The Puzzle Place (partially found PBS puppet series; 1994-1998): Difference between revisions

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'''''The Puzzle Place''''' was an edutainment puppet show that initially ran from 1994-1998 on PBS with 75 episodes and 6 out-of-print VHS compilations.
'''''The Puzzle Place''''' was an edutainment puppet show produced by KCET and Lancit Media that initially ran from 1994-1998 on PBS with 75 episodes and 6 out-of-print VHS compilations.


==Concept==
==Concept==
Line 13: Line 13:


==Copyrights==
==Copyrights==
Currently, PBS doesn't hold the rights to it, and chances are no one ever will. Lancit Media, which was the proprietor of the show itself and all merchandise pertaining to it, went through many financial restraints in its shortlived run and inevitably went under. In order to ever release these episodes on any format, one would need to renew the rights, which is a money-consuming prospect for a show as inconsequential to the public at large.
Currently, PBS doesn't hold the rights to it, and chances are no one ever will. Lancit Media, which was the proprietor of the show itself and all merchandise pertaining to it, went through many financial restraints in its short-lived run and inevitably went under. In order to ever release these episodes on any format, one would need to renew the rights, which is a money-consuming prospect for a show as inconsequential to the public at large.


==Pilot==
==Pilot==
According to a KCET article written in 2014, there was a pilot aired in 1994 titled ''The Puzzle Works'' or ''Puzzleworks''.<ref>[https://www.kcet.org/kcet-50th-anniversary/january-1995-the-puzzle-place-added-to-childrens-programming-lineup A 2014 KCET article on a pilot titled ''Puzzleworks'' to be added to the January 1995 lineup.] Retrieved 13 Apr '15</ref> Before this point, a lot of write-ups were done for the show under the name of ''The Puzzle Factory'', which was apparently changed to avoid copyright issues with a toy company of a similar name. Besides that, nothing else is mentioned about the pilot.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1993-04-08/entertainment/ca-20660_1_puzzle-factory An LA Times article on an early version of ''The Puzzle Place'' titled "The Puzzle Factory".] Retrieved 13 Apr '15</ref>   
According to a KCET article written in 2014, there was a pilot aired in 1994 titled ''The Puzzle Works'' or ''Puzzleworks''.<ref>[https://www.kcet.org/kcet-50th-anniversary/january-1995-the-puzzle-place-added-to-childrens-programming-lineup A 2014 KCET article on a pilot titled ''Puzzleworks'' to be added to the January 1995 lineup.] Retrieved 13 Apr '15</ref> There are two found videos so far that confirm this fact.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3BWo68pu8c The first pilot episode of ''The Puzzle Place'' (formerly called ''The Puzzle Works''.] Retrieved 14 Aug '19</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1SCFKNoY4M The second pilot episode of ''The Puzzle Place'' (formerly called ''The Puzzle Works''.] Retrieved 14 Aug '19</ref> Before this point, a lot of write-ups were done for the show under the name of ''The Puzzle Factory'', which was apparently changed to avoid copyright issues with a toy company of a similar name. Besides that, nothing else is mentioned about the pilot.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1993-04-08/entertainment/ca-20660_1_puzzle-factory An LA Times article on an early version of ''The Puzzle Place'' titled ''The Puzzle Factory''.] Retrieved 13 Apr '15</ref>   


While it's unknown if the pilot had different characters, one write-up calls one of the characters Jamal "Jammin" Waters and has a Hispanic character called Victor Melendez. In another article from later on, characters have different first and last names (those being Max Olafsen, Leon Devon, Jazzy Silver, Skye Blazing Star).<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/09/13/beyond-barney-friends/8032777d-4911-48aa-80c4-ba392d084896/ A Washington Post article on ''The Puzzle Place's pilot, which said that the characters had different names than in the final version.] Retrieved 13 Apr '15</ref>
While it's unknown if the pilot had different characters, one write-up calls one of the characters Jamal "Jammin" Waters and has a Hispanic character called Victor Melendez. In another article from, later on, characters have different first and last names (those being Max Olafsen, Leon Devon, Jazzy Silver, Skye Blazing Star).<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/09/13/beyond-barney-friends/8032777d-4911-48aa-80c4-ba392d084896/ A Washington Post article on ''The Puzzle Place'''s pilot, which said that the characters had different names than in the final version.] Retrieved 13 Apr '15</ref>


==Availability==
==Availability==
All six of the out-of-print VHS compilations (as well as an extra clip created for a special VHS in a series called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_for_Character Kids for Character]) were sought out online and ripped by the currently defunct Dailymotion user [http://www.dailymotion.com/TheRedBaron1985 TheRedBaron1985].
All six of the out-of-print VHS compilations (as well as an extra clip created for a special VHS in a series called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_for_Character Kids for Character]) were sought out online and ripped by the currently defunct Dailymotion user [http://www.dailymotion.com/TheRedBaron1985 TheRedBaron1985].


Currently, 26 of the 75 stand-alone episodes have been found through some collective efforts and dumb luck. Apart from that, there are 9 complete episodes in the VHS compilations and 4 of them (Cute Is As Cute Does, Going By The Book, Rip Van Wrinkle, and Deck the Halls) haven't been found in a stand-alone format, making it about 30 full episodes and 45 episodes yet to be found. The Kids in Character clip shows part of S1E31 Finders Keepers. S2E04 Oldies but Goodies & S2E06 Yellow Belt have had two excerpts found, but in unsubtitled Portuguese, of all things.
Currently, just around half of the 75 stand-alone episodes have been found through some collective efforts and dumb luck. Apart from that, there are 9 complete episodes in the VHS compilations, and 4 of them (Cute Is As Cute Does, Going By The Book, Rip Van Wrinkle, and Deck the Halls) haven't been found in a stand-alone format, making it about 30 full episodes and 45 episodes yet to be found. The Kids in Character clip shows part of S1E31 Finders Keepers. S2E04 Oldies but Goodies & S2E06 Yellow Belt have had two excerpts found, but in unsubtitled Portuguese, of all things.


==VHS Compilations==
==VHS Compilations==
Line 42: Line 42:
! style="background-color:green" | Status
! style="background-color:green" | Status
|-
|-
|01||Tippy Woo||January 16, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|1||Tippy Woo||Jan 16th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/uik-7Xdp04s%3C<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found''']
|-
|-
|02||Train Driving Kids||January 17, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|2||Train Driving Kids||Jan 17th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/TyrFeQmsURg<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|03||Rip Van Wrinkle||January 18, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1Ih6u9XKk4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|3||Rip Van Wrinkle||Jan 18th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/iEC5JOcrquQ<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|04||Accentuate the Positive||January 19, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-XhYcthh_M<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|4||Accentuate the Positive||Jan 19th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/x-XhYcthh_M<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|05||Gotta Dance||January 20, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|5||Gotta Dance||Jan 20th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/PTyUwsOCSis<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|06||Rudy One||January 23, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyrX7QeyJhs<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|6||Rudy One||Jan 23rd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/WyrX7QeyJhs<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|07||Butterfingers||January 24, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z5RSIIwFmc<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|7||Butterfingers||Jan 24th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/3Z5RSIIwFmc<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|08||Rock Dreams||January 25, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxAGSJVVrEo<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|8||Rock Dreams||Jan 25th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/WxAGSJVVrEo<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|09||Roamantics||January 26, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|9||Roamantics||Jan 26th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/L9KbtG0Hjq4<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|10||Spud Buds||January 27, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrRByZZwdwg<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|10||Spud Buds||Jan 27th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/PrRByZZwdwg<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|11||Different Drummer||January 30, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xe2mv3OJaM<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|11||Different Drummer||Jan 30th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/2xe2mv3OJaM<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|12||I Love Kiki||January 31, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HAibn7yZ-Y<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|12||I Love Kiki||Jan 31st, 1995||[https://youtu.be/2HAibn7yZ-Y<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|13||True Colors||February 1, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvsQVq92apA<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|13||True Colors||Feb 1st, 1995||[https://youtu.be/JvsQVq92apA<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|14||Cute is as Cute Does||February 2, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b_Smotndgs<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|14||Cute is as Cute Does||Feb 2nd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/1b_Smotndgs<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|15||Leon's Pizza||February 3, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTlaUd_J-vc<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|15||Leon's Pizza||Feb 3rd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/ZTlaUd_J-vc<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|16||S1E16 Real Horses||February 6, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|16||Real Heroes||Feb 6th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/aH7yDffFsh8<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|17||Going by the Book||February 7, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1Ih6u9XKk4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|17||Going by the Book||Feb 7th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/H1Ih6u9XKk4<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|18||Mad Music Magic||February 8, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNZFqEfr_n4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|18||Mad Music Magic||Feb 8th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/fNZFqEfr_n4<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|19||Party of One||February 9, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|19||Party of One||Feb 9th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/y6YmjzVcH7o<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|20||Dancing Dragon||February 10, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn8YR-GcnkM<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|20||Dancing Dragon||Feb 10th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/Kn8YR-GcnkM<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|21||Picture Perfect||February 13, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_1SkXNaXIo<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|21||Picture Perfect||Feb 13th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/t_1SkXNaXIo<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|22||Maiden Voyages||February 14, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|22||Maiden Voyages||Feb 14th, 1995||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|23||Donuts and Dithering||February 15, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG2yYkv6-cg<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|23||Donuts and Dithering||Feb 15th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/SW1-acCanfY<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found''']
|-
|-
|24||Bully for Jody||February 16, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyhTLuyvhzE<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|24||Bully for Jody||Feb 16th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/lyhTLuyvhzE<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|25||Ben's Bad Hair Day||February 17, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yznthWgYrP4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|25||Ben's Bad Hair Day||Feb 17th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/LGsdtghlgoY<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found''']
|-
|-
|26||All Weather Friends||February 20, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsnsXCp0hqw<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|26||All Weather Friends||Feb 20th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/YsnsXCp0hqw<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] (LQ)
|-
|-
|27||Bread and Matzoh||February 21, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHKD5ey1tek<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|27||Bread and Matzoh||Feb 21st, 1995||[https://youtu.be/SHKD5ey1tek<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|28||Owning it||February 22, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQTPASVDQqM<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|28||Owning it||Feb 22nd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/jfWSlqnqUeU<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found''']
|-
|-
|29||Baffled Ben||February 23, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMsRI1Ar1ds<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|29||Baffled Ben ([https://youtu.be/7gaGG063hH8 1] <nowiki>|</nowiki> [https://youtu.be/ejfHGUJ8C6g 2])||Feb 23rd, 1995||<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''
|-
|-
|30||Practice Makes Perfect||February 24, 1995||[https://archive.org/details/PBSkids_201812<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|30||Practice Makes Perfect||Feb 24th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/ewJxRHw77iI<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|31||Finders Keepers ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYXBt1DN3ok 1] <nowiki>|</nowiki> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnHQKbzUPL0 2])||February 27, 1995||<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
|31||Finders Keepers||Feb 27th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/dohV4OidKEQ<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|32||You Say Potato||February 28, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pBNVcECkdc<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|32||You Say Potato||Feb 28th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/8pBNVcECkdc<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|33||At the End of our Rope||March 1, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|33||At the End of our Rope||Mar 1st, 1995||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|34||Just Kidding||March 2, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk_9Rlq3GPQ<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|34||Just Kidding||Mar 2nd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/-VZvllVuhvk<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>] (in English, that is--full in [https://youtu.be/S-ISGwVwyWY Portuguese])
|-
|-
|35||Everything in its Place||March 3, 1995||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|35||Everything in its Place||Mar 3rd, 1995||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|36||Big Boys Don't Cry||March 6, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3K1wuKC5b4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|36||Big Boys Don't Cry||Mar 6th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/Z3K1wuKC5b4<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|37||Here's to the Winners||March 7, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqzvQQNMkcE<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|37||Here's to the Winners||Mar 7th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/mqzvQQNMkcE<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|38||A World of Difference ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxgYEZjxakI 1] <nowiki>|</nowiki> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8sKVRW7dh0 2])||March 8, 1995||<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
|38||A World of Difference||Mar 8th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/6nzxMCNS8i0<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found''']
|-
|-
|39||Willing and Able||March 9, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvOrTWf6Xn0<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>]
|39||Willing and Able||Mar 9th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/BvOrTWf6Xn0<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost''']
|-
|-
|40||It's Magic||March 10, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7mCZHhG-j4<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>]
|40||It's Magic||Mar 10th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/t7mCZHhG-j4<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost''']
|}
|}
===Season 2===
===Season 2===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Line 130: Line 131:
! style="background-color:green" | Status
! style="background-color:green" | Status
|-
|-
|01||Deck the Halls||January 15, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf9QYBdFdroin<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|1||Deck the Halls||Jan 15th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/hf9QYBdFdroin<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|02||Dressing up is Hard to do||January 16, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|2||Dressing up is Hard to do||Jan 16th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/_rFzcC_Tv2I<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|03||One Way||January 17, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|3||One Way||Jan 17th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/nsveRtUPaVc<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|04||Oldies But Goodies||January 18, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBbQ7BSt_jA<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>]
|4||Oldies But Goodies||Jan 18th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/_26bHXDPwLc<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found''']
|-
|-
|05||Helping Hands||January 19, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWhspnobv2o<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|5||Helping Hands||Jan 19th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/LWhspnobv2o<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|06||Yellow Belt||January 22, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knk1mS0ZWeg<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>]
|6||Yellow Belt||Jan 22nd, 1996||[https://youtu.be/Knk1mS0ZWeg<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found''']
|-
|-
|07||The Mystery of the Fabulous Hat||January 23, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq12NhD5i-0<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|07||The Mystery of the Fabulous Hat||Jan 23rd, 1996||[https://youtu.be/Cq12NhD5i-0<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|08||How Much is that Doggie in the Window?||January 24, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|08||How Much is that Doggie in the Window?||Jan 24th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|09||The New Adventures of Julie Woo||January 25, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgWo_JpNqrI<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|09||The New Adventures of Julie Woo||Jan 25th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/uCTHgi9eiWo<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found''']
|-
|-
|10||We Three Kings||January 26th, 2019||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNirAKC7bPM<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|10||We Three Kings||Jan 26th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/JNirAKC7bPM<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|11||Hello, Maggie||January 29, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww3x6PugZto<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|11||Hello, Maggie||Jan 29th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/Ww3x6PugZto<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|12||Off the Track||January 30, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|12||Off the Track||Jan 30th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|13||Beautiful Doll||January 31, 1996||[https://archive.org/details/pbs1998<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|13||Beautiful Doll||Jan 31st, 1996||[https://youtu.be/u1M6DACz2FA<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|14||Tattle Tales||February 1, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|14||Tattle Tales||Feb 1st, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|15||Those Ears, Those Eyes||February 2, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|15||Those Ears, Those Eyes||Feb 2nd, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|16||That's Weird||February 5, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b9szB80lHk<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|16||That's Weird||Feb 5th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/3b9szB80lHk<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|17||The Ballad of Davy Cricket||February 6, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qooo8ipe9GI<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|17||The Ballad of Davy Cricket||Feb 6, 1996||[https://youtu.be/Qooo8ipe9GI<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|18||Little Leon, Big Ben||February 7, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|18||Little Leon, Big Ben||Feb 7th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|19||I Scream, You Scream||February 8, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AufcusnJX7s<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|19||I Scream, You Scream||Feb 8th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/AufcusnJX7s<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|20||Skye's Coat||February 9, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|20||Skye's Coat||Feb 9th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|21||It's Mine||February 12, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC1YPVf2L6Q<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|21||It's Mine||Feb 12th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/cC1YPVf2L6Q<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|22||One Big, Happy Family''||February 13, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|22||One Big, Happy Family''||Feb 13th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|23||Leon Grows up||February 14, 1996||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FABDhdVuWg<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|23||Leon Grows up||Feb 14th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/3FABDhdVuWg<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|24||Cowpokes||February 15, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|24||Cowpokes||Feb 15th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/HJnSdzPmYa0?si=BpsKPieEgMeiKzhN<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found (Danish only)''']
|-
|-
|25||Hurricane Julie||February 16, 1996||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|25||Hurricane Julie||Feb 16th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|}
|}
===Season 3===
===Season 3===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Line 188: Line 190:
! style="background-color:green" | Status
! style="background-color:green" | Status
|-
|-
|01||Family Fun||October 19, 1998||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|01||Family Fun||Oct 19th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|02||Anything She can do||October 20, 1998||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|02||Anything She can do||Oct 20th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|03||You Don't Match||October 21, 1998||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|03||You Don't Match||Oct 21st, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|04||To Have and Have Not||October 26, 1998||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|04||To Have and Have Not||Oct 26th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|05||Fiesta Follies||October 27, 1998||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|05||Fiesta Follies||Oct 27th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|06||Between You and Me||October 28, 1998||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|06||Between You and Me||Oct 28th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|07||A Star is Burned||October 29, 1998||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|07||A Star is Burned||Oct 29th, 1998||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10uw29ubmfs<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|08||Spooky||October 30, 1998||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2patIIjQCdY<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|08||Spooky||Oct 30th, 1998||[https://youtu.be/2patIIjQCdY<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|-
|-
|09||Up!||December 3, 1998||<span style="color:red;">''Lost''</span>
|09||Up!||Dec 3rd, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''
|-
|-
|10||I'm Talking to You||December 4, 1998||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlBQxo_KBc8<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>]
|10||I'm Talking to You||Dec 4th, 1998||[https://youtu.be/YlBQxo_KBc8<span style="color:green;">'''Found''']
|}
|}
==Gallery==
{{Video|perrow  =1
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =2wnZzCLL1qs
  |description1 =Defunctland's video on the subject.
}}
==See Also==
===Bumpers===
*[[Bookworm Bunch (partially found interstitials from PBS Kids channel block; 2000-2001)]]
*[[PBS Kids (partially lost schedule bumpers and interstitial material of TV channel block; 1999-present)]]
*[[PBS Kids Vote-A-Rama (lost bumpers of "Arthur" themed marathon; 2002)]]
*[[Someday School (partially found PBS Kids channel block; 1998-2000)]]
===PBS===
*[[Adventures with Kanga Roddy (partially lost PBS children's series; 1998-2000)]]
*[[Backyard Safari (found PBS children's educational series; 1997)]]
*[[Barney & Friends "Season 9" (partially found alternative version of PBS children's series; 2004-2005)]]
*[[Christmastime with Mister Rogers (found holiday TV special; 1977)]]
*[[Lamb Chop's Play-Along (partially lost PBS children's puppet series; 1992-1995)]]
*[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood "Mister Rogers Talks About Conflict" (found episode arc of PBS children's educational series; 1983)]]
*[[Reading Rainbow (found Johnny Kemp opening sequence for PBS children's educational series; 1999)]]
*[[Shining Time Station (found season one intro of PBS series; 1989-1990)]]
*[[Storytime (found PBS children's reading series; 1992-1998)]]
*[[Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? "Auld Lang Gone" (non-existent episode of PBS children's game show; 1992)]]
*[[Zoom (found pilot of revival of 1972 PBS children's series; 1995)]]
*[[Zoom (partially lost revival of PBS children's series; 1999-2005)]]
===PBS Kids===
*[[The Charlie Horse Music Pizza (partially lost PBS Kids "Lamb Chop's Play-Along" spin-off series; 1998-1999)]]
*[[Curious George (lost test pilot of PBS Kids animated series based on books; existence unconfirmed; 2004/2005)]]
*[[Cyberchase "The Poddleville Case" (found test pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; 1999)]]
*[[Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (lost pitch pilot of PBS Kids animated musical series; 2006-2008)]]
*[[Dragon Tales "One Small Step for Cassie" and "Circle of Friends" (lost pilots of PBS Kids animated series; 1999)]]
*[[The Good Night Show with Melanie/Leo (partially found PBS Kids Sprout series; 2005-2006)]]
*[[The Good Night Show with Nina & Star (partially found PBS Kids Sprout series; 2006-2017)]]
*[[Jet Propulsion (partially found pitch pilot of "Ready Jet Go!" PBS Kids CGI-animated series; 2013)]]
*[[Kratts' Creatures (found PBS children's educational series; 1996)]]
*[[Make Way for Noddy (partially found PBS Kids version of British children's TV series; 2005)]]
*[[Molly of Denali (partially found pitch pilot of PBS Kids animated series; 2018)]]
*[[Nature Cat (lost pitch pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; early 2010s)]]
*[[Peg + Cat (partially lost pitch pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; 2011)]]
*[[Preschool Musical... On a Stick (partially lost PBS Kids Sprout "High School Musical" parody; 2008)]]
*[[Seven Little Monsters (found episodes of PBS Kids animated series; 2000-2004)]]
*[[Space Race (partially found PBS Kids web series; 2011)]]
*[[Super Why! (partially found British dub of PBS Kids CGI animated series; late 2000s-2010s)]]
*[[What's The Big Idea? (partially found pitch pilot of "Sid The Science Kid" PBS Kids CGI animated series; 2007)]]
*[[WordGirl (lost pitch pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; existence unconfirmed; 2005)]]
*[[WordWorld (found test pilot of PBS Kids CGI animated educational series; 2005)]]
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 13:19, 8 January 2024

20065uf.jpg.png

The Puzzle Place logo.

Status: Partially Found

The Puzzle Place was an edutainment puppet show produced by KCET and Lancit Media that initially ran from 1994-1998 on PBS with 75 episodes and 6 out-of-print VHS compilations.

Concept

The show utilized the talents of Jim Henson Company puppeteers such as Noel MacNeal of Bear in the Big Blue House fame, Carmen Osbahr, the puppeteer for Rosita from Sesame Street, and even Matt Vogel and Peter Linz, known best as the originators of Constantine the Frog and Walter in the latest string of Muppet films. Vogel also took over the role of Count Von Count on Sesame Street after Jerry Nelson's passing. 

The show tackled all manner of difficult topics such as racism, sexism, handicaps, death, etc. and promoted diversity, open communication, and compassion. The production and writing quality were especially high for a puppeteering show that was never directly connected to the CTW.

Copyrights

Currently, PBS doesn't hold the rights to it, and chances are no one ever will. Lancit Media, which was the proprietor of the show itself and all merchandise pertaining to it, went through many financial restraints in its short-lived run and inevitably went under. In order to ever release these episodes on any format, one would need to renew the rights, which is a money-consuming prospect for a show as inconsequential to the public at large.

Pilot

According to a KCET article written in 2014, there was a pilot aired in 1994 titled The Puzzle Works or Puzzleworks.[1] There are two found videos so far that confirm this fact.[2][3] Before this point, a lot of write-ups were done for the show under the name of The Puzzle Factory, which was apparently changed to avoid copyright issues with a toy company of a similar name. Besides that, nothing else is mentioned about the pilot.[4]

While it's unknown if the pilot had different characters, one write-up calls one of the characters Jamal "Jammin" Waters and has a Hispanic character called Victor Melendez. In another article from, later on, characters have different first and last names (those being Max Olafsen, Leon Devon, Jazzy Silver, Skye Blazing Star).[5]

Availability

All six of the out-of-print VHS compilations (as well as an extra clip created for a special VHS in a series called Kids for Character) were sought out online and ripped by the currently defunct Dailymotion user TheRedBaron1985.

Currently, just around half of the 75 stand-alone episodes have been found through some collective efforts and dumb luck. Apart from that, there are 9 complete episodes in the VHS compilations, and 4 of them (Cute Is As Cute Does, Going By The Book, Rip Van Wrinkle, and Deck the Halls) haven't been found in a stand-alone format, making it about 30 full episodes and 45 episodes yet to be found. The Kids in Character clip shows part of S1E31 Finders Keepers. S2E04 Oldies but Goodies & S2E06 Yellow Belt have had two excerpts found, but in unsubtitled Portuguese, of all things.

VHS Compilations

Episode List

Season 1

# Episode Title Air Date Status
1 Tippy Woo Jan 16th, 1995 Partially Found
2 Train Driving Kids Jan 17th, 1995 Found
3 Rip Van Wrinkle Jan 18th, 1995 Found
4 Accentuate the Positive Jan 19th, 1995 Found
5 Gotta Dance Jan 20th, 1995 Found
6 Rudy One Jan 23rd, 1995 Found
7 Butterfingers Jan 24th, 1995 Found
8 Rock Dreams Jan 25th, 1995 Found
9 Roamantics Jan 26th, 1995 Found
10 Spud Buds Jan 27th, 1995 Found
11 Different Drummer Jan 30th, 1995 Found
12 I Love Kiki Jan 31st, 1995 Found
13 True Colors Feb 1st, 1995 Found
14 Cute is as Cute Does Feb 2nd, 1995 Found
15 Leon's Pizza Feb 3rd, 1995 Found
16 Real Heroes Feb 6th, 1995 Found
17 Going by the Book Feb 7th, 1995 Found
18 Mad Music Magic Feb 8th, 1995 Found
19 Party of One Feb 9th, 1995 Found
20 Dancing Dragon Feb 10th, 1995 Found
21 Picture Perfect Feb 13th, 1995 Found
22 Maiden Voyages Feb 14th, 1995 Lost
23 Donuts and Dithering Feb 15th, 1995 Partially Found
24 Bully for Jody Feb 16th, 1995 Found
25 Ben's Bad Hair Day Feb 17th, 1995 Partially Found
26 All Weather Friends Feb 20th, 1995 Found (LQ)
27 Bread and Matzoh Feb 21st, 1995 Found
28 Owning it Feb 22nd, 1995 Partially Found
29 Baffled Ben (1 | 2) Feb 23rd, 1995 Partially Found
30 Practice Makes Perfect Feb 24th, 1995 Found
31 Finders Keepers Feb 27th, 1995 Found
32 You Say Potato Feb 28th, 1995 Found
33 At the End of our Rope Mar 1st, 1995 Lost
34 Just Kidding Mar 2nd, 1995 Partially Found (in English, that is--full in Portuguese)
35 Everything in its Place Mar 3rd, 1995 Lost
36 Big Boys Don't Cry Mar 6th, 1995 Found
37 Here's to the Winners Mar 7th, 1995 Found
38 A World of Difference Mar 8th, 1995 Partially Found
39 Willing and Able Mar 9th, 1995 Partially Lost
40 It's Magic Mar 10th, 1995 Partially Lost

Season 2

# Episode Title Air Date Status
1 Deck the Halls Jan 15th, 1996 Found
2 Dressing up is Hard to do Jan 16th, 1996 Found
3 One Way Jan 17th, 1996 Found
4 Oldies But Goodies Jan 18th, 1996 Partially Found
5 Helping Hands Jan 19th, 1996 Found
6 Yellow Belt Jan 22nd, 1996 Partially Found
07 The Mystery of the Fabulous Hat Jan 23rd, 1996 Found
08 How Much is that Doggie in the Window? Jan 24th, 1996 Lost
09 The New Adventures of Julie Woo Jan 25th, 1996 Partially Found
10 We Three Kings Jan 26th, 1996 Found
11 Hello, Maggie Jan 29th, 1996 Found
12 Off the Track Jan 30th, 1996 Lost
13 Beautiful Doll Jan 31st, 1996 Found
14 Tattle Tales Feb 1st, 1996 Lost
15 Those Ears, Those Eyes Feb 2nd, 1996 Lost
16 That's Weird Feb 5th, 1996 Found
17 The Ballad of Davy Cricket Feb 6, 1996 Found
18 Little Leon, Big Ben Feb 7th, 1996 Lost
19 I Scream, You Scream Feb 8th, 1996 Found
20 Skye's Coat Feb 9th, 1996 Lost
21 It's Mine Feb 12th, 1996 Found
22 One Big, Happy Family Feb 13th, 1996 Lost
23 Leon Grows up Feb 14th, 1996 Found
24 Cowpokes Feb 15th, 1996 Partially Found (Danish only)
25 Hurricane Julie Feb 16th, 1996 Lost

Season 3

# Episode Title Air Date Status
01 Family Fun Oct 19th, 1998 Lost
02 Anything She can do Oct 20th, 1998 Lost
03 You Don't Match Oct 21st, 1998 Lost
04 To Have and Have Not Oct 26th, 1998 Lost
05 Fiesta Follies Oct 27th, 1998 Lost
06 Between You and Me Oct 28th, 1998 Lost
07 A Star is Burned Oct 29th, 1998 Found
08 Spooky Oct 30th, 1998 Found
09 Up! Dec 3rd, 1998 Lost
10 I'm Talking to You Dec 4th, 1998 Found

Gallery

Defunctland's video on the subject.

See Also

Bumpers

PBS

PBS Kids

References