From quirky creatures like a red cyclops with bumpy scales and mitten-shaped hands and a magical yellow robot named Plex; to educational songs about losing baby teeth; to hosting popular musicians like MGMT, Weezer, and The Killers, Yo Gabba Gabba! features a wacky, sonic world beloved by fans since its debut on Nickelodeon in 2007.

And it was created by two North Orange County dads just down the street in Brea’s neighborhoods and warehouses.

Scott Schultz (‘89) met Christian Jacobs during Schultz’s junior year at BOHS. (Jacobs lived in neighboring La Habra, but admitted to the Wildcat, “I would have rather lived in Brea – jeez!”) They immediately bonded over skateboarding, surfing, music, and videography, subjects that would form the foundation for their careers in children’s television production.

“We always had a camera around, and then we ended up doing that later as a job,” Jacobs, in an interview with Wildcat, said. “But even before it was a job, we were interested in the arts of filming stuff, making stuff. Art, music…just being fun.” 

From skateboarding videos and painting murals in Schulz’s garage as teenagers, to a pair of dads making their low-budget start in the world of television, Brea was the inception point for Yo Gabba Gabba!’s journey from rough sketches to television screens around the world.  

“We developed a lot of the first concepts here in some back warehouses in Brea, making the costumes and the sets ourselves,” Schultz said. “It was kind of a fun D.I.Y., make-it-yourself type of a thing we did in Brea, so it was exciting times for sure.”

Before Yo Gabba Gabba! was a multi-million dollar franchise and global hit, however, Schultz and Jacobs’ artistic collaboration began with The Aquabats! Super Show! in 2012. The Emmy-nominated show was inspired by Jacobs’ comedic, superhero-themed rock band, The Aquabats, which formed in Huntington Beach in 1994. (Jacobs, also known as The MC Bat Commander, is the act’s lead singer. The band is currently touring, and plays House of Blues Anaheim Oct. 25.)

But as their families grew — both have four children — so did their desire to make something that kids could connect with.

With a vision to make a show that their own kids would enjoy, Schultz and Jacobs launched a test demo, entitled “Yo Gabba,” in 2004. The video gained traction on the newly launched streaming platform YouTube in 2006, amassing over 100,000 views.

“It was one of the most shocking, wonderful experiences,” Schultz said of the show’s success.

By 2007, Nickelodeon picked up the show and commissioned 20 episodes, bringing the eccentric world of DJ Lance Rock and his monster friends into homes across the country. 

In 2009 alone, Yo Gabba Gabba! had over 1.3 million streams per month on Nick Jr.’s new streaming platform.

“We didn’t have any expectations,” Jacobs said of his and his partner’s quirky creations. “We just hoped we could keep making more, and then there was just an avalanche of amazement and joy for 20 years.”

What originated as a musical escape for toddlers, with numbers like “Party in My Tummy” and “Brush, Brush, Brush,” became a must-watch show for parents as well, with Yo Gabba Gabba! featuring original songs from popular alternative musicians like Weezer, The Shins, and The Flaming Lips, and R&B acts Mya, The Roots, and Erykah Badu.

“Some of the most proud moments I had were making a show that I saw wasn’t just for pre-school kids to enjoy, but pre-school kids could join it with their mom, with their dad, with their older brothers and sisters,” Schultz said.

What began as a personal project and passion for Schultz has turned into a shared family legacy, as the Schultz clan gets to experience the Yo Gabba Gabba! world through concerts, meetings with directors and actors, and even features in special episodes.

“When I was little, they filmed a snippet that they put on the Yo Gabba Gabba! live episode of me and my best friend Wendy hugging to the song ‘Hugs Are Fun,’” Lulu Schultz (‘27), Schultz’s niece and current BOHS student, said. “And when we were filming the new seasons, I got to go on set and watch them film.” 

With Lulu’s father, Ben Schultz (‘91), actively involved in Yo Gabba Gabba! as the music supervisor from 2007 to 2015, Yo Gabba Gabba! was a significant part of her childhood. 

“Because it was always playing in my house, it brings back so many memories,” Lulu said.

Ben is the current music and animation supervisor of the reboot series Yo Gabba GabbaLand!, which aired its first season on Apple TV in 2024. The second season releases Jan. 30, 2026.

After decades of success through teaching toddlers everything from proper hand washing to the importance of family, Yo Gabba Gabba! is getting a hometown tribute. 

The Brea Gallery is celebrating the show’s 20th anniversary with an art exhibit entitled “Yo Gabba Gabba: The Super Art Friends Show,” featuring the work of 182 artists. The exhibition pays homage to the show’s unique aesthetic and its hometown roots.

“When planning our exhibitions for 2025, the Brea Gallery was looking towards themes of celebration and momentous milestones,” Kennelyn Deloach, Brea Gallery coordinator, said. 

“Yo Gabba Gabba: The Super Art Friends Show” includes art ranging from sculptures to paintings to mixed media. There is a ticketed reception from 4 to 5 p.m. and a free public showing from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 18. The exhibit closes Dec. 12.

Before it all, Jacobs and Schultz were just two teenagers having fun pursuing their passions — skating, filmmaking, surfing, and music. 

Schultz, who still resides in Brea, was part of the last graduating class at the high school’s Birch Street campus, which is now the site of the Brea Marketplace. (Jacobs and Schultz even admit to sneaking onto the “new” campus to get a quick peek but, laughing, Schultz said, “That’s on the down-low.”)

When asked what advice he has for current BOHS students, Jacobs said, “Just remember when you’re in high school, do the things that make you alive. And that’s what art is. When you’re creating something, when you’re doing something, like making a song or dancing, that’s when you’re alive.”

“High school is where it begins,” Schultz agreed.

The “Yo Gabba Gabba: The Super Art Friends Show!” runs from Oct. 18 to Dec. 12 at the Brea Gallery, located at 1 Civic Center Circle, on the plaza level of the Brea Civic and Cultural Center.