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'''PBS Kids''' (often styled all-caps as "PBS KIDS") is the umbrella brand for [[children's programming]] aired by the [[Public Broadcasting Service]] in the [[United States]]. As with all PBS programming, PBS Kids programming is [[non-commercial]].
==News on PBS Kids==
Recently, PBS Kids launched a new lineup of programming called [[PBS Kids GO!]]. This lineup features PBS Kids programming targeted at somewhat older kids and preteens that used to air under the general PBS Kids umbrella, such as [[3-2-1 Penguins]] [[Arthur (cartoon)|Arthur]] and [[Cyberchase]]. New programs have been added to the line-up. PBS Kids GO! was spun off to the 24-hour (24/7) digital PBS Kids GO! Channel in 2006 or 2007, which includes an evening "Go! Family" programming block and a Spanish language-programing block.But now it will be on air in 2008.
In September 2006, PBS launched a two-hour preschool block hosted by [[Miss Lori and Hooper]]. It airs weekday mornings from 8am to 10am on most PBS [[List of PBS member stations|member stations]].
[[Image:Pbs-kids-girl-boy.png|thumb|right|114px|PBS Kids|The PBS Kids Girl, "Dot," and Boy, "Dash," logo.]]
The block consists of four shows. These shows are ''[[Curious George (TV series)|Curious George]]'', ''[[Clifford the Big Red Dog]]'', ''[[Dragon Tales]]'', and ''[[It's a Big Big World]]'' (until Labor Day 2007 when it is replaced by "Super Why!").
From 1999 to 2004, a PBS Kids promotion featured the [[Des'ree]] song, "You Gotta Be." It currently features "Only You," by the [[New Rhythm and Blues Quartet]]. A new promotion features the song, "True Colors," by [[Cyndi Lauper]].
PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a three-hour Sat. morning lineup of shows when Corduroy, George Shrinks, Elliot Moose, Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse, Seven Little Monsters, and Timothy Goes to School were on which aired on September 30, 2000. It was cut to two hours, with Corduroy and Elliot Moose got cancelled. The program was discontinued in September 2004, making way for Thomas & Friends and Bob the Builder. Seven Little Monsters and George Shrinks were the only shows that survived after the close. Seven Little Monsters were discontinued after being in the same half-hour time period as the Berenstain Bears, but George Shrinks was the only show survived in some channels.
The '''PBS KIDS Channel''' was a separate [[television network]] founded on [[September 6]], [[1999]] and was targeted at children aged 3-10 years. The PBS Kids Channel had been running for six years and was largely paid for by DirecTV, which decided not to renew its licensing deal. The channel ceased operation on [[October 1]], [[2005]], in favor of a new joint commercial venture, [[PBS Kids Sprout|'''PBS KIDS Sprout''']], which is a partnership. It was earned by [[Comcast]] (40%), Henson International Television (usually referred to as [[HIT Entertainment]]) (30%), PBS (15%), and [[Sesame Workshop]] (formerly, [[CTW]]) (15%). {{Fact|date=June 2007}} Some stations (such as [[WGBH]], [[WNET]], [[KCTS]] and [[Twin Cities Public Television|TPT]]) still program a PBS Kids channel themselves.
[[Image:Pbskids99 a.jpg|thumb|130px|right|PBS Kids girl, "Dot"<ref name=dot>Dot's name: [http://www.primalscreen.com/home.html Primal Screen] - Go to ''The Work'', then ''Network Branding'', then ''PBS Kids'' on the list at the left. The (rather brief) information on the ''Weather'' loop shows that the girl's name is Dot.</ref>]]
[[Image:Pbskids99 b.jpg|thumb|130px|right|PBS Kids boy, "Dash"<ref name=dash>Dash's name: [http://www.pbs.org/parents/preschool/about.html About Miss Lori and Hooper] - look at the bottom of the page</ref>]]
==
''See article: [[List of programs broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service]]''
===Special programming===
*''Vote-A-Rama'' - In September 2002, PBS Kids introduced Vote-A-Rama. Children could vote online for their favorite episode of a particular show out of four, or their favorite episode of different shows on a particular theme.
*''PBS Kids Pet-Tacular'' - In September 2003, when PBS Kids introduced ''[[Clifford's Puppy Days]]'', this program was released. It contains two episodes of ''[[Arthur (TV Series)|Arthur]]'', and two-new episodes of ''Clifford's Puppy Days''. This program is represented by three ''Zoom'' Members, Aline, Mike, and Shing Ying.
*''PBS Kids Share a Story Talent Show'' - In May 2004 and September 2004, this program aired. It was about telling, singing, acting out, or drawing a story, such as ''Clifford the Big Red Dog'', ''Arthur'', ''Cyberchase'', ''Dragon Tales'', ''[[3-2-1 Penguins]]'' and much more. Visit http://www.pbskids.org/talentshow/ for this program's website.
*''Big Big Friend Day'' - In November 2005, PBS Kids was introduced ''[[It's a Big Big World]]'' which features two episodes of ''Dragon Tales'' and ''Clifford''. Visit http://www.pbskids.org/bigbigfriendday/ for this program's website.
*''Share the Earth Day'' - In April 2006, PBS Kids was having a party in honor of Earth Day, featuring some episodes of ''Dragon Tales'', ''Clifford The Big Red Dog'', and ''It's a Big Big World''. It was hosted by Ashley and Gordy. Visit http://www.pbskids.org/earthday/ for this program's website. On Friday April 20, 2007, PBS Kids was having another Earth Day party with [[Miss Lori and Hooper]].
*''Friend Day'' - In November 2006, PBS Kids had a program about friends and how to keep in touch with them, even when they are far away. It was very similar to a normal setup for the regular [[Miss Lori and Hooper]] block. This was the first special on PBS Kids to be hosted by Miss Lori and Hooper. Visit http://www.pbskids.org/friendday/ for this program's website.
*''George to George'' - On [[February 19]] there was a George to George special on PBS Kids with Curious George.
*''Fetch -o- Thon'' - On May 21, 2007- May 25, 2007 PBS KIDS GO! held a marathon of FETCH! 4 episodes a day, showing the entire first season, which consists of 20 episodes. Preview clips from season 2 have aired during the marathon.
===Ready To Learn===
In 2006, PBS launched a series of short commercials for the Ready To Learn Service, that mixed characters from above mentioned PBS KIDS shows. The first four were television parodies:
One clip features the surprising re-appearance of long absent Guy Smiley (Sesame Street) as host of Jeopardy! take-off "Double Get Wordy". Contestants are Cookie Monster and cartoon characters T-Bone (Clifford the Big Red Dog) and Thora (Arthur).
Another features Ernie in an American Idol spoof called "Star Finder". Judges are Theo (Between the Lions), Emily Elizabeth (Clifford the Big Red Dog) and Oscar the Grouch.
Yet another features Ernie in a CSI spoof, investigating alongside Ord (Dragon Tales), Bert (Sesame Street), and an unnamed girl. Bert and the residents of the house, a mother with her son, eventually show up as well. The theme from Peter Gunn is used as background score.
Another one features the two Between the Lions characters Leona and Theo. The segment takes place outside the normal realm of the show, and instead takes place in a family living room, spoofing the sitcom genre, complete with laugh track.
Each of these commercials ends with a brief set of credits, making reference to characters from PBS shows. The "Double Get Wordy" game show commercial credits include Grover as Camera operator, Prairie Dawn for Art Direction, Elmo Monster as Leona's Body Double and Big Bird credited as a Gaffer. A block of smaller credits followed, referring to the puppets as "Felt Americans."
The second set of clips were based on famous movies, and began airing in 2007. These include parodies of:
Mission Impossible: Agent Cookie has ten seconds (counted by Between the Lions character Arty Smartypants) to write his name before his message (from Arty, televised from a cookie) self-destructs. (This clip features a rare use of a full-body puppet version of Cookie Monster.)
Superman: Cleo Lion (wife of Theo) convinces Grover to let the world know who he really is by learning how to write the emblem of Super Grover.
West Side Story: Theo and Ernie sing an upbeat song based on "The Jet Song" about how rhyming can help one learn to read, backed by groups of kids. Oscar makes a cameo when a basketball thrown by Ernie hits his can.
Casablanca: Grover and Cleo reminisce about playing the "rhyming game", with Grover (at the piano) getting carried away with the rhymes.
Visit PBS Kids' Ready to Learn site at http://www.pbskids.org/readytolearn.
==Channel Identifications==
{{Importance|date=June 2007}}
PBS Kids channel identifications are shown always at the end of each show. Each has a certain tune in the background that ends in children singing "PBS Kids!". There are 3 main sets:
*The 1st set has a green background.
**The 1st ident of this set has a boy named "Dash",<ref name=dash /> which begins with a closeup of his blinking eye. The shot is zoomed out to see Dash say "Doink!", and he thinks about "PBS" in a [[thought bubble]]. In the background, dark pink stripes are shaking slightly.
**The 2nd ident of this set is of a girl named "Dot",<ref name=dot /> who runs from the distance towards the screen and into it. "Doink" is also heard, and the thought bubble with "PBS" appears as well. Stripes are moving left to right in the background. They are different colors and sizes.
*The 2nd set has a background that changes colors. Within these 2 idents, a smaller version of the opposite ident is in the corner.
**The 1st ident of the set is Dash, the boy, who is at first a [[caveman]], then a scuba diver, and then a [[robot]]. He grabs the letters "PBS", and the circular PBS Kids logo is shown. There is no "doink" or similar sound in this ident. Blue bubbles are shaking in this background.
**The 2nd one is Dot, the girl, who is at first a cat, than an [[octopus]], and finally an [[astronaut]]. Something that suspiciously sounds like "doy!" is heard instead of "doink!", and the circular PBS Kids logo is shown. There are stars in the background.
*The 3rd set, introduced in 2004, also has 2 idents.
**The 1st ident has Dash [[ice skating|skating on ice]]. The screen shakes and zooms out, to discover that he is inside a snow globe. The [[snowglobe]] is held by Dot, who giggles. "Doink" is heard as the circular PBS Kids logo appears. There is another version of this ident which is slightly different. It is only seen at the end of [[Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks]]. This background shows snowflakes.
**The 2nd ident has Dash peering into his [[wiktionary:fishbowl|fishbowl]]. The camera zooms in, and Dash is now a [[fish]]. Dot is also a fish, though a bigger one, who gobbles Dash up. Once again, "Doink" is heard and Dot is in the circular logo. The background contains bubbles.
*The 4th and final set, introduced in 2007 also has 2 idents.
**The 1st ident is when Dot looks at the [[National Educational Television|NET]]. Something in music is the same tune in 1962 as NET, and instead of doink, the children said National Education Television, and the logo with NET Logo appears.
*The 2nd ident is when Dash marries Dot and then instead of doink, it said, Will you marry me, when the PBS Kids logo appears, children said I do and then 2 seconds later, PBS Kids. Another version seen only after [[Between the Lions]], having Dot divorcing Dash. Dash runs away from the screen and then the usual PBS Kids logo appears, but the music is the same as [[Titanic (1997 film)|''Titanic'']].
In the [[Miss Lori and Hooper]] block, there are many different idents after each program. They don't include the PBS Kids boy or girl as of September 1999, except for the last few seconds when Dash is shown in the PBS Kids logo. Some include still pictures of real children, but do occasionally move a little bit. These idents usually have a general theme, such as dinosaurs, bees, a picnic, or someone taking pictures with a camera. In these idents, there is no voiceover of "PBS Kids!"
===TV Schedule Idents===
PBS Kids states what's coming up next after most programs, in special idents. They usually all have a short description of the program read by Dash, Dot, or respective announcers. Some stations put their logo in them.
*The first schedule ident is of a [[pinball]] machine. Dash pulls the handle, plays pinball, and the ball lands on top of the center circle, which opens the screen and shows what's coming up next. Then, he continues to play pinball and hits the green circle along with the show title and shadows in. The main character is shown in the circle. Arthur (Arthur is in the circle), [[Berenstain Bears]] (Mama Bear), [[Between the Lions]] (Lionel), [[Reading Rainbow]] (Levar), [[3-2-1 Penguins]] (Jason), [[Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat]] (Sagwa), [[Zoboomafoo]] (Zoboo), and [[ZOOM]] (Caroline) use this. Liberty's Kids (Sarah, James, and Henri) and [[Adventures from the Book of Virtues]] (Plato) also used these when the program aired.
*The second one is in which two cars race. A set of double doors with the PBS Kids logo opens and shows what's coming up next. Then the doors close from the back, and the camera view zooms out and a green circle with the show title appears. Once again, the main character is shown in the circle. Clifford (Clifford and Puppy Clifford), Cyberchase (Jackie, Matt, and Inez), Dragon Tales (Ord), George Shrinks (George), Jay Jay The Jet Plane (Jay Jay), It's a Big Big World (Snook), and Sesame Street (Elmo) use this. PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch (George) also used this when the program aired weekends.
*The final ident is of a [[jack-in-the-box]]. Dot turns the crank until the background rectangle slides all the way off and shows what's coming up next. Then she turns the crank again and a clown comes out. Instead of [[Pop Goes the Weasel]], the PBS Kids theme is heard, and a child is heard saying "lollipop". The clown is holding a sign with a green circle (which is in the shape of the stated lollipop). The green circle has the main character in it. This one does not have the program title. [[Barney & Friends]] (Barney), [[Bob the Builder]] (Bob), [[Boohbah]] (Zumbah), [[Caillou]] (Caillou), Jakers! (Piggley), [[Mister Rogers]] (Fred Rogers), [[Teletubbies]] (Po), and [[Thomas & Friends]] ([[Thomas]]) use this. [[Anne of Green Gables]] (Anne) also used this when the program aired.
Generally, the pinball table ident is directed to older children viewers, the jack-in-the-box for younger viewers, and the car race is for in between ages. Some stations don't show these idents. Also, on the Thomas & Friends Jack-in-the-Box ident, there is not a description for some reason.
In the ''[[PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch|Bookworm Bunch]]'' schedule block, either Dash or Dot presses a button. The machine hand grabs a book and drops in the TV machine, and content from the upcoming show appears. Then it opens the book to see the green circle with the show title and the main character. Corduroy (Corduroy), Timothy Goes to School (Timothy), Marvin, the Tap-dancing Horse (Marvin), Elliot Moose (Elliot Moose), Seven Little Monsters (Five), and George Shrinks (George)
There's also a version with a "NEXT" text screen on the conveyor belt which drops into the [[pipe]] to the TV machine.
===Station Idents===
Many stations use these station idents. Most announce their channel number, call letters, and city. Some stations use these to list shows that are coming up next or checking the program schedules. Some stations also put their logo anywhere around the background.
*One includes Dash and Dot walking together down the sidewalk. Almost every three seconds they change form. First, they are normal. Then, dog and cat, fly and ladybug, corn and tomato, and snowmen. After that, they become green and pink balloons, skeletons, tuba and violin, daisies, and astronauts. Then the pattern continues until they turn into vegetables again.
*Another shows different forms of transportation. First is a man flying a plane. Then, a man is steering a green ship. Then, a car goes by with a girl and a boy that looks very similar to Dash. A train with a conductor goes past, followed by Dot riding an energetic horse. Lastly, Dash and Dot are on a fire truck. This pattern continues over again.
*One is about Dot and her pet cat. It is a pink background. It starts with Dot thinking of her cat napping, then herself hugging it. Then Dash appears in a bubble. He has his thumbs on his cheeks with all other fingers sticking straight out. Then, he changes into a flower. After that, the cat gives Dot a flower bouquet in a bubble, and dance together. Then, Dot says, "Doink!" and so does the cat in her thought bubble. Finally, the cat stretches in a bubble. This continues until right before Dash comes out.
*In one, Dot is walking or jogging in different types of weather. Whatever she thinks about comes true. First, she is in a spring shower, then summer, then a winter snow storm, then she is in a nighttime setting, followed by autumn. It continues until winter begins.
*In another one, Dash is touching a square button in a wall in the center of the screen. Dot is on the other side touching it also. When they press the button they change into something different, similar to the first ident described here, though you can only see their shadows. They continue pushing the button going back and forth, faster and faster, until they end up pressing it at the same time. Then Dash transforms into a bouncing ball, and Dot becomes a bee going in a circular motion. Many PBS stations put their logo here.
*Another one features a road with many people crossing it. Thought bubbles pop up everywhere, then the screen is clear from people, only to be filled with bubbles. One man in a car stops and makes a new bubble. Many stations put their logo here.
*Other idents include, an alien, bugs, purple dots, a merry-go-round, musical notes, a carnival, Dash carrying newspapers, Dash and Dot playing leap frog, Dash and Dot taking pictures, a roller coaster, people walking around, a train, pieces of candy, a science lab, a lion, and Dash and Dot's faces in circular bubbles which open their mouths.
===Other PBS Kids idents===
Some stations show idents in which each person says their favorite colors or they are thinking about in a thought bubble. The kids or a person shouts out "PBS Kids!" in the playground or the background. Here they are:
*Announcer: Hey, (person), what's your favorite color?
*Kids' Answer: (color)
*Announcer: What do you think about?
*Kids' Answer: (TV Show)
Also, the zapping TV Screen can show various commercials, and then they zap to the PBS Kids logo.
Some Stations put their logo anywhere around the background.
===TV Show idents===
*''[[Sesame Street]]''
In this one, a dog is seen. He is thinking of a fire hydrant. The hydrant thinks of a robot. The robot thinks of Dash turning his key. Dash thinks of Elmo. Then finally, Elmo thinks about PBS in the PBS Kids logo. A purple spiral design fills the screen.
*''[[Barney & Friends]]''
In this, Dash and Dot are walking in a yellow setting. They go by flowers, cars, and houses and the last one of each of those is purple. The kids both say, "WOAH!" and then they see Barney in the PBS Kids logo. In the background, you see purple dots coming out from behind the logo at a steady rhythm.
*''[[Arthur (cartoon)|Arthur]]''
This ident starts with an orange background with a small face. He begins to whistle and the screen out outward to see a neighborhood. You notice that everything has glasses on. Then, there are girls jumping rope, and a mother rocking her baby in a stroller. The PBS Kids logo appears with Arthur in it. Stripes are continuously moving in the background. They are different colors and sizes. Similar to this ident when Dot is in the logo.
*''[[Teletubbies]]''
This starts with a bug that sees a yellow hill with a worm on it. In reality, it is Laa-Laa's loop on her head. He pulls at it and he flings himself to Tinky-Winky's head, then goes to Dipsy's and spins around. He ends up on Po's head and tries to go through her circle but can't. Then four logos appear, each with a Teletubby inside. The background has large pink stripes shaking a bit.
*''[[Zoboomafoo]]''
This one begins with a giraffe going to a tree branch. He tries to grab some leaves but flings himself to the ground (which is shown about three seconds later). The leaves end up in an elephant's trunk, then a wild cat jumps in and grabs them. He continues running until Zoboo's arm appears and grabs the leaves. Then Zoboo is in the logo with three tall quadrilaterals behind him. They are light blue, yellow, and pink. There is a black outline around them. It is shaking.
*''[[ZOOM]]''
This one is a little different from the others. It has Dash's profile while walking. He thinks about a lion, then an alien spaceship, and finally, PBS. Dash is inside the logo next to the show's logo, surrounded by other PBS Kids in different colored bubbles.
===Other idents===
New idents were made for newer programs, but they are less complicated than the previous ones.
*''[[Dragon Tales]]''
This one shows the dragons' tails playing instruments (Ord: [[Drum kit]], Cassie: [[Triangle (instrument)]], Zak and Wheezie: [[Bongo drum]]). Ord appears in the logo, with sound waves in the background.
*''[[Clifford the Big Red Dog]]''
This one shows an artist painting a simple picture (only filling the page with one color). He tries yellow, blue, and finally red. Clifford is behind the picture and goes in the logo. Splashes of primary colors are in the background.
*''[[Caillou]]''
This one shows Dash is holding a [[kite]], Dot is riding on a [[bicycle]], and the [[sun]] is in the sky. The sun zooms in when the kite passes. Caillou is inside the logo with a sunshining background.
*''[[Between the Lions]]''
This one shows Dash and Dot looking for books, they are seeking each other, removing books, Theo looks up and found, then Theo is in the logo with a rectangular background circling.
*''[[Curious George]]''
This one shows Dot walking in a green background and Dash walking in a pink background. Then Dash climbs a staircase. Dash trips when he reaches the top of the stairs but gets up and pulls out a pair of binoculars and looks through them. He looks through it and sees an image of Curious George who then cheers and claps. The background shows three kinds of circles coming from the logo: light blue ones, pink ones and light blue ones with The Man With the Yellow Hat's hat in them.
These idents can be used for many programs.
*In one, Dash is making incredible hand shadows. He then makes the PBS Kids logo, with orange ovals moving around in the background. ''[[It's a Big Big World]]'' (Snook), ''[[Jakers!]]'' (Piggley), and ''[[Boohbah]]'' (Zumbah) use this ident. ''[[Liberty's Kids]]'' (Sarah, James, and Henri), ''[[3-2-1 Penguins]]'' (Jason) also used this when the program aired.
*In another one, you see a crab who is on the beach, then floats down. Octopi, jellyfish, and other fish are swimming around. Still following the crab, she reaches her home and air bubbles float up. They make the PBS Kids logo appear. In the background, you'll see the bubbles coming out from behind the logo. ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'' (Fred Rogers is in the logo), ''[[Jay Jay the Jet Plane]]'' (Jay Jay), ''[[Sagwa]]'' (Sagwa), and ''[[Berenstain Bears]]'' (Mama Bear) use this ident. ''[[Anne of Green Gables]]'' (Anne) also used this ident when the program aired.
*This ident shows a pig, cricket, fish, and dinosaur in a book shape. The dinosaur book opens up to show the PBS Kids logo. In the background, you'll see orange alphabet letters coming out from behind the logo. ''[[Reading Rainbow]]'' ([[Levar Burton]] is in the logo), and ''[[Clifford's Puppy Days]]'' (little Clifford) use this ident. ''[[Adventures from the Book of Virtues]]'' (Annie) also used this ident when the program aired.
*''[[PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch]]''
This ident shows the worm looking and writing the TV series logo and zooms in from the circle and shown the main characters of the Bookworm Bunch.
When the Bookworm Bunch aired, idents were shown.
*Timothy Goes to School
This show did not have one because it was the beginning of the program.
*Marvin the Tap Dancing Horse
This one shows a seal, a canon, and a clown, in a circus theme. The clown squirts his squirt flower and the PBS Kids logo appears with Marvin in it.
*Seven Little Monsters
Dash and Dot are in a green hallway with seven doors. They open each door which has a number on it. Each monster has a door. For example, One has a door with sports equipment inside of it. Six's door then opens last with a doughnut rolling out. The PBS Kids logo appears with Six inside.
*George Shrinks
You see a toy plane flying in a yard. It flies in a window and George comes out. He goes inside the logo.
==
*From May to August 2006, the website layout used [[Adobe Flash|Flash]]. If the mouse is put over either Dash or Dot, the "Doink" sound is heard. If it is put on a show's title, the logo pops up with a main character on it.
*Starting in September 2006, the website layout features a wheel spinning. If the mouse is put on the main character, you'll hear the shows' title. If it is put on the left arrow, the wheel will spin in counterclockwise, and if it is put on the right arrow, the wheel will spin in clockwise. If it is put on the Miss Lori and Hooper, Dash appears to raise up his hand. If it is put on the PBS Kids logo, once again,the "Doink" sound is heard.
==Mottos==
*PBS Kids/This Program was made possible by your support of your local [[List of PBS affiliates|PBS Station]]. (2000-2005)
*Use your imagination, PBS Kids and You!
*Imagine the possibilities, PBS Kids and You!
*Be more PBS Kids, be more (insert PBS Station)
==Title name puns==
*Pet-Tacular is a [[portmanteau]] between a pet and spectacular.
*[[Between the Lions]]: the title itself is a twofold pun. First on the phrase "between the lines", and second is that many classic library buildings have two lions separated by the main entrance. Thus in order to enter the library, you must go "between the lions.")
== References ==
<references/>
== External links ==
* [http://pbskids.org/ The Official PBS KIDS Website]
{{PBSKids shows}}
[[Category:PBS television network]]
[[Category:1993 establishments]]
[[Category:Television programming blocks]]
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