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[[Image:Title.betweenlions.jpg|frame|''Between the Lions'' title card]]
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'''''Between the Lions''''' is a children's show that airs on [[PBS]] designed to promote reading skills. The basic philosophy of the program, using a family of lions running a public library, is to get kids "wild about reading." Although it is not affiliated with [[The Jim Henson Company]] or ''[[Sesame Street]]'', it does share many similar characteristics.
 
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[[Image:DancewithSmartypantsElmo.jpg|frame]]
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[[Image:DancewithSmartypantsBert.jpg|frame]]
 
'''''Between the Lions''''' is a children's puppet series that airs on [[PBS]], designed to promote reading skills. The basic philosophy of the program is to get kids "wild about reading"; this is literalized through the use of a family of lions running a library: Theo and Cleo and their children Lionel and Leona. Although it is not affiliated with [[The Jim Henson Company]] or ''[[Sesame Street]]'', it does share many similar characteristics, along with some similarities to ''[[The Electric Company]]''. It also features many cast and crew commonly involved with [[The Muppets|Muppet]] productions.
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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*Several ''Sesame Street'' Muppets made special guest appearances during the second season
*[[Big Bird]], [[Bert]] and [[Ernie]] from ''Sesame Street'' made a special guest appearance in a season two episode entitled "Tweet! Tweet!," which aired on May 1, [[2001]]. Bert and [[Elmo]] also appeared, as celebrity guests, in "Dance with Smartypants" inserts from that season. Credited guest performers were [[Caroll Spinney]], [[Steve Whitmire]], [[Eric Jacobson]], [[Kevin Clash]], and [[John Tartaglia]].
 
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:*In "Tweet! Tweet!," which aired on May 1, [[2001]], Theo and Cleo scoff at the possibility that birds and dinosaurs could be related. They change their minds when [[Big Bird]] enters the library, and introduces himself. As he leaves, the camera pans to [[Ernie]], looking up from a book on ''Humongous Duckies'', and [[Bert]], reading about ''Humongous Pigeons''. Both utter their trademark laughs.
   
 
:*Bert and [[Elmo]] also appeared, as celebrity guests, in "Dance with Smartypants" inserts from that season. Credited guest performers for the collective appearances were [[Caroll Spinney]], [[Steve Whitmire]], [[Eric Jacobson]], [[Kevin Clash]], and [[John Tartaglia]].
*Principal characters from ''Between the Lions'' joined ''Sesame Street'' and ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' characters in the "[[We Are a Family]]" music video.
 
   
 
*Principal characters from ''Between the Lions'' joined ''Sesame Street'' and ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' characters in the "[[We Are Family]]" music video.
*A [[2006]] PBS interstitial, "Star Finder," spoofes ''[[American Idol]]'' with [[Ernie]] demonstrating his rhyming skills. The judges are Theo Lion, Emily Elizabeth from ''Clifford the Big Red Dog'', and [[Oscar the Grouch]].
 
   
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*Several 2006 and 2007 PBS interstitials for the [[Ready To Learn|''Ready To Learn'' Service]] feature ''Between the Lions'' characters interacting with ''Sesame Street'' characters:
==References==
 
 
:*"Star Finder" spoofs ''[[American Idol]]'' with [[Ernie]] demonstrating his rhyming skills. The judges are Theo, Emily Elizabeth from ''Clifford the Big Red Dog'', and [[Oscar the Grouch]].
A special PSA was created for PBS' "Ready to Learn" initiatve starring Leona, a little girl lion, and her father Theo. The segment takes place outside the normal realm of the show, and instead takes place in a family living room, spoofing the sitcom genre, complete with laugh track. A brief set of credits appear under a voice over making reference to other PBS shows including ''Sesame Street''. The credits include: Camera Operator - [[Grover]]; Art Direction - [[Prairie Dawn]]; Leona's Body Double - [[Elmo Monster]]; Second, Third and Seventh Unit Director - [[The Count]]; and, Gaffer - [[Big Bird]].
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:*Another stars Leona and Theo. The segment takes place outside the normal realm of the show, and instead is set in a family living room, spoofing the sitcom genre, complete with laugh track. A brief set of credits appear under a voice over making reference to other PBS shows including ''Sesame Street''. The credits include: Camera Operator - [[Grover]]; Art Direction - [[Prairie Dawn]]; Leona's Body Double - [[Elmo|Elmo Monster]]; Second, Third and Seventh Unit Director - [[Count von Count|The Count]]; and, Gaffer - [[Big Bird]].
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:*In a ''[[Mission: Impossible]]'' spoof, [[Cookie Monster]] recives instructions from Arty Smartypants, a ''Between the Lions'' character.
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:*[[Grover]] was paired with Cleo in spoofs of ''[[Casablanca]]'' and ''[[Superman]]''.
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:*In a ''[[West Side Story]]'' spoof, Theo and Ernie sing a variation of "The Jet Song." Oscar makes a cameo.
   
 
==Connections==
 
==Connections==
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[[Image:Title.betweenlions.jpg|frame|''Between the Lions'' title card]]
*[[Pam Arciero]] plays Leona (third season on)
 
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*[[14 Karat Soul]] performed in inserts
 
*[[Pam Arciero]] plays Leona (third season and on)
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*[[India.Arie]] appeared to sing letter sounds.
 
*[[Anthony Asbury]] plays Lionel
 
*[[Anthony Asbury]] plays Lionel
 
*[[Heather Asch]] plays Click
 
*[[Heather Asch]] plays Click
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*[[Carin Greenberg Baker]] was a regular writer for the series
 
*[[Jennifer Barnhart]] plays Cleo
 
*[[Jennifer Barnhart]] plays Cleo
 
*[[Paul Benedict]] played Fay's Father in "Hay Day"
 
*[[Paul Benedict]] played Fay's Father in "Hay Day"
 
*[[Lou Berger]] co-created and served as staff writer
 
*[[Lou Berger]] co-created and served as staff writer
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*[[Cheryl Blaylock]] puppeteers various roles
*[[Tyler Bunch]] played Walter Pigeon (in the first eason) and Dr. Nitwhite
 
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*[[Lisa Buckley]] puppeteers various roles
 
*[[Tyler Bunch]] played Walter Pigeon (in the first season) and Dr. Nitwhite
 
*[[Christopher Cerf]] co-created, served as executive producer, and composed songs
 
*[[Christopher Cerf]] co-created, served as executive producer, and composed songs
 
*[[Emilio Delgado]] voiced the Ram in "The Ram in the Pepper Patch."
 
*[[Emilio Delgado]] voiced the Ram in "The Ram in the Pepper Patch."
 
*[[Sarah Durkee]] co-wrote the theme song and songs
 
*[[Sarah Durkee]] co-wrote the theme song and songs
*[[14 Karat Soul]] performed in inserts
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*[[Melissa Etheridge]] played herself in inserts
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*[[Judy Freudberg]] was a regular writer
 
*[[Michael K. Frith]] co-created the series, executive produced, and provided voices for the first two seasons
 
*[[Michael K. Frith]] co-created the series, executive produced, and provided voices for the first two seasons
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*[[Tony Geiss]] was a regular writer
*[[Paul Jacobs]] co-wrote the theme song and songs
 
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*[[Louise Gikow]] served as staff writer
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*[[James Godwin]] puppeteered various roles
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*[[Denyce Graves]] appeared as a recurring guest, singing operatic letter sounds.
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*[[Tom Guadarrama]] served as technical staff
 
*[[Paul Jacobs]] was the music director and co-wrote the theme song and songs
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*[[Larry King]] appears regularly
 
*[[James Kroupa]] puppeteers various roles
 
*[[James Kroupa]] puppeteers various roles
 
*[[Tim Lagasse]] plays Barnaby B. Busterfield and Arty Asmartypants
 
*[[Tim Lagasse]] plays Barnaby B. Busterfield and Arty Asmartypants
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*[[Sharon Lerner]] was a regular writer
 
*[[Peter Linz]] plays Theo and Heath the Thesaurus (second season on)
 
*[[Peter Linz]] plays Theo and Heath the Thesaurus (second season on)
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*[[Rick Lyon]] puppeteers various roles
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*[[Noel MacNeal]] performed Lionel in season 9 and onward.
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*[[Carmen Osbahr]] perfomed Sierra Lion in "Earl's Too Cool" and "The Goat in the Coat"
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*[[Jim Martin]] directed certain episodes
 
*[[Brian Muehl]] wrote episodes of the series
 
*[[Brian Muehl]] wrote episodes of the series
*[[Kathryn Mullen]] co-created, wrote, played Leona, and served as puppet captain for the first two seasons.
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*[[Kathryn Mullen]] co-created, directed, wrote, played Leona, and served as puppet captain for the first two seasons.
 
*[[Fred Newman]] wrote, voiced Chicken Jane and others, and appears in "Fred Says" segments
 
*[[Fred Newman]] wrote, voiced Chicken Jane and others, and appears in "Fred Says" segments
 
*[[Oliver Platt]] played himself in various segments
 
*[[Oliver Platt]] played himself in various segments
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*[[Martin P. Robinson]] plays Grandpa Lion in "Out in Outer Space"
 
*[[Al Roker]] played himself in inserts
 
*[[Al Roker]] played himself in inserts
 
*[[Marilyn Sokol]] played The Strange Old Lady in "Sausage Nose"
 
*[[Marilyn Sokol]] played The Strange Old Lady in "Sausage Nose"
 
*[[Jon Stewart]] played himself in inserts
 
*[[Jon Stewart]] played himself in inserts
 
*[[Norman Stiles]] co-created, executive produced, and served as head writer
 
*[[Norman Stiles]] co-created, executive produced, and served as head writer
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*[[Meredith Vieira]] played herself in an insert
 
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*[[Matt Vogel]] puppeteers various roles
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*[[Belinda Ward]] co-wrote some of the songs
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*[[Vanessa Williams]] played herself in inserts
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*[[Tom Whedon]] was a regular writer
   
 
{{wikipedia}}
 
{{wikipedia}}
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{{wikia|betweenthelions}}
 
[[Category:TV Appearances]]
 
[[Category:TV Appearances]]
[[Category:References]]
 

Revision as of 01:46, 5 February 2012

Tweettweet1
Tweettweet2
DancewithSmartypantsElmo
DancewithSmartypantsBert

Between the Lions is a children's puppet series that airs on PBS, designed to promote reading skills. The basic philosophy of the program is to get kids "wild about reading"; this is literalized through the use of a family of lions running a library: Theo and Cleo and their children Lionel and Leona. Although it is not affiliated with The Jim Henson Company or Sesame Street, it does share many similar characteristics, along with some similarities to The Electric Company. It also features many cast and crew commonly involved with Muppet productions.

Appearances

  • Several Sesame Street Muppets made special guest appearances during the second season
  • In "Tweet! Tweet!," which aired on May 1, 2001, Theo and Cleo scoff at the possibility that birds and dinosaurs could be related. They change their minds when Big Bird enters the library, and introduces himself. As he leaves, the camera pans to Ernie, looking up from a book on Humongous Duckies, and Bert, reading about Humongous Pigeons. Both utter their trademark laughs.
  • Several 2006 and 2007 PBS interstitials for the Ready To Learn Service feature Between the Lions characters interacting with Sesame Street characters:
  • "Star Finder" spoofs American Idol with Ernie demonstrating his rhyming skills. The judges are Theo, Emily Elizabeth from Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Oscar the Grouch.
  • Another stars Leona and Theo. The segment takes place outside the normal realm of the show, and instead is set in a family living room, spoofing the sitcom genre, complete with laugh track. A brief set of credits appear under a voice over making reference to other PBS shows including Sesame Street. The credits include: Camera Operator - Grover; Art Direction - Prairie Dawn; Leona's Body Double - Elmo Monster; Second, Third and Seventh Unit Director - The Count; and, Gaffer - Big Bird.
  • In a Mission: Impossible spoof, Cookie Monster recives instructions from Arty Smartypants, a Between the Lions character.
  • Grover was paired with Cleo in spoofs of Casablanca and Superman.
  • In a West Side Story spoof, Theo and Ernie sing a variation of "The Jet Song." Oscar makes a cameo.

Connections

Title

Between the Lions title card

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