The misadventures of Big Nate are coming to Paramount+ in February, and to celebrate, Nickelodeon will be premiering a brand new Big Nate short titled "CATastrophe" on Friday, January 28 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, as part of the network's Nick Shorts Showcase series!
The synopsis for the episode reads: "This week's Nick Shorts Showcase features… Big Nate! When Nate is paired with Jenny on a school project, he hopes to prove his awesomeness to her, but his cat phobia threatens to destroy his cool." (#113)
Based on the best-selling children’s books and comic strip written and drawn by acclaimed author and cartoonist Lincoln Peirce, Paramount+’s Big Nate will feature brand-new original storylines centered on Nate, a sixth-grade kid who has a never-ending need to prove his awesomeness to the world.
Whether he’s dealing with disasters at home or detention at school, Nate Wright is no stranger to a challenge. Luckily, he’s able to express himself through the world of cartoons that he creates. Charming, mischievous and a magnet for misadventure, Nate always finds a way to turn trouble into fun.
The series will stream beginning Thursday, Feb. 17, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and later in the month in Australia. The first eight episodes will be available in the U.S. and Canada, with more episodes to be announced at a later date. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Big Nate follows a precocious 11-year-old boy named Nate and his best friends as they navigate sixth grade with humor and style.
Nate’s misadventures will begin with an exclusive look at Big Nate during the halftime presentation of Nickelodeon and CBS Sports’ slime-filled NFL WILD CARD GAME ON NICKELODEON, airing Sunday, Jan. 16 at 4:30 PM, ET.
In the series premiere, “The Legend of the Gunting,” Nate has multiple detentions on the docket, per usual. But this time he is only one detention away from a fate only whispered about in the halls of P.S. 38. Meanwhile, the unhinged new kid is determined to become Nate’s prank partner. Jack Black (“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”) guest stars as Brad Gunter, a prankster of epic proportions and Nate’s inspiration, and Daniel Jacobs (“All Hail King Julien: Exiled”) lends his voice as Bentley Carter, the new kid at P.S. 38 eager to wreak havoc through the school on teachers and students alike.
The stellar lineup of actors lending their voice talent to the beloved characters of Big Nate include Ben Giroux (Nate Wright), Dove Cameron (Ellen Wright), Rob Delaney (Martin Wright), Bryce Charles (Dee Dee Holloway), Daniel MK Cohen (Francis Pope), Arnie Pantoja (Teddy Ortiz), Charlie Schlatter (Chad Applewhite), Kevin Michael Richardson (Principal Nichols), Carolyn Hennesy (Mrs. Godfrey), Nik Dodani (Randy), Betsy Sodaro (Kim), Lisa Kay Jennings (Gina), Chandni Parekh (Jenny), Todd Haberkorn (Artur), Ryan Garcia (Mr. Rosa), Mike Rivkin (Mr. Galvin) and Chester Rushing (Zeff).
Big Nate is executive produced by Mitch Watson (“All Hail King Julien”) and John Cohen (“The Angry Birds Movie”) and produced by Amy McKenna (“Beware the Batman”), with Lincoln Peirce serving as consultant throughout development and production. Bridget McMeel is co-producer.
Peirce’s humor-based books about Nate and his friends have spent more than 150 weeks on the New York Times’ best-seller list. The Big Nate book series (https://bignatebooks.com/) is published worldwide in 33 languages and available as ebooks and audiobooks and as an app, Big Nate: Comix by U! Additionally, the Big Nate comic strip is syndicated by Andrews McMeel Syndication and appears in more than 400 newspapers and online daily at www.gocomics.com/bignate. The Big Nate comic collections are published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, and the Big Nate novels are published by HarperCollins Children’s Books.
TREK*Talks to benefit Hollywood Food Coalition | Roddenberry Entertainment
TREK*Talks features an amazing gathering of people from all across the Star Trek universe, including: Noah Averbach-Katz, John Billingsley, Nadine Boersma, Andre Bormanis, Brannon Braga, David Carson, James L. Conway, James Cromwell, Denise Crosby, Dan Curry, John de Lancie, Jonathan Del Arco, Elizabeth Dennehy, Lolita Fatjo, Jonathan Frakes, Bryan Fuller, Bonnie Gordon, Max Grodenchik, Kevin & Dan Hageman, Dominic Keating, David Livingston, Cirroc Lofton, Dr. Erin Macdonald, Dennis Madalone, Chase Masterson, Jack McBrayer, Dennis McCarthy, Gates McFadden, Neil Melville, Anthony Montgomery, Ronald B. Moore, Adam Nimoy, Denise & Michael Okuda, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Linda Park, Robert Picardo, Andrew Robinson, Rachel Robinson, Rod Roddenberry, Jeri Ryan, Armin Shimerman, Rick Sternbach, Eric Stillwell, Kitty Swink, Fred Tatasciore, Jeri Taylor, Tony Todd, Connor Trinneer, Nana Visitor, Brian Volk-Weiss, and Garrett Wang.
Dave Cunningham: Supervising Director of Bikini Bottom! | What's In My Head Podcast
This weeks guest is the supervising director for The Patrick Star Show, Dave Cunningham. Dave has worked on SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeons longest running cartoon, since the 4th season. In this episode Dave talks about his start on the show, the importance of Tucker Tucker, SpongeBob's father, Stephen Hillenburg, where he would eat at, Chum Bucket or the Krusty Crab and so much more!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com - SpongeBob face masks now available, with ALL proceeds going to charity!
Kuvira's Complete Timeline in Legend of Korra & Beyond! 🔩 | Avatar: The Last Airbender
From growing up an orphan to conquering nations, Kuvira was one of Korra and Team Avatar’s most dangerous foes! But how did this master metalbender eventually redeem herself? Get ready to find out! This is Kuvira’s complete timeline in the Avatar: The Legend of Korra and beyond!
Paramount+ will premiere the brand new Star Trek: Prodigy episode "First Con-tact" (#107) on Thursday, January 13! Stay 'tooned for more information about the episode. Catch up with the adventure so far exclusively on Paramount+ - try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Episode Details:
Episode 107 – “First Con-tact” (Available to stream Thursday, January 13th)
When a mentor from Dal’s past persuades him to use their Federation cover for personal gain, they quickly discover Starfleet has protocols for a reason.
Written by: Diandra Pendleton-Thompson
Directed by: Steve Ahn, Sung Shin.
The new episode's title “First Con-tact,” a variation on the Federation’s “first contact” protocol for first contact with new species, which has also been the title of an episode of The Next Generation and one of the TNG films as well.
The released photos reveal the crew will run into a Ferengi, a first for the series, and another indication the ship is getting closer to familiar elements from Star Trek canon, as seen in last week’s episode, "Kobayashi". The Ferengi is named Nandi and could be the “mentor from Dal’s past” mentioned in the synopsis. Nandi is played by veteran voice actress Grey Griffin, whose roles include Lola, Lana and Lily in The Loud House, Daphne in the Scooby-Doo franchise and a number of characters in Star Wars games and animated series.
STAR TREK PRODIGY - "¿WHO ARE YOU?" - S01 E07 "FIRST CON-TACT". SEASON 01 EPISODE 07. 1X07
STAR TREK PRODIGY - "¿WHO ARE YOU?" - S01 E07 "FIRST CON-TACT". SEASON 01 EPISODE 07. 1X07
Produced by the Nickelodeon Animation Studio and CBS Studios’ Eye Animation Production, STAR TREK: PRODIGY is already a hit amongst Paramount+ subscribers, and had the top-performing premiere day out of any original animated kids series on the service. The series was recently renewed for a second season, which is slated to premiere in 2023.
The STAR TREK: PRODIGY voice cast includes Kate Mulgrew (Hologram Kathryn Janeway), Brett Gray (Dal), Ella Purnell (Gwyn), Rylee Alazraqui (Rok-Tahk), Angus Imrie (Zero), Jason Mantzoukas (Jankom Pog), Dee Bradley Baker (Murf), John Noble (The Diviner) and Jimmi Simpson (Drednok).
Developed by Emmy® Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (“Trollhunters” and “Ninjago”), the CG-animated series STAR TREK: PRODIGY is the first “Star Trek” series aimed at younger audiences, and follows a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the “Star Trek” franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents.
STAR TREK: PRODIGY is from CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ new animation arm; Nickelodeon Animation Studio, led by President of Animation Ramsey Naito; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Katie Krentz, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers, alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman and Ben Hibon, who also directs and serves as executive producer and the creative lead of the animated series.
STAR TREK: PRODIGY is distributed by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group and is also available to stream on Paramount+ in international territories, including Latin America, the Nordics and Australia. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.
Blazing Team - A brand new series only on Voot Kids India | Voot Kids
A brand new expedition full of mystery and battle awaits you. Join the champions - The Blazing Team in the battle of yo-yos and an action-packed adventure, premiering only on #VootKids! 🤩 Streaming starts 16th January. Download the app today!#BlazingTeam#NewShowpic.twitter.com/2hFyMhdOA0
A brand new expedition full of mystery and battle awaits you. Join the champions - The Blazing Team in the battle of yo-yos and an action-packed adventure, premiering only on Voot Kids! 🤩 Streaming starts 16th January. Download the app today! https://www.vootkids.com/
Lights! Camera! Distr-action! Nickelodeon Italy (Italia) will premiere The Patrick Star Show on Monday 13th December 2021 at 15:00! The second spinoff of the number-one animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, the series, locally titled Lo Show di Patrick Stella, follows a younger Patrick Star living at home with his family, where he hosts his own variety show for the neighborhood from his television-turned-bedroom.
In the U.S.-English dub of the series, longtime voice of Patrick Star, Bill Fagerbakke lends his voice as the young adult Patrick alongside new cast members: Tom Wilson (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Cecil Star, Patrick’s fun-loving, happy-go-lucky dad who always puts his family first; Cree Summer (Rugrats) as Bunny Star, Patrick’s loving, sea star mom who is a kooky oddball; Jill Talley (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Squidina Star, Patrick’s 8-year-old little sister who drinks her coffee from a sippy cup; and Dana Snyder (The Penguins of Madagascar, The Thundermans, Welcome to the Wayne) as GrandPat Star, Patrick’s genius grandpa, and the most intelligent member of the Star family. Summer also voices Grandma Tentacles, Squidward’s grandma.
Additional cast members include veteran actors Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward Tentacles), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy Cheeks), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton).
Marc Ceccarelli (SpongeBob SquarePants), Vincent Waller (SpongeBob SquarePants) and Jennie Monica (SpongeBob SquarePants) are co-executive producers of the series. The Patrick Star Show is developed for television by Claudia Spinelli, SVP of Animation Development, Nickelodeon, with production overseen by Kelley Gardner, Vice President, Current Series, Animation, Nickelodeon.
Fans can visit nicktv.it to find out more about their favourite Nickelodeon shows as well as watch videos and play games. Fans can also like the official Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand Facebook page and follow Nickelodeon on Twitter and Instagram for the latest Nick news, highlights and videos.
Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the number-one animated series on TV for the last 18 years, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in ViacomCBS Networks International history, seen in more than 170 countries and territories, translated in 30+ languages, and averaging more than 100 million total viewers every month. SpongeBob SquarePants was created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends.
Nickelodeon è il brand di intrattenimento numero uno per i bambini che ha costruito un business diversificato e globale mettendo i bambini al primo posto in tutto i progetti intrapresi. Con una vasta gamma di offerte che spaziano dai programmi televisivi, alla produzione televisiva negli Stati Uniti e nel mondo, prodotti di consumer product, prodotti digital, esperienze localizzate, editoria e lungometraggi, Nickelodeon è disponibile in oltre 500 milioni di famiglie in più di 170 paesi e territori, grazie ad oltre 100 canali programmati localmente e “branded block”. In Italia, Nickelodeon fa parte di ViacomCBS Networks Italia, che possiede i canali presenti in esclusiva su Sky con Nickelodeon (Sky 605) e NickJr (Sky 603), i siti www.nicktv.it e www.nickjr.it e tutti gli asset digital e socail. È Sky Media – concessionaria del Gruppo Sky Italia – a curare la raccolta pubblicitaria di Nickelodeon e di tutti i canali ViacomCBS in Italia.
Official ViacomCBS Networks Italia press release, via Telesimo:
LA NUOVA SERIE
“LO SHOW DI PATRICK STELLA”
DAL 13 DICEMBRE, DAL LUNEDÌ AL VENERDÌ ALLE 16.00
SOLO SU NICKELODEON, SKY 605
Arriva in anteprima su Nickelodeon, il brand di Viacom International Media Networks Italia per ragazzi e famiglie in onda su Sky 605, una nuovissima serie animata, spin off di SpongeBob intitolata: “Lo show di Patrick Stella”, interamente dedicata al migliore amico di SpongeBob! Lo show di Patrick Stella segue la stella marina preferita da tutti i ragazzi mostrandocela a casa con la sua famiglia e seguendola in uno studio dove Patrick è il principale conduttore di uno show televisivo.. quando non si dimentica di essere lui il presentatore!
Incontriamo Patrick in un momento della sua vita in cui vive a casa con il resto della famiglia insieme al suo amico riccio di mare domestico, Ouchie. Con l'aiuto della sorellina, in veste di produttrice, Patrick condurrà il suo show e proprio come la maggior parte degli spettacoli di varietà, vedremo diversi racconti sorprendenti ma anche segmenti pubblicitari che si riferiscono al tema dell'episodio.
E per festeggiare questo debutto ritorna il grande concorso “Una notte all’Acquario con SpongeBob” ideato da Nickelodeon e da Costa Edutainment, società di gestione dell’Acquario di Genova, che mette in palio per i vincitori un’incredibile opportunità: trascorrere una notte in un suggestivo scenario all’interno dell’Acquario, nella fantastica camera completamente brandizzata a tema SpongeBob, allestita nel tunnel davanti alla grande vasca dei delfini del Padiglione Cetacei.
Lo show di Patrick Stella, lo spin off di SpongeBob su Nickelodeon
Per l'occasione, ritorna il concorso Una notte all’Acquario con SpongeBob
Arriva in anteprima su Nickelodeon una nuovissima serie animata. Scopriamo insieme tutti i dettagli dello spin off di SpongeBob intitolato: Lo show di Patrick Stella. Siete pronti a vivere le avventure con protagonista il migliore amico di SpongeBob?
Lo show di Patrick Stella
Lo show di Patrick Stella vede protagonista la stella marina preferita da tutti i ragazzi. Seguiremo dunque le sue vicende di vita comprese quelle dedicate al suo rapporto con la famiglia. Inoltre, seguiremo Patrick in uno studio dove sarà il principale conduttore di uno show televisivo!
Più nello specifico, vivremo Patrick in un momento della sua vita in cui vive a casa con il resto della famiglia insieme al suo amico riccio di mare domestico, Ouchie. Con l’aiuto della sorellina, in veste di produttrice, Patrick condurrà il suo show e proprio come la maggior parte degli spettacoli di varietà, vedremo diversi racconti sorprendenti ma anche segmenti pubblicitari che si riferiscono al tema dell’episodio. Lo show di Patrick Stella prende vita direttamente dalla camera da letto a casa dei genitori di Patrick.
Dove e quando vedere la serie
La nuova serie Lo show di Patrick Stella è in onda dal 13 al 17 dicembre tutti i giorni alle 16.00 solo su Nickelodeon (Sky 605).
Il concorso
Per festeggiare questo grande debutto, atteso da moltissimi appassionati, ritorna il grande concorso Una notte all’Acquario con SpongeBob ideato da Nickelodeon e da Costa Edutainment (società di gestione dell’Acquario di Genova). Come ogni concorso che si rispetti, non mancano diversi premi per i vincitori come ad esempio l’incredibile opportunità di trascorrere una notte in un suggestivo scenario all’interno dell’Acquario, nella fantastica camera completamente brandizzata a tema SpongeBob, allestita nel tunnel davanti alla grande vasca dei delfini del Padiglione Cetacei.
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The Loud House/A Casa Dei Loud (Italiano) - Mega Music Countdown su Super! (24 Gennaio)
Super! (Italia) - Pubblicità - 14 di Gennaio di 2022 (14/1/2022)
Rugrats, provided to Creators Syndicate by Nickelodeon, based off the popular animated television series has been created for children and family's to laugh and enjoy together.
Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.
CBS SPORTS AND NICKELODEON SET FOR NFL WILD CARD GAME ON NICKELODEON ON SUPER WILD CARD WEEKEND WHEN THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS FACE THE DALLAS COWBOYS ON SUNDAY, JAN. 16, AT 4:30 P.M. (ET)
Kid- and Family-Focused Presentation to Feature Enhanced Graphics, Augmented Reality and Nick Characters; Airs Alongside CBS Sports’ Broadcast of Game on CBS
Slime-Filled Game to Include Special Halftime Exclusive Look of Big Nate, Nickelodeon’s Brand-New Animated Series on Paramount+
NFL x Nickelodeon Co-Branded Collection to Launch Tuesday, Jan. 11
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Jan. 10, 2022—CBS Sports and Nickelodeon’s special slime-filled presentation during the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend will feature the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Dallas Cowboys during the NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon on Sunday, Jan. 16, at 4:30 p.m. (ET). The special presentation will air alongside CBS Sports’ broadcast of the game on The CBS Television Network, and is one of six games during Super Wild Card Weekend across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
CBS Sports’ play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle, CBS Sports’ analyst and former NFL star Nate Burleson and Nick star Gabrielle Nevaeh Green (That Girl Lay Lay) will call the game from the booth for the second consecutive year. Nick star Young Dylan (Dylan Gilmer, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan) makes his debut as sideline reporter.
Following the success of last season’s telecast, this year’s NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon will feature enhanced original on-field graphics; advanced augmented reality including an AR blimp that will fly throughout the stadium; a special pregame and halftime presentation; guest appearances from Nickelodeon characters; and much more for kids and families. Iain Armitage (CBS' Young Sheldon) will return to help explain penalty calls during the game, and one of game’s top performers will once again be presented with the Nickelodeon Valuable Player (NVP) award which can be voted on at NFLNickPlay.com. This season, NFL Slimetime – a weekly show on Nickelodeon airing Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET – included weekly NVP awards, featuring fun and slime-filled celebrations by the players. WATCH HERE.
At halftime, look for the special exclusive look of Nickelodeon’s brand-new animated series Big Nate, based on the best-selling children’s books and comic strip written and drawn by Lincoln Peirce. The series follows Nate, a sixth-grade kid who has a never-ending need to prove his awesomeness to the world and is set to debut on Paramount+ in early 2022.
The NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon will be streamed via the NFL app on phones and tablets for free. CBS Sports’ telecast will also be streamed across digital devices via Paramount+, the CBS Sports app, NFL digital properties, and on mobile on the participating teams’ mobile properties and Yahoo Sports.
NFL X NICKELODEON CO-BRANDED COLLECTION
The NFL and Nickelodeon will launch the NFL x Nickelodeon collection ahead of CBS Sports and Nickelodeon’s special slime-filled presentation of the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend game on Sunday, Jan. 16, at 4:30 p.m. (ET). The collection celebrates both NFL and Nickelodeon fans and provides an opportunity for kids and families to showcase their fandom in a fun and elevated way.
The collection will feature designs and logos of NFL teams with a mix of ‘90s fan-favorite Nickelodeon characters from hit series such as Rugrats and Hey Arnold!, as well as pieces with the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants and Nickelodeon Slime. The NFL x Nickelodeon collection will include t-shirts from Junk Food, socks from Rock ‘Em Socks, water bottles from Tervis, and bobbleheads* from FOCO (*pre-sale only).
Teams represented in the collection include: Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, and the Minnesota Vikings, among others..
Kai Shappley didn’t feel scared when she sat before the Texas Senate committee in April 2021. Wearing a flowing yellow blouse, floral skirt and cowboy boots, the then-4th grader calmly introduced herself.
“I love ballet, math, science and geology. I spend my free time with my cats, chickens, FaceTiming my friends and dreaming of when I finally get to meet Dolly Parton,” she testified. “I do not like spending my free time asking adults to make good choices.”
Shappley urged lawmakers to vote against Senate bills 1311 and 1646, which banned doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment to transgender kids like herself. One of the bills even went as far as to define the treatment as “child abuse.” (Both bills ultimately failed.)
“It makes me sad that some politicians use trans kids like me to get votes from people who hate me just because I exist,” she continued. “God made me. God loves me for who I am. And God does not make mistakes.”
Beneath her composure, Shappley says she felt furious. Lawmakers were avoiding her gaze, she told TIME, glancing at their watches, scrolling on their phones or doodling on papers. When the opportunity came to ask her questions, no one spoke up.
“Seriously? None of y’all want to know more about me?” she quipped.
Video of Shappley’s testimony quickly went viral. It wasn’t the first time she’s garnered attention. The now-5th grader has been publicly telling her story and calling for trans equality for years. She’s traveled the country with her mother, speaking at rallies for LGBTQ rights. She’s worked with the ACLU on pro-trans projects. She’s met with national lawmakers to urge them to pass the Equality Act, which would outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. But April was the first time she’d ever testified on her own. Her reasoning was simple. “I wanted to show them that all these lies people have been spreading [about trans kids] are not true,” she says.
Shappley is a force of nature. At only 11 years old, the trans rights activist has built a following online; children and adults have written to her saying she’s inspired them to come out. “It makes me want to keep on going, knowing that there are so many people who rely on me,” Shappley says. And amid an unprecedented rise of bills in U.S. state legislatures targeting trans kids—including over 130 anti-trans bills in 2021 alone, per the advocacy group Human Rights Campaign—she has no plans on stopping.
“Activism matters to me because it is a way to show that we belong,” Shappley says. “It’s a way to show that we will fight for what is right. We won’t sit silent.”
The first time Shappley watched her mom testify before Texas lawmakers on her behalf, she was only 5 years old. Her mom was speaking out against a bill that would prevent trans kids like Kai from using the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity. As more anti-trans bills appeared over the following years, the Shappley’s returned again and again. The days could be long. Sometimes Kai and her siblings would sleep on hallway benches or on the floor of the chambers. “She’s grown up in the Texas capitol,” her mother, Kimberly, says.
Shappley puts it differently. “I know the capitol like [I know] my glorious face,” she says, grinning.
It was before the funeral of Monica Roberts—a renowned transgender journalist and advocate who had become Shappley’s mentor—in the fall of 2020 when Kai decided she wanted to start speaking publicly without her mother. “Mom was like, ‘I’ll go up there with you.’ But I said, ‘I think I’m strong enough to talk for myself now,” she says. Shappley ultimately spoke about Roberts’ life and legacy for several minutes. By the spring of 2021, she’d decided she wanted to testify before lawmakers.
“People say she just has that ‘it’ factor… she’ll take any platform and any microphone,” Kimberly Shappley laughs. “She’s just who she is, 105%, all the time until she passes out.”
But activism hasn’t consumed all of Shappley’s time. The sixth of seven kids—and one of only two girls—Kai loves going to school and playing strategy games with her friends, whom she calls “the beauty squad.” She’s completely devoted to Dolly Parton, and appears visibly offended when asked why she likes the famed country singer.
“Why wouldn’t you love her?” she exclaims. “She’s nice. She’s gracious. She’s fabulous. Her hair. Her dresses!”
Shappley says she wants to be “everything” when she grows up. “A mother of 103 cats. An actress. A director. A writer. A scientist. A ballerina. A musician.” She loves acting, and even appeared in an episode of Netflix’s 2020 show The Baby-Sitters Club. “Next thing you know, I’ll be on Broadway,” she beams.
Shappley’s family moved from Pearland, Tex., to Austin in 2018 after her previous school refused to let her use the girl’s bathroom. She loves the new city. Even still, her mother says they worry about the state becoming a hostile environment for trans kids. And after Texas lawmakers filed at least 13 bills directly targeting trans kids last legislative session, the family decided they’d seen enough. They plan on moving out of Texas, the only place Shappley has lived her entire life.
“I don’t think people understand the whole picture of what trans families are going through,” Kimberly says. “It’s not safe.” The attention on Shappley’s activism has also directed unwanted online hate towards their family. They’ve even received death threats.
But the family has a saying: It’s Mom’s job to worry. It’s Kai’s job to tell her story. And so she’s going to keep telling it. Shappley plans on testifying against more anti-trans bills in the future, and says she is prepared to testify “every single time” if she needs to. She feels a responsibility, she says, “to stand up for all of those who [cannot] have a voice of their own.”
“It’s in my nature to do what’s right,” she adds. “And it’s in my nature to get into a lot of drama.”
Kid of the Yearairs February 9 during a TV special on Nickelodeon! Click HERE for more information! The finalists of Kid of the Year 2021 include: anti-bullying activist DJ Annie Red; inventor Lino Marrero; AAPI activist Mina Fedor; marine conservationist Miles Fetherston-Resch; philanthropist Jayden Perez; kindness advocate Orion Jean, and marine conservationist Cash Daniels.
Texas Trans Girl Is Named a TIME ‘Kid of the Year’ Finalist
11-year-old Kai Shappley is being honored as a trans-rights activist.
If you’re an avid OutSmart reader, you’re most likely a fan of Kai Shappley.
The 11-year-old transgender Texan has been making headlines since 2016, when she and her mother fought back against Pearland ISD’s anti-trans bathroom policy. Two years later, her story became the subject of the Emmy Award-winning film Trans in America: Texas Strong, as well as several popular streaming documentaries.
A few months after she portrayed Bailey in Netflix’s 2020 reboot of The Baby-Sitters Club, Shappley was at the Texas Capitol urging lawmakers to vote against several bills aimed at banning gender-affirming treatments for trans children. One of her testimonies went viral and she garnered thousands of followers across her social media, where she continues advocating for trans rights.
Shappley is now being honored by TIME magazine as a ‘Kid of The Year’ finalist. The national publication made the announcement in a January 12 article titled “Kid of the Year Finalist Kai Shappley, 11, Takes on Lawmakers in Her Fight for Trans Rights,” in which she discusses activism, her career aspirations, her love for Dolly Parton, and more.
“Proud to be a finalist for TIME Kid of the Year,” Shappley shared to her over 11,000 Instagram followers. “Activism matters to me because it’s a way to show that we belong. It’s a way to show that we fight for what is right. We won’t sit silent.”
Kid of the Year was launched by TIME (in partnership with the Nickelodeon network) in 2020. The first honoree was 15-year-old scientist Gitanjali Rao, who invented a mobile device to test lead in drinking water.
To read Kai Shappley’s ‘Kid of the Year’ finalist profile, go here.
