Higglytown Heroes (Jomaribryan's version)

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 youths (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.

Prior to airing on Playhouse Disney, Higglytown Heroes was a mini-series airing in 2003, in which Eubie, Wayne, Twinkle, Kip and their squirrel friend Fran notice that a friend is in trouble. In order to cross the street, they sing a song about it with their crossing guard friend, Mrs. Whiskers.

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 Miss 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" "Twinkle Tooth"/"Flower Power" "First Snow"/"Snow Dazed" "Flappy's Not Happy"/"Electric Evening" "All Tire'd Out"/"Great Un-Expectations" "Smooth Operator"/"Stinky Situation" "Weather or Not"/"Green in the Gills" "Halloween Heroes " (aka "Higgly Halloween") "Smells Like a Mystery"/"Ship Ahoy!" "Soup With Stars"/"The Happy Friendly Sparkly Toast Club" "Catch Up With Ketchup"/"Star Struck" "Twinkle's Wish" "Twinkle's Masterpiece"/"The Egg-cellent Adventure" "Wayne's Ripping Adventure"/"Meet Eubie's Cousin" "Say What?"/"Higgly Harmonies" "Wayne's Good Guess"/"Wayne's 100 Special Somethings" "Patty Cake"/"Havin' A Ball" "Bright Sights, Big City"/"Kip's Shadow" "Fran Takes a Hike"/"Mystery at Kip's House" "Kip Joins the Circus"/"Baby Boom" "Twinkle's Favorite Author"/"Don't Fence Me In" "Higgly Hoedown"/"Eubie's Turbo Sled" "Kip's Dad Gets a Strike"/"A Really Hot Day" "Kip's Sweet Tooth"/"Wayne's Lollipop" "Eubie's Pink Dots"/"Two Bees or Not Two Bees" "Higgly Frog Day"/"Eubie's Elly-Fantastic Adventure"
 * Donald Faison - Firefighter Hero
 * Kathie Lee Gifford - Mail Carrier Hero
 * Jim Ward - Grandpop Krank
 * Camryn Manheim - Handy Plumber Hero
 * Steven Weber - Gardener Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama
 * Katey Sagal - Policewoman Hero
 * Frances Conroy - Veterinarian Hero
 * Lance Bass - Electrician Hero aka Mr. Daniel
 * Frank Welker - Flappy
 * John Michael Higgins - Tow Truck Driver Hero
 * Tim Curry - Librarian Hero
 * Cyndi Lauper - Telephone Operator Hero
 * Jim Wise - Sanitation Worker Hero
 * Susan Lucci - Weathergirl Hero
 * Miguel Sandoval - Painter Hero
 * Travis Tritt - Farmer Hero
 * Kevin Michael Richardson - Pumpkin Monster and Uncle Lemmo
 * Dee Bradley Baker - Dragon
 * Katey Sagal - Police Officer hero
 * Ed McMahon - Tug Boat Captain Hero
 * Smokey Robinson - Grocery Clerk Hero
 * Ricki Lake - Carpenter Hero (Alice)
 * Stuart Pankin - Bus Driver Hero
 * Wally Kurth - The Eye Doctor Hero
 * John Astin - Santa Claus
 * Sean Astin - Pix the Elf
 * Sharon Stone - Nicki the Blind Art Teacher
 * Anne Heche - Gloria the Waitress
 * Dee Bradley Baker - Egg Farmer Hero
 * Matt Cavenaugh - Tailor Hero
 * Raven-Symoné - Playground Monitor Hero
 * Jesse Corti - Jax
 * Nathalia Hencker - Translator Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Miss Fern
 * David Naughton - Orchestra Conductor Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Miss Fern
 * Cicely Tyson - Great Aunt Shirley
 * Rocco DiSpirito - Baker Hero
 * Steve Harris - Coach Hero
 * Marissa Jaret Winokur - Taxi Driver Hero
 * Carlos Alazraqui - Shelter Worker Hero
 * Jesse David Corti - Jax
 * Irene Bedard - Forest Ranger Hero
 * Henry Dittman - Detective Hero
 * Donald Faison - Firefighter Hero
 * Erik Estrada - Ambulance Driver/Paramedic Hero
 * Kevin Michael Richardson - Uncle Lemno
 * Rob Paulsen - Barber
 * Mindy Sterling - Mrs Barber
 * Diedrich Bader - Crane Operator Hero
 * Anne Heche - Gloria the Waitress
 * Masasa Moyo - Judge Hero
 * Trace Adkins - Cowboy Hero
 * Serena Williams - Snow Plow Driver Hero
 * Thomas F. Wilson - Truck Driver Hero
 * Phil LaMarr - Lifeguard Hero
 * Gwendoline Yeo - Dentist Hero
 * Rob Paulsen - Barber Hero
 * Naomi Judd - School Nurse Hero
 * Kate Pierson - Beekeeper Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama
 * Maggie Wheeler - Street Sweeper Hero
 * Kevin Michael Richardson - Uncle Lemmo
 * Alyson Reed - Zookeeper Hero

Season 2
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Fish"/"All the Wrong Moves" "Kip Gets Swing Fever"/"Wayne's Pieces of Gold" "All Warm Inside"/"Calling All Ducks" "A Totally Secret Valentine"/"A Valentine for Miss Fern" "Cry Baby Pookie"/"Wait for Me" "Balloon-a-Palooza"/"Wayne's Day Out" "The Fran in the Moon" "Me and My Shadow"/"Out to Sea" "Don't Wayne on My Parade"/"Twinkle's Terrific Twirl" "Wayne's Big, Big Wish"/"Dirigible Day" "The Legend of Higgsquatch" "Eubie's Big Boat Float"/"A Slippery Situation" "Kip's Rocket Rescue"/"Let's Get Moving" "Corn to Be Wild"/"Overnight Moose" "Higgly Island" "Shear Luck"/"Big Night Out" "Calling All Cars"/"Amazing Museum" "Frozen Fish Follies"/"Look Who's Squawking" "Wayne's Day to Shine"/"Wayne Listens Up" "A Hoppin' Poppin' Problem"/"Hay Hay Hay!!"
 * Jesse Corti - Submarine Captain Hero
 * Debbie Allen - Dance Instructor Hero
 * Gregory Jbara - Tree Trimmer Hero
 * Mo Collins - Science Fair Judge
 * Simon Templeman - Banker Hero
 * Philip Anthony-Rodriguez - Furnace Repairman Hero
 * Jentle Phoenix - Environmentalist Hero
 * Dee Bradley Baker - Pizza Guy
 * Lance Bass - Mr. Electrician
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Miss Fern
 * Rain Pryor - Pediatrician Hero
 * Wally Wingert - Waiter Hero
 * Michael T. Weiss - Mountain Rescue Squad Hero
 * Katey Sagal - Police Woman Hero
 * Matthew St. Patrick - Police Man Hero
 * Cicely Tyson - Great Aunt Shirley
 * Jane Kaczmarek - Astronaut Hero
 * Jorge Garcia - Dog Trainer Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern
 * Debi Mae West - Lighthouse Keeper Hero
 * Nicole Parker - Window Washer Hero
 * Pete Siragusa - Ice Resurfacer Hero
 * Mo Collins - Paleontologist Hero
 * Roberto Alcaraz - Air Traffic Controller Hero
 * Kathy Najimy - Photographer Hero
 * Tim Curry - Higgsquatch
 * Anne Heche - Gloria the Waitress
 * Matthew Kaminsky - Drawbridge Operator Hero
 * David Jolliffe - Radiographer Hero
 * Wayne Brady - Doctor
 * Henry Winkler - Printer Hero
 * Neil Kaplan - Mover Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama
 * Joey Fatone - Bulldozer Operator Hero
 * Jessica Walter - Motel Manager Hero
 * Wilmer Valderrama - Helicopter Pilot Hero
 * Gayla Goehl - Sheep Shearer Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama
 * Alanna Ubach - Babysitter Hero
 * Jonathan Adams - Road Worker Hero
 * Aisha Tyler - Museum Curator Hero
 * 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
 * Lesley Boone - Mechanic Hero, Bessy the Cow, Farmer Lulu

Season 3
"Happy Campers"/"All Washed Out" "Hat's All Folks"/"Hop Hop Hooray" "Shuffleboard Buddies"/"All Mapped Out" "12-Pie Abe"/"The Day the Diner Stood Still" "Saturday Night Higgly"/"Monster Sandwiches" "The Big Pink Elephant Sale"/"Higglies on Horseback" "Buki-Buki Boo-Boo"/"Signs of Spring" "Easy to Get Sneezy"/"Unlock the Magic" "Wayne's Cycle Recycle"/"Wayne's Wet Pet" "X Marks the Spot"/"Eubie's View" "Whing-A-Ding Whirly Box"/"Windy Watchers" "Choo-Choo Zucchini"/"Something Ducky Going On" "Fripp's Flip-Flap Flop"/"Say Cheese" "Canyon Capers"/"High-Country Hiccups" "Calling All Heroes" "Happy Flappy Birthday"/"The Cuckoo County Caw-Caw Contest" " Little Big Fish "/"Good Sports" "'Tis the Season to be Snowy"/"Bingo Bongos" "Wayne's Toasty Invention"/"Spell it Safe"
 * Meghan Strange - Camp Counselor Hero
 * Bill Farmer - Janitor Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern
 * Billy Vera - Captain Hero
 * Charlie Schlatter - Receptionist Hero
 * Debi Mae West - Physical Therapist Hero
 * David Jeremiah- Mapmaker Hero
 * Catero Colbert - Camel Rider
 * Tom Kenny - Reporter Hero
 * Anne Heche - Gloria the Waitress
 * Dee Bradley Baker, Mindy Sterling, & Alanna Ubach - Musician Heroes
 * Jim Wise - Tour Guide Hero
 * Jeff Bennett - Auctioneer Hero
 * Michael T. Weiss - Veterinarian Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern
 * Julianne Grossman - Roofer Hero
 * Henry Dittman - Sign Language Interpreter Hero
 * Jon Curry - Allergist Hero
 * J. Grant Albrecht - Locksmith Hero
 * J. P. Manoux - Bike Repairman Hero
 * Camryn Manheim - Plumber Hero
 * Scott McShane - Bridge Builder Hero
 * Lesley Boone - Dump Truck Driver Hero
 * Jo Anne Worley - Customer Service Clerk Hero
 * Henry Dittman - Higglytown Coast Guard Hero
 * John O'Hurley - Freight Train Engineer Hero
 * Bobby Holiday - House Painter Hero
 * Betty White - Grandmama
 * Kevin Michael Richardson - Uncle Lemmo the Short-Order Cook Hero
 * Charlie Janasz - Photographer Hero
 * Wally Wingert - Hector the Prospector Hero
 * Kimberly Brooks - Ski Patrol Hero
 * Jeffrey Tambor - Radio Announcer
 * Wes Brown - Phone Repairman Hero
 * Leanza Cornett - Airplane Pilot Hero
 * Debra Wilson Skelton - Marine Biologist Hero
 * Chris Carmack - Referee Hero
 * Joseph Gian - Stan the Bricklayer Hero
 * They Might Be Giants - The Supertasters
 * Shawn King - Usher Hero
 * Jamie-Lynn DiScala - Ms. Fern
 * Ruth Williamson - Lunch Lady Hero
 * Anna Maria Perez de Taglé - Shelby the Safety Patrol Hero

Realated 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