The Fresh Beat Band

The Fresh Beat Band (originally known as The JumpArounds) is an American live-action musical children's television series created by Scott Kraft and Nadine van der Velde for Nickelodeon. The series stars Yvette González-Nacer, Thomas Hobson, Shayna Rose (later Tara Perry), and Jon Beavers as the "Fresh Beats" (Kiki, Shout, Marina, and Twist), described as four best friends in a band who are determined to follow their dreams. The series aired from August 24, 2009, to December 7, 2013.

The Fresh Beat Band
Also known as	The JumpArounds
Genre	Musical Children's television series Comedy
Created by	Scott Kraft Nadine van der Velde
Developed by	Scott Kraft Nadine van der Velde Alice Prodanou
Written by	Tom Mason (2009–10) Dan Danko (2009–10) Alice Prodanou (2009–13) Carla Banks Waddles (2010–12) Kim Duran (2010–13) Scott Kraft (2009–13) Heather MacGillvray (2010–13) Linda Mathious (2010–13) Nadine van der Velde (2009–13)
Directed by	Linda Mendoza (2009–10, 2011) Neal Israel (2009–13) Jonathan Judge (2009–11) Henry Chan (2009–11) James Wahlberg (2011–12) Jody Margolin Hahn (2011) Scott Kraft (2011–12) Savage Steve Holland (2011–13)
Starring	Jon Beavers Yvette González-Nacer Thomas Hobson Shayna Rose (2009–11) Tara Perry (2011–13)
Opening theme	"The Fresh Beat Band!"
Ending theme	"The Fresh Beat Band!" (instrumental)
Composer	Matter Music
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	60 + 1 stand-alone special (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Nadine van der Velde Scott Kraft
Producers	Susan R. Nessanbaum-Goldberg (2010–13) Jim Kukucka (2010–11) Chris Robinson (2011–13)
Production locations	Paramount Studios, Hollywood
Cinematography	Carlos González Brandon Mastrippolito Michael Franks Tim Gonuos
Editors	Mitchell Sinoway Cindy Parisotto
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	23 minutes
Production company	Nickelodeon Productions
Original release
Network	Nickelodeon (2009–2012) Nick Jr. Channel (2009–2016)
Release	August 24, 2009 (2009-08-24) – December 7, 2013 (2013-12-07)
Related
Fresh Beat Band of Spies

In 2015, an animated television series, Fresh Beat Band of Spies, premiered on Nickelodeon. All four members of the band lend their voices to their respective characters in the spin-off.

Premise

All episodes follow the same basic structure:

• Each episode begins with a song that foreshadows a problem that the band will solve.
• The band works together to solve the problem.
• When the problem is solved they perform a song with the problem and solution incorporated into the lyrics.
• Each episode concludes with a version of The Fresh Beat Band's closing song, "Great Day".
• The main characters dance to choreography by Blush, Mandy Moore; Sean Cheesman; Jesus "Chuck" Maldonado; Scotty Nguyen; Dreya Weber; Beth Bogush; Mary Ann Kellogg; Nakul Mahajan; Mihran Kirakosian; Susan Austin; and Fred Tallaksen.

Also, they appeared in the Nickelodeon Mega Music Fest.

Episodes

Main article: List of the Fresh Beat Band episodes

Season	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
1	20		August 24, 2009 (2009-08-24)	May 28, 2010 (2010-05-28)
2	19		August 30, 2010 (2010-08-30)	July 24, 2011 (2011-07-24)
3	19		June 24, 2011 (2011-06-24)	December 7, 2013 (2013-12-07)
Special			April 21, 2013 (2013-04-21)

During the buildup to the show's debut, the band was initially advertised as The JumpArounds. Commercials promoting the band under that name were in heavy rotation on Nickelodeon prior to the series debut. The change occurred approximately in mid July 2009. The name was revealed on the Nick Jr. website, then made its debut on television.

Characters

Main

The show's main characters are: Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer) – guitar, violin, vocals Shout (Thomas Hobson) – keyboards, vocals Marina (Tara Perry - who replaced Shayna Rose) – drums, vocals Twist (Jon Beavers) – turntables, beatbox, vocals

Recurring

• Harper the Pizza Maker – owner of the Singing Pizza Café, played by Shane Blades
• Melody the Smoothie Maker – owner of the Groovy Smoothie Shop, played by Dioni Michelle Collins
• Ms. Piccolo the Teacher – music school teacher, played by Monica Lee Gradischek
• Reed the Guitar Player – occasional guitar player and supplier of the Fresh Beats' instruments, played by Hadley Fraser (season 1) and Patrick Levis (seasons 2–3)

There are also four children known as "The Junior Beats" who are essentially the child equivalent of their grown-up counterparts. They sing, dance, and dress as a corresponding character.

Music

The Fresh Beat Band: Music From the Hit TV Show was released on January 31, 2012. The album sold 189,000 copies in the US in 2012. A second collection, Vol 2.0: More Music From The Hit TV Show, was released later that year on October 9, 2012. The soundtracks contain songs from multiple episodes of the series, as well as songs that did not get performed in the episodes. Most of these songs, including the opening and closing themes, were written by the series' creators and executive producers Scott Kraft and Nadine van der Velde, as well as the trio of Ric Markmann, Dan Pinnella, and Christopher Wagner (collectively known as Matter Music). Other composers and producers included Matthew Gerrard, Elizabeth Ashley Saunig-Gerrard, Chip Whitewood, Peter Zizzo, Adam Schlesinger, Shelley Rosenberg, Michael Smith, Matthew Tishler, and Phil Galdston.

Singles

Four singles were released to iTunes; "Great Day" was released on February 2, 2010, "Here We Go" was released on June 28, 2011, "A Friend Like You" was released on September 13, 2011, and "Just Like a Rockstar" was released on November 29, 2011.

Music from the Hit TV Show
The Fresh Beats’ album cover
Studio album by The Fresh Beat Band
Released	January 31, 2012
Recorded	2009–2011
Genre	Children's music pop rock
Length	40:13
Language	English
Label	Viacom International Inc., Legacy Recordings, KRU Music, Varèse Sarabande
The Fresh Beat Band chronology
The JumpArounds (2007) ''Music from the Hit TV Show'' (January 31, 2012) Let’s Get Loud - EP (2012)
Singles from The Fresh Beat Band
"Great Day" Released: February 2, 2010 "Here We Go" Released: June 28, 2011 "A Friend Like You" Released: September 13, 2011 "Just Like a Rockstar" Released: November 29, 2011

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Fresh Beat Band Theme Song"	0:49
2.	"Here We Go"	1:53
3.	"A Friend Like You"	2:19
4.	"Just Like a Rockstar"	2:02
5.	"Reach for the Sky"	1:55
6.	"I Can Do Anything"	2:01
7.	"Bananas"	1:47
8.	"Music (Keeps Me Movin')"	2:09
9.	"Good Times"	2:00
10.	"Loco Legs"	2:37
11.	"Get Up and Go Go"	2:08
12.	"Another Perfect Day"	2:12
13.	"Shine"	2:19
14.	"Stomp the House"	2:15
15.	"Surprise Yourself"	2:10
16.	"We're Unstoppable"	2:06
17.	"Friends Give Friends a Hand"	1:20
18.	"Freeze Dance"	1:53
19.	"Great Day"	2:08
20.	"Sun Beautiful Sun" (Bonus track by the Bubble Guppies)	2:10

Home media

Retail releases

Name	Release Date	Number of Episodes	Episode Titles
The Wizard of Song	August 14, 2012	3	"The Wizard of Song" "Ghost Band" "Chimps in Charge"

Manufacture on-demand releases

Name	Release Date	Number of Episodes	Episode Titles
Season 1	March 6, 2012	5 (Disc 1) 5 (Disc 2) 5 (Disc 3) 5 (Disc 4)	Disc 1: "Loco Legs" "Stick Together" "Stomp the House" "Let's Boogie" "Hippity Hop" Disc 2: "Quack Shoes" "Bounce the House" "Band Together" "Freeze Dance" "Sing with Me" Disc 3: "Rock to Sleep" "Glow for It" "Hip Hop Hoedown" "Smoothies to Go Go" "March Our Way" Disc 4: "Rhyme Time" "Doggone It" "Rock the Luau" "Hocus Pocus" "Bubble Blast"
Season 2	March 6, 2012	5 (Disc 1) 5 (Disc 2) 5 (Disc 3) 4 (Disc 4)	Disc 1: "Jungle Jazz" "Balloon Buddy" "Honk Honk" "Camping with the Stars" "Circus Mojo" Disc 2: "Singin' in the Rain" "Presto Pants" "Giant Pumpkin" "Back to School" "The Case of the Missing Violin" Disc 3: "Fresh Beats in Toyland" "Zydeco Music Parade" "Car Wash Dance" "Follow the Leader" "Kiki's Kickin' Chorus" Disc 4: "Drum Party" "Mixed Up Musical" "Band in a Jam" "Step It Up"
Season 3	April 10, 2014	5 (Disc 1) 5 (Disc 2) 5 (Disc 3) 4 (Disc 4)	Disc 1: "Graduation Day" "Giant Pizza" "Dance Floor Superhero" "Cool Pool Party" "Snow Day" Disc 2: "Rock Star" "The Fresh Bots" "Chimps in Charge" "Pink Swan" "Hoop Dreams" Disc 3: "Bollywood Beats" "Yo Fresh Beats Go Gabba Gabba" "Ghost Band" "Veloci-Rap-Star" "Laughing Dance Master" Disc 4: "Royal Wedding" "Keeping It Green" "Dance-A-Thon" "The Wizard of Song"

Episodes on Nick Jr. compilation DVDs

Name	Release Date	Number of Episodes	Episode Titles
Nickelodeon: Rootin' Tootin' Wild West	January 29, 2013 (Walmart) August 6, 2013 (retail)	1	"Hip Hop Hoedown"
Nickelodeon: Once Upon a Rhyme	April 30, 2013		"Royal Wedding"
Nickelodeon: Celebrate Fall!	August 18, 2015		"Giant Pumpkin"

Episodes on Nick Jr. iTunes compilations

Name	Release Date	Number of Episodes	Episode Titles
To School We Go!	August 16, 2010	1	"March Our Way"
Haunted Halloween Vol. 3	October 25, 2010		"Glow for It"
Bundle of Love Vol. 2	January 31, 2011		"Freeze Dance"
Move to the Music	June 6, 2011		"Band Together"
Let's Learn Music	November 12, 2012		"Rock Star"
Let's Learn Science	November 12, 2012		"Keepin' it Green"
Let's Learn Weather	November 12, 2012		"Singin' in the Rain"
Circus	March 4, 2013		"Circus Mojo"
Let's Drive!	April 15, 2013		"Car Wash Dance"
Royal Playdates Vol. 1	July 8, 2013		"Royal Wedding"
Let's Go to the Rainforest!	July 29, 2013		"Jungle Jazz"
Back to School	August 13, 2013		"Back to School"
Happy Halloween	October 23, 2013		"Ghost Band"
Treasure Hunt Vol. 2	March 31, 2014		"The Case of the Missing Violin"
Bedtime Stories	September 29, 2014		"Rock to Sleep"

Reception

Critical response

Drew Magary of Deadspin describes the show as "pure evil, as much as an innocent and friendly show about good friends can be pure evil".

Nominations and awards

• 26th Annual Imagen Awards Nomination for Best Young Actress/Television : Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer in The Fresh Beat Band
• Parents Choice 2011 Award: The Fresh Beat Band – Fun Stuff (Ages: 2 – 5 years)

External links

• The Fresh Beat Band at IMDb