Hi-5 (U.S. TV series)

Hi-5
Genre
Based on Hi-5
by Helena Harris
Posie Graeme-Evans
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
Australia
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
Release
Original network
Picture format
Audio format Stereo
Original release February 24, 2003 – October 6, 2006
Chronology
Related shows Hi-5 (Australian TV series)

Hi-5 (also known as Hi-5 USA) is a children's television series produced by Kids Like Us for Discovery Kids. 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 24, 2003. The program was nominated for three Emmy Awards.

Format

Hi-5 is a variety-style series for pre-schoolers which features music as an integral part of its premise.[1][2] The program features five presenters who are collectively known as Hi-5, and perform songs as a group as well as presenting individual segments.[2]

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.[1] The presenter of Body Move encourages children to participate in movement and dance, developing physical coordination and motor development.[1] 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.[1] Shapes in Space focuses on visual and spatial awareness, with the presenter exploring shapes, colour and everyday materials such as boxes and playdough.[1] Musicality is explored through Making Music, with an emphasis on pitch, rhythm, beat, melody, and using a variety of real and pretend instruments.[1]

The final segment in which the cast comes together is entitled Sharing Stories, where a story is told that explores interpersonal relationships and emotions.[3] 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.[3]

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.[2] 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.[1][4] The cast consisted of Kimee Balmilero, Karla Cheatham Mosley, Curtis Cregan, Jenn Korbee (née Peterson-Hind) and Shaun Taylor-Corbett.[1] The series was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2005, 2006, and 2007.[1][5]

The final group of 10 episodes from the second season premiered on September 25, 2006.[6]

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 on September 23, 2007 at the Sesame Place theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.[7]

Cast

Presenters

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

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
14525February 24, 2003 (2003-02-24)March 28, 2003 (2003-03-28)
20April 12, 2004 (2004-04-12)May 7, 2004 (2004-05-07)
22515September 26, 2005 (2005-09-26)October 14, 2005 (2005-10-14)
10September 25, 2006 (2006-09-25)[6]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.[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.[8] A special holiday album, It's a Hi-5 Christmas, was released in October 2005.[9] The cast also toured malls and theaters in the U.S., performing songs from the television series.[3] 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 on September 23.

Chris Harriott is the primary composer of the show, with the songs written for the Australian group also being used for the American cast. Harriott was originally approached by the creators with the task of writing top ten songs for an age range of 2–6.[10]

Reception

During one of the cast's appearances on NBC's Today Show, Matt Lauer, the show's host, compared the group's popularity to The Beatles.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ryan, Tim (February 25, 2003). "Hi time". Starbulletin.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Fraser, Fiona (January 14, 2003). "Discovery take Hi-5 to US". C21Media. C21 Media Limited. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Nowak, Dan (April 16, 2004). "The lowdown on Australian import Hi-5". CTCentral.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  4. ↑ Harada, Wayne (September 19, 2002). "Kim-e J. Balmilero shooting show Down Under". The Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on March 31, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Tessier, Nicole (8 January 2013). "Driven to Succeed – The Kimmee Balmilero Interview". Hitting the Stage. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Emmy-Nominated Hi-5 Charges Into All-New Season with Hi-Stepping, Hi-Energy Fun!" (PDF). Hi-5 US. August 7, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  7. ↑ Bucks County Courier Times (September 21, 2007) String thing Section: Life local; Page B1. Also see, sesameplace.com. Sesame Place - Events - Hi-5 Concert. Accessed March 12, 2008.
  8. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Jive-Hi-5-HI-5/dp/B0002O06X0
  9. ↑ http://m.marketwired.com/press-release/Hi-5-Rings-in-the-Holiday-Season-With-Its-a-Hi-5-Christmas-664298.htm
  10. ↑ "Hi-5 Make It 5 ARIAs". Girl.com.au. 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
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