PBS KIDS' ODD SQUAD gets a premiere date - Ready to Get Odd? #PBSam

Thursday, May 15 2014 15:55

PBS KIDS' ODD SQUAD gets a premiere date - Ready to Get Odd? #PBSam

Written by James Zahn

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PBS KIDS' ODD SQUAD gets a premiere date - Ready to Get Odd? #PBSam

PBS KIDS VIP As I wrap-up my time here in San Francisco, reporting back from the PBS Annual Meeting, I'm mulling over a gigantic, and impressive slate of programming for the year ahead (and beyond) from both PBS KIDS and For Grownups. While there will be much to discuss in the months ahead, the star of the show on the PBS KIDS front is ODD SQUAD, the new, live-action series for kids that I first posted about here on THE ROCK FATHER back in January. Here at the meeting, it was confirmed that ODD SQUAD will premiere on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 on PBS KIDS with a special one-hour broadcast of two back-to-back episodes that follow the adventures of two young government agents, Olive and Otto, who use math skills and collaboration to investigate weird and unusual phenomena.

“We are excited to bring a new math show to the PBS KIDS line-up this November, particularly at a time when STEM education is proving to be so important. Research shows that kids perform better when exposed early to math concepts, and ODD SQUAD introduces these topics in a fun and engaging way. And as viewers join Olive and Otto on their extraordinary adventures, they will also learn the importance of working together, communication and perseverance — skills that are integral to problem-solving and success in school and in life.”Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Programming, PBS.

In each episode of ODD SQUAD, the young agents use math to put things right when oddness strikes. Olive and Otto solve cases ranging from disappearing zeroes to runaway dinosaurs, and the agents often find additional clues in the “Mathroom,” a futuristic space that is just a teleport away.

ODD SQUAD is created by Tim McKeon (The Electric Company, Fosterʼs Home for Imaginary Friends, Adventure Time) and Adam Peltzman (The Electric Company, The Backyardigans, Wallykazam!) and produced by The Fred Rogers Company and Sinking Ship Entertainment. It is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the U.S. Department of Education through the CPB-PBS Ready To Learn Initiative, a program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families.

Stay tuned for more ODD SQUAD news as I have it, right here on THE ROCK FATHER.

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James Zahn

James Zahn is best-known as The Rock Father™, a media personality, commentator, adventurer and raconteur. He is the Owner, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of THE ROCK FATHER™ Magazine. In January, 2019, after nearly a decade of publishing The Rock Father™ Magazine, he joined Adventure Media and Events as Senior Editor of The Toy Book—the leading trade publication for the toy industry since 1984, as well as The Pop Insider — a destination for all things pop culture, and The Toy Insider — the leading consumer guide for toys and games. He is also editor of The Toy Report, a weekly newsletter published by The Toy Book each Thursday. Zahn has over 27 years of experience in the entertainment, retail and publishing industries.

He regularly serves as a Brand Ambassador and spokesperson for several Globally-recognized pop culture and lifestyle brands in addition to consulting for a number of toy manufacturers.

Creatively, James has directed/edited music videos, lyric videos, and album trailers for bands such as FEAR FACTORY, has appeared as an actor in feature films and commercials, written comic books, and performed in bands. He currently serves as an artist manager and video director for PRODUCT OF HATE, whose debut album was released by Napalm Records in 2016, distributed by ADA/Warner Music in the U.S. with Universal Music handling global. A new album has been completed and is set for release this year.

Zahn and/or his work have been featured in/on CNN, NBC, ABC, WGN, CBS, GCTN, G4, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes, MarketWatch, Reuters, BusinessWire, Fangoria, Starlog and more. He's appeared as a music expert on CNN's AC360 alongside Anderson Cooper, and has been interviewed by Larry King. In the past he served as a writer for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family and PBS KIDS, penned articles for Sprout and PopSugar, and was a contributor to Chicago Parent.

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