Barney & Friends

Barney & Friends is an American children's television series targeted at children aged 2–7, created by Sheryl Leach. The series first aired on PBS on April 6, 1992, and features Barney, a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, huggable and optimistic attitude.[4][5][6][7] The series ended on November 2, 2010, although new videos were still released on various dates after the last episode aired. Reruns aired on Sprout from 2005 to 2015, and from December 17, 2018, onward on Sprout's successor network, Universal Kids.

Barney & Friends
Genre
Created by
Based onBarney & the Backyard Gang by Sheryl Leach[1]
Voices of
  • Bob West
  • Duncan Brannan
  • Tim Dever
  • Dean Wendt
  • Julie Johnson
  • Patty Wirtz
  • Michaela Dietz
Opening themeBarney Theme Song
Ending themeI Love You
A Friend Like You (various episodes only, 2006–2010)
Composers
  • Philip Parker (1990–1999)
  • Bob Singleton (1990–2000)
  • Joe Phillips (1996–2009)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons14
No. of episodes268 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Sheryl Leach (1988–1998)
  • Kathy Parker (1988–1993)
  • Dennis DeShazer (1988–2002)
  • Randy Dalton (2002–2005)
  • Karen Barnes (2006–2009)
Production locations
Running time30 minutes (1992–2005, 2008–2009)
15 minutes (2006–2007, 2010)
Production companies
Release
Original networkPBS[3]
Original releaseApril 6, 1992 (1992-04-06) –
November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02)
Related

In 2015, a revival was announced to premiere in 2017 but was delayed into an undated launch[8] until being re-announced as a CGI-animated series in February 2023.[9] On October 18, 2019, Mattel Films announced that a second Barney film was to be produced; British actor Daniel Kaluuya's production company was involved.[10]

While popular with its intended audience, Barney drew severe negative reaction from the older set, who mocked the title character in popular culture through song parodies and comedy routines such as being beaten up by NBA star Charles Barkley on a Saturday Night Live episode.[11] The anti-Barney phenomenon is the basis of the 2022 Peacock documentary I Love You, You Hate Me.[12] Barney has also received immense praise from parents for being a wholesome yet engaging show for children that delves into common, kid-friendly topics.

Origin and development

Barney was created by Sheryl Leach of Dallas, Texas.[13] She came up with the idea of a children's program after noticing that her son outgrew Wee Sing Together,[14][15] and then recognizing that there were no videos to appeal to her son. Leach then brought together a team who created a series of home videos, Barney & the Backyard Gang, initially released in 1988. The first three videos starred actress Sandy Duncan.[16]

One day in 1991, the daughter of Connecticut Public Television executive Larry Rifkin rented one of the videos and was "mesmerized" by it. Rifkin thought the concept could be developed for PBS. Rifkin thought Barney had appeal because he was not as neurotic as Big Bird. He pitched it to CPTV president Jerry Franklin, whose preschool son also fell in love with it. Franklin and Rifkin pitched the idea to all of their colleagues with preschoolers, and they all agreed that kids would love a Barney show. Franklin and Rifkin convinced Leach to let CPTV revamp the concept for television.[17] The show debuted as Barney & Friends in 1992.[18] The series was produced by CPTV and Lyrick Studios (later bought by HIT Entertainment).[19]

Although the show was a runaway hit, PBS initially opted not to provide funding beyond the initial 30-episode run. When Rifkin and other CPTV executives learned this, they wrote letters to their fellow PBS member stations urging them to get PBS to reconsider. The Lyons Group, meanwhile, sent out notices through the Barney Fan Club, telling parents to write letters and make phone calls to their local PBS stations to show their support for Barney & Friends. By the time of the yearly member stations' meeting, station executives across the country were up in arms over the prospect of one of their most popular shows being canceled. Faced with an atmosphere that Rifkin later described as "like an insurrection", PBS ultimately relented.[17]

For several years, the show was taped at the Color Dynamics Studios facility at Greenville Avenue & Bethany Drive in Allen, Texas, after which it moved to The Studios at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, and then Carrollton, a suburb of Dallas. The TV series and videos are currently distributed by 9 Story Media Group, under license from Mattel Television, while the TV series was produced by WNET from 2006 to 2010.

Episode format

Opening sequence

The series opens with the theme song (over clips from various episodes) and the title card before it dissolves into the school (in seasons 1 to 6) or park (in seasons 7 to 14). The children are seen doing an activity, occasionally relating to the episode's topic. They eventually cause Barney to come to life from a plush doll, transforming into the "real" Barney, how he appears in the children's imaginations.

Main sequence

Here, the main plot of the episode takes place. Barney and the children learn about the main topic of the episode, with Baby Bop, BJ, or Riff appearing during the episode and numerous songs themed relating to the subject featured in the series. The roles of Baby Bop, BJ, and Riff have grown larger in later seasons and later episodes venture outside of the school to other places within the neighborhood, and in season 13, to other countries around the world.

Closing sequence

Barney concludes with "I Love You", then the children say goodbye to him and leave. Barney dissolves back into his original stuffed form and winks to the audience. The sequence transitions to Barney Says (in seasons 1 to 8 and 12 only) where Barney, who is off-screen, narrates what he and his friends had done that day, along with still snapshots from the episode. Then Barney signs off before the credits roll. In seasons 3 to 8 and 12, he later appeared on-screen by saying, "And remember, I love you," as the first three notes of "I Love You" plays out, and waved goodbye before the credits roll.

Characters and cast

Dinosaurs
  • Barney (voiced by Bob West 1992–2000, and Dean Wendt 2001–2010; people who wore the Barney suit included David Joyner 1991[20]-2001[21] and Carey Stinson[22]): The main character is a purple and green Tyrannosaurus in stuffed animal likeness, who comes to life through a child's imagination. His theme song is "Barney is a Dinosaur", whose tune is based on "Yankee Doodle". Barney often quotes things as being "Super dee-duper". Episodes frequently end with the song "I Love You", sung to the tune of "This Old Man", which happens to be one of Barney's favorite songs. Despite being a carnivorous type dinosaur, Barney does not have a carnivore's fearsome teeth. He likes many different foods such as fruits and vegetables, but his main favorite is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk.
  • Baby Bop (voiced by Julie Johnson): A green Triceratops, who was originally two years old, but turned three in "Look at Me, I'm 3!". Baby Bop has been on the show since her debut in "Barney in Concert" on July 29, 1991. She wears a pink bow and pink ballet slippers and carries a yellow security blanket. She sings the song "My Yellow Blankey" to show how much her security blanket means to her. She likes to eat macaroni and cheese and pizza.[23] She is the younger sister of BJ.
  • BJ (voiced by Patty Wirtz): A seven-year-old yellow Protoceratops,[24] BJ has been on the show since September 27, 1993. He is the older brother of Baby Bop, whom he frequently calls "Sissy" and occasionally calls by her name. He sings "BJ's Song" about himself. He wears a red baseball cap and red sneakers. He lost his hat in the episode "Hats Off to BJ!". Pickles are his favorite food and he has tried them in various ways, such as on pizza.
  • Riff (voiced by Michaela Dietz): An orange six-year-old Hadrosaur, who is Baby Bop and BJ's cousin, Riff has been on the show since September 18, 2006. He wears green sneakers. His theme music is "I Hear Music Everywhere". Riff loves music and it is in almost everything he does. In the episode "Barney: Let's Go to the Firehouse", it was revealed that Riff also likes to invent things; he created a four-sound smoke detector (the first three were different alarm sounds and the final one his voice). He is shown to have an interest in marching bands and parades.

Adults and children

The adults and children on the show often appear as teachers, storytellers, or other characters.

Multiple appearances
Role Actor/Actress Description and Appearances
Mother Goose Sandy Walper, Michelle McCarel,
Julie Johnson		 The rhyme master herself appears in the episodes "Let's Help Mother Goose", "Honk! Honk! A Goose on the Loose", "A Little Mother Goose", "Barney's Big Surprise", and "Mother Goose/Fairy Tales".
Stella the Storyteller Phyllis Cicero Stella travels all around the world, collecting new stories to tell Barney and friends, among other people. She appeared in several episodes from seasons 3 to 6 but reappeared in the video The Best of Barney, where she gave Barney a photo album of his friends over the years she made herself. After she finishes a story and when she says goodbye in every foreign language, she says her catchphrase "Toodles!" before closing the door.
Professor Tinkerputt Barry Pearl He appeared in Barney's Imagination Island and in the Barney's Big Surprise stage show tour. Professor Tinkerputt did not want to share his invented toys, until Barney and the kids showed him that good things happen when you share. For this reason, Tinkerputt left Imagination Island with Barney and the others and started a new toy factory.
Tomie dePaola Himself The famous children's author is also a good friend of Barney and usually meets his friends in the episodes he appeared in, which are "Picture This", "It's Raining, It's Pouring", and "Oh Brother, She's my Sister".
Mom Sandy Duncan Michael and Amy's mother in the first three Barney & the Backyard Gang videos.
Duncan also appeared as Molly the Mermaid in A Day at the Beach.
Dad Bob Reed Michael and Amy's father in the first three Barney & the Backyard Gang videos.
Mr. Boyd Robert Sweatman His full name is Grady Boyd and he has a niece named Colleen and a dog named Bingo. He worked as a musician in "Classical Cleanup", "Barney's Band", "Come Blow Your Horn!", "Play Piano with Me!", a janitor in seasons 3 to 6 and a park keeper in seasons 7 and 8. He later reappeared in The Best of Barney.
Colleen Claire Burdett Colleen is Mr. Boyd's niece, who comes to town for a visit and is introduced to Barney and the Children. She is a congenital amputee born without her right hand, as is her actress. She appeared in two episodes, "A New Friend!" and "A Perfectly Purple Day".
David Robert Hurtekant David is a boy in a wheelchair who appeared at the beginning of two episodes: "Falling for Autumn!" and "Shawn and the Beanstalk".

Puppets

A lot of puppets appeared in many seasons. The most notable puppets were:

  • Scooter McNutty, a brown squirrel (seasons: 4–6, 1997–2000) performed and voiced by Todd Duffey
  • Miss Etta Kette, a purple bird (seasons: 4–6, 1997–2000) performed and voiced by Brice Armstrong; Armstrong also voices Beauregard the Cat in the video It's Time for Counting.
  • Booker T. Bookworm, an orange worm with interests in books (season 5: 1998–1999) performed and voiced by Earl Fisher

Children

Throughout the series' run, over 100 children have appeared in the series, with most of them from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Only a small portion of these actors have made notable appearances in media since their roles, including:

Movies and specials
Main article: List of Barney & Friends episodes and videos

Airings

Other than the United States, the series has aired in Canada, Mexico and Latin America, France, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Japan (On English-based DVDs under the name "Let's Play with Barney in English! (バーニーと英語であそぼう！, Bānī to Eigo de asobō!)" and on television as simply "Barney & Friends (バーニー&フレンズ, Bānī ando Furenzu!)"), the Philippines, Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. Australian based company and distributor Southern Star handled non-US rights to the series from the mid-'90s[25] until 2001 when HIT revoked the deal after acquiring Lyrick.[26]

Two known co-productions of Barney & Friends have been produced outside of the US. The Israeli co-production Hebrew: החברים של ברני Hachaverim shel Barney (The Friends of Barney) produced from 1997 to 1999 in Tel Aviv, Israel, was the first of these. Rather than dubbing the original American episodes in seasons 1 to 3, the episodes were adapted with a unique set and exclusive child actors.[27][28] The second co-production was broadcast in South Korea from 2001 to 2003 on KBS (under the name "바니와 친구들" (Baniwa Chingudeul (Barney and Friends))). This one, however, adapted the first six seasons (including the first three that the Israel co-production did).

Music

A majority of the albums of Barney & Friends feature Bob West as the voice of Barney; however, the recent album The Land of Make-Believe has Dean Wendt's voice.

Barney's song "I Love You" was among those used by interrogators at Guantanamo Bay detention camp to coerce detainees.[29]

Awards and nominations
YearAwardRecipientResult
1993Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children's SeriesSheryl Leach, Kathy Parker, Dennis DeShazerNominated
1993Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Children's SeriesStephen White, Mark S. BernthalNominated
1994Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Live and Tape Sound Mixing and Sound EffectsRon Balantine, David M. BootheNominated
1994Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children's SeriesSheryl Leach, Kathy Parker, Dennis DeShazerNominated
1996Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Pre-School Children's SeriesSheryl Leach, Dennis DeShazer, Jim RowleyNominated
1998Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lighting DirectionKen Craig, Murray K. CampbellNominated
1998Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Sound MixingRon Balantine, David M. Boothe, Gary FrenchNominated
1999Daytime Emmy for Outstanding DirectingJim Rowley, Fred Holmes, Steve FeldmanNominated
1999Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound MixingRon Balantine, David M. Boothe, Gary FrenchNominated
2000Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound MixingRon Balantine, David M. Boothe, Gary FrenchNominated
2001Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound MixingRon Balantine, David M. Boothe, Gary FrenchWon (tied with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire)
2003Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Sound Mixing – Live Action and AnimationPatrick Sellars, Neal AndersonNominated
2006Daytime Emmy for Outstanding DirectingJim Rowley, Fred Holmes, Steve FeldmanNominated
2008Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/StylingLisa Odette Albertson, Traci Hutton, Lyle HuchtonNominated
2009Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/StylingLisa Odette Albertson, Traci Hutton, Lyle HuchtonNominated

Reception and legacy
Further information: Anti-Barney humor

Several people have concluded that episodes contain a great deal of age-appropriate educational material, including Yale University researchers Dorothy and Jerome Singer, who called the program a "model of what preschool television should be".[30] Others have criticized the show for a lack of educational value, as well as being repetitive.[31]

The show is often cited as a contributing factor to the perceived sense of entitlement seen in millennials, who grew up watching the show.[32][33] One specific criticism is:

His shows do not assist children in learning to deal with negative feelings and emotions. As one commentator puts it, the real danger from Barney is "denial: the refusal to recognize the existence of unpleasant realities. For along with his steady diet of giggles and unconditional love, Barney offers our children a one-dimensional world where everyone must be happy and everything must be resolved right away."[34][35]

In 1992, the Barney franchise generated $500 million in retail sales.[36]

The creator and performer of the San Diego Chicken mascot, Ted Giannoulas, called Barney a "ubiquitous and insipid creature" in a 1999 court case.[37][38][39]

Barney & Friends ranked No. 50 on TV Guide's 2002 list of the 50 worst TV shows of all time.[40]

In a 1993 newspaper article, Jerry Franklin, the head of Connecticut Public Television, which co-produced Barney at the time, was quoted thus:

When adults say they do not like Barney, Franklin says, 'in a way, we take that as a compliment. Barney is not designed for parents, whereas Sesame Street is designed for parents and children. We made a conscious decision to make Barney simple. It is not a program for parents. Barney relates to preschoolers. We think he speaks to them at their level, which is in simple terms and with music.[41]

Howard Blumenthal, producer of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, said "Even the most knowledgeable people … can't really understand why that [Barney] phenomenon happened and another didn't".[42]

Upcoming revival series

In November 2015, 9 Story Media Group and Mattel announced plans for a revival series to air in 2017. However, nothing else was announced about it.[8]

After a period of silence, on February 13, 2023, Mattel announced that Barney would return as a CGI-animated series, being co-produced by Mattel and Nelvana, with the deal also including the possibility of animated films and YouTube content to feature the character. The new series will be aiming for a 2024 delivery window.[9] This was part of a larger trend of successfully reviving franchises like Monster High and Masters of the Universe for Mattel, along with overall development that included films based on games like Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, and Major Matt Mason.[43]

On May 9, 2023, the title of the series was revealed to be Barney's World and has been picked up for distribution by Warner Bros. Discovery, with it airing on Cartoon Network via Cartoonito and streaming on Max.[44]

Movie

In July 2023, Deadline reported that the movie based on the series from Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya would be aimed at adults and discuss the supposed disenchantment within the Millennial generation.[45] TheWrap reported an executive from Mattel said the adapation would be "surrealistic" and similar to Adaptation and Being John Malkovich.[46]

See also

References
  1. Hofmeister, Sallie (October 20, 1994). "A Blue Year for the Purple-and-Green Dinosaur". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  2. "Richard Leach; Bankrolled Creation of 'Barney' Dinosaur". Los Angeles Times. June 2, 2001. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  3. Carter, Bill (March 21, 1994). "A Cable Challenger for PBS As King of the Preschool Hill". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  4. Gorman, James (April 11, 1993). "TELEVISION VIEW; Of Dinosaurs Why Must This One Thrive?". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  5. "Stuuuupendous!". Time. December 21, 1992. Archived from the original on August 12, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  6. Cerone, Daniel (April 3, 1993). "Dinosaur Is a Star, Spreading Love With Hugs, Kisses, Songs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  7. "Barney the launching pad". Los Angeles Times. January 30, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  8. Vlessing, Etan (October 6, 2015). "MIPCOM: 'Barney & Friends' Set for Relaunch by Mattel, 9 Story". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  9. Porter, Rick (February 13, 2023). "Barney the Dinosaur Gets Relaunch from Mattel". The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. "Mattel Films, Daniel Kaluuya's 59%, and Valparaiso Pictures announce plans to bring "Barney" to the Big Screen". Mattel.
  11. Mitchell, W.J.T. (1998). "Chapter 37: Why Children Hate Dinosaurs". The Last Dinosaur Book: The Life and Times of a Cultural Icon. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-53204-6.
  12. "Peacock Launches First-Ever Virtual "DocFest" with Original Documentaries to Premiere Weekly" (Press release). Peacock. August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via The Futon Critic.
  13. Lev, Michael A (December 10, 1992). "Barney! Barney! He's Kid Dinomite". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  14. Wakin, Edward; Ericksen, Gregory K.; Young, Ernst (April 26, 1999). Women Entrepreneurs Only: 12 Women Entrepreneurs Tell the Stories of Their Success. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780471324393.
  15. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "The Dinosaur Sensation: The History of Barney – Episode 1 (Barney's Beginnings)". YouTube.
  16. Lawson, Carol (December 3, 1992). "Why Young Children Scream". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  17. Grandjean, Pat (April 2013). "CPTV Celebrates 50 Years: Present at the Creation". Connecticut Magazine.
  18. Heffley, Lynne (April 6, 1992). "Dinosaur 'Barney' to Join PBS Gang". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  19. Heffley, Lynne (March 28, 2008). "Barney is far from extinct". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  20. Ramirez, Marc (January 25, 2018). "Where's Barney now? Actor who played purple dinosaur a tantric sex therapist". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  21. Sager, Rebekah (January 23, 2018). "The Guy Who Played Barney the Dinosaur Now Runs a Tantric Sex Business". Vice. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  22. Giggy, Sean (March 14, 2019). "Purple Tales: The stories and secrets behind Barney". WFAA. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  23. "Barney & Friends | Universal Kids". www.universalkids.com.
  24. "THIRD DINOSAUR JOINS CAST OF 'BARNEY'". Buffalo News. September 14, 1993.
  25. "Special Report – MIP' Asia: southern star brings nonviolent and educational shows".
  26. "Hit takes Barney off Southern Star".
  27. Zacharia, Janine (December 25, 1997). "Why Barney Doesn't Wear a Yarmulke". Jerusalem Report.
  28. Precker, Michael (June 8, 1998). "The purple dinosaur arrives in Israel". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  29. "BBC NEWS – Middle East – Sesame Street breaks Iraqi POWs". bbc.co.uk. May 20, 2003.
  30. IPTV Archived January 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  31. "Advertising; Barney's Image Gets Makeover For New Crop Of Toddlers". The New York Times. August 12, 2002. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  32. The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy. Broadway Books. 1997. ISBN 9780767900461.p. 248
  33. Berglas, Steven (December 10, 2008). "Entrepreneurship (Or Lack Thereof) In Millennials". Forbes. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  34. Lyons Partnership v. Ted Giannoulas, 179 F.3d 384, 386 (5th Cir. 1999), citing Chava Willig Levy, "The Bad News About Barney", Parents, Feb. 1994, at 191–92 (136–39).
  35. Chava Willig Levy. "The Bad News About Barney (Parents Magazine, February 1994)". chavawilliglevy.com. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  36. Clark, Doug (December 14, 1993). "Godzilla shows Barney bad side of dinosaur life". The Spokesman-Review. p. 21. Retrieved April 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. "Lyons Partnership, Plaintiff-appellant, v. Ted Giannoulas, Doing Business As Famous Chicken; Tfc, Inc.,defendants-appellees, 179 F.3d 384 (5th Cir. 1999)". Justia Law. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  38. Halberstadter, David (March 2003). "But It's a Joke! Balancing the Interests of Parodists Against Copyright and Trademark Owners without Clear Guidelines" (PDF). IP Litigator. 9 (3): 5.
  39. Champion, Walter T.; Willis, Kirk D. (March 28, 2014). Intellectual Property Law in the Sports and Entertainment Industries. ABC-CLIO. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-313-39164-4.
  40. "The Worst TV Shows Ever". CBS News. February 11, 2009. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  41. "'Barney & Friends' Thrills Kids But Makes Many Parents Nauseous". tribunedigital-thecourant. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  42. Behrens, Steve (March 6, 1995). "What did Barney earn, and why didn't PBS get more?". Current. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  43. Whitten, Sarah (February 13, 2023). "Barney is back: Mattel gives its nostalgic purple dinosaur an animated makeover". CNBC. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  44. Petski, Denise (May 9, 2023). "'Barney's World' Animated Kids Series Heads to Cartoon Network's Cartoonito & Max". Deadline.
  45. Grobar, Matt (July 3, 2023). "Mattel's 'Barney' Film Starring Daniel Kaluuya To Be Adult-Focused, "A24-Type" Effort, Says Exec". Deadline. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  46. Chitwood, Adam (July 2, 2023). "Daniel Kaluuya's 'Barney' Movie Is an 'A24-Type' Film, Mattel Exec Says". TheWrap. Retrieved July 3, 2023.

Further reading
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