Thursday, July 7, 2011

I need closure.

Last week, I had a baby-free girls' night with my friends. For those of you who have kids, you know how glorious (and kind of surreal) it can be to do anything without children. Grocery shopping in particular is one of the hardest things to do with kids - especially when you have 2 kids. When we shop, my husband pushes my daughter in the shopping cart and I push my son in his stroller. This leaves us with 0 hands free. That means while someone steps away to get food, the other person has to guard our son from potential kidnappers in the Wal-Mart deli aisle (hey, this is Memphis) while also keeping our 2-year-old from doing a backflip out of the shopping cart into the chip display.

Parenthood is not for the weak.

So, knowing that I'm nursing and don't get the opportunity to go out much, my husband offered to watch the kids for the night so I could go out with the girls. I don't know what he was smoking when he offered to watch them, but we need to get more of whatever it is.

I was thoroughly enjoying my Baby Einstein-free drive to Bonefish Grill when I got a call from my husband.

"I have big news, HUGE news!" he blurted out.

I immediately thought Connor had taken his first step or something. Yes, I know he's 7-months-old. I mean, he's a genius. It could happen.

"Marina has been replaced on Fresh Beat Band!!!" he said.

O.M.G.

You might already know about my daughter's Fresh Beat Band obsession, but if you don't, let's just say we have every episode of Fresh Beat Band DVR'd and watch them every day. Several times a day. I wake up in the middle of the night to feed Connor, and the songs play in my head. Do you know how frustrating it can be to try to fall asleep with "Friends Give Friends a Hand" playing on repeat in your brain? Try watching the show once, you'll see what I mean.

The Fresh Beat Band show was the first TV show my daughter actually sat still and watched, and since then, it's been her favorite show. For Haley's 2nd birthday, we threw her a Fresh Beat Band party which I'm very proud of considering there aren't any Fresh Beat Band party supplies available (you can read more about the birthday party HERE). So you can understand how the Fresh Beat Band have become like family over the past year. And now, one of our family members was gone. This was huge news.


Marina (played by Shayna Rose) is the redhead in the photo above. Shayna was the only member of the Fresh Beat Band cast that had any actual acting experience. She allegedly quit because she was getting married and was replaced by Tara Perry (below).

source
As I watched the new episodes with Tara Perry in them, it just didn't feel right. I missed the old Marina! I missed her "hip hop and pop" catch phrase, the way she always crushed Twist's big ideas, I even missed her bad dancing. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye! 
The other Fresh Beat Band members didn't seem to notice that the old Marina had been replaced by a phony. Even her outfit had been modified. I wanted to shake them, to yell "she's a fake, can't you see?" but they never noticed, they just kept on singing their way out of every problem they ran into. Haley didn't even seem to notice. She was just enamored with the fact that this was a new episode she hadn't seen 8,000 times before.

There was no warning, no slow transition, Old Marina was just gone. Gone and replaced by New Marina.

And I didn't even get to say goodbye.

9 comments:

  1. I noticed this in a recent Fresh Beat Ad for their Live Show...they wouldn't show Marina up close until the end of the ad. Very sad - Simon is more of a fan than Five: he seems ok with the replacement, but I think I am more sad than he is. It reminds me of when they had to replace Greg in the Wiggles with Sam (due to health issues for Greg) - at the time, Five was so disappointed and confused - The Wiggles for him is the same as Fresh Beat is for Haley. At least with The Wiggles, there was a warning for the parents to explain to the kiddos. Nick Jr. should take some lessons from them. Let's hope the new Marina pulls through :)

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  2. What? She is gone? My son loves this show! But he is away with my parents so I haven't watched it in a few weeks. I think she is so adorable! Hope this did not dampen your night out too much :)

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  3. I have no idea what this is, but I'm sure I will soon! I still cracked up reading this because it's obviously a big deal in your house! LOL! : )

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  4. Confession time, I LOVE the Fresh Beat Band! Of course, I beg my 8 year old to watch it with me and then use him as the excuse :) Don't judge :) Haven't seen the new Marina yet. But I'll feel your pain. We DO get to feel they are family ... what a sad bunch of women we are :)

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  5. I know how you feel. When Greg got replaced by Sam on The Wiggles, it rocked my world. A good friend of mine had been out of town for about a month with no communication, and when she surprised me at a Christmas party by coming home early, the first thing I said after we hugged was, "Did you hear they replaced Greg?!" Side note- our kids weren't even at that party.

    I grieve for you in this time of transition. :(

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  6. Lucy discovered Fresh Beat Band this week. She was RIVETED.

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  7. I def do agree nick jr should have warned the parents my 3 year old hasnt noticed yet but i saw a new episode an its just not the same. i too watch the show with my daughter an this show is honestly the only show that doesnt become white noise when its on. will def miss the old marina. hope the transition goes well in your home because in mine even my husband is sad lol we did like the old marina.

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  8. Hi my name is Jenny and I'm a Fresh Beat Band Freak, LOL!! I love this show and so does my 1 and 2 year old girls. Heck, even my 12 year sometimes sits and watches. In my household is like this, we have 3 tv and in all 3 tvs my 2 year learned how to play the dvr ( i recorded it for her, bad idea) now this is all she watches. Now in regards to the new Marina, I DO NOT LIKE HER....she seems too (what's the word here) ghetto, don't get me wrong or anything, she over tries a little too much. Even when Twist says something is making him go bananas, the old Marina used to say "bananas did somebody say bananas" with such poised and it was funny, now it's like you have to say it even Kiki doesn't look right saying it. (ahhh, I took all of that out of my chest)

    By the way I love all of your decorations, I might be borrowing some ideas for my daughter's 3rd birthday come April.

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  9. I don't have a wordpress (yet), but my daughter turns 2 in april, and LOVES this show, and so do I. Thank God for Netflix even though there's only the first two seasons on there. I think this new Marina is so...fake...and stiff, the acting doesn't just flow like it did with Shayna. Her voice isn't as pretty either. My daughter doesn't seem to notice, but I sure did and i'm hurt, dangit! LOL

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