Higglytown Heroes

Higglytown Heroes is an American children's television series currently airing on the Disney Junior (formerly Playhouse Disney) portion of the Disney Channel, or, on some cable networks, the Playhouse Disney channel. The theme song of the show, Here in Higglytown, is performed by They Might Be Giants, which was also released on their second children's album Here Come the ABCs. Higglytown Heroes returned to Disney Junior on its cable and satellite channel replacing SOAPnet on March 23, 2012.

Higglytown Heroes tells the story of four young characters (Eubie, Wayne, Twinkle & Kip) and their red squirrel friend (Fran). Along the way, whose person and environment are modeled on Matryoshka nesting dolls, explore their city and the people in it.

Higglytown heroes have ranged from firefighters to dentists to snow plow operators. Voice actors for these Higglytown heroes are frequently guest celebrities. The series encourages involvement in the community, and means to inspire children to consider the importance of individuals who contribute to the world and make it a better place. The show also teaches kids about jobs and may influence them about what they want to be when they grow up.

Hero Song
The lyrics to the first "Hero" song were written by Kent Redeker, one of the show's executive producers. The song was composed and produced by Mark Harrison, the show's senior songwriter.

Each episode contains two songs. An initial "dilemma" song which sets up the "problem" which needs to be solved followed by the "hero" song which introduces the hero who solves the problem, some of the heroes later appear in later episodes and renamed to Mr, Ms or Miss or Mrs (depending on their gender) like the Gardener Hero who first appeared at the Episode "Flower Power" who later got renamed to Mr Gardener in the episode "Look Who's Squawking" and Mr.Electrican who first appeared in "Electric Evening" later appeared in later episodes like "A Valentine For Ms Fern".

While every hero song has the same basic melody as the initial hero song written by Harrison, he performed and produced each song with different lyrics and instrumentation to fit the episode's specific hero.

Brad Mossman, the other principal songwriter, composed lyrics and music for a number of dilemma songs in many episodes as well.

Season 1
"Up A Tree"/"Missing Grandpop"
 * Donald Faison - Firefighter Hero
 * Kathie Lee Gifford - Mail Carrier Hero
 * Jim Ward - Grandpop Krank

"Twinkle Tooth"/"Flower Power"
 * Camryn Manheim - Handy Plumber Hero
 * Steven Weber - Gardener Hero

"First Snow"/"Snow Dazed"
 * Betty White - Grandmama
 * Katey Sagal - Policewoman Hero

"Flappy's Not Happy"/"Electric Evening"
 * Frances Conroy - Veterinarian Hero
 * Lance Bass - Electrician Hero aka Mr. Daniel
 * Frank Welker - Flappy

"All Tire'd Out"/"Great Un-Expectations"
 * John Michael Higgins - Tow Truck Driver Hero
 * Tim Curry - Librarian Hero

"Smooth Operator"/"Stinky Situation"
 * Cyndi Lauper - Telephone Operator Hero
 * Jim Wise - Sanitation Worker Hero

"Weather or Not"/"Green in the Gills"
 * Susan Lucci - Weathergirl Hero
 * Miguel Sandoval - Painter Hero

"Halloween Heroes" (aka "Higgly Halloween")
 * Travis Tritt - Farmer Hero

"Smells Like a Mystery"/"Ship Ahoy!"
 * Katey Sagal - Police Officer hero
 * Ed McMahon - Tug Boat Captain Hero

"Soup With Stars"/"The Happy Friendly Sparkly Toast Club"
 * Smokey Robinson - Grocery Clerk Hero
 * Ricki Lake - Carpenter Hero (Alice)

"Catch Up With Ketchup"/"Star Struck"
 * Stuart Pankin - Bus Driver Hero
 * Wally Kurth - The Eye Doctor Hero

"Twinkle's Wish"
 * John Astin - Santa Claus
 * Sean Astin - Pix the Elf

"Twinkle's Masterpiece"/"The Egg-cellent Adventure"
 * Sharon Stone - Nicki the Blind Art Teacher
 * Anne Heche - Gloria the Waitress
 * Dee Bradley Baker - Egg Farmer Hero

"Wayne's Ripping Adventure"/"Meet Eubie's Cousin"
 * Matt Cavenaugh - Tailor Hero
 * Raven-Symoné - Playground Monitor Hero
 * Jesse Corti - Jax

"Say What?"/"Higgly Harmonies"
 * Nathalia Hencker - Translator Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Miss Fern
 * David Naughton - Orchestra Conductor Hero

"Wayne's Good Guess"/"Wayne's 100 Special Somethings"
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Miss Fern
 * Cicely Tyson - Great Aunt Shirley

"Patty Cake"/"Havin' A Ball"
 * Rocco DiSpirito - Baker Hero
 * Steve Harris - Coach Hero

"Bright Sights, Big City"/"Kip's Shadow"
 * Marissa Jaret Winokur - Taxi Driver Hero
 * Carlos Alazraqui - Shelter Worker Hero
 * Jesse David Corti - Jax

"Fran Takes a Hike"/"Mystery at Kip's House"
 * Irene Bedard - Forest Ranger Hero
 * Henry Dittman - Detective Hero

"Kip Joins the Circus"/"Baby Boom"
 * Donald Faison - Firefighter Hero
 * Erik Estrada - Ambulance Driver/Paramedic Hero
 * Kevin Michael Richardson - Uncle Lemno
 * Rob Paulsen - Barber
 * Mindy Sterling - Mrs Barber

"Twinkle's Favorite Author"/"Don't Fence Me In"
 * Diedrich Bader - Crane Operator Hero
 * Anne Heche - Gloria the Waitress
 * Masasa Moyo - Judge Hero

"Higgly Hoedown"/"Eubie's Turbo Sled"
 * Trace Adkins - Cowboy Hero
 * Serena Williams - Snow Plow Driver Hero

"Kip's Dad Gets a Strike"/"A Really Hot Day"
 * Thomas F. Wilson - Truck Driver Hero
 * Phil LaMarr - Lifeguard Hero

"Kip's Sweet Tooth"/"Wayne's Lollipop"
 * Gwendoline Yeo - Dentist Hero
 * Rob Paulsen - Barber Hero

"Eubie's Pink Dots"/"Two Bees or Not Two Bees"
 * Naomi Judd - School Nurse Hero
 * Kate Pierson - Beekeeper Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama

"Higgly Frog Day"/"Eubie's Elly-Fantastic Adventure"
 * Maggie Wheeler - Street Sweeper Hero
 * Kevin Michael Richardson - Uncle Lemmo
 * Alyson Reed - Zookeeper Hero

Season 2
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Fish"/"All the Wrong Moves"
 * Jesse Corti - Submarine Captain Hero
 * Debbie Allen - Dance Instructor Hero

"Kip Gets Swing Fever"/"Wayne's Pieces of Gold"
 * Gregory Jbara - Tree Trimmer Hero
 * Mo Collins - Science Fair Judge
 * Simon Templeman - Banker Hero

"All Warm Inside"/"Calling All Ducks"
 * Philip Anthony-Rodriguez - Furnace Repairman Hero
 * Jentle Phoenix - Environmentalist Hero

"A Totally Secret Valentine"/"A Valentine for Miss Fern"
 * Dee Bradley Baker - Pizza Guy
 * Lance Bass - Mr. Electrician
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Miss Fern

"Cry Baby Pookie"/"Wait for Me"
 * Rain Pryor - Pediatrician Hero
 * Wally Wingert - Waiter Hero

"Balloon-a-Palooza"/"Wayne's Day Out"
 * Michael T. Weiss - Mountain Rescue Squad Hero
 * Katey Sagal - Police Woman Hero
 * Matthew St. Patrick - Police Man Hero
 * Cicely Tyson - Great Aunt Shirley

"The Fran in the Moon"
 * Jane Kaczmarek - Astronaut Hero

"Me and My Shadow"/"Out to Sea"
 * Jorge Garcia - Dog Trainer Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern
 * Debi Mae West - Lighthouse Keeper Hero

"Don't Wayne on My Parade"/"Twinkle's Terrific Twirl"
 * Nicole Parker - Window Washer Hero
 * Pete Siragusa - Ice Resurfacer Hero

"Wayne's Big, Big Wish"/"Dirigible Day"
 * Mo Collins - Paleontologist Hero
 * Roberto Alcaraz - Air Traffic Controller Hero

"The Legend of Higgsquatch"
 * Kathy Najimy - Photographer Hero
 * Tim Curry - Higgsquatch

"Eubie's Big Boat Float"/"A Slippery Situation"
 * Anne Heche - Gloria the Waitress
 * Matthew Kaminsky - Drawbridge Operator Hero
 * David Jolliffe - Radiographer Hero
 * Wayne Brady - Doctor

"Kip's Rocket Rescue"/"Let's Get Moving"
 * Henry Winkler - Printer Hero
 * Neil Kaplan - Mover Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama

"Corn to Be Wild"/"Overnight Moose"
 * Joey Fatone - Bulldozer Operator Hero
 * Jessica Walter - Motel Manager Hero

"Higgly Island"
 * Wilmer Valderrama - Helicopter Pilot Hero

"Shear Luck"/"Big Night Out"
 * Gayla Goehl - Sheep Shearer Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama
 * Alanna Ubach - Babysitter Hero

"Calling All Cars"/"Amazing Museum"
 * Jonathan Adams - Road Worker Hero
 * Aisha Tyler - Museum Curator Hero

"Frozen Fish Follies"/"Look Who's Squawking" "Wayne's Day to Shine"/"Wayne Listens Up"
 * Dave Wittenberg - Sled Dog Musher
 * Stephnie Weir - Animal Control Officer Hero
 * Jess Harnell - Laundry Worker Hero
 * Wayne Brady - Doctor Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern

"A Hoppin' Poppin' Problem"/"Hay Hay Hay!!"
 * Lesley Boone - Mechanic Hero, Bessy the Cow, Farmer Lulu

Season 3
"Happy Campers"/"All Washed Out"
 * Meghan Strange - Camp Counselor Hero
 * Bill Farmer - Janitor Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern

"Hat's All Folks"/"Hop Hop Hooray"
 * Billy Vera - Captain Hero
 * Charlie Schlatter - Receptionist Hero

"Shuffleboard Buddies"/"All Mapped Out"
 * Debi Mae West - Physical Therapist Hero
 * David Jeremiah- Mapmaker Hero

"12-Pie Abe"/"The Day the Diner Stood Still"
 * Catero Colbert - Camel Rider
 * Tom Kenny - Reporter Hero
 * Anne Heche - Gloria the Waitress

"Saturday Night Higgly"/"Monster Sandwiches"
 * Dee Bradley Baker, Mindy Sterling, & Alanna Ubach - Musician Heroes
 * Jim Wise - Tour Guide Hero

"The Big Pink Elephant Sale"/"Higglies on Horseback"
 * Jeff Bennett - Auctioneer Hero
 * Michael T. Weiss - Veterinarian Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern

"Buki-Buki Boo-Boo"/"Signs of Spring"
 * Julianne Grossman - Roofer Hero
 * Henry Dittman - Sign Language Interpreter Hero

"Easy to Get Sneezy"/"Unlock the Magic"
 * Jon Curry - Allergist Hero
 * J. Grant Albrecht - Locksmith Hero

"Wayne's Cycle Recycle"/"Wayne's Wet Pet"
 * J. P. Manoux - Bike Repairman Hero
 * Camryn Manheim - Plumber Hero

"X Marks the Spot"/"Eubie's View"
 * Scott McShane - Bridge Builder Hero
 * Lesley Boone - Dump Truck Driver Hero

"Whing-A-Ding Whirly Box"/"Windy Watchers"
 * Jo Anne Worley - Customer Service Clerk Hero
 * Henry Dittman - Higglytown Coast Guard Hero

"Choo-Choo Zucchini"/"Something Ducky Going On"
 * John O'Hurley - Freight Train Engineer Hero
 * Bobby Holiday - House Painter Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama

"Fripp's Flip-Flap Flop"/"Say Cheese"
 * Kevin Michael Richardson - Uncle Lemmo the Short-Order Cook Hero
 * Charlie Janasz - Photographer Hero

"Canyon Capers"/"High-Country Hiccups"
 * Wally Wingert - Hector the Prospector Hero
 * Kimberly Brooks - Ski Patrol Hero

"Calling All Heroes"
 * Jeffrey Tambor - Radio Announcer

"Happy Flappy Birthday"/"The Cuckoo County Caw-Caw Contest"
 * Wes Brown - Phone Repairman Hero
 * Leanza Cornett - Airplane Pilot Hero

" Little Big Fish "/"Good Sports"
 * Debra Wilson Skelton - Marine Biologist Hero
 * Chris Carmack - Referee Hero

"'Tis the Season to be Snowy"/"Bingo Bongos"
 * Joseph Gian - Stan the Bricklayer Hero
 * They Might Be Giants - The Supertasters
 * Shawn King - Usher Hero

"Wayne's Toasty Invention"/"Spell it Safe"
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern
 * Ruth Williamson - Lunch Lady Hero
 * Anna Maria Perez de Tagle - Shelby the Safety Patrol Hero

Related studies

 * Victor C. Strasburger and Edward Donnerstein, 1999. “Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Issues and Solutions,” Pediatrics, volume 103, number 1: pp. 129–139: Open Access Copy