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{{Infobox Television {{Short description|Television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}{{Infobox television
| show_name = Kids Incorporated
| image = ] | image = Kidsinclogo.png
| caption = <small>Kids Incorporated logo, 1983-1993.</small> | caption = The seasons 0 (pre-1)–8 (1983–1992) logo.
| format = ] with music | alt_name = Kids Inc.
| genre = ]
| runtime = 22 minutes
| creator = ] | creator =
| starring =
| starring = ] (1991)<BR>] (1993)<BR>], (1992-1993)<BR>] (1993)<BR>] (1992)<BR>] (1984-1988)<BR>] (1984-1989)<BR>] (1988-1992)<BR>] (1993)<BR>] (1989-1991)<BR>] (1991-1993)<BR>] (1991-1993)<BR>] (1985-1988)<BR>] (1987-1988)<BR>] (1984-1986)<BR>] (1984-1987)<BR>] (1988-1989)<BR>] (1984-1987)<BR>] (1984)<BR>] (1987-1989)
| theme_music_composer = Michael Cruz

| opentheme = "Kids Incorporated"
| opentheme = "Kids Incorporated Theme" - written by<br />]<br />performed by:<br />] (1984-1986)<br /> Full cast (1987-1993)<br />
| endtheme = "Kids Incorporated" (instrumental)
| country = ]
| country = United States
| network = Syndication/]
| language = English
| first_aired = ], ]
| num_seasons = 9
| last_aired = ], ]
| num_episodes = 150 | num_episodes = 149
| list_episodes = List of Kids Incorporated episodes
| imdb_id = 0086744
| camera = ]
| runtime = 22 minutes
| company = ]<br>(1984–1989)<br>] (1991–1994)<br>] (1984)<br>]<br>(1985–1987)<br>]<br>(1988–1989)<br>]<br>(1991–1994)<br>]
| channel = ] (1984—1985)<br>] (1986–1994)
| first_aired = {{Start date|1984|9|1}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1994|1|9}}
}} }}

'''''Kids Incorporated''''' (also known as '''''Kids Inc.''''') was a ] that was produced from 1984-1993.
'''''Kids Incorporated''''' (also known as '''''Kids Inc.''''') is an American children's television program that began production in the mid-1980s and continued airing into the mid-1990s. It was largely a youth-oriented program with musical performances as an integral part of every episode. The pilot episode was shot on September 1, 1983, and the series aired in ] from September 1, 1984, to December 26, 1985, and on the ] from November 3, 1986, to January 9, 1994.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cotter |first1=Bill |title=The Wonderful World of Disney Television |date=1997 |publisher=Hyperion Books |isbn=0-7868-6359-5 |pages=295, 581}}</ref> Reruns aired on the Disney Channel until May 30, 1996.


==Plot== ==Plot==
The series revolved around a group of children and teenagers who performed in their own rock group, Kids Incorporated. The band members struggled to deal with issues ranging from divorce to violence to schoolyard crushes while performing regularly at a local restaurant/theatre, The P*lace (called The Malt Shop in the pilot). The show revolves around a group of children and teenagers who performed in their own rock group called Kids Incorporated. They struggled to deal with issues ranging from crushes to peer pressure to child abuse, while performing regularly at a local former music club called The P*lace, which was really called The Palace, but the first "a" in the sign burned out and was never replaced. The action took place on abstract "stagey" sets and the plots involved many fantasy elements, such as the group meeting a robot (Season 1, Episode 10), a runaway princess (Season 1, Episode 6) and even a wise-cracking bicycle (Season 1, Episode 17). In addition to their performances on stage, the group would break into song when they were off-stage.

The city or town in which the P*lace was located was never disclosed. However, according to former crew member Paul Hoen, the show was supposed to be set in ], a section of ], ]. The school depicted on the ''Kids Incorporated'' set had signage reading P.S., and later, Public School 127. The P.S. designation is associated only with NYC schools. However, other fans of the series have speculated that the show was set somewhere in ].


although fans of the series assume it's ].


==Cast and characters== ==Cast and characters==
For many of the cast members, dancers and musicians, the show was the beginning of a successful career in the entertainment industry. The most visible stars are:
The cast of ''Kids Incorporated'' was almost entirely comprised of children and teenagers. The only recurring adult members of the cast were ] ("Riley", 1984-1988), Sean O'Riordan ("Flip", 1989-1992) and ] (1993), who played owners of The P*lace.
* ] and ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6867127.ece |title=Singer Fergie on giving up gangs and drugs |work=] |access-date= March 3, 2011 |location=London |first1=Tom |last1=Coghlan |first2=Laura |last2=Pitel |first3=Sadie |last3=Gray}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> both of whom were founding members of pop trio ]. Fergie later joined the ]-winning group ], then launched her successful solo career. During her tenure on ''Kids Incorporated'', she went from being the youngest to the oldest and holds the record for the longest run at six seasons, including the pilot.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/949871/fergie-qa-billboards-woman-of-the-year-2010 |title=Fergie Q&A: Billboard's Woman of the Year 2010 |magazine=] |access-date= March 3, 2011}}</ref>
* ] (a.k.a. Marta Marrero)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/item_XFTvCgXq0zQKpvLFN1b3HK?photo_num=4 |title=Kids Incorporated, where are they now? |newspaper=] |date=October 14, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022080515/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/item_XFTvCgXq0zQKpvLFN1b3HK?photo_num=4 |archive-date=October 22, 2012 }}</ref> became a singer with two hit studio records in the late 1980s-early 1990s ("]", "Thy Will Be Done"); she began using the mononym Martika billing during her time on the series.
* ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/mario_lopez |title=Mario Lopez: Biography |work=] |access-date= March 3, 2011}}</ref> ('']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'') – Lopez appeared as a background dancer and musician throughout the series.
* ] ('']'', '']'', '']'')
* ],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2009/02/bizzare-cover-songs-kids-incorporated-dont-give-up/ |title=Bizarre Cover Songs: Kids Incorporated, "Don't Give Up" |magazine=] |access-date= March 3, 2011}}</ref> who was credited simply as "Love Hewitt", ('']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'')
* ] (bass guitarist, keyboards, keytar) – 1991–1994
* ] (keytarist, bass guitar, tambourine) – 1987–1988
* ] (keyboards, vocals) – 1984
* ] gained experience as a backup vocalist for several artists including ] and ].


===Guest stars===
===The Kids Incorporated group===
Guest stars included both established celebrities and newcomers. ], ], ], ] (both former stars of '']''), ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] were among those who appeared during the run of the show. Young actors who guest starred on it included ] (1992), ], ] (2 episodes), ], ], and ] (Chunk from '']'').
The members of Kids Incorporated ranged in age from eight to mid-teens. From 1987-1989 there were six members of the group; in other seasons, the band was always comprised three girls and two boys.


==Episodes==
The characters on the show usually carried the names of the actors who played them (for instance, ]' character was also called Renee). However, in some cases, the names were shortened (] became "Ana"); in others, the names were completely replaced. ]'s character, for example, was named Gloria; ]'s character was named "Mickey" and ] was called "The Kid" and his real name was not revealed until well into the series. ]'s character was called "Robin".
{{main|List of Kids Incorporated episodes}}

Actors left the series when they "aged out" of their roles as kids. The disappearances of some long-running actors, such as ], Martika, Renee Sands and Rashaan Patterson, were written into the script, however, most of the time the performers were replaced without comment. ] held the record as the longest-running cast member, staying with the show for six seasons. ] was part of the cast for five seasons; ], ], ] and ] were in the show for four years each.

All of the members of the cast were strong singers and performed their own vocals. Several, such as ], were also trained dancers and occasionally showcased their abilities. However, none of the performers played instruments. In many scenes in the show, the characters are shown pretending to play the piano, guitar and other instruments.

For many of the cast members, ''Kids Incorporated'' was the beginning of a fruitful career in the music industry. Currently, the most visible ex-KI kid is probably ], who performs with the Grammy-award winning group ]. Others who have been largely successful in the fields of music and acting include ], ] (]), ], ] and ].

===The dancers===
Supporting Kids Incorporated's singers was an ensemble of five young dancers. These cast members appeared in the background in scenes in The P*lace, they also performed choreographed routines and served as backup singers and musicians (pretending to play) during Kids Incorporated's performances.

Generally, the dancers did not have speaking roles, and the plots of the episodes never incorporated them. However, during Season One, dancer ] performed as a singer for ]'s "It Ain't Enough" and ]'s "Dim All The Lights". Aaron Hamilton, Nicole Cropper, Wendy Brainard, Mario Lopez, Shanice Wilson, Darren Lee, Kimberly Duncan, Danielle-Marcus Janssen, Brian Friedman and Andrea Wilson were the only dancers to ever have speaking parts during the run of the series.

Many of the KI dancers also went on to have successful careers in the arts, including actor ] ('']''), recording artist ] and Broadway choreographer and dancer ].

===Guest stars===
Guest stars on ''Kids Incorporated'' included both established celebrities and newcomers. ], ], ], ], ] and ] were among the stars who appeared during the run of the show. Young actors who guest starred on KI included ], ], ] and ].


==Music== ==Music==
Music was an integral part of ''Kids Incorporated,'' and several songs were included in every episode. While these numbers were usually performed onstage in the context of a concert at The P*lace, they were also occasionally used to illustrate a character's internal monologue or conflict. The vocal responsibilities were shared by all five singers; every cast member was given an opportunity to perform featured or solo songs throughout the course of the season. Music was an integral part of the show and five songs were included in every episode. The musical variety ranged over a number of genres released from the 1960s onward. While these numbers were usually performed onstage in the context of a concert at The P*lace, they were also occasionally used to illustrate a character's internal monologue or conflict. The vocal responsibilities were shared by all five (or six) singers; every cast member was given an opportunity to perform featured or solo songs throughout the course of the season.


Each episode consisted of one original number and generally five previously recorded songs by recognized artists. Artists and songs ranged from the 1950s to the 1990s. The original songs were written by the hired composers of the show. Depending on the year those composers were Michael Cruz, Andrew R. Powell, ], and others.
While there were a few original pieces in the KI repertoire, the group mostly performed covers of contemporary hit songs. Artists and songs covered included ], ], "Hip-Hop Hooray!" by ], "]" by ], "]" by ], "]" by ], "All Fired Up" by ], "The Promise of A New Day" by ], "Pump Up The Jam" by ], Motownphilly by ], "Strange but True" by ] and "Breakaway" by ].


Due to the young ages of the performers and the target audience, lyrics referencing alcohol, drugs, violence, sex and slang were generally edited out of the songs and replaced with more benign language. However, occasionally songs were performed as written, "objectionable" lyrics intact. Examples of uncensored songs that were presented on the series include "Dancing with Myself" by ] ("The Storybook House" episode, 1989), "Seven Wonders" by ] (1988) and "]" by ] (1989). Due to the age of both the performers and the target demographic, lyrics with objectionable content were generally edited out of the songs and replaced with more appropriate language such as "]" by ] and "]" by ]. However, occasionally songs were performed as written, slightly objectionable lyrics intact. Examples of uncensored songs that were presented on the series include "]" by ] ("The Storybook House" episode, 1990), "]" by ] (1988), "]" by ] (although this had a slight edit on the chorus as "I wanna see your body dance with mine"), and "]" by ] (1990).
The large number of songs performed in the series, and their myriad copyright, royalty and permission agreements, present a special challenge to releasing ''Kids Incorporated'' on DVD or returning it to television. In 2005, for example, a proposal to air ''Kids Incorporated'' as part of The Disney Channel's Saturday night teen line-up fell through when Disney CEOs suggested removing much of the music and replacing it with blooper reels.


==Production and broadcast history== ==Production and broadcast history==
The original pilot film for ''Kids Incorporated'' was produced in ] and shopped to several networks by creator ] and producer ]. The original pilot for the show was produced in 1983 and shopped to several networks by creators ] and Gary Biller.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-24-ca-lynch24-story.html |title=Enthusiasm that is almost like a kid's |work=] |date= December 24, 2006|access-date= March 3, 2011 |first=Kate |last=Aurthur}}</ref>

The series was not picked up by a major network, but, distributed by MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television, began a syndicated run in the fall of 1984. The original four cast members, ], ], ] and ], were joined by ] and a company of five backup dancers.

In syndication, the show was usually shown on Tuesday or Sunday evenings, however, this depended largely on decisions made by local television stations. For example, ], the now-] station in ], ] aired the show at first on Tuesday, then Saturday nights at 6:30 PM. ] in ] aired it first on Sundays at 1 PM, then moved it back to 9 AM. It also aired on the ] (now ]) in 1985 on Sundays. The shuffling time slots affected the ratings, and KI was cancelled the weekend of ] ].

However, in the summer of ], ''Kids Incorporated'' was given a second chance when ] acquired the rights to the series. It resumed production with the same cast, and new episodes began airing on ] ]. Disney's buyout package included the entire syndicated run; as such, edits had to be made to remove fee plugs & commercial outros. The show's main time slot on the Disney Channel was 4pm ]/3pm ].

After the sixth season (1989) was filmed, ''Kids Incorporated'' was put on hiatus for two years, during which time most of the cast moved on to other projects or "aged out". The only performers who were invited to return to the show in 1991, when it resumed production, were Kenny Ford and Jennifer Love Hewitt.


The show was not picked up by a major network, but, distributed by ], began a ] run on September 1, 1984. The original four cast members, ], ], ], and Jerry Sharell, were joined by ] and a company of five backup dancers. Sharell left after the first season, in part over unhappiness with the show's often bizarre and outlandish storylines.
Budget cuts and the expiration of Disney's lease with MGM prompted another hiatus in 1993, after only ten episodes of Season Nine had been filmed. However, the last episode of this season, which aired on ], ], actually turned out to be the final one of the series. By the summer of 1995, when the show was scheduled to resume production, most of the cast members were graduating from high school/University or getting married and could no longer sustain the ''Kids Incorporated'' image. Thus, the show did not continue.


As with most syndicated productions its scheduling was based on local stations rather than being offered universally at one time across the country. Some stations aired it on a weekday near prime time, while others had it as a weekend-only offering that could air as early as 6:30 a.m. Due to its overall unsettled schedule, ratings were never truly steady, and the show was cancelled on December 26, 1985. Reruns aired on ] (now ]) from 1985 to 1986.
The proposed company for the final revamped version of the show was said to have included new cast members ], ] and Lee Young. Anastasia Horne, Brian Friedman and Ken Arata, all veterans from the 1993 cast, were supposed to return. Brian and Ken had previously appeared on the show as dancers; they were to be upgraded to starring roles as 'kids'. This would have been the first time in the series history in which dancers had been 'promoted.' Wendy Brainard signed on as the owner of The P*lace; the new dancer lineup included Anwar Burton, Charon Alderdge, ], Kenia Browne and Amaris Dupree.


It was due to the positive ratings from the CBN reruns that in summer 1986, the show was given a second chance when the Disney Channel acquired the rights to it. It resumed production with the same cast, (minus Sharell) and new episodes began airing on November 3, 1986. Disney's buyout package also included the entire syndicated run, and as Disney Channel has never carried traditional commercial breaks, the episodes were re-edited to remove any advertising-related continuity to become continuous episodes, which was also advantageous to later home video releases. Its main timeslot on the Disney Channel was 5 p.m. ]/4 p.m. ]/2 p.m. ]; though still somewhat disadvantageous, the program now had a steady timeslot, along with little to no ratings pressure, as Disney Channel was then offered as a premium add-on service which paid little attention to program ratings.
The format of the show would have changed, giving the songs less importance and placing them in breaks in the main storyline action. Some proposed scripts had no songs at all. In addition, the show's filming would have moved from Los Angeles to ], ]. The hype for the new ''Kids Incorporated'' project was all over Los Angeles, Inglewood and New York but never came to fruition.


After the sixth season (1989) was filmed, the show was put on hiatus for a year, during which time most of the cast moved on to other projects or aged out of the program. The only two who were invited to return in 1991 when it resumed production were Kenny Ford and ].
After its default cancellation, ''Kids Incorporated'' continued to be shown in reruns on The Disney Channel until ], ]. In ], the only country to change the language of the show, the series aired on the MBS Network until ]. Many overseas nations or countries ended the program as well by late-summer 2001.


Budget cuts and the expiration of Disney's output agreement with MGM prompted another hiatus in 1993, leading to the show's end, after Season 9's ten episodes completed production. The last episode aired on January 9, 1994. The show continued to be shown in reruns on the Disney Channel until May 30, 1996, and remains the network's longest-running program.
==Former Kids and Adult Industry==
Eric Balfour appears in a porn video located at this website ]


Originally taped at ], later seasons were produced at ].


===Producers=== ===Producers===
Throughout its history, various producers and production companies were associated with ''Kids Incorporated,'' including Throughout its history, other producers and production companies were associated with the show, including
], Lynch-Biller Productions (later Lynch Entertainment), RHI Entertainment, and ] (aka MGM-Pathe). ]/], the studio responsible for the ] ] series of the 1930s, was also involved with ''KI''. ] Entertainment, Lynch-Biller Productions (later Lynch Entertainment; now The Tom Lynch Company), RHI Entertainment, and ] (a.k.a. MGM-Pathé). ]/], the studio responsible for the ] ] series of the 1930s, was also involved with it. (Qintex was also responsible for the distribution of 1989 ] series '']''.)


''Kids Incorporated'' effectively launched the career of creator ], who would go on to co-create '']'' and '']'' among other shows. The show essentially launched the careers of creators and producers Gary Biller and ], who would go on to create '']'' and '']'' (for ]) among many other shows, leading the '']'' to call him "the ] of 'tween TV". Prior to it, Lynch and Biller created and produced a long-running music video series for ], '']''.


==Merchandise== ==Merchandise==


===''Kids Incorporated: The Beginning'' and other videos=== ===''Kids Incorporated: The Beginning'' and other videos===
The 1983 pilot film was never shown on television, however, in ] it was released on ] as ''Kids Incorporated; The Beginning.'' In order to include cast member ], who joined the show after the pilot was shot, a new storyline was edited into the film. His character "The Kid" was depicted as the new kid in town, who was very shy and afraid to audition for the band. He also revealed the origins of the ''Kids Incorporated'' group. Patterson's scenes were filmed 1984, and edited in with the 1983 footage of the rest of the cast. The 1983 pilot was recorded in August 1983 but never shown on television; however, in 1985, it was released on ] and ] as ''Kids Incorporated: The Beginning''. In order to include ], who joined the show after the pilot was shot, a new storyline was edited into the film. His character, Kid, was depicted as the new kid in town, who was very shy and afraid to audition for the group. He also revealed the origins of them. The "Kid" scenes were filmed in 1985, and edited in, with the 1983 footage of the rest of the cast or in with it.


Two additional KI videos were released in 1985, entitled ''Chartbusters'' and ''The Best of Kids Incorporated.'' While the show was still in syndication, four records were also released, entitled ''Kids Incorporated, New Attitude, Kids Incorporated:The Chart Hits'' and a second ''Kids Incorporated.'' At least two of these records achieved platinum sales status. Two additional videos were released in 1985, entitled ''ChartBusters'' and ''The Best of Kids Incorporated''. While the show was still in syndication, four albums were also released, titled
* ''Kids Incorporated'' (1983)
* ''Kids Incorporated'' (1984)
* ''Kids Incorporated: The Chart Hits'' (1985)
* ''Kids Incorporated: New Attitude'' (1985)
At least two of these achieved platinum sales status. No further ones were released when the show moved to the Disney Channel because the company that produced them, ], filed for bankruptcy at around the same time.


==International versions==
===Current DVD plans===
As of November 2006, ] and ] and ] have had several talks with Thomas Lynch about releasing the series on DVD or re-broadcasting it on Disney primetime. MGM has stated that the official reason for ''Kids Incoporated''
s absence from the DVD and TV markets has not been because of domestic or music rights, but because of recent financial changes to the companies involved with the series. The final decision for future ''Kids Incorporated'' releases lies with NBC and Disney.


===Japan===
In the past, the series has been held from DVD and television due to complicated questions of rights and logistics. In addition to the numerous issues involving the music played in the show, matters have been further complicated by the fact that the rights to ''Kids Incorporated'' are divided between three different companies. Currently, ] owns American domestic television rights, and ] Home Entertainment holds DVD rights, while the video archives reside with the ].
An original Japanese adaptation of the show, titled ''StarS'', ran from 1999 to 2001. Between 13 and 26 episodes were filmed in each of its three seasons. A second version, ''StarS2'', was scheduled to premiere on MBS in the summer of 2007. Both were produced by TOEI and co-produced by Sunrise Studios.


In addition, the American version, dubbed into Japanese, was shown on the MBS network until 2001.
In a 2005 interview, ] hinted that the show would be released on DVD, however, both studios were quick to deny any such rumor.


===New Zealand===
==International Versions==
The original New Zealand version of the show, ''High Life'', began production in 1990. It ran periodically for five seasons, broadcasting six episodes per year, until 1995, when ] cancelled it.
Japan has had two renditions of this series. One a dubbed, the other being a regular version exclusively to Japan. It was called ] and most of the seasons had the star image used from 1989-1992 on the USA version. This version ran between 13-26 episodes a piece, for 3 seasons from 1999-2001.


===Canada===
Another version called ] will premiere on MBS next summer. It was produced by TOEI and co-produced by Sunrise Studios, same with the dubbed. Iraq, England, Iceland, Hawaii, Polynesia, Samoa, New Zealand all dubbed the show. Hawaii decided not to air the regular version but 2001 the started to show the series beginning with Season 2 all the way through Season 8. New Zealand made their own version, ] in 1990 and it ran periodically with 6 episodes a year from 1990-1995 and when season 5 ended TVNZ-2 cancelled it.
''The Rockets'' (aired on ] in 1987, 1989 and 1991) is sort of a Canadian ''Kids Incorporated''.


==Trivia== ==References==
{{reflist}}
*The series was filmed at Hollywood Center Studios in California for its entire run.
*A significant amount of time passed between the filming of each season, accounting for the speed at which the kids in the cast seemed to age. The first seasons were filmed six months apart; seasons 7-9 were filmed each year in the spring.
* ''Kids Incorporated'' was one of the only shows, along with ''MMC, ]'' and '']'', in which the complete seasons took place within the calendar year, instead of the traditional fall-spring shooting/broadcast schedule. For instance, if an actor was with the show from 1985-1988, he actually appeared in ''four'' seasons, not three.
*In the spring of 1986, the cast performed at ] outside of Los Angeles as a part of a small promotional tour. Martika, Rahsaan, Renee and Stacy were joined on stage by actor/singer ] (of '']'' fame) filling in for Ryan, who was not able to attend. Tommy's sister ] would join the cast in 1988.
*On a couple of episodes during seasons 4 and 6, the show's credits list Stacy as Stacey Ferguson.
*The original name of The P*lace was The Palace; the asterik comes from the burnt-out neon "A" on the sign on the front of the theatre. This is visible in the opening and ending credits.
* During the first seasons, the text on the ] on the old theatre stage in The P*lace reads "]." In later seasons of the series, this was changed to "Fire Curtain," reflecting the growing public concern about asbestos safety i the late 1980s.
*Nicole tried out in season 7 but didn't make it. Devyn invited her back to auditions in season 8 and she joined the cast in 1992.
*Brian Friedman, Ken Arata and Jennifer King all tried out for the series between 1987-1989.
*Brittany Murphy, Amy Jo Johnson both tried out in 1990.
*Thomas Lynch's son appeared in a season 3 episode along with Nick Biller.
*Had Kids Incorporated been relaunched last year and included blooper reels, it would've joined other Disney series like ] and ].
*Eric Balfour appears in pornographic videos.


==External links and references== ==External links==
* {{imdb title|id=0086744|title=Kids Incorporated}} * {{IMDb title|id=0086744}}
* *
*
*


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Latest revision as of 22:48, 28 December 2024

Television series

Kids Incorporated
[REDACTED] The seasons 0 (pre-1)–8 (1983–1992) logo.
Also known asKids Inc.
GenreChildren's television series
Theme music composerMichael Cruz
Opening theme"Kids Incorporated"
Ending theme"Kids Incorporated" (instrumental)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons9
No. of episodes149 (list of episodes)
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesLynch-Biller Productions
(1984–1989)
Lynch Entertainment (1991–1994)
K-Tel Entertainment (1984)
Hal Roach Studios
(1985–1987)
Qintex Entertainment
(1988–1989)
RHI Entertainment
(1991–1994)
MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television
Original release
NetworkSyndicated (1984—1985)
Disney Channel (1986–1994)
ReleaseSeptember 1, 1984 (1984-09-01) –
January 9, 1994 (1994-01-09)

Kids Incorporated (also known as Kids Inc.) is an American children's television program that began production in the mid-1980s and continued airing into the mid-1990s. It was largely a youth-oriented program with musical performances as an integral part of every episode. The pilot episode was shot on September 1, 1983, and the series aired in syndication from September 1, 1984, to December 26, 1985, and on the Disney Channel from November 3, 1986, to January 9, 1994. Reruns aired on the Disney Channel until May 30, 1996.

Plot

The show revolves around a group of children and teenagers who performed in their own rock group called Kids Incorporated. They struggled to deal with issues ranging from crushes to peer pressure to child abuse, while performing regularly at a local former music club called The P*lace, which was really called The Palace, but the first "a" in the sign burned out and was never replaced. The action took place on abstract "stagey" sets and the plots involved many fantasy elements, such as the group meeting a robot (Season 1, Episode 10), a runaway princess (Season 1, Episode 6) and even a wise-cracking bicycle (Season 1, Episode 17). In addition to their performances on stage, the group would break into song when they were off-stage.

Cast and characters

For many of the cast members, dancers and musicians, the show was the beginning of a successful career in the entertainment industry. The most visible stars are:

Guest stars

Guest stars included both established celebrities and newcomers. Gwen Verdon, Kathy Johnson, Barry Williams, Florence Henderson (both former stars of The Brady Bunch), Billy Blanks, David Hasselhoff, John Franklin, Ryan Bollman, Christian Hoff, Paul Rodriguez, Brian Robbins, and Ruth Buzzi were among those who appeared during the run of the show. Young actors who guest starred on it included Brittany Murphy (1992), Scott Wolf, Audra Lee (2 episodes), R.J. Williams, Jason Hervey, and Jeff Cohen (Chunk from The Goonies).

Episodes

Main article: List of Kids Incorporated episodes

Music

Music was an integral part of the show and five songs were included in every episode. The musical variety ranged over a number of genres released from the 1960s onward. While these numbers were usually performed onstage in the context of a concert at The P*lace, they were also occasionally used to illustrate a character's internal monologue or conflict. The vocal responsibilities were shared by all five (or six) singers; every cast member was given an opportunity to perform featured or solo songs throughout the course of the season.

Each episode consisted of one original number and generally five previously recorded songs by recognized artists. Artists and songs ranged from the 1950s to the 1990s. The original songs were written by the hired composers of the show. Depending on the year those composers were Michael Cruz, Andrew R. Powell, Craig Sharmat, and others.

Due to the age of both the performers and the target demographic, lyrics with objectionable content were generally edited out of the songs and replaced with more appropriate language such as "Jump Around" by House of Pain and "Hip Hop Hooray" by Naughty by Nature. However, occasionally songs were performed as written, slightly objectionable lyrics intact. Examples of uncensored songs that were presented on the series include "Dancing with Myself" by Billy Idol ("The Storybook House" episode, 1990), "Seven Wonders" by Fleetwood Mac (1988), "Prove Your Love" by Taylor Dayne (although this had a slight edit on the chorus as "I wanna see your body dance with mine"), and "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson (1990).

Production and broadcast history

The original pilot for the show was produced in 1983 and shopped to several networks by creators Thomas W. Lynch and Gary Biller.

The show was not picked up by a major network, but, distributed by MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television, began a syndicated run on September 1, 1984. The original four cast members, Stacy Ferguson, Marta Marrero, Renee Sands, and Jerry Sharell, were joined by Rahsaan Patterson and a company of five backup dancers. Sharell left after the first season, in part over unhappiness with the show's often bizarre and outlandish storylines.

As with most syndicated productions its scheduling was based on local stations rather than being offered universally at one time across the country. Some stations aired it on a weekday near prime time, while others had it as a weekend-only offering that could air as early as 6:30 a.m. Due to its overall unsettled schedule, ratings were never truly steady, and the show was cancelled on December 26, 1985. Reruns aired on CBN (now Freeform) from 1985 to 1986.

It was due to the positive ratings from the CBN reruns that in summer 1986, the show was given a second chance when the Disney Channel acquired the rights to it. It resumed production with the same cast, (minus Sharell) and new episodes began airing on November 3, 1986. Disney's buyout package also included the entire syndicated run, and as Disney Channel has never carried traditional commercial breaks, the episodes were re-edited to remove any advertising-related continuity to become continuous episodes, which was also advantageous to later home video releases. Its main timeslot on the Disney Channel was 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT/2 p.m. PT; though still somewhat disadvantageous, the program now had a steady timeslot, along with little to no ratings pressure, as Disney Channel was then offered as a premium add-on service which paid little attention to program ratings.

After the sixth season (1989) was filmed, the show was put on hiatus for a year, during which time most of the cast moved on to other projects or aged out of the program. The only two who were invited to return in 1991 when it resumed production were Kenny Ford and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Budget cuts and the expiration of Disney's output agreement with MGM prompted another hiatus in 1993, leading to the show's end, after Season 9's ten episodes completed production. The last episode aired on January 9, 1994. The show continued to be shown in reruns on the Disney Channel until May 30, 1996, and remains the network's longest-running program.

Originally taped at Hollywood Center Studios, later seasons were produced at Sunset Gower Studios.

Producers

Throughout its history, other producers and production companies were associated with the show, including K-tel Entertainment, Lynch-Biller Productions (later Lynch Entertainment; now The Tom Lynch Company), RHI Entertainment, and MGM Television (a.k.a. MGM-Pathé). Hal Roach Studios/Qintex, the studio responsible for the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short films series of the 1930s, was also involved with it. (Qintex was also responsible for the distribution of 1989 roller derby series RollerGames.)

The show essentially launched the careers of creators and producers Gary Biller and Thomas W. Lynch, who would go on to create The Secret World of Alex Mack and Romeo! (for Nickelodeon) among many other shows, leading the New York Times to call him "the David E. Kelley of 'tween TV". Prior to it, Lynch and Biller created and produced a long-running music video series for TBS, Night Tracks.

Merchandise

Kids Incorporated: The Beginning and other videos

The 1983 pilot was recorded in August 1983 but never shown on television; however, in 1985, it was released on Beta and VHS as Kids Incorporated: The Beginning. In order to include Rahsaan Patterson, who joined the show after the pilot was shot, a new storyline was edited into the film. His character, Kid, was depicted as the new kid in town, who was very shy and afraid to audition for the group. He also revealed the origins of them. The "Kid" scenes were filmed in 1985, and edited in, with the 1983 footage of the rest of the cast or in with it.

Two additional videos were released in 1985, entitled ChartBusters and The Best of Kids Incorporated. While the show was still in syndication, four albums were also released, titled

  • Kids Incorporated (1983)
  • Kids Incorporated (1984)
  • Kids Incorporated: The Chart Hits (1985)
  • Kids Incorporated: New Attitude (1985)

At least two of these achieved platinum sales status. No further ones were released when the show moved to the Disney Channel because the company that produced them, K-Tel Records, filed for bankruptcy at around the same time.

International versions

Japan

An original Japanese adaptation of the show, titled StarS, ran from 1999 to 2001. Between 13 and 26 episodes were filmed in each of its three seasons. A second version, StarS2, was scheduled to premiere on MBS in the summer of 2007. Both were produced by TOEI and co-produced by Sunrise Studios.

In addition, the American version, dubbed into Japanese, was shown on the MBS network until 2001.

New Zealand

The original New Zealand version of the show, High Life, began production in 1990. It ran periodically for five seasons, broadcasting six episodes per year, until 1995, when TVNZ-2 cancelled it.

Canada

The Rockets (aired on CKY Television in 1987, 1989 and 1991) is sort of a Canadian Kids Incorporated.

References

  1. Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. pp. 295, 581. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.
  2. Coghlan, Tom; Pitel, Laura; Gray, Sadie. "Singer Fergie on giving up gangs and drugs". The Times. London. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  3. "Fergie Q&A: Billboard's Woman of the Year 2010". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  4. "Kids Incorporated, where are they now?". New York Post. October 14, 2009. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  5. "Mario Lopez: Biography". People. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  6. "Bizarre Cover Songs: Kids Incorporated, "Don't Give Up"". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  7. Aurthur, Kate (December 24, 2006). "Enthusiasm that is almost like a kid's". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 3, 2011.

External links

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