Long Islander Films Interactive Kids Show From Home

FARMINGDALE, NY — Long Island native and children's television star Tim Kubart found himself back home at his parent's house in Farmingdale as the coronavirus pandemic shut down New York and his gigs as a family musician and actor. But seeing a need to entertain kids stuck at home during the shutdowns, Kubart teamed up with a new children's video startup company, Hellosaurus, to create The Birthday Show. Kubart has been filming the interactive show from his family's den for the past month.

The original plan was to debut the show next year, but Hellosauraus and Kubart decided to launch a modified version of the interactive show when the pandemic changed everything. The show uses its own technology platform to allow kids to interact with the screen while celebrating their birthdays.

"It's really great that kids are celebrated on the show, and there's a moment every episode where we share presentations of kids who are doing special things, knowing that other kids are missing out on birthday parties. So they sing a song, or do a dance, or read a poem."

Kubart, who previously appeared on Sprout TV and Postmodern Jukebox, hosts the show, which streams for free at 12 p.m. every day.

Parents and kids have been finding out about the show through word of mouth, and helping to lessen the disappointment of birthday parties canceled because of COVID-19 is a big part of the appeal. Parents can sign up for a birthday "shoutout" for their child on the show's website.

Guest stars have included Genevieve Goings, Emily Arrow, and trumpet player Benny Benack III. Upcoming shows will feature a beatboxing lesson from Devon Guinn, 2019 American Beatbox Loopstation Champion, and a performance from Frankie Cordero, puppeteer on Fraggle Rock and Sesame Street.

The aim of the New York-based company is to reinvent children's shows for the touchscreen generation and the pandemic highlighted that opportunity for interactive kids' programming, the company's founder says.

“As kids, our birthday was always the best day of the year for my twin sister and me,” said James Ruben, Hellosaurus CEO.

“The Birthday Show [is] a little dose of joy in an uncertain time.”