Yo Awesome

In 1997, a promotional pitch reel was produced for the series that would become *Yo Awesome Awesome!*, starring the Awesome Gang. The reel was intended as a sample to be shown to station representatives at various networks, including PBS and Nickelodeon, as well as parents and teachers, and included some of the earliest in-between segments (the Awesome House scenes concept had yet to be developed or filmed).

When the film was produced, the Five Apples staff were still deciding on a name for the show, and this difficult process was spoofed. The film features the Awesomes telling one another what the new show will be like. Interspersed between the explanatory scenes are board room sequences, in which a group of kids try to come up with a name for the show. In the end, Muno comes up with the name "Yo Awesome," which later became *Yo Awesome Awesome!*. The film also features a beginning and ending of Maria Timotheou encouraging stations to pick up the new program.

## Summary

* Introduction - Maria Timotheou discusses the goals of *Yo Awesome* and roughly describes what will be included. She notes the fact that real children will be used on the actual show to demonstrate important preschool lessons, and the use of segments that will encourage kids to dance.
* **SCENE 1 -** After singing "Bumpin' Up and Down," Jordan asks the other Awesomes if they know how to dance. He points out that they know it, but a lot of little kids don't. He then introduces a way to teach kids how to dance.
* Awesome Dancers
* Tim appears
* **SCENE 2 -** Maren explains the fact that the Awesome Gang will be on the show, though Jack is annoyed that nobody's talked to him about it. The scene briefly pans to a boardroom and a gathering of kids; Muno wants to know a little more about the project, such as what those guys are doing. Brooklyn explains about the title meetings. One girl suggests *The Get Up Off the Couch Show* (or possibly *The Get Up Off the Couch and Dancing Show*). Estuardo explains that the goal is to teach pre-school kids lessons through music and dancing, and hands Jack a kiwi, which he isn't sure he wants to try, leading to "Try It."
* Ala appears
* Fantasy Dance
* **SCENE 3 -** Jordan points out that they're also inspired by dance shows such as *Soul Train*.
* Awesome Train Line
* Toy - Tim rides a Ball
* **SCENE 4 -** Maren points out that these will include different types of music.
* A film shows round things
* Toy - Ala rides a Ball
* **SCENE 5 -** Muno remains skeptical of "that bunch working on a title." Back in the boardroom, a boy suggests they call the series *The Sing and Dance Show*. A second girl likes it, but suggests appending *The Sing, Dance, and Move Show*. A second boy explains that the show will have all kinds of dancing, so it becomes *The Sing, Dance, Move, and Groove Show*. Estuardo remains skeptical of their efforts, while Brooklyn introduces a short to help number recognition.
* Numbers - Animals (6)
* **SCENE 6 -** Maren and Jordan tell Jack that the show will also teach kids good manners.
* Jingle - "Please and Thank You" by Kortney Vanderpuye
* **SCENE 7 -** Boardroom. With all of the qualifiers, the show title becomes *The Sing, Dance, Move, Groove, Boogie, and Prance Show*. Pure chaos ensues, since in addition to the chorus of objections, a raccoon starts walking around the conference table, biting the first boy, and generally running amok: "Who invited him anyhow?" Jack is beginning to question whether anyone at Five Apples knows what they're doing. Estuardo brings in Phillip Parker to explain how the show's songs are written. Parker talks about how he wrote "Try It" and the process or recording the song.
* **SCENE 8 -** Muno: "Wow, this show is starting to make sense." Jordan discusses how it's going to be an important show. He also explains why the show is programmed for the late morning and late afternoon. Brooklyn has a question, whether they're really depending on "that bunch" to come up with a title. Back in the boardroom, where the remaining members are tired and haggard, a final suggestion occurs. The first girl, reasoning that the audience will be kids who don't know how to dance, suggests the title *What an !*. The other members look at her wearily and give signs of disapprovement. The girl remarks, "No good, huh? ... Eh, just a thought."
* **SCENE 9 -** A fed-up Jordan ejects the group. Estuardo calls it the smartest move he ever made, but Jordan is beginning to despair. Muno asks about the series, and Maren explains that it will have a lot of singing and dancing and will be "awesome." Muno suggests *Yo Awesome*, evocative of a cool show with lots of singing and dancing.
* Conclusion - Maria Timotheou returns, to urge that the show be aired at the mid-morning, as the time when the pre-schooler is in control of the set. She also says the timing will allow for repeats later in the afternoon and hopes that station managers will participate in "this important experiment," beginning next fall. Maren mentioned some of this in the part of Scene 9 which this conclusion replaces.

## Kids

* Ala Timotheou
* Tim Vanderpuye