Ethan Long
Journal Staff

Remember that video that surfaced on YouTube, where a small Asian child declared his love for dancing? His name was Nathaniel; he loved to dance. He was one of the many kids who has appeared on the Nick Jr. show, Yo Gabba Gabba.Since, the show, created by Aquabats lead singer Christian Jacobs, has become popular not only with the children it’s targeted towards, but the parents that watch it with them. Surprisingly, another demographic has quickly taken to the show, college-aged students. In a recent interview with the Journal, Jacobs spoke about the genesis of the show, Boston band the Pixies, and the upcoming “Yo Gabba Gabba” tour, hitting Boston this weekend.

“That’s funny, I don’t know. I have no idea really, it’s kinda surreal,” Jacobs said while summing up his thoughts on the last decade. Up until the mid-2000s or so, Jacobs was known for being lead singer for the Aquabats, a rock band with some serious style. The band dressed up as superheroes, and based an entire mythology around them.  Around the year 2000, Jacobs decided to start a new project, “I was watching TV with my daughter and I realized we could make a show for kids.”

Jacobs grew up with television shows such as The Banana Splits and the Electric Company. He set out to create a show that was something different than what was on television at the time; something that reminded him of his own childhood favorites. After him and a couple friends made a do-it-yourself pilot for the show, they uploaded a trailer of sorts to the internet. According to Jacobs, the clip garnered 2.5 million hits within a week. After that, the show was picked up by Viacom-owned Nick Jr., and clips of the shows zany-fueled segments started becoming viral hits.  “I think it’s helped the awareness of what the show is,” Jacobs mentioned, explaining that the show’s format makes it easier for people to pick and choose what they want to see. “The show is pretty tailor made for the Internet. It’s in a magazine format. You can take out the Nathaniel part or the Elijah Wood dancy dance.” Guests on the show, such as Elijah Wood, have been a staple on the show.

“We’ve had so many great guests. MGMT was awesome. The Weezer guys were really cool,” said Jacobs, who finds it easier to work with those who have the creative passion to collaborate, which usually comes when the guest has a motive for being on the show. “Jack Black totally wanted to do it for his kids. Cool energy, I guess that is called love.”

“Having bands on the show that college kids listen to opens the door,” said Jacobs. College students have become fans of the show, which ultimately led to a big presence at this year’s Coachella Music Festival, including a performance. The show has amassed a cult following of twenty-somethings that can boggle those who realize that this is a show targeted for pre-schoolers. “College kids in America, besides studying, are goofing around. I think part of it is, being in college you want to have fun, and that’s what the show is, pure fun.”

So what’s next for the show? A feature is now in the works, and already has a first draft written. “You have to get it right. We’re working on another draft with some people,” said Jacobs. What guests might appear in the movie, or on the show in the future? According to Jacobs, Frank Black of the Pixies approached a cast member recently, asking about doing an appearance, which delighted Jacobs, who cites the band as one of his all-time favorites.

Yo Gabba Gabba is currently on tour, coming to Boston’s Wang Theater this Saturday and Sunday. “We always wanted to go out on the road for the show and tour,” said Jacobs, who describes the live version as the “biggest, funnest, cool kids party.”

Yo Gabba Gabba has shown no sign of slowing down, with exciting guests and creative family-oriented programming brightening up the television day by day.