As the aunt of a preschooler and an aspiring voice actress (I knew all those hours of watching Bugs Bunny would come in handy), I know every kid’s show, as well as every kid’s DVD out there.
In my opinion, there is no better way that celebrities can recoup their outrageous salaries than by entertaining and sometimes educating children. And They Might Be Giants earned the vote “Cooler Than Elvis” for singing the theme song to one of Playhouse Disney’s newest hits, “Higglytown Heroes,” which is also on their children’s CD/DVD, “Here Come the ABCs”.
For those of you unfamiliar with all things Higgly (an adjective used just as much as “Smurfy” but not, thanks to Higgles, as a verb), the series centers on a small town and four children named Eubie, Kip and the brothers Wayne and Twinkle. Think “South Park” with better art and no dirty mouths. The strongest language is, “Oh, pickles,” usually uttered by Twinkle (pinker than Trista Rehn Sutter!) after her fantastic ideas for solving children’s dilemmas are gently pummeled by Fran, a friendly squirrel with the Voice of Edie McClurg.
In each two-episode half-hour show, the Higgly Kids experience ordinary and innocent childhood events, such as finding a caterpillar, throwing a TV party for the Happy Hairy Higgly Monster primetime special, losing a tooth, Kip’s grandfather locked in bathing or taking care of an unhappy bird. The children try to solve their problems, guided by Fran, who is the voice of reason, aided by her loving families and the always enthusiastic Bill and Ted-ish Pizza Guy… plus someone special. Then comes the inevitable song…
“Someone special, who could it be?
This job is too big for you and me.
We need help!
But never fear-o,
Sounds like a job for a…Higglytown Hero!
A Higglytown hero!”
Some of the heroes are natural choices, especially after 9/11: policewoman, firefighter, etc. But how many of us think of sanitation workers, electricians, plumbers, gardeners, mail carriers (voiced by Kathie Lee Gifford), and farmers as heroes? Or a phone operator (voiced by Cyndi Lauper)? Although the heroes have celebrity voices, Higgly Kids discovers that the real stars around them are the people who solve problems every day.
Some of the dilemmas get a bit ridiculous from an adult perspective. For example, when Kip climbs a tree to save a beloved neighborhood cat and her kittens, his friends help him. Why, when he gets stuck, can’t they help him back up? Ahem… when was the last time you tripped and panicked? He needs help in his own life every day without thinking about it.
The beauty of “Higglytown Heroes” is that it celebrates working together, “having fun together,” and the Higgly Kids, as well as their families, never take the heroes in their lives for granted. The electrician (Lance Bass) receives an invitation to participate in the “Higgly Monsters” TV party after repairing the circuitry in Kip’s house. The fireman (Donald Faison) who pulls Kip out of the tree participates in a birthday party for the neighborhood cat. How many of us go out of our way to thank the people who make our lives easier? Sometimes we forget to see them as people with needs and feelings.
We even forget to see our own families as heroes. Kip’s grandmother (voiced by “Golden Girl” Betty White, with a Rose Nylund-esque hairdo) knits the children’s sweaters. Bitty, Kip’s real estate agent, acts as the soul of 1950s domestic life, but she’s rewarded when Kip and her friends make her a payback card. Wayne’s mom Plunkie shows the kids a caterpillar and takes them to the beach, while Wayne and Twinkle’s Uncle Lemmo makes them breakfast at his restaurant and, in the Christmas special, takes Wayne and Twinkle on his sleigh.
Interestingly, Higgly families are not always nuclear families, something that Disney presents as normal without attracting attention. Kip’s family is the proverbial nuclear family, with twin sisters, a little sister, a mom and dad, Fripp (who operates a hot dog cart), and two grandparents who live in or constantly visit Kip’s big house. Twinkle and Wayne’s mother appears to be a single parent (although they are all African-American, no one has yelled racism yet), and Eubie is apparently being raised by her southern-accented Aunt Mellie and Uncle Zooter, with visits from her southern-accented parents. Grandpop Crank (a farmer).
In many ways, Higglytown is idealized. No one seems to really care about work, money, or status. People go to the library and a librarian is a Higglytown hero! The kids “work so hard” and take responsibility (gasp) thinking of ways to help themselves and their families, and in each episode there are little moral lessons and tips (take care of your pets, don’t use too much electricity, make a smile on someone) to show kids how they can grow up to become… Higglytown Heroes!
Cynics and detractors will scoff at this as childish pablum. I call it a refreshing dose of reality and a tribute to the heroes around us. Disney animators are Higglytown Heroes for creating this show.
Author’s Note: After this review originally circulated on the web, actor Rory Thost, who provides the voice of “Kip”, was kind enough to be a “Higglytown Hero” and make my day by telling me how much he and the cast I liked the review. For all those who think our kids are complete troublemakers, young Master Rory Thost is thirteen years old: ;ft=4. His career in show business is already longer than mine! More importantly, in a world where celebrity bad behavior is sadly the norm, this young man remains polite, mature, well educated, and well grounded.
Author’s Note II: This series just keeps getting better. The continuity is even on par with most primetime shows. Kip has adopted a dog named “Shadow”, who makes guest appearances; we meet Fran’s parents after seeing them in the Christmas special; Eubie’s grandfather becomes a Higglytown hero; Eubie’s flappy bird makes appearances from time to time. The Fireman returns. The electrician proposes to the teacher, and the pizza guy and Fran become heroes of Higglytown!
Author’s Note III: Disney has created Higglytown Heroes Toys. This series has, ahem, legs!