Wednesday, June 09, 2021

The Natural History Museums of LA County and Nickelodeon Celebrate World Oceans Day with Launch of Brand-new 'Science Of SpongeBob' Educational Program

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County and Nickelodeon Celebrate World Oceans Day with Launch of Brand-new “Science Of SpongeBob” Educational Program

Initiative Brings Together Scientists and the Undersea World of Bikini Bottom to Encourage Marine Science Exploration


LOS ANGELES, CA (June 8, 2021)—In honor of World Oceans Day, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) and Nickelodeon will today launch “Science of SpongeBob,” a new initiative based on the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants animated series that will introduce kids and families to the science that inspired the undersea world of Bikini Bottom and its beloved inhabitants. With the help of Natural History Museum (NHM) experts, audiences will learn about a variety of scientific disciplines, including marine biology, paleontology, ichthyology, and mammalogy, as well as the scientific discovery process that contributed to the creation and development of SpongeBob, which has reigned as the number one animated series on television in the US for the last 18 years. Dynamic videos, activities and live programs with NHM scientists and educators will kick off today at NHM.ORG/spongebob.

Activities include: Creating an ocean journal; making a sea turtle puppet; creating a ocean costume, and going on a storm drain walk.


“We are thrilled to be working with Nickelodeon again on a program that demonstrates the excitement of scientific research and discovery, as well as the range of career pathways available in Museum Science,” said Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County. “As we continue to encourage scientific exploration and share our research and collections, we hope that kids and families are inspired to take responsibility for the care of our natural world.”

NHMLAC has collaborated with Nickelodeon to create eight videos featuring scientists from NHM’s Research and Collections department that feature clips from episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants that demonstrate how science has been incorporated into the beloved TV show, its characters and storylines. In addition to providing information on the underwater ecosystems that comprise the world of Bikini Bottom by exploring various topics, the videos will feature behind-the-scenes looks at NHM’s collections, allowing access to many items rarely seen by the public. Scientists will also share some tips for overcoming ocean fears, how to observe marine life, and break down misconceptions about marine science. Plus, viewers can learn about the real-life ocean animals that SpongeBob and the citizens of Bikini Bottom are based on, the small steps individuals can take to protect the oceans, how scientists create unique species names, the different types of ocean habitats, deep sea dangers, prehistoric Bikini Bottom, silly sea facts, and more.


SpongeBob SquarePants has entertained and educated audiences about marine life for more than 20 years, and we are so excited to partner with NHMLAC to honor the legacy of series creator Stephen Hillenburg through ‘Science of SpongeBob,’ which brings the characters and world of Bikini Bottom to life with engaging, accessible and informative content,” said David Bruson, Director, Public Affairs, Nickelodeon. 

A video featuring Dr. Regina Wetzer, Director of NHM’s Marine Biodiversity Center, and Kathy Omura, Collections Manager of NHM’s Marine Biodiversity Center, explains how scientists name new species and provides two examples, a type of sea star named after Patrick Star and a crustacean named after the microplastics found in its stomach. Viewers will also learn about whale poop and its beneficial impact on the marine ecosystem with Dr. Jorge Velez-Juarbe, Associate Curator of Mammalogy (Marine Mammals); the details of sea snail teeth with Dr. Jann Vendetti, Associate Curator of Malacology; and what SpongeBob SquarePants, Squidward Tentacles and Patrick Star's distant relatives might have looked like with Dr. Austin Hendy, Assistant Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology.

Visitors can also participate in fun at-home activities, including steps to create an ocean diorama, start an ocean journal, make a sea turtle puppet, and more. In July, additional DIY activities developed by NHM’s 2021 Marine Science Interns will help audiences continue their at-home exploration with simple step-by-step activities and projects.

Audiences can also join virtual events in June and July with NHM’s experts and educators for some deep dives into the sea. From home, viewers can explore the ocean through a series of events looking at easy-to-access environments like tidepools, NHM’s Mobile Museums and so much more.

Current Programming Schedule

Tuesday, June 8 at 11 am
Dive into the Science of SpongeBob: Ocean Plastics and the Future of Bikini Bottom

Welcome to the Science of SpongeBob! All month long, join NHMLAC researchers, educators, and special guests as we dive into ocean learning with topics exploring the real species behind the show's Bikini Bottom characters, in partnership with Nickelodeon. To celebrate World Oceans Day, we're kicking things off with Dr. Britta Baechler, Senior Manager of Ocean Plastics Research at Ocean Conservancy, as she helps us break down ocean plastics and microplastics, the impact these have on marine life, and what kids and grown ups can do to protect our oceans. Learn more here.

Thursday, June 10 at 11 am 
Dive into the Science of SpongeBob: Get to Know Gary the Sea Snail!

Join Dr. Jann Vendetti, NHM's Associate Curator of Malacology, and Museum Educator Steven Mendoza to explore the fascinating world of snails! Uncover fact and fiction about the real life species behind SpongeBob's beloved pet sea snail, Gary, and discover the different ways these animals use their slime, teeth and shell for everyday survival. Learn more here.

Tuesday, June 15 at 11 am 
Dive into the Science of SpongeBob: All About Pearl

Explore the mighty world of whales with Dr. Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NHM's Associate Curator of Mammalogy, and Museum Educator Diana Sanchez! From its large teeth and unique skull shape to its use of echolocation, learn how the real species of sperm whale inspired the character of Pearl. Learn more here.

Thursday, June 17 at 11 am 
Dive into the Science of SpongeBob: Swimmin’ with the Fishes

Discover some of the spectacularly strange and surprising fishes that swim beneath the ocean's surface--and not just in Bikini Bottom! Join Dr. Bill Ludt, Assistant Curator of Ichthyology at NHM, and Museum Educator Michelle Vanegas as they tackle some fascinating fish facts and explore the various species featured in the SpongeBob universe. Learn more here.

Visit NHM.ORG/spongebob for full information regarding additional virtual events through July. For videos or images, please contact Sally Marquez, smarquez@nhm.org.

Scientist Bios

Dr. Britta Baechler, Senior Manager of Ocean Plastics Research, Ocean Conservancy

Dr. Britta Baechler is Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Manager of Ocean Plastics Research. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology at Lewis & Clark College and PhD in Environmental Science at Portland State University, both located in Portland, Oregon. She has worked in numerous fisheries and marine conservation roles, including as a shellfish fishery manager in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands region of Alaska, and as the Marine Protected Area Coordinator in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Her broad interests at the intersections of plastic pollution, fisheries, and fishing communities have been longstanding; as such, Britta’s recent doctoral work focused on determining the ecological and social dimensions of microplastics in Pacific Northwest shellfish. In her role with Ocean Conservancy, Britta is working to develop a policy-relevant ocean plastics research agenda and contribute new insights to the growing body of scientific literature on ocean plastics.

Dr. Austin Hendy, Assistant Curator, Invertebrate Paleontology

Austin Hendy is NHM’s Assistant Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology. After obtaining his doctorate at the University of Cincinnati, Austin was a post-doctoral fellow at Yale University, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution, and Florida Museum of Natural History. An author on numerous scientific papers, he has conducted research in many parts of the world, but especially tropical South America. There he studies the biodiversity, biogeography and paleoecology of Cenozoic mollusc faunas. He is also interested in bioinformatics and the application of natural museum specimens and data for K-12 education. 

Dr. Bill Ludt, Assistant Curator, Ichthyology

Dr. Bill Ludt joined NHM as Assistant Curator of Ichthyology in 2019. Prior to that he was the first Collette Postdoctoral Fellow in Systematic Ichthyology at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. He holds a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, a M.S. from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.S. from the University of Arizona. Bill's research aims to understand how speciation and evolution occur within the largest group of vertebrates – fishes. To accomplish this, he uses a multifaceted approach, applying a variety of methods across recent and ancient time scales. Central to his research are museum specimens and the data associated with them, which he uses to obtain a diversity of information from entire genomes to digital CT scans. 

Kathy Omura, Collections Manager, Marine Biodiversity Center

Kathy was the first person to join the NHM Marine Biodiversity Center when it opened in 2000. She earned a B.S. in Wildlife Management from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and came to the Natural History Museum with 13 years of marine invertebrate taxonomy experience.

Dean Pentcheff, Project Coordinator, DISCO

Dean Pentcheff coordinates NHM’s Diversity Initiative for the Southern California Ocean (DISCO). Prior to that, he was a co-founder and coordinator of NHM’s BioSCAN survey of urban-to-non-urban arthropod biodiversity. He has a background in bioinformatics related to taxonomy and specimen collections and, prior to that, research experience in marine biomechanics focusing on animal-fluid interactions.

Dr. Jorge Velez-Juarbe, Associate Curator, Mammalogy (Marine Mammals)

Jorge Velez-Juarbe holds a Ph.D. from Howard University, where he studied the morphology, systematics, and paleobiology of fossil sirenians and cetaceans. After receiving his doctorate in 2012, Dr. Velez-Juarbe held Post-Doctoral Associate positions at the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, and at California State University Fullerton before being hired as Assistant Curator of Marine Mammals at NHM.  Dr. Velez-Juarbe's appointment involves curatorial responsibility for both our fossil and extant marine mammal collections.

Dr. Jann Vendetti, Twila Bratcher Chair in Malacological Research and Associate Curator, Malacology

Jann Vendetti is NHM’s Associate Curator of Malacology (Mollusks) and Twila Bratcher Chair in Malacological Research. She is a founding member of the Urban Nature Research Center. She is interested in the natural history, evolution, systematics, and conservation of marine and terrestrial snails—an extremely diverse group of organisms. Jann joined the museum in 2014 and has focused on collections-based research and the Snails and slugs Living in Metropolitan Environments (SLIME) project, championing the important role of community science to understanding urban-living biodiversity.

Dr. Regina Wetzer, Curator and Director, Marine Biodiversity Center

Dr. Wetzer earned her PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of South Carolina. She had been with NHM in the mid-'80s and returned in 1999. Since 2003 she has been a Research Scientist and Director of NHM’s Marine Biodiversity Center. Her research focuses on crustacean systematics and isopod phylogeny, and she has a special fondness for sphaeromatid isopods. Dr. Wetzer's research has taken her all over the world, including Africa, Mongolia, the South Pacific, South America, and Australia.

The "Science of SpongeBob" exhibit follows the success of NHMLAC and Nickelodeon's "Science of Slime" exhibit in 2020.

Watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run & Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years on Paramount+!

About SpongeBob SquarePants

Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the number-one animated series on TV for the last 18 years, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in ViacomCBS Networks International history, seen in more than 170 countries and territories, translated in 30+ languages, and averaging more than 100 million total viewers every month. SpongeBob SquarePants was created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, CA. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends. 

About the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) include the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall. They operate under the collective vision to inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. The museums hold one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—more than 35 million objects. Using these collections for groundbreaking scientific and historical research, the museums also incorporate them into on- and offsite nature and culture exploration in L.A. neighborhoods, and a slate of community science programs—creating indoor-outdoor visitor experiences that explore the past, present, and future. Visit NHMLAC.ORG for adventure, education, and entertainment opportunities.

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 42nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).


Originally published: June 09, 2021 at 01:05 BST.

H/T: NBC News 4 Los Angeles; Additional source: Larchmont Buzz.

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The Meaning of Pride ft. Drag Queen Nina West 🏳️‍🌈 (Pride Song) | Nickelodeon

The Meaning of Pride ft. Drag Queen Nina West 🏳️‍🌈 (Pride Song) | Nickelodeon


Drag queen Nina West performs an original song about the meaning of the rainbow Pride flag. June is Pride Month, so let's celebrate by lifting up voices in the LGBTQIA+ community!

Performer Nina West, Lyricist + Composer Daniel Mertzlufft, Art + Animation Director K Downs.


Check out Nina West in The Blue's Clues Pride Parade!



Originally published: June 05, 2021.

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Move This World Partners with Sparkler Learning to Launch 'Big Heart World' Social-Emotional Initiative Nationwide

Move This World Partners with Sparkler Learning to Launch “Big Heart World” Social-Emotional Initiative Nationwide

“Big Heart World” initiative will promote free social and emotional development resources to preschoolers and elementary students, incorporating Move This World’s evidence-based social emotional learning curriculum


NEW YORK--June 09, 2021--Move This World, the nation’s leading social emotional learning provider of multimedia curriculum, is collaborating with Sparkler Learning to promote healthy social and emotional development in children. The partnership will feature Move This World's evidence-based social and emotional learning curriculum into Big Heart World’s free and publicly available resources, including their “Power of Pause” participatory videos to help preschoolers and elementary school students understand, manage and express feelings, and solve problems.

“SEL is not just intangible and soft skills. It has proven to be able to help children process big feelings of grief, sadness, anger and even excitement and happiness,” said Sara Potler LaHayne, Founder and CEO of Move This World. “Through this partnership, we are excited to be able to share some of our most popular Power of Pause videos and other content to help children learn how to transition and calm down when they are experiencing big feelings.”


Big Heart World, presented by Sparkler Learning in partnership with Noggin, Nickelodeon’s interactive learning app for kids 2-6, aims to help parents and educators address the pressing social and emotional needs that young children have right now during COVID-19 and to provide action-oriented tools and resources that help grown-ups support children’s healthy social and emotional development. Big Heart World focuses on three key learning areas: awareness of self — identity, belonging, feelings and self-regulation; awareness of others — empathy and appreciation of diversity; and relationships with others — interpersonal strategies.

“We are delighted that Move This World is now part of a world-class group of partners assembled by Sparkler Learning. Their contributions will be an essential part of Big Heart World’s free toolkit for parents, caregivers, and educators — at a time when social and emotional learning is needed more than ever,” said Michael H. Levine, SVP for Learning and Impact at Noggin.

Big Heart World content will also be made available in Move This World’s early learning programs for SY21-22. For more information, visit www.bigheartworld.org.

Nickelodeon acquired Sparkler for Noggin in March 2019.

About Move This World
Move This World is the leading provider of social emotional learning (SEL) multimedia experiences for PreK-12 students, educators, and families. Each piece of educational content is delivered through short interactive lessons and is grounded in the goal of empowering students to navigate the rapidly-changing realities of their world — both in the classroom and throughout their lives. Designed for implementation that is both impactful and simple, the MTW platform allows educators and families to incorporate SEL into their students’ schedules every day, without planning or prep. The extensive multimedia library provides a robust and engaging daily curriculum — experiences designed to empower students by strengthening the skills that foster wellbeing and establishing a common language among students, educators and families. These multimedia experiences are rooted in creative expression and participatory movement. Move This World has already impacted the lives of over one and a half million students across 38 states. For more information: www.movethisworld.com.


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Monica Dávila Honored for Work on 'Santiago of the Seas' at 2021 Gracie Awards

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) honored director Monica Dávila for her work on Nickelodeon's hit CG-animated preschool series Santiago of the Seas at the 2021 Gracie Awards!


Currently in its 46th year, the Gracie Awards recognize exemplary programming created by women, for women and about women in all facets of media and entertainment. They also acknowledge the individuals who have made inspirational contributions to the industry.

Named after the late Gracie Allen, the Gracie Awards acknowledge outstanding team leadership and individual achievement. The Gracies focus on women who are making positive change and who further the discussion of what a fulfilling career in media looks like.

Kerry Washington, Lena Waithe, Kelly Clarkson, Michelle Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Erin Andrews were also among this year's winners.

Dávila, who serves as a storyboard director on Santiago of the Seas, picked up her award in the "Director- Family [TV - National]" category of the Television National Honorees  portion of this year's awards.

In addition to Santiago of the Seas, Dávila has also worked on Nickelodeon's Shimmer and Shine and Wallykazam!, as well as animated series such as The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Big Hero 6: The Series and Archibald's Next Big Thing.

A full list of Gracie Awards 2021 winners can be viewed at https://allwomeninmedia.org.


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Orion Group Expands Partnership with ViacomCBS in Russia

The Russian media platform Orion has signed a new partnership agreement with ViacomCBS.


Under the agreement, Orion will for the first time on the Russian market act as a fully-fledged help desk for the international media holding, providing monitoring of all TV channels and round-the-clock technical support for ViacomCBS’s customer operators throughout Russia. The result of the partnership will be the introduction of a customer service system for the international holding, which will significantly reduce the time for solving technical issues and optimise costs.

ViacomCBS International Holding currently represents 13 TV channels in Russia, namely Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, MTV Russia, MTV Dance, MTV Hits, MTV Live HD, MTV 90’s, VH1 European, MTV 80’s, Paramount Comedy, Paramount Channel, and the Paramount+ streaming service. Meanwhile, Orion, which has worked with ViacomCBS since 2016, provides delivery of Nickelodeon, Nicktoons TV, Paramount Comedy, MTV Russia, and Paramount Channel channels to cable operators throughout Russia, as well as localisation of Nicktoons TV.

Commenting on the development, Orion’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kirill Makhnovsky said: “On the Russian market, Orion group of companies provides broadcasters with the most complete range of services. Nevertheless, specifically for ViacomCBS, our long-term partner, we needed to develop a new technical support service, introducing such a large-scale helpdesk for a media holding in all environments for the first time in Russia. This end-to-end solution will improve the quality of operator interactions and take ViacomCBS customer service to the next level”.

Elena Balmont, Senior Vice President (SVP) and general director of ViacomCBS Networks International in Russia, CIS, Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic countries, added: “We are pleased to expand our cooperation with Orion group of companies, with which we have been working together for a long time and which has wide expertise in the field of telecommunications services. Now we will be able to respond even faster to requests related to signal delivery, thereby providing the most comfortable user experience for our partner operators”.

From ComNews:

ГК "Орион" обеспечит техническую поддержку ViacomCBS в России

ГК "Орион" и ViacomCBS расширяют сотрудничество. В рамках нового партнерского соглашения "Орион" впервые на российском рынке выступит полноценным helpdesk для международного медиахолдинга: обеспечит мониторинг всех телеканалов и круглосуточную техническую поддержку операторов– клиентов ViacomCBS по всей России.

Результатом партнерства станет внедрение системы обслуживания клиентов международного холдинга, позволяющей в разы сократить время решения технических вопросов и оптимизировать затраты.

Международный холдинг ViacomCBS представляет в России 13 телеканалов: Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, MTV Россия, MTV Dance, MTV Hits, MTV Live HD, MTV 90's, VH1 European, MTV 80's, Paramount Comedy, Paramount Channel, а также Paramount +. ViacomCBS и ГК "Орион" являются партнерами с 2016 года. Оператор обеспечивает доставку телеканалов MTV Russia, Paramount Channel, Nickelodeon, Paramount Comedy и Nicktoons до кабельных операторов по всей территории РФ, а также локализацию телеканала Nicktoons. По заказу телеканала MTV Russia ГК "Орион" выступила организатором прямых трансляций легендарных концертов: выступление группы "Мумий Тролль" и юбилейное live-шоу "MTV.20 лет".

В рамках нового договора ГК "Орион" предоставит услугу полноценного helpdesk в режиме 24/7 для клиентов ViacomCBS - операторов платного телевидения по всей России. "Орион" будет обеспечивать мониторинг каждого из телеканалов медиахолдинга, в том числе качества изображения, параметров приема и компрессии, корректности транспортных потоков (ETSI TR 101 290). Компания также будет выполнять круглосуточную техническую поддержку клиентов ViacomCBS, полностью взяв на себя общение с операторами, и будет решать поступающие технические вопросы вне зависимости от среды доставки сигнала: спутниковая, наземная, интернет.

В целях успешной реализации проекта ГК "Орион" внедрила новое техническое решение, которое позволит в режиме реального времени осуществлять мониторинг, фиксировать обращения клиентов, отслеживать статус заявок и контролировать их исполнение.

"На российском рынке ГК "Орион" оказывает телевещателям самый полный комплекс услуг. Тем не менее, специально для ViacomCBS, нашего многолетнего партнера, нам потребовалось разработать новую услугу технической поддержки, впервые в России внедрив столь масштабный helpdesk для медиахолдинга во всех средах. Использование этого комплексного решения позволит повысить качество взаимодействия с операторами и вывести обслуживание клиентов ViacomCBS на новый уровень", — прокомментировал сотрудничество генеральный директор ГК "Орион" Кирилл Махновский.

"Мы рады расширению сотрудничества с ГК "Орион", с которой мы уже давно работаем вместе и которая обладает широкой экспертизой в сфере телекоммуникационных услуг. Теперь мы сможем еще быстрее реагировать на запросы, касающиеся доставки сигнала, тем самым обеспечив максимально комфортный пользовательский опыт для наших партнеров-операторов", - отмечает Елена Бальмонт, старший вице-президент и генеральный директор ViacomCBS Networks International в России, СНГ, Украине, Грузии и странах Балтии.

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'NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon' Picks Up Two Trophies in 42nd Annual Sports Emmy Awards

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced the aweslime news that Nickelodeon has received two nominations in the 42nd Annual Sports Emmy Awards for the network's "alternative" coverage of NFL Wild Card Game between Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints in January 2021!


The NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon has been nominated in the "Outstanding Playoff Coverage" and "Outstanding Live Graphic Design" categories of the awards, which honors the talented professionals who during this unprecedented time of a world-wide pandemic still found ways to inform, entertain and excite the passionate fan base that makes up the sports universe.

The winners of the 2021 Sports Emmy Awards will be announced during a live-stream at Watch.TheEmmys.TV on Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT.

Update (6/9) - Nickelodeon won both the categories they were nominated in! Accepting the awards were NFL on Nick host Nate Burleson, who also won the Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality/Studio Analyst - check out his reaction's below!:


On Jan. 10, more than two million viewers tuned into the first-ever broadcast of an NFL game on kids’ network Nickelodeon, with the network adding augmented reality (AR) graphics to the broadcast as well as color commentary from Noah Eagle, Nate Burleson and Nickelodeon star Gabrielle Neveah Green (All ThatNickelodeon’s Unfiltered). Nick star Lex Lumpkin (All ThatNickelodeon’s Unfiltered) ­­also served as a reporter during the game.


Nick’s simulcast, described as “a wacky, slime-filled simulcast”, aired live alongside CBS’ official presentation of the Wild Card playoff game between the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints.


Among the fun graphics that Nick and Elevation concocted were googly eyes bulging out of helmets, animated slime cannons going off in the endzones (redubbed "Slime Zones") whenever a team scored and Nick superstar SpongeBob SquarePants poking his head out between the goal posts.

“There has never been a live sports experience quite like this on television, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive from audiences of all ages,” said Kurt Hartman, Vice President (VP) of Animation and Motion Graphics for Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Nick@Nite, in a statement. “Not only was it Nick’s premiere splash into major sports, but also it marks the first time an NFL game was simulcasted on two completely different networks.”

Creative company Elevation worked closely with Nickelodeon to develop the branding for NFL on NickPlay, which aims to attract a younger generation to the NFL “in a fun and educational way”.

Elevation’s branding and design toolkit included a logo, type treatments, iconography, graphics, and an bright and kid-friendly — all unified to live across Nickelodeon’s digital, social, and broadcast channels.

“Bridging the gap between the NFL and Nickelodeon audiences, the visual language for this package emphasises the fun of the game while still maintaining the marquee feel of a big sporting event,” explains Elevation’s art director, Dianne Frisbee. “Striking that balance played into every creative choice and, of course, we ‘Nickified’ everything we possibly could, which meant lots of slime!”

Nick’s classic orange and slime-green colors served as the jumping-off point for the package, with Elevation adding bubbly iconography and football-themed visuals to the network’s catalog of iconic characters.

The “NFL on NickPlay” logo zeroes in on a slab serif font with thick, block-like letters, while game-inspired textures—turf, footballs and jerseys—ramped up the playfulness. Incorporating a mix of 2D and 3D animation in the package reinforced that balance.

“Nickelodeon and the NFL have tapped into something that just may come to redefine live sports on TV as we know it,” said Elevation Executive Producer Steph Carson, also in a statement. “We are thrilled with how it turned out and how they welcomed us as a true extension of their team.”

Besides the cross-promotion between Nick and CBS Sports, the partners also had fun dropping in some special guest stars, such as Young Sheldon (Iain Armitage) popping up to explain a rule here and there.

The branding and broadcast toolkit developed by Elevation was then handed over to Nick’s in-house creative team. Here, Elevation also provided animation tests defining the motion behaviour for the in-game graphics for the live broadcast and promo materials.

Once the creative assets were delivered, Nickelodeon focused on game-day logistics working closely with CBS Sports and SMT, which specializes in real-time and wireless data and display systems for major sporting events. This included developing a pipeline between Nickelodeon animators in New York City and the CBS Sports on-site media team in New Orleans to send and receive clips in real time and apply Nick-themed graphics that would air moments later. In total, 125 clips—amounting to 22 minutes of animation—were aired over the course of the game.

“We found a way to make the sport funny and irreverent, taking the business part out of the game for kids, but never losing sight that real football fans were also watching and enjoying,” said Giancarlo Barrera, Senior Art Director for Nickelodeon Brand Creative, also in a statement. “It was a completely new and incredibly ambitious approach to live television for everyone involved — creatively and technically — but we had an all-star team to put it all together in Elevation, Nickelodeon, CBS Sports, and SMT. We’re all excited to see what’s possible and what’s next.”

CREDITS

  • Client: Nickelodeon
  • Chief Marketing Officer, Nickelodeon + Nick Jr: Jenny Wall
  • SVP Brand Design, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr: Michael Waldron
  • VP of Animation & Motion Graphics: Kurt Hartman
  • Senior Art Director: Giancarlo Barrera
  • Animation Director: Tim Lines
  • Graphics Manager: Kerry Villamil
  • Animators: Christian Huthmacher, Hannah Segraves, Chris Stearns, Robert Wallace, Kyllea Kerg, Phil Walton
  • Designers: Livia Lenhoff, Sara Lee
  • Branding & Design Company: Elevation
  • Executive Creative Direction: Stephen Cocks
  • Executive Producer: Steph Carson
  • Art Direction: Dianne Frisbee
  • Designers: David Hendrix, Sean Kiley, Kito Kondowe
Congratulations and good luck to everyone who worked on NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon!


Originally published: April 21, 2021.

Original source: Variety; Additional source: Nevada Sports Net.

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Tommy Hilfiger Partners with ViacomCBS for 'Blast From the Past' Capsule Collection

Tommy Hilfiger has released a late-1990s and early-2000s Blast From the Past capsule collection in partnership with ViacomCBS Consumer Products and several of its Nickelodeon and MTV properties!


It’s the first partnership with WildBrain CPLG and is inspired by ViacomCBS’s favorite retro brands that continue to be popular with consumers. The collection also presents a modern Tommy Jeans twist on the iconic characters printed on organic cotton tees, sweats, and hoodies.

A Blast from the Past will feature a range of micro-capsules that bring a playful streetwear vibe to the classic oversized and bold colourways that Tommy Jeans fans recognise of the brand, fused with pop culture icons from the late ’90s and early ’00s.

The deal was brokered by entertainment, sport, and brand licensing agency WildBrain CPLG, one of the world’s leading entertainment, sport, and brand licensing agencies.

Highlighting the fashion brand’s tradition of pop culture collaborations, the line offers fans sustainable t-shirts, sweats, and hoodies displaying characters and logos from SpongeBob SquarePants, Garfield, Ren & Stimpy, MTV, and Beavis and Butt-Head.


Each micro-capsule incorporates the Tommy Jeans flag logo into the designs in a different way, for example weaving Beavis and Butt-Head within its red and white blocks or using it as a pattern to fill the MTV logo, adding a fresh twist on timeless favorites.

Other designs include a shade-throwing Garfield, a dancing Ren & Stimpy and SpongeBob SquarePants giving a thumbs-up.

In addition to ViacomCBS properties, the Blast From the Past collection includes properties from the Warner Bros. portfolio, such as Space Jam.

The adult capsule collection is gender-neutral and is available from June 3 at Tommy Hilfiger locations, online, and through wholesale partners.

The concept, according to The PVH Corp.-owned heritage brand Tommy Jeans, reflects how the brand has stayed plugged into pop culture over the decades through collaborations.

“There continues to be significant consumer demand, particularly among young adults, for high-end fashion collaborations that utilize retro brands and bring with them a sense of fun and nostalgia,” said Matt Tobia, Senior Sales Manager at WildBrain CPLG. “This partnership between Tommy Jeans and ViacomCBS Consumer Products is perfectly positioned to meet this demand, as it combines ViacomCBS’s impressive portfolio of iconic TV brands with Tommy Jeans relaxed 90s aesthetic. We also couldn’t think of a better pairing for our first time teaming up with Tommy Jeans.”

"A Blast From The Past" micro-capsule collections include:

· Tommy Jeans x "Beavis and Butt-Head;"

· Tommy Jeans x "Garfield;"

· Tommy Jeans x MTV;

· Tommy Jeans x "Ren & Stimpy;" and

· Tommy Jeans x "SpongeBob SquarePants."

Check out the collection below!:

















Originally published: June 8, 2021.


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John Newman and Diversity Head to SlimeFest 2021 UK

JOHN NEWMAN AND DIVERSITY HEAD TO SLIMEFEST 2021

Nickelodeon UK and VisitBlackpool bring Slime, Music & Mayhem back to Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Arena on 16th – 18th October

Tickets on sale now at www.nickslimefest.co.uk

Diversity’s Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely return to their hosting duties and will be joined by ‘The X Factor: Celebrity’s’ Max and Harvey and Tik Tok social star Holly H

#SlimefestUK @NickelodeonUK


London, 9th June 2021 – John Newman and BAFTA award-winning dance group Diversity are set to join the line-up for this year’s SLIMEFEST event. Newman will be joining the SLIMEFEST mayhem for the very first time, while iconic dance group Diversity will be returning for a fifth slime-filled year at The Arena, Blackpool Pleasure Beach.


With one of the most distinctive voices in music and a string of number 1 singles, Newman is guaranteed to light up the slime pit and have ticket holders rocking all night when he performs Monday 18th October and belts out some of his most iconic hits!

The sensational dance group Diversity, who recently won the public-voted BAFTA TV ‘Must-See Moment’ award for their Black Lives Matter-inspired routine performed on Britain's Got Talent, will also be returning to this year’s event across all six shows! Since their 2009 Britain’s Got Talent win, the group have completed multiple sell-out arena tours and performed in front Her Majesty the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance!


SLIMEFEST is presented by Nickelodeon in partnership with VisitBlackpool and will be hosted by Diversity’s Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely, as well as BRAND-NEW hosts, social media stars and singers Max & Harvey, and TikTok sensation Holly H. The six-show extravaganza will kick-off Saturday 16th October with shows at 1pm and 6pm across the days and will end with a blast Monday 18th October. You won’t want to miss it!

Tickets are on sale now. Families can purchase tickets and find out more information at www.nickslimefest.co.uk

More acts will be added to the SLIMEFEST 2021 line up in the coming weeks.

Over 100,000 people have attended related SLIMEFEST events across the globe in the US, Australia, Italy, UK, Germany and Spain.

Current SLIMEFEST 2021 line-up:

Saturday 16 October 2021
Hosted by: Jordan & Perri, Max and Harvey and Holly H
Kid Rain
Diversity
TBA

Sunday 17th October 2021
Hosted by: Jordan & Perri, Max and Harvey and Holly H
Kid Rain
Diversity
TBA

Monday 18 October 2021
Hosted by: Jordan & Perri, Max and Harvey and Holly H
Kid Rain
Diversity
John Newman

Please be sure to check your local school half term dates, to ensure your child's school is on break at this time.

Oh, and shhh, Nick has have a super slimy, big green secret to tell you. There is only ONE way for children 8-15 years old to experience the SLIME and get you up-close to your favourite stars, and that is with a SLIME PIT ticket. Accompanying parents/guardians & younger children can experience the fun with a seated ticket or a standing adult ticket (for adults and kids 15yrs +)

Plus, you don’t have to wait until the show starts for the fun to begin; every SLIMEFEST ticket also includes a Pleasure Beach Pass, or you can choose to purchase a Pleasure Beach Wristband which gives you unlimited riding all day. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is home to the U.K.'s only Nickelodeon Land!

What are you waiting for? Join Nick for the biggest SLIME-soaked event of the year!

SLIMEFEST marks the return of Nickelodeon's annual music festival for kids, following SLIMEFEST 2020 being postponed due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. It's currently unknown whether Nickelodeon will still be hosting SLIMEFEST in London, as initially planned.

The Pleasure Beach Arena will strictly follow Government and Health Authority guidelines.  A whole range of Covid-19 procedures and protocols have been implemented to ensure the safety of guests, staff and performers.  The wearing of face coverings may be required in designated areas and organisers will update ticket holders closer to the event with any specific procedures relating to Covid-19.  SLIMEFEST will be compliant with any Covid-19 regulations applicable at the time.

If SLIMEFEST 2021 is unable to proceed due to Government or Health Authority guidance, Nickelodeon will transfer your booking to an alternative date or refund your booking.  The terms and conditions relating to this are available at https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/whats-on/slimefest/.


SLIMEFEST 2019 saw performances from Diversity along with music acts: Professor Green, Scouting for Girls, New Hope Club, Max and Harvey, Road Trip, Jess Folley and The Thundermans star Kira Kosarin as a special guest. Watch the highlights below!:



Nickelodeon
The home of SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, PAW Patrol and Nella the Princess Knight, Nickelodeon UK & Ireland Network is available in over 13 million cable and satellite homes and now reaches more than 10 million viewers a month. Launched in 1993, the top-performing Nickelodeon network comprises seven dedicated entertainment channels for kids aged 4-15 and their families: Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nickelodeon +1, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. +1 and Nick Jr. Too. The entertainment company has built a diverse multi-platform business by putting kids first in everything it does – Kids Rule! Content is at the core of the business with critically-acclaimed and hugely-popular television programming from the UK and around the world. In addition to the quality television programmes, Nickelodeon also produces bespoke content available online and on Nick Play, as well as consumer product and recreation opportunities such as the UK’s first-ever Nick theme park, Nickelodeon Land and the slimiest music festival for kids, SLIMEFEST UK.

VisitBlackpool
VisitBlackpool is the tourism arm of Blackpool Council and is tasked with promoting the UK's most popular holiday destination to leisure and business visitors, both domestically and internationally.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the UK’s favourite amusement park and is also home to the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land. Family thrills and memories to last a lifetime are assured on Nickelodeon Land with 12 rides, a whole host of your favourite Nickelodeon characters and live entertainment across the six acre site.

More Nick: Channel 5 to Host Inaugural '5 On The Farm Festival' (Ft. Milkshake!) in South Yorkshire!

Originally published: June 09, 2021.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon UK and SlimeFest 2021 News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon to Premiere New 'Baby Shark's Big Show!' Episode 'Legendary Loot/Yup Day' on June 18

Tune into a brand new Baby Shark's Big Show!, premiering Friday, June 18, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. ET/PT, only on Nick Jr. on Nickelodeon! Check out the promo below!:


In the all new Baby Shark's Big Show! episode "Legendary Loot," after finding a map to the Legendary Loot, the Shark family splits up to hunt the treasure down. Then later in "Yup Day," Baby convinces Daddy to say “yup” to everything for a day. What’s the worst that could happen?
Visit https://www.babysharksbigshow.com for Baby Shark's Big Show! videos, arts and crafts, coloring pages, and to make your very own shark!

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and Baby Shark's Big Show! News and Highlights!

Ep.6 Save The Day! - The BeatBuds, Let's Jam! - Official Nickelodeon Video

Ep.6 Save The Day! - The BeatBuds, Let's Jam! - Official Nickelodeon Video


The BeatBuds happen upon Fran The Firefighter whose fire truck is stuck in the mud! Not only do they help her out, but they offer to tag along and help her save the day around town, while singing the song “Save the Day!”

Watch The BeatBuds, Let’s Jam! on Nick Jr. on Nickelodeon!

For BeatBuds Merchandise: https://shop.thebeatbuds.com

Follow The BeatBuds:


#TheBeatBuds #HelloBeatBuddies


Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and The BeatBuds, Let’s Jam! News and Highlights!

Ep.5 The Froggy Hop - The BeatBuds, Let's Jam! - Official Nickelodeon Video

Ep.5 The Froggy Hop - The BeatBuds, Let's Jam! - Official Nickelodeon Video


The BeatBuds drive through a swampy bayou and can’t believe their eyes when they spot Frankie the Frog! The Buds sing “The Froggy Hop” as they hurry after Frankie, who is always a green-dancing foot ahead of them.

Watch The BeatBuds, Let’s Jam! on Nick Jr. on Nickelodeon!

For BeatBuds Merchandise: https://shop.thebeatbuds.com

Follow The BeatBuds:


#TheBeatBuds #HelloBeatBuddies


Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and The BeatBuds, Let’s Jam! News and Highlights!

Squad Interviews and Challenges with the Cast of 'Club 57' | Nickelodeon Brazil

Influjunket com Lívia Inhudes e Gustavo Foganoli | Club 57 | Nickelodeon em Português


O nosso Squad de Club 57 bateu um papo com o elenco do Club 57 sobre a segunda temporada!
Estreia 11 de junho no Youtube e dia 14 na TV!
http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2021/06/club-57-season-2-episode-1-nickelodeon_2.html


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Squad Interviews and Challenges with the Cast of 'Club 57' | Nickelodeon Latin America

Influjunket: ¡el Squad entrevista y desafía al Cast de Club 57! | Nickelodeon en Español


El Squad no sólo entrevistó al elenco de Club 57 sobre la nueva temporada, sino que también realizaron desafíos, juegos, bailes, ¡y se divirtieron muchísimo! Mira el video completo para enterarte todo sobre las grabaciones, las amistades y más. ¿Quién aprende sus diálogos más rápido? ¿Quién se la vive cantando y bailando? ¿Con qué souvenirs de la primera temporada se quedó Evaluna? Además podrás ver un súper tour de los estudios de grabación, ¡no te lo pierdas!

Mira el estreno de la segunda temporada de Club 57 el 14 de Junio en la pantalla de Nickelodeon, y el pre-estreno digital del primer episodio el 11 de junio en el canal de Youtube Nickelodeon en Español. http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2021/06/club-57-season-2-episode-1-nickelodeon.html


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