Today's Kool Idea: Magic School Bus Television Series

We were talking on the phone with our brother yesterday, when we somehow got on the topic of this year's Halloween costume ideas for the kids. Last we heard, our oldest son wanted a black Spiderman costume (easy), while our youngest chose to be Boots, the monkey from Dora (not quite as easy). Anyway, as we were having our conversation, our 8 year old suddenly said from the background that he now wanted to be Arnold from the Magic School Bus television show. We were shocked to find out that our brother, the brilliant pediatrician, had never even heard of this Scholastic series. How embarrassing for him, we teased in our typical smug sibling fashion. Then, much to our brother's glee, our four year old insisted that he now wanted to be Phoebe, the redheaded girl...yeah, like we'll ever hear the end of that one from big brother. Darn it...we hate it when he gets the upper hand!

The Magic School Bus television series features the antics of Ms. Frizzle (voiced by Lily Tomlin) and her class of eight children who have a unique way of learning about the world around them. The Frizz's ever-changing wardrobe hints at each clever episode's scientific concept to be explored, just before the class is whisked away on an exciting field trip aboard their magical school bus. Each adventure takes them literally behind the scenes, sometimes by shrinking them to the size of blood cells, other times turning them into bats (or salmon, or butterflies).

The Magic School Bus clearly demonstrates the creators' brilliant imagination and passion for science. We absolutely love the concept of this Discovery Kids series. There is so much color and activity packed into each episode that it may seem a bit frantic at times, but it keeps our kids mesmerized all the same. Plus, the theme index on the Scholastic website makes it easy to find shows that relate specifically to what our children are currently learning in school. Excellent!

It's easy to understand the popularity of the Magic School Bus television series with children, parents and educators alike (though, perhaps not pediatricians). It's humorous, suspenseful, educational and just downright fun...our kids are both completely addicted to it. We love how it encourages kids to "take chances, make mistakes and get messy." Plus, they don't even realize how much they are actually learning. There are so few television shows for kids that hit the mark like this one does. Field trip, everyone!

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Today's Kool Idea: Psych on USA Network

The end of summer also marks the return of some of our beloved television shows. If you twist our arms a little (very little, we're kinda wimpy), we will admit that there has been a reality show or two that has kept our sadistic side entertained these past few months. Okay, so we love Hell's Kitchen...sue us. We are truly happy to have some of our regular favorites coming back, though. Psych on USA Network is one of them. Yep, the new season airs tonight...hooray!

We actually saw the July 2006 pilot of Psych on our iPod about two years ago. It was a a free download, and we still had rabbit ears on our television (okay, we're wimpy and cheap), so we didn't get any USA Network shows. Well, one episode and we were intrigued enough to download the first two seasons. By the time we got satellite TV (thanks to our older son's ESPN obsession), we were hooked...Psych is a really, really well done show.

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of seeing it, Psych is a quick-witted comedy/drama about a quirky, yet extremely talented police consultant named Shawn Spencer. Shawn possesses uncanny powers of observation honed by his police officer father, Henry, who drilled him as a child to note even the smallest of details from his surroundings. Shawn's talent gets him in trouble though, when he calls the cops with a tip he notices from watching the news. Using his charisma and over-the-top theatrics, Shawn convinces the police that he's actually a psychic, and they hire him to help solve some of their tougher cases. Shawn enlists the help of his best friend and sidekick Gus, and together they open their own PI agency, appropriately named Psych.

Okay, so Psych's premise is gimmicky, and a bit of a stretch. But, the combination of a wickedly clever script and appealing characters really makes it work. You just gotta love a guy who enjoys messing with other people's heads as much as Shawn does. Our sadistic streak is at it again! We love the by-play between the polar opposite personalities of Shawn and Gus. Plus, it's just plain fun seeing Shawn's antics exasperate all the men, yet fascinate all the women...oh yeah, this fellow is quite the charmer.

Let's face it...after a long week of work and the kids, it's nice to be able to sit back and relax with Psych on a Friday night. Engaging enough to keep us in hysterics for much of the hour-long duration, plus intelligent enough to have us coming back for more, Psych is one "kool" series. You might want to check it out...we're totally psyched (sorry, had to fit that one in) that it's back tonight.

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Today's Kool Idea: As Seen on TV Tool Band-It

The Daily Kool family is very proud of our home. While it may not seem like much to some people, we have spent countless hours decorating every nook and cranny to create a warm, livable environment. We love it and it's all ours...well, ours and the bank's, anyway. The only problem with home ownership is that there is always something that needs to be fixed, refurbished or just maintained. We learned quickly to expect the unexpected and by necessity, we've become quite savvy and adept at many do-it-yourself home repair projects.

We came across an advertisement for the As Seen on TV Tool Band-It the other day...this is definitely another one of those "why oh why didn't we think of this first" products. The Billy Mays endorsed Tool Band-It is a lightweight, flexible armband with enough magnetic power to keep up to 25lbs worth of tools and other work pieces practically right at your fingertips. This is a great idea for all those minor household projects which typically require an extra person just to manage the tools. Now, we no longer have to say those magical words, "Can you hand me that, honey?" We actually laughed when the infomercial showed a woman holding nails in her mouth for easier access...we do that all the time. We particularly like that it can hook onto a regular pants belt as an alternative to the arm. The Tool Band-It really seems like one of those rare As Seen on TV products that actually does exactly what it says.

We love the versatility of possible uses for the Tool Band-It. From gardening to auto maintenance, crafting to household repair, we can envision many, many ways that the Tool Band-It will keep us more organized and productive. We've actually come across two different offers for the Tool Band-It. The buy one and get a second one offer can be found on the official website and also includes 10 Hercules Hooks...an favorite of ours, and a previously featured "kool" idea (click here to read). The As Seen on TV website offer includes one armband plus a free bonus headlamp for better visibility in darker areas. Both offers are the same price (which is actually pretty reasonable at around $20), so it just comes down to your preference. We will be taking advantage of the buy one get one free Tool Band-It offer...this way, we can keep one for our home and give one to Dad for Father's Day.

The Tool Band-It has given us another reason to justify our addiction to As Seen on TV products. A simple, effective gizmo that will likely become a staple in The Daily Kool household...a handy helper, particularly in more confined areas such as the attic or under the sink. Plus, the Tool Band-It definitely makes a great gift idea. We can't wait to see Dad's reaction on Father's Day...perhaps it will inspire him to move forward on the countless projects our mother needs done around the house. Hey, you never know!

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Today's Kool Idea: Hell's Kitchen

Okay, we have a confession to make...we at The Daily Kool are absolutely addicted to Hell's Kitchen. No, no...please try not to think less of us. There is just something about watching Gordon Ramsay torturing a group of professional chefs that keeps us glued to our television every Thursday night. Talk about blood, sweat and tears...yes, we have literally seen them all on Hell's Kitchen. Even when we anticipate the disaster that is about to strike, we just can't look away when Chef Ramsay makes verbal mincemeat of a contestant. Who knew we had such a sadistic side?

Apparently, FOX did. Hell's Kitchen is one of their more popular series, now in its 5th season...Season 6 is scheduled to debut on July 21st. The unscripted show follows a group of relatively inexperienced contestants vying for a chance to earn a prestigious $250,000 position as Head Chef in one of Gordon Ramsay's new restaurants. The series starts out with two teams (blue and red), in a men vs. women split. Each episode begins with a challenge that tests the contestants' culinary knowledge or ability. The winning team gets a fabulous reward, such as a trip to the spa, dining out at an exclusive restaurant or a day at the horse races. The losing team suffers a bout of quick torture...from eating a tray of disgusting cow parts (yes, you read that right), to scrubbing the dorms (bathroom toilets included) to prepping both kitchens for dinner service. It's amusing to see grown men and women lower themselves to adolescent levels as they win and lose each challenge.

The most important challenge in Hell's Kitchen is, of course dinner service. To ensure victory at this challenge, each team must complete dinner service with little to no mishaps in the kitchen...easier said than done. Something always goes wrong...either a lapse in teamwork, organization, skill, or in some cases...all of the above. Whatever the problem, Chef Ramsay raises the heat in the kitchen (sorry about the pun) by screaming obscenities at the contestants' ineptness and humiliating them in front of their colleagues and customers. He calls them out on every mistake, pushing and poking at them mercilessly to test whether they will rise to the challenge or fall flat on their faces. The team who emerges victorious gets to live another day, while the best of the losers has to nominate two teammates to be voted out of Hell's Kitchen. Chef Ramsay makes the final decision...many times an unexpected and controversial one.

It's hard to deny the entertainment value that comes from a man constantly testing how far he can go before a contestant breaks...and boy, does Chef Gordon Ramsay stretch those limits! His reputation as a brilliant, but definite hard-nosed professional proceeds him though, so don't be so quick to feel sorry for the contestants. They all know what they're in for. But, the grand prize is so amazing, the opportunity so tempting...they agree to appear on the show anyway. Go ahead...give in to your sadistic side and check out Hell's Kitchen tonight on FOX.

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Today's Kool Idea: Schoolhouse Rock! (Special 30th Anniversary Edition) DVD

Ah, man...nothing says Saturday mornings like Schoolhouse Rock! We admit it, okay? We originally bought this DVD more for ourselves than for our children. Cartoons are just not the same without these Emmy award-winning 3-minute films playing between them.

What? You never heard of Schoolhouse Rock!?? It was only the most amazing series of animated musical education in the 70's and 80's. Schoolhouse Rock was a pop-culture sensation that literally taught millions of children the basics of math, grammar, science, American history and money with its clever and catchy tunes. The Schoolhouse Rock! (Special 30th Anniversary Edition) is a comprehensive 2-disc set, which includes 46 song classics like "Conjunction Junction," "Three is a Magic Number," "I'm Just A Bill" and "Electricity, Electricity." The DVD also features an all-new song about the Electoral College, "I'm Gonna Send Your Vote To College" written by the show's original creators.

Oh, dear...have we just dated ourselves? It doesn't matter...the Schoolhouse Rock! (Special 30th Anniversary Edition) has allowed us to relive our youth through the eyes of our children. With all of the disappointing children's television out there today, it is truly a pleasure to share these wonderful and educational videos with our kids. Schoolhouse Rock has captivated everyone in our home...our kids are absolutely addicted to it! Favorites in our household include "Interjections!", "Telegraph Line" (teaches the nervous system) and "The Body Machine" (about nutrition). When our second-grader was studying the separation of powers in school, "The Three Ring Government" became the new preference.

Nope, they just don't make educational videos like these anymore. Oh, wait a minute...actually they do! According to our friends at EarthPromise.com, Schoolhouse Rock is now going green with eleven new songs for a new generation of fans. Read what EarthPromise has to say about it here.

We at The Daily Kool are so passionate about this series, we have made the Schoolhouse Rock! (Special 30th Anniversary Edition) DVD our official birthday present for all of our children's friends. This is without a doubt, the "koolest" gift you can give to your family. We can't wait for Schoolhouse Rock: Earth to come out...we will definitely be checking it out. Thanks for the heads-up, EarthPromise.com! And thank you, Schoolhouse Rock for the timeless memories.

Today's Kool Idea: Chuck on NBC

Okay, we all have at least one TV show that feeds our obsession with lite, almost brainless entertainment. Chuck is just that show for us at The Daily Kool.

He's your run of the mill computer whiz working for Buy-More with his equally nerdy friends. But Chuck's average life is suddenly turned upside down when an old friend, who happens to work for the CIA, sends Chuck a mysterious encoded e-mail and the world's greatest spy secrets are embedded in Chuck's brain. Now Chuck has unwittingly become the government's most powerful weapon and the fate of both the country and the world now lie in his hands. A Buy More day job and saving the world are all in a day's work for Chuck.

With the government's most precious secrets in Chuck's head (and the fate of the world lying in his hands), Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin, "My Bodyguard") of the National Security Agency is responsible for protecting him. Casey's partner is the CIA's top agent, Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski, "Gone"). They try to keep Chuck safe by trading in his pocket protector for a bulletproof vest. Casey takes a job working with Chuck at the Buy More, and Sarah becomes his undercover "girlfriend" working at the yogurt shop across the street.

The Daily Kool team LOVES Chuck. NBC has, in our opinion, gotten everything right with a witty script and likable characters...a perfect blend of action, romance, comedy and adventure rolled into one truly entertaining series. One thing we especially like about Chuck is that every episode is basically new...you can miss a week and not feel completely Lost...sorry, ABC...we couldn't resist! But really...who would want to miss an episode of Chuck anyway? Chuck is a great antidote to those Monday blues, and is a guaranteed good time. Check it out at 8pm tonight and let us know if you think it's as "kool" as we do!