NEW STAR WARS YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES EPISODES COMING TO DISNEY+

New episodes of the tv show following the adventures of Jedi Younglings will be debuting on the Disney+ streaming service and Disney Junior cable channel beginning August 2, 2023, with more episodes to come later this year. In total, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” Season 1 will be a 25-episode run. 

Set during The High Republic era, the animated series follows Jedi Younglings as they study the ways of the Force and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi. The series was recently nominated for a 2023 Television Critics Association Award and was awarded a Common Sense Seal from Common Sense Media, which acknowledges outstanding media that families can enjoy together. 

The first seven episodes from the series, which premiered May 4, saw the Younglings train with Master Yoda and Master Zia at the Jedi temple on Tenoo, meet pilot and fast friend Nash Durango, and clash with pirate Taborr Val Dorn. The six new episodes being released on August 2 will follow the Younglings as they continue to hone their Force abilities and go on adventures across the galaxy.

YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES

A new animated show aimed at introducing preschoolers to a galaxy far, far away is debuting May the Fourth on the Disney Junior cable network and Disney Plus streaming service. STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES has Jedi Master Yoda guiding younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. The stories in this series' episodes take place during the High Republic era of Star Wars' canon long before the immergence of the Empire and Clone Wars' Order 66 which wiped out the Jedi. 

Disney has released a series of shorts that are available to view for FREE now on YouTube and can be streamed on Disney+ beginning April 26 to promote the animated series before its May 4, 2023 premiere:

Meet the Young Jedi -- Kai, Lys, and Nubs work together to battle a training droid at the Jedi Temple on Tenoo.

Lys’ Creature Caper -- Lys follows the clues to retrieve an adorable creature running amok through the Jedi Temple.

Kai’s Daring Droid Rescue -- When her droid RJ-83 is in trouble, Nash calls on Kai to help rescue him.

STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda. This new show is sure to be a fun way to make Star Wars Day stand out. I'm sure a lot of kids and their Star Wars fan parents will be geeked to see it. May the Fourth be with You! 

GENEVIEVE GOINGS GREAT INDOORS

Genevieve Goings has made a name for herself on the children's music scene through her "Choo Choo Soul" performances on the Disney Junior cable channel. The GRAMMY-nominated artist is now debuting her first collection of recordings with the new children's music label 8 Pound Gorilla Records titled GREAT INDOORS being released on February 5, 2021. The same bubbly energy she is loved for on Disney Junior is contained within her GREAT INDOORS selection of original tunes which showcase the kids music with soul that Goings in known for.

Inspired by her single "Shadow Puppets" we have a Geek Daddy challenge for a chance to win a free digital download of GREAT INDOORS. For a chance to win create a shadow puppet then share a picture of it on Twitter tagging @Geekdad248 & @ChooChooGirl with the hashtag #shadowpuppetchallenge. Submit your entries before Feb 1, 2021 to be eligible for this prize. Have some fun and show us your shadow puppets. I'm geeked to see your entries!

For those of you who aren't artistically inclined to participate in the photo contest, I also have a few more digital downloads to giveaway. Just complete the Rafflecopter entries below by 11:59 pm ET on February 2, 2021 for a chance to win a digital download of Genevieve Goings' GREAT INDOORS. Must be a United States or Canadian resident over 18 years old to participate. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Songs among the GREAT INDOORS collection of tunes include "Grateful" a cheerful anthem towards making the best of sheltering in place, "Candy" a fun 80's inspired dance track, "Shadow Puppets" which sparks creativity and "Summer All Year Long" (featuring Samantha Smith) inspiring kids to create their own tropical setting when they are stuck inside, and “Bed Time” to help kids wind down and relax into dreamland. GREAT INDOORS brings the urban/pop sensibilities the musician is known for that both existing fans and new listeners are sure to love. 

For more information about this artist head over to her Facebook page where she has a fairly active presence.

National Superhero Day Twitter Party

Join me and my buddies from the PJ MASKS crew  for a National Superhero Day Twitter Party on Friday, April 21, 2017 from 11 am - Noon EST.  I'll be co-hosting this fun online event sponsored by PJ Masks and eOne with The Toy Insider.  It promises to be a super-powered hour full of fun, trivia and giveaways.  For a chance to win a prize follow @TheToyInsider, @PJMasksUS & @Geekdad248 plus RSVP that you'll be attending in advance of the party.  Winners will be randomly selected throughout the hour and must be on the RSVP list and actively participating in the Twitter Party using the hashtag #NationalSuperheroDay to be eligible for a prize.  Prizes are available to U.S. residents only.

The Disney Junior animated television series PJ Masks follows three 6-year-olds, Connor, Amaya, and Greg, who are relatively normal kids by day. When darkness sets though they become Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko, and fight crime as the superhero team PJ Masks throughout the night.  These pint-sized heroes won't let anything stand in there way when it comes to saving the day!

Four lucky winners will win a PJ Masks Character Mask and a PJ Masks Dress Up Set during the #NationalSuperheroDay Twitter Party.   The PJ Masks Dress Up Sets feature highly detailed full-body costumes that look just like the hero outfits Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko wear in the show! The costumes comes in sizes 4-6X. Add a plastic PJ Masks Character Masks to the mix and let the imaginary superhero adventures commence.

One lucky grand prize winner will also win a PJ Masks Headquarters Playset and a full assortment of the 2-pack action figures.  The action-packed PJ Masks Headquarters Playset stands more than 2 feet tall and has three character-themed levels filled with engaging kid-powered features. The light and sound PJ Picture Player kets kids choose their mission, and then recreate the action with the high flying zip line, working elevator, surprise trap, hanging cat rings, and pop-out hatch. The excitement continues as kids launch the included Catboy figure and Cat-Car down the winding ramp and sing along to the theme song.  Click here to read The Toy Insiders review of this playset.

Of course you'll want some PJ Masks figures for kids to play with as well with this playset.  Kids can recreate their favorite scenes from the show with the articulated 3-inch PJ Masks Duet Figure sets, each featuring two 3-inch figures. The two-packs feature Catboy with mad scientist Romeo, Gekko and nighttime foe Night Ninja, and Owlette with midnight marauder Luna Girl.

 RSVP now and don't miss out on the fun on April 21 between 11 am and Noon EST. @TheToyInsider will be asking trivia questions, moderating the conversation and announcing winners throughout the hour as my fellow co-hosts @doughmesstic, @jenngaffney,  @suburbanwifedp, & @lovepeacemommy and myself provide some friendly banter.  We'll be having a SUPER time!

Disclaimer:  A Geek Daddy has been financially compensated for promoting and participating in the #NationalSuperheroDay Twitter Party

KATE & MIM-MIM DVD - "THE MIMILOO ZOO"

I had the chance to goof around with Mim-Mim from the popular Disney Jr. cable network television show KATE & MIM-MIM this summer and have to say that bunny is sure a lot of fun to hang out with.  Of course anyone who has seen this animated show for preschoolers that focuses on the friendship and adventures of a 5 year old girl named Kate and her favorite stuffed animal, a plush bunny named Mim-Mim already knows that.  In the show, Kate and Mim-Mim travel to the land of Mimiloo for imaginary adventures where they are joined by magical friends that live in this land of make believe  named Lily, Tack and Gobble.  If you haven't seen Kate & Mim-Mim yet now is a chance to catch up on some of their past escapades which are being released on a new DVD coming out September 20, 2016.  "THE MIMILOO ZOO" DVD will feature six fun filled tales plus a bonus video called "Mimiloo's Creatures."

In the story "The Mimiloo Zoo," Kate's trip to the zoo gets canceled because it's raining, so it's off to the fantasy world of Mimiloo! In Mimiloo, animals made out of bushes are being created for Gobble and Tack's AMAZING new fruit garden inside their AMAZING new hedge maze.  When Mim-Mim accidently spritzes the animals twice with Gobble's powerful presto potion, they come to life and things quickly get wild.  With the animals creating a bit of havoc, the gang needs to fnd a place for them to live and Kate knows the perfect location.

The DVD also features the story "Lily and the Unicorn."  Lily has always wanted to see a unicorn, and now is the perfect time as beautiful shimmer flowers, which unicorns love to eat, are blooming.  After searching all day, the gang finally locates a whole garden of flowers.  When the garden starts to float away, with Lily, who can save her?

Additional stories included on "The Mimiloo Zoo" DVD include, To Catch a Critter, Follow the Leader, Kate's Turtle Drive, and Kittens & Mittens.  The DVD run time is approximately 65 minutes. You can order the DVD online from Shop PBS or look for it at retail locations across the United States.  For more information about this television series and its characters, visit  kateandmimmim.com

THERE IS A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN

Disney Junior introduced a new animated show to join its popular kids focused television lineup on Friday the 13^th called SHERIFF CALLIE’S WILD WEST.  The follows the exploits of a calico cat, voiced by the singer Mandy Moore, who serves as the Sheriff of the frontier town of Nice & Friendly Corner using a magical lasso and cow-girl know how to keep the peace.  The show utilizes Wild West folklore and Country music to impart social skills and lessons for young children ages 2-7 encouraging them to be good friends and neighbors.

My 5 year old son was home sick from preschool and we watched the Friday the 13^th sneak peek preview airing on the Disney Channel together.  The episode focused on dealing with the issue of “being a good sport” when one of Callie’s sidekicks becomes the best horseshoe player in town he becomes an arrogant jerk so the Sheriff teaches him a lesson by graciously beating him at his own game.  While the show has a cute premise with the Sheriff, her deputies a cactus and a red robin, and a town full of characters that look like they were pulled from a Richard Scary book, it just didn’t capture my son’s attention.  It wasn’t that the show had a girl for a main character, because he loves to watch Disney’s newer cartoon brands Sophia the First and Doc McStuffins rather the content was a little more focused towards younger children.  I’d say that if he was a few years younger that he’d love this show, though the songs in it with their country twang just aren’t as catchy as those in Sophia and Doc, so while the age rating for SHERIFF CALLIE’S WILD WEST is 2-7 I’d probably say it is more geared for children 2-4 years old.  Both my 5 yr old twins feel the Disney Junior cartoon HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER is too immature for them as well, so if you have a younger child I’d recommend this and for kids that are 5 and older they may watch but not necessarily love this new cartoon. 

This is a quality production that shows DISNEY is committed to giving PBS KIDS dominancy in quality childhood programming a run for the money as they continue to produce and air programs like SHERIFF CALLIE which really is comparable to Dinosaur Train, Daniel Tiger, and Peg + Cat in catering to a 2-5 year old audience.  As a parent, I hope this “battle” will encourage both networks to continue to develop and expand new and interesting programs for children with safe age appropriate content and dependable education and social skill development content.

The Friday the 13th Sneak Peek Show EST air times are: 8:45 am , 2pm & 7:20pm

For more information, check out the show’s website:  http://disneyjunior.com/sheriff-callies-wild-west

SHERIFF CALLIE’S WILD WEST is scheduled to join JAKE AND THE NEVERLAND PIRATES, SOPHIA THE FIRST, DOC MCSTUFFINS &  HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER on DISNEY JUNIOR’S regular weekly lineup starting January 20, 2014.  

Doc McStuffins Starts Making House Calls on Sept 6

The Disney cable network’s popular and award-winning preschool show “Doc McStuffins” will be kicking off Season 2 on Friday, September 6^th.   "Doc McStuffins" is a tv program my kids enjoy watching and I can appreciate letting them watch. This animated show chronicles a six-year-old girl named Doc McStuffins who, one day, wants to become a doctor like her mother. As a kid, she "pretends" to be a doctor by fixing up toys and dolls. When she puts on her stethoscope, something magical happens: toys, dolls and stuffed animals come to life and she can communicate with them. With a little help from her stuffed animal friends, Stuffy, Hallie, Lambie and Chilly, Doc helps toys "feel better" by giving them check-ups.  

It is a really entertaining series that includes an original song in each show plus the show’s catchy theme song “Time for your Check-up” along with educational themes and messages for preschool and kindergarten aged children including Doc giving advice to viewers about staying healthy during the ending credits . The most important educational aspect of the show though is its message to little girls that they can grow up to have professional careers and be doctors…something this geek daddy wouldn’t mind seeing his own daughter grow up to do.

Starting on September 6^th, there will be a new episode of “Doc McStuffins” airing every Friday on the Disney Channel throughout the month of September.  The season will be premiering Doc’s new mobile clinic, a souped up wagon that lets her travel the neighborhood making house calls, allowing the show to expand beyond the primary setting of Doc’s bedroom, playhouse and back yard from Season 1 in these new episodes.  Also new in Season 2 will be guest stars voicing characters in show.  While you and your family are watching Season 2 can you guess which characters are being voiced by  Geena Davis "A League of Their Own", Jeffrey Tambor "Arrested Development", Tony Hale "Arrested Development", Molly Shannon "Saturday Night Live", Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster "Anything Goes", Amy Sedaris "Strangers with Candy" and Peter MacNicol "Grey's Anatomy"?

To help kick-off Season 2, a "Doc McStuffins: The Doc Mobile" game and other digital activities including one that invites boys and girls to create a customized doctor avatar, will debut on DisneyJunior.com/Doc  on Friday, August 30.  Also debuting that day is a preview of the season two premiere "Doc McStuffins Goes McMobile/Chip Off the Ol' Box" via WATCHDisneyJunior.com, the WATCH Disney Junior app for smartphones and tablets, and Disney Junior on Demand.  It will become available for download on iTunes, Amazon and Xbox beginning Saturday, September 7.

A winner among preschoolers and their parents, "Doc McStuffins" was 2012's #1 cable TV series in Kids 2-5 and the #1 cable TV preschool series in Total Viewers and Women 18-49.* The popular series has inspired the creation of brand extensions across other Disney businesses. The award-winning "Doc McStuffins Time For Your Check Up Doll" was lauded as 2013's Preschool Toy of the Year by the Toy Industry Association. The "Doc McStuffins Time For Your Check Up" app launched in April 2013 as the #1 paid entertainment iPad app, and the series recently debuted two new appisodes for the Disney Junior Appisode app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. There are over 50 "Doc McStuffins" book titles from Disney Publishing, a soundtrack and two DVDs from Disney Studios and the series is prominently featured in the popular "Disney Junior Live on Stage!" attraction at Disney Parks & Resorts.

Created and executive-produced by Humanitas Prize and Emmy Award-winning Chris Nee (writer on "Little Bill" and producer of "Deadliest Catch: Crab Fishing in Alaska") and directed by Emmy-winning Norton Virgien ("Rugrats"), "Doc McStuffins" is a production of Dublin, Ireland's Brown Bag Films in association with Disney Channel. The Hollywood Health & Society division of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center serves as its health and medical consultants, advising on basic health issues that are relevant to young kids and families. 

Check out the Disney Channel's newest Pre-K Friendly Show: Henry Hugglemonster

The Pre-K television programming that we’ve allowed our preschool aged children to watch has been primarily on two channels PBS (Arthur, Cat in the Hat, Caillou, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Dinosaur Train, MarthaSpeaks, Sid the Science Kid, Sesame Street, Wild Kratts & Word Girl) and Nick Jr. (Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go!, Bubble Guppies, Max & Ruby, Mike the Knight, PeterRabbit & Team Umizoomie).  Recently though Disney has been challenging the dominance of those other two channels in our household with new quality programming like Doc McStuffins, Jake and theNeverland Pirates & Sophia the First.  This week the Disney Channel is adding a new addition to its Disney Jr. lineup with the premiere of HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER.

HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER debuts on the Disney Channel Monday April 15^th at 5pm ET/ 4 pm CT.  Based upon Niamh Sharkey’s award-winning children's book “I’m a Happy Hugglewug” this new animated tv series is filled with entertaining stories that provide life lessons for kids age 2-7.  The show revolves around a 5 year old “monster” named Henry Hugglemonster as the middle child in a family that lives in the town of Roarsville. 

Our kids love Doc McStuffins so I was pleased to find out that the woman who voices Lambie, Lara Jill Miller, is also providing the voice for Henry in this show.  On the other side of the spectrum, we’ve banned Spongebob Squarepants from being watched by our kids but the man who is the voice behind Spongebob, Tom Kenny, brings life to Henry’s dad and grandpa in this new show.  Don’t worry though, I’ve watched the first episode and Tom doesn’t bring Spongebob’s behavior and antics to Roarsviile from Bikini Bottom. 

Henry Hugglemonster is a quirky and charming show that is a nice addition to television program lineups for parents looking for Pre-K appropriate shows for their children to watch.   What has been nice for our family is that my 4 year old son has recently not been wanting us to turn off the lights at bedtime because he is “scared of monsters in the dark” and we are hoping that this show will help  reinforce our efforts to put those fears to rest by showing the Hugglemonster family and their monster neighbors in a fun non-threatening way.

 Can’t catch the April 15^th premiere on the Disney Channel or want to prescreen the show before your kids see it?  You can do that! Disney has the full twenty-four minute first episode “The Huggleflower  / Monster Lullaby “ live streaming on its website NOW! Just go to the following website to watch the show at your convenience:  http://disney.go.com/disneyjunior/henry-hugglemonster/henry-hugglemonster-videos-episodes/the-huggleflower-monster-lullaby-2019660

Disney also has some Henry Hugglemonster coloring pages, crafts (create your own monsterhorns to wear when you watch the show) and games (choose from roaring racer gokart or monster maker charactertures) on its website.

Disney Airs New TV Series for Little Princesses

It's all about Cinderella right now when it comes to my 4 year old daughter, she has books for bed time reading, dolls with dresses that she constantly asks to be switched or rearranged every 5 minutes, and the movie on DVD that she wants to watch EVERY day.  So she is very excited to see a new tv show premiering on the Disney/Disney Jr. cable channels this Friday January 11 aimed at preschoolers who love Princesses.  "Sofia the First" is the story of an average girl who becomes a Princess when her mother marries the king.  It's a spin-off of a made-for-tv movie "Once Upon a Princess" featuring Sofia that Disney featured on its cable channels back in November 2012 that we were lucky enough to catch on a rainy day when we were out of town on vacation last year and it kept our kids very amused for a few hours.  Based upon their enjoyment of the movie I'm sure both my son and daughter will also enjoy this new tv series. Check out the trailer for yourself:

Right now itunes has the first episode of the tv series plus a few music videos available to download for FREE, but I'm not sure how long that will last, so check it out while you can:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/sofia-the-first-vol.-1/id583169910 

My wife pointed out to me while we were watching the tv movie and a music video following it that the voice for Sofia is the younger daughter on the two high school girls in Modern Family.  Her name is Ariel Winter and I have to give her credit for having an incredible singing voice that you wouldn't have known from watching the comedy sitcom.  Kudos to Ariel for showcasing that talent with this Sofia role. Here she is singing one of the songs from the show:

Disney has created a downloadable viewing party kit for parents to make watching the tv series premiere on Friday extra special that includes a printable crown you can get here:  http://a.dolimg.com/en-US/disneyjunior/media/pdf/coloring_and_create/djr_col_sof_RoyalActivityKit.pdf  They also have online video games you can enjoy with your kids here:  http://disney.go.com/disneyjunior/sofia-the-first/sofia-the-first-games

One of my kids' favorite shows on tv right now is JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES which airs on Disney/Disney Jr cable networks.  If they do the same job of associating Cinderella to "Sofia" as they did Peter Pan to "Jake" this could work out well as a tie-in for preschoolers to the Wonderful World of Disney.  We've found JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES to be an enjoyable and educational outlet for our kids that we are comfortable letting our children watch and SOFIA THE FIRST looks to be a similar format that we will absolutely be checking out.

SOFIA THE FIRST will air on the Disney Channel @ 9:30 am E.T. / 8:30 am C.T. beginning Friday, January 11, 2013