Imagination Movers sing songs that teach kids and have a catchy rhythm that I can tolerate. I do not like the characters…they “over” act like the kids on Barney with those painted on smiles. All in all, I try not to let my son know when it’s on.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:56 am
Fresh Beat Band is awful.The actors are awful.It is a bunch of grown ups acting like teens acting like 10 yr olds..It is too fake..Kids don’t act that way ..Never .Come on come up with a better show that teaches them something..
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:59 am
Oh and Yo Gabba Gabba is next in line as one of the worst things ever put on Nickelodeon..Really creepy
February 27th, 2010 at 8:23 am
True..Yo Gabba Gabba is freaky….I dont know who comes up with this stuff;but they need to be fired..
March 17th, 2010 at 8:08 am
I think Twist is a hottie!
)
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 pm
I can’t understand what everyone is complaining about. If you don’t like the show, don’t watch it. I don’t see why you would have a problem with the fact that the show isn’t following the typical stereotypes of what’s “white” and what’s “black.” We like that it teaches that anyone can do anything. They don’t really have to be the greatest actors – they’re entertaining children, not professional critics. The fact that they repeat their songs is actually a good thing, when you consider that if a child likes the song they’re singing, they might enjoy hearing it again within the next couple days, if not later in the same day. Imagination Movers do have good songs, I agree, but children aren’t likely to learn them unless they have a CD to listen to frequently. One of the best ways to teach children is through repetition. Additionally, children probably aren’t going to notice that the actors are acting “fake” and unlike regular children. They’re just kids. Not to mention their target audience isn’t the age of the characters they’re portraying. They DO educate kids on musical terms and instruments as well as different genres, but I’m not sure where parents got the idea that a show isn’t worth watching if it doesn’t teach letters, numbers, and Spanish. What ever happened to entertainment for entertainment’s sake? I don’t have to “suffer through it,” because I’ve never been hypercritical of what entertains me or my child, and I hope I haven’t taught her to be. All I need to know is that my daughter’s face lights up everytime the show starts and it stays that way the whole time it’s on. Plus, it keeps her moving and active, which isn’t really something she needed help with, but it’s a great incentive. Her memory and speech is improving as she’s learning the songs, and I’m thrilled to see her developing. The message is moral, and they teach the importance of friendship and helping. I find that I don’t have ONE complaint about the show, and I’m shocked that so many people hate it! As a side note, cursing probably isn’t the way to get your point across if you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about. We can’t wait for the next season!
March 23rd, 2010 at 7:46 am
Wow, thanks for the comment Ashley! The Fresh Beat Band is still causing a stir. Let the record show that you’ve contributed the most in-depth comment to date on the Dear Dr.MOZ baby blog…and a good one at that!
~ Dr.MOZ
March 23rd, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Thanks! I just don’t understand why, if someone or their child doesn’t like the show, they wouldn’t just turn it off. Why gripe and moan and try to take it off the air and away from the kids who LOVE it? It’s so selfish.
March 30th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
What has happen to the fresh beat band???? I have a three year old with Down Syndrome and he sits and watches the FBB. from beginning to end. But I have not been able to tape it for him this last week because it has been replaced with ICARLY. don’t get me wrong we like ICARLY to but my Travis loves the FBB. I hope that its not gone forever. Please help me with this my son is pretty sad about it.
April 9th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
We love the Fresh Beats! I nanny for a family with a 2 year old and a 6 yeard old. They both equally love the show. I do too. I find it entertaining. They both love the songs and dance moves. The 6 year old even does the closing dance every time we watch it. Thanks to Ashley for her comment. I’ve seen a lot of complaints (with just as much praise) aimed at the show. It’s not designed to entertain adults. And I have to agree with Ashley that one of the best ways to teach children is through repitition. Although, anyone who relies on television to teach their children (numbers, letters, spanish, etc.) is WAY off base anyway ; ) I hope the Fresh Beats stay around a little while longer!
April 15th, 2010 at 10:00 am
My 13 month old son loves The Fresh Beat Band & so do my 15 & 12 year old step-daughters. I can’t get them to stop singing the songs or dancing the dances. My husband doesn’t care for it but instead of complaining or changing the channel he just leaves the room until it’s over. Personally I prefer for my son to watch real people dancing & singing instead of shows like Yo Gabba Gabba. Now that’s a show that I think needs to be taken off the air! To me, it is right up there next to the TeleTubbies in terms of “what were they thinking?” preschool shows. We just change the channel when YGG comes on & everyone that has problems with FBB should do the same. It is funny to me how many of the people who didn’t like the “old” FBB characters didn’t mind the YGG characters or, for that matter, the guy who wears the orange suit that introduces them. Lol Long live the Fresh Beats!!