Cyberchase
Encyclopedia
Cyberchase is an American educational television series for children age 6-12, that teaches children discrete mathematics
. The show airs on Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) and PBS Kids GO!
in the United States
. Seasons one through five were produced by Thirteen/WNET
New York
and Nelvana
. As of season six Cyberchase is produced by Thirteen in association with Title Entertainment, Inc. and WNET.ORG.
children — Matt, Jackie and Inez — and Digit, a "cyboid" (a bird
-like cyborg
). The three kids and Digit use their math and problem solving skills to stop the evil deeds of the Hacker, a villain who breaks into Motherboard and MotherBoard's networks, and his two cyborg
henchmen, Buzz and Delete.
The series takes place in Cyberspace
, the electronic medium of computer networks, in which online communication takes place, with planet
-like bodies called "Cybersites." Each cybersite is inhabited by "Cyborgs" the virtual inhabitants of Cyberspace. Some are based on real-world places, such as ancient Egypt
and the American
Old West
, or fantasy worlds such as mythological Greece
. The guardian of all Cyberspace is Motherboard; her repairman is Dr. Marbles.
. The show’s philosophy is to foster enthusiasm for math, to model mathematic reasoning, to help children improve their problem-solving skills and to inspire all children to approach math with confidence and a "can-do" attitude.
. At a library on Earth, while looking at a computer, Matt, Jackie, and Inez (who accidentally let Hacker unleash the virus by touching the computer map at the same time) are sucked through a inter dimensional portal into Cyberspace. In their first adventure, they go to an island to rescue Dr. Marbles. In subsequent adventures, they return to Cyberspace to thwart Hacker's evil plans, which vary from ruining Motherboard to trying to take over a Cybersite.
Throughout the season, the Cybersquad searched for a new encryptor chip for Motherboard. In episode 109, Buzz and Delete nearly retrieved the encryptor chip, but lost it in a dust storm, much to Hacker's discomfort.
) is introduced in 204 and 208 and Erica Ram is introduced in 211, where she hosts Cyberscoop along side him.
The most dramatic event in the season occurred in a two part miniseries called The Snelfu Snafu. While Slider was searching for his father, he stumbled across the location of the elusive encryptor chip. When he alerted the cybersquad, they soon discovered it was in the hands of an auctioneer. The kids eventually earned enough snelfus (the cyberspace term for dollars) to win it, but they discovered the chip was infected to drain Motherboard (which might be the reason that this one is orange and yellow
, rather than dark pink
and chrome
as the old one had been), replacing her with Hacker. The kids were then placed in the dungeon at the new Hacker Control Central; when they escaped, they searched for the encryptor chip (because Motherboard was trapped in it). Upon finding it, they also rescued Dr. Marbles. However, when they attempted to put the chip in the circuits, the hardware rejected it because Hacker has corrupted it. Dr. Marbles was forced to reboot Motherboard destroying the chip in the process. Also, Hacker rejects Wicked, setting the stage for some of the future episodes.
. He steals the Electric Eel of Aquari-yum as a power source, and the Pedestal of Penguia as a relay for the power-flow, and combines these items with other gizmos and gadgets to form the Transformitron, a device with the capability of transforming anyone into anything. After taking the NIC (Network Interface Card) from Slider's dad Coop and kidnapping Slider, the device was complete. However, the CyberSquad was able to thwart Hacker's plans again by dismantling the device so it could not be used again and allowing the effects of the Transformatron to wear off.
voicing Buzz
. The episode "EcoHaven Ooze" is dedicated to him.
This is the first season to be animated in Adobe Flash
.
As of Monday September 6, 2010, some PBS member stations such as WMHT-TV in Albany, New York will no longer air the show because it will be streaming online through the PBS KIDS GO! website.
Codename Icky
Features the following episodes:
Totally Rad !
Features the following episodes:
Starlight Night
Features the following episodes:
The Snelfu Snafu
Features the following episodes:
EcoHaven CSE
Features the following episodes:
) and Harry (Matthew A. Wilson) are in their thirties, but amusingly act in a manner similar to the age of the target audience. "For Real" is produced by WNET on location in and around New York City
after production is completed on the animated segments. These "For Real" segments are broadcast exclusively on PBS in the United States
where the program runs longer and fill the time gap where there might be breaks for commercials . Some "For Real" segments can also be viewed online.
where it was on view from September 28, 2006, through May 13, 2010. The exhibition is currently touring children's museums and science museums across the United States
.
The show was given a review on the site common sense media. It was advised for ages 5 and up, and was given a score of 4/5 stars. They commented that parents need to know that "the adventures aren't scary, violent, or sexually inappropriate. Rather, they require fortitude and brain power." Proposed discussion points sprouting from the series include "Can your child take the skills learned in each episode and figure out how to apply it to everyday life?" The show was given a rating of 3/5 smiley faces under the "The Godd Stuff" section.
Carey Bryson of About.com gave the show a rating of 4/5 stars. The series is described by the site as that "one [mathematical] concept is taught in each episode, and the kids model problem-solving skills as they formulate a plan for using the mathematical tool and then carry out their plan in order to overcome the challenge." The review added that "educationally, Cyberchase delivers...The simple mathematical idea[s are] usually explained well and woven throughout the story in a fun and interesting way...Children can easily learn from the example in the cartoon story, and...the Cyberchase For Real segment that follows each episode." Citing an example from the series using codes, Bryson explained how the show could be used to expand upon the curriculum, "Not only did she learn about codes, but she also got in a ton of spelling practice."
Tasha Silver at Lance & Eskimo gave the series a positive review. She said: "the biggest exciting feature of Cyberchase is its stylish, modern, pseudo-sci-fi atmosphere. The series is set in a place with the ever-original name of 'Cyberspace... a place where time and space are one... a place where the lines between reality and imagination no longer exist... a place where anyone can go and anything can happen.'". She added that "easily the best part of Cyberchase, however, is its theme song. Seriously! It has a funky beat. It puts the finishing touch on making the program all in all an intellectually and spiritually fortifying experience."
The episode Spellbound was given a rating of 5.5 on the site TV.com. The series as a whole was given a rating of 7.9 (Good) based on 158 votes.
A review of an iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch application named Cyberchase Math Match (in which the player "tap[s] the tiles to match up CYBERCHASE math problems with their solutions") was given a rating of 3/5 stars and advised for ages 8 and up. It was given a rating of 5/5 for ease of play "gameplay is so intuitive that they aren't necessary... [and] difficulty increases slightly as you keep playing more rounds." It was also given a rating of 5/5 for educational value "The game tests your memory like a traditional memory game, but half of the tiles have a math problem or an answer to match up. The four basic arithmetic operators are included." The review concluded by explaining that what parents need to know is "Cyberchase Math Match is an educational game which gives kids a chance to practice and learn basic arithmetic while testing their memory."
Three reviews found at Epinions.com gave the show an average "overall rating" of 4.5 stars, and an average "program quality" rating of 4/5 bars.
Thank you so much for your love and support!
If you aren't already, please follow us on Twitter: @Cyberchase
At the moment, we are not producing new episodes.
However, we are busily preparing for the Cyberchase website relaunch! Coming soon, so stay tuned! :)
Discrete mathematics
Discrete mathematics is the study of mathematical structures that are fundamentally discrete rather than continuous. In contrast to real numbers that have the property of varying "smoothly", the objects studied in discrete mathematics – such as integers, graphs, and statements in logic – do not...
. The show airs on Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(PBS) and PBS Kids GO!
PBS Kids GO!
PBS Kids GO! is an educational television brand used by PBS for programs intended for older children, rather than the original PBS Kids. It is primarily broadcast on PBS stations during the afternoons...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Seasons one through five were produced by Thirteen/WNET
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
. As of season six Cyberchase is produced by Thirteen in association with Title Entertainment, Inc. and WNET.ORG.
Plot
The show stars three EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
children — Matt, Jackie and Inez — and Digit, a "cyboid" (a bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
-like cyborg
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
). The three kids and Digit use their math and problem solving skills to stop the evil deeds of the Hacker, a villain who breaks into Motherboard and MotherBoard's networks, and his two cyborg
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
henchmen, Buzz and Delete.
The series takes place in Cyberspace
Cyberspace
Cyberspace is the electronic medium of computer networks, in which online communication takes place.The term "cyberspace" was first used by the cyberpunk science fiction author William Gibson, though the concept was described somewhat earlier, for example in the Vernor Vinge short story "True...
, the electronic medium of computer networks, in which online communication takes place, with planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
-like bodies called "Cybersites." Each cybersite is inhabited by "Cyborgs" the virtual inhabitants of Cyberspace. Some are based on real-world places, such as ancient Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
, or fantasy worlds such as mythological Greece
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
. The guardian of all Cyberspace is Motherboard; her repairman is Dr. Marbles.
Educational Philosophy
Cyberchase tries to show kids that math is everywhere and everyone can be good at it. The series encourages viewers to see, think, and do mathematics in their world. The show and supporting activities have been designed to support math education and reflect the curriculum standards of the National Council of Teachers of MathematicsNational Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics was founded in 1920. It has grown to be the world's largest organization concerned with mathematics education, having close to 100,000 members across the USA and Canada, and internationally....
. The show’s philosophy is to foster enthusiasm for math, to model mathematic reasoning, to help children improve their problem-solving skills and to inspire all children to approach math with confidence and a "can-do" attitude.
Season 1
In the pilot, "Lost My Marbles", Hacker infects Motherboard with a computer virusComputer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
. At a library on Earth, while looking at a computer, Matt, Jackie, and Inez (who accidentally let Hacker unleash the virus by touching the computer map at the same time) are sucked through a inter dimensional portal into Cyberspace. In their first adventure, they go to an island to rescue Dr. Marbles. In subsequent adventures, they return to Cyberspace to thwart Hacker's evil plans, which vary from ruining Motherboard to trying to take over a Cybersite.
Throughout the season, the Cybersquad searched for a new encryptor chip for Motherboard. In episode 109, Buzz and Delete nearly retrieved the encryptor chip, but lost it in a dust storm, much to Hacker's discomfort.
Season 2
This season is a continuation of the same basic plot of season one. However, the focus on the search for the Encryptor Chip is shown less as the season deals more with a new scenario; each episode involving Hacker seeking to take over a cybersite or all of Cyberspace, or plot a nefarious scheme in which he is wreaking chaos and havoc somewhere. In addition, a continued appearance of Wicked, a witch from the cybersite Happily-Ever-After occurred, revealing her strong feeling towards Hacker, while Hacker only used her abilities as a witch to further his own evil tactics as seen in episode #211, although he did show mutual feelings towards her in episode #203, but once again, he became self-centered and cared less about her. In a way, the occurrences of Episode #211 are the only of Wicked's evenings where she is successful with her affections. The character of Sam Vander Rom (Al RokerAl Roker
Albert Lincoln "Al" Roker, Jr. is an American television meteorologist as well as an actor and book author. He is best known as being the weather anchor on NBC's Today. On Monday, July 20, 2009, he began co-hosting his new morning show, Wake Up with Al, on The Weather Channel, which airs weekdays...
) is introduced in 204 and 208 and Erica Ram is introduced in 211, where she hosts Cyberscoop along side him.
Season 3
In the third season, the kids met Slider, a rebel-style skateboarder who lives in the cybersite Radopolis. He first appears in the episode The Borg of the Ring where he retrieved the Totally Rad Ring of Radopolis from Hacker. Once again and then a third time Hacker tries to take control of Radopolis, first by almost winning a competition, the by putting everyone except Digit, Slider, and the Cybersquad asleep so he fails. The kids are told his father, Coop, had abandoned him. Coop was on a distant cyber-planet, but the kids didn't know that yet.The most dramatic event in the season occurred in a two part miniseries called The Snelfu Snafu. While Slider was searching for his father, he stumbled across the location of the elusive encryptor chip. When he alerted the cybersquad, they soon discovered it was in the hands of an auctioneer. The kids eventually earned enough snelfus (the cyberspace term for dollars) to win it, but they discovered the chip was infected to drain Motherboard (which might be the reason that this one is orange and yellow
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
, rather than dark pink
Pink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
and chrome
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
as the old one had been), replacing her with Hacker. The kids were then placed in the dungeon at the new Hacker Control Central; when they escaped, they searched for the encryptor chip (because Motherboard was trapped in it). Upon finding it, they also rescued Dr. Marbles. However, when they attempted to put the chip in the circuits, the hardware rejected it because Hacker has corrupted it. Dr. Marbles was forced to reboot Motherboard destroying the chip in the process. Also, Hacker rejects Wicked, setting the stage for some of the future episodes.
Season 4
In season four, Hacker attempts another scheme at bring chaos to CyberspaceCyberspace
Cyberspace is the electronic medium of computer networks, in which online communication takes place.The term "cyberspace" was first used by the cyberpunk science fiction author William Gibson, though the concept was described somewhat earlier, for example in the Vernor Vinge short story "True...
. He steals the Electric Eel of Aquari-yum as a power source, and the Pedestal of Penguia as a relay for the power-flow, and combines these items with other gizmos and gadgets to form the Transformitron, a device with the capability of transforming anyone into anything. After taking the NIC (Network Interface Card) from Slider's dad Coop and kidnapping Slider, the device was complete. However, the CyberSquad was able to thwart Hacker's plans again by dismantling the device so it could not be used again and allowing the effects of the Transformatron to wear off.
Season 5
During this season, they had a special two hour program called Cyberchase: My Big Idea! This program dealt entirely around the theme of inventions. Four back to back episodes (episodes #502-#505) were shown, each dealing with a different topic about inventions. The program was hosted by Bianca and Harry from Cyberchase For Real! and in between episodes, they talked about inventions that were made by kids, and showed clips of kids who had made inventions of their own. This was also the first series without the late actor Len CarlsonLen Carlson
Len Carlson was a Canadian voice actor on many animated television series from the 1960s onward, an occasional live-action TV actor, and a Kraft Canada TV pitchman during the 1970s and 1980s...
voicing Buzz
Buzz
-People:*Buzz Aldrin , American pilot and astronaut, second person to set foot on the Moon*George Beurling , Canadian World War II fighter pilot*Buzz Hargrove , National President of the Canadian Auto Workers trade union...
. The episode "EcoHaven Ooze" is dedicated to him.
Season 6
Season 6 begins with episode "Digit's B-Day Surprise" When Pengins Fly" and the kids have an idea to celebrate: a surprise party, but they pretend to forget all about his b-day (the day he was "booted" up). A disappointed Digit then runs into Hacker, who wants to reprogram him to gain access to Motherboard. Meanwhile the kids have a chocolate Digit sculpture, and they need to cross the desert in order to get it to the party. Soon, they discover that dressing it with a wet cloth can get it there without melting it. The Pengins Got FlyThis is the first season to be animated in Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
.
Season 7
Season 7 started with "Weather Watchers". It was launched April 21, 2009. There were 4 episodes about it. In the first two episodes, "For Real" segments included Janice Huff, a meteorologist with New York's WNBC-TV who played "Stormy Gale" in episodes 701-702 This also included Episode Gone With The Fog The Emperor Has Snow Clothes Digit in the vent the fog Snow ClothesSeason 8
Season 8 premiered on June 25, 2010, with the Summer Challenge. Episode 804 introduced Ledge, the newest villain of Cyberspace. Ledge was originally a fan of Hacker and was to get himself a place on Hacker's side to help take over Cyberspace. He tries to do so by making a machine that can turn everyone in Sensible Flats into 'Hackerized' versions of themselves. Though this seems to impress Hacker initially, the machine eventually gets unplugged by Inez, resulting an angry Hacker to cast Ledge away for his failure. This results with Ledge becoming Hacker's most dangerous rival. Aside from Ledge's failure, Hacker doesn't like Ledge because he heavily insults him and the possible fact that Ledge is less arrogant but more intelligent than Hacker, even though he is equally evil. The Cybersquad also doesn't like Ledge because of his deception that led almost all of them into danger in Sensible Flats he had caused by pretending to help them, as he thinks more wisely of his plans. It was then in episode #805, that Hacker and the Cybersquad were forced to work together to stop Ledge from stealing one of Hacker's previous inventions that can be used to help Motherboard, though the invention end up being destroyed.As of Monday September 6, 2010, some PBS member stations such as WMHT-TV in Albany, New York will no longer air the show because it will be streaming online through the PBS KIDS GO! website.
DVD releases
Between 2002 and 2005, five Cyberchase DVDs were released, with 3 episodes each, but on the VHS, people can only get 2 of the 3 episodes.Codename Icky
Features the following episodes:
- 116 Codename Icky
- 203 Harriet Hippo & the Mean Green
- 112 Of All The Luck
Totally Rad !
Features the following episodes:
- 202 Totally Rad!
- 302 The Borg of the Ring
- 123 Fortress of Attitude
Starlight Night
Features the following episodes:
- 312 Starlight Night
- 104 Snow Day to Be Exact
- 213 A Time To Cook
The Snelfu Snafu
Features the following episodes:
- 309 The Snelfu Snafu Part 1
- 310 The Snelfu Snafu Part 2
- 211 The Wedding Scammer
EcoHaven CSE
Features the following episodes:
- 301 EcoHaven CSE
- 408 A Crinkle in Time
- 305 The Creech Who Would be Crowned
"For Real"
Each Cyberchase episode is followed by "Cyberchase For Real," a live-action educational supplement linking concepts learned in the show to real life experiences. The actors Bianca (Bianca DeGroatBianca DeGroat
Bianca Marie DeGroat is an American actress who worked on the PBS Kids show Cyberchase. She played a small role on the TV show Parenthood. She has also worked in various commercials, including McDonalds, Pier One Imports, TurboTax, and Chevrolet. She won a Daytime Emmy in 2007 for her work on...
) and Harry (Matthew A. Wilson) are in their thirties, but amusingly act in a manner similar to the age of the target audience. "For Real" is produced by WNET on location in and around New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
after production is completed on the animated segments. These "For Real" segments are broadcast exclusively on PBS in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where the program runs longer and fill the time gap where there might be breaks for commercials . Some "For Real" segments can also be viewed online.
Cybersites
There are several cybersites shown throughout the seasons. Each one has its own unique qualities which are dealt with through the elementary mathematics concept within the show, but also through various cultural references or even historical references.Museum tour
A touring museum exhibition, Cyberchase—The Chase is On! is based on the television series. It was developed by the Children's Museum of HoustonChildren's Museum of Houston
The Children's Museum of Houston is a children's museum located in the Houston Museum District in Houston, Texas. The museum welcomes more than 750,000 people annually, making it the highest-attended youth museum for its size in the USA...
where it was on view from September 28, 2006, through May 13, 2010. The exhibition is currently touring children's museums and science museums across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Cultural references
- Several episodes of Cyberchase are a spoofParodyA parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of Harry PotterHarry PotterHarry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
called Shari Spotter. The head wizard Professor Stumblesnore is a spoof of Professor Dumbledore, and the wizard school that Sharri goes to is called Frogsnorts, a spoof of HogwartsHogwartsHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or simply Hogwarts is the primary setting for the first six books of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, with each book lasting the equivalent of one school year. It is a fictional boarding school of magic for witches and wizards between the ages of...
. - The 19th century mathematicianMathematicianA mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and early computer programmer, Lady Ada LovelaceAda LovelaceAugusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace , born Augusta Ada Byron, was an English writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the analytical engine...
, is a character in the Valentine's DayValentine's DaySaint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
episode "Hugs and Witches." She is voiced by Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
founding cast member Jane CurtinJane CurtinJane Therese Curtin is an American actress and comedienne. She is commonly referred to as Queen of the Deadpan.First coming to prominence as an original cast member on Saturday Night Live in 1975, she went on to win back-to-back Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series on the 1980s...
. - "Chewcroca," a dinosaurDinosaurDinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
, is a reference to ChewbaccaChewbaccaChewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
, a hairy creature from Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
. - The episode, "The Wedding Scammer" parodies The Today Show weddings and features the voice of The Today ShowThe Today ShowToday is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
s weatherman Al RokerAl RokerAlbert Lincoln "Al" Roker, Jr. is an American television meteorologist as well as an actor and book author. He is best known as being the weather anchor on NBC's Today. On Monday, July 20, 2009, he began co-hosting his new morning show, Wake Up with Al, on The Weather Channel, which airs weekdays...
. - The episode "The Borg of the Ring" is a spoof off the popular book and movie series, The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
. - Science Fiction television shows are often the subject of parody here. Various objects and/or devices are notably similar to things seen in the Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
television franchise. The kid named "Slider," is probably a nod to the SlidersSlidersSliders is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast for five seasons, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2000. The series follows a group of travelers as they use a wormhole to "slide" between different parallel universes. The show was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé...
series. - The episode "A World Without Zero" parodies various celebrities.
- The appearance and animation style of Cyberchase is notably similar to the animated comedy show FuturamaFuturamaFuturama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
. - Delete finds a rabbit and says he will hug him forever and call him George which is a reference to Of Mice & Men.
Critical response
The series has had a generally positive response.The show was given a review on the site common sense media. It was advised for ages 5 and up, and was given a score of 4/5 stars. They commented that parents need to know that "the adventures aren't scary, violent, or sexually inappropriate. Rather, they require fortitude and brain power." Proposed discussion points sprouting from the series include "Can your child take the skills learned in each episode and figure out how to apply it to everyday life?" The show was given a rating of 3/5 smiley faces under the "The Godd Stuff" section.
Carey Bryson of About.com gave the show a rating of 4/5 stars. The series is described by the site as that "one [mathematical] concept is taught in each episode, and the kids model problem-solving skills as they formulate a plan for using the mathematical tool and then carry out their plan in order to overcome the challenge." The review added that "educationally, Cyberchase delivers...The simple mathematical idea[s are] usually explained well and woven throughout the story in a fun and interesting way...Children can easily learn from the example in the cartoon story, and...the Cyberchase For Real segment that follows each episode." Citing an example from the series using codes, Bryson explained how the show could be used to expand upon the curriculum, "Not only did she learn about codes, but she also got in a ton of spelling practice."
Tasha Silver at Lance & Eskimo gave the series a positive review. She said: "the biggest exciting feature of Cyberchase is its stylish, modern, pseudo-sci-fi atmosphere. The series is set in a place with the ever-original name of 'Cyberspace... a place where time and space are one... a place where the lines between reality and imagination no longer exist... a place where anyone can go and anything can happen.'". She added that "easily the best part of Cyberchase, however, is its theme song. Seriously! It has a funky beat. It puts the finishing touch on making the program all in all an intellectually and spiritually fortifying experience."
The episode Spellbound was given a rating of 5.5 on the site TV.com. The series as a whole was given a rating of 7.9 (Good) based on 158 votes.
A review of an iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch application named Cyberchase Math Match (in which the player "tap[s] the tiles to match up CYBERCHASE math problems with their solutions") was given a rating of 3/5 stars and advised for ages 8 and up. It was given a rating of 5/5 for ease of play "gameplay is so intuitive that they aren't necessary... [and] difficulty increases slightly as you keep playing more rounds." It was also given a rating of 5/5 for educational value "The game tests your memory like a traditional memory game, but half of the tiles have a math problem or an answer to match up. The four basic arithmetic operators are included." The review concluded by explaining that what parents need to know is "Cyberchase Math Match is an educational game which gives kids a chance to practice and learn basic arithmetic while testing their memory."
Three reviews found at Epinions.com gave the show an average "overall rating" of 4.5 stars, and an average "program quality" rating of 4/5 bars.
Cancellation
- On Independence Day, July 4, 2011, PBSKIDS GO! announced that Cyberchase had been cancelled due to lack of idea and money.
- However, on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
someone asked: "I'm hearing rumors around the internet that Cyberchase got cancelled. Is that true? I really hope not, I was looking forward to seeing how things would turn out now that there is Ledge to worry about!"
- Cyberchase answered: " We're not in production on new episodes right now, but there's plenty of other fun in the works, including a brand new website coming this fall. Stay tuned!"
- Cyberchase posted : Hey Cyberfans!
Thank you so much for your love and support!
If you aren't already, please follow us on Twitter: @Cyberchase
At the moment, we are not producing new episodes.
However, we are busily preparing for the Cyberchase website relaunch! Coming soon, so stay tuned! :)
Official sites
- PBS Kids: Cyberchase Official Site
- Cyberchase News page – the latest news about Cyberchase: new episodes, online features, museums...
- Cyberchase Parents and Teacher Website – lessons, video, and tools to teach math.
- Episodes Guide Episode descriptions, For Real episodes and related activities