DefunctTV: The History of Oobi

[@TheCornDog.]

"Oobi?" *Smokes cigar* "That’s a name I haven't heard in a long time."

[@eetan384]

Thats essentially this whole channel

[@lucineidecarvalhodeoliveir5566]

"Do you know him?" "Of course i know him,he's me."

[@Patrickmayonaiseinstrument]

That's exactly how I reacted when I saw the thumbnail, it's like a part of my brain was awoken, and memories I forgot about slowly started coming back.

[@sarahlilly1745]

Oobi-Wan Kenobi

[@JonyUchiha]

I just randomly remembered it and searched it up. I just regained a lot of old memories.

[@Sparking_Ram]

The Phrase "this implies Oobi's species..." has stopping power.

[@enchanted9487]

I remember watching this when I was little and I never thought it could go that far when it comes to their “species”. I’ll be honest I used to think this was just a show about these kids and their grandfather and all they did was play with their hands as people all throughout the house which is a reason why we are seeing this and why we don’t ever see their full bodies. And this was then they were still doing the shorts before the actual show premiered. I mean think about it, they live in a regular size house with full size furniture, appliances, musical instruments like pianos and guitars, etc. Plus my naive little self who didn’t know exactly how the television business works and how hard puppetry can be thought they were actually kids,not exactly an actual 4-5 year old using their hand as Oobi, Uma, Kako but like a preteen Nickelodeon/Disney channel age actor with the only adult as Grandpu since it looked simple and primitive

[@knicknacknat]

I haven’t organically thought about Oobi in years.......... this is a DEEP cut

[@sleepyinnuendo]

Natalie ikr

[@CasualTrashposter]

Oh My Gosh! YEAH! Seeing this in my recommended brought back some repressed memories.

[@sonicalex2536]

Seeing oobi again is literally so frightening please help.

[@somedude5422]

SAME

[@toonkid5196]

Does this cut actually hurt?

[@dank_smirk2ndchannel200]

Oobi: "What's wrong Angus?" Angus: "My eyeballs are inside my mouth Oobi. I keep biting them. I am in horrible agony."

[@aurusallos]

I want this as a shirt now.

[@hexmaniac6810]

Like the beetlejuice woman

[@lindsey.13]

@@hexmaniac6810 barbara

[@williamdrum9899]

Oobi: "Chew your food more slowly then? Sorry bud I don't know what to tell ya."

[@neotheyoshare]

No I think you mean. Oobi: Angus, problem? Angus: Angus eyes, inside mouth. Angus bites eyes, in agony.

[@ThePennyVlogz]

“A hand bird despite the existence of real birds being confirmed” Kevin really out here exposing the oobi plotholes

[@WillHirsch]

Also are the eyes of the bird on the raised middle finger? Making it really "the bird"???

[@geekylesbian7440]

wow. Kevin really exposing the main questions, huh?

[@barrettstone5657]

I’ve been looking for this for 15 years now. Damn I wasn’t sure oobi existed.

[@talkingfez1265]

@@barrettstone5657 I loved Oobi! It was weird but good!

[@LePenguin]

In one of the older shorts there was an actual cat in it despite the show having a hand cat

[@van4195]

"the hand characters were not only characters, but they were also hands," LMAO WHY DID I LAUGH SO HARD

[@fivesix3868]

LMAO

[@bloodywanker49]

The part where he pointed out that actual birds already existed in their world was hilarious to me for some reason

[@NitroIndigo]

It's his deadpan tone.

[@somebonehead]

7:09

[@itscosmicnerd]

999th like!

[@welcometomylives]

"Oobi. Nerves. Steel." is quite possibly the most inspiring phrase I heard all day.

[@BrendanBarney]

Was that sarcasm? Please tell me it was sarcasm.

[@fallingpetunias9046]

@@BrendanBarney I believe it. There's a distinct lack of inspiration posters at my workplace. "Oobi.Nerves.Steel" makes me believe in the little creature. He's got this!

[@lonleylink507]

@@BrendanBarney he said all day, not of all time

[@Tswifter4ever]

This unlocked such a hidden memory in my brain, growing up in the 2000s was such a great time

[@WarriorMiller-zk2lu]

Same, I just saw the thumbnail and was internally freaking out from the nostalgia lol

[@ohmeganerd]

Same

[@johndowlingjr.]

Agreed. Noggin was my life! We had some pretty cool content to watch.

[@funkysunky7840]

Ikr

[@thespotsloggan1323]

same i think that it did because its so easy to forget because you see hands every day and you dont think of a tv show made in 2000 with hand puppetry

[@emilyrose2175]

“As oobi’s species aged, their fingers began to slowly curl inward” ok you can’t just drop that on us and move on like you didn’t just destroy us in a single blow calling whatever oobi is a *species* and assuming these sentient hands get old and eventually die

[@Agentmoss22]

Is he wrong though?

[@Spamton_A_Spamton]

Yeah that scared me

[@enslavedmedia8351]

Um what's gonna happen to the shy one's eyes

[@Spamton_A_Spamton]

Actually they probably wouldn’t die their fingers would curl through their hands and repeat the cycle

[@Bogwiji]

Masternugget475 Yeet r/cursedcomments

[@aimeperez469]

Noggin Lady: Oobi enhances preschoolers' early literacy and math skills. Me, aged 4, having literally no idea what any of those words mean: *Hell yeah dude*

[@hawktalon7890]

Yeah, same lmao

[@hirkkammett4361]

Me being 16 and not able to do 2nd grade math

[@mr.greenface3105]

4 yr old me: oh... *F#**#CK** YEAH*

[@mentichi7674]

it was the nick jr lady for me haha

[@mentichi7674]

WAIT THOSE ARE THE SAME THING I THINK IM A DUMBASS

[@eljestLiv]

"Pipo was already the name of an italian brand of jeans, so he had to come up with another title for his shorts" underrated line

[@ryanbedoya8848]

I... I GET IT NOW!!

[@scoopishere7881]

That is so smooth it probably isn't even intentional. If so, it is genius. Overall, underrated line.

[@gabe_s_videos]

I just got that >_

[@MitsubishiGTO]

😂

[@polarknight5376]

I don't get it? I get it.

[@tylerbarth3113]

College stoners especially loved this show, or so I've heard. Oobi reruns were usually early morning, I recall them being around 6am. College kids would return from a late night of smoking pot and partying, turn on the TV, and upon seeing hands talking to them they'd be hooked.

[@thecrimsoncreep]

This show has something for everyone

[@daydreams6956]

honestly i get it. i loved oobi as a kid and im a stoner now lmao

[@lambeyedgirl8922]

explains why I still dig it at 22 🤭

[@dustbunny6381]

i can see why, i'm high as shit right now and the puppetry is fascinating

[@Hwarming]

That and Nanalan

[@Slenderquil]

"And she would even develop a romantic relationship with Grampoo" The Oobi lore runs deep I see.

[@bigol9223]

I mean even as kids... come on, we all knew what was going on there.

[@Slenderquil]

@@bigol9223 Yeah, they were holding hands

[@brooke2719]

I'm sorry no hate, but it bothers me that you didn't spell it Grampu.

[@Slenderquil]

@@brooke2719 I didn't know that was how it was spelled. I assumed it was grampoo because oobi also has double oos in the name.

[@brooke2719]

@@Slenderquil You know I respect that, and no hate I was just joking around lol

[@PassTheMarmalade1957]

This show is so bizarrely fascinating. Like, the way the actors mimic facial expressions and head movements while still conveying that their characters are living hands is kind of brilliant (like when Oobi says that he has nerves of steel and lays his 'head' out completely flat to show that the hand is steady.) But on the other hand....we're spending 20 minutes staring at *HANDS.* Why are the hands going on dates?! What does holding hands translate to in this universe?!?!

[@jamiesprinkbob]

i remember being super little and watching this show in amazement but complete confusion bc the characters were hands but also bc the characters were hands. my parents thought it was the cutest thing ever. when my little sister would watch noggin with me she would get scarred of oobi lmao

[@annaadams9706]

I was waiting to see of inka and grandpa would uncurl their hand heads to make lips to kiss lol.

[@Sandstimes]

What If we.. held hands?? Haha jk.. Unless? 😳😳

[@jamiesprinkbob]

@@Sandstimes and we were both oobi's 😳🤫

[@c.w.r.794]

I remember a story from Noel McNeal, that the show would come on at 4 in the morning and college kids would get home from parties and were like: “Dude, are our hands talking to us?”

[@LaytonGallagher]

Noggin was the shit. Moose and Zee made me the man I am today

[@Jivolt]

Broadway trash person No I don’t like candy corn...

[@LaytonGallagher]

John Marshall I love lots of other things but I dont like candy corn

[@Jonkstrap]

When the candy cane song played on Christmas night, that made my 7 year old ass that much more hyped for Christmas

[@cullenhobbs9852]

When I was 3 that I don’t like candy corn short scared the crap out of me.

[@Managedbyindy]

Born in 2005 I grew up on noggin

[@painhammerrocketfist]

to this day my mother has her own pair of oobi eyes she carries around... if she sees crying babies or toddlers when waiting in lines or riding the bus, shell put on oobi eyes and talk to the kids and the kids become happy :)

[@alexsrandomlife3790]

I love this❤

[@alyssa7867]

I need more beauty in my life.

[@filteredmountaindew4521]

this is so cute omg 😭💜

[@jazzinikki01]

Awwww 😁

[@Cashman14]

Adorable

[@partypizza64]

Okay so the person who made oobi worked on sesame Street and EVENTUALLY MADE THE WONDER PETS??????? *this man has my respect fr I mean, usually with behind the scenes like this I expect the worse but this is feelings like a flower first blossoming in spring and I love it*

[@CaymanGaming]

Wonder Pets was the bomb man.

[@scoopishere7881]

The world of puppetry and puppeteers is so interconnected, there are few major puppet productions that aren't connected to others. Angus's performer voices Kermit now, for example. There are many, many more I could list, but I'll refrain.

[@powerONdelta]

SAME HERE

[@AnimationNation2004]

Not only is the world of puppetry interconnected but the world of classic animation is as well.

[@ObviousTrollFrom2007]

@@scoopishere7881 That's crazy. Reminds me of how several puppeteers from this obscure puppet show about Mr. Potato Head would later be background puppeteers in future Muppet projects.

[@plurbehgubgub]

This was a memory stored deep within my noggin

[@LovelyYT]

Life noggin

[@melz6126]

Brilliant

[@lostinthestars_]

Same

[@sleepyinnuendo]

😂

[@seanclancy1804]

....... listen here you little

[@cooldude2251]

"Grandpa was the only main character that held his face in a closed fist. This implied that when Oobi's species aged, fingers began to slowly curl inward." Wow we getting into Oobi lore now.

[@corndoggoiscool8223]

film theory wya

[@Walnut._.]

it's pronounced "Grandpu" actually. get it right nerd

[@witepybro9443]

Oobi is a spider

[@CarolinaS7]

I am pretty positive that it was actually meant to signify the fact he doesn’t have his own teeth… Kinda like when you play “Baby Shark” and do Grandpa Shark with the fingers bent.

[@The_Undead_Werewolf]

*Grandpu

[@ScabiousGarde]

Oobi holding himself out to show he's not shaking is genuinely funny, wasn't expecting to laugh out loud at pre-k

[@soloheroina]

that part made me cackle, great comedic timing lol

[@Nick-bb4nk]

12:41

[@Airi_Momoi_mmj]

We all need an Oobi in our lives.

[@hiroprotagonest]

Angus: weak aura Oobi: STRONG AURA

[@secretbaguette]

Oobi nerves steel 🫱 is a hillarious two seconds, I just love it

[@coffeelover5598]

When my brother and I were little, we'd call him "Oobi-wan Kenoobi".

[@asrieldreemurr8059]

Lol same, or I would call him just “Oobi”, either one, I even made my own character too called “handy” very big brain!

[@kurtperleberg3478]

Oobi was a show like no other in TV history.

Lol no. 😂

[@kurtperleberg3478]

@ But it was unique.

[@mr.davidfilms9972]

It is scary

[@kiwiangeldust6912]

@tiny bby queerlet How? It's not scary at all

[@kiwiangeldust6912]

@@mr.davidfilms9972 No it's not

[@beguinemystic]

i think one of the most important aspects of noggin was that the channel was completely commercial free! i think that’s super valuable and in combination with the mission statement and content of the channel created a healthier way for young children to engage in entertainment. it’s so sad that many young kids are being exposed to content on places like youtube that has none of that care put into it and is rampant with advertisement.

[@Kannongunnz]

Disney channel doesn't have ads either

[@RLNerevar]

Welcome to why Coppa exists, the ads were never meant to run rampant

[@anthonydeadman]

@@Kannongunnz Disney Channel definitely has ads. They're practically all over the place on there.

[@dullicecream]

@@Kannongunnz When was the last time you were on there?

[@lolar7707]

ABC, BBC, CBBC, PBS, PBS KIDS all don’t have ads.

[@connorb.7882]

Are we all having the same "oh my god this show WASN'T a fever dream & there's actually people that remember it other than me" moment rn?? I was SUPER obsessed with this show (something I know my mom hated lol) but never seemed to find other kids that'd seen it. It was such a sweet show & I've always remembered it fondly!!

[@Frozenfanatic-vq4rr]

WE ARE

[@warbossgegguz679]

This has happened to me twice now. First it was with Nanalan, now it's with this.

[@catlovingnerd21]

YES WTF

[@williamdrum9899]

I think I was just old enough to see the show as a kid and remember it later.

[@henriquedearruda8902]

I have always loved wonder pets I hope defunct tv does that show next

[@jamieaiken919]

“-would lead to the development of a full series, titled The Wonder Pets” Cue my brain having a vivid flashback to Kevin’s bewildered “MING MING DUCK LING” from the Nick Hotel episode

[@emilyfloof728]

Hehehe hehehehe hahaha

[@LovelyYT]

And the time put a vsco girl with the nick hotel

[@ohgodivewastedmylife4107]

Me too tbh

[@pie-rxmancer1142]

the phone, the phone is *WINGING*

[@emilyfloof728]

Pie-rxmancer Dun dun DUN

[@backwardscloud1434]

"...such as a hand bird, despite the existence of real birds being confirmed" summarizing the episode like a deep lore analysis

[@paisleepunk]

It's a cosplayer, probably

[@erinidum]

I was on the verge of straight up believing this show was a fever dream. I've never met anyone who ever heard of it and I couldn't find it for some reason when I went looking for it years ago. I'm surprised to hear how popular it was considering how difficult it was for me to find.

[@Amogusgamer1000]

Same.

[@juicyfry4326]

Where I'm from, it's because the show ran at night, so a lot of kids would be sleeping

[@kaylaryals8227]

I literally loved Oobi it scared me but like I loved it

[@POKEMANZZ3]

i straight up forgot this show even existed until i saw the thumbnail, man does it bring back memories

[@pickledillie2247]

BRO SAME

[@P3achJ3llyf1sh]

The fact that oobi inspired the creation of wonderpets threw me for a loop, I can’t believe two legends are actually someone involved with one another

[@CapnJigglypuff]

"Oobi. Nerves. Steel." *dislocates jaw*

[@LunaLovedgood]

IM CRYING AT THIS LMAOOOOOOOO

[@Kazigiri]

It's 4am bro, can't have me laughing like this

[@emilyfloof728]

Lol

[@beaniepq]

OMG 😂

[@DigitalDula]

I CANNOT GET OVER THIS

[@mihawk508]

Now I can’t stop imagining a civil war between the feet and the hands that claimed the lives of Oobi and Uma’s parents which leaves them in the care of Grampoo.

[@yep7726]

Hand master race

[@canaan466]

Reggie Jenkins I can see why you said Uma, but with grandpoo and oobi, I would spell it ooma Edit: never mind, the episode is titled Uma Swing so it is Uma. So dumb

[@xx_d0ra3m0n_xx]

Reggie Jenkins same

[@dildonius]

Everything changed when the Penis Nation attacked...

[@masterofpasta95]

dildonius **THE PENIS NATION??** So many unfortunate implications

[@BlumenCT]

Knowing that this was based on Muppet training exercises makes me respect it a whole lot more like wow

[@Matt-mm3sk]

Pogchamp

[@SouthernBelleReviews]

Yeah I had no idea either

[@tysargent9647]

@Stellvia Hoenheim Lazy, but successful.

[@onscreenmoper]

@Stellvia Hoenheim Nobody said lazy ideas are bad ideas.

[@choryllis6646]

"This implied that when Oobi's specie aged-" That line gave me psychic damage. This was one of my childhood favorites, and this was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me

[@TheTattoodmama]

"Peanut butter, jelly, different, good" Truly inspirational words.

[@sorbetbunny]

so simple yet so effective, grampu spits nothing but facts

[@alteregobruh]

@@sorbetbunny Oh, it’s Grampu? I thought it was Grandpoo this whole time

[@MitoNova583]

YOU CAN'T JUST HIT ME WITH WONDER PETS LORE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OOBI EPISODE

[@orcalord8166]

"The wonder pets" HOLY SHIT I JUST REMEMBERED THAT SHOW! That nostalgia hit me like a semi.

[@cobraeels735]

There's an animal in trouble, there's and animal in trouble right now

[@n4turalk3tchup98]

Literally as soon as I saw the gosh darn hamster with the construction hat my mind instantly went "The phone, the phone is ringing!"

[@hadtophoneya]

What's gonna work?..

[@pkrool]

@@hadtophoneya Teeamwork

[@vinnytheplayer5500]

The turtle

[@Indeciferable]

There's something about the simplicity that really adds to the charm. It's literally hands with minimal props but still able to convey the emotion and message they were aiming for.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Oobi's like me, Oobi's like you! Oobi's got a lot of big things that he's gonna do! Loved that show, I live near the studios where the principal photography took place and it made me realize I live in a small world

[@michaelrhett4958]

Uma’s his sis. Kako’s his friend.

[@potahtwah9591]

@@michaelrhett4958 shes big, hes small. Kako is their friend, grandpoo loves them all.

[@michaelrhett4958]

VanVanTheManMan OOBI! OOBI OOBI OOOOBI!

[@leslieking9657]

Avery the Cuban-American I used to love that show too.

[@lifemythanimations6606]

Ah, Justin Y's heir

[@pointpoint8445]

Not sure what’s weirder: the show’s premise and all of its ideas, or Kevin’s commentary on the species of Oobis.

[@gloom_o2560]

budget increase: -red hat -flower

[@felix.mp3639]

KillerMachine79 that’s what I thought lol

[@Chubby_Bub]

Noggin was very special for a kids' TV channel, and I feel like there's not been anything like it since. The day Noggin became Nick Jr. was a tragedy to my young self

[@henriquedearruda8902]

I hope they do gargoyles next

[@morbidsearch]

In UK and Ireland the channel was always called Nick Jr and I find it funny how Americans act like it's some blasphemous name.

[@henriquedearruda8902]

@@morbidsearch I want Defunct TV to do Gamera next

[@camerickoo4333]

Does it make anyone else feel old how television like this is now dead? Cable is dying because streaming is the future. I remember watching this show and absolutely loving Noggin, and I just can't help but feel sad knowing that other than my future kids, this media will one day be lost or forgotten by everyone. Life seems unreal...

[@Stormrunner]

While it does make me feel old too, streaming gives these shows a chance to stay alive in a way that cable never could

[@BewilderedCitrus]

Future generations will only have cocomelon to look forward to now 😞😞

[@sillybeanthing]

I mean, the content was awesome! But... Commercials all over it while you already pay so much is just not something appealing to me now that I'm an adult. I wish the content was as good but tbh the ads just make me so mad because of how impatient I am. I just wanna watch the show when I want.

[@user-wj6jh1cd5n]

@@sillybeanthing Wait until streaming becomes the standard, then you're gonna be dealing with a lot more ads because they know they can get away with it.

[@CheerUp2]

I feel like im gonna try and collect vhs tapes and dvds from this time when i had kids. So that way they can still experience it

[@siko-society5635]

I didn’t think something could be cursed and wholesome at the same time but here we are

[@forgor4410]

Blursed

[@danielavanilla4331]

I thought I was the only who was scared of this as a kid! Lol

[@bob420ert]

If you're like me and grew up with it, it brings a tear to your eye seeing all of these old shows after so many years, but not a tear if cursed images, but of pure nostalgia, defunctland has unlocked parts of my brain that i haven't used in a while

[@kaseybennett7415]

I loved this show as a kid and it's wack looking back

[@lunaticzeroone]

@@kaseybennett7415 same thing here. Loved it during childhood, but nowadays they look creepier the more and more you stare back at them

[@theiceman4494]

Peanut butter. Jelly. Different. Good. Oobi demonstrated diversity better in five words than every piece of media from the past decade combined.

[@phoenixlmao]

SO TRUE

[@jocelynecupcake]

Yeah, like the Chinese restaurant episode, and the one where Oobi befriends Freida who is a foot (even tho that episode may cause some controversy today). Oobi was good at showing diversity in such an innocent and kid friendly way.

[@m.c.s1306]

Oh so true

[@vianneyaguilar3706]

​@@jocelynecupcake I don't feel like it would cause controversy. it's to show in a very obvious way that freda was different from oobi. to show kids that not all kids are the same like you and that's okay. the show was geared towards really young kids and had few words.

[@pgj1997]

@@jocelynecupcake I've watched both episodes with Frieda in it, and I really don't see how they would be considered controversial by today's standards. Other than a Nickelodeon production with bare feet is wince inducing for reasons I won't get into.

[@andginisin]

i loved oobi. it’s imaginative in its execution but it’s also so human, which is absolutely gone from media in our age. when kids draw people, the heads and the hands are always oversized bc they’re socially evocative. combining them both into fun little puppet characters is so accessible and charming

[@VampyreBarbie]

My daughter was OBSESSED with this show. Literally obsessed. She is on the Autism spectrum and she also had a tracheotomy so she didnt speak until she was 3.5 yrs old...she would use her hand as "Oobi" to help her communicate. To this day, sometimes she will still do her version of Oobi to talk. Shes 12 . This show really holds a special place in our hearts 💗

[@rileygrace7764]

awww 🥺

[@annikkirahko6714]

This is really sweet💕

[@Xeno1798]

I don't think i'm on the spectrum at all but I used to do something very similar when interacting with older people in my family just because i felt insignificant. Really cool to see how many different people a show like this can help

[@simplesimply3753]

My brother has a mental delay and he was OBSESSED with this show. We found some hand eyes and he also used ‘Oobi’ to speak.

[@buttercupkat]

@@Xeno1798 You're not insignificant. You're a valued person. You deserve as much respect as anyone in your family.

[@sharkeyburke5925]

Fingers crossed for a Wonderpets video. I haven't heard that name in a while but as soon as I saw it a visceral wave of pleasant nostalgia washed over me.

[@emilyk6774]

it's still on the brain for me! when the work phone goes off my coworkers and i sing "the phone, the phone is ri-nging" i was shocked to see the guinea pig appear in this. i never realized the wonder pets and oobi were from the same studio, though i didnt watch oobi as much

[@wiibrockster]

Yes! That show was part of my childhood

[@SSDARKPIT]

Just seeing you say Wonderpets got the song stuck in my head.

[@southparkboyproductions6040]

Another show I grew up with! “What’s gonna work? Teamwork!”

[@philsowers]

Pretty sure it started through the Go Baby interstitials, or was at least the same studio.

[@Marajuas]

12:43 "Oobi Nerves Steel" The elements at work here are amazing

[@simpletoastvibes]

Best thing I've seen all day lol

[@lezbeehonest0294]

For years, I have intermittently gotten "Ooobi! Oobioobioobioobi OOooOObi" stuck in my head. I absolutely loved this show and I can't believe I wasn't its sole viewer.

[@evilfyredragon2738]

Grampu: *Instills wisdom* Me: “That’s a good wisdom”

[@InventorZahran]

Peanut butter. Jelly. Different. Good. Man. Woman. Relationship. Different. Good. Man. Man. Relationship. Not different. Bad. This is a meme. I do not condone homophobia, even when a fictional character's oversimplified "wisdom" can be extrapolated to justify it.

[@Maswartz226]

@@InventorZahran then why spread it?

[@jameswent48]

No one cares

[@vyk_15]

@@jameswent48 you cared enough to comment

[@pgj1997]

Nice reference.

[@roguegenie4391]

Whenever they high five, they have to unhinge their jaws. I am not sure how to feel about that.

[@holyshard530]

Well, they are hands..so their jaws are also fingers.

[@joshuamusicvinyls5240]

So basically they are unhinging it’s jaw and kissing. I don’t know how to feel about this

[@oldabandonedaccount7751]

It’s *V O R E*

[@oldkid820]

With each comment it gets progressively worst

[@ashwen337]

angus''s eyes are in his mouth, so yeah. how's that for imagery

[@zanthiablue5254]

It is interesting how the use of hands rather than full puppets increases their ability to vary expression by combining both imitations of facial expressions and expressions made using hands. My favourite that I spotted were when they 'scratched' the side of their pointer finger with their thumb to represent scratching their head and when Oobi flattend out his hand to show he's all chill. It's really a testement to how good our brains are at recognising visual signs that even as kids we can watch this and understand the expressions even though they code switch between being hands and being faces constantly.

[@zoejo1706]

Imagine an alien race without human facial recognition watching this show and just being utterly confused.

[@robertnussberger2028]

@Zanthia Blue true

[@freakishuproar1168]

@@zoejo1706 Your post reminded me of that detail from _Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_ where it explains that the primary villain race, the Vogons, have brains that evolved from their livers. Maybe somewhere out there a "headless" sapient race evolved with it's visual organs on it's equivalent of hands.

[@stressedpeach7749]

I wonder how weirded out the real kids were seeing a grown man on the floor with his hand talking to them.

[@ketameanii]

FOR REAL

[@enchanted9487]

Not to long ago I came across the Oobi wiki and for the episode about Kakos puppy it mentioned a girl who tweeted that she was one of the kids who interviewed with her dog at age 5 and that now she’s a disability activist at Boston College. Now I wonder where these other kids are at. You have to accept the fact that they are in their 20s now, college, and what they are doing in their lives right now since Oobi.

[@quinndys]

This was my first thought watching that part lmao

[@BrendanBarney]

I wonder how many of them told Kako he sounds just like Bear.

[@cameronhadley5707]

I actually really liked it.

[@nathanmurphy7585]

There is nothing more special than seeing a new Defunctland episode and having a strong surge of nostalgia rush back to you for a show that you long forgot. I remember watching this as a kid, and just remembering this got me to tear up a bit. Thank you!

[@katybeechan5163]

I’ve watched oobi a lot as a kid. I still watch the episodes on KZbin

[@MercuryCat]

Yeah, this was like, so much of my childhood

[@abic.3148]

“Selig created his own studio, little airplane productions” I can hear the little kid saying “little airplane” after the wonderpets it brings back so many memories omg

[@elijahblechman8633]

This is creepy me out too. I'm getting flashback s.

[@kayaelizabeth8361]

An insane fangirl yeasss “whittle airplane” thinking about that gives me so many flashbacks

[@ObviousTrollFrom2007]

I forgot that ending logo too...

[@tysargent9647]

It was actually based on a song from Sesame Street.

[@LirazRandome]

'_'

[@sofijaj8942]

so this show WASN’T just a fever dream from my youth

[@arthas640]

so many shows from the 70s, 80s, and 90s are like that. Starting in the 2000s shows started to become more main stream and weirder concepts became less common but goddamn so many shows from our childhoods were so weird you go through your whole life thinking it was some weird dream you had as a kid, and then you see a clip on KZbin and you're like "wait, that actually happened!?!"

[@terratitan9264]

I thought I made it up as a kid with those rings with those plastic eyes on it 😂 that or a dream 🤤

[@MAGNETICDOGZ]

Omg... Noggin, Oobi, and Wonder Pets were such huge parts of me and my little brother's childhoods as early 00s kids! 😭 Learning that Oobi and Wonder Pets were made by the same people... I never heard of the man before today, but I have so much respect for Josh Selig now. I got close to teary-eyed when you played the Oobi theme 🥲 I guess I didn't realize how much I missed this show until I watched this video.

[@TheR999]

Oobi taught me that gang signs are people with complex emotions too

[@narlowemcfarlowe2952]

Blood Oobi Now

[@Romiedahomie415]

The®999™ lmfao

[@Sorrowdusk]

Mind blown

[@dannydamnmendez]

Ayy bro Oobi ain't about that life

[@Dablooner]

@@narlowemcfarlowe2952 haaaa

[@justas423]

Imagine "Of Mice and Men" but purely in this style.

[@BulkBogan]

Justas how would you show candy? Would he have a missing finger? 🤔

[@whattheflimflam]

The rabbits, George

[@GlassesnMouthplates]

So Lennie kills Curley's wife by dislocating the puppeteer's wrist?

[@marquis911]

We gonna have bunny ears, right George?

[@shashummga3477]

Better yet , “It’s a wonderful life” but in this style

[@Kasey_H]

This show will always hold a special place in my heart. My younger sister has Down syndrome and when she was young, she would copy the movements of oobi and it helped her build her fine motor skills. It’s amazing how such a simple concept can have a big impact.

[@michaelrhett4958]

Help! My heart is melting! This is too wholesome!

[@mesharkyvibes]

I loved this show when I was 3-4, and it’s been pushed back far into my memories for a while, this episode is a trip.

[@luna-li9fj]

same 😧 r u 20

[@williamkrapes2023]

Its crazy how many childhood shows you forget about.

[@mesharkyvibes]

@@luna-li9fj 18 XD

[@naadeiashie6053]

If you remember noggin, you deserve a military discount.

[@everythingz888]

Naadei Ashie Excuse me Noggin was my life 😂

[@aceofpentacles2k]

He said "Noggin" and I felt like I got hit by a train. Like holy shit

[@skittyrocks]

Time to pick up my AARP card

[@lightningmcseed7303]

I better get that discount to make up for the trauma it caused me

[@NightShadowNS]

Guilty as charged.

[@Account_Not_Applicable]

Oobi was always a little strange to me, but still charming and fun to imitate. We had those hair ties with the plastic balls, and I'd use those between my fingers as eyes and mimic the characters. I don't remember watching many of the full length episodes, but from how regularly I watch NOGGIN, I saw the shorts plenty of times. On a side, I *loved* NOGGIN. I would get home from school around 4, watch Arthur on PBS, switch to NOGGIN after (which was the only place that had my favorite shows Franklin and Little Bear). And when it changed to The N at 6pm, I'd change the channel again and watch the regular Nickelodeon shows or to Cartoon Network til bed.

[@oobigoddess9114]

Do you remember any of the plots of the shorts? Most of them are lost media. lostmediawiki.com/Noggin_Presents:_Oobi_(partially_found_series_of_interstitial_shorts;_2000-2002)

[@Somepersonidk]

For me I used to use the Mr. Potato eyes and put them between my index and middle finger ^^

[@moonphantasm]

this show was my biggest fear for a while, i had a nightmare once about oobi having a long, realistic tongue

[@LovelyYT]

Ok that dream was just paranormal

[@LovelyYT]

🤙🇷🇺☭✞

[@kellyslytherclaw3150]

Finally I'm not the only one

[@bigol9223]

Lol

[@SongbirdFlying]

Just seeing the thumbnail made my skin crawl, I'm glad I'm not the only one!

[@tomsmurf4225]

I distinctly remember a toy of this i had as a kid: a pair of googly eyes attached to a ring you'd wear on your middle finger to make it look like a character from oobi. Seriously.

[@annet1672]

i had the same one!

[@samanthareyes5533]

SAME!!!!

[@darkfungang]

christ i had that too

[@alyssa7867]

Toys marketed towards kids but good this time. And affordable.

[@williamdrum9899]

I wanted one of those toys when I first saw Oobi but it took me ten years to find one haha

[@accordingtosophia]

This was the freakiest, most uncanny-valley thing. I loved it as a kid.

[@ShadicJackson]

I forgot the name of it. Then I saw this video and was like "is this what the memories we're about?" And I was right.

[@morgue.n444]

It terrified me lol

[@tornadodee148]

@@morgue.n444 those round,globular eyes on top of that hand-mouth *shivers* o_____0

[@humorouswizard]

@@tornadodee148 this was my daily routine (not the whole day of course): 1. Watch The Upside Down Show 2. See that Oobi was on next 3. Say that I "wanted to take a nap" and run into my bed 4. Hide under my blankets until I fell asleep 5. Wake up and forget what Oobi was It's kind of sad looking back on it now..

[@Anna-xu2ne]

When he mentioned “asparagus” I was taken back for a second to being 4 years old and watching that exact episode. Weird.

[@elijahblechman8633]

Fucking same. I remember the exact place I saw that too.

[@acetenyt699]

No way how that hell?!? Same!!

[@walnzell9328]

Bear in the Big Blue House, Blue's Clues, The Wiggles, Little People, Jack's Big Music Show. And now Oobi. The world will remember them.

[@Jay-qn5jx]

WALN Zell JACKS BIG MUSIC SHOW WAS SOOOOO GOOD

[@echotrapta]

OMG I LOVED BLUE'S CLUES AND THE WIGGLES AS A KID

[@sewporsalad]

Asdfhddhdbdmjf I forgot about Jack’s Big Music Show

[@LovelyYT]

I was big bear in the big blue house

[@HazbinCovenWitch]

@@Jay-qn5jx YASSS BITCH! I THOUGHT I IMAGINED THAT SHOW!

[@viv_dumbb]

Oobi is something that I loved as a kid. It was something I would beg to watch. To this day I can sit down and watch an episode of Oobi because It fell between the cracks of my "not so good" childhood. The show was not tainted with the horrors I experienced as a child and Im forever thankful.

[@IamArock22]

I was literally convinced this show-thing didn't exist. I remember watching Noggin all the time as a kid, and I remember very vaguely a show about hand puppets. I could never remember the name, and whenever I told my mom about it she said she didn't remember it at all. I'm glad to know that this even exists in the first place

[@Star-pd6lu]

same, i saw this video and though "oh my god it was actually real"

[@Amogusgamer1000]

Same, it’s kinda creepy.

[@chefchild7205]

Same for me, I remember being in my living room watching this.

[@Creep302]

I just realized that "Kitty" is played on the performers middle finger. He's been flipping off the cast all this time.

[@MightyMewtron]

cats are just like that

[@lovelydolltime8006]

My childhood is forever ruined.

[@Flowtail]

Having had a cat in my home for many years, can confirm

[@megathesimper4050]

I actually forgot that Oobi existed, it's funny too cause I watched it all the time as a kid, but now thanks to this video I remember it existed I should watch it again

[@FeatheredCreature]

@brandon roberts what creepy pasta tv show?

[@FeatheredCreature]

@brandon roberts okay thanks

[@raddreokami6892]

Dude. I felt the same.

[@nberrypatch02]

My daughter was born in 2004. We discovered Oobi in reruns, when she was around 3 yrs old. We all loved the show. Ooma was her favorite, Grampoo was my husband's, & mine was Kako. My husband & I appreciated the humor thrown in for adults. Our favorite episodes were the ones where Grampoo was "twitterpatted" over Inka & seeing their budding new romance - hilarious stuff! Watching this video brought back so many bittersweet memories because it reminds me of my daugther's early childhood. She's 20 yrs old now. I just want to rewind the clock, go back in time, & experience those fleeting years once again...

[@jewelianperez7038]

Oobi You *remember*

[@missqwq6482]

Jewelian Perez Thank u for reminding me oh my god the nostalgia.. *Oobi!* *You!*

[@echotrapta]

YES!!

[@lisabaileyozbaby9654]

Oobi remember

[@someperson9895]

I used to watch these videos late at night in the living room when everyone else was asleep and the clock ticked above me. The Gerber commercials were terrifying, so was the black night outside the screen doors and the clock, but Oobi made me feel calm and like it was alright. Oobi kept me safe and helped me sleep. This really hits home.

[@LovelyYT]

@@someperson9895 whats Gerber

[@kimm7611]

8:26 I keep replaying this part, it's so crazy how he's able to make his HAND look like it's SMILING. that's crazy talent right there

[@tysargent9647]

No wonder, he also performed the main character on Bear in the Big Blue House, which is a technical marvel in of itself.

[@justas423]

I want an Adult Swim comedy but only in this style.

[@CortezaDeAbedul]

There's a mexican tv character who is basically what you're asking for

[@ToriandAnnaTheIdiots]

Write it! (:

[@tootietooter5984]

This is something I never knew I wanted.

[@lisabaileyozbaby9654]

Do it yourself

[@narlowemcfarlowe2952]

Oobi: The College Years

[@thatll-do7606]

This is such a nice change of pace from the channel's normal subject matter. No behind the scenes drama, no underhanded manipulations, just a bunch of people who made something they loved that ran its course

[@EternityKingdomsHeadHoncho]

“Underhanded” I see what you did there

[@lizzychrome7630]

Oobi's definitely qualify as cute puppets (the opposite end of the spectrum being the hellish monstrosities on "Peppermint Park"). But besides being adorable, I also find them interesting from a scifi standpoint, imagining an actual species of creature with mouth tendrils that can work like giant arms or fingers as needed.

[@epicthecandydragon6079]

That’s exactly what I was thinking! only thing is that this is one of the only ways I can figure you could pull this off and have it not be freaky. I’m imagining a snake creature with huge limbs or tentacles for a face.

[@samstarium8606]

@@epicthecandydragon6079 u should check out kikimora's hand dragon from the owl house! same idea

[@NighttimeJuneau]

Love your way of thinking.

[@playtimeallthetimecbeebies2272]

200 likes!

[@ghostgirl7089]

THE HISTORY OF MY FAVORITE SHOW WHEN I WAS A KID?! SIGN ME UP

[@maximustheshoosh227]

Ghostgirl 708 same

[@robbiesux3078]

I used to watch this shiw like EVERY day

[@nicthenicbro]

Oobi was both my savior and my sleep paralysis figure

[@andromedawolf1948]

Ghostgirl 708 glad I’m not the only one person who remembers this show

[@LovelyYT]

Omg i see you like anywhere i go

[@weaselwords99]

The part where the piano teacher and Grampu were slurping their drink together had me ROLLING

[@honey-seunglix-f4iry514]

i was born in 2003. this was my favorite thing to watch as a kid and i rediscovered it at 16 and have been rewatching them, even until this day.

[@Sonamy5673]

When I was a kid there was this girl in my class who claimed she was one of the characters and I believed her

[@superstar2446]

😂

[@wijo6234]

Well how does one go about disproving that?

[@snr-iw5dz]

oobi kin

[@Progamer1013]

I think I was just smacked in the face with the large tuna equivalent of nostalgia. I LOVED this show when I was super little, Noggin, in general, was amazing for little kids waaaaaaaaay back in the day. Sucks that their are not a lot of similar shows nowadays.

[@whatever9097]

Same. Noggin made me the person I am now. I’d be an even bigger asshole if didn’t have these shows.

[@maggieent3215]

Yeah I remember noggin! I liked the show Oswald and the moose

[@maggieent3215]

And the art styles present on noggin were phenomenal

[@vasmask2121]

Noggin was the best thing that show on TV . It taught a couple kids along it’s run of being on the air ; made people who they are today ! Sad kids today don’t understand that

[@lightningmcseed7303]

Noggin taught me to never trust a damn wild animal

[@degamevlog1219]

Hmmm yes Oobi lore. Myu favourite

[@mistersympa15]

This comment killed me because this is exactly how I feel about lazytown but unironically.

[@MsYukizomesorangejuice]

Same along with many others

[@drowsy7921]

To be honest, you need a very high IQ to understand Oobi.

[@mistersympa15]

@@drowsy7921 I believe Temmie. Temmie only wants High-IQ flakes.

[@drowsy7921]

@@mistersympa15 Tem wants High IQ flakes... plese gibe hi iq flake

[@crabapple7704]

I remember Noggin was my life for quite a while, and I think I didn’t start drifting away from it until I hit 1st grade. I’m in 11th grade now and I haven’t so much as thought about that channel in so many years! OOBI! THE UPSIDE DOWN SHOW! OSWALD! *THE MEMORIES ARE FLOODING BACK AND I CANT TAKE IT*

[@whitneywood1690]

CrabApple 7 I’m in the 12th grade and these shows hit me hard cuz I loved noggin as a kid and I still do I wish it wasn’t replaced with nick jr tho😭

[@kellomellow2791]

Is it weird that at age 20, I could sit and watch this entire series just because of nostalgia

[@itsjazzyhair]

Sameee I’m 20 as well lol

[@kyliethelittlecouragegirl94]

I’d do the same too and I’m 19 almost 20

[@koda_dawgg]

i do the same thing with this show and many other shows "made for kids", cuz they're timeless.

[@froggybibi]

8:20 imagine having a dude crouching next to u straining to stay out of frame & monosyllabically asking "Carrots Good?"

[@FilmmakeroftheFuture]

froggy bibi She still went along with it.

[@Gummyskeleton]

This show was so wholesome and adorable, I loved it so much growing up that I would get the same type of eyes for the hand and make up characters with my grandmother, oobi was definitely a show I wish would exit now a days

[@jemp4291]

Oh my god I loved Oobi! High key, when I was little I used to use my hand as a puppet too to talk to people when I was nervous. Such a good show and I’m so happy that it remained good. There’s always that fear, you know? That something happened to taint something good, but I’m glad that doesn’t seem to be the case. Also the fact that the Oobi style came from Muppet training exercises is so cool!

[@kaseybennett7415]

While I would have loved a few more seasons, I'm glad it didn't do the typical for shows like this in just running it into the ground. I'd probably rather it end early, than end too late.

[@Astr0_Man]

n i think oobi helped develop my finger tap/tapping stim lmao, i luv it and it helps me feel calm like i did when watcin Oobi

[@DoctorMinjinx]

I can't believe that woman preformed with her foot lol. It looks very difficult, respect.

[@anthonydeadman]

Yeah I was thinking "Nooo she couldn't have actually held up her foot for a long period of time to do that". Like that's amazing, but it had to have taken a bit of fatigue and energy to hold her leg up for that long.

[@anthonydeadman]

@Yo Momma I get the joke, but it's a bad one. He had literally nothing to do with this show.

[@JackedThor-so]

You know this was the catalyst for so many future foot fetishists

[@HarpowXtra]

Yeah hahaha I can't believe she was able to preform with her feet hahaha, If only I had more pictures hahaha please for the love of God I'm desperate for feet pics God save me

[@TofuStack]

Noah Ariss hahah yes

[@spacebiker69420]

"Peanut butter, jelly; different, good." ~Grampoo

[@kayaelizabeth8361]

Terrapin Studios this is my favorite quote. He turns to the audience and asks, “Pizza; you; eat???”

[@quetsie0]

grampoo solves racism

[@TheITwister]

I live in Mexico. And here we had a football review TV show that aired during championships and other important events. In the show, there was one actor that used his hand like Oobi to make puns and other jokes, they called the character "El compayito" which is something like little buddy. All my life i thought that it was something original from that show; and discovering this just now it's just mind-blowing.

[@mentalotaku]

Never in a million years did I think I'd see a youtube video on Oobi, I haven't seen an episode of the show since elementary school. This was a fun surprise.

[@lohdhshs]

Maki best girl

[@brendancorey7831]

They have a KZbin channel that has all the old episodes. I freaked out when I found it

[@mjfsuperstar92]

As a kid, Noggin was so much fun to watch. My family thought shows like Oobi were a little outside of my age range since I was watching it during elementary school years, but I never really cared much about that. I just thought the show was cute. Plus, even as a child, I LOVED the hand puppets. I'm 24, but I've honestly really been feeling the urge to go back and rewatch a lot of the old shows I grew up with. I feel like I can appreciate them differently now that I'm an adult.

[@shala_shashka]

I watch old shows I used to watch periodically. I don’t know why but it’s a nice “reset” for me. Highly recommend.

[@elliamaris]

does anyone else remember the upside down show? my dad and i loved watching that show while my mom was annoyed by them (plus they showed episode passed my bedtime as a kindergartener lol)

[@milkyzach]

@@elliamaris i loved it i would purposefully stay up all night to watch it

[@podmakesedits338]

I remember the upside down show. It was an enjoyable show back in the days. When in the show they would ask you to use the remote but my older siblings would just grab the TV remote and turn off the tv as a joke 😆

[@bigthrillsmike3950]

Do some of these eventually 1. Reading Rainbow 2. Play with me Sesame 3. Big comfy couch 4. Blues clues 5. Zoom 6. Cyberchase

[@southparkboyproductions6040]

I don’t know about cyberchase. The cancellation hasn’t been confirmed

[@southparkboyproductions6040]

I think Bunnytown should be on the list

[@bigthrillsmike3950]

@@southparkboyproductions6040 I totally forgot about that.

[@bigthrillsmike3950]

@BeaToluna275 PrincessRosalinaFTWBackpackBearFTL wasn't that a block?

[@cjjones6261]

I can blame Cyberchase for my lifelong love of both Gilbert Gottfried and Christopher Lloyd. I'd love to see an episode covering it!

[@AidenTurner17]

Hearing the oobi theme after like 11 years just brought back a wave of memories

[@yeowch1073]

The hand-people are uniquely charming. So alien but so familiar. Also Frida the Foot is crazy impressive for that puppeteer

[@The-Stupid-Wizard]

People really didn't believe this show exists. This and the Upside Down Show were absolutely real!

[@hapyvenom9067]

Yessss upside down show was the best

[@tigerkite9520]

UPSIDE DOWN SHOW WAS EPIC

[@acidwizzardbastard]

Dude, the Upside Down Show was the shit.

[@yosh9192]

Upside Down Show? _So it does exist_

[@Untitled_Niamiko]

What was the Upside Down Show? It sounds familiar but I don't remember it

[@ninonerd3392]

I thought this show was just a weird dream. I had seen it many times as a kid after Dora the explorer episodes. It's so surreal that people actually remember this show. Thanks to you guys, I got relive memories and learn way more. So thanks to all of you at defunctland

[@kryonight2869]

As soon as I saw this episode all I could think of was that one creepypasta about a kids tv show that had a segment with talking hands that tortured kids hands while giving lessons like cutting through a kids hand with scissors while warning about the dangers of scissors.

[@oneandonlysound99]

I seriously thought this show was like one of those fill-in segments in between shows that many have done since animation has existed. Though truthfully, for the time period, that wasn't really a thing anymore. Yet that's how I remembered it and recognized it, with the exception this was actually a full show airing.

[@HLBUNS]

I remember watching Oobi in the middle of the night after most of the more popular shows were over. It always felt like a weird dream to me.

[@muffinland8660]

Thanks for making this. Oobi always made me viscerally uncomfortably, but seeing all the talent and love that went into it, you can't help but be grateful it existed for a while.

[@BobMarley-vj3ol]

I used to love this show as a kid. God this brings back memories.

[@psychxmania]

same

[@Lamamsl]

Thanks Bob Marley

[@kimberlybogert7031]

Yeah..same:'3