It’s official: I’m in love.  Did I mention that it’s with a children’s television show and the characters on said television show?  Did I mention that I’m 28 years, 11 months and 29 days old?  (I’m trying to tiptoe around the fact that I’ll be 29 later this week.  Futile.)  Oh yes, there’s a new quartet of men in my life and I’m shouting it from the rooftops (or, from Twitter, at the very least).

For all you parents out there stuck watching Barney on a worn-out VHS tape, I have news for you:  There DOES exist a show that both you and your toddler will enjoy, sing along to,  perhaps even come to obsess over.  (It’s a real risk, I assure you.)   Imagination Movers is a children’s show produced by Disney and it boasts the following things – four grown men, a mouse puppet, one-piece blue coveralls and songs that will be swirling around in your head when you’re SUPPOSED to be thinking about “the big merger“.  With a sound that’s been described as “Red Hot Chili Peppers meet the Beastie Boys” with a little Dave Matthews thrown in, the alternative rock group has been rocking out in New Orleans since 2003.   With the goal of creating a kids’ show with strong male role models, the series Imagination Movers came to fruition in 2008 on the Disney channel.  Turns out I picked an opportune time to have me a baby!  “The Movers” promptly moved onto my television screen and into my heart.  I’m still waiting for the day that my husband lets me hang a life-sized poster in our bedroom.

The “Guys” – Scott, Rich, Smitty and Dave (nicknamed by my sister and me as “The Guy From Great Big Sea”, “That Jonas Brothers-lookin’ one”, “Eminem in a cowboy hat” and “Smiley McSmiles”, respectively) are longtime friends and neighbors from The Big Easy who just love their music.  Their passion shows, in both their television show and their live performances.  They sing about things that I haven’t thought about in a long time – sibling rivalry, fear of the dark, eating broccoli as part of a balanced diet, and so on – but damned if I’m not walking around the grocery store lately singing (and I use the word loosely) about  the importance of wearing sunscreen.  Oh, I can feel passersby giving me the ol’ side-eye, but I choose to ignore them most of the time.  If they don’t want to learn about SPF while they shop, that’s their loss.

Finally!  Some kids show characters that I can crush on!  They’re well-spoken and of average height!  And their hygiene is impeccable!  Finally, a show in which the characters don’t speak in tongues (Oh, hi there, Teletubbies.  I didn’t see you standing there).  Finally, a show without an obscene amount of mind-numbing repetition (I’m looking in your direction, DORA).  Finally, a reason to get up in the morning!  7:30 sharp.  Set those alarms.  I’m actually guilty of  (on more than one occasion) gently poking my peacefully sleeping son awake, whispering that “Movers is on soon” – just so I wouldn’t have to watch it by myself.  Because that would be just BIZARRE, right?  Yes, THAT’S the bizarre part of that story.  (Who wakes a sleeping baby, anyway?)

If you have children-of ANY age- I urge you to give Imagination Movers a chance.  Spreading the word is my small way of thanking those four grown men – for engaging my son, for making us laugh and dance around like fools, for making me sing about vitamins and minerals in public places and for bringing my son, husband and I closer as a family.  How many other shows can boast THAT?  Certainly not Monday Night Football.

To prove a point, I “double-dog dare” you to watch this video for “Brainstorming” tonight.   I expect a full report tomorrow of just how difficult it was to fall asleep in silence.

Tags: alternative, children, Disney, guilty pleasures, Imagination Movers, kids, kids' shows, Music, rock, television