1996 TV Show

***School and the Backyard Gang*** is a 1996 reboot of the 1962 TV Show of the Same Name, airing exclusively on Nickelodeon from 1996 to 2007, and Noggin from 1999 to 2008.

## History

Reruns of the original *School and the Backyard Gang* began airing on Nickelodeon with the channel's 1979 launch. While the show was popular with younger audiences, Nick executives felt it had become dated over the years, particularly as it was aired in black-and-white. Their answer was to create a brand-new version of the show, one aimed toward contemporary audiences. Notably, the all-new Backyard Gang members would wear their own 90s clothing, baggy pants, and miniskirts instead of rainbow shirts. This show was also known as "BYG" to fans.

This version of the series is notable for featuring a number of cast members who went on to achieve global success in music and acting, including Isaac Mirror, Jessica Jamrocz, Gaby, Justin Bieber, Lacey Hatch, Jasmine Woods, Mark Amidan, Gabi Douglas, Sarah Rose, and Frankie Murz.

This was the first version of the franchise to have any studio audience, though a fairly small group. Unlike the original show, BYG included viewer-submitted content.

## Plot

School and the Backyard Gang is aimed at 3-6 year old children. it uses a talented, hip cats of real-life children. It is lively, musical, entertaining, and highlights simple life lessons and issues quite serious to children of this age.

School and the Backyard Gang is set in a playschool (“Studio C”) and focuses discussion on many of the contemporary, as well as historic yet continuing dilemmas, challenges, and issues facing very young children such as eating too much candy, or eating food off the ground. Also, many episodes can be “nipped in the bud” with design-assist because they can be discussed and resolved simply during the design phase.

The mix of story, song, and dance is geared toward active play and reflects a lifelong love of music. School and the Backyard Gang is extremely musical and children love joining in with the songs and actions.

## Segments

* Jingles
* Story Time - A child would narrate a story
* Danny's Magic Pictures - Danny DeVito would draw a picture that would come to life.
* Antony's Beat of the Day
* BYG Dance - The cast teaches kids a new dance.
* Funny Faces - The cast shows kids how to make funny faces.
* Super Music Friends Show
* Dancey Dance
* Cool Tricks - A child or adult demonstrates a talent.
* BYG Do - The Backyard Gang would make crafts sent in by viewers.
* Cafe BYG - The Backyard Gang would bake recipes sent in by viewers.
* BYG Game - The Backyard Gang would play a game sent in by viewers
* BYG Zinger - The Backyard Gang would take part in icebreakers sent in by viewers.
* BYG Sci - Te Backyard Gang does science experiments sent in by viewers.
* BYG Playhouse - The Backyard Gang does plays sent in by viewers
* BYG Chat - The Backyard Gang talks about topics viewers requested.
* What's Up? - Real kids talk about various topics.
* BYG Vid - A video of real kids.
* BYG Along - The Backyard Gang does weird experiments. Similar to BYG Sci.
* Boops - Real kids talk about embarrassing moments
* BMail - Te Backyard Gang reads fan mail.

## Scheduling and air times

From the first through third seasons, the series aired Monday through Friday, at 5:30pm. Through Season 4, the show aired Monday to Thursday. In its final season, Season 5, it aired Thursdays only at 7:00 pm (later moved a half hour later, to 7:30). The series premiered in April 1996, ended in November 2000 and went off the air in 2002, although reruns continued to air on Noggin until April 7, 2003.

## School and the Backyard Gang Cast

The most popular of the Backyard Gang Kids was the Red Team

* Jasmine Woods
* Justin Bieber
* Eli Dagostino
* Jesse Perez
* Sean O'Brien
* Andrew Lawrence
* Gabi Douglas
* Alex D. Linz
* Patrick Patterson
* Sean Hanley
* Kelly Bixby
* Sarah Rose (Was in White Team for Seasons 4 to 5, and was in the Red Team from Seasons 2 to 3)

The Other Backyard Gang Members were...

* William Martin (4th and 5th Year)
* Britney Spears (Season 2 only)
* Mark Amidan (Season 1 only)
* Brittany Famighetti (Season 6)
* Michael "Mike" Jamrocz (Was in Red Team in Season 2 and Blue Team in Season 3)
* Jennifer Michelle Brown
* Lucia Becker
* Kevin Catelro

the White team was Leon Frierson, Ruby Bothleo, Alisa Besher, Ashley Fortunato, Lacey Hatch, Gabrielle Margas, Isaac Mirror, Raleigh "Frankie" Murz, Johnny Depp, Lexine Bondoc, Steve Roach, Aspen Clark, Gigi Hadid, Kortney Vanderpuye, and Maria Sheridan

Matt Lauer and Taylor Swift auditioned among 3,000 Kids but didn't get in.

the 27 Backyard Gang Members and each Season they were featured in

* Alex D. Linz (1995)
* Simon Pryce (1995)
* Gaby Margas (1995)
* Ruby Bothleo (1995)
* Mark Amidan (1995)
* Maria Sheridan (1995-1996)
* Gabi Douglas (1995-1996)
* Sarah Rose (1996-1999)
* Sean O'Brien (1996)
* Steve Roach (1996)
* Jessica Jamrocz (1996)
* Mike Jamrocz (1996-1997)
* Justin Bieber (1997)
* Patrick Patterson (1997)
* Naura Pole (1997)
* Alisa Besher (1997-1998)
* Lexine Bondoc (1997-1998)
* William Martin (1998-1999)
* Isaac Mirror (1998)
* Leon Frierson (1998-1999)
* Jasmine Woods (1998-1999)
* Aspen Clark (1999-2001)
* Frankie Murz (1999-2000)
* Lacey Hatch (1999-2000)
* Kortney Vanderpuye (2000)
* Gigi Hadid (2000)
* David Edwards (2000-2001)
* Tahj Mowry (2000-2001)
* Ashley Fortunato (2001-2002)
* Patty Rodriguez (2001)
* Sam Williams (2001)
* Brittany Famighetti (2001-2002)
* Liz Rose Andersen (2002-2003)
* Eli Dagostino (2002-2003)
* Jesse Perez (2002)
* Kevin Catelro (2002)
* Audrey Reedy (2002)
* Trevor Heins (2002-2003)
* Khaliah Adams (2002-2003)
* Lucia Becker (2003-2004)
* Philip Miller (2003-2004)
* Jennifer Michelle Brown (2003-2004)
* Sean Hanley (2004-2005)
* Kelly Bixby (2004-2005)
* Carlos Juan Celi (2004)
* Denise Dorn (2004)
* Nicole Urso (2005)
* Chris Gonzalez (2005)
* Stephanie Carcamo (2005)
* Amber Altamura (2005)
* Justin Fiszer (2005)

## See Also

* The inspiration
* The Predecessor
* The Australian Adaptation
* Fundays
* School and the Backyard Gang Mountain