Barney

Barney & Friends is a popular children's television show produced in the United States, mainly aimed at preschoolers. more...

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Barney is a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys learning through jumping around singing childrens' songs with a friendly, optimistic attitude ("I love you, you love me, we're a happy family, with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you, won't you say you love me too!").

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. 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 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 will teach 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.

Read more at Wikipedia.org