Jack's Big Music Show

Jack's Big Music Show

Genre	Children's music
Created by	David Rudman, Todd Hannert and Adam Rudman
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	26
Production
Location(s)	Music Clubhouse, Chicago, Illinois
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Spiffy Pictures Noggin Originals
Release
Original network	Noggin Nick Jr.
Picture format	NTSC (480i)
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	September 12, 2005 (2005-09-12) – October 13, 2007 (2007-10-13)
External links
Website

Jack's Big Music Show is an American musical children's television series originally airing on Noggin and on the Nick Jr. television network. The show was produced by Spiffy Pictures, and was nominated for a 2008 Emmy award for Outstanding Pre-school Television Series.

The popularity of the show made the idea of appearing on it attractive to musicians. An executive from Nick Jr. in 2006 said that they were "clamoring to get onto Jack's Big Music Show."^[1]

In May 2007, production was cancelled and it was announced that no new episodes would be produced. The last episode aired on April 1, 2008.

Plot

The series focuses on music-loving Jack, his best friend Mary, and his drum-playing dog Mel, all of whom are puppets. The show takes place in Jack's backyard clubhouse, and centers on the characters' passion for music. The characters play music in every episode, and are often accompanied by other puppets or human musicians. Each episode usually features two music videos by children's musical artists.

Characters

Main characters

Jack (performed by David Rudman) - A blue-colored musician and star of the show.
Mary (performed by Alice Dinnean) - Jack's best friend, a purple-haired accordion player.
Mel (performed by John Kennedy) - Jack's drum-playing dog.
The Schwartzman Quartet (performed by various puppeteers) - A group of four similar-looking singers.

Additional characters

Earl the Squirrel (appears in "Mel's Super Swell Dance Party" and "Snow Day")
The Little Bad Wolf (appears in the episode of the same name and "Jack's Big Orchestra")
The Bongo Birds (appears in the episode of the same name and "Jack's Big Orchestra")
The Bugs (appear in "Bug Love" and "Jack's Big Orchestra")
Henry the Monster (appears in the "Music Monster" and "Jack's Big Orchestra")
Animal Music Camp (mentioned in "Scat Cat")
The Squirrels (appear in "Leonard the Country Squirrel," "Jack's Big Orchestra" and Jack's Super Swell Sing-Along")
M.C. Turtle (appears in "Jack's Super Swell Sing-a-Long")
Gertrude the Groundhog (appears in "Groundhog Day")
Scat Cat (appears in the episode of the same name)
Phil the Coo-Coo Bird (appears in the episode of the same name)
Leonard the Country Squirrel (appears in the episode of the same name)
Spunky the Alien (appears in the episode of the same name)

Guest musicians

Yolanda Adams
Angelique Kidjo
Laurie Berkner
Andrew Bird
Buddy Guy
Steve Burns - (He was formerly on Blue's Clues) & Steven Drozd (of the Flaming Lips).
Comic Book Heroes
Guy Davis
The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Rebecca Frezza
Hot Peas 'N Butter
Jerry Lawson
Leon Thomas III
The Mighty Weaklings
Milkshake
Elizabeth Mitchell & Lisa Loeb (They were formerly on Liz and Lisa)
Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals
Jamia Simone Nash
Nuttin But Stringz
Cathy Richardson
Audra Rox
Sweet Honey in the Rock
David Pleasant
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
The Quiet Two

Episodes

Season one

First aired September 2005 – April 2006

Episode title	Airdate	Guests	Songs performed
(1) Little Bad Wolf	September 12, 2005	Laurie Berkner The Dirty Sock Funtime Band	"Mary Had an Accordion" (sung to the tune Mary Had a Little Lamb), "The Little Bad Wolf Had a Tuba" (sung to the tune Mary Had a Little Lamb), "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "My Energy", "Music Everywhere"
(2) How Mel Got His Groove Back	September 14, 2005	Cathy Richardson Laurie Berkner Sweet Honey in the Rock	"Listen to the Animals", "Every Animal Has Its Groove", "Mel the Meowing Dog" (sung to the tunes Baa Baa Black Sheep, The Alphabet Song, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman), "Mister", "I Like It That Way"
(3) The Music Genie	September 15, 2005	Anne Harris Laurie Berkner Hot Peas 'N Butter	"Mel's Musical Trunk" (sung to the tune 99 Bottles of Beer), "Prudence", "Yodel", "Number 1", "Under a Shady Tree"
(4) The Bongo Bird	September 19, 2005	Laurie Berkner Jamia	"Yeah Yeah Yeah" "The Song of the Bongo Bird", "Bongo Bird Beat", "Bongo Bird Lullaby" (sung to the tune Brahms' Lullaby), "I Know a Chicken", "Bongo Bird" (sung to the tune Bingo)
(5) Marching Band	September 26, 2005	Cathy Richardson Laurie Berkner Milkshake	"Marching Song", "Rain Rain Go Away", "Rhythms Around You", "Boots", "Bottle of Sunshine"
(6) Bug Love	October 3, 2005	Laurie Berkner Rebecca Frezza	"Loud Sound/Soft Sound", "A Pretty Good Bug", "Bugs Are Really Swell" (sung to the tune The Farmer in the Dell), "B3", "I'm Me and You're You"
(7) Mel's Super Swell Dance Party	October 10, 2005	Tracey Ellert Cathy Richardson Yolanda Adams Laurie Berkner The Dirty Sock Funtime Band	"Dance How You Like", "The Mel Polka", "Rock and Roll Freeze Dance", "The Me Dance", "Dino-Sauring", "I Really Love to Dance"
(8) Space Opera	October 10, 2005	Laurie Berkner Jerry Lawson and the Talk of the Town	"Mary's Opera", "Space Explorer", "Space Opera", "What Are They Gonna Do About That?", "I'm Glad", "I'm Not Perfect"
(9) Grow Daddio	October 17, 2005	Cathy Richardson Laurie Berkner Rebecca Frezza	"Where Is Mary?" (sung to the tune Ten Little Indians), "What Will Arthur Grow Up to Be?", "Playin' Jazz", "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary", "H₂O + O₂ + Sun", "Running Down the Hill"
(10) The Grumpy Squirrel	October 24, 2005	Laurie Berkner Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals	"It's Fun to Invent Your Own Instrument", "Clap Your Hands", "Lullaby" (instrumental), "Music Is the Best", "Grumpy" "I'm Gonna Catch You", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
(11) The Music Monster	October 31, 2005	Laurie Berkner Milkshake	"This Song", "If You're Scary and You Know It" (sung to the tune If You're Happy And You Know It), "Monster Boogie", "Scared"
(12) King of Swing	February 6, 2006	Buddy Guy Laurie Berkner Guy Davis	"The Welcome Song" (sung to the tune Let's All Go to the Lobby from Regal Cinemas), "List", "Shama Lama", "Clean It Up", "New Shoes"
(13) Silly Show	April 1, 2006	Laurie Berkner Hot Peas 'N Butter	"Silly Song", "Bologna Sandwich", "Silly Things", "Googleheads", "Deep Down"

Season two

First aired January 2007 – October 2007

Episode title	Airdate	Guests	Songs performed
(14) Snow Day	January 6, 2007	Anne Harris Laurie Berkner The Quiet Two	"Beach Party", "Wiki Wiki Hele Hele", "Sing a Winter Song", "Mahalo", "Polar Bear"
(15) Leonard the Country Squirrel	January 7, 2007	Laurie Berkner The Dirty Sock Funtime Band	"Found Sounds", "We're a Jugband", "Jugband Jamboree", "I Am a Sad Squirrel", "I Am a Happy Squirrel", "Farm Song", "No Good Reason Party"
(16) Spunky the Alien	January 13, 2007	Laurie Berkner The Mighty Weaklings	"Yo Yo Yo", "Gotta Power Up", "Spunky's Lament", "Fleeber", "Rocketship", "Rocketship Run"
(17) Jack Bunny	January 14, 2007	Anne Harris Laurie Berkner Angélique Kidjo	"Mel the Musical Magical Magician", "The Hop", "Bugle Bunnies", "Magic Box", "Wombo Lombo"
(18) Phil the Coo-Coo Bird	January 20, 2007	Laurie Berkner Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals	"The Twisty Twist", "The Dance", "Phil the Coo-Coo Bird" (sung to the tune London Bridge is Falling Down), "Move Your Feet", "Who's That?"
(19) Jack's Big Oops!	January 21, 2007	Andrew Bird J. Walter Hawkes Nuttin' But Stringz	"Strings", "Dr. Strings", "Just Tell the Truth", "What Have I Got to Lose?", "Thunder"
(20) Jack's Big Orchestra	January 27, 2007	Laurie Berkner Dirty Sock Funtime Band	"Being a Conductor Would Rock", "Sneaks", "Super Spies", Orchestral Song
(21) Scat Cat	January 28, 2007	Laurie Berkner The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players	"I Have A Friend (Super Swell Friends)", "Scat-Scat-a-Tat-Tat", "The Wiggle Dance", "The Cat Came Back", "You're the One Who's Made for Me and I Was Made for You"
(22) Groundhog Day	February 2, 2007	Laurie Berkner Steve Burns and Steven Drozd Jon Stewart	"Hip Hip Hooray For Groundhog Day", "First Day of Preschool", "When Will Spring Be Sprung?", "I Hog the Ground", "I Had a Friend"
(23) Jack's Super Swell Sing-Along	February 2, 2007	Laurie Berkner & Susie Lampert Rebekah Jordan Justin Roberts Lisa Loeb	"Sing-Along Song", "Samba", "Just Stopped By", "Down at the Barbershop", "Kelly Green", "I Like to Rap", "This Is Zydeco", "Jenny Jenkins"
(24) Laurie's Big Song	February 4, 2007	Laurie Berkner Comic Book Heroes Leon Thomas	"Get on the Train", "A Little Bitty Rhythm", "You Can't Call an Elephant Without an Elephant Call", "Purple People Eater", "Duck 4"
(25) Mel's Bath Day	February 10, 2007	Cheryl Hines Laurie Berkner AudraRox	"You Must Take a Bath", "Super Sudsy Bubblestein Bubbles", "I'm a Mess", "I Hope My Mama Says Yes", "A Bath Is Alright"
(26) Jack and the Beanstalk	October 13, 2007	Tyler Bunch Laurie Berkner David Pleasant	"Up", "Sha-La-La", "Anyone Can Make a Song", "In the Clouds", "Deegah Joyah"

Influences

In an interview on the Nick Jr. website, Rudman says that The Jack Benny Show was an influence on Jack's Big Music Show (along with The Little Rascals).^[2]

The names Jack, Mary, Mel, and the "Schwartzman Quartet" are references to characters on The Jack Benny Program (Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Mel Blanc, and the Sportsmen Quartet). Other possible name references to Jack Benny Program regulars include the squirrels Sheldon and Leonard (Sheldon Leonard), Phil the Coo-Coo Bird (Phil Harris), and Gertrude the Groundhog (Bea Benaderet's recurring character Gertrude Gearshift).

The ring around Mel's eye is an obvious homage to Pete the Pup from The Little Rascals.

Hannert says that the music is influenced by Chuck Berry and the whole history of rock and roll.

References

↑ Kindie Rock, Scott Lamb, Salon.com, June 24, 2006
↑ Meet the Creators of Jack's Big Music Show Nick Jr. Website

External links

Nick Jr. original series

1980s	Eureeka's Castle (1989–95)

1990s	Gullah Gullah Island (1994–98) Allegra's Window (1994–96) Little Bear (1995–2002) Blue's Clues (1996–2006) The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss (1996–97) Franklin (1997–2003) Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (1998–2004) Phred on Your Head Show (1999–2002) Maisy (1999–2001) Little Bill (1999–2004)

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See also	Nickelodeon on CBS Nickelodeon

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