A Lesson in Patience Arrives in the Form of a Box on ‘Eureeka’s Castle’

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it just gets puppets in trouble as Grammy winner Luther Vandross joins Eureeka, Batley, Magellan and their friends for Eureeka’s Castle Special: Don’t Touch That Box, a sort of Eureeka-style version of Pandora’s Box.

While playing catch, Magellan, Batley and the Moat Twins discover a large box in the woods outside the castle. They bring the box back to Eureeka, who calls the Great Wizard (Vandross) for advice, and finds out he is its real owner. The wizard warns Eureeka that the box is broken: “Don’t touch that box!”

Despite her reminders to the others, curiosity gets the best of the castle characters, who get more than they bargained for. And when things start to go wrong, they continue to try to use the box to help them. But things only get worse until, thankfully, the Grand Wizard finally arrives and all is fixed.

Vandross sings a song titled “Don’t Touch That Box.”

The special provides a gentle warning to children as to why they should listen and be patient.

“Eureeka’s Castle Special: Don’t Touch That Box” airs Friday at 8-8:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10-10:30 a.m. Nickelodeon. For ages 2 to 8.

MORE FAMILY SHOWS

Sundays mornings have traditionally been a time for adult public affairs shows, but the new Kids View (Sunday 9 a.m. KABC) is a public affairs show that not only features children but is designed for them. The premiere episode stars decathelete Dave Johnson. For ages 8 to 12.

In the Jim Henson-adapted version of The Frog Prince (Sunday 8-8:30 p.m. Nickelodeon), Kermit befriends a frog who explains that he is Prince Robin the Brave under the spell of a wicked witch. For ages 2 to 8.

Sesame Street (Monday-Friday 10-11 a.m. KCET; 8-9 a.m. KPBS; 3:30-4:30 p.m. KVCR. Repeats Monday-Friday 8-9 and 9-10 a.m., Saturday and Sunday 7-8 and 8-9 a.m. KCET; Monday-Friday 7-8 a.m. KPBS) enters its 24th season emphasizing race relations with Latino cultures. Also featured will be animated segments based on the art work of the late Keith Haring. Photographer-artist William Wegman’s dogs will make their teaching debut in new film segments. Guests include Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Tito Puente, Harry Connick Jr., Midori Goto, Rosie Perez and Queen Latifah. For preschoolers.

Be Our Guest: The Making of Beauty and The Beast (Monday 6-6:30 p.m. Disney Channel) takes a behind-the-scenes look at the feature “Beauty and the Beast.” For ages 5 and up.

Paul McCartney provides both voice and music for Rupert and the Frog Prince (Thursday 9:20-9:35 p.m. Disney Channel) about a curious bear cub named Rupert who journeys into the magical kingdom of singing frogs. For ages 2 to 8.

Kelly McGillis narrates Thumbelina (Friday 7:30-8 a.m. Showtime), the classic about a beautiful girl no larger than a thumb. After being snatched from her family by a toad who wants to make her his wife, she escapes, befriends creatures of the forest and meets the king of the flower angels, with whom she finds happiness forever. For ages 2 to 8.

A deaf boy uses sign language to communicate with an orangutan that has taken refuge near his home in A Summer to Remember (Friday 10 a.m.-noon Lifetime). The movie stars James Farentino, Tess Harper and Louise Fletcher. For ages 7 and up.

Airing for the first time live (from Universal Studios), the 6th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards (Saturday 8 p.m. Nickelodeon) features the results of a nationwide poll asking kids to pick their favorites in movies, television, sports and music. For ages 7 and up.