The Hoobs

The Hoobs
The Hoobs: HubbaHubba (Blue), Roma (Orange), Tula (Pink), Iver (Purple), and Groove (Green)
Format	Children's television series
Created by	The Jim Henson Company
Starring	See below
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	250
Production
Producer(s)	The Jim Henson Company
Running time	25 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Picture format	16:9
Original run	2000 – 2002

The Hoobs is a BAFTA-winning children's television programme created and produced by The Jim Henson Company. It stars five creatures called Hoobs (Hubba Hubba, Iver, Groove, Tula, and Roma) from the fictional Hoobland, and their interactions with Earth and the human race. In each episode they try to find the answer to a question to be put in the great Hoobopaedia created by Hubba Hubba, back in Hoobland, in hopes of learning all there is to know. Hubba Hubba remains in Hoobland; Iver, Groove, and Tula live in the Hoobmobile; and Roma travels to all parts of the world. The five creatures are puppets, but the show also includes some animated sequences as well as live motion of human children who explain concepts to the Hoobs.

In the United Kingdom, it is a regular feature in early morning schedules. The show is made in the UK, as are many other Jim Henson Company productions. It was commissioned for Channel 4, and was shown at around the times of 6:00am to 7:00am regularly since January 2001, when the show started. It has also been regionalised for other countries, including North America (repeats formerly airing on PBS Kids Sprout). The programme only airs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays since November 2011, because Sesame Street came back to Channel 4 after 10 years to replace The Hoobs on the Monday and Thursday slot.

Hoobisms

• "Hoobledoop!" - Hello
• "Hoobledoop-Hoobledoop-Whoop-Whoop-Whoop!" - Extended "Hoob" Hello.
• "Hooble-toodle-doo!" - Goodbye
• "Hoobalicious!" - Delicious
• "Hoobacious!" - Fantastic
• "HoobyBooBoo" - Mistake
• "Hoobledigger" - An expression of affection involving the rubbing of noses.
• "Hoobygalooby!" - Wow!
• "Fan-tabby-hooby!" - Fantastic
• "Squigglytiddlypeep" - Baby
• "Tiddlypeep" - Child
• "Peep" - Adult
• "Wrinklypeep" - Old person
• "The Peep Planet" - Earth
• "Picki Picki" - Motorbike (Roma's)
• "Twizzletuft" - Head hair
• "Wazzlewafter" - Fan
• "Mipsydayo" - Oops!
• "Hoobypod" - Cocoon-like bed which Hoobs sleep in
• "Hooblets" - Hoob children
• "Gongle Dongle" - Alarm clock
• "Hoobofridge" - Fridge
• "Hooby Sandwich Hammer" - Hammer used to flatten sandwiches
• "Hoobnet" - Internet

Format

A typical episode format involves:

• A preamble during which a question (to be answered) is stumbled upon.
• HubbaHubba formalises the task.
• Roma is E-Mailed the question, to provide a report.
• Ending a sentence with the questions "who", "what", "when", "where", "why" or "how" causes a cut away to a Motorettes' performance of that word.
• There may be a song from the Hoobs or the Motorettes, with familiar lyrics, or a familiar tune (operas and musicals are a favourite), or neither.
• The Hoobs visit the "Tiddlypeeps" (children) twice, as "they're smart, they're fun, they know".
• One Hoob drives (left hand drive), one visits and turns the key and the third may participate in the B story.
• An animated story is aired, relating to the question.
• A report on a related subject appears on HoobNet listed on hoobapeadia
• Various inappropriate solutions are rejected for an answer, just in time
• Hoob News at the end summarises the adventure.

United States VHS and DVD

• Lionsgate Entertainment (2010–present)

United Kingdom VHS and DVD

• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002)
• Video Collection International (2002-2004) (Note: The "The Hoobs Have Landed" VHS used the 1988 logo.)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2004-2005)
• HiT Entertainment (2005–present)

Puppeteers

• Don Austen - Iver
• Wim Booth - Motorettes
• John Eccleston - Groove
• Brian Herring - Hubba Hubba
• Mark Jefferis - Hubba Hubba, Motorettes
• Rebecca Nagan - Motorettes
• Gillie Robic - Roma
• Julie Westwood - Tula

External links

• The Hoobs at the Internet Movie Database
• The Hoobs at Muppet Wiki
• Hoobs entry on H2G2
• The Hoobs at Channel4.com