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{{Short description|American television series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
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| caption =
| caption =
| alt_name =
| alt_name =
| genre = Family Entertainment
| genre = [[Coming of age]]
| creator = Jeffrey Solomon
| creator = Jeffrey Solomon
| developer =
| developer =
Line 12: Line 13:
| presenter =
| presenter =
| starring = {{plainlist|
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Cyndi Cartagena]]
* Cyndi Cartagena
* [[Hassan Elgendi]]
* Hassan Elgendi
* [[Dulé Hill]]
* [[Dulé Hill]]
* [[Anne Ho]]
* Anne Ho
* [[Renoly Santiago]]
* [[Renoly Santiago]]
* [[Diana Smith]]
* Diana Smith
* [[Brad Stoll]]
* Brad Stoll
* [[Audrey Ince]]
* [[David Rudman]]
* [[Don Chastain]]
* [[Joey Mazzarino]]
* [[Dash Mihok]]
* [[Michelle Ingkavet]]
}}
'''Puppeteers''':<br>
{{plainlist|
* [[John Henson (puppeteer)|John Henson]]
* [[John Henson (puppeteer)|John Henson]]
* [[Noel MacNeal]]
* [[Noel MacNeal]]
⚫
* Don Reardon
* [[Joey Mazzarino]]
* [[David Rudman]]
}}
}}
| voices = [[Cenophia Mitchell]]<br>[[Elizabeth Regen]]
| voices = Cenophia Mitchell<br>Elizabeth Regen
| narrated =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer = Raliegh J Neal II
| theme_music_composer = Raliegh J Neal II
Line 50: Line 45:
| runtime = 30 minutes
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = [[Jim Henson Productions]]<br>The CityKids Foundation
| company = [[Jim Henson Productions]]<br>The CityKids Foundation
| distributor = The Jim Henson Company
| channel = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| channel = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| picture_format =
| audio_format =
| first_aired = {{Start date|1993|09|18}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|1993|09|18}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1994|01|29}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1994|01|29}}
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| related =
| related =
}}
}}


'''''CityKids''''' is an American [[television series]] that aired late Saturday mornings on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from 1993 to 1994. The show consists primarily of live action performances, interspersed with [[Muppet]] segments, courtesy of [[Jim Henson Productions]]. These Muppets were composed of original characters designed specifically for the show, not ones taken from ''[[Sesame Street]]'' or ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. These original characters often served as the [[Greek chorus]] for the show, commenting on the situations of the human characters, but not actually interacting with them.
'''''CityKids''''' is an American [[television series]] that aired late Saturday mornings on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from 1993 to 1994. The show consists primarily of live action performances, interspersed with [[Muppet]] segments, courtesy of [[Jim Henson Productions]]. These Muppets were original characters designed specifically for the show, not ones taken from ''[[Sesame Street]]'' or ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. These original characters often served as the [[Greek chorus]] for the show, commenting on the situations of the human characters, but not actually interacting with them.


Unlike most shows airing on ABC Saturday mornings and produced by the Jim Henson Company at the time, ''CityKids'' was primarily targeted to a teenage audience, not to mention an urban one. However, the show failed to generate desirable ratings from any demographic, especially the teenage one, and the show was cancelled by ABC after one season.
Similar to NBC’s attempt of pushing the adolescent programming for late Saturday mornings with ''[[Saved By the Bell]]'' since 1989, ''CityKids'' was the first and only late Saturday morning series on ABC primarily targeted to a teenage audience, as well as the only one produced by the Jim Henson Company at the time, not to mention an urban one. However, the show failed to generate desirable ratings from any demographic, especially the teenage one, and the show was cancelled by ABC after one season, consequently airing strictly children’s programs on the network the following year.


The show's main theme song was composed by [[Malik Yoba]] & Raleigh J. Neal II, both of whom also composed other songs for the series<ref name="Yahoo!">{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/malik-yoba/contributor/1106277|title=Malik Yoba|publisher=[[Yahoo! TV]]|access-date=2007-12-05}}</ref> and served as Musical Creative Supervisor for the show.
The show's main theme song was composed by [[Malik Yoba]] & Raleigh J. Neal II, both of whom also composed other songs for the series<ref name="Yahoo!">{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/malik-yoba/contributor/1106277|title=Malik Yoba|publisher=[[Yahoo! TV]]|access-date=2007-12-05}}</ref> and served as Musical Creative Supervisor for the show.


==Plot==
==Plot==
{{Expand section|date=July 2011}}
{{No plot|date=July 2011}}


==Characters==
==Characters==
===Humans===
===Main Cast===
* '''Angelica''' (portrayed by Cyndi Cartagena)
* '''Angelica''' (portrayed by Cyndi Cartagena)
* '''Snoopy'''/'''Christian''' (portrayed by Hassan Elgendi)
* '''Snoopy'''/'''Christian''' (portrayed by Hassan Elgendi)
* '''John''' (portrayed by [[Dulé Hill]])
* '''John''' (portrayed by [[Dulé Hill]])
* '''Susan''' (portrayed by [[Anne Ho]])
* '''Susan''' (portrayed by Anne Ho)
* '''Tito''' (portrayed by [[Renoly Santiago]])
* '''Tito''' (portrayed by [[Renoly Santiago]])
* '''Nikki''' (portrayed by [[Diana Smith]])
* '''Nikki''' (portrayed by [[Diana Smith]])
* '''David''' (portrayed by Brad Stoll)
* '''David''' (portrayed by Brad Stoll)
* '''Frida''' (portrayed by Audrey Ince)
* '''Unknown Character''' (portrayed by Charlene Fergus) (pilot episode only)
* '''Mr. Lester''' (portrayed by [[Don Chastain]])
* '''Unknown Character''' (portrayed by [[Dash Mihok]])
* '''Unknown Character''' (portrayed by Michelle Ingkavet)


===Puppets===
===Puppets===
* '''Dread''' (performed by [[David Rudman]]) - A [[Rastafari movement|Rastafarian]] [[Philosophy|philosopher]].
* '''Dread''' (performed by [[David Rudman]]) - A [[Rastafari movement|Rastafarian]] [[Philosophy|philosopher]].
* '''Bird''' (performed by [[Joey Mazzarino]]) - A [[Columbidae|pigeon]] who is Dread's sidekick.
* '''Bird''' (performed by [[Joey Mazzarino]]) - A [[Columbidae|pigeon]] who is Dread's sidekick.
* '''[[Hot dog|The Singing Hot Dogs]]''' - A bunch of Hot Dogs that would perform songs. Their sketch would begin with a zoom in on the container they are being served in. The sketch ends with a bunch of tongs taking one of the hot dogs.
* '''[[Hot dog|Hot Dogs]]''' - A bunch of Hot Dogs that would perform songs. Their sketch would begin with a zoom in on the container they are being served in. The sketch ends with a bunch of tongs taking one of the hot dogs.
** '''Frankie Frank''' (performed by [[David Rudman]]) - An anthropomorphic hot dog rapper who is the leader of Frankie Frank and the Footers.
** '''Frankie Frank''' (performed by [[David Rudman]]) - An anthropomorphic hot dog rapper who is the leader of Frankie Frank and the Footers.
* '''Captain''' (performed by [[Joey Mazzarino]]) - A character who works "Inside the Head" with Libido and Lieutenant. In newspaper promotions of ''CityKids'', the Captain was shown to have originally been depicted as a red bespectacled monkey before they went with the puppet design that appeared in the show.
* '''Captain''' (performed by [[Joey Mazzarino]]) - A character who works "Inside the Head" with Libido and Lieutenant. In newspaper promotions of ''CityKids'', the Captain was shown to have originally been depicted as a red bespectacled monkey before they went with the puppet design that appeared in the show.
* '''Libido''' (performed by [[John Henson (puppeteer)|John Henson]]) - A character that is black who works "Inside the Head" with Captain and Lieutenant.
* '''Libido''' (performed by [[John Henson (puppeteer)|John Henson]]) - A creature-like character that is black who works "Inside the Head" with Captain and Lieutenant.
* '''Lieutenant''' (performed by [[David Rudman]]) - A character who works "Inside the Head" with Captain and Libido.
* '''Lieutenant''' (performed by [[David Rudman]]) - A character who works "Inside the Head" with Captain and Libido.
* '''Koozebanians''' (performed by [[Noel MacNeal]] and [[David Rudman]]) - Three aliens from the planet Koozebane. Two of them have two eyes while one of them has one eye.
* '''Koozebanians''' (performed by [[Noel MacNeal]] and [[David Rudman]]) - Three aliens from the planet Koozebane. Two of them have two eyes while one of them has one eye.
Line 117: Line 104:
==Cast==
==Cast==
* Cyndi Cartagena as Angelica
* Cyndi Cartagena as Angelica
* [[Don Chastain]] as Mr. Lester
* Hassan Elgendi as Snoopy
* Hassan Elgendi as Snoopy, Christian
* [[Dulé Hill]] as John
* [[Dulé Hill]] as John
* Anne Ho as Susan
* Anne Ho as Susan
* Audrey Ince as Frida
* Michelle Ingkavet
* [[Dash Mihok]]
⚫
* Cenophia Mitchell as Toya (voice)
⚫
* Elizabeth Regen as Trish (voice)
* [[Renoly Santiago]] as Tito
* [[Renoly Santiago]] as Tito
* [[Diana Smith]] as Nikki
* [[Diana Smith]] as Nikki
* [[Brad Stoll]] as David
* Brad Stoll as David
* Charlene Fergus (pilot episode only)
⚫
* Cenophia Mitchell as Toya (voice)
⚫
* Elizabeth Regen as Trish (voice)


===Puppeteers===
===Puppeteers===
⚫
* [[David Rudman]] as Dread, Frankie Frank, Lieutenant, Koozbanians, Toya
⚫
* [[John Henson (puppeteer)|John Henson]] as Libido
⚫
* [[Noel MacNeal]] as Koozebanians
* [[Joey Mazzarino]] as Bird, Captain, Trish
* [[Joey Mazzarino]] as Bird, Captain, Trish
⚫
* [[Noel MacNeal]] as Koozebanians
⚫
* [[John Henson (puppeteer)|John Henson]] as Libido
* Don Reardon
* [[Alison Mork]]
* [[Alison Mork]]
* [[Carmen Osbahr]]
* [[Carmen Osbahr]]
⚫
* Don Reardon
⚫
* [[David Rudman]] as Dread, Frankie Frank, Lieutenant, Koozbanians, Toya
* Carlo Yanuzzi
* Carlo Yanuzzi
* [[Camille Bonora]] (uncredited)
* [[Louise Gold]] (uncredited) (pilot episode)


==Later appearances==
==Later appearances==
* The puppet for Bird later appeared in ''Muppet Time'' where he is the straight man for the Three Silly Bears in their segments. This pigeon was also performed by Joey Mazzarino.
* The puppet for Bird later appeared in ''Muppet Time'' where he is the straight man for the Three Silly Bears in their segments. This pigeon was also performed by Joey Mazzarino.
* The puppets for Dread, Captain, Lieutenant, Libido, the Hot Dogs, the Koozebanians, and the prototype Captain later made appearances in the ''[[Puppet Up!]]'' shows and other Henson Alternative projects.
* The puppets for Dread, Captain, Lieutenant, Libido (now purple), the Hot Dogs, the Koozebanians, and the prototype Captain later made appearances in the ''[[Puppet Up!]]'' shows and other Jim Henson projects.
* The puppets for the Koozebanians later made appearances in ''[[Duff's Happy Fun Bake Time]]''.
* The puppets for the Koozebanians later made appearances in ''[[Duff's Happy Fun Bake Time]]''.


Line 164: Line 150:
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company original programming]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company original programming]]
[[Category:American television shows featuring puppetry]]
[[Category:American television shows featuring puppetry]]
[[Category:Television series about teenagers]]
[[Category:American television series about teenagers]]
[[Category:Television series by The Jim Henson Company]]
[[Category:Television series by The Jim Henson Company]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York City]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York City]]

Latest revision as of 01:09, 29 October 2024

CityKids
GenreComing of age
Created byJeffrey Solomon
Written byJeffrey Solomon
Directed byRick Friedberg, Randall Miller
Starring
Voices ofCenophia Mitchell
Elizabeth Regen
Theme music composerRaliegh J Neal II
Opening themeMalik Yoba & Raliegh J Neal II
ComposerRaliegh J Neal II
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersBrian Henson
Laurie Meadoff-Hill
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesJim Henson Productions
The CityKids Foundation
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 18, 1993 (1993-09-18) –
January 29, 1994 (1994-01-29)

CityKids is an American television series that aired late Saturday mornings on ABC from 1993 to 1994. The show consists primarily of live action performances, interspersed with Muppet segments, courtesy of Jim Henson Productions. These Muppets were original characters designed specifically for the show, not ones taken from Sesame Street or The Muppet Show. These original characters often served as the Greek chorus for the show, commenting on the situations of the human characters, but not actually interacting with them.

Similar to NBC’s attempt of pushing the adolescent programming for late Saturday mornings with Saved By the Bell since 1989, CityKids was the first and only late Saturday morning series on ABC primarily targeted to a teenage audience, as well as the only one produced by the Jim Henson Company at the time, not to mention an urban one. However, the show failed to generate desirable ratings from any demographic, especially the teenage one, and the show was cancelled by ABC after one season, consequently airing strictly children’s programs on the network the following year.

The show's main theme song was composed by Malik Yoba & Raleigh J. Neal II, both of whom also composed other songs for the series[1] and served as Musical Creative Supervisor for the show.

Plot

[edit]

Characters

[edit]

Main Cast

[edit]
  • Angelica (portrayed by Cyndi Cartagena)
  • Snoopy/Christian (portrayed by Hassan Elgendi)
  • John (portrayed by Dulé Hill)
  • Susan (portrayed by Anne Ho)
  • Tito (portrayed by Renoly Santiago)
  • Nikki (portrayed by Diana Smith)
  • David (portrayed by Brad Stoll)
  • Unknown Character (portrayed by Charlene Fergus) (pilot episode only)

Puppets

[edit]
  • Dread (performed by David Rudman) - A Rastafarian philosopher.
  • Bird (performed by Joey Mazzarino) - A pigeon who is Dread's sidekick.
  • Hot Dogs - A bunch of Hot Dogs that would perform songs. Their sketch would begin with a zoom in on the container they are being served in. The sketch ends with a bunch of tongs taking one of the hot dogs.
    • Frankie Frank (performed by David Rudman) - An anthropomorphic hot dog rapper who is the leader of Frankie Frank and the Footers.
  • Captain (performed by Joey Mazzarino) - A character who works "Inside the Head" with Libido and Lieutenant. In newspaper promotions of CityKids, the Captain was shown to have originally been depicted as a red bespectacled monkey before they went with the puppet design that appeared in the show.
  • Libido (performed by John Henson) - A creature-like character that is black who works "Inside the Head" with Captain and Lieutenant.
  • Lieutenant (performed by David Rudman) - A character who works "Inside the Head" with Captain and Libido.
  • Koozebanians (performed by Noel MacNeal and David Rudman) - Three aliens from the planet Koozebane. Two of them have two eyes while one of them has one eye.
  • Dirt Sisters - Trish (performed by Joey Mazzarino, voiced by Elizabeth Regen) and Toya (performed by David Rudman, voiced by Cenophia Mitchell) are two gossipy girls that talk to each other on the phone and talk about the episode's main plot. Trish is from Staten Island while Toya is from Brooklyn.

Episodes

[edit]
No.TitleOriginal air date
1"Pilot"18 September 1993 (1993-09-18)[2]
2"Becoming a Man"25 September 1993 (1993-09-25)
3"Get a Job"2 October 1993 (1993-10-02)
4"The Curse of Ali Baba"9 October 1993 (1993-10-09)
5"Bye, Bye Reputation"16 October 1993 (1993-10-16)
6"The Mural"23 October 1993 (1993-10-23)
7"Alterations with Attitude"30 October 1993 (1993-10-30)
8"Quality Time"13 November 1993 (1993-11-13)
9"Rooftop Thanksgiving"20 November 1993 (1993-11-20)
10"Pack of Lies"4 December 1993 (1993-12-04)
11"Love Letters on the Hudson"11 December 1993 (1993-12-11)
12"All My Trials"18 December 1993 (1993-12-18)
13"I Am Woman"29 January 1994 (1994-01-29)

Cast

[edit]
  • Cyndi Cartagena as Angelica
  • Hassan Elgendi as Snoopy
  • Dulé Hill as John
  • Anne Ho as Susan
  • Renoly Santiago as Tito
  • Diana Smith as Nikki
  • Brad Stoll as David
  • Charlene Fergus (pilot episode only)
  • Cenophia Mitchell as Toya (voice)
  • Elizabeth Regen as Trish (voice)

Puppeteers

[edit]

Later appearances

[edit]
  • The puppet for Bird later appeared in Muppet Time where he is the straight man for the Three Silly Bears in their segments. This pigeon was also performed by Joey Mazzarino.
  • The puppets for Dread, Captain, Lieutenant, Libido (now purple), the Hot Dogs, the Koozebanians, and the prototype Captain later made appearances in the Puppet Up! shows and other Jim Henson projects.
  • The puppets for the Koozebanians later made appearances in Duff's Happy Fun Bake Time.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Malik Yoba". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  2. ^ "Kids TV gets a toon up". San Francisco Examiner. 31 August 1993. p. 25. Retrieved 11 September 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CityKids&oldid=1254014881"