We're the Doodlebops

DeeDee, Rooney and Moe -- Picture courtesy Disney

by blogSpotter
Once upon a time, children's entertainment featured live characters who were clownish (Bozo), curmudgeonly (Captain Kangaroo) or manic head cases (Pee-wee Herman). Pee-wee's Playhouse is one of the few that actually ventured into "dangerous" terrain with potentially adult-oriented humor and characters that project a juvenile adult sensibility (e.g., Pee-wee himself). Now we have the Doodlebops, a Canadian Trio created by Cookie Jar Entertainment and featured on the Disney channel. The trio is primarily a musical group and it features two men and a woman, all in their early twenties. The girl, DeeDee is played by Lisa Lennox; she's dressed as a cheerleader and she's all-the-way pink; dress, hair and skin are hot pink with a few purple accessories. Moe and Rooney, the guys kind of resemble Raggedy Andy dolls. Moe is bright orange (yes -- face hair and all). Rooney is a bright royal blue (ditto to the face, hair and clothes).

In each episode, the Doodlebops present a simple lesson about sharing, practical jokes or other similar things. They are helped in their efforts by cast mates such as Bus Driver Bob, Manager Jazzmin and Audio Murphy the sound engineer. Bus Driver Bob drives the Doodlebops around in a bus closely resembling the one from Partridge Family. Jazzmin, a large black woman, speaks in "scat" rhymes and can disappear with a snap of the fingers. For a guy with a slightly stocky build, Bus Driver Bob is a pretty agile dancer when they sing "Let's Get on the Bus". The 3 Doodlebops are very skilled dancers also, and do some pretty impressive moves.

I can only imagine how the preschool mind processes this threesome. The men in particular project an androgynous look with their painted faces. Little kids who are still contemplating a pink cheerleader will also have to decide what they think of Rooney's dark blue lipstick and Moe's yellow-orange eyeliner and mascara. Based on the tremendous following, the kids are not bothered. The Doodlebops have already toured Canada and the United States; they've also been featured at Madison Square Garden as part of the Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus. Much like the Wiggles, the Doodlebops have enough cross-over appeal to adults that Mom and Dad may enjoy the show as much as their kids.

The Doodlebops usually work in a joke or groan-worthy pun with each show:
Q: What color is a burp?
A: Burple, of course

A: Knock Knock ...
Q: Who's there?
A: Alex.
Q: Alex who?
A: AL-ax all the questions around here!

As you see, there are some deep thoughts here. Each show starts with Moe missing and children in the audience are implored to "Help find Moe". He's usually been made doll-size, magically transported or changed into something unrecognizable. Then, he's magically restored to his regular Moe-size, there on stage. Children will certainly enjoy all the rhymes, riddles and lessons the show presents. And they can carry along the subliminal (and not altogether bad) notion that maybe our world has room for a pink cheerleader, a blue Rooney and an orange Moe. What's that you say? There are no pink, blue or orange people? Well it's all in how you look at it.

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