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| EPISODE GUIDE CHARACTERS • MORE | |
| Premiere | 1996 |
| Network | Nickelodeon |
| Seasons | 2 |
| Episodes | 40 |
The cast of The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss in season 2
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss title card during season 2.
Jim's Red Book "The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss CG"
Behind the scenes footage
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss premiered on Nickelodeon on October 13, 1996. A revamped second season premiered on March 9, 1998.[1] The show features puppet versions of the classic Dr. Seuss characters.
Format[]
Both seasons of the show are vastly different in terms of format and tone. The first season is presented in an anthology format, featuring different stories each week featuring at least one recognizable character from the Dr. Seuss library (such as the Grinch and Horton the Elephant). The Cat in the Hat and his Little Cats served as hosts of the series, bookending each story while occasionally interfering with the events.
The second season completely changed the format of the show, with the addition of a frame storyline instead of the previous anthology. In addition to a new theme sequence, the Cat in the Hat and the Little Cats had an increased presence, with their sequences (taking place in the Cat's Playhouse, the only non-computer generated set in the show) taking up the majority of the show. Twice an episode, the Cat would consult the Wubbuloscope, where short stories feature other Dr. Seuss characters pertaining to the theme of the episode.
Production[]
The series came about when Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company handling Geisel's estate and legacy, began looking into creating a television series based on the Seuss books. Michael K. Frith, who previously worked on several Seuss books, acted as a liaison between the Jim Henson Company and the Seuss folk. A short pitch reel was created featuring a puppet version of Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose. Afterwards, the two companies collaborated on another pitch reel for Nickelodeon, which featured the Cat in the Hat (performed by Martin P. Robinson).[2]
The first season was shot at Jim Henson's carriage house in New York City.[3] The entire first season was shot entirely in front of blue and green screens and used mainly computer-generated backgrounds. The series was unique in that the CG backgrounds were animated in real-time, allowing for such things as the scenery moving as the characters moved and objects moved when interacted with.[4]
Cast[]
- Bruce Lanoil as The Cat in the Hat (season 1), Fox in Socks (season 1)
- Martin P. Robinson as The Cat in the Hat (season 2)
- Anthony Asbury as The Grinch, Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, Yertle the Turtle, Terrence McBird, Little Cat Z (season 2)
- John Kennedy as Horton the Elephant, Little Cat C, Mr. Knox, Sam-I-Am, Norval the Fish
- Kathryn Mullen as Morton the Elephant Bird (season 1), Little Cat A (season 1), Junior Kangaroo (season 1)
- Stephanie D'Abruzzo as Jane Kangaroo, Max, Little Cat B, Pam-I-Am, Sarah Hall-Small
- Leslie Carrara as Little Cat A (season 2), Morton the Elephant Bird (season 2)
- Tim Lagasse as Fox in Socks (season 2), Junior Kangaroo (season 2), Little Cat P (season 2)
Guest or background/assistant puppeteers included Pam Arciero, Heather Asch, Bill Barretta, Camille Bonora, Kevin Clash, Vicki Kenderes-Eibner, Jim Kroupa, Joey Mazzarino, Brian Muehl, Jerry Nelson, John Tartaglia, and Nikki Tilroe.
Notes[]
- The utility puppets used for the series, akin to the Anything Muppets and Whatnots, were referred to as "Whozits."[2] Some of the animal and creature puppets had previously appeared in other productions.
- As a result of a licensing agreement, all merchandise from the show required the characters originating from the existing Dr. Seuss books to be accompanied by Whozit puppets created specifically for the show (including the Gink).[2]
Credits[]
Season 1[]
- Executive Producers: Michael K. Frith, David Steven Cohen, and Brian Henson
- Produced by: Lauren Gray, Bob Stein, and David Gumpel
- Directed by: David Gumpel (12 episodes), John Leo (5 episodes), Scott Preston (2 episodes), and David Nebel (1 episode)[2]
- Writers: Lou Berger, David Steven Cohen, Gary Cooper, Annie Evans, Carin Greenberg Baker, Phil Lollar, Bill Marsilli, Allan Neuwirth, Will Ryan, Craig Shemin, and Belinda Ward
- Contributing Producer: Gregory Lehane
- Consulting Producer: Will Ryan
- Production Designer: Ed Eyth
- Music: Joe Carroll, Peter Thom, Mark Gray, Glen Daum, and John Lissauer
- Theme Song: Steve Klapper, Hal J. Cohen, and David Steven Cohen
- Puppet Captain: Kathryn Mullen
- Technical Director: Tom Guadarrama, Howard C. Rosenzweig
- Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop: Rollie Krewson, Jason Weber, Paul Andrejco, Heather Asch, April Asher, Ed Christie, Henri Ewaskio, Larry Jameson, Ron Binion, Mary Brehmer, Matthew Brooks, Barbara Davis, Carmel Dundon, Victoria Ellis, Eric Engelhardt, Patricia Farr, Joanne Green, Paul Hartis, Ann Marie Holdgruen, Jane Howell, Elena Pellicciaro, Mark Ruffin, Connie Peterson, Goran Sparrman, Kip Rathke, Jean-Guy White, Sarah Iams, Doug James, Janet Kuhl, Tim Miller, Tom Newby
- Virtual Set by Jim Henson's Creature Shop: Hal Bertram, James Gettinger, Adam S. Hawkey, Karen Halliwell, Derek Hedicker, Ivor Middleton, Kevin O'Boyle, Chas. Plummer, Eric Tenneson Rich, Liz Scully, Kathryn Wallace
- Props: Rick Velleu, James Joughin, Cindy Fain
Season 2[]
- Executive Producers: Brian Henson and Stephanie Simpson
- Produced by: Jerry Kupfer and David Gumpel
- Directed by: David Gumpel (11 episodes), Emily Squires (8 episodes), Kathryn Mullen (6 episodes), Rick Velleu (4 episodes), Jim Martin (3 episodes), Steve Feldman (2 episodes), Dean Gordon (1 episode), Anthony Asbury (1 episode)
- Writers: Michael Bernard, Alana Burgi, Adam Felber, Jonathan Greenberg, Jay Martel, Marcello Picone, Mo Rocca, and Stephanie Simpson
- Music: Bob Golden, Stephen Lawrence, and Art Labriola
- Theme Song: Bob Golden and Jack Feldman
- Puppet Captain: John Kennedy
- Executive Consultants: Alex Rockwell, Mitchell Kriegman
- Associate Directors: Jennifer Torpie, Dean Gordon, Ken Diego
- Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop: Heather Asch, Rollie Krewson, Fred Buchholz, Susan Pitocchi, Henri Ewaskio, Mark Ruffin, Ron Binion, Victoria Ellis, Rob Gardner, Mary Brehmer, Paul Hartis, Connie Peterson, Janet Kuhl, Matthew Brooks, Lara Maclean (Uncredited: Tom Newby, David Roberts, Polly Smith)[5]
- Costume Design by: Jason Weber
- Virtual Set by Jim Henson's Creature Shop: Hal Bertram
- Art Director: Chas. B. Plummer
- Virtual Set Animator: Adam S. Hawkey
- Animator/Modeler: James Gettinger
- Technical Director: Tom Guadarrama
- Lighting Designers: Alan Adelman, Mitchell Bogard
Distribution[]
Episodes of the show began to be released on home video starting in 1999.
The series has been distributed across several digital and streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Amazon Prime. In 2018, the series was syndicated on Starz and streamable on their website.
See also[]
Sources[]
- ↑ YouTube: Season 2 promo
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Craig Shemin and Stephanie D'Abruzzo on Defunctland podcast
- ↑ Jim Henson's Red Book: 4/2/1984 – ‘Bought 225 East 67th St.’
- ↑ ToughPigs interview with Kathy Mullen, part 3
- ↑ "Daytime Emmy Nominees List 3." Variety, March 11, 1999.