Kids Incorporated

As someone who was born in 1985 I have many found memories of Kids Incorporated. I only caught the later seasons, and maybe some of the earlier ones on reruns, but I know that when I was a kid I really liked it. It's one of those shows that, if you weren't around back then, you're probably going to find a lot to criticize. The kids all sing songs that were popular at the time, and sing them pretty well IMO. Some of them are even still around today. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Fergie, Mario Lopez, and Eric Balfour to name a few. Aside from the music, the kids also dealt with problems, and helped each other to solve them. I hate to repeat myself, but it really is one of those shows that you had to be there for in the beginning. The fashion and hair are pretty awful, but I view it as a sort of time capsule. A way to revisit a time long ago. If you're part of the 2000's crowd, and can look past the fashion and hair, and enjoy it for what it is, then I applaud you. It really is a good show.

Disney or MGM should bring the reruns of this show back on the air...it was such a good show and unfortunately back in the day when Disney was a pay channel, not many kids could watch the show (I only caught it when we got the Disney preview). Now that Disney is a regular cable channel, at least show the reruns so that kids today could see what it is to be a REAL teen band that actually plays instruements.

KIDS Incorporated is what would have happened had the 90210 gang been a kids band in the 80's.

The KIDS were actually a neverending Menudo-style lineup of tweenie-boppers, who performed as the house-band at a Peach Pit style malt-shop/hangout for rugrats. They sashayed across stage in their large, over-sized, neon colored blouses and tight black leggings. They rocked out on their guitars and keyboards, with enough dramatic energy to suggest that they thought the instruments *really* were plugged in, and they *really* were playing them. The KIDS covered our not-so-favorite hits from Casey's Top 40, and we tuned in every week to see which songs they were going to put to a slow torturous death.

KIDS gave us Marta Marerro, before she washed the 20 lbs. of 'L.A. Looks' out of her hair and became pop-goth princess Martika. I prefer the old Martika, in all her satin jacket, giant brooch-wearing, neon leg-warmer glory. She was sassy and saucey and we worshipped her and her Crayola make-up, and we kept hoping her pirouettes would go awry and she'd fly off stage.

And you had to love "The Kid" (no, he was not played by Prince). "The Kid" marched around with attitude and threw shade and impersonated Diana Ross. Luvvem! There was also this dude named Riley, who made way-awesome yogurt-frappe' and seemingly loved steroids. I think he owned or managed the club or something. He helped the KIDS through life-altering crises like:

*Which song should the band do tonite-- "We Got The Beat", "Rhythm Of The Night" or "Gloria?"

*Stacey is like, sooooo tired of being a back-up singer. If she doesn't get to sing lead, like, NOW...she is going to barf out her retainer and go solo!

*Ohmahgawd...there's a leprechaun next to the gelatto machine and he's all like, "Where's me lucky pot-o-gold?" (I loved that episode...the leprechaun was "Isaac", the evil dwarf guy from "Children Of The Corn"!!!)

Damn I miss this show. We hated the KIDS and we loved them too. We sang along with them and then secretly wished the roof would collapse on top of them. The Saturday morning TV universe is a stark, empty void without KIDS intoxicated.

While it lasted the show was a lot of fun. The show portrayed kids in a rock band, performing a teen-dance club. Also the kids dealt with promblems such as a being too shy to ask someone on a date, or having a friend that likes Shakespeare while you only want to listen to rock and roll. A neat concept, at the time. Only disagreement with the show was the songs. By the time the show received permission to have the kids sing the songs, they were not as popular.

Growing up the same age as the kids on the show, I thought it was the best. My sister and I sang along, we loved the outfits, the hair, and ESPECIALLY the music.

Yes, It's possible if I were to view this again, I would be as embarrassed to watch it as I am to listen to my old beloved New Kids on the Block albums. But, with my naive love intact, I say, bring on the DVD box set. I'll buy 'em all!

Kids' Incorporated back then is similar to what movies like "High School Musical" are to kids today. It's not meant to be groundbreaking television, and no, the kids (clearly) don't play their own instruments.

But with three of these child stars still on the celebrity scene today (Fergie, Mario Lopez and Jennifer Love Hewitt,) you would have to agree that those kids were talented. It's not their fault they came of age in the 80's!

Plus, the 80's are back.