Jack Black to guest star on Yo Gabba Gabba

Children's show "Yo Gabba Gabba" will see Jack Black guest star. Nickelodeon notes that in “New Friends,” Black rides into Gabbaland on his mini-bike and runs out of gas. Lost and scared, Black meets each of the Gabba characters who become his friends and refuel the mini-bike so he can head home. © David Gabber / PR Photos

Nickelodeon notes that in “New Friends,” Black rides into Gabbaland on his mini-bike and runs out of gas. Lost and scared, Black meets each of the Gabba characters who become his friends and refuel the mini-bike so he can head home. © David Gabber / PR PhotosNickelodeon favorite Jack Black guest stars in a new half-hour, special episode of the live-action preschool music series, Yo Gabba Gabba!, premiering Friday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Nickelodeon notes that in “New Friends,” Black rides into Gabbaland on his mini-bike and runs out of gas. Lost and scared, Black meets each of the Gabba characters who become his friends and refuel the mini-bike so he can head home. Along the way he sings, dons DJ Lance’s orange jumpsuit and teaches the characters and the viewers at home a new Dancey Dance called the “Disco Roll.” Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) and Paul Scheer (Human Giant) also make an appearance in the series’ recurring “Knock-Knock Joke of the Day” segment. Yo Gabba Gabba!, created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. “I think there are some cool lessons in the Yo Gabba Gabba! universe about sharing and not throwing things at friends -- just some good basic lessons,” said Jack Black. “I’ll see the Yo Gabba Gabba! team singing about don’t bite your friends and I’ll look at my two-year-old Sam to see if the lesson’s hitting home and he’s really listening. Like make a mental note, don’t bite your friends, got it!”Beginning April 7, the Yo Gabba Gabba! New Friends DVD will be available in retail stores and will also include a CD sampler featuring three songs -- “Party in My Tummy,” “Get the Sillies Out” and “The Goodbye Song”-- from the Yo Gabba Gabba! album. The series highlights simple life lessons for preschoolers, through original song in short thematically linked segments, featuring animation, walk-around puppets and real kids. The characters are: Muno the red cyclops, Foofa the pink flower bubble, Brobee the little green one, Toodee the blue cat-dragon and Plex the robot, who are all ready to sing, play and dance along with the viewers as soon as they hear the magic words, “Yo Gabba Gabba!” They physically engage preschoolers with interactive play and encourage them to get up and dance to the music.Yo Gabba Gabba! features a recurring role by Hip Hop star Biz Markie in a “Biz’s Beat of the Day” segment teaching preschoolers how to beat-box, and a recurring role by singer, illustrator and composer Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo) in a “Mark’s Magic Pictures” drawing segment. Guest stars from seasons one and two include, Laila Ali, The Aquabats, Jack Black, Chromeo, Rachel Dratch, Melora Hardin, Tony Hawk, I’m From Barcelona, Jimmy Eat World, Sean Kingston, Sal Masakela, Jack McBrayer, MGMT, Mix Master Mike, Mya, The Roots, Andy Samberg, Amy Sedaris, The Shins, Amare Stoudemire, Sugarland, The Ting Tings, Elijah Wood and more. The Magic Store was founded in 2005 by Christian Jacobs, Scott Schultz and Justin Lyons. Jacobs and Schultz are the 30-something dads, musicians and creators of the hit series Yo Gabba Gabba!, which was initially produced independently in two half-hour episodes.