Former preschool television block at PBS Kids
PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch |
| Network | PBS Kids |
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| Launched | September 30, 2000; 21 years ago (2000-09-30) |
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| Closed | September 5, 2004; 17 years ago (2004-09-05) |
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| Country of origin | |
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| Owner | |
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| Original language(s) | English |
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The PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a preschool television block produced by Canada-based animation studio Nelvana that aired on PBS from September 30, 2000 to September 5, 2004. It typically aired on weekend mornings, depending on station preference and scheduling. The shows that formed the Bookworm Bunch were all based on children's books. The initial lineup consisted of six shows: Corduroy (by Don Freeman), Elliot Moose (by Andrea Beck), Timothy Goes to School (by Rosemary Wells), Seven Little Monsters (by Maurice Sendak), George Shrinks (by William Joyce), and Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (by Betty and Michael Paraskevas).
History
In August 1999, PBS and Nelvana teamed up to create the network's first-ever animated weekend programming block.[1] It was essentially created to boost viewership of the preschool audience on weekends, specifically on Saturday mornings when that attention was shifted elsewhere. A proposed series called Junior Kroll and Company was set to premiere, but that idea was eventually shelved and replaced by Marvin.[2] News of the block's expansion was paired with the release of a study from the University of Kansas that demonstrated the idea that children can learn to read from television programs.[3] Upon its launch on September 30, 2000, the Bookworm Bunch became the second preschool-oriented Saturday morning block on broadcast television after Nick Jr. on CBS, which premiered two weeks before. Although PBS intended on the block to be broadcast on Saturdays, some stations opted to air it other days, particularly Sundays when there was less competition from other networks.[4]
During the block's first season, all the shows (with the exception of the first 15-minute Corduroy episode), were shown either 15 or 45 minutes past the hour, in an effort to discourage "channel-flipping" to other competing children's cartoons on Saturday mornings. A last 15-minute Corduroy episode then ended the block, making its total run three hours. Bookworm Bunch proved to be extremely popular in its first season, and weekend viewership increased dramatically. The first-season finale premiered on February 24, 2001. Reruns of Season 1 (including reruns of Elliot Moose and Corduroy) aired until October 27 of that same year.
The second and final season premiered on November 3, 2001,[5] and with this premiere came a drastic revamp: Corduroy and Elliot Moose were removed from the lineup entirely, thus shortening it to two hours. The four remaining series were instead seen on the hour and half-hour. Marvin and Timothy both ended production by late 2001. The second-season finale premiered on February 23, 2002.
After the second season of the block concluded, two series were picked up as part of a weekday edition of standalone series, which premiered on January 6, 2003. This included new episodes of Seven Little Monsters and George Shrinks, in addition to a new revival of Berenstain Bears. Although originally a half-hour program, PBS commissioned new 15-minute episodes of Monsters that followed Bears in the same half-hour timeslot.[6] This did not last long as Bears eventually became a half-hour show (consisting of two 15-minute episodes) beginning September 15, 2003,[7] thus permanently removing Monsters from the PBS lineup. George Shrinks was given its own half-hour timeslot,[8] in which it also proved to be extremely popular.
As for the formal two-hour Bookworm Bunch block, the second season continued in reruns on select PBS stations and the PBS Kids Channel until September 5, 2004. Around this time, there were many new additions coming to the PBS weekend lineup (like Thomas & Friends and Bob the Builder) and the new PBS Kids Go! block debuted in 2004, all of which effectively replaced the Bookworm Bunch. However, reruns of the standalone George Shrinks series (and Berenstain Bears) continued on select stations several years thereafter.
After the cancellation of the Bookworm Bunch, cable channel Discovery Kids aired reruns of Timothy from 2004 to 2006. Now-defunct Qubo also aired reruns of Elliot, Marvin, and Timothy as part of its daily programming.
Interstitials
Music video interstitials aired at the end of each program before the credits.[9] These music videos were essentially montages of scenes from all of the shows with musical accompaniment. Each of the songs was performed by American musical artist Nancy Cassidy, appearing on three albums released between 1986 and 1992.
First Season (2000–2001)
- Corduroy (first half) – "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy" (shortened version) (Appears on the 1988 album KidsSongs 2)[10]
- Elliot Moose – "You Gotta Sing" (Appears on the 1986 album KidsSongs)[11]
- Timothy Goes to School – "Rig a Jig Jig" (Appears on KidsSongs 2)[10]
- Seven Little Monsters – "La Bamba" (shortened version; Appears on KidsSongs 2)[10]
- George Shrinks – "You Gotta Sing" (reprise)
- Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse – "Rig a Jig Jig" (reprise)
- Corduroy (second half) – "Skidamarink" (Appears on the 1992 album KidsSongs: Sleepyheads)[12]
Second Season (2001–2002)
- Timothy Goes to School – "Friends Are Special" (Appears on KidsSongs: Sleepyheads)[12]
- Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse – "La Bamba" (extended version)
- Seven Little Monsters – "This Little Light of Mine" (Appears on KidsSongs)[11]
- George Shrinks – "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy" (extended version)
Programming
Former programming
Original programming
The first season (2000-2001) of the Bookworm Bunch block ran for three hours, and the second season (2001-2002) ran for two hours.
Standalone programming
The most successful series from the weekend Bookworm Bunch block were stripped to five days a week, and joined Berenstain Bears as standalone programs.[13]
