The Wiggles

They’re cooler than Elmo, if positively nerdy compared to Yo Gabba Gabba!‘s trippy creatures, but the Wiggles — like the terrible twos and runny noses — are pretty much unavoidable if you have a little one, toddler to preschooler. The jovial Aussies, with their multicolored crewnecks — Sam (yellow), Murray (red), Jeff (purple), and Anthony (blue) — and perpetual smiles, have obviously tapped into some innate kiddie likes.

The group, which has been together for 19 years (only a couple of lineup changes; they ain’t Menudo) come from a rock background. And though their ditties range from insipid to infectious (sometimes both at the same time), they’re always fun and rarely obvious or pushy with the educational lyrics or themes. Their food-related material — “Hot Potato,” “Fruit Salad,” and “Hot Poppin’ Popcorn” — is particularly groovy.

This time out, the “fab four from down under,” as they call themselves, offer a circus-themed jamboree featuring big-top fun from the guys and the whole Wiggles gang: Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog, and all the Wiggly Dancers. Indeed, movement is much of the foursome’s appeal, so parents should be prepared to get the heart rate up, which might come easier to some than others. Apparently, there are a lot of moms who watch the TV show because they think the guys bring the hot — and we’re not talking about potatoes.