Come on Over

My kids set the alarm for 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning to watch this show and I get up with them.

Likable artist Joel sets up the premise for the episode in his garage studio and then it is off to his colorful backyard where friends come together to have fun and use their creativity. The regular ensemble includes Brandy, a quirky neighbor girl who puts the story in motion, Mr. Flabinjaw, the curmudgeon neighbor and foil to Joel's activities, and Grandma Zippy, the perfect, fun grandmother who is game for anything. These characters are complimented by a small handful of puppet characters including a lazy cat, a knock-knock joke-telling mouse (with a hysterical laugh that is funnier than the jokes), a hyper-active (make that A.D.D.) squirrel and a very smart hedgehog that introduces the show's teaspoonful of animated educational content in a fun way.

Genuinely funny bits of writing, well developed core characters, interesting guests and catchy music make this an enjoyable half hour for children as well as adults who are in the practice of watching what their kids watch. A side benefit is that the program inspires creative play... a great outcome compared to all the "babysitter" children's programming that merely amuse or try to be educational.

I am also impressed by the music. There seems to be three or four original songs in every episode encompassing a variety of musical genre's, lots of humor, pathos and "singability". The hooks keep coming back to me and my kids throughout the day. I'll probably have to get the CD when it comes out.