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121
Dallas

CBS (ended 1991)

In the ranks of prime-time dramas, this was one of the biggest. Dallas, the saga of the Ewing Family, began as a five part mini-series in 1978. Throughout its thirteen seasons, many actors passed through the gates of Southfork. In the late 1960's, Peyton Place was a nighttime serial drama success-a novelty at the time. But since then, no P.M. show had caught the soap opera crowd's attention… until Dallas. The show first went on the air for a five week run in early 1978, and then fell into a Saturday nighttime slot later that year. Ratings were fair, but they were nothing compared to when the show moved to Friday nights, when the ratings well didn't run dry for a long, long time. The Ewing family lived at the sprawling South Fork ranch, in hoity-toity Braddock County just outside Dallas. Like any good power family, there was a matriarch and patriarch, and three sons- this core group, their extensive romantic relations, and the Barnes clan of rival oilers were all Jacobs needed to create a self-contained histrionic world of intrigue, dysfunction and passion. Borrowing from Romeo and Juliet, the youngest Ewing boy, Bobby, fell for a beautiful Barnes girl. And with a nod to the biblical Cain and Abel, Bobby and older brother J.R. didn't exactly play nice with each other like you might expect brothers to. Whereas J.R. was nearly a hundred percent scoundrel, Bobby had discernable streaks of honesty and integrity…but that patented Ewing viciousness certainly reared its head once in a while. The South Fork ranch housed Jock and Miss Ellie, the king and queen of South Fork, J.R. and long-suffering wife Sue Ellen, and Bobby and Pamela…though why they all lived under one roof demands a little poetic license, because money certainly wasn't a problem, and it wasn't like there was a whole lot of binding inter-family harmony. Here's just a taste of the drama devices that ensued: insane asylums, car accidents, affairs, illegitimate children, gunfights, fistfights, catfights, lies, drinking problems (both real and imagined), poufy 80's hairstyles for the ladies and best of all, notorious season finale cliffhangers. The most famous, of course, came at the end of the 1979-80 season, when a mysterious late-night intruder shot J.R. in the chest while he was toiling away at the office one night. The resulting "Who Shot J.R.?" publicity raced around the globe, because by that time, Dallas was an international hit in just about every developed country in the world. Odds on the shooter's identity were figured, bets were placed, and theories were construed– since there were about fifteen possible candidates, fans and pundits were kept very busy indeed. Don't read the next part of this sentence if you want to remain one of the few of-age humans who doesn't know whodunit… it was Kristin, J.R.'s scorned sister-in-law and recent romantic entanglement. Dallas was conceived as a show that had plenty of sex and romance for the female audiences, and a lot of cowboy posturing and business intrigue for the male viewers. The formula worked, because by the early 1980's, it was one of the most popular shows in TV history. There were magazine covers galore, a spin-off named Knots Landing about Gary, the middle Ewing son who wasn't seen or heard from much during proceedings at South Fork, and primetime serialization imitators like Dynasty and Falcon Crest. So for the show that kicked off the nighttime drama trend that's status quo today, we tip those ten-gallon hats and breathe a secret sigh of relief that J.R. was just a fictional character who couldn't manipulate us in real life. Because let's be honest, that guy could have taken most of us down. CBS Broadcast History: April 2, 1978- April 30, 1978----Sundays----10:00-11:00 P.M. September 23, 1978- October 14, 1978----Saturdays----10:00-11:00 P.M. October 15, 1978- January 14, 1979----Sundays----10:00-11:00 P.M. January 26, 1979- November 27, 1981----Fridays----10:00-11:00 P.M. December 4, 1981- May 17, 1985----Fridays----9:00-10:00 P.M. September 27, 1985- May 16, 1986----Fridays----9:00-10:00 P.M. September 26, 1986- May 13, 1988----Fridays----9:00-10:00 P.M. October 28, 1988- March 9, 1990----Fridays----9:00-10:00 P.M. March 16, 1990- May 11, 1990----Fridays----10:00-11:00 P.M. November 2, 1990- December 21, 1990----Fridays----10:00-11:00 P.M. January 4, 1991- May 3, 1991----Fridays----9:00-10:00 P.M.moreless
122
Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Nickelodeon (ended 2000)

Are You Afraid of the Dark? is a show based on a group of kids called The Midnight Society. Members meet in a location in the woods and take turns telling their own spooky tales. The series aired on Nickelodeon in the United States as part of their SNICK lineup in 1992. It lasted for 5 seasons until it was canceled in 1996. Later on, it returned to Nickelodeon's SNICK block with a new cast for two seasons from 1999-2000.moreless
123
Passions

NBC (ended 2008)

Passions was a decade long soap opera created by James E. Reilly, the same man who pulled Days of our Lives out of a ratings slump in the 1990s. Centered around the inhabitants of Harmony, a small seaside town in Maine, Passions excels at creating romantic triangles on the show, and controversy in the fans off the show. The show is based around five core families: the Standish/Bennett clan, the Winthrop/Crane clan, the Lopez/Fitzgerald clan, and the Johnson/Russell clan. Every other character can be directly (and romantically) connected to someone in one of the other clans.

Passions premiered on July 5, 1999, and last aired on NBC on September 7, 2007, before being picked up to air on DirecTV starting September 17, 2007. DirecTV canceled the show at the beginning of 2008, and the final episode aired August 7, 2008.moreless
124
Soul Train

(ended 2006)

It's the SOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUL TRAIN!

Pop music has always had shows like American Bandstand to sing its praises, but R&B music had to wait a while for its own major weekly showcase. Just the same, Soul Train proved to be well worth the wait when it hit the airwaves in the 1970s. This weekly extravaganza, which showed off the latest and greatest in soul music and dance moves, became a national sensation in the mid-1970s and became a pop culture juggernaut that broke new ground for African-American entertainment.

Soul Train was the brainchild of radio announcer Don Cornelius. After studying broadcasting in college, Cornelius got a job at WVON, one of Chicago's most popular urban radio stations. During this time, he pondered breaking into television with a dance and music show from an African-American perspective. In 1969, he produced a pilot episode and dubbed it "Soul Train" after a local radio promotion he had done in Chicago. The pilot impressed the Sears Roebuck Company, which gave Cornelius some funding in exchange for the rights to use Soul Train to promote a line of record players. With this help, Cornelius launched Soul Train on WCIU-TV, a Chicago UHF station. It premiered on August 17, 1970 as a weekday series airing from 4:30-5:30pm. Cornelius himself hosted the dance-stravaganza, which took place on a club-set. The show featured performances by soul music acts, appearances by guest hosts, and scorching dance numbers from the Soul Train Gang. Local word-of-mouth made Soul Train a big hit in Chicago, which won it another sponsor in The Johnson Products Company, makers of Afro-Sheen.

Soul Train's relationship with The Johnson Products Company also helped it make the move from local television to syndication. With this company's financial backing, Cornelius moved the show to Hollywood and got it into television syndication in the fall of 1971. Only seven cities were on the initial lineup, but the Soul Train quickly picked up steam and began playing in new cities as its reputation spread. Pretty soon, people all over the country were enjoying the funky thrills that only Soul Train could provide. By the mid-1970s, Soul Train was a force to be reckoned with. Each week, the latest hits and coolest dances were served up in a slick package that had kids of all ages and races dancing around the TV-room floor. Cornelius cut a stylish, unflappably cool figure as the host, making him an often-imitated icon in the entertainment community. Music groups clamored for an appearance on Soul Train, since it was practically a free ticket to r&b (and often pop) chart success. Today, many critics fondly remember Soul Train as the television show that did the most to bring African-American popular culture into American households.

As the 1980's began, Soul Train was as popular as ever. Tribune Entertainment, a Chicago-based company, became the exclusive distributor of the show and helped launch The Soul Train Music Awards. This yearly awards gala has become one of the most popular and respected awards ceremonies for r&b musicians and now enjoys "institution" status in the music world. The success of this awards show has also led to other popular Soul Train spin-off specials like The Soul Train Lady Of Soul Annual Awards Special and The Soul Train Christmas Starfest.

In the 1990s, Don Cornelius stepped down as Soul Train host and passed the role to others. Guest hosts were used from 1993-97 (seasons 23 through 26). Mystro Clark became host in 1997. Following him, was Shemar Moore who hosted seasons 29 through 32. Dorian Gregory is the current Soul Train host. Cornelius remains active as an executive producer for the show, which shows no signs of slowing down. With r&b music more popular than ever in the mainstream, viewers everywhere continue to shake their groove thing to the churning wheels of the Soul Train.

Soul Train continued with new episodes through the 2005-06 season. The final, first-run episode aired on March 25, 2006. The 2006-07 season began with repeats from 2005-06. As of December 9, 2006, the series has been retitled The Best of Soul Train and features c episodes from the 1970s and 1980s. 1970's & early 1980's Soul Train airdates On this guide, we've listed the earliest known airdates for episodes 1 - 163. The original Los Angeles airdates are listed for episodes 164 - 366 (Dec. 27, 1975 - June 20, 1981). In the 1970s through the early '80s, the episode airdates varied from city to city. Instead of using communications satellites, tapes of the episodes were mailed directly to individual TV stations. And once a station aired an episode, the tape would then be forwarded to a station in another city. (This practice, called "bicycling," was common with most 1970s first-run syndicated shows.) Sometime in the early 1980s, Tribune Entertainment began using satellites to distribute Soul Train resulting in standard airdates across the country.

Find at what television station and time the train pulls up to your TV: http://tv.tribune.com/showfinder/search/1,1001,soultrain,FF.html

Contributors to this guide include: --Nick Puzo (Nickfresh) - editor of the Soul Train Yahoo Group --Jabar Robbins (Calatine9) --Robert Spiegel --Edward Loney ("ehloney")moreless
125
E! True Hollywood Story

E!

Want the inside scoop on Tinseltown's steamiest secrets? Watch E!'s Emmy-nominated documentary series for the real Story on the shows, the stars and the secrets of the Hollywood elite.
126
Oz

HBO (ended 2003)

Oz is the name on the street for the Oswald State Penitentiary. Our wheelchair-bound narrator Augustus Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr.) takes us through the wacky world of Emerald City, the experimental unit started by Tim McManus (Terry Kinney). There's shankin' and lovin' and cussin' and fightin' but in the end, HBO makes a damn fine prison drama. It's gritty. And there you have it.moreless
127
Quantum Leap

NBC (ended 1993)

"Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. He woke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home."moreless
128
Neighbours

Network Ten

Neighbours is a weekday soap opera exploring the lives and relationships of the residents of Ramsay Street in Erinsborough. Now in its 26th year of production, Neighbours is Australia's most successful television program, not to mention being a hit world-wide. Neighbours has already hit the 6000th episode mark and looks set to continue serving up the laughter, tears and drama that has taken the world by storm. The show is currently produced by FremantleMedia Australia. Reg Watson is the man who created the show. Music tracks provided to the show are done so by Mushroom Music Publishing. Animals appearing on the show are provided by Animal Actors. The current network's drama executive is Claire Tonkin and the network's publicist is Paula Lucarelli, these associations and people are credited at the end of each episode. Neighbours originated on Australia's Seven Network in 1985, then moved to Network Ten from 1986-2010. In 2011 it moved to one of Network Ten's free-to-air digital channels, Eleven, where in currently airs Monday-Friday at 6:30pm. It should be noted that this episode guide runs at the same pace as the episodes originally air in Australia. For New Zealand the guide is approximately 3 weeks ahead (15 episodes). In the UK and Ireland the guide is approximately 9 weeks ahead (45 episodes). The end credits of each episode show the entire main cast and any main cast that have moved from starring in the show, to take on a recurring role, even if they didn't appear in an episode. The episode guide however only contains the cast specific to the episode, along with the crew credited for appearing on the show. Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson) is the only current cast member to appear in the first episode and remain on the show, although had left in 1992, before returning in 2005. He lives at number 22, with his daughter Lucinda 'Elle' Robinson (Pippa Black) her boyfriend Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major) and Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie). Number 24 is the home of the Ramsays donated to them by the Salvation Army. Here brother & sister Harry (Will Moore), and Kate (Ashleigh Brewer) live with younger sister, Sophie (Kaiya Jones). Number 26 is were the currently longest serving cast member Tom Oliver lives, as Lou Carpenter. The Napiers also live here, with mother Rebecca (Jane Hall) lives with her son Declan (James Sorensen) and his daughter India (currently played by two twin babies, Alia & Gab Devercelli). Number 28 is the Kennedy's family home, were Susan (Jackie Woodburne) and Karl (Alan Fletcher) live, alongside their adoptive son Zeke Kinski (Matthew Werkmeister) and his friend Ringo Brown (Sam Clark). Sunny Lee (Hany Lee Choi) also lives here. Number 30 or 'The House of Trouser' as dubbed by many of it's residents over the years, is Jarrod "Toadie" Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) home. Were he lives with his adopted son Callum Jones (Morgan Baker). The pair are joined by Dan Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker), Karl & Susan's daughter and Dan's husband, Elizabeth "Libby" Kennedy-Fitzgerald (Kym Valentine), Libby's son Ben (Blake O'Leary) also lives here. Number 32, is the Scully family home, Steph Scully (Carla Bonner) lives here with her son Charlie Hoyland (Jacob Brito) and her mum Lyn (Janet Andrewartha).moreless
129
Hey Arnold!

Nickelodeon (ended 2004)

Hey Arnold! is a much-loved and popular Nicktoon on Nickelodeon. The whole basis of the show is Helga's love for Arnold, but a lot of episodes and storylines focus on Arnold and his friends. Hey Arnold! shows a variety of different characters - even the background characters have 1 or 2 episodes on themselves. Arnold is a good person and tries to do things right. People at his school seek him for advice and see him as their own advisor.

Characters:

Arnold - Arnold is the main character of Hey Arnold!, Arnold is very helpful to others but gets too much into their business sometimes. Helga loves Arnold more than anyone else. But Arnold doesnt know it. Arnold's last name isn't revealed in any episode, but will be in the 2004 sequel, Hey Arnold 2! Arnold's nickname is "Football Head".

Gerald - Gerald is Arnold's cool best friend and the all-time keeper for the ancient legends of Arnold's neighborhood.

Helga - Helga is the meanest kid in Arnold's neighborhood for one reason - she loves Arnold! And no one else knows that! Helga's best friend and sidekick is Phoebe.

Harold - Harold is big and fat bully, and could swallow 50 Mr. Fudgie-bars whole! He's mostly hanging out with Stinky or Sid. Harold also thinks hes so tough but he always cries for his mommie.

Phoebe - Phoebe is the Smartie! She's very useful when Helga needs help with something... or needs her to do Helga's homework. Phoebe loves Gerald, so does Gerald but its hard to tell what's gonna happen. Phoebe also knows Helga's big-deep-dark secret about Arnold, but is positive she won't let it out.

Rhonda - Rhonda is the rich/cool girl. She's always depending on people to have a good fashion scene, though it never works. Rhonda is best friends with Nadine. Nadine likes everything the opposite of Rhonda and so does Rhonda but they still work out their fights.

Stinky - Though his name is Stinky, he's really not. This farm-yard boy is taller than any other and is always sharing his love about lemon puddin'.

Sid - Sid is always pessimistic about everything. He is very gullible and will believe anything anyone says. He's best friends with Stinky and Harold.

Eugene - Eugene is the clutz! Whether he turns a good day into a nasty storm, he's very optimistic about everything. He's also known as a geek to many others.

Grandpa and Grandma (Phil and Pookie) - Arnold's "substitute parents" are the craziest, most loving "substitute Parents" a kid could want! They're also Arnold's grandparents.

Oskar - Oskar is a resident of the boarding house that Arnold lives in. He loves money (but relies on his wife Susie for it), he can be very lazy at times.

Susie - Susie is Oskar's wife. She mainly does all the cooking, cleaning, and works since Oskar has only a paper route, and can be irratted by that sometimes.

Ernie - Ernie also lives in the boarding house and is a construction worker. His room his filled with blocks, each telling a story. Ernie is very short, but has a very big heart.

Mr. Hyunh - Mr. Hyunh is an asian man who came to the boarding house from China during Vietnam. He has a daughter and also a very good voice.

Mr. Green - Mr. Green owns the meat shop called "Green Meats". He's always there to help, and sell meat of course.

Curly - Curly is the cookoo one. He's always crazy like one time he locked himself in the principle's office and threw dodgeballs at people. Crazy, huh?

Ms. Vitello - Ms. Vitello is the very old, nice, and tender owner of the flower shop on Arnold's block.

Big Bob (Helgas Father) - Big Bob owns a beeper shop called Big Bobs Beepers. He is a bossy meanie(where Helga gets it from).

Arnold's Mom and Dad - From the episodes "Parents Day" and "The Journal", Arnold's parents write in a journal about all the adventures they had in the wild, saving people's lives and then having Arnold. From what everyone knows, they've never came back to where they went.

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130
Third Watch

NBC (ended 2005)

Third Watch tells the stories of the members of the 55 Squad -- the police, firefighters and paramedics who work the "third watch" between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. -- the finest and the bravest who protect and serve the citizens of New York. Theme Song: Keep Hope Alive by The Crystal Method from their Vegas CD.moreless
131
Extra

NBC

Love celebrity gossip? Then you know Extra. Mario Lopez and Maria Menounos host this show.
132
NYPD Blue

ABC (ended 2005)

"This police drama contains adult language and scenes with partial nudity. Viewer discretion is advised." The potential images those words created alone caused more controversy for this series, before it had even premiered. The "Bible Belt" was up in arms and no-one had even seen an episode. In most of those southern states the local ABC affiliates refused to carry the show, which was a shame because aside from a "little" bare flesh and a couple of harsh words, they missed out on a quality television show. Of course it wasn't long before they realized it really was no big deal. Late during the first season, Steven Bochco said during an acceptance speech at the 20th Annual People's Choice Awards: "In spite of those who seek to legislate what we can and cannot see on our own television sets in the privacy of our own homes. NYPD Blue has succeeded because the American people, properly so, prefer to judge for themselves." At those awards the show was voted "favorite new television dramatic series" and "favorite television dramatic series" the first year it was eligible. The show has been nominated for and won numerous awards. Check out this IMDb link for more information. Most notably the series has been nominated for an Emmy 84 times and has won 20 of those times and Dennis Franz has claim to four of those statues. Before this series, some of the stars had an affiliation with Steven Bochco from his previous highly acclaimed series Hill Street Blues. David Caruso had guest starred in two episodes and during the 3rd season, Dennis Franz guest starred as Det. Sal Benedetto in 5 episodes and was killed off in his last appearance. Franz officially joined the cast in that show's 6th season as Lt. Norman Buntz and stayed with the show until it ended. Then the Buntz character was brought back for a short-lived comedy series called Beverly Hills Buntz the following season. This series didn't last because it was erratically scheduled as a fill-in and then couldn't build an audience. James McDaniel also appeared in a Hill Street Blues episode and then also appeared in Steven Bochco's attempt at something new, a musical police drama called Cop Rock. When Caruso left early on in the series, another Bochco veteran was called upon; Jimmy Smits who played Victor Sifuentes on Bochco's L.A. Law was brought in to play new detective Bobby Simone. While other actors have left with big screen ambitions, two actors have left the series to move onto other Bochco created programs. In 1996 there was an attempt to launch a comedy that featured as one of the characters in the ensemble PAA John Irvin played by Bill Brochtrup. Public Morals only aired one episode and was pulled. I would hesitate to call it a spin-off, since only one (at that time) minor character from this series appeared on it, but I suppose an argument could be made. After all, Dennis Franz did take his Norman Buntz character from Hill Street Blues to Beverly Hills Buntz, a comedy series that lasted much longer than Public Morals did. Bill Brochtrup returned back to the 15th and made several guest appearances before becoming a full cast member in the 6th season. In 2001 Kim Delaney left this series (with a loophole that would allow her to come back) to star in Philly. That series wasn't too long lived and Det. Russell has subsequently returned for a guest spot or two. While this cast has undergone a rotation of lead actors, Dennis Franz was the glue that held this series together. Most of the show's run was at Tuesdays at 10pm ET on ABC. The show was simulcast in HDTV. With the 2000-2001 TV season, the show became ABC's first regularly scheduled entertainment series to be broadcast in high definition. First air date: September 21, 1993 Last air date: March 1, 2005 Original air time: Tuesday 10:00:00 pm (Eastern)moreless
133
EastEnders

BBC

EastEnders began in 1985 as a rival for ITV's Coronation Street. It focuses on the lives of the inhabitants of Albert Square in the rough EastEnd of London. For the past 25 years, EastEnders has entertained audiences with dramatic storylines focusing on real life situations.moreless
134
Dynasty

ABC (ended 1989)

Dynasty was a larger than life soaps opera that purported to portray the lives of the wealthy rich while embracing the greed, glamour and excesses of the Reagan-era 1980s. The story set in Denver, Colorado, centered around the wealthy but troubled Carrington family, headed by the powerful oil tycoon Blake Carrington (John Forsythe). In the premiere episode, Blake married his beautiful and sweet secretary Krystle (Linda Evans), much to the chagrin of Blake's spoiled daughter, Fallon (Pamela Sue Martin), and Krystle's ex-lover, Matthew Blaisdel (Bo Hopkins). Blake also had trouble dealing with the fact that his son Steven (Al Corley) was a homosexual and, at the end of the first season, Blake accidentally killed Steven's ex-lover when he found him and Steven in an embrace. In the second season premiere, Blake's world turned upside down. Not only was he on trial for murder, but his scheming ex-wife, Alexis (Joan Collins), re-entered his life to testify against him. After the trial, she ended up staying in Devener only to wreak more havoc against him and his new wife, Krystle. Initially, the show was dismissed as a clone of another primetime soap opera, Dallas, which also centered around a rich powerful family who made their fortune in oil. However, Dynasty distinguished itself from Dallas and the other primetime soap operas of its era by by embracing campy over-the-top storylines over realistic ones and larger-than-life fashions. By the end of the 1984-1985 season, Dynasty became the #1 TV show in the United States, beating out its rival, Dallas, and spinning off a second series, The Colbys (originally titled, Dynasty II: The Colbys). However, in subsequent seasons, ratings began to decline as viewers grew tired of the over-the-top storylines, such as Moldavia, Krystle's look-a-like. After 9 seasons and 218 episodes on ABC, the show was cancelled. Two years later, ABC aired a 4 hour mini-series, Dynasty: The Reunion, to wrap up the loose ends of the series, which ended with an unresolved cliffhanger. After its cancellation, the show was syndicated and eventually aired on SOAPnet, the ABC-owned 24-hour soap opera channel. The show received more interest in the new millenium with the airing of a satirical 2005 TV-movie, Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure; a 2006 cast reunion special, Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar, and of course, the release of the first few seasons on DVD. Nielsen Ratings: (Top 30 or Better) #19 in the 1981-1982 Season #5 in the 1982-1983 Season #3 in the 1983-1984 Season #1 in the 1984-1985 Season #7 in the 1985-1986 Season #24 in the 1986-1987 Season ABC Broadcast History: January 1981 - April 1981 -- Mondays 10:00 PM November 1981 - April 1983 -- Wednesdays 10:00 PM September 1983 - May 1987 -- Wednesdays 9:00 PM September 1987 - March 1988 -- Wednesdays 10:00 PM November 1988 - May 1989 -- Thursdays 9:00 PMmoreless
135
Reading Rainbow

PBS (ended 2006)

Reading Rainbow is a children's series designed to promote reading comprehension in elementary school age children. Host LeVar Burton introduces the theme of the episode and the book to be profiled in an animated story using the illustrations from the book and narrated by a celebrity, such as Bill Cosby, Ruby Dee, Richard Gere, and the late great stars Ossie Davis, Julia Child, Raul Julia and Gilda Radner, for example. After the story is finished, feature stories in the same subject as the book are profiled, and youth reviewers give critiques of three additional books. LeVar usually introduces the children critics by saying, "but you don't have to take my word for it..."moreless
136
Barney and Friends

PBS

Since 1992 Barney, Baby Bop, and B.J. have brought smiles to our faces with their non-stop adventures, stories, games, friends and, of course, the Barney Bag. Normally focusing on younger audiences, Barney teaches respect, courtesy, manners and many other essentials in life. Most children in the age group normally consisting of 2-8 watch Barney. Many of us have grown out of Barney but there are generations still to come who will enjoy Barney.

Characters:

Barney: His role on the show is to show everyone a good time. He has great friends whom sometimes visit the kids and tell stories or take them on adventures. He even has a bag of goodies known as the Barney Bag.

B.J.: He visits on occasion to play with Barney and his friends. B.J.'s role on the show is simply to help out or play games although he normally visits because he's looking for something he has lost.

Baby Bop: Baby Bop, who carries her blankie wherever she goes, is kind-hearted and very polite. She normally tags along with her big brother B.J. She does, on occasion, lose her blankie but with Barney's help, she always finds it. ((Trivia buffs: Baby Bop's favorite number is three.)

Barney & Friends Theme Song (to the tune of "Yankee Doodle"):

Barney is a dinosaur From our imagination And when he's tall, he's what we call A dinosaur sensation Barney's friends are big and small They come from lots of places After school, they come to play And sing with happy faces Barney shows us lots of things Like how to play pretend ABCs and 1-2-3s And how to be a friend Barney comes to play with us Whenever we may need him Barney can be your friend, too If you just make-believe him.

The Ending Song:

I love you You love me We're a happy family With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you Wont you say you love me too. I love you you love me We're best friends like friends should be With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you Wont you say you love me too.

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137
Rugrats

Nickelodeon (ended 2003)

In the year 1989, two married parents named Gsapo Csupo and Arlene Klasky made the pilot for the show; their baby son, Brendon, was their inspiration to create the Rugrats. After showing it to Nickelodeon they automatically liked it and turned it into a series; in three years, Rugrats had aired more than fifty episodes. With a total of sixty five episodes they stopped making new episodes and Rugrats was shown in primetime in 1994; after that, the popularity of the show increased. Nickelodeon realized what good ratings they had and they decided to air brand new episodes of Rugrats in 1997; it was so popular that it had its first movie to be shown in theaters the following year featuring a new Rugrat named Dil. After the movie, they aired even more new episodes, including Dil with them on the show; then again in the year 2000, Nickelodeon made a second movie for the Rugrats, giving Chuckie a stepmom and featuring another new Rugrat named Kimi. More new episodes aired after that with Kimi and in the year 2001, Nick had big plans for the show. With Rugrats in their tenth year, so Arlene Klasky and Nickelodeon decided to make the Rugrats ten years older in their anniversary special, "All Growed Up;" this episode was the most viewed Rugrats-related episode. Originally, there were only four young rugrats who would sit in their playpen watching the world go by. The fearless leader of the group was Tommy Pickles, a resourceful baby who hides a plastic screwdriver in his diaper so that they can leave the pen. His best friend was Chuckie, a fearful, red-haired toddler who reluctantly agreed to venture out into the open, unsafe areas of the house. There were also the twins Phil and Lil who were always ready for any new challenge. Leaving the safety of their own playpen, the children would explore their surroundings and try to make sense out of what the adults are doing. Some of the most interesting characters were the parents and Tommy and Angelica's grandfather who would always fall asleep when taking care of the children. The parents' comments are so genuine that they bring a sense of reality to the show. Even the parents had different lives, with Chuckie's widowed father, and Angelica's loving father and busy mother.moreless
138
Arthur

PBS

Arthur Read, the spectacular bespectacled aardvark stars in this children's series about growing up. Typical childhood problems such as bratty siblings, schoolyard bullies and classroom cliques are addressed by this popular program. Arthur's eleventh season has come to a close. However, watch for repeats again soon on your local PBS station. And keep watching for more details on upcoming episodes of the program.

Developed from Marc Brown's beloved books, Arthur reminds us all of how it feels to be 8 years old. Just like your average kid, Arthur overcomes the dreaded obstacles of third-grade life, such as his tough teacher Mr. Ratburn, bullies, and mountains of homework. At home, Arthur must face the pint- terror also known as his sister Dora Winifred, or D.W. for short. Everything between these two is a struggle; who gets control of the television remote, who can play their Crazy Bus CD, whose hobbies are dumber, that's a baby show...Will Arthur ever win one of these pointless arguments? Probably never, because not only is D.W. fiercely independent, she's also very smart. But despite it all, Arthur and D.W. are still brother and sister, and when they're not arguing, they can accomplish great things together.

Keeping Arthur sane are his helpful friends --- an assortment of colorful animal cohorts who always provide sound advice and a few laughs too. They are: Francine Frensky (a tomboy who would rather play sports than go to the mall), Buster Baxter (an enthusiastic gourmand), Alan "The Brain" Powers (a bona-fide 3rd grade genius, who even writes computer programs in his spare time), Muffy Crosswire (the rich girl with a real heart of gold), and Sue Ellen Armstrong (a traveler of the world and geography expert). Arthur can also sometimes be seen with Fern Walters (a soft-spoken musician with semi-hidden goth interests), Binky Barnes (acts like a bully, but enjoys pastimes such as ballet and clarinet), George Nordgren / Lundgren (a somewhat shy moose who be truly entertaining when he tries), Prunella (who was supposed psychic powers and is actually in the fourth grade) and Jenna Morgan (a rarely seen cat-girl.) And of course, who could forget Pal, Arthur's lovable, loyal pet pooch?

Arthur airs on PBS every weekday and on some stations on weekends --- check local listings for time. Or, go to the PBSKids' Arthur schedule to find out which episode is airing in a city near you.

A large number of Arthur stories have been released on DVD and video. Many episodes are also available in book form. There are also a wealth of Arthur-related promotions and products, so keep an eye on the news and check online merchants such as eBay and Amazon, and your local stores.

Theme Song

Every day when you're walkin' down the street, Everybody that you meet, Has an original point of view... - Chorus: And I say "Hey!" (Hey!) What a wonderful kind of day! (Day!) If we can learn to work and play,(Play!) And get along with each other... - You've got to listen to your heart, Listen to the beat, Listen to the rhythm, the rhythm on the street, Open up your eyes, Open up your ears, Get together and make things better, By working together It's a simple message, and it comes from the heart, Believe in (believe in yourself...) 'Cuz that's the Place to START! - And I say "Hey!" (Hey!) What a wonderful kind of day! (Day!) If we can learn to work and play (PLAY!), And get along with each other Hey! What a wonderful kind of day Hey! What a wonderful kind of day... Hey!moreless
139
Hee-Haw

CBS (ended 1992)

Welcome to Kornfield Kounty & HEE HAW! SA-LUTE! Hee Haw, a country version of Rowan and Martin's Laugh In, was a staple of syndicated television for more than 20 years. It began as a weekly series on CBS in 1969, but the network canceled it in 1971 as part of an attempt to cleanse its schedule of rural-flavored shows (other casualties included The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres). While much of the shows humor came from its comedy skits and rural jokes, the meat of the show was its country music. Two or three stars – including current superstars and up-and-coming acts, as well as bluegrass and country gospel singers – guested each week. Sometimes, they also participated in the fun. And what do we mean by "fun?" A sampling from a typical episode includes: Comedy Skits: The Cornfield Jokes, Pickin' and Grinnin', Archie's Barbershop, Empty Arms Hotel, KORN Radio, Lulu's Truck Stop, Minnie's School, The Naggers (Gordie Tapp & Roni Stoneman) and much more. The cast also frequently asked Grandpa Jones, "What's For Supper?" And then, there was the comedic Burma-Shave style signs (sometimes used as bumpers between skits or as an outro to a commercial). Song Skits: "Pfft, You Was Gone," "Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me," "Repeating Gossip," "Hee-Haw's All Jug Band" and more. On occasion, serious music segments were featured, such as a singer-songwriter segment (which featured an artist singing one of his biggest hits and then performing a song he wrote that became a hit for someone else). The final segment of each show featured the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet – originally, hosts Owens and Clark, along with Grandpa Jones and Kenny Price – singing a gospel song. Virtually every major country superstar appeared on Hee Haw at one time or another – Charley Pride, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Sonny James, Ernest Tubb, Charlie Rich, Ray Price, Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, the Statler Brothers, Alabama, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill ... and many more. But not all the guests on the show were from country music. Frequently, there were singers from other genres who became popular with country audiences, plus actors and comedians appeared as well. One of the most memorable segments aired in early 1978, when Elvis Presley's father, Vernon Presley, delivered a tribute to his then-recently deceased son. Emotional tributes have also been offered for cast members who had passed away during the series' run. For the 1991-1992 season, the gang left Kornfield Kounty and headed to the city, adopting an urban theme – which included a mall and nightclub – and inviting more pop-oriented country performers in an attempt to draw a younger, more urban audience. The move was none too popular (to put it mildly) with the show's longtime viewers, who saw it as abandoning the traditional country focus that had made the show popular for so long. The revamped format lasted one season. During the 1992-1993 season, Clark hosted a series which featured clips from classic Hee Haw shows, along with new footage. The show was titled Hee Haw Silver. Hee Haw reruns currently air at 8pm Sunday nights, repeating again at 10am Monday morning on RFD-TV.moreless
140
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

USA (ended 1999)

This is the story of a time long ago, A time of myth and legend, when the Earth was still young. The ancient gods were petty and cruel, and they plagued mankind with suffering and beseiged them with terrors. For centuries the people had nowhere to turn, no one to look to for help. Until he arrived. He was a man like no other. Born of a beautiful mortal woman, but fathered by Zeus, king of the gods. Hercules possessed a strength the world had never seen, a strength surpassed only by the power of his heart....No matter what obstacle, as long as there were people crying for help, there was one man who would never rest --- Hercules.moreless
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