WTF Is A Wiggle?

Kids shows are a complete mystery to me. Talking animals, adventures that lead to some epic moral lesson, silly songs and dreadful costumes.

Take this dude for example:

Dude from Yo Gabba Gabba

What is he supposed to be? A clown? And why the boom box? Is this show supposed to take place in the 1970s? I have to admit, he kind of looks like I did when I tried to rock the Halle Berry short-do. But that's a different story.

I'm also not impressed with their "celebrity guests" - who do they think they are, Sesame Street? I don't know about anyone else, but my kids haven't seen Lord of the Rings, so having an ex-hobbit on the show does nothing for them (or me).

Elijah Wood hits rock bottom

And where have I seen these guys before? 4 dudes prancing around in rainbow-coloured shirts, singing cheesy tunes with simple rhymes..

Dudes from The Wiggles

Oh yes, I remember now, in 1966 when they were called The Monkees.

I sit and watch my children in awe as they bounce, shake, dance, and talk to these strange men on the TV. They LOVE them, they swoon and prance and do as they say.

I wonder to myself if these men have families. If they head over to a pub for a cold beer after a long day of "hot potato" songs and "Where's Jeff?" montages. What do they wear on their days off? And do their friends embrace their career choices or make fun of what they've chosen to do for work?

I don't discriminate, I'm equally as curious (and semi-terrified) of characters like her:

I know she's a clown, but how old is she, 17 or 45? I can't tell, and for some reason that bothers me. She talks to a doll whose mouth doesn't even move, and hangs out on a giant (and very sloppy) couch. All day. 

The one thing that all of these characters have in common, is that they keep my children entertained when I need a mommy moment. They get my kids on their feet, and they encourage them to "Shake their sillies out", which for a career mommy like myself, is a blessing in disguise.