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== | ||
The show utilized the talents of Jim Henson Company puppeteers such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noel_MacNeal Noel MacNeal] of Bear in the Big Blue House fame, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Osbahr Carmen Osbahr], the puppeteer for Rosita from Sesame Street, and even [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Vogel_(puppeteer) Matt Vogel] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Linz Peter Linz ], known best as the originators of Constantine the Frog and Walter in the | The show utilized the talents of Jim Henson Company puppeteers such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noel_MacNeal Noel MacNeal] of ''Bear in the Big Blue House'' fame, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Osbahr Carmen Osbahr], the puppeteer for Rosita from ''Sesame Street'', and even [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Vogel_(puppeteer) Matt Vogel] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Linz Peter Linz], known best as the originators of Constantine the Frog and Walter in the Muppet films, respectively. Vogel is currently performing the roles of Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, and The Count, among others. | ||
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 | 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== | ==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 | 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 [https://www.kcet.org/kcet-50th-anniversary/january-1995-the-puzzle-place-added-to-childrens-programming-lineup | 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 | 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]. | ||
There are 9 complete episodes in the VHS compilations, and 3 of them (Cute Is As Cute Does, Going By The Book, and Deck the Halls) haven't been found in a stand-alone format. | |||
As of April 2024, not counting episodes only contained in the compilations, 46 of the 75 episodes have been fully found. | |||
==VHS Compilations== | |||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9IEUbzODfI Tuned In] (S1E10 Spud Buds & S1E14 Cute Is as Cute Does) | |||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxAGSJVVrEo Rock Dreams] (S1E18 Mad Music Magic & S1E08 Rock Dreams) | |||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1Ih6u9XKk4 Rip Van Wrinkle] (S1E17 Going by the Book & S1E03 Rip Van Wrinkle) | |||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf9QYBdFdro Deck the Halls] (S2E01 Deck the Halls & Unknown) | |||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O98nZGGx6I4 Sing-Along Songs] (Unknown) | |||
*[https://archive.org/details/thepuzzleplaceaccentuatethepositive_202001 Accentuate the Positive] (S1E06 Rudy One & S1E04 Accentuate the Positive) | |||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGHPbtzfW2o Kids for Character] (S1E31 Finders Keepers, excerpts only, w/ new footage recorded) | |||
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= | ==Episode List== | ||
===Season 1=== | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
|- | |||
! style="background-color:green" | # | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Episode Title | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Air Date | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Status | |||
|- | |||
|1||Tippy Woo||Jan 16th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/PTrxmTPGPHA<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|2||Train Driving Kids||Jan 17th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/TyrFeQmsURg<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|3||Rip Van Wrinkle||Jan 18th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/iEC5JOcrquQ<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|4||Accentuate the Positive||Jan 19th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/x-XhYcthh_M<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|5||Gotta Dance||Jan 20th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/PTyUwsOCSis<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|6||Rudy One||Jan 23rd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/WyrX7QeyJhs<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|7||Butterfingers||Jan 24th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/3Z5RSIIwFmc<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|8||Rock Dreams||Jan 25th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/WxAGSJVVrEo<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|9||Roamantics||Jan 26th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/L9KbtG0Hjq4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|10||Spud Buds||Jan 27th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/PrRByZZwdwg<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|11||Different Drummer||Jan 30th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/2xe2mv3OJaM<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|12||I Love Kiki||Jan 31st, 1995||[https://youtu.be/2HAibn7yZ-Y<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|13||True Colors||Feb 1st, 1995||[https://youtu.be/JvsQVq92apA<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|14||Cute is as Cute Does||Feb 2nd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/1b_Smotndgs<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|15||Leon's Pizza||Feb 3rd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/ZTlaUd_J-vc<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|16||Real Heroes||Feb 6th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/aH7yDffFsh8<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|17||Going by the Book||Feb 7th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/H1Ih6u9XKk4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|18||Mad Music Magic||Feb 8th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/fNZFqEfr_n4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|19||Party of One||Feb 9th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/y6YmjzVcH7o<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|20||Dancing Dragon||Feb 10th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/Kn8YR-GcnkM<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|21||Picture Perfect||Feb 13th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/t_1SkXNaXIo<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|22||Maiden Voyages||Feb 14th, 1995||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5pJnLDaq8I<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|23||Donuts and Dithering||Feb 15th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/SW1-acCanfY<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|24||Bully for Jody||Feb 16th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/lyhTLuyvhzE<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|25||Ben's Bad Hair Day||Feb 17th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/LGsdtghlgoY<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|26||All Weather Friends||Feb 20th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/YsnsXCp0hqw<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] (LQ) | |||
|- | |||
|27||Bread and Matzoh||Feb 21st, 1995||[https://youtu.be/SHKD5ey1tek<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|28||Owning it||Feb 22nd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/jfWSlqnqUeU<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|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||Feb 24th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/ewJxRHw77iI<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|31||Finders Keepers||Feb 27th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/dohV4OidKEQ<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|32||You Say Potato||Feb 28th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/8pBNVcECkdc<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|33||At the End of our Rope||Mar 1st, 1995||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|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||Mar 3rd, 1995||[https://youtu.be/7LRNJHdcHeQ<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|36||Big Boys Don't Cry||Mar 6th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/Z3K1wuKC5b4<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|37||Here's to the Winners||Mar 7th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/mqzvQQNMkcE<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|38||A World of Difference||Mar 8th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/6nzxMCNS8i0<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|39||Willing and Able||Mar 9th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/BvOrTWf6Xn0<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|40||It's Magic||Mar 10th, 1995||[https://youtu.be/t7mCZHhG-j4<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|} | |||
'''[https:// | ===Season 2=== | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
|- | |||
! style="background-color:green" | # | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Episode Title | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Air Date | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Status | |||
|- | |||
|1||Deck the Halls||Jan 15th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/hf9QYBdFdroin<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|2||Dressing up is Hard to do||Jan 16th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/_rFzcC_Tv2I<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|3||One Way||Jan 17th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/nsveRtUPaVc<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|4||Oldies But Goodies||Jan 18th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/_26bHXDPwLc<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|5||Helping Hands||Jan 19th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/LWhspnobv2o<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|6||Yellow Belt||Jan 22nd, 1996||[https://youtu.be/Knk1mS0ZWeg<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|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?||Jan 24th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|09||The New Adventures of Julie Woo||Jan 25th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/uCTHgi9eiWo<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|10||We Three Kings||Jan 26th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/JNirAKC7bPM<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|11||Hello, Maggie||Jan 29th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/Ww3x6PugZto<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|12||Off the Track||Jan 30th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|13||Beautiful Doll||Jan 31st, 1996||[https://youtu.be/u1M6DACz2FA<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|14||Tattle Tales||Feb 1st, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|15||Those Ears, Those Eyes||Feb 2nd, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|16||That's Weird||Feb 5th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/3b9szB80lHk<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|17||The Ballad of Davy Cricket||Feb 6, 1996||[https://youtu.be/Qooo8ipe9GI<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|18||Little Leon, Big Ben||Feb 7th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|19||I Scream, You Scream||Feb 8th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/AufcusnJX7s<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|20||Skye's Coat||Feb 9th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/yHHWK6gEJtc<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|21||It's Mine||Feb 12th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/cC1YPVf2L6Q<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|22||One Big, Happy Family''||Feb 13th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|23||Leon Grows up||Feb 14th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/3FABDhdVuWg<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|24||Cowpokes||Feb 15th, 1996||[https://youtu.be/HJnSdzPmYa0?si=BpsKPieEgMeiKzhN<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found (Danish only)'''] | |||
|- | |||
|25||Hurricane Julie||Feb 16th, 1996||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|} | |||
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= | ===Season 3=== | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
|- | |||
! style="background-color:green" | # | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Episode Title | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Air Date | |||
! style="background-color:green" | Status | |||
|- | |||
|01||Family Fun||Oct 19th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|02||Anything She can do||Oct 20th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|03||You Don't Match||Oct 21st, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|04||To Have and Have Not||Oct 26th, 1998||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozutmZ5BGq8<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|05||Fiesta Follies||Oct 27th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|06||Between You and Me||Oct 28th, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|07||A Star is Burned||Oct 29th, 1998||[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10uw29ubmfs<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|08||Spooky||Oct 30th, 1998||[https://youtu.be/2patIIjQCdY<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''] | |||
|- | |||
|09||Up!||Dec 3rd, 1998||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost''' | |||
|- | |||
|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 Found 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 Found 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 Found 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 Found 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 Found pitch pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; 2011)]] | |||
*[[Preschool Musical... On a Stick (Partially Found 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== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Lost TV|Puzzle Place]] | [[Category:Lost TV|Puzzle Place]] | ||
[[Category:Lost puppetry|Puzzle Place]] | [[Category:Lost puppetry|Puzzle Place]] | ||
[[Category:Partially found media|Puzzle Place]] | [[Category:Partially found media|Puzzle Place]] |
Latest revision as of 23:50, 5 June 2024
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 Muppet films, respectively. Vogel is currently performing the roles of Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, and The Count, among others.
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.
There are 9 complete episodes in the VHS compilations, and 3 of them (Cute Is As Cute Does, Going By The Book, and Deck the Halls) haven't been found in a stand-alone format.
As of April 2024, not counting episodes only contained in the compilations, 46 of the 75 episodes have been fully found.
VHS Compilations
- Tuned In (S1E10 Spud Buds & S1E14 Cute Is as Cute Does)
- Rock Dreams (S1E18 Mad Music Magic & S1E08 Rock Dreams)
- Rip Van Wrinkle (S1E17 Going by the Book & S1E03 Rip Van Wrinkle)
- Deck the Halls (S2E01 Deck the Halls & Unknown)
- Sing-Along Songs (Unknown)
- Accentuate the Positive (S1E06 Rudy One & S1E04 Accentuate the Positive)
- Kids for Character (S1E31 Finders Keepers, excerpts only, w/ new footage recorded)
Episode List
Season 1
# | Episode Title | Air Date | Status |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tippy Woo | Jan 16th, 1995 | 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 | Found |
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 | Found |
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 Found |
40 | It's Magic | Mar 10th, 1995 | Partially Found |
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 | Partially Found |
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 | Partially Found |
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
See Also
Bumpers
- Bookworm Bunch (partially found interstitials from PBS Kids channel block; 2000-2001)
- PBS Kids (Partially Found 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 Found 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 Found 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 Found 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 Found pitch pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; 2011)
- Preschool Musical... On a Stick (Partially Found 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
- ↑ A 2014 KCET article on a pilot titled Puzzleworks to be added to the January 1995 lineup. Retrieved 13 Apr '15
- ↑ The first pilot episode of The Puzzle Place (formerly called The Puzzle Works. Retrieved 14 Aug '19
- ↑ The second pilot episode of The Puzzle Place (formerly called The Puzzle Works. Retrieved 14 Aug '19
- ↑ An LA Times article on an early version of The Puzzle Place titled The Puzzle Factory. Retrieved 13 Apr '15
- ↑ 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