Dinosaurs

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Dinosaurs ranks 714 out of the 18,221 shows on TV.com.

The 983 users who count themselves as Dinosaurs fans have written a total of 56 reviews.

Status

Premiered

Ended

Genre

Theme

Related Shows

• Creature Comforts (UK)
• The Flintstones
• The Simpsons

The show was conceived by the Muppet masters at Jim Henson Productions, who wanted to do a sitcom-style show with puppets using the animatronics processes the company had developed. The brain trust settled on the idea of doing a straightforward show about a family that happened to be composed of dinosaurs. Henson... more »

The show was conceived by the Muppet masters at Jim Henson Productions, who wanted to do a sitcom-style show with puppets using the animatronics processes the company had developed. The brain trust settled on the idea of doing a straightforward show about a family that happened to be composed of dinosaurs. Henson Productions offshoot The Creature Shop developed huge, lifelike puppets that could be operated from inside by puppeteers, and Brian Henson, Jim's son, devised a process called ‘audio animatronics' to bring the facial expressions of these puppets to life.

The shows premise mixed elements of The Flintstones and The Simpsons, focusing on a blue-collar family of dinosaurs. Earl, the father, worked for the Wesayso Corporation and leveled trees to make way for tract homes. His blustery qualities were balanced out by his even-tempered wife Fran. The Dino clan had three children: rebellious teen Robbie, shopaholic preteen Charlene, and Baby, a smart-alecky infant. Rounding out the family was Grandma Ethyl, who always seemed to be locked in a battle of wills with Earl. Other characters included B. P. Richfield, Earl's fearsome boss, and Roy Hess, a prehistoric swinger buddy of Earl's.

Dinosaurs depicted dinosaur life as being very close to human life: they watched television, shopped at supermarkets, and held down nine-to-five jobs. This allowed the show to tackle relevant social concerns in their stories. For instance, in Steroids To Heaven Robbie tried to overcome feelings of inadequacy by building up his body with an artificial growth hormone called ‘thornoids.' You didn't expect a very special episode of Dinosaurs, now did you?

In making the dinosaurs human-like, the show allowed itself a unique opportunity to comment on our foibles as human beings. Much like modern homo sapiens, the shows prehistoric protagonists wasted their precious resources and allowed themselves to stay bound to outmoded ways of thinking when they could turn things around by trying out more progressive ways of thinking. The latter concern was usually voiced by Robbie, who questioned many of his dinosaur family's customs.

Dinosaurs managed to rack up 65 episodes before being cancelled in July of 1994. It is a memorable entry in the sitcom canon, not only for its use of technology but also for the social messages it passed on to its viewers...through a group of animatronic dinosaurs (who knew?).
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• Where are they now?

  I have a little theory about television shows that have been cancled or not on the air anymore. They go to the "Lost Channel...more »

  I have a little theory about television shows that have been cancled or not on the air anymore. They go to the "Lost Channel" network and live. I hear that you can only get this channel if you hit the right buttons on your remote. The odds are 100000000000000000000-1. Some day it will happen. Kepp your eyes open, there's wonders all around us!:oops:less «

  cactusjack39 Last online 1 hr, 32 mins ago
  1 comments, last one Nov 24, 2008 + Add Comment

• The Baby... gotta love me

  "Not the momma" "You think your pretty funny huh?" "I'm a scream!" lol just felt like adding :D

  "Not the momma" "You think your pretty funny huh?" "I'm a scream!" lol just felt like adding :D less «

  missgigles87 Last online 3 days ago
  24 comments, last one Aug 18, 2008 + Add Comment

• The Last Episode

  Is it true that when the last episode first premiered on TV, that they warned people that thier kids could cry because of a sad ending? I heard it somewhere, just wondering.

  Is it true that when the last episode first premiered on TV, that they warned people that thier kids could cry because of a sad ending? I heard it somewhere, just wondering. less «

  leodonmikeraph Last online May 3, 2008
  6 comments, last one Jul 10, 2008 + Add Comment

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  10 Perfect

  Excellent show. hide « show »

  I have to say that this was one of the best comedies of all time. It was probably the most unique show and it was very much. I found so many of their bits hilarious and it was really original comedy. My favorite characters were the baby and the father dinosaur. They both were great characters and very funny sources. I must admit that this was a show for the patient and the people that like to laugh at good humor. Overall, this was a great show and an all time classic. I wish it was still on the air. Thank you.

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  cactusjack39 Added Feb 28, 2009 All my reviews
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  9 Superb

  The Dad, Earl, looks like a construction worker. The Mom, Fran is a house mom who takes care of the Baby. The oldest son Robbie, a teenager who has a mo-hawk. The daughter Charlene who is also a young teenager going to school. Finally you have the baby! hide « show »

  This is by far one of my most fondest memories growing up. It was a huge deal in our family. Anytime it was on, we would gather around and watch it together. We even have adopted "Refrigerator Day", from one of the episodes. We cover the refrigerator in wrapping paper and each person in the family gets a stocking-like present. Nothing big, but it is an amazing tradition. I would actually recommend it to everyone! It is almost as big of deal as Christmas to us, and it has definately brought us closer together as a family. I love this show, and always will!!

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  sharklover88 Added Jan 15, 2009 All my reviews
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  7.5 Good

  Dinosaurs is a show about a prehistoric family. hide « show »

  When I was a kid in grade school, Dinosaurs was one of my favorite shows. It was different than just watching a cartoon. The sinclair family is funny. The Dad, Earl who had a career as a tree pusher, which looks like a construction worker. The Mom, Fran is a house mom who takes care of the Baby, who everyone Loves because you gotta love the baby. The oldest son Robbie, a teenager who has a mo-hawk and deals with typical everyday things at school. The daughter Charlene who is also a young teenager going to school. Finally you have mostly everyones favorite character the baby! They are a normal family sitcom, just dinosaurs. One of my favorite things of the show is how they show the human caveman as an idiot who will never develop smarts. This was amzing when I was a kid and enjoyed it to the fullest!

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  Baycityrookie Added Aug 7, 2008 All my reviews
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  9.9 Superb

  I loved this show as a child! hide « show »

  I remember the good ol' days of getting up early to sit down and watch this with my mum. I also remember getting the pull-string talking baby dino! I still have it somewhere in my loft probably. I wish it was a longer running show and actually had more episodes. Severely under-rated and often forgotten. God knows why as it was amazing! There were jokes that adults could understand that children could not and that is what makes a show simply amazing. You love it as a child for the slap stick content and when you get older you adore it for the slightly risqué nature of the jokes you never noticed as a child.

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  Eileanach Added Feb 14, 2008 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  I miss this show tons! NOT THE MAMA! hide « show »

  I just loved this show when i was little dinosaurs were one of my favorite animals and when this show came around on reruns or whatnot, i would watch it constantly. I want them to bring it back, it was a great series, i know they're selling the dvd boxed sets somewhere, but i want them to bring it back to television, it was one of those timeless shows, just like the muppets :D I loved everytime the dad would be trying to bond with the baby and he'd always smack the dad in the head with something and go "NOT THE MAMA!" hehe, I recommend this show to anyone of all ages if you can get a hold of the dvds or vhs tapes :D

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  iKikchickens Added Oct 6, 2007 All my reviews