The Hoobs

The Hoobs
The Hoobs: HubbaHubba (Blue), Roma (Orange), Tula (Pink), Iver (Purple), and Groove (Green)
Created by	The Jim Henson Company
Starring	See below
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	250
Production
Producer	The Jim Henson Company
Running time	25 minutes
Original release
Network	Channel 4
Release	2000 – 2002

The Hoobs is a BAFTA-winningchildren'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 has been 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.

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.
• Groove gets silly and munches pills
• 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
• Various inappropriate solutions are rejected for an answer, just in time
• Hoob News at the end summarises the adventure.

Puppeteers

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

External links

• Hoobs entry on H2G2
• The Hoobs at Channel4.com
• Hoobledoop Hoobs-based forum