Friday, September 24, 2010

The Avengers, Ni Hao, Kai-lan, and The Suite Life

The Avengers, Ni Hao, Kai-lan, and The Suite Life

With each weekly serving of Kid Scoop, we'll share the latest news in the world of kids' TV and movies, so you can be the know-it-all for a change. This week's scoop features superheroes, the Chinese Dora and wonder twin power.

The Continuing Avengers
Superheroes on TV never die -- they just get re-imagined. The latest version, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes!, launches as an animated series on Oct. 20, courtesy of Disney XD. The Avengers' membership includes (in order of how cool I personally find them) Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Ant-Man/Giant Man and Wasp. (I just can't buy superhero bugs). If you're looking for big-screen Avengers, you'll have to wait until May 2012. That's when Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner, Chris EvansScarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Hemsworth, Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo suit up for The Avengers, the movie. You'll need superhuman powers to keep your kids away from that one.

One Small Step for Mandarin
Have you ever thought, "I wish a preschool show would teach my kids Mandarin Chinese!" Me neither. But Nickelodeon’s Ni Hao, Kai-lan, which is inspired by television producer Karen Chau's Chinese-American childhood, has been known as the "Chinese Dora" since 2008. Ni Hao, Kai-lan's third season kicks off Oct. 8, featuring Lucy Liu as the voice of the Bear Queen.  By the way, "Ni hao" is Mandarin for "Hi", and Kai-Lan is Chau's birth name. See, now you're learning, too!

Life is Suite
They had to get back to shore sometime. Production is scheduled to start this month on The Suite Life Movie, which will premiere on The Disney Channel sometime in 2011. Based on Disney Channel's megahits The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and The Suite Life on Deck, the movie will feature TV stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Brenda Song and Debby Ryan. Much of the mayhem takes place at a high-tech research center, but I guess the title "The Suite Life at a High-Tech Research Center" didn’t test well with audiences. Dylan and Cole turned 18 last month, but let the record show that Haley Joel Osment pioneered the floppy blonde hair look way before the Sprouses or Justin Bieber!

Do your kids speak Mandarin Chinese after watching Ni Hao, Kai-lan? Chime in now!

Cat Power Catherine Bell Chandra West Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore

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