TVSquad

I have a 19 month-old son named Keane Black who has recently graduated from a boob-obsessed pink blob into a happy-go-lucky toddler. (Little does he know that, if he follows his father's path, he's only a few decades away from regressing back into a boob-obsessed pink blob, except this time with back hair).

The transition has been great for me because it means that my son and I are now actually able to do things together: we play ball, we color, and we watch TV.

Babies are greedy in the sense that my son seems to have no interest in watching PTI (regardless of how many times I explain to him the myriad delights of LeBatard). Thus, when we watch together, we're stuck watching his shows, specifically his all-time favorite, The Backyardigans.

While I've grown to enjoy the show, it's occurred to me there are several ways that it can be made a more effective educational device..

"Boom-Boom BOOMTOWN!"

I'm not sure if that makes any sense to anyone who grew up outside of New England, but it's the battle cry of many an adult who was a kid between 1956 and 1976. It's from Boomtown, the classic kids show hosted by Rex Trailer on WBZ-TV. Brings back a lot of memories of sitting in my pajamas on Saturday and Sunday mornings, eating breakfast, watching the show. Kids went crazy on that show. I'm talking TRL crazy. I don't really remember Pablo, but I do remember Sgt. Billy.

Trailer is alive and still going strong! He's 78 and appears in parades and at special events, teaches at Emerson College, and has a video production company and television training center. He's currently on a "Rex Trailer 50th Anniversary Tour," and there was a film about him and his show released last year.

He has a web site, where you can not only buy a DVD for the show but also music, postcards, and posters of the reunion tour.