Phenomenon: The Yo Gabba Gabba! monsters with DJ Lance Rock
I've just seen the best TV show in the world. Inevitably, it's from America. But forget The Wire, forget Heroes, forget Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Simpsons, Taxi and b>Hill Street Blues.
Clear some room in your YouTubing schedule for b>Yo Gabba Gabba!. It only premiered on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr channel in August, but already cannier members of Hollywood's A-list are queuing up to be part of the phenomenon, just as they have been doing for decades with Sesame Street and The Simpsons. But whereas both those shows pander to a savvy adult audience, Yo Gabba Gabba! is aimed squarely at the same pre-school audience as the Teletubbies was (in spite of the fact it sounds like it was named after b>The Ramones).
In place of Tinky Winky and the gang are five toy monsters who are introduced every week by a man who's walked straight out of a b>Deee-lite video; Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee. The idea is no more complex than getting kids singing along and dancing, but it's the quality of guest they've managed to rope in so far that has made the difference: from Lord of the Rings star b>Elijah Wood via skateboarding legend b>Tony Hawk to hip hop hero b>Biz Markie.
There. And I didn't use the words "on acid" once...
