History Main / ExcitedKidsShowHost

* Highlighted in WeirdAlYankovic's movie ''{{UHF}}'' when they hired crazyman Michael Richards to host the kids show... and the ratings immediately exploded.

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There seems to be an unwritten rule that all kids show hosts, except for [[MisterRogersNeighborhood Mr Rogers]] who is an archetype unto himself, must act excitable and zany, if not downright bonkers. Kids do seem to genuinely enjoy this sort of thing, but it can seem irritating to many adults. There actually seem to be different approaches to this:

* Mr. Rogers from ''[=~Mister Rogers' Neighborhood~=]''. Of course, he was going for "kindly guy on the block who reminds me of my uncle" rather than "cool random person who reminds me of my older cousin."

* This was the exact reason they promoted Bart to co-anchor of "[[XtremeKoolLetterz Kidz Newz]]" to Lisa's chagrin on that episode of ''TheSimpsons''- he had "zazz" (exact wording, too).

** Bill Nye is excellent at taking complex scientific concepts, and making it so a 10 year old can understand them. It comes with the territory.

* The (literally) animated dog host of the PBS Kids game show ''FetchWithRuffRuffman''.

* The (literally) animated dog host of the PBS Kids game show [[FetchWithRuffRuffman ''Fetch!'']].

* ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'' though Steve doesn't actually come across as condescending, more like he's phenomenally slow and really needs the kids' help.

* ''[[Series.DeadRingers Dead Ringers]]'' parodies this in one early episode where they replace ''Dick And Dom In Da Bungalow'' with (art critic and well known snob) ''Brian Sewell in the Stately Home'' and he retains some of the Zaniness but with fine art references and caviar. "Brian Sewell" used caviar in the same way Dick and Dom used [[CoveredInGunge Creamy Muck Muck]] although he used only finest silver teaspoons to fling it at people.

* One could fill pages on the countless Barney parodies. This editor's favorite is Baloney from ''{{Animaniacs}}'', who remained upbeat even as the Warners pelt him with anvils.

* ''[=~Blue's Clues~=]'' though Steve doesn't actually come across as condescending, more like he's phenomenally slow and really needs the kids' help.
* ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney]]'' as well. And I'm pretty sure that being forced to act in such a goddamn cheery manner led both Steve and various Barneys to either alcohol or massive amounts of illegal drugs.
*** The thing about Steve and drugs is actually an urban legend. Don't know about the Barneys.
*** It's the same scenario with Barney (meaning the drugs thing is merely a rumor with Barney, as it is with "Blue's Clues'" Steve Burns).

* ''[[BarneyAndFriends Barney]]'' as well. And I'm pretty sure that being forced to act in such a goddamn cheery manner led both Steve and various Barneys to either alcohol or massive amounts of illegal drugs.

There seems to be an unwritten rule that all kids show hosts, Mr. Rogers aside, must act excitable and zany, if not downright bonkers. Kids do seem to genuinely enjoy this sort of thing, but it can seem irritating to many adults. There actually seem to be different approaches to this:

*** It's the same senario with Barney (meaning the drugs thing is merely a rumor with Barney, as it is with "Blue's Clues'" Steve Burns).

* ''BeakmansWorld''

* Brutally skewered in the short film ''[[http://vimeo.com/11573607 It's Oppo!]]''. It starts out like this, but then gets [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel flat-out terrifying]].

->''"Let's barrage ourselves with colors until someone passes out!"''

* One of AndyKaufman's stage personas was Type 1, in which he treated his adult audience as if they were children ("offstage", he was revealed to be TheKrusty). Andy hosted a children's show in Boston while he was in college, so he had that experience to build upon.

* ''DeadRingers'' takes a the mick out of this in one early episode where they replace ''Dick And Dom In Da Bungalow'' with (art critic and well known snob) ''Brian Sewell in the Stately Home'' and he retains some of the Zaniness but with fine art references and caviar. "Brian Sewell" used caviar in the same way Dick and Dom used [[CoveredInGunge Creamy Muck Muck]] although he used only finest silver teaspoons to fling it at people.

* ''[=~Pee-Wee's Playhouse~=]''

->''"Let's barrage ourselves with colors untill someone passes out!"''

* The (literally) animated dog host of the PBS Kids game show [[FetchWithRuffRuffman ''Fetch!'']] Not that this troper, um, [[OrSoIHeard watched the show, or anything]].

* Mr. Rogers from ''MisterRogersNeighborhood''. Of course, he was going for "kindly guy on the block who reminds me of my uncle" rather than "cool random person who reminds me of my older cousin."

* Canadian TV seems to favor quieter, more laid-back kid-show hosts: MrDressup, TheFriendlyGiant, Fred Penner, etc. Note that Fred Rogers' first show was Canadian.

* The hosts of the Spanish language version of "Disney's Art Attack".