You know when a party has a guest list that includes Kermit . Frogthe Black-eyed beansRetta, and Raven-Symone, it will be a good time. It’s only made better by the fact that these guys have teamed up to celebrate one of the most beloved kids’ shows of all time: Rock school!
To celebrate its golden anniversary, ABC has brought the educational series back with a new special, which airs Wednesday nights. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, Rock school! Singles to celebrate 50 years features familiar faces singing great catchy classics like “I’m Just a Bill” (sung by Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen in full costume) and “Figure Eight” (accompanied by a dance class performed by Derek Hough).
While none of the numbers match the classic cartoonish style of the 1970s series, it’s nice to see the timeless tunes tailored to suit a more contemporary audience. I fear for the wear and tear on my old car Rock school! VHS tapes—sure, I’m not alone in wanting to keep them safe and protected—so hitting play on an ABC special allows me to relive my childhood memories without damage them.
One of the sweetest performances came in the middle of the special, featuring the lesser-known song, “Unpack Your Adjectives.” What’s new is the performer here: Kermit the Frog joins in singing the song in front of a room full of students. What a great crossover; Puppet show response Rock school!
There’s another crossover when Lisa Ann Walter and Quinta Brunson jump into the word Abbott Elementary School set to honor the legacy of the series. Now, take blue out there—we need an episode Abbott where all the students are obsessed with “Conjunction Junction,” Walter Rock school! the song.
But the best moment, by far, came at the end of the special. We teased the Black Eyed Peas near the middle of the celebration when they sang “Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla” — which, if you don’t remember, is all about pronoun usage — but they also got the bill in the end. The trio sang “Three Is A Magic Number” skillfully, even changing the lyrics to suit their group: “Black Eyed Peas consists of three and that’s a magic number.” (Sorry, Fergie.)
However, some of the numbers are wrong, so if you want to watch the solo, I highly recommend looking up the clips on YouTube. Julianne Hough tried to reach the high heavens with her performance of “Interplanet Janet,” but she fell to the ground—we’ll need a better diva to pull this off next time. The whole show was gorgeous, with young dancers dancing around like a Broadway play. prom. You’re better off sticking with Kermit and Black Eyed Peas.
But overall, it’s great that ABC has put together a special for one of their best educational programs, especially to keep the memory alive as new people discover Rock school! The series is dedicated to George Newall, one of the film’s original creators, a moving tribute to the entire legacy of the series and the brilliant minds behind it.
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