Zoobilee Zoo
Encyclopedia
Zoobilee Zoo is an Emmy Award
-winning children's television program featuring costume
d performers dressed as animal
characters. It originally aired from 1986–1987, then in syndication until 2001 on several television
channels including commercial network television stations, public television stations, The Learning Channel, and the Hallmark Channel
. Only 65 episode
s of the original incarnation of the show were made. While it was in syndication
for 15 years, it was no longer airing on television as of July of 2011. The original 65 episodes are currently owned by Hallmark Properties and produced by WQED
Pittsburgh.
Generally the plot of each episode consists of the main characters, called Zoobles, encountering difficulties usually common to young children (though some adults can relate to them) and then learning a moral
lesson about dealing with such problems, such as being apprehensive of going to a doctor or learning to appreciate others. Each character has a certain gimmick
in his behavior or interests that gives him a unique view on each problem faced. (Examples: Bravo Fox is a showman
and encourages the amazingness of acting, Talkatoo Cockatoo enjoys reading, writing and speech, Van Go Lion enjoys art
, Whazzat encourages kids to enjoy music and dance
, Lookout enjoys adventuring and travel, and Bill likes to invent and fix stuff.) Mayor Ben, who usually appears at the beginnings and ends of each episode, calls the fans and viewers of the show Zoobaroos.
The show is still available on a wide array of VHS
videocassettes, the most recent series released in 1997, though it has not been released to DVD
. However, in 2000, 14 new direct-to-video
episodes and soundtracks were released, and a stage show, "Zoobilee Zoo Live!" toured briefly, with several of the cast members of the classic TV series reprising their roles for the stage shows. As of August of 2009, a book was spoken of as being in the works, with input from all cast members and some of the crew, with a projected release in 2007. As of July of 2011, however, this book was not known to have been published.
Minor Characters:
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning children's television program featuring costume
Costume
The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
d performers dressed as animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
characters. It originally aired from 1986–1987, then in syndication until 2001 on several television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
channels including commercial network television stations, public television stations, The Learning Channel, and the Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
. Only 65 episode
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
s of the original incarnation of the show were made. While it was in syndication
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
for 15 years, it was no longer airing on television as of July of 2011. The original 65 episodes are currently owned by Hallmark Properties and produced by WQED
WQED
WQED may refer to:*WQED , a television station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States*WQED-FM, a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
Pittsburgh.
Generally the plot of each episode consists of the main characters, called Zoobles, encountering difficulties usually common to young children (though some adults can relate to them) and then learning a moral
Moral
A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim...
lesson about dealing with such problems, such as being apprehensive of going to a doctor or learning to appreciate others. Each character has a certain gimmick
Gimmick
In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature...
in his behavior or interests that gives him a unique view on each problem faced. (Examples: Bravo Fox is a showman
Showman
Showman can have a variety of meanings, usually by context and depending on the country.- Australia :Travelling showmen are people who run amusement and side show equipment at regional shows, state capital shows, events and festivals throughout Australia...
and encourages the amazingness of acting, Talkatoo Cockatoo enjoys reading, writing and speech, Van Go Lion enjoys art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, Whazzat encourages kids to enjoy music and dance
Music appreciation
Music appreciation is teaching people what to listen for and to appreciate different types of music. Usually music appreciation classes involve some history lessons to explain why people of a certain era liked the music that they did...
, Lookout enjoys adventuring and travel, and Bill likes to invent and fix stuff.) Mayor Ben, who usually appears at the beginnings and ends of each episode, calls the fans and viewers of the show Zoobaroos.
The show is still available on a wide array of VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
videocassettes, the most recent series released in 1997, though it has not been released to DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. However, in 2000, 14 new direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
episodes and soundtracks were released, and a stage show, "Zoobilee Zoo Live!" toured briefly, with several of the cast members of the classic TV series reprising their roles for the stage shows. As of August of 2009, a book was spoken of as being in the works, with input from all cast members and some of the crew, with a projected release in 2007. As of July of 2011, however, this book was not known to have been published.
Cast and characters
- Sandey Grinn as Bill Der Beaver
- Forrest Gardner as Van Go Lion
- Karen Hartman as Talkatoo Cockatoo
- Michael B. Moynahan as Lookout Bear
- Gary Schwartz as Bravo Fox
- Louise VallanceLouise VallanceStevie Vallance, born Stephanie Louise Vallance on September 8, 1958 and also known as Louise Vallance, is a Canadian television actor, voice actor, stage performer, voice director and singer...
as Whazzat Kangaroo - Ben VereenBen VereenBen Vereen is an American actor, dancer, and singer who has appeared in numerous Broadway theatre shows. Vereen graduated from Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts.- Early years :...
as Mayor Ben (a leopard)
Minor Characters:
- Roger Behr as Limerick Leprechaun
- Mike Geselbracht as The Black Cheeser
- Roger Peltz as Rhymin' Simon
- Crosby the Dog as Crosby
Funding
- Chuck E. Cheese'sChuck E. Cheese'sChuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E...
- Kellogg's
- Wal-MartWal-MartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
- Juicy JuiceJuicy JuiceJuicy Juice is a brand of juices and juice concentrates geared toward children and sold in the United States by Nestlé using the slogan "The very best juice for the very best kids." Prior to March 2006, it was known as Libby's Juicy Juice and was formerly owned by the Libby's Canned Food Company,...
- Corporation for Public BroadcastingCorporation for Public BroadcastingThe Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
- Viewers Like You
- Thank YouThank YouThank You or Thank U may refer to:*"Thank you" or "thankyou" , an expression of gratitude-Albums:* Thank You * Thank You * Thank You , or the title song...
- Dunkin Donuts