''Kidsongs'' is an American children's media franchise that includes Kidsongs Music Video Stories on DVD and video, the Kidsongs TV series, CDs of children's songs, songbooks, sheet music, toys, and a merchandise website. It was created by producer Carol Rosenstein and director Bruce Gowers of Together Again Video Productions. The duo had produced and directed over 100 music videos for

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...

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 formed between TAVP, WBR, and View-Master Video, with TAVP responsible for production and WBR and View-Master responsible for distribution to video and music stores, and toy stores respectively.

Development

The home video series was launched with four ''Kidsongs'' "Music Video Stories" being announced at New York's Toy Fair in February 1986. "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."Video Review's Critics' Choice Awards", Video Review, April 1987, page 77 Each half-hour video featured around 10 songs in a music video style production starring a group of children known as the "Kidsongs Kids". They sing and dance their way through well-known children's songs, nursery rhymes and covers of pop hits from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s, all tied together by a simple story and theme. The TAVP/WBR/View-Master Video partnership (View-Master was acquired by

Tyco Toys Tyco Toys was an American toy manufacturer. It was acquired by Mattel in 1997, becoming one of its brands. History Formation of Tyco The company was established as Mantua Metal Products by John Tyler and Jim Thomas in 1926, producing model bo ...

in 1989) produced sixteen ''Kidsongs'' videotapes. In 1995, WBR and TAVP bought out Tyco's distribution rights, then "Let's Put on a Show" "Baby Animal Songs" were released in 1996 by WarnerVision Entertainment, another division of

Time Warner Warner Media, LLC ( doing business as WarnerMedia) was an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate owned by AT&T. It was headquartered at the 30 Hudson Yards complex in New York City. It was established as Time Warne ...

. In 1997, TAVP acquired Time Warner's rights to ''Kidsongs'', assuming sole ownership of the franchise. Later in 1997, TAVP entered into a distribution/production agreement with

Sony Wonder Sony Pictures Kids Zone is the kids and family entertainment label of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and the former record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Despite the similarity in name, Sony Wonder is not directly related to the fo ...

, having admired Sony's revitalization of ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...

''s home video and music products. TAVP and Sony Wonder co-produced four more titles: "I Can Dance!", "I Can Do It!" and two "Adventures in Biggleland" specials also broadcast in television syndication. In 2002, distribution rights migrated to Image Entertainment (later

RLJE Films RLJ Entertainment (formerly Image Entertainment) is an American film production company and home video distributor, distributing film and television productions in North America, with approximately 3,200 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 340 ...

), which continues to distribute the videos.

Notable members

Meredith Bishop Meredith Bishop is an American actress, writer and producer. Bishop is best known for her role as Annie Mack in Nickelodeon's ''The Secret World of Alex Mack'', which ran on the network from 1994–1998. Career Bishop began acting professional ...

(1985) * Shawn Harrison (1986) *

Devyn Puett Devyn Puett (born November 22, 1977) is an American actress, singer, and dancer.

(1986–1987 and 1990) *

Ryan Bollman Ryan Matthew Bollman (born August 9, 1972) is an American television and film actor best known for his roles in '' Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice'' (1992), ''Only the Strong'' (1993), and '' The NeverEnding Story III'' (1994). Pe ...

(1986) *

Raquel Alessi Raquel Nazzarena Alessi (born March 7, 1983) is an American retired actress and model who starred on the FOX series '' Standoff''. She portrays the title character in the 2009 film ''Miss March'', alongside Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore from t ...

(1990) *

Jensen Karp Jensen-Gerard Karp is an American producer, writer, actor, podcaster, gallerist, and former rapper. Previously known by his stage name Hot Karl, he signed a record deal with Interscope in his early 20s and has gone on to produce and write for te ...

(1990) *

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(1990) * Veena Goel (1990) *

Alexandra Picatto Alexandra Picatto is an American business manager, accountant, and former child actress. Biography Picatto grew up both in Collinsville and Los Angeles. She was born into an Italian American family. While she was working as an actress, she, he ...

(1993–1995) *

Galen Hooks Galen Hooks (born November 19, 1985) is an American dancer and choreographer. Work Hooks has worked with over 60 artists including Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Ne-Yo, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Usher, Mýa, Chris Brown, the Jonas Brothers, ...

(1994) *

Lynsey Bartilson Lynsey Marie Bartilson (born July 1, 1983)Martin, Patti (May 6, 2003)"'She's Grounded; Lynsey Marie Bartilson, Who Plays Lily Finnerty on 'Grounded for Life,' Got Her Start in Musical Theater'" ''Asbury Park Press''. May 6, 2003. p. 41. Retri ...

(1994–1995)

Home videos

Twenty-five ''Kidsongs'' "Music Video Stories" were released between 1985 and 1998, encompassing more than 200 public domain, covered, and original songs, and featuring a variety of topics that of interest to kids: animals, birthdays, the zoo, sports, summer camp, 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.

Television series

''The Kidsongs Television Show'' debuted on September 19, 1987, with 26 half-hour 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. It ran on network affiliates, primarily on Saturday mornings. The series aired for two years in syndication, then was rerun on

The Disney Channel Disney Channel is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company. Launched on April 18, 1983, under the na ...

in 1990. It won the prestigious Excellence in Children's Programming Award from ACT. The 1987–88 series was titled ''The Kidsongs TV Show''.Jeanne Spreier, "'Kidsongs' In Tune With Children", Dallas Morning News, March 23, 1998, page 51 In 1994, a new version of the television series was developed by Rosenstein and produced in conjunction with Chicago public television station

WTTW WTTW (channel 11) is a PBS member television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Owned by not-for-profit broadcaster Window to the World Communications, Inc., it is sister to commercial classical music radio station WFMT (98.7 FM). ...

for 30 minutes and distributed by

American Public Television American Public Television (APT) is an American nonprofit organization and syndicator of programming for public television stations in the United States. It distributes public television programs nationwide for PBS member stations and indepen ...

to public television stations nationally. ''The Kidsongs Television Show'' reached 89 percent of households by 1998. 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 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, kind way. They address age-appropriate issues, such as not wanting to share, jealousy, friendship, telling the truth and patience. Seasons one through four of ''The Kidsongs Television Show'' totaled 96 episodes. It ran on public television for seven years, winning critical acclaim.Tim Kiska, "Great Kid TV Debate: Entertain or Educate?", Detroit News, July 1, 1998, page 1E 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 Video.

Series overview

Season 1 (1987–1988)

The hosts this season are Chris Lytton and Triskin Potter.

Season 2 (1994)

The hosts this season are Christian Buenaventura and Alexandra Picatto (credited as Alexandra Palm). This is also the debut of Kidsongs' new mascots, the Biggles (though Ruby would appear in later episodes).

Season 3 (1995)

The hosts this season are Aaron Harvey, Alexandra Picatto (credited as Alexandra Palm), and Lynsey Bartilson (only in two episodes) with the Biggles.

Season 4 (1997)

The hosts this season are Sergio Centeno and Tiffany Burton with the Biggles.

References

External links

Official website

Kidsongs
on

IMDb IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...

{{Former PBS Kids shows Television shows filmed in Illinois Early childhood education Child musical groups 1980s American children's television series 1990s American children's television series 1980s American music television series 1990s American music television series 1987 American television series debuts 1997 American television series endings Orbis Communications American television shows featuring puppetry American preschool education television series 1980s preschool education television series 1990s preschool education television series Television series about children Television series about size change American children's musical television series Television series by WTTW PBS Kids shows Television franchises Television series by Sony Pictures Television Warner Records artists First-run syndicated children's television series