Higglytown Heroes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Higglytown Heroes | |
|---|---|
 From left to right are: Twinkle, Kip, Eubie, Wayne, Fran |
|
| Genre | Animated series,Children's television series |
| Starring | Frankie Ryan Manriquez (Wayne) Taylor Masamitsu (Eubie) Liliana Mumy (Twinkle) Rory Thost (Kip) Edie McClurg (Fran) |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of episodes | 39 (as of April 2006)[1] |
| Production | |
| Running time | half-hour |
| Broadcast | |
| Original run | September 12, 2004 – current |
| Links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Higglytown Heroes is a children's television series currently airing on the Playhouse Disney portion of the Disney Channel, or, on some cable networks, the Playhouse Disney channel. The theme song of the show, Here in Higglytown, is performed by They Might Be Giants.
The characters, who are modeled on Matryoshka nesting dolls, explore their city and the people in it. Along the way, they meet "Higglytown heroes", the people in their community who make it a better place. The main human characters include Eubie, Wayne, Twinkle, and Kip; Fran, who is almost always with them, is a red squirrel. Pizza guy also appears in every episode.
Higglytown heroes have ranged from firefighters to dentists to snow plow operators, whose voice actors are frequently guest celebrities. The series encourages involvement in the community, and means to inspire children to consider the importance of individuals who contribute to the world and make it better place.
The characters introduce the featured Higglytown community member through song, normally requiring help from 'someone special' and collectively singing the verse:
- "Someone special who could it be ?
- This job's too big for you and me
- We need some help
- But never fear-o
- It looks like a job for a Higglytown Hero"
(enter the hero that sings the introduction:)
- "I'm a Higglytown Hero, bold and true
- I help the town with the things I do"
(bulk of song is then sung, tailored specifically to the profession of the character or 'hero', ending in:)
- "I'm a Higglytown Hero, bold and good
- I help my friends just like I should"
(characters now all join in together)
- "So we'll work real hard, thats what we'll do
- So we can be a hero
- Just like you !" (cue fireworks)
[edit] Episode Guide
Season 1
Up a Tree / Missing Grandpop
- Donald Faison--Firefighter Hero
- Kathie Lee Gifford -- Mail Carrier Hero
Twinkle Tooth / Flower Power
- Camryn Manheim -- Plumber Hero
- Steven Weber-- Gardener Hero
First Snow / All Tire'd Out
- John Michael Higgins-- Tow Truck Driver Hero
- Betty White -- Grandmother Hero
Flappy's Not Happy / Electric Evening
- Frances Conroy -- Veterinarian Hero
- Lance Bass -- Electrician Hero
- Great Un-Expectations / Snow Dazed
- Tim Curry -- Librarian Hero
- Katey Sagal -- Police Officer Hero
Smooth Operator / Stinky Situation
- Cyndi Lauper -- Telephone Operator Hero
- Jim Wise-- Sanitation Worker Hero
Weather or Not / Green in the Gills
- Susan Lucci-- Weathergirl Hero
- Miguel Sandoval-- Artist Hero
Halloween Heroes
- Travis Tritt-- Farmer Hero
- Kevin Michael Richardson -- Monster Pumpkin
Smells Like a Mystery / Ship Ahoy!
- Katey Sagal-- Police Officer
- Ed McMahon-- Tug Boat Captain Hero
Soup With Stars / The Happy Friendly Sparkly Toast Club
- Smokey Robinson-- Grocery Clerk Hero
- Ricki Lake-- Carpenter Hero
Catch Up With Ketchup / Star Struck
- Stuart Pankin-- Bus Driver Hero
- Wally Kurth-- Optometrist Hero
Twinkle's Star
- Sean Astin-- Pix the Elf
- John Astin-- Santa Claus
Twinkle's Masterpiece / The Egg-cellent Adventure
- Sharon Stone-- Art Teacher
- Anne Heche- Waitress
- Dee Bradley Baker-- Egg Farmer Hero/ Grandpa Krank
Wayne's Ripping Adventure / Meet Eubie's Cousin
- Matt Cavenaugh-- Tailor Hero
- Raven Symone-- PlayGround Monitor Hero
- Jesse David Corti-- Jax
Say What? / Higgly Harmonies
- Nathalia Hencker-- Translator Hero
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler-- Miss Fern
- David Naughton- Conductor Hero
Wayne's Good Guess / Wayne's 100 Special Somethings
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler-- Teacher Hero
- Cicely Tyson-- Great Aunt Shirley Hero
Patty Cake / Havin' A Ball
- Rocco DiSpirito-- Baker Hero
- Steve Harris-- Coach Hero
Bright Lights, Big City / Kip's Shadow
- Jesse David Corti-- Jax
- Marissa Winokur-- Taxi Driver Hero
- Carlos Alazraqui-- Animal Shelter Worker Hero
Fran Takes a Hike / Mystery at Kip's House
- Irene Bedard-- Forest Ranger Hero
- Henry Dittman- Private Investigator Hero
Kip Joins the Circus / Baby Boom
- Donald Faison- Fire fighter Hero
- Rob Paulsen-- Mister Barber
- Erik Estrada-- Ambulance Driver Hero
Twinkle's Favorite Author / Don't Fence Me In
- Tim Curry- Librarian
- Diedrich Bader-Crane Operator Hero
- Anne Heche- Waitress
- Masasa Moyo-- Judge Hero
Higgly Hoedown / Eubie's Turbo Sled
- Trace Adkins- Cowboy Hero
- Serena Williams--Snow Plow Driver Hero
Kip's Dad Gets a Strike / A Really Hot Day
- Thomas F. Wilson--Truck Driver Hero
- Phil Lamarr-- Lifeguard Hero
Kip's Sweet Tooth /Wayne's Lollipop
- Gwendoline Yeo-- Dentist Hero
- Rob Paulsen-- Barber Hero
Eubie's Pink Dots / Two Bees or not Two Bees
- Naomi Judd -- School Nurse Hero
- Kate Pierson -- Beekeeper Hero
Higgly Frog Day / Eubie's Ele-Fantastic Adventure
- Maggie Wheeler-- Street Sweeper Hero
- Alyson Reed-- Zookeeper Hero
Season 2
Twinkle Twinkle Little Fish / All the Wrong Moves
- Jesse Corti-- Ssubmarine Captain Hero
- Debbie Allen-- Dance Instructor Hero
Kip Gets Swing Fever / Wayne's Pieces of Gold
- Gregory Jbara-- Tree Trimmer Hero
- Simon Templeman-- Banker Hero
- Mo Collins-- Science Fair Judge
All Warm Inside / Calling All Ducks
- Philip Anthony Rodriguez-- Furnace Repairman Hero
- Jentle Phoenix-- Environmentalist Hero
A Valentine For Miss Fern / A Totally Secret Valentine
- Henry Dittman-- Private Investigator
- Lance Bass-- Mr. Electrician
- Jamie Lynn Sigler-- Miss Fern
Cry Baby Pookie / Wait for Me
- Rain Pryor-- Pediatrician Hero
- Wally Wingert- Waiter Hero
Balloon-a-Palooza / Wayne's Day Out
- Katey Sagal-- Policewoman Hero
- Matthew St. Patrick- Policeman Hero
- Gayla Goehl-- Great Aunt Shirley
- Michael T. Weiss-- Mountain Rescue Hero
A Fran In The Moon
- Jane Kaczmarek-- Astronaut Hero
Me and My Shadow / Out to Sea
- Jorge Garcia-- Dog Trainer Hero
- Debi Mae West-- Lighthouse Keeper Hero
Don't Wayne on My Parade / Twinkle's Terrific Twirl
- Nicole Parker -- Window Washer Hero
- Peter Siragusa -- Ice Resurfacer Hero
Wayne's Big, Big Discovery / Dirigible Day
- Mo Collins -- Paleontologist Hero
- Roberto Alcaraz -- Air Traffic Controller Hero
The Legend of Higsquatch
- Kathy Najimy-- Photographer Hero
Eubie's Big Boat Float / A Slippery Situation
- Matthew Kaminsky-- Drawbridge Operator Hero
- David Jolliffe-- X-Ray Technician Hero
- Wayne Brady-- Doctor
- Anne Heche-- Gloria the Waitress
Let's Get Moving / Kip's Rocket Rescue
- Neil Kaplan- Mover Hero
- Henry Winkler-- Printer Hero
Corn to be Wild / Overnight Moose
- Joey Fatone-- Bulldozer Operator Hero
- Jessica Walter-- Motel Owner Hero
Higgly Island
- John O'Hurley-- Uncle Zeke
- Wilmer Valderrama-- Helicopter Pilot Hero
Shear Luck / Big Night Out
- Gayla Goehl -Sheep Shearer Hero
- Betty White-Grandma
- Alanna Ubach-Babysitter Hero
Kip Hits the Road (Calling all Cars)/Amazing Museum
- Jonathan Adams -Road Worker Hero
- Aisha Tyler-Museum Curator Hero
Frozen Fish Follies/ Look Who's Squawking
- Dave Wittenberg- Sled Dog Musher
- Stephnie Weir- Animal Control Officer Hero
Wayne's Day to Shine / Wayne Listens Up
- Jess Harnell- Laundry Worker Hero
- Wayne Brady- Doctor Hero
- Jamie Lynn Sigler - Ms. Fern
A Hoppin' Poppin' Problem / Hay Hay Hay!!
- Lesley Boone - Mechanic Hero
- Lesley Boone- Dairy Farmer Hero
Happy Campers / All Washed Out
- Meghan Strange- Camp Counselor Hero
- Bill Farmer- Janitor Hero
- Jamie Lynn Sigler - Ms. Fern
Hat's All Folks / Hop Hop Hooray
- Billy Vera --Ferry Boat Captain Hero
- Charlie Schlatter --Receptionist Hero
Shuffleboard Buddies / All Mapped Out
- Debi Mae West- Physical Therapist Hero
- David Jeremiah - Mapmaker Hero
12-Pie Abe / The Day the Diner Stood Still
- Catero Colbert- Camel Rider
- Tom Kenny - Reporter Hero
- Anne Heche- Gloria the Waitress
Saturday Night Higgly / Monster Sandwiches
- Dee Bradley Baker; Mindy Sterling; Alanna Ubach- Musician Heros
- Jim Wise- Tour Guide Hero
The Big Pink Elephant Sale / Higglies on Horseback
- Jeff Bennett - Auctioneer Hero
- Michael T. Weiss - Veterinarian Hero
- Jamie Lynn Sigler - Ms. Fern
Buki-Buki Boo-Boo/ Signs of Spring
- Julianne Grossman- Roofer
- Henry Dittman- Sign Language Interpreter Hero
Easy to Get Sneezy/Unlock the Magic
- Jon Curry - Allergist Hero
- J. Grant Albrecht - Locksmith Hero
[edit] Trivia
- In the episode Twinkle's Favorite Author, a small tribute to the video game series, Metal Gear Solid, appears in that the two places they visit in one song are Zanzibar Island and Hudson Bay, both important locales in the series.
- In the episode Kip Joins the Circus when the kids leave from the circus there were pictures of JoJo and Goliath from JoJo's Circus another show from Playhouse Disney.
- In the original press release for the show's debut, Jane Krakowski was mentioned as one of the guest voices for Season 1, but her episode has not been shown.
- A garden gnome can be found in every episode.
- The show is discussed in Thomas L. Friedman's book The World Is Flat, describing how the show is created in a way where many people in different physical locations can work on the project at the same time.
- This show is redubbed for the UK. Fran is voiced by veteran actress Sue Johnston (The Royle Family, Brookside, [2]), and she is joined by youngsters Africa Nile (IMDB [3]), Amira McCarthy, Jonathan Bee and Matthew Thomas Davies (IMDB [4], [5]).
- Twinkle and Wayne are brother and sister, we learn that as early as the episode Green in the Gills
[edit] Related Studies
- Victor C. Strasburger and Edward Donnerstein, 1999. “Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Issues and Solutions,” Pediatrics, volume 103, number 1: pp. 129-139: Open Access Copy
