You probably remember the Boohbahs. Those fuzzy, neon-colored gumdrop creatures that looked like they were vibrating on a molecular level. They didn't talk. They just squeaked and "poofed" while doing interpretive dance in a glowing white ball. It was peak early-2000s surrealism. But if you dig into the archives of your childhood brain, there is one specific phrase that likely sticks out more than the rest: Boohbah Look What I Can Do.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a fever dream.
Most people associate "Look what I can do!" with Stuart from MADtv, but for a very specific generation of kids who grew up on PBS Kids or ABC Kids in Australia, the phrase belongs to a group of enthusiastic children jumping around in front of a blue screen. It wasn't just a random line; it was a dedicated segment of the show that has since evolved into a strange, niche corner of internet meme culture.
What Was the Look What I Can Do Segment?
In the original Boohbah series, which was created by Anne Wood (the same genius behind the Teletubbies), the show was designed to be interactive. It wasn't meant to be watched passively. The creators at Ragdoll Productions wanted kids to get off the couch.
The Boohbah Look What I Can Do segments were essentially short intermissions. They featured real-life kids—not the CGI or costumed characters—showing off a "skill." Sometimes it was a cartwheel. Sometimes it was just making a funny face or spinning in circles.
In the United States, PBS Kids baked these segments directly into the episodes. In Australia and the UK, they often aired as standalone "interstitials" between shows. The structure was always the same: a kid would look at the camera, shout the catchphrase, and perform their move.
Why it felt so weird
There’s a reason this specific part of the show feels "off" to adults looking back. The Boohbah universe is already highly stylized. You have the "Storypeople" like Grandpappa and Mr. Man, who live in a world with no houses and receive gifts from the sky. When you jump from that silent, brightly colored fantasy world to a low-res video of a kid in a living room yelling "Look what I can do!", the tonal shift is jarring.
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It feels personal. Almost too real.
The Characters Behind the Chaos
To understand why the "Look what I can do" energy is so chaotic, you have to look at the Boohbahs themselves. They are described by Ragdoll Productions as "atoms of energy." There are five of them:
- Humbah: The yellow one (and the unofficial leader).
- Zumbah: The purple one.
- Zing Zing Zingbah: The orange one.
- Jumbah: The blue one.
- Jingbah: The pink one.
They don't have a traditional language. They communicate through sound effects and physical movement. Because the show was designed to teach "spatial awareness" and "puzzle solving," the "Look what I can do" segments were supposed to be the "payoff" for the audience. The Boohbahs would dance, and then the real kids would show what they could do.
It was a cycle of movement. Simple. Effective. And, in retrospect, kind of terrifying.
The Meme Revival: Why It’s Trending Again
The internet loves "liminal space" energy—that feeling of being in a place that feels familiar but slightly wrong. Boohbah is the king of liminal media.
Around 2020 and 2021, clips of Boohbah Look What I Can Do started resurfacing on TikTok and YouTube. Why? Because the segments are unintentionally hilarious when taken out of context. You have a child staring intensely into a 2004-era camera lens, declaring their dominance with a somersault, and then... silence.
The "Bouba/Kiki" Connection
Interestingly, there’s a psychological phenomenon called the Bouba/Kiki effect. It’s a study where people across different cultures almost always associate the word "Bouba" with round, bulbous shapes and "Kiki" with sharp, spiky ones.
The Boohbahs are the ultimate "Boubas." They are round, soft, and vibrate. The "Look what I can do" kids, however, are the "Kikis." They are loud, energetic, and unpredictable. The contrast between the soft, pulsating Boohbah world and the raw energy of the children's segments creates a weird tension that the internet has turned into a comedy goldmine.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that Boohbah was just a Teletubbies rip-off. It wasn't. While Anne Wood created both, Boohbah was significantly more focused on physical science and "televisual gaming."
Another mistake? Thinking the phrase "Look what I can do" originated here.
It didn’t.
But the show standardized it for a toddler audience. While the MADtv character Stuart (played by Michael McDonald) was using the line to parody needy children, Boohbah was using it to actually empower them.
The irony is that the kids who grew up watching the "empowering" version eventually found the "parody" version as teenagers, and now the two have merged into one big blob of nostalgia.
Actionable Insights: How to Use This Nostalgia
If you're a creator or just someone diving down this rabbit hole, there's a few things to keep in mind about why this specific niche of 2000s media works.
- Context is King: The "Look what I can do" segments work as memes because they are "uncomfortably earnest." In an age of polished social media, the raw, unedited vibe of 2004 PBS is refreshing.
- Lean into the Surreal: If you're looking for more "Boohbah-core" content, check out the "Storyworld" segments of the show. They are largely silent and feature bizarre physical comedy that feels like a precursor to modern "absurdist" humor.
- Physicality Matters: The show’s focus on movement is why it sticks in the brain. We remember how it felt to move along with the characters, even if we don't remember the "plot" of an episode (mostly because there wasn't one).
To really appreciate the weirdness, go find the "Squeaky Socks" or "Comfy Armchair" segments on YouTube. They are the prime examples of the Boohbah Look What I Can Do energy. You'll see kids trying to put on oversized socks or navigate furniture, all while maintaining that iconic, slightly manic enthusiasm.
It’s a strange relic of television history. It was a time when we encouraged kids to just be—to just show us what they could do, no matter how small the feat. And honestly? We could probably use a little more of that energy today.
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For those looking to revisit these moments, the official WildBrain channels on YouTube have archived many of the original 104 episodes. Just be prepared: once you hear the "Boohball" start to hum, it’s hard to get that sound out of your head for at least a week.