Holy Smokestacks - It's "The Choo Choo Bob Show"

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Introducing "The Choo Choo Bob Show," coming soon to a TV station near you. The live-action television show, based in the Twin Cities, will debut regionally on broadcast television this spring, hearkening back to whole-family-friendly children's television programming like "The Muppets" or "Yo Gabba Gabba." Watch the trailer here.

The first season features the main character, Choo Choo Bob, hanging out at his clubhouse with his best friend Richard W. Kornbelt and other pals, talking about trains and having all kinds of adventures. In each episode, there are trips to Tinyland, visits to real working railroads across the United States, questions from kids, musical guests and mischievous puppets. Twenty-six shows have already been produced for broadcast.

While the TV Choo Choo Bob and his friends are played by local actors, there is a real Bob behind it all, Bob Medcraft, the show's producer and owner of St. Paul, Minn. retail store Choo Choo Bob's Train Store.

"Our show is about friendship and social learning. But it's also educational and fun. Trains are so much a part of our country's history — it's great to introduce this generation to them," says Bob Medcraft. "What people like about 'The Choo Choo Bob Show' is that it's simple, and demonstrates good values. It's the live action fun many of us enjoyed when we were small. Everyone on our show's nice, not cynical or rude. And sadly, that's unusual to find on TV in this day and age."

The show grew from the popularity of the original Choo Choo Bob's Train Store, a St. Paul, Minn. landmark for kids and their parents. "It dawned on me that the train thing was popular. Model train sets inspire nostalgia in many people, and media —Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Casey Jones—mythologizes the railroad for young children who may have never touched or even seen an actual train," adds Medcraft. "So I created a place to introduce the World's Greatest Hobby to younger generations in a different way—by letting them touch and play with train engines and cars. And it's grown from there."

"The Choo Choo Bob Show" will also tour a live show around the region, beginning this year. The live performances, first created for and staged at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair, will include the Choo Choo Bob cast performing original music, dance and vignettes from the series.

"The Choo-Choo Bob Show" is a production of Birdhouse Holdings, LLC, founded by Bob Medcraft, owner of St. Paul, Minn. train mecca, Choo Choo Bob's Train Store. For more information about where to see the show both on television and live, how to visit the store, and for other news, visit choochoobobs.com.

SOURCE Birdhouse Holdings, LLC