#Barney stuffed animal series#

Īlthough the show was a runaway hit, PBS initially opted not to provide funding beyond the initial 30-episode run.

#Barney stuffed animal series#

The series was produced by CPTV and Lyrick Studios (later bought by HIT Entertainment). The show debuted as Barney & Friends in 1992. Franklin and Rifkin convinced Leach to let CPTV revamp the concept for television. Franklin and Rifkin pitched the idea to all of their colleagues with preschoolers, and they all agreed that kids would love a Barney show. He pitched it to CPTV president Jerry Franklin, whose preschool son also fell in love with it.

Rifkin thought Barney had appeal because he was not as neurotic as Big Bird. Rifkin thought the concept could be developed for PBS. One day in 1991, the daughter of Connecticut Public Television executive Larry Rifkin rented one of the videos and was 'mesmerized' by it. The first three videos starred actress Sandy Duncan. Leach then brought together a team who created a series of home videos, Barney and the Backyard Gang, initially released in 1988. She came up with the idea of a children's program after noticing that her son outgrew Wee Sing Together, and then recognizing that there were no videos to appeal to her son. īarney was created by Sheryl Leach of Dallas, Texas. In November 2021, it was announced that a three-part Barney documentary series will premiere in 2022 on Peacock. On October 18, 2019, Mattel Films announced that a second Barney film was to be produced British actor Daniel Kaluuya's production company was involved.

In 2015, a revival was announced to premiere in 2017 but was delayed into an undated launch. Reruns aired on Sprout from 2005 until 2015, and from December 17, 2018, onward on Sprout's successor network, Universal Kids. The series ended on November 2, 2010, although new videos were still released on various dates after the last episode aired. The series features the title character Barney, a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, huggable and optimistic attitude. The series premiered on PBS on April 6, 1992. Southern Star (1996–2001, Non-US) īarney & Friends is an American children's television series targeted at young children aged 2–7, created by Sheryl Leach. Barney and the Backyard Gang by Sheryl Leach Ī Friend Like You (various episodes, 2006–2010)Ĭonnecticut Public Television (1992–2005)