PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch
The PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a preschool television block produced by Canada-based animation studio Nelvana Limited (now Nelvana Enterprises) that aired on PBS from September 30, 2000 to September 5, 2004. It typically aired on weekend mornings, depending on station preference and scheduling. The shows that formed the Bookworm Bunch were all based on children's books: Corduroy (by Don Freeman), Elliot Moose (by Andrea Beck), Timothy Goes to School (by Rosemary Wells), Seven Little Monsters (by Maurice Sendak), George Shrinks (by William Joyce), and Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (by Betty and Michael Paraskevas).
| Network | PBS Kids |
|---|---|
| Launched | September 30, 2000 |
| Closed | September 5, 2004 |
| Country of origin | |
| Owner | |
| Original language(s) | English |
History
In August 1999, PBS and Nelvana teamed up to create the network's first-ever animated weekend programming block.[1] It was created to boost viewership of the preschool audience on weekends, specifically on Saturday mornings when that attention was shifted elsewhere; many PBS stations devoted their Saturday morning schedules to general audience programming, including crafting or do-it-yourself shows, meanwhile commercial networks had extensive lineups for Saturday morning cartoons. A proposed series called Junior Kroll and Company was part of original plans for the new block, but that idea was eventually shelved and replaced by Marvin.[2] This and the other five series were all based on a children's book, a theme that was inspired by a PBS-commissioned study from the University of Kansas that demonstrated the idea that children can learn to read from television programs.[3] Upon its launch on September 30, 2000, the Bookworm Bunch became the second preschool-oriented Saturday morning block on broadcast television after Nick Jr. on CBS, which premiered two weeks before. Although PBS intended on the block to be broadcast on Saturdays, some stations opted to air it other days, particularly Sundays when there was less competition from other networks.[4]
During the block's first season, all the shows (with the exception of the first 15-minute Corduroy episode), were shown either 15 or 45 minutes past the hour, in an effort to discourage "channel-flipping" to other competing children's cartoons. Another 15-minute Corduroy episode then ended the block, making its total run three hours. The Bookworm Bunch proved to be extremely popular in its first season, and weekend viewership increased dramatically. The first season ended on February 24, 2001, with reruns continuing (including Elliot Moose and Corduroy) until October 27, 2001.
The second and final season premiered on November 3, 2001,[5] and with this premiere came a drastic revamp. Elliot Moose and Corduroy were both removed from the lineup entirely, thus shortening it to two hours. The four remaining series were instead seen on the hour and half-hour. Timothy and Marvin both ended production by late 2001. The second season ended on February 23, 2002, and reruns (from the second season and the second season of the four remaining shows) lasted on PBS stations until September 5, 2004.
Following the second season of the block, two shows were picked up as separate, standalone series. This included new episodes of Seven Little Monsters and George Shrinks beginning January 6, 2003, in addition to a brand-new revival of The Berenstain Bears. The new episodes of Seven Little Monsters were 15 minutes, instead of the original 30 minutes, and were aired immediately after The Berenstain Bears in the same half-hour timeslot.[6] This did not last long as PBS eventually aired The Berenstain Bears as a half-hour show (two 15 minute vignettes) back-to-back beginning on early 2005. (As for Monsters, it was discontinued in early 2005.) [7] George Shrinks was given its own half-hour timeslot,[8] in which it also proved to be extremely popular. Given the success of these shows, many PBS stations carried them on their weekday schedule (including Bears and George Shrinks).
As for the formal two-hour Bookworm Bunch block on weekends, the second season continued in reruns on select PBS stations and the PBS Kids Channel until September 5, 2004. On September 6, 2004, the series was dropped altogether. Around this time, there were many new additions coming to the PBS weekend lineup (like Thomas & Friends and Bob the Builder) and the new PBS Kids Go! block debuted in 2004, all of which effectively replaced the Bookworm Bunch. However, reruns of the individual, standalone series continued for several years (including Monsters and George Shrinks).
After the cancellation of the Bookworm Bunch block, other TV airings --outside of PBS Kids and select PBS stations-- chose to air three shows from the Bookworm Bunch (including Elliot, Marvin, and Timothy). So cable channel Discovery Kids aired reruns of Timothy (from 2004 until 2006), while now-defunct Qubo aired reruns of Elliot, Timothy, and Marvin (as part of its daily programming). Monsters and George Shrinks were the only two shows which survived (on PBS Kids and select PBS stations) after the discontinuation of the Bookworm Bunch. However, while Monsters was discontinued in early 2005 (resulting with Bears becoming a half hour show --two 15 minute vignettes for a half-hour episode), only George Shrinks survived. And it used its weekday timeslot until 2009.
Interstitials
Music video interstitials aired at the end of each program before the credits.[9] These music videos were essentially montages of scenes from all of the shows with musical accompaniment. Each of the songs was performed by American musical artist Nancy Cassidy, appearing on three albums released between 1986 and 1992.
Season 1 (2000–2001)
- Corduroy (first half) – "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy" (shortened version) (Appears on the 1988 album KidsSongs 2)[10]
- Elliot Moose – "You Gotta Sing" (Appears on the 1986 album KidsSongs)[11]
- Timothy Goes to School – "Rig a Jig Jig" (Appears on KidsSongs 2)[10]
- Seven Little Monsters – "La Bamba" (shortened version; Appears on KidsSongs 2)[10]
- George Shrinks – "You Gotta Sing" (reprise)
- Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse – "Rig a Jig Jig" (reprise)
- Corduroy (second half) – "Skidamarink" (Appears on the 1992 album KidsSongs: Sleepyheads)[12]
Season 2 (2001–2002)
- Timothy Goes to School – "Friends Are Special" (Appears on KidsSongs: Sleepyheads)[12]
- Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse – "La Bamba" (extended version)
- Seven Little Monsters – "This Little Light of Mine" (Appears on KidsSongs)[11]
- George Shrinks – "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy" (extended version)
Programming
Former programming
Original programming
The first season (2000-2001) of the Bookworm Bunch block ran for three hours, and the second season (2001-2002) ran for two hours.
| Title | Premiere date | End date | Notes | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corduroy | September 30, 2000 | October 27, 2001 | ||
| Elliot Moose | Available on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi | |||
| Timothy Goes to School | September 5, 2004 | Available on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi | ||
| Seven Little Monsters | ||||
| George Shrinks | ||||
| Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse | Available on Amazon Prime Video |
Standalone programming
The most successful series from the weekend Bookworm Bunch block were stripped to five days a week, and joined Berenstain Bears as standalone programs.[13]
| Title | Premiere date | End date | Notes | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Berenstain Bears/Seven Little Monsters | January 6, 2003 | September 14, 2003 | Reruns of this 30-minute program continued on select stations until early 2005.[14] | |
| George Shrinks | January 23, 2003 | Reruns continued on select stations until 2009. | ||
| The Berenstain Bears | September 15, 2003[7] | September 10, 2004 | Reruns continue on select stations as of 2022. |
References
- ^ Elber, Lynn. . OnlineAthens. Archived from the original on 2015-10-29. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
- ^ "Kidscreen » Archive » what's developing in kids production". Kidscreen. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
- ^ Zurawik, David. "PBS gives kids new Saturday morning shows". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- ^ Bedford, Karen E. "PBS debuts 'Bookworm Bunch,' 2000 - Current.org". Current.org. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
- ^ (Press release). Nelvana Limited. Archived from the original on 2014-08-05. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ (Press release). Archived from the original on 2017-08-22. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "Award-Winning PBS KIDS® Launches New Programming This Fall 2003" (Press release). Retrieved May 3, 2017.
- ^ (Press release). Archived from the original on 2017-08-22. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch Interstitials (2001)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Kidssongs 2 by Nancy Cassidy". Apple Music. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "Kidssongs by Nancy Cassidy". Apple Music. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "KidsSongs: Sleepyheads by Nancy Cassidy". Apple Music. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "Nelvana trio stripped on PBS Kids". C21media. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
- ^ . web.archive.org. 2004-08-17. Archived from the original on 2004-08-17. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
External links
- at the Wayback Machine (archive index)