Barney & Friends

From TeeVeePedia, the Internet TV Encyclopedia.

Barney & Friends is the longest running and most successful children's television show on PBS. The show, which was taped in the 1960's at the dawn of PBS, starred Don Knotts (as his famous character "Barney Fife" from The Andy Griffith Show), some stagehands in dinosaur outfits, and a group of cute yet highly annoying children.

When the show initially aired, it received decidedly mixed reviews, depending on the age of the viewer. Young viewers loved Barney & Friends but adult reviewers usually ran out of the room screaming after only a few minutes, or in some cases a few seconds. Realizing that they had a possible gold mine on their hands, PBS producers quickly taped around 50 to 60 episodes (the exact number is in doubt due to editing, the effects of time on tape quality, and the fact that nobody over the age of 3 can stand to watch the show). They then aired Barney & Friends in a non-stop loop over all PBS affiliates during "Pledge Week", refusing to stop until their monetary goals were met. After reaching their goals in record time, PBS executives decided to air Barney & Friends during every pledge break, a policy that continues to this day.