MUMBAI: Nickelodeon, the kids’ channel under the US-based Viacom Media Networks umbrella, recently unveiled its plans for the 2014-15 season - which includes 10 new series, multiplatform content and the Kids' Choice Sports 2014 live event - at its annual Upfront presentation.
"This season, we are introducing Nickelodeon's biggest pipeline of content for every demo and in every genre," noted Nickelodeon Group president Cyma Zarghami in her presentation. "Our preschool slate reinforces Nickelodeon's standing as the best place for shows that are both smart and fun, powered by great stories, relatable characters and a meaningful curriculum that has been our hallmark."
Nickelodeon’s continued effort at bringing about groundbreaking shows over the past 30 years, including Rugrats, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Doug, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents, just goes onto show the drive the channel possesses in the kids’ genre.
The three new shows scheduled for the 2014-15 season are mentioned below:
Bad Seeds (26 episodes) - Harvey, a sweet and well-meaning bird, makes two new best friends, Fee and Foo, the wildest imps in the forest. Although their friendship seems unlikely, their connection only grows as they push each other out of their comfort zones and into endless adventures. Created, written and directed by C.H. Greenblatt (SpongeBob SquarePants, Chowder).
Pig Goat Banana Cricket (26 episodes) - This show features a series of absurd interwoven stories about four friends and roommates, Pig (the fool), Goat (the artist), Banana (the wise-guy) and Cricket (the brain). The series is created by Dave Cooper and J. Ryan, and executive produced by David Sacks (The Simpsons, Regular Show) who co-writes with J. Ryan. Cooper also art directs the series and the pilot was directed by independent animator Nick Cross.
Welcome to the Wayne (6 episodes) - Launching on the Emmy Award-winning Nick App, Welcome to the Wayne, is an animated comedy following the adventures of two 10-year-old boys Olly Timbers and Ansi Molina as they explore their crazy apartment building, the Wayne. The series was created and written by Billy Lopez (The Wonder Pets!).
The broadcast network will also roll out new episodes of its hit franchises, including, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sanjay and Craig, Breadwinners, Rabbids and The Fairly Odd Parents for the 2014-15 season.
In addition, Nickelodeon has slated Kids' Choice Sports 2014, a live big-ticket event that will take place in Los Angeles this July. The sports celebration will be hosted and executively produced by Michael Strahan.
"Our mission has been to create and deliver funny content that will resonate with today's kids, and we are well-positioned to do that through our schedule of fresh hits, a deep pipeline of new series, tent-pole events, ratings momentum and innovation on all platforms," said Zarghami during the presentation. "Nickelodeon is a magnet for creative people and projects, and we're incredibly excited about the new pool of talent we're bringing to our audience in front of and behind the camera."
New live-action programming will include the comedies Henry Danger, about a crime-fighting sidekick-in-training; Bella and the Bullfrogs, in which a cheerleader becomes the quarterback for her school's team; and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, which follows the sibling rivalry among quadruplets. The network will also broadcast new episodes of Sam & Cat, The Haunted Hathaways and The Thundermans.
Also, the original sitcoms Instant Mom, See Dad Run, Yes, Dear, My Wife and Kids, The Nanny and George Lopez under Nickelodeon will continue airing on the network.
For preschoolers, the network has added to the schedule Dora and Friends: Into the City!, which is due to debut sometime in end June; Blaze and the Monster Machines, a end September premiere that will introduce young viewers to science, technology, engineering and math; Shimmer & Shine, about fraternal twin genies; and Fresh Beat Band of Spies, an animated series based on the hit live-action show The Fresh Beat Band. The latter two titles will begin airing in 2015.
The network has had a clear goal to let the kids’ tastes and preferences influence its creative choices, and accordingly it tailors its new content to make the most relevant and funny content for its viewers, and continues to do so even now.
