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Hi-5 (American TV series) facts for kids

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Hi-5
Hi5logo91611.png
Genre
  • Preschool
Directed by Rob Cotterill
Presented by
Opening theme "Hi-5 Theme"
Ending theme "Hi-5 Theme (Reprise)"
Composer(s) Chris Harriott
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 70
Production
Executive producer(s) Helena Harris
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s)
  • Kids Like Us
  • HIT Entertainment
  • Nine Films and Television
Distributor Southern Star International
Release
Original network Discovery Kids
TLC
Picture format
Audio format Stereo
Original release February 15, 2003 (2003-02-15) – October 7, 2006 (2006-10-07)
Chronology
Related shows Hi-5 (Australian TV series)

Hi-5 (also known as Hi-5 USA) is an American children's television series produced by Kids Like Us, which aired on Discovery Kids and TLC on the Ready Set Learn blocks of both networks. It is based on the Australian series of the same name, created by Helena Harris and Posie Graeme-Evans. The program is known for its educational content, and pop music appeal, with the cast of the show known collectively as Hi-5. The series premiered on February 15, 2003. The program was nominated for three Emmy Awards.

Format

Hi-5 is a variety-style series for preschoolers which features music as an integral part of its premise. The program features five presenters who are collectively known as Hi-5, and perform songs as a group as well as presenting individual segments.

The Puzzles and Patterns segment has a focus on logical thinking and mathematics, with a puppet named Jup Jup used as a tool for the presenter to complete puzzles or solve problems. The presenter of Body Move encourages children to participate in movement and dance, developing physical coordination and motor development. Linguistics and aural skills are at the centre of the Word Play segment, featuring a puppet named Chatterbox who assists in the exploration of language through stories and rhymes. Shapes in Space focuses on visual and spatial awareness, with the presenter exploring shapes, colour and everyday materials such as boxes and playdough. Musicality is explored through Making Music, with an emphasis on pitch, rhythm, beat, melody, and using a variety of real and pretend instruments. The final segment in which the cast comes together is entitled Sharing Stories, where a story is told that explores interpersonal relationships and emotions.

The episodes are bookended with a Song of the Week; a pop-style feature song which corresponds with the weekly theme and sets an educational topic for the week's episodes.

Production

Due to the popularity and international appeal of the original Hi-5 series in Australia, it was announced in 2002 that a local American series would be introduced. The U.S. version was filmed in the Australian studios from September 2002 to February 2003 and made its debut in February, premiering on TLC and Discovery Kids. The cast consisted of Kimee Balmilero, Karla Cheatham Mosley, Curtis Cregan, Jennifer Korbee (née Peterson-Hind) and Shaun Taylor-Corbett. The series was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

The final group of 10 episodes from the second season premiered on September 25, 2006.

In late 2006, Cheatham Mosley and Taylor-Corbett left the cast to pursue other ventures. New touring members Sydney James and Yasmeen Sulieman joined Balmilero, Cregan, and Korbee, but were not featured in the television series. The group last performed together in Puerto Rico in 2008.

Cast

Presenters

Sydney James and Yasmeen Sulieman joined the group in late 2006, replacing Taylor-Corbett and Cheatham Mosley, respectively, but were not featured in the television series.

Series overview

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 45 25 February 24, 2003 (2003-02-24) March 28, 2003 (2003-03-28)
20 April 19, 2004 (2004-04-19) May 14, 2004 (2004-05-14)
2 25 15 September 26, 2005 (2005-09-26) October 14, 2005 (2005-10-14)
10 September 25, 2006 (2006-09-25) October 6, 2006 (2006-10-06)

Episodes

Season 1 (2003–04)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Song of the Week Theme Original air date
'
1 1 "Touching" Five Senses Senses February 24, 2003 (2003-02-24)
2 2 "Hearing" Five Senses Senses February 25, 2003 (2003-02-25)
3 3 "Seeing" Five Senses Senses February 26, 2003 (2003-02-26)
4 4 "Smelling" Five Senses Senses February 27, 2003 (2003-02-27)
5 5 "Tasting" Five Senses Senses February 28, 2003 (2003-02-28)
6 6 "Jungle Animals" So Many Animals Animals March 3, 2003 (2003-03-03)
7 7 "Insects" So Many Animals Animals March 4, 2003 (2003-03-04)
8 8 "Farm Animals" So Many Animals Animals March 5, 2003 (2003-03-05)
9 9 "Water Animals" So Many Animals Animals March 6, 2003 (2003-03-06)
10 10 "Animals in the Neighborhood" So Many Animals Animals March 7, 2003 (2003-03-07)
11 11 "Machines in the House" Robot Number One Machines March 10, 2003 (2003-03-10)
12 12 "Machines in the City" Robot Number One Machines March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11)
13 13 "Machines in the Country" Robot Number One Machines March 12, 2003 (2003-03-12)
14 14 "Machines That Carry People" Robot Number One Machines March 13, 2003 (2003-03-13)
15 15 "Fun Machines" Robot Number One Machines March 14, 2003 (2003-03-14)
16 16 "Adventures to Other Countries" North, South, East and West Adventure March 17, 2003 (2003-03-17)
17 17 "Adventures Around Your House" North, South, East and West Adventure March 18, 2003 (2003-03-18)
18 18 "Adventures Around Your Town" North, South, East and West Adventure March 19, 2003 (2003-03-19)
19 19 "Adventures to the Universe" North, South, East and West Adventure March 20, 2003 (2003-03-20)
20 20 "Underground" North, South, East and West Adventure March 21, 2003 (2003-03-21)
21 21 "Outside" Ready or Not Games March 24, 2003 (2003-03-24)
22 22 "Rainy Days" Ready or Not Games March 25, 2003 (2003-03-25)
23 23 "Fantasy Games" Ready or Not Games March 26, 2003 (2003-03-26)
24 24 "Physical Games" Ready or Not Games March 27, 2003 (2003-03-27)
25 25 "Silly Day" Ready or Not Games March 28, 2003 (2003-03-28)
'
26 26 "Faces" Move Your Body Bodies April 19, 2004 (2004-04-19)
27 27 "Arms and Legs" Move Your Body Bodies April 20, 2004 (2004-04-20)
28 28 "Movement" Move Your Body Bodies April 21, 2004 (2004-04-21)
29 29 "Inside and Outside" Move Your Body Bodies April 22, 2004 (2004-04-22)
30 30 "Games and Sports" Move Your Body Bodies April 23, 2004 (2004-04-23)
31 31 "Imaginary Friends" Three Wishes Wishes April 26, 2004 (2004-04-26)
32 32 "When I Grow Up" Three Wishes Wishes April 27, 2004 (2004-04-27)
33 33 "Imaginary Places" Three Wishes Wishes April 28, 2004 (2004-04-28)
34 34 "Daydreams" Three Wishes Wishes April 29, 2004 (2004-04-29)
35 35 "What If?" Three Wishes Wishes April 30, 2004 (2004-04-30)
36 36 "Instruments" Feel the Beat Music May 3, 2004 (2004-05-03)
37 37 "Styles of Music" Feel the Beat Music May 4, 2004 (2004-05-04)
38 38 "Music from Around the World" Feel the Beat Music May 5, 2004 (2004-05-05)
39 39 "Music and Movement" Feel the Beat Music May 6, 2004 (2004-05-06)
40 40 "Silly Music" Feel the Beat Music May 7, 2004 (2004-05-07)
41 41 "Imagination" Living in a Rainbow Colors May 10, 2004 (2004-05-10)
42 42 "Animals" Living in a Rainbow Colors May 11, 2004 (2004-05-11)
43 43 "Nature" Living in a Rainbow Colors May 12, 2004 (2004-05-12)
44 44 "Favorites and Feelings" Living in a Rainbow Colors May 13, 2004 (2004-05-13)
45 45 "Playing" Living in a Rainbow Colors May 14, 2004 (2004-05-14)

Season 2 (2005–06)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Song of the Week Theme Original air date
'
46 1 "Making in Nature" Making Music Making September 26, 2005 (2005-09-26)
47 2 "Making a Work of Art" Making Music Making September 27, 2005 (2005-09-27)
48 3 "Making a Space for Me" Making Music Making September 28, 2005 (2005-09-28)
49 4 "Making a Surprise" Making Music Making September 29, 2005 (2005-09-29)
50 5 "Things That Animals Create" Making Music Making September 30, 2005 (2005-09-30)
51 6 "Games and Sports" Action Hero Action October 3, 2005 (2005-10-03)
52 7 "Jobs" Action Hero Action October 4, 2005 (2005-10-04)
53 8 "Machines and Other Things That Move" Action Hero Action October 5, 2005 (2005-10-05)
54 9 "Action Heroes" Action Hero Action October 6, 2005 (2005-10-06)
55 10 "Health and Fitness" Action Hero Action October 7, 2005 (2005-10-07)
56 11 "Sports" T.E.A.M. Teams October 10, 2005 (2005-10-10)
57 12 "When Am I a Team Player?" T.E.A.M. Teams October 11, 2005 (2005-10-11)
58 13 "Animals" T.E.A.M. Teams October 12, 2005 (2005-10-12)
59 14 "Cooperation and Communities" T.E.A.M. Teams October 13, 2005 (2005-10-13)
60 15 "Teams" T.E.A.M. Teams October 14, 2005 (2005-10-14)
'
61 16 "Wonderful World" Some Kind of Wonderful Wonderful September 25, 2006 (2006-09-25)
62 17 "Wonderful People" Some Kind of Wonderful Wonderful September 26, 2006 (2006-09-26)
63 18 "Wonderful Places" Some Kind of Wonderful Wonderful September 27, 2006 (2006-09-27)
64 19 "Wonderful Days" Some Kind of Wonderful Wonderful September 28, 2006 (2006-09-28)
65 20 "Wonderful Gifts and Treasures" Some Kind of Wonderful Wonderful September 29, 2006 (2006-09-29)
66 21 "Animals" Underwater Discovery Journeys October 2, 2006 (2006-10-02)
67 22 "People" Underwater Discovery Journeys October 3, 2006 (2006-10-03)
68 23 "Places" Underwater Discovery Journeys October 4, 2006 (2006-10-04)
69 24 "Journeys Through Life" Underwater Discovery Journeys October 5, 2006 (2006-10-05)
70 25 "Journeys Through Your Imagination" Underwater Discovery Journeys October 6, 2006 (2006-10-06)

Other media

Music

The program uses music as an integral part of its concept, and like the original Australian group, the cast of the American series became a recognised musical group for children outside of the show, known collectively as Hi-5. The debut album of the group, Jump and Jive with Hi-5, corresponded with the first season of the show and was released in September 2004 by Koch Entertainment. A special holiday album, It's a Hi-5 Christmas, was released in October 2005. The cast also toured malls and theaters in the U.S., performing songs from the television series. After Cheatham Mosley and Taylor-Corbett departed, the group continued to tour around America with Sulieman and James throughout 2007 before the group's final performance in Puerto Rico in 2008. Chris Harriott is the primary composer of the show, with the songs written for the Australian group also being used for the American cast.

Home media

MGM Home Entertainment, through the MGM Kids label, released 3 VHS/DVD's on August 3, 2004, titled "Color Craze", "Music Magic" and "Game Time!". Each volume contained three episodes.

In 2006, the home video rights were transferred over to Well Go USA, who would release many DVDs based on the show, eventually releasing the complete series on four DVD boxsets from 2008 until 2009.

Awards and nominations

The series was nominated for an Emmy in 2005, 32nd Daytime Emmy Awards 2006, 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards 2007 34th Daytime Emmy Awards.

  • Barrera, Sandra. (August 18, 2007) Los Angeles Daily News Hi-5 cast members talk about what it's like to be pop icons and role models. Section: LA.COM; Page L12

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hi-5: USA para niños

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