The Good Night Show with Melanie/Leo (partially found PBS Kids Sprout series; 2005-2006)
Top image: first host Melanie with Hush. Bottom image: second host Leo with Lucy.
Status: Partially Found
The Good Night Show is a children's television block, with segments that aired in a blockisode format between other shows on Sprout (now known as Universal Kids). While Michele Lepe became very popular with audiences, there were two other, more obscure hosts that came before her: Melanie Martinez (the actor) & Noel Macneal, who played their respective roles between 2005-2006.
History
In September 2005, between a joint venture with Comcast, NBCUniversal, PBS, and HiT Entertainment/Sesame Workshop, PBS Kids Sprout first launched on Comcast (later on other cable & satellite providers) & The Good Night Show premiered on the same day.
Hosts/Cast
Melanie Martinez as Melanie the Babysitter
For Season 1 and Season 2, the show was hosted by Melanie and Hush (her pet goldfish). Sprout called Melanie a babysitter, and she talked to the viewers like one.[1] Melanie liked to talk with Hush and draw pictures of him. She and Hush did various activities every night like singing songs, telling stories, performing yoga stretches, making crafts, playing games, and introducing shows. Season 2A expanded upon the show's format by teaching words in Spanish & Sign Language, having real Sproutlets alongside Melanie during yoga pose segments, and introducing a new Co-Host called Star, who played along with the main host Melanie on their nighttime adventures.[2]
Controversy
While Season 2 was airing, Melanie Martinez notified Sprout that she had appeared in two parody commercials from the Technical Virgin website six years earlier. This was because two unauthorized uploads of the commercials had resurfaced online. Even though the information was disclosed in her resume when applying for the job several years prior, Melanie was fired by Sprout since the commercials contained "inappropriate dialogue".[3][4] PBS's own ombudsman, Michael Getler, supported Melanie and criticized her firing. Melanie herself was quoted as saying, "I'm sad that I don't have a job and also sad I don't have that job."[4]
Noel MacNeal as Leo
From Sept-Dec 2006, Noel MacNeal (more famously known as Bear in Bear in the Big Blue House) became an interim host on The Good Night Show for Season 2B,[5] alongside Star, introduced (& widely speculated that he created) a new puppet character called Lucy the Firefly who from that point on would introduce shows and hang out with Leo in the Goodnight Garden. During his time on the show, the "Moonbeam Wheel" and "Yoga & Craft" segments were suspended, Shadow Play was permanently removed, Goodnight Tales was modified to a different storytime segment, and a brand new segment where the host asks a question and Sproutlets provide answers was also introduced.
Co-Hosts/Supporting Characters
- Star, a child-like star-shaped pillow who is portrayed by Stacia Newcomb, serves as the main co-host. He was first introduced with Melanie in Season 2A and stuck around for the rest of the series run. He has conversations, provides commentary, asks questions, plays along with the host during various activities through each adventure & encourages viewers to perform various bedtime routines.
- Lucy the Firefly, a puppet character that was first introduced with Noel MacNeal in Season 2B, is used to introduce shows & also hangs out in the goodnight garden when Noel MacNeal was the host.
- Hush the Fish is Melanie's pet goldfish. He was played by a real-life fish. In Melanie's episodes, he was a main character and blew bubbles to announce the shows that came between the block. In Leo's episodes, Hush seemed to be absent. He returned in Nina's episodes, but his role was heavily reduced, and he only appeared at the end of each show.
Host Episodes
# | Host Name | Co-Host(s) | Season(s) | Original Air Date | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Melanie | Hush (Season 1) Hush & Star (Season 2) |
Season 1, Season 2A | Sept 26th, 2005-Mid July 2006 | Partially Found |
2 | Leo | Star and Lucy | Season 2B | Sept 10th-Dec 17th, 2006 | Partially Found |
List of Known Episodes
Season 1
Episode | Status |
---|---|
Bath & Bubble Time | Partially Lost |
Pets | Lost |
Dreams | Lost |
Sunrise and Sunset | Lost |
The Dark | Lost |
Moon and Stars | Lost |
Imaginary Friends | Lost |
Fairies | Lost |
Night Noises | Lost |
Nocturnal Animals | Lost |
Babysitters | Lost |
Camping | Lost |
Growing | Lost |
People Who Work At Night | Partially Found |
Bedtime Routines | Lost |
Time & Clocks | Lost |
Shadows & Friendly Monsters | Lost |
Stories | Lost |
Availability
Prior to April 2016, it was assumed that Melanie Martinez's version of The Good Night Show was completely wiped away, but since then clips & a partially lost episode "Bath & Bubble Time" have resurfaced online. The same was assumed for Noel Macneal's version of the show as well until September 5th, 2020, when Noel himself uploaded two clips of the show on his Instagram Page. [7] & on January 26th, 2022 a partially lost episode of his version has also resurfaced. Since these variations of the show aired during a time when Sprout was less popular than it was in later years, they have become pretty obscure, and information on exactly how many episodes were produced & aired for both hosts is unclear.
Speculation
- There are believed to be around twenty episodes in Season One with Melanie Martines, but only 18 episode titles are confirmed. Another episode has had a few clips resurface, but the episode's title is currently unknown. As for Season 2A with Melanie & Star, only a few screenshots & several seconds of footage has resurfaced. It's unknown how many episodes were produced, let alone aired, due to its short run on TV.
- While it is known that Noel Macneal co-produced episodes of the show and wrote several songs,[8] for his version of the show, it is unknown how many episodes were produced and aired because they were never documented on the Sprout website.
Gallery
Hosts/Cast
Melanie's drawn design as shown on a Sprout card.
Miscellaneous
Clips
- https://archive.org/details/GNSMelaine/GNS+Melanie+Teddy+Bears.mp4 The Good Night Show, Melanie Teddy Bear Craft. (Credit to: Ryan's Re-Run Collection "Youtube")
See Also
The Good Night Show
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 (partially 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)
- The Puzzle Place (partially found PBS puppet series; 1994-1998)
- 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)
- 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)
External Links
- Random blog post discussing Noel Macneal on The Good Night Show .
- Wikipedia page on The Good Night Show.
References
- ↑ Network tries to make TV a parent's bedtime friend. Retrieved 12 Sep '22
- ↑ Multichannel article about GNS season 2. Retrieved 18 Feb '20
- ↑ Multichannel article about Melaine being fired. Retrieved 18 Feb '20
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 NYTimes Article from August 5th, 2006 explaining the Melanie Martinez Controversy in greater detail. Retrived 21 Apr '22
- ↑ Archived SproutOnline page from Oct 23rd, 2006 with information about Noel MacNeal as host on The Good Night Show. Retrieved 21 Apr '22
- ↑ Archived page of the Sprout Online website dating back to July 3rd, 2006 which lists the majority of Melaine Martinez's episodes (among other info). Retrieved 18 Feb '20
- ↑ Noel Macneal's Instagram post with a clip of his version of The Good Night Show. Retrieved 5 Sep '20
- ↑ Noel Macneal's Resume. Retrieved 6 Sep '20