How to Get Cast on ‘Yo Gabba GabbaLand!’

“Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” perpetuates the original show’s mission of bringing fun and education together in a magical, colorful way. From trying new foods to sharing one’s toys, “Yo Gabba Gabba!” reinforced the social skills and life lessons that children of preschool and early elementary age need to learn as they grow into kind, caring young people. 

The revival’s host, 13-year-old Kammy Kam (“Dance Moms” alum Kamryn Smith), serves as a surrogate big sister to the series’ cast of characters—Muno, Foofa, Plex, Brobee, and Toodee. Taking over for original host DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson), Kammy approaches things from a kid-centric perspective, allowing viewers to connect with the characters and their stories unlike ever before. Smith told EurWeb that audiences can expect an episode about friendship and another about going with the flow during the reboot’s 10-episode season. It’s sure to touch on topics that help children express and manage the emotions they’re feeling inside, too.

Smith is joined by the show’s five main characters—Muno (Adam Deibert), Foofa (Emma Penrose), Plex (Christian Jacobs), Brobee (Amos Watene), and Toodee (Erin Pearce)—all of whom voiced these roles in the original series and agreed to return for the new iteration. 

Known for its impressive guest star roster, “Yo Gabba Gabba!” featured appearances from “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jack Black, and Anthony Bourdain, as well as big-name musical performances by the Flaming Lips, Weezer, and Solange Knowles. “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” will continue the tradition, with appearances by Lauren Lapkus, Chelsea Peretti, Sam Richardson, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Gillian Jacobs, Diplo, Big Daddy Kane, Betty Who, the Linda Lindas, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, and more.

Jeff Johnson is the casting director for “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” Amy Sobo of Sobo Casting was attached to the original children’s program.

Before Jacobs and Schultz could find the right people to bring their iconic characters to life, the creators had to fine-tune who they were in a show emphasizing the importance of individuality. “We started with the personalities,” Schultz shared with Lauren Jimeson. “We wanted to have very iconic personalities that let kids identify with certain traits. We also wanted to make the characters very distinct from one another. We had the older brother type…Plex. We tried to make the characters so that there was each a different part of everyone, not just on the outside.”

After all, “Yo Gabba Gabba!” has always been about encouraging its young viewers to embrace who they are and appreciate their individuality. Perhaps that’s why Smith carries her own air of confidence, as she grew up watching the original show. “It was crazy because that day [I landed the role], my mom, she was really happy. And I know she’s always happy, but she was extra happy that day. So, it was crazy,” she told the Parent Watch. “And then she just called me in and she was like, ‘We’re going to Utah for three months because you booked “Yo Gabba Gabba!” ’ And I was like, ‘You’re kidding, because that’s crazy.’ And I watched it when I was younger—and me and my brother actually did. My brother was super excited, too.”

When it comes to casting the impressive musical acts, Jacobs told the outlet that he and Schultz “cast a wide net out to a lot of people that we obviously love and respect and want to work with…. To get [a] response back from people that are so excited to just be a part of it… Usually the energy right away is just incredible because people respond so well to [coming] on the show. It’s like becoming instant friends with some of your heroes and people that you really look up to.”

For instance, Jacobs noted that he and Schultz idolized the Red Hot Chili Peppers during their youth—and now they’re working with the band’s bassist directly. “Flea was amazing—an absolute legend,” he said. “Scott and I used to go see Red Hot Chili Peppers when we were in junior school. Now [Flea’s] hanging out with us, doing something for the kids. His heart is so into it, and he expressed so much of that joy on set with us. It was almost emotional. We’re instant brothers. It’s a pretty cool position for us to be in.”

“Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” hasn’t been renewed for Season 2 yet, so there are no auditions available at this time. But in the meantime, you can check out this roundup of great gigs for kids, which are all casting right now. You might also want to explore our guides on auditioning for Apple TV+ and getting cast on a Nickelodeon series. After all, the original “Yo Gabba Gabba!” aired on the kids’ network—so there’s likely a lot to learn from those who have also worked directly with the network.

While there’s plenty for adults to consider when launching a kids’ show career—including what you need to know about acting with kids—there’s even more at play when launching your child’s acting career. Here are a dozen practical primers to help you get started.

• How to Become a Child Actor
• The ‘Wow Factor’: Does Your Child Have It?
• Does Your Child Really Want to Act? Ask These Questions to Find Out
• How to Manage Your Child’s Acting Career
• How Acting Training Positively Impacts Kids
• 5 Huge Benefits of Being a Child Actor
• 6 Things Parents Need to Know About Kids’ Demo Reels
• 5 Best Acting Agencies for Kids
• 4 Tips for Helping Your Child Memorize Lines
• Child Actor Labor Laws, Explained
• What You Should Know About Background Acting for Kids
• How Much Do Child Actors Get Paid?