Update!
Musicians help make kid's TV cool enough for schoolKathryn Greenaway, Canwest News Service Published: Thursday, September 04, 2008
The fall launch of the children's television season is sounding good.
Sam Roberts, Randy Bachman, Bedouin Soundclash, Barenaked Ladies, 54.40, Keshia Chante, Anik Jean, Les Breastfeeders, Bran Van 3000, Kulcha Connection,
Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries, Mark Holmes of Platinum Blonde. It reads like the lineup for a dream music festival, but it's not.
These artists have written songs for the second season of the live-action preschool television series Roll Play, which airs on Treehouse.Roll Play features a cast of irrepressible non-actor youngsters plus puppets (manipulated by the Famous People Players) who respond through movement to the very cool lyrics of very cool original songs.
The series is created by J.J. Johnson, Blair Powers and Matt Bishop of Sinking Ship Entertainment - all graduates of Ryerson University's School of Radio and Television Arts. "(Ryerson University) almost kicked me out,'' Johnson said with a chuckle.
"We were into pushing the envelope as far as we could. Let's just say I haven't been invited back to speak or anything.''
No matter. The six-year-old company is a multi-award winner for a list of children's shows including, This is Daniel Cook and Are We There Yet? World Adventure, seen in more than 130 countries.
Roll Play is about getting children up and moving. Johnson knew that using music would get young bottoms wiggling, but when he took a good listen to what was playing on preschool television, he found the sound rather bland.
"We wondered what would happen if we went for the bands we loved. It would be their music, but with kid-appropriate lyrics,'' Johnson said.
"Preschoolers are far more sophisticated and crazy than we give them credit for. It doesn't all have to be the same beat.''
To date, the show hasn't received any complaints about the music, although early in the first season there was a bit of a fuss about when it aired.
"It aired right after Little Bear which is a quiet show, good for settling down before bedtime,'' Johnson said. ``Roll Play is not about settling down. Needless to say, there were some quick scheduling changes.''
Season One featured songs by artists such as Broken Social Scene, Jacksoul, Jully Black, Great Big Sea and Kardinal Offishall. Big names in a big business, but Johnson said they were keen to contribute.
``The artists would talk about the show to their friends and so news of the show travelled through the Canadian (music) community,'' Johnson said.
The plan is to feature original songs from a new batch of artists every season.
Johnson's wish list for future collaborations includes names like Sarah McLachlan, Jann Arden, Rush, Amanda Marshall, Shania Twain and Alanis Morissette.
``I wouldn't want to repeat,'' Johnson said. ``It's too exciting to see what the artists come up with.''
Season One songs are available on iTunes. Season Two songs will probably be available in October.Roll Play airs on Treehouse weekdays at 8:25 a.m. and 3:25 p.m., and Sundays at 10:25 a.m
Source:
www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=769735
