Can we darn-ce? (Yo Gabba Gabba)

Member Name: i_am_joy

Product:	Yo Gabba Gabba
Date:	13/08/09 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helps children understand how to behave amongst their friends - perhaps

Disadvantages: The programme is just generally very, very irritating

Yo Gabba Gabba is a favourite of my two year old granddaughters, writing this review is going to be a big challenge for me as I cannot abide the programme so if it becomes a little biased then I apologise in advance.

Hosted by DJ Lance Rock, at the beginning of each episode he will set out a set of five toy characters and then bring them magically to life. They don't actually have adventures, but in a very American way work to teach the watching children about relationships and how to act when things either do or don't go their way.

This is done mainly through song, although sometimes DJ Lance will have to step in with a verbal admonishment when one of them misbehaves or more likely one of the characters will remind their friend that a particular type of behaviour isn't necessary.

As an adult I find it all very condescending and especially hate the songs that DJ Lance and the characters sing each episode, with such exciting titles as 'Please Don't Bite Your Friends' and 'Keep Trying, Never Give Up' who can fail to hate them really?

This is the thing. Yo Gabba Gabba is just too goody-goody. It's almost a church-like programme, although religion is never mentioned, and I do always have the impression that I have been preached at after watching an episode. Of course, we all want our little one's to learn how to behave but I honestly don't think Yo Gabba Gabba is the way to do it.

The characters all have unusual names; Plex the robot, Foofa the big pink flowery creature, Muno (I'm not sure which one he is, although I suspect he's the large fluffy long armed monster type character) and two others who I have no idea who they're called. My granddaughter was able to pick the names up more or less straight away and she gets so annoyed at me when I cannot remember who is who so perhaps they are named in ways that toddlers can especially remember.

DJ Lance is a strange looking fellow. He's very thin and wears a tight orange catsuit with a large afro type orange hat on his head, if I were a two year old I'd be terrified of him but my granddaughter seems to love him! He is another aspect of Yo Gabba Gabba that I find extremely irritating, I cannot put my finger on just why apart from the fact that he looks ridiculous but then perhaps that is reason enough sometimes.

Yo Gabba Gabba has special guest stars sometimes and while these are usually American stars who I haven't heard of, apparently Jack Black has done a turn for DJ Lance and the gang and also I've spotted a few English pop groups who have popped up. My absolute favourite is an American man who comes on and does an excellent beat box performance - although I can't for the life of me understand why this otherwise very trendy rapper would choose to appear on such a cringe worthy show!

My granddaughter loves the colours and songs in Yo Gabba Gabba, she laughs at DJ Lance and calls him a 'funny man' (which I wouldn't disagree with!) but her favourite aspect of the show is definitely when it features real children. Children appear on screen during the cuts from one scene to another and they are either dancing or doing their Cool Tricks - which could be anything from balancing a spoon on their nose to turning a somersault backwards. Some of them are extremely good, although the fact that they have been dressed in such old fashioned clothes including sweatshirts featuring the Yo Gabba Gabba characters does make the sketches look rather cheap and ill thought out.

You can watch Yo Gabba Gabba on Nick Jnr and Nick Jnr 2 at various times throughout the day. If you haven't got these channels they have a look on You Tube and tell me whether or not you agree that this is one of the most annoying programmes ever!

Depending on whether you have seen the programme or not, you may or may not understand my title. Believe me, it's one of the most irritating catchphrases on television!

Summary: Please don't bite your friends, you must not bite your friends! Bah!