Both Print and the NY Times have great stories up about the new Nickelodeon show Yo Gabba Gabba! which brings a level of cultural sophistication to children’s television that we haven’t seen since that Pointer Sisters pinball song on Sesame Street. Hosted by Mark Mothersbaugh, with music from The Shins, and something called Biz’s Beat of the Day from–yes, you guessed it–Biz Markie, Yo Gabba Gabba! also features animations by HomestarRunner, Paperrad, the Unibros, and Jesse LeDoux. Paul Frank’s Julius also appears, and the show is produced in partnership with Wildbrain, the same production company that invested in Kidrobot earlier this year. From the Print piece we also have this sweet little nugget of inspiration:

Yo Gabba Gabba!’s co-creator Scott Schultz cites an unlikely influence on the show’s psyched-out aesthetic: Paul Rand. “He was able to use art to tap into the memories of childhood within adults,” says Schultz. “We wanted to give a subtle wink and nod to parents by referencing the past visually, and more importantly, make something fun that parents might be able to join in experiencing with their kids.”