Hi-5 (USA)

Hi-5 (USA) was a children's television group and television program that started in 2003. They were based on the original Australian TV show on Nine Network since 1999. The show was nominated for an Emmy Award three times and won other awards in its short lifespan.

History
Due to the show's popularity in Australia, an American group was assembled and Hi-5 made its U.S. debut in February 2003, featuring American performers in the same roles as the Australian cast members. The American version was shot in the same Sydney studios as the Australian version. The American show had episodes airing every weekday on The Learning Channel and Discovery Kids and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In addition, their first CD, Jump and Jive with Hi-5 received the Fall 2004 Parent's Choice Award.

As the show became increasingly popular, the cast performed and made appearances in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, on CBS's Early Show, and on NBC's Today Show, among others. During one Today Show appearance, Matt Lauer, the show's host, compared the group's popularity to that of The Beatles during their heyday.

Hi-5 toured theatres and arenas in the U.S. in 2005 on the "Move Your Body" Tour, playing live to sold-out crowds in Hartford, Boston, Columbus, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Tallahassee, and Raleigh. Beginning August 19, 2006, more than two weeks of concerts were held at Vancouver's PNE, with additional concerts at Sesame Place and at Target book festivals in Minneapolis and New York City. Their second tour, "Hi-5 Live", also sold out.

The members of Hi-5 visited kids and families alike during their 'off' time, helping in relief efforts for victims of both Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, visiting children at Target House (a facility servicing patients of St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis and their families), and helping with other benefits. Additionally, individual members formed philanthropic attachments to other charities, such as Karla's work with middle school-aged kids at an after-school program.

New cast members Yasmeen and Sydney last performed together with Curtis, Jenn, and Kimee on September 23, 2007, at the Sesame Place theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Cast members and Puppets
In late 2006, Karla Cheatham Mosley and Shaun Taylor-Corbett left the cast to pursue other ventures.
 * Curtis Cregan, from Okemos, Michigan, starred on Broadway in Rent.
 * Jennifer Korbee, credited as Jennifer Peterson-Hind, a native from Madison, Wisconsin, toured with The American Folklore Theatre for three summers. Her solo album, Give a Girl a Reason, was released June 12, 2007. Her first single is "Good Night Tonight". She was seen as a contestant on season 8 of American Idol. Though she did not get much camera time during her brief stint on season 8, her appearance on the show was nonetheless notable since she was joined by husband Tom, also a Hollywood finalist. The two were American Idol's first ever married couple. Neither was selected to be in the top 36.
 * Kimee Balmilero, a Filipina born and raised in Hawaii, performed in Miss Saigon on tour and made her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia!.
 * Sydney James, an African-American performer who auditioned for American Idol and made it to Hollywood. He played Simba in the Lion King on Broadway.
 * Yasmeen Sulieman, an African-American singer born in Oakland, California and raised in Hawaii. She toured with Little Shop of Horrors.
 * Jup Jup, was the silly five-legged puppet that can be found in Kimee's Puzzles And Patterns Segment. He continues to take ordinary things from Kimee and gives her other things she can use to help her solve the problem.
 * Chatterbox (Chats), was the best friend of Jenn in her Word Play Segment. Together Chats and Jenn sing about various topics.

Segments and songs of the program

 * Kimee specializes in "Puzzles and Patterns" to help with math and logical thinking.
 * Yasmeen focuses on "Body Move" to emphasize physical activity and coordination. She replaced Karla in this segment in series 3.
 * Curtis creates "Making Music" to show melody, rhythm and beat.
 * Jenn works with "Word Play" to expand children's vocabulary, often using rhyming and song.
 * Sydney helps identify "Shapes in Space" - visual and spacial awareness, shapes, colors, and sizes. He replaced Shaun in this segment in series 3.

Season 3 was announced in July 2007 after the entry of new members Sydney and Yasmeen, but it was cancelled in September 2007 due to a high cost.

Discography/videography
Titles released on VHS/DVD in America (Region 1):

All Hi-5 USA videos and DVDs are released in United States by MGM and Well Go USA Inc:
 * 2004 Color Craze: 1 Song: Living In A Rainbow
 * 2004 Music Magic: 1 Song: Feel The Beat
 * 2004 Game Time! (Winner of the iParenting award for 2004): Ready Or Not
 * 2006 Move Your Body: Songs: Five Senses, Move Your Body and North South East And West
 * 2006 Action Heroes: Songs: Action Hero, T.E.A.M, Underwater Discovery
 * 2007 Making Music: Making Music, Robot Number 1 and Feel The Beat
 * 2007 Wonderful Wishes: Some Kind Of Wonderful, Three Wishes, Sleigh Ride
 * 2008 Animal Adventures: So Many Animals, Underwater Discovery, North South East And West
 * 2008 Summer Rainbows: Songs: Living In A Rainbow, Five Senses, Feel The Beat
 * 2008 Hi-5 Hits: Features every Hi-5 song
 * 2008 Season One: Five Senses, So Many Animals, Robot Number 1, North South East And West
 * 2009 Season Two: Ready Or Not, Move Your Body, Three Wishes, Feel The Beat
 * 2009 Season Three: Living In A Rainbow, Making Music, Action Hero, T.E.A.M.
 * 2009 Season Four: Some Kind Of Wonderful, Underwater Discovery
 * 2010 The Best Of Curtis: Action Hero, Robot Number 1
 * 2010 The Best Of Jenn: Making Music, T.E.A.M.

CD Titles: These Hi-5 USA CDs were released in the United States by Koch Records.
 * 2004 Jump And Jive With Hi-5 **Winner of a Parents' Choice Award in 2004**
 * 2005 It's A Hi-5 Christmas

Awards and nominations
The series was nominated for an Emmy in 2005, 32nd Daytime Emmy Awards 2006, 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards 2007 34th Daytime Emmy Awards.