Turbo Dogs (ION, NBC, qubo)

TURBO DOGS follows the antics of a group of fun-loving canines with a passion for racing. Based on the picture book Racer Dogs by Bob Kolar, the series is set in the colorful burg of Racerville and centers on the town's speediest group of dogs: Dash (voiced by Lyon Smith), Mags (Stacey DePass), GT (Dan Petronijevic), Strut (Joris Jarsky), Clutch (Peter Cugno), and Stinkbert (Hadley Kay). Though the pooches are competitors on the track, they're always fast friends in the end, showing kids that no matter what the problem, cooperation, hard work, and good sportsmanship are the keys to overcoming life's little pitfalls.

Turbo Dogs has all the qualities of a sure-fire kid pleaser: zany characters, funny stories, and fast-paced action. Young viewers will get a kick out of sneaky Strut's creative but ill-fated attempts to weasel his way to racing victory (think giant magnets on extendable car appendages), Stinkbert's deep love of all things trash, and, of course, the high-octane races.

Meanwhile, parents will be pleased that the series wins on another level, promoting valuable messages about teamwork, friendship, and fair play through its well-crafted stories. If a flaw can be found, it's in the noticeable shortage of female characters (there's only one), which seemingly promotes the stereotype that cars are a "guy thing." But girls who do tune in will find a positive role model in Mags, whose skill on the track is matched by her level-headedness and loyalty to her friends.