Tot TV Watch

During the month of March, Noggin will feature new literacy-based programming to support its “Get Ready to Read” national literacy campaign. The network will be running five new episodes of Pinky Dinky Doo, plus new “Story Time” and PSA segments featuring Isaiah Washington and Cedric the Entertainer. The PSA segments, which begin airing on March 5th, will each direct viewers to www.noggin.com/read, where they can click to generate free books to those in need through Noggin’s partnership with First Book.

Noggin.com will also add several new reading games and activities on March 2nd. The site will feature the Pinky Dinky Doo “Great Big Fancy Word” game, a new Moose and Zee doodlepad activity, a 64 Zoo Lane storymaker, and a “Blue’s Clues Gold Challenge” game. In addition, they will add several new printables including “The Tortoise and the Hare” story.

The premiere week schedule for Pinky Dinky Doo is as follows:

Monday, March 26 (3:00 p.m., ET)
- “Tyler Dinky Doo and the Legend of Twigfoot” - Tyler doesn’t want to bathe because he won’t wash off his temporary tattoo. Pinky tells a story about how Tyler got so dirty playing in Smackdab Park, that when a walnut fell in his hair, a tree sprouted up, potatoes grew from his ears and mushrooms popped up on his feet. When Tyler finally agrees to a bath, he can’t fit back into the apartment because the tree on his head is too big. Podcast of “Tyler Dinky Doo and the Legend of Twigfoot” (3/26)
- “Pinky and the Big Rainy Day” - It’s raining and Tyler is disappointed that his outdoor concert is cancelled, so Pinky tells him a tale about a day in Great Big City when it literally rained cats and dogs. Before long, Pinky’s street is swarming with meowing and barking animals. It gets so loud that everybody in the neighborhood has to cover their ears until the cats start meowing in harmony to a song that comes on the radio. Podcast of “Pinky and the Big Rainy Day” (3/30)

Tuesday, March 27 (3:00 p.m., ET)
- “Pinky Dinky Doo and the Pizza Artist” - Tyler is drawing a picture of Mommy, but has trouble getting her face just right. Pinky tells him how she accompanied Monsieur Guinea Pig to the museum to hang his painting and they met Pappy Pepperoni, who asked Guinea Pig to paint his portrait. When Monsieur Guinea Pig has trouble getting Pappy’s face just right, Pinky has Pappy hold a pizza in front of his face.
- “Pinky Dinky Doo and the Party Animals” - Tyler can’t sleep because he left his stuffed elephant at school, so Pinky tells him a story about how she woke up in the middle of the night to stuffed animal party in her living room. Sir Pedro the penguin explains that the party is for Kingsley, the dinosaur. When Kingsley gets stuck at the toy store and can’t make it to his own party, Pinky has to think big.

Wednesday, March 28 (3:00 p.m., ET)
- “Tyler’s Tall O’Meter” - Tyler wants to be bigger, so tells him a story of about measuring herself on her Tall O’ Meter. When the device said she hadn’t grown, she decides to be gargantuan and sets the machine to “super-speedy,” growing so tall that she’s high in the sky and can’t fit ack inside her bedroom. Pinky asks for a little help from her little brother to get back down to her regular “dinky” size.
- “Pinky Dinky Doo and the Cloud People” - As Tyler hides from noisy thunder, Pinky tells him a story to make him feel safe. Pinky and Mr. Guinea Pig watch clouds at the park when they hear loud booming thunder. Pinky uses her peddle-powered storm-chasing airplane to investigate, and discovers the thunder is a brother and sister cloud fighting over who will carry the rain.

Thursday, March 29 (3:00 p.m., ET)
- “Tyler Dinky Doo’s Sporting News” - Tyler isn’t happy about being on the soccer team, so Pinky tells a story about Great Big Soccer City, where everyone, except Pinky, loves soccer. Pinky just wants to play her tuba, but after much prodding, attempts and kicks the ball in the wrong goal! Pinky puts on such a rousing tuba performance from the sidelines,that her friends decide to join her and rest during every game.
- “Dragon Needs a Sippy Cup” - Tyler is upset he has to use a cup with a lid, so Pinky tells him a tale to make him feel better. Pinky and Mr. Guinea Pig visit King Spillsalot so they can help him figure out why his castle keeps shaking. They check the castle’s cellar and discover a purple dragon who has been spilling his drinks, too. Every time the dragon spills, he stomps up and down, shaking the castle.

Friday, March 30 (3:00 p.m., ET)
- “Tyler Dinky Doo and the Pirate Crew” - Tyler doesn’t want to clean his messy room, and Pinky tells him a tale to inspire him. Pinky and Tyler are picked up by a floating pirate ship and brought to the chronically messy Pirate King to clean his ship. Tyler isn’t happy, but steps up to the job when a strong wind blows the sails away and nobody can find the extra set in all of the mess.
- “Pinky Dinky Doo and the Missing Dinosaurs” - Tyler can’t sleep when he hears noises, so Pinky tells him a story to calm his fears. Pinky, Tyler, and Mr. Guinea Pig come upon the Museum of Really Old Stuff and hear strange noises. They soon find that the museum’s dinosaurs have disappeared. The group locates the creatures playing rock music behind the museum, since they cannot practice inside the building.

Noggin, Get Ready to Read, Pinky Dinky Doo, PSA, Story Time, Isaiah Washington, Cedric the Entertainer, First Book