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Barney & Friends

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Barney & Friends
The Barney & Friends Logo
The Barney & Friends Logo
Created bySheryl Leach
Dennis DeShazer
StarringCarey Stinson
as Barney
Country of origin United States
Production
Running time22 minutes
Original release
NetworkDiscovery Kids
ReleaseApril 6 1992  –
]]October 13 2006


Barney & Friends is a popular children's television show produced in the United States, mainly aimed at preschoolers. Barney is a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys learning through jumping around singing children's songs with a friendly, optimistic attitude.

Barney the dinosaur
Barney the dinosaur

This show is terriable. SOuth park pwns all. Mj rules the world.

Origin and development of the show

Barney was created in 1987 by Sheryl Leach of Dallas, Texas. She came up with the idea for the program while considering TV shows that she felt would be educational and appeal to her son. Leach then brought together a team who created a series of home videos, Barney and the Backyard Gang, which also starred actress Sandy Duncan in the first 3 videos. Later, Barney was joined by the characters Baby Bop and BJ.

Although the original videos were a modest regional success, Barney only became a mega hit when the character and format were revamped for series television and picked up by the Public Broadcasting System, debuting as "Barney & Friends" in 1992. The series was produced by Lyrick Studios (bought by HIT Entertainment). For several years, the show was taped at the ColorDynamics Studios facility at Greenville Avenue & Bethany Drive in Allen, after which it moved to The Studios at Las Colinas. Currently, the series is produced in a northern suburb of Dallas, Texas. The TV series and videos are currently distributed by HIT Entertainment.

In the new season, which debuted on September 18 2006, a cousin of Baby Bop and BJ joined the series. "Riff" is a musical hadrosaurid dinosaur, who teaches kids about world music and respect for those who display non-traditional gender characteristics. Dismissing any controversy regarding Riff's orientation, Executive Producer Karen Barnes says, ‘‘I think a show that’s been on this long, it’s important that we add new elements.’’

Barney & Friends is now shown in other countries where it is translated if necessary. One such example is the Latin-American version produced in Mexico which is called Barney y Sus Amigos, (Spanish translation of "Barney and his Friends.")

Criticism and Controversy

Although most serious reviews of Barney & Friends have been positive, the show has been the target of a certain degree of controversy. This criticism generally stems from some disagreement in the messages that the show sends children through the situations that it portrays.

For instance, one particular episode made use of the phrase, "A stranger is a friend you have not met yet", which some parents may view as sending a dangerous message to their children. Another episode was criticized because a situation in the episode could be interpreted as teaching children that cheating is good: In the episode, the children are involved in a contest where they have to carry a spoon with a peanut on it without dropping it. One child wins by putting peanut butter on his spoon to make the peanut stick, and then he is rewarded for "creative thinking." Another episode was also criticized because one situation could be interpreted as teaching children that it is okay to steal: In the episode, one child steals cookies from another child, but the other doesn't care because he didn't want them in the first place.

Critics have alleged that the show condones peer pressure and "homosexuality"(the name "BJ" also meaning a certain term). This encourages children to suppress outward signs of unhappiness rather than deal openly with their feelings, which has been shown to have dangerous effects on their development. This has also led critics to believe Barney is an attack on individualism. The most popular claim is that many believe the children all act alike, and never express unique traits, likes, dislikes, or feelings.

The show has also been criticized for its lack of educational value. However, studies conducted by Yale researchers Dorothy and Jerome Singer have confirmed that episodes actually contain a great deal of age-appropriate educational material, calling the program a "model of what preschool television should be." An additional criticism has been made that the characters often use magic to solve real problems, something that is very controversial among Christian fundamentalists who regard "magic" as equivalent to witchcraft. Because of this, the show is banned from places like Japan and the Philippines.

Cast

Main article: Barney & Friends cast

Crew

Specials

Funding

Airing History

See also

External links

PBS Kids original programming
Current
See also
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