I wonder if Sarah Palin lets her kids/grandkids watch this show. Yo Gabba Gabba is so effectively yet subtly subversive, showing kids the weirdos and the artists over the taffy factories and counting: the toddlerized punk chants, learning to dance with Amy Sedaris and Sarah Silverman, beatboxing lessons from Biz Markie and Rahzel, a song about not biting your friends which I took as the writers marveling at kids’ boundaries, DJ Lance’s “ROCK” belt buckle. I understand why stoners and parents alike are fans.

Biz Markie Halloween Beat of the Day

The (aptly) amateurish tone is probably due the creators’ previous and total lack of experience conceptualizing or writing for any kind of television previous to this show, which also lends it a uniquely scattered uniformity in that something is probably going to be positive, encourage you to be yourself (the weirder the better), and starring an indie rock star. The point is that Yo Gabba Gabba is doing something important for kids, and for entertainment in general: repping the oddballs.

Yo Gabba Gabba just announced a massive tour going all over the US and Canada late summer and into the fall and winter. For the tours the gang goes all out, getting their “big name” (all relative) friends to join them along the way, in addition to a stage production that is serious business (20’ high televisions with doors in them? Huh?). The dates are below.

Friday, August 27, 2010 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods
Saturday, August 28, 2010 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Sunday, August 29, 2010 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilio
Thursday, September 02, 2010 Albany, NY Times Union Center
Friday, September 03, 2010 Buffalo, NY Artpark
Saturday, September 04, 2010 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Sunday, September 05, 2010 Montreal, QC Place des Arts
Wednesday, September 08, 2010 Edmonton, AL Northern Jubilee
Thursday, September 09, 2010 Calgary, AL Southern Jubilee
Saturday, September 11, 2010 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sunday, September 12, 2010 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Regina, SK Brandt Centre
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre Theatre
Saturday, September 18, 2010 London, ON John Labatt Centre
Sunday, September 19, 2010 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 Rochester, NY Auditorium Theatre
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 Burlington, VT Flynn Theatre
Friday, September 24, 2010 Portland, ME Merrill Auditorium
Saturday, September 25, 2010 Boston, MA Wang Theatre
Sunday, September 26, 2010 Boston, MA Wang Theatre
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Providence, RI Providence PAC
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre
Thursday, September 30, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, October 02, 2010 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
Sunday, October 03, 2010 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
Tuesday, October 05, 2010 Hershey, PA Hershey Theater
Wednesday, October 06, 2010 Cleveland, OH State Theatre at PlayhouseSquare
Friday, October 08, 2010 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
Saturday, October 09, 2010 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
Sunday, October 10, 2010 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
Monday, October 11, 2010 Louisville, KY The Palace Theatre
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre
Friday, October 15, 2010 Richmond, VA Landmark Theater
Saturday, October 16, 2010 Greensboro, NC War Memorial Auditorium
Sunday, October 17, 2010 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 Chattanooga, TN Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
Thursday, October 21, 2010 Nashville, TN Jackson Hall – Tennessee PAC
Saturday, October 23, 2010 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
Sunday, October 24, 2010 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 Jacksonville, FL Moran Theatre at Times Union Center
Friday, October 29, 2010 Kissimmee, FL Silver Spurs Arena
Saturday, October 30, 2010 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
Sunday, October 31, 2010 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
Tuesday, November 02, 2010 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium
Wednesday, November 03, 2010 Knoxville, TN Tennessee Theatre
Friday, November 05, 2010 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Saturday, November 06, 2010 Kansas City, MO The Midland
Sunday, November 07, 2010 Denver, CO 1st Bank Center
Tuesday, November 09, 2010 Salt Lake City, UT The E Center
Friday, November 12, 2010 Spokane, WA INB Performing Arts Center
Saturday, November 13, 2010 Seattle, WA Tacoma Dome
Sunday, November 14, 2010 Portland, OR Memorial Coliseum
Monday, November 15, 2010 Eugene, OR Hult Center
Thursday, November 18, 2010 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
Saturday, November 20, 2010 San Francisco, CA Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Sunday, November 21, 2010 San Francisco, CA Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Friday, November 26, 2010 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theater
Saturday, November 27, 2010 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theater
Sunday, November 28, 2010 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena
Saturday, December 04, 2010 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theater
Sunday, December 05, 2010 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theater
Tuesday, December 07, 2010 El Paso, TX Abraham Chavez Theater
Thursday, December 09, 2010 San Antonio, TX Freeman Coliseum
Friday, December 10, 2010 Houston, TX Hobby Center
Saturday, December 11, 2010 Austin, TX Cedar Park Center
Sunday, December 12, 2010 Dallas, TX Dr Pepper Arena