Cousin Skeeter (partially lost Nickelodeon live-action/puppet series; 1998-2001)
Screenshot of the titular character from the episode The Not So Great Outdoors
Status: Partially Lost
Cousin Skeeter was a live-action television series that aired on Nickelodeon between 1998 and 2001. The show had a unique hook of using a puppet as its main protagonist while the rest of the cast was played by traditional actors. The fact that Cousin Skeeter is played by a puppet is never addressed in the series, however a second puppet-based character was added to the show at the start of season two.
Plot
The show begins after Bobby, the new kid at school, receives word that his cousin will be living with his family to tutor him through summer school. Once Skeeter arrives, he begins to assist Bobby in his daily life and the problems that arise. However, Skeeter's attitude and carelessness tend to only make the situation worse. Skeeter is portrayed as a popular guy with connections to big name celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal, resulting in cameos and shoutouts.[1] Bordering on the fact that Skeeter is played by a puppet, the show uses his height as a running gag.
Original airing
Cousin Skeeter premiered on September 1, 1998 at 8:30PM (EST) on Nickelodeon's SNICK programming block, where further new episodes of the series would premiere. Re-runs of the series would air on Nickelodeon's Nickel-O-Zone programming block on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30PM (EST).[2] The series received a lukewarm reception, with many dismissing the use of the puppet. Variety magazine found the titular character to be a stereotype.[3]
Availability
Since Cousin Skeeter's cancellation in 2001, the series has not been re-aired on television. Episodes can be found on Youtube and Dailymotion, but these are few in number. The show has never had any home media releases, and Nickelodeon has shown no interest in doing so in foreseeable future.
S01E01 | A Family Thing | Found | S02E01 | Be Like Skeeter | Lost | S02E21 | New Kids on the Planet Part 1 | Found |
S01E02 | Skeeter's Toy Story | Found | S02E02 | Dirty Laundry | Found | S02E22 | New Kids on the Planet Part 2 | Found |
S01E03 | Air Skeeter | Lost | S02E03 | The Bicycle Thief | Found | S02E23 | New Kids on the Planet Part 3 | Found |
S01E04 | My Dinner Without Andre | Lost | S02E04 | Take Me Out to the Ballgame | Found | S03E01 | Little Mr. Big Man on Campus | Found |
S01E05 | Tyrannosaurus Wrecked | Lost | S02E05 | Jezebel | Partial | S03E02 | The Prince and the Putter | Lost |
S01E06 | Cirque Du Skeeter | Found | S02E06 | Out of Control | Found | S03E03 | Coop Dreams | Lost |
S01E07 | Mo' Skeeter Blues | Lost | S02E07 | Not So Great Outdoors | Found | S03E04 | Radio Daze | Lost |
S01E08 | Skeeter's House of Style | Lost | S02E08 | The Volcano | Found | S03E05 | Night of the Iguana | Lost |
S01E09 | Doctor Skeeter | Lost | S02E09 | Two Men and a Baby Pig | Found | S03E06 | Trading Places | Lost |
S01E10 | Blast From the Past | Found | S02E10 | Unchained | Found | S03E07 | Letter Loose | Lost |
S01E11 | Skeeter's Help-a-Thon | Lost | S02E11 | Hoo I'm Wild Wild West Part 1 | Found | S03E08 | Bellboyz in the Hood | Found |
S01E12 | Haunted House of Blues | Lost | S02E12 | Hoo I'm Wild WIld West Part 2 | Found | S03E09 | Skeeter Says | Lost |
S01E13 | The Bother of the Bride | Lost | S02E13 | Bowled Over | Lost | |||
S01E14 | Apocalypse Skeeter | Lost | S02E14 | The Candidate | Lost | |||
S01E15 | Miracle on 32nd Skeet | Lost | S02E15 | Where's Grandma | Lost | |||
S01E16 | Skeeter Stays | Lost | S02E16 | April Foolish | Lost | |||
S01E17 | Skeeter's Suplex | Lost | S02E17 | Sugar Daddy | Lost | |||
S01E18 | Choir Boyz | Lost | S02E18 | Car Wash | Found | |||
S01E19 | Side Show Skeeter | Found | S02E19 | The Feminine Ms. Skeet | Found | |||
S01E20 | The Good Stuff | Lost | S02E20 | Gym Dandy | Lost |
References
- ↑ Shaquille O'Neal talks about directing an episode of Cousin Skeeter in Shaq Talks Back: https://books.google.com/books?id=cIXaWfTsc5YC&pg=RA2-PA144&dq=shaq+talks+back+cousin+skeeter&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKg6CYo_jLAhVBMSYKHYoHD98Q6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=shaq%20talks%20back%20cousin%20skeeter&f=false
- ↑ A snippet of Nickelodeon Magazine talking about the new show Cousin Skeeter: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/1382/2423Cousin_Skeeter_-_Nickelodeon_Magazine.jpg
- ↑ Variety's review of Cousin Skeeter: http://variety.com/1998/tv/reviews/cousin-skeeter-1200454578/