FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Toronto, Canada (Oct 20) - By utilizing influences from The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night movie and The Monkees' TV series, Cookie Jar Entertainment, the creators of The Doodlebops, have spawned a sensation.
"I've tried to sum up the rock and roll experience for pre-schoolers by taking everything that's fun and playful and exciting about flower power, disco and glam rock and focusing on all that's good and wholesome in it," says Jamie Waese, the producer, director and one of the writers for the TV show that's about to launch its second season.
Here's an opportunity to hang out behind the scenes with the world's greatest rock and roll band. Pre-schoolers are quite aware of rock. They know what rock bands are and are excited and intrigued by them, but none of it is for them because it's a little too sophisticated and deals with issues that pre-schoolers can't relate to.
The Doodlebops focus on issues that pre-schoolers actually relate to, like getting along, sharing and figuring out how to solve problems together.
The Doodlebops is produced in Toronto by Cookie Jar Entertainment, but with the program being shown across Canada on CBC and throughout the U.S. on the Disney Channel (where it's the highest rated weekend show for kids aged two to five); Deedee, Rooney and Moe Doodle have captured the attention and adulation of young fans from all over North America.
"Kids are getting their families to spend their vacations to come to Doodlebops shows," relates Waese. "They come from all over in home-made costumes dressed as Deedee, Rooney and Moe, and they break-dance and know all the lyrics to all of the songs."
The show has got kids so excited that orders on Amazon.ca for two Doodlebops DVDs (Music & Fun and Let's Move) and a CD (Get On The Bus) have already made them among the site's top sellers even though they won't actually be released until Oct. 25 by Universal Music Canada.
"Vast numbers of people tell us that it's the first thing that their kids say in the morning and the last thing they say when they go to bed at night," Waese says of The Doodlebops phenomenon.
The characters have also become role models for kids in many ways. For instance, in one show, Rooney refused to eat cauliflower until he was eventually persuaded to try it. Soon after it aired, Waese received an e-mail from a mother who said that her son had refused to eat any vegetables. "But since seeing that episode, he has insisted on eating cauliflower with every meal," says Waese.
So intense is interest in The Doodlebops that an eBay user recently auctioned off information regarding an exterior shoot for the show.
Most fans don't have to resort to such mercenary means to find out about The Doodlebops, however. The show's official web site (www.doodlebops.com) is up now, but should be running at full speed in January. In the meantime, sites like www.dontpulltherope.com, www.deedeerooneymoe.net and www.doodlebopsfanclub.com have been created by followers to spread the word.
The second season of The Doodlebops will debut on CBC on Dec. 12, and viewers will be introduced to two new members of the cast: Audio Murphy, a recording engineer who also happens to be a groovy, soulful dog; and Jazzmin (played by soul diva Jackie Richardson), who will take over from Mazz as The Doodlebops' manager.
While The Doodlebops is currently shown in Canada and the U.S., plans are underway to broadcast the show and market the characters internationally. Look for Doodlemania to keep on spreading.
About Cookie Jar Group
Cookie Jar Group develops and markets quality products to children, their caregivers, parents and teachers. Cookie Jar Group's products reflect its commitment to providing the best in children's published content, animated and live action programming and innovative educational and entertainment-driven products worldwide. The group of companies consists of Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. and Cookie Jar Education Inc., as well as a 20% interest in Teletoon Canada Inc., Canada's only all-animation broadcaster.
About Cookie Jar Entertainment, Inc.
Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc., Cookie Jar Group's entertainment operation, is a leading, global, independent producer, marketing and brand manager of such renowned children's properties as "Arthur," "The Doodlebops," "Caillou" and "Gerald McBoing Boing." Combining globally-renowned intellectual properties with an industry-recognized management team, Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. is a market-driven, brand building company that is committed to children first and foremost and is dedicated to the development and production of quality programming that embraces the whole child, with animated and live-action series that entertain, inspire and enlighten children and family audiences worldwide.
MEDIA CONTACT: Monaco Publicity James Monaco - (416) 686-3395
