Speaking as the parent of a 2 year old who is consistently enthralled by The Wiggles, I had some misgivings about whether the Fab Four for Preschoolers would have the same spark with the newer lineup. Wiggles loyalists know that Greg Page, one of the group's original members, had to turn over his yellow shirt last year due to illness; he was replaced by Sam Moran, who had already served as Greg's understudy for some 150 concert dates (Geez ... the things you become familiar with once you've got a kid).

At any rate, I am pleased to report that The Wiggles: Getting Strong, this reviewer's first look at the outfit's newest incarnation, is just fine. Sam, with his gentle smile and vaguely drowsy demeanor, is a welcome addition to the act.

For the uninitiated, the Wiggles are nothing short of superstars among the pint-sized. The Australian foursome -- Anthony, Jeff, Murray and Sam -- are indefatigably upbeat fellows who couch little life lessons in songs praising the likes of fruit salad, teddy bears and big red cars. They are joined by a few pals: Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, the rose-loving Dorothy the Dinosaur and, last but not least, friendly pirate Captain Feathersword.

This marks the inaugural DVD for a new Wiggles series entitled Wiggle and Learn, but the programming featured here doesn't stray far from the sprightly children's music that the group does best. Unlike the vapid ditties of, say, a certain talking purple dinosaur, the Wiggles' songbook is catchy, occasionally sophisticated (well, comparatively speaking) and doesn't sound as if tunes were written within the time it takes to floss teeth. The Wiggles songs in Getting Strong are generally solid, if not quite on par with their signatures tunes. Still, there are a few highlights, especially "Getting Strong" and "A Bird Flew Around on a Bright Sunny Day."

Getting Strong ostensibly focuses on physical fitness, as the bulk of vignettes and songs are about exercise and nutrition. The Wiggles jump rope, play musical cushions (musical chairs sans chairs) and engage in some rudimentary calisthenics. But the gents give themselves plenty of, er, wiggle room for other interests. For instance, origami probably doesn't fit anyone's definition of a workout, but the Wiggles provide a lesson in it, along with several tunes about literacy and foreign languages. Anyway, the variety is certain to keep things lively for the young ones.

Moreover, I'll give The Wiggles: Getting Strong credit for something else, too. Captain Feathersword, a character this reviewer (admittedly not the target demographic) has always found to be a pretty uninspiring pirate, actually amuses in several of skits. Paul Paddick, who plays the good captain, actually elicited a few chuckles from my daughter - and trust me, she makes people earn their laughs.

Presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen, the picture quality is clean and reasonably sharp, with strong colors and realistic flesh tones.

The Dolby Digital 2.0 mix is unremarkable, but the songs are clear and crisp. What else do you need?

The Wiggles might be among the champs of children's entertainment, but their ideas about bonus material leave something to be desired. Electronic Storybook: Wags Mixes Some Colors (4:33) employs storybook illustrations and a voiceover narrator of undetermined nationality. In the two-minute, 51-second Dorothy Speaks Warramiri, the dinosaur converses with an aboriginal visitor in the man's native tongue. Dorothy also takes center stage in the self-explanatory Safety on the Water (6:14) and Soccer with Katie Gill (5:29), of Australia's women's soccer team, the Matildas. None of the material is likely to captivate youngsters.

Wee Wiggles fans will be entertained -- and might even learn a thing or two about maintaining good health. Parents used to the Wiggles brand will know what to expect. Getting Strong is a dependable product from dependable purveyors of kiddie-centric programming.