Nick Junior

This article is about the U.S. television block of programming on Nickelodeon. For the British channel, see Nick Jr. (UK) and for the Australian channel, see Nick Jr. Australia.

Nick Jr.

File:Nick jr logo.jpg
Type	Cable network (cartoons), broadcast over Nickelodeon
Country	United States
Availability	National
Owner	MTV Networks (Viacom)
Launch date	US: April 1, 1979 UK: September 1, 1999 Aus: March 14, 2004
Official website	http://www.nickjr.com/

Nick Jr. is part of the Nickelodeon programming channel (The channel was known itself as Pinwheel until 1981), seen on Nickelodeon weekday mornings from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM MT. Summer hours may vary, with Nick Jr. starting as early as 8:30 AM MT and ending as late as 12:30 PM MT, depending on the time of the season and other shows scheduled. It is aimed at a preschool-age audience. Programming during this block are generally seen without commercial interruption.

History

Buildup

Before 1979, many shows that might be associated with a preschool audience were broadcast on QUBE's Pinwheel channel, but were not specifically distinguished in their own programming block. Most preschool programs were shown roughly between the hours of 8 AM and 3 PM Eastern, which approximates the hours in which older children might be in school.

1979–1994

By the start of 1979, when Pinwheel goes national, the Nick Jr. brand was in place and in use, with an approximate six hour portion of the Nickelodeon broadcast day, from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. Eastern time.

The logo for the new Nick Jr. brand became a distinctive feature for the block. While Pinwheel used the show's logo itself, Nick Jr only used it's name in the generic Arial font. While Nickelodeon used the fomer Silver Ball logo, Nick Jr. used two silver balls with Nick Jr. in rainbow colors and in Child World's corporate font. While Nickelodeon used a completely orange logo, Nick. Jr. used an orange 'Nick' and a light blue 'Jr', with the blue always smaller than the orange. The logo typically depicted a parent, or older sibling, and child, but varied in the shape or species (e.g. two rabbits, two simplified human figures, two trees), which remains in use today.

Until 1989, a former staple of the Nickelodeon lineup, Pinwheel was featured, and eventually replaced by Eureeka's Castle. Much of the remaining time in the lineup, particularly early in this time period, was devoted to animated series, many of which were of foreign origin (David the Gnome, Noozles, The Adventures of the Little Koala, The Little Prince). Programming in the vein of live action and puppeted preschool programming also appeared during this time.

Nick Jr's 1993-94 season signed off the air before 2PM ET on September 12, 1994. The last show to air under the 1993-94 season was Gullah Gullah Island right before its final goodbye from the "We Love Nick Jr!" era and everyone at Nick Jr, followed by the preview of Nick Jr's new 1994-95 season, and the final Nick Jr ID which leads into friday's Nickelodeon programming.

Also, Nick Jr 1994-95 season is launched with a first Nick Jr ID, its countdown clock, the Nick Jr 1994-95 opening, and a fine welcome from the 1994-2003 Mascot Face introduced a 9AM broadcast of Little Bear.

1994–2004

This was the year in which Nick Jr. introduced "Face", an animated, two-dimensional face that changed color throughout his segments and introduced or wrapped up shows and smaller variety pieces. Programming during this period included Allegra's Window, Little Bear, Gullah Gullah Island, and The Busy World of Richard Scarry. Face, in the context of its segments, was capable of materializing objects such as beach balls, scuba gear, space ships and stars, and of creating any number of foley sound effects including a signature three note "trumpet" noise used to lead up to the name Nick Jr..

Nick Jr's 2002-03 season signed off the air before 2PM ET on September 12, 2003. The last show to air under the 2002-03 season was Oswald right before its final goodbye from the 1994-2003 mascot Face and everyone at Nick Jr, followed by the preview of Nick Jr's new 2003-04 season, and the final Nick Jr ID which leads into friday's Nickelodeon programming.

Also, Nick Jr 2003-04 season is launched with a first Nick Jr ID, its countdown clock, the Nick Jr 2003-04 opening, and a fine welcome from its new hipper Face introduced a 9AM broadcast of Max & Ruby.

In the fall of 2003, Nick Jr also launched new graphics and music along with the launch of the live Playalong block with 4 Nick Jr shows and was hosted by Travis Guba, Hillary Hawkins, girlfriend Lilly, and was co-hosted by the Feetbeats. Nick Jr's playalong season signed off just before 12PM eastern on September 13, 2004. The last show to air on the 2003-04 season was Blue's Clues, followed by the tribute to the Playalong era, then the countdown clock which counts-down before the debut of its new Nick Jr graphics, music, and its new mascot Piper O'Possum.

2004–present

In the U.S., Nick Jr. has a new mascot named Piper, a opossum. Piper O'Possum, as the character is known, is also the daytime presenter of the British version of Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. 2. Piper is voiced by Allison Brustofski. On Nick Jr.'s British service, Piper is voiced by a British voice-over actor, with Allison's laugh. Piper O'Possum ends on Friday September 7th 2007 at 1:30PM Eastern/12:30PM Central before Max and Ruby.

There is a CD with music from Nick Jr. shows available titled Dance and Sing: The Best of Nick Jr.

CBS and Telemundo cross programming

From 2000 to 2002 and from 2004 to 2006, Nick Jr. also ran a Saturday morning children's block for CBS entitled Nick Jr. on CBS, featuring shows from the programming block. Between 2002 and 2004, it was part of the general Nick on CBS block, which also included programming from the main Nickelodeon channel. The block was replaced September 16, 2006, when the DiC-programmed KOL Secret Slumber Party on CBS began.

Until the fall of 2006, Spanish language US network Telemundo offered Nick Jr. programming in Spanish on Saturday and Sunday mornings, as part of the Nickelodeon en Telemundo block, which featured such shows as Rugrats and Dora the Explorer. In the fall of 2006, Nick programming was replaced with a Spanish-language version of NBC's qubo block.

Former and current slogans

• "Nick Jr. Just for Kids" (1979-1980)

• "Nick Jr. Always Fun" (1980-1981)

• "Nick Jr. Always Learning" (1981-1984)

• "Nick Jr. Wanna Play?" (1984-1987)

• "Nick Jr. Right at Home to You" (1987-1988)

• "Nick Jr. is Just for You!" (1988-1989)

• "Nick Jr. is only The Living Color!" (1989-1990)

• "The only the best of Nick Jr." (1990-1991)

• "Nick Jr. is Just for Me and You!" (1991-1992)

• "Nick Jr. Play and Sing Along with Us!" (1992-1993)

• "We Love Nick Jr!" (1993-1994)

• "Nick Jr. is Just for Me!" (1994-1995)

• "I Love Nick Jr!" (1995-1996)

• "It's the place for Nick Jr." (1996-1997)

• "10 days a Week of Nick Jr." (1997-1998)

• "Nick Jr. The World Is The Coolest Place!" (1998-1999)

• "Nick Jr. We Going to Play With You!" (1999-2000)

• "Nick Jr. Have the Jam!" (2000-2001)

• "Nick Jr. Let's Play!" (2001-2002)

• "Nick Jr. Play To Learn" (2002-2003)

• "Nick Jr. Play Along" (2003-2004)

• "Nick Jr. Play Along and Learn" (2004-2008)

• "Nick Jr. Love to Play" (2004-2007)

• "Nick Jr. It's the Party Jam!" (2005-2006)

• "We Want More Nick Jr!" (2006-2007)

• "Nick Jr. Play With Us" (2007-2008)

• "The New Nick Jr. Come And Play" (2008-2009)

• "Nick Jr. Let's Play Together!" (2009-2010)

• "Nick Jr. Who's Love to be on TV" (2010-2012)

• "Nick Jr. We Do Play Too!" (2012-2014)

• "Nick Jr. Let's Play Along Together!" (2014-2015)

• "Nick Jr. The Best Place for Cartoons" (2015-2018)

• "Nick Jr. It's a Wonderful Day!" (2018-2019)

• "Nick Jr. Play With Me!" (2019-2020)

• "Nick Jr. 24-Hour-a-Day Playalong Entertainment" (2008-present)

See also

• List of programs broadcast by Nick Jr.

External links

• Nick Jr.

References

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