Nickelodeon continuing popular animated series THE LOUD HOUSE for a second season

After its hugely successful first season debut in May which saw THE LOUD HOUSE dominate ratings as the #1 animated kids' show on television, it didn't take long for Nickelodeon to announce that it was renewing the series for a 14-episode second season.  THE LOUD HOUSE provides a humorous inside look at what it takes to survive the chaos of growing up in a huge family by following the lives of Lincoln Loud and his 10 sisters.  The series debuted on Monday, May 2, 2016 at 5:00 pm (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon and has quickly garnered a large following on the cable network.  THE LOUD HOUSE is inspired by creator and executive producer Chris Savino's life growing up in a family of 10 kids.



In season two of THE LOUD HOUSE, Lincoln remains the man with the plan as he navigates through the chaos of living in a family with 11 kids.  The upcoming season that is scheduled to arrive this Fall will dive deeper into the unique personalities of Lincoln's sisters as well as feature a spooky themed Halloween episode. If you haven't seen any of season one's shows yet, Nickelodeon has a few of the full length episodes available to view at your convenience on its website.

THE LOUD HOUSE is based on an animated short of the same name that was created by Chris Savino for Nickelodeon's annual Animated Shorts Program.  It is the first TV series to be greenlit from that global program which is designed to cultivate a new generation of creative talent for the cable network. THE LOUD HOUSE is being produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California.

For more information, visit nick.com/loud-house

Nickelodeon Conjures Up A Halloween Celebration

Nickelodeon is getting into the Halloween spirit with a month-long celebration throughout October including holiday-themed premieres and specials from its live-action, animation and preschool series. Beginning Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT), Nick treats viewers to a fang-tastical TV movie, Liar, Liar, Vampire, starring Brec Bassinger (Bella and the Bulldogs) and Rahart Adams (Every Witch Way), followed by weekly Halloween-themed premieres throughout the month. Nickelodeon also invites viewers to the Halloween Ultimate Costume Party, a 60 minute special debuting Sunday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Hosted by the cast of Game Shakers, the fest features live music, a costume contest, DIY Halloween tips and tutorials, along with special appearances by the cast of Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Talia in the Kitchen and the WITS Academy.

Throughout October, Nickelodeon’s hit mobile apps get into the spirit with bone-chilling updates including new characters, collectable items and Halloween designs. SpongeBob Moves In will introduce a new character, Lord Poltergeist, new costumes and a Spooky Bikini Bottom skin. Sky Whale, the recently launched app from the new live-action series, Game Shakers, will feature ten new Halloween-themed collectible objects. Preschoolers will also be treated to new updates on the Nick Jr App and Noggin with themed home screens and video hubs, and Halloween-themed episodes of hit preschool series.

Fans can also visit Nick.com/games to access two new Halloween-themed games and a ghoulish update to fan-favorite, Nick Dance Machine. Nickelodeon Trendsetters debuts on Oct. 12, followed by Nickelodeon: OMG, Zombies! on Oct. 19.

Below is a rundown of Nickelodeon’s Halloween-themed premieres: NICKELODEON (all times ET/PT):

MONDAY, OCT. 12

7:00 p.m. – Liar, Liar, Vampire *Original Nickelodeon Movie* (simulcast on TeenNick and Nicktoons) When introverted 17-year old Davis Pell (Rahart Adams/Every Witch Way) switches schools, mega popular Caitlyn Crisp mistakes him for a vampire. His new neighbor Vi (Brec Bassinger/Bella and the Bulldogs) helps him dial up the ruse and his supernatural persona helps Davis rule the school. As word spreads, the truth becomes harder to hide.

SATURDAY, OCT. 17 

12:00 p.m. - Power Rangers “The Ghostest with the Mostest” Bat Monster kidnaps a costumed Ranger teen from a Halloween Party and extracts memories that will allow her to impersonate them. Kendall must ask the teens test questions to identify the imposter before all of the Energems are stolen.

SUNDAY, OCT. 18

 8:00 p.m. - Halloween Ultimate Costume Party (simulcast on TeenNick and Nicktoons) Hosted by the cast of Game Shakers, the 60 minute spooktacular show features live music, a costume contest, DIY Halloween tips and tutorials for kids and families, along with special appearances by the Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Talia in the Kitchen and WITS Academy casts.

FRIDAY, OCT. 23

12:00 p.m. - Blaze and the Monster Machines “Truck or Treat” It’s Halloween in Axle City, and Blaze, AJ and all of their friends are excited to “Truck or Treat.” When Crusher tries to steal all of their candy, his plan goes awry and he sends their treats far away from Axle City. Blaze and his friends must race Crusher to get to their candy first.

12:30 p.m. - Wallykazam! “Dawn of the Zucchini” While helping Gina Giant harvest vegetables from her garden, Wally and Norville meet a garden gnome. His name is Zach, but he doesn’t like his name because he thinks that ‘z’ isn’t a very fun letter. Wally decides to show Zach just how many fun words ‘z’ can make. It’s all going great until Bobgoblin convinces Wally to make a zillion zombie zucchinis who take off with Gina’s vegetables.

 1:00 p.m. - Shimmer and Shine “A Very Genie Halloweenie” It’s Halloween and Leah invites her genies over to join the fun. Since everyone is in costume, no one will know they’re real genies!. Zac is competing in a haunted house competition, but he accidentally ruins his own decorations. Leah makes a wish to make Zac’s house look haunted and the genies turn it into a real haunted house, complete with a real live Frankenstein! It’s a spooktacular adventure as the girls try to stop Frankenstein from smashing every Jack-O’-Lantern in Leah’s neighborhood.

 1:30 p.m. - Dora and Friends “Trick or Treat” When Emma accidentally scares off Abuela's cat Lucky on Halloween, Dora and her friends must travel to a real monster mash to save the kitty from a jealous witch.

 8:00 p.m. - Harvey Beaks “Le Corn Maze…OF DOOM!”/ “Harvey Isn’t Scary” In “Le Corn Maze…OF DOOM!,” After the kids claim that last year’s Halloween maze wasn’t all scary, the Squirrels swear to make this year’s maze the scariest ever. Everyone enters the maze but will anyone ever exit? Then in “Harvey Isn’t Scary,” a Littlebark Halloween tradition involves telling scary stories to keep the boogeyman away, but Harvey can’t seem to scare anyone. If he doesn’t step up his game, they’re all going to be in trouble.

SATURDAY, OCT. 24

8:30 p.m. - Game Shakers “Scared Tripless” Double G has scared Triple G every Halloween since he was a baby. This year, Double G asks Babe and Kenzie to help, but they double-cross him by telling Triple G his elaborate plan.

 9:00 p.m. - 100 Things to do Before High School “Have the Best Halloween Ever Thing!” CJ is determined to fix Principal Hader’s Halloween-hate in time to rescue the school’s cancelled Halloween festivities. Meanwhile, Crispo and Fenwick deal with costume-related crises.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28

7:30 p.m. – The Thundermans “Patch Me If You Can” Phoebe babysits her boyfriend's shy brother, but the mild-mannered boy discovers his evil side when he gets his hands on one of Max's inventions.

8:00 p.m. - Bella and the Bulldogs “Sha-Boo! Ya” During Halloween, Troy and Sawyer try to scare the girls at the annual football and cheerleader campout and an urban legend about the school’s old groundskeeper becomes all too real.

Also here's a run-down of Halloween specials on NICK JR:

MONDAY, OCT. 19

6:00 p.m. - Fresh Beat Band of Spies “Ghost of Rock” To save a haunted music theater, the Fresh Beat Band of Spies must help Spooky Spooks, a friendly and energetic ghost who just wants to rock.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21

6:00 p.m. - Little Charmers “Spooky Pumpkin Moon Night” On Spooky Pumpkin Moon Night, Hazel and the Charmers go to the pumpkin patch to find the best pumpkins to win the contest.

THURSDAY, OCT. 22

 6:00 p.m. - Tickety Toc “Trick or Treat Time/Spooky Time” In “Trick or Treat Time,” after the twins go trick or treating, they help prepare toffee treats for the Halloween party. In the process, they unleash a giant toffee monster that puts a scare into Tickety Town. Then in “Spooky Time,” while preparing for the Spooky Party, Pufferty is scared by his own reflection and races off into the Spooky Woods. The twins go after him, but they must conquer their own fears to bring him back in time for Chime Time.

Enjoy Television Shows & Movies On Your Own Schedule With Xfinity TV Go App

**Disclaimer** I have been provided a complimentary subscription to the Xfinity TV Go app and access to the Comcast cable programming lineup as part of the Xfinity blogger reviewer program. Opinions expressed are my own. #Xfinityreviewer

The days of having to sit in front of your living room television at a dictated time to make sure you didn't miss your favorite TV show are long gone!  With the TV Go app customers of Comcast #Xfinity service can watch the television shows and movies available through their subscription package whenever and wherever they want via a mobile device.  I tested out the Xfinity TV Go app the last few months and it was so nice and convenient to be able to enjoy television shows and movies on my own schedule.

To get a parking space when picking up my kids from elementary school ( our district eliminated busing to balance its budget and our kids live more than 2 miles away from the building ) you really need to arrive a half hour early before classes are dismissed.  I often pulled out my iPhone while waiting for their class to get out during the school year to catch up on television shows I missed when they originally aired.  Streaming on T-Mobile worked great providing  a crystal clear picture without any data loading hiccups.  I have an unlimited data plan with my smart phone plan so I wasn't concerned about the cost of streaming; but I'd recommend you understand your own plan's limitations before using this app because data charges may apply for accessing Xfinity content through your mobile phone company depending on the service agreement you have with them.  Another nice feature about using this option in my car was that through bluetooth connectivity I was able to project shows' audio through my vehicle's speakers to enjoy a great sound experience while watching them.  I didn't mind hanging around in the parking lot waiting for my kids to get out of school so much thanks to the Xfinity TV Go app to help me pass the time.

When using the app around the house we used our home wi-fi which tended to work just as well as streaming through our phone service's data plan. We don't have a television in our master bedroom and my wife spent some time recently recovering from having her tonsils removed so she used the app quite a bit for awhile.  The TV Go app was really great in keeping her from going stir crazy while she was bed ridden for a few days.  I have to admit enjoying some shows and movies myself from the comfort of bed too when I was feeling too tuckered out to want to stay up and see them from our living room couch. After giving the kids a bath and putting them to bed did I really want to go back downstairs on a Sunday night to watch "Game of Thrones?" Thanks to TV Go that wasn't a decision I had to fumble around with during Season 5.

Convenience really is where this app comes in handy.  I've used it a lot as an outside television via my iPad on the backyard deck.  The kids and I have really enjoyed watching Detroit Tigers games on nice warm summer evenings.

I've also enjoyed coming home from work for lunch on a nice afternoon to eat on the back deck while watching an episode of one of my favorite shows American Pickers.

During March Madness, I had the basketball games on my iPad in the kitchen while helping my wife out with making family dinners and cleaning up so I wouldn't miss a minute of action.

You can select to watch shows LIVE that are available on your Xfinity channel package or anything that is viewable via On Demand whenever it is convenient for your own schedule.  Going on a summer family trip and want to have accessibility to your Xfinity programming to keep yourself or your kids amused on a rained out day or during a long car or plane ride? Another nice option is you can download TV episodes and movies through the app onto your phone or tablet so they can be viewed later without being dependent on wi-fi or a cell signal.  For those times when you are looking for a quick way to keep children occupied there is also a nifty feature that provides a tab in the menu options which provides a directory of some of the most popular Xfinity programming that is "family friendly" and suitable for viewing by young children.  For extra protection you can create a pass code and enable parental protections that block content you don't want your kids to get access to.

The TV Go app is available for Android and iOS devices and is a benefit of being a Comcast Xfinity subscriber.  This service gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval for its accessibility, convenience and dependability.  For more information on Comcast Xfinity's products and services please visit www.xfinity.com.

New Animated Television Series Flies Onto Nickelodeon's Show Schedule In March: Harvey Beaks

A mild-mannered bird and his two wild best friends embark on a series of hilarious adventures in Nickelodeon’s brand-new animated series Harvey Beaks, debuting Sunday, March 29, at 7:00p.m. (ET/PT).  This 26-episode series, created and executive produced by C.H. Greenblatt , tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Harvey, a kid who’s never broken the rules, and Fee and Foo, his two friends who’ve never lived by any.  Greenblatt returns to Nickelodeon after beginning his career in animation as a storyboard artist and writer on SpongeBob SquarePants.  He later created and executive produced Chowder and was a storyboard artist and writer for The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy at Cartoon Network.  Greenblatt also directed his own version of the character Deadman for Cartoon Network's DC Nation shorts.

Greenblatt's newest creation is set in a magical forest and follows one sweet bird on his mission to experience wild adventures with the help of his two best friends.  Harvey, Fee and Foo’s connection only grows stronger throughout the series as they push each other into endless fun. On Sunday, March 29, at 7:00p.m. (ET/PT), the series will launch in its regular timeslot with “The Spitting Tree.” Spitting from the highest tree in Littlebark is fun until the kids realize they can’t get back down.

“Carl Greenblatt’s very funny and heart-warming stories fit directly in with Nickelodeon’s DNA and sensibilities,” noted Russell Hicks, President of Content Development and Production, Nickelodeon, in a press release provided to A Geek Daddy blog.  “In Harvey Beaks, viewers have the opportunity to discover the joys, triumphs and fears of growing up through thoughtful characters who push their limits and step out of their personal comfort zones.”

Beginning March 26, you visit the Harvey Beaks page on Nick.com and the Nick App to learn more about the show and its characters, get a behind-the-scenes look at the series and play new games including “Harvey Beaks Pe-Choo!” and take the quiz "Which Character Are You?”.   Episodes of Harvey Beaks will be available on Nick.com and the Nick App, along with platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Google Play, Vudu, Playstation, Hulu and VOD.

Here's a little bit more information on the show's main characters:

HARVEY

Harvey is a well-behaved kid who lives by the rules and gets a kick out of making his world a nice, neat and orderly place, but behind his innocence burns an adventurous, yet thoughtful spirit. He is not a kid who can easily break rules, so in order to get the most out of life, he re-writes them in his own earnest way. Where Harvey leads, his best friends, Fee and Foo always follow. Fee and Foo’s wild nature inspire him to take bigger risks. With friends like these, Harvey might get into more trouble, but he will also have more fun.

FEE

Fee is a kid who sinks her pointy teeth into childhood. She’s fiercely loyal, confident and dirty. Since she’s never had anyone to tell her what to do, she does exactly what she wants. As much as Harvey follows rules, Fee follows her heart. She’s rough and tumble and driven by what seems fun and interesting in the moment. Like her hair, she’s completely untamed and wild, willing to risk everything for her friends or her beliefs.

FOO

Foo is like a puppy. He likes sticks, eating bugs, running and chewing on things. Foo is the most impulsive of the three friends. He can be totally energized one minute and fast asleep the next. Foo considers Harvey his very best friend and Harvey feels the same, which is nice because Harvey can teach Foo about taking baths and wearing pants. He has a pure heart and, if he had sleeves, he would wear it on them.

Tune in to Nickelodeon on Sundays starting March 29th to follow the adventures of Harvey, Fee & Foo in the magical forest of Littlebark.

Disney Channel Hosts Fall Fairy Festival

My daughter is a big fan of Tinker Bell but she doesn't identify the character from the Peter Pan story but rather from a series of straight to DVD movies that Disney has released over the last few years.  There are six Disney Fairies animated movies out, with a seventh being released on March 3, 2015, that feature the character Tinker Bell and her fairy friends from the land of Pixie Hollow.  This isn't the mean-spirited sprite as portrayed in Disney's 1953 animated film Peter Pan who really wasn't that nice but rather a kinder gentler likeable version that is easier for audience to embrace as a loveable character.  I have to say that not only does my daughter love watching these films, but our whole family finds them enjoyable to watch together with their top notch animation, excellent musical soundtracks, and interesting stories.  Any of these movies would be a great selection for a family movie night.

If you haven't seen the Disney Fairy movies or would like to see one or all of them again, you are in luck this week as they will all be shown on cable television.  The Disney Channel is hosting a Fall Fairy Festival from November 10-13, 2014 showing these movies in the evening throughout the week.

MONDAY - NOVEMBER 10 @ 8 PM: TINKER BELL (2008)
Young fairy Tinker Bell causes chaos in Pixie Hallow when she rejects her predestined occupation as a fixer of broken objects and tries to learn a new trade instead.

TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 11 @ 6:30 PM: THE PIRATE FAIRY (2014)
Tinker Bell and her friends go in search of a wayward fairy who fled Pixie Hollow and joined up with a band of scheming pirates led by the future Captain Hook.

TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 11 @ 8 PM: TINKER BELL & THE LOST TREASURE (2009)
Tinker Bell journeys to save a Pixie Dust Tree.

WEDNESDAY - NOVEMBER 12 @ 8 PM: THE GREAT FAIRY RESCUE (2010)
Tinker Bell and her fairy rival strive to keep secret from humans the very existence of fairies.

THURSDAY - NOVEMBER 13 @ 8PM:  SECRET OF THE WINGS (2012)
Tinker Bell and her friends venture into the winter woods to find the secret of fairy wings.

A sixth movie the Pixie Hollow Games (2013) isn't being broadcast as part of Disney Channel Fall Fairy Festival and a seventh movie Legend of the NeverBeast is coming out in 2015.

For more information regarding anything Disney Fairies related visit: www.fairies.disney.com

As we all know kids spend too much time watching television, so I'd encourage you to also check out a great line of comics published by PAPERCUTZ if your children appreciate Disney Fairies. This company has published graphic novel portrayals of many of the Disney Fairies movies plus other comic books containing brand new stories of unique adventures featuring Tinker Bell and her friends.  CLICK HERE for a preview of the PAPERCUTZ Disney Fairies collection.  We have a few of these graphic novels and my daughter cherishes them. They are very nice to take along on a trip, reading on a rainy day or bedtime stories. 

A Geek Daddy Blog gives a nod of approval to both the Disney Fairy animated movies and the PAPERCUTZ comic books as both are very well done family friendly entertainment options.