View source for Barney & Friends

{{Distinguish|Barney (British TV series)}}
{{Short description|American children's television series}}
{{pp-move|small=yes}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Barneylogo.png
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
* [[Children's television series]]
* [[Educational television|Educational]]
* [[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]
* [[Musical film|Musical]]
}}
| creator              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sheryl Leach]]<ref name="Hofmeister">{{cite news|title=A Blue Year for the Purple-and-Green Dinosaur|work=The New York Times|date=October 20, 1994|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/20/business/a-blue-year-for-the-purple-and-green-dinosaur.html|access-date=August 14, 2010|first=Sallie|last=Hofmeister}}</ref>
* [[Kathryn O'Rourke Parker|Kathy Parker]]
* [[Dennis DeShazer]]
}}
| voices               = {{Plainlist|
* [[Bob West]]
* [[Duncan Brannan]]
* Tim Dever
* [[Dean Wendt]]
* [[Julie Johnson (actress)|Julie Johnson]]
* Patty Wirtz
* [[Michaela Dietz]]
}}
| opentheme            = "Barney Theme Song"
| endtheme             = "Barney's Dilemma" (1992–2000)<br>"Barney Theme Song" (instrumental) (2002–2010)
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* Philip Parker (1990–1999)
* Bob Singleton (1990–2000)
* Joe Phillips (1996–2009)
* Holly Doubet<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nunn |first=Brittany |date=29 November 2021 |title=Dallas-Produced Musical 38 MINUTES Tells a First-Hand Story of the Hawaiian Missile Crisis |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/dallas-produced-musical-38-minutes-tells-a-first-hand-story-of-the-hawaiian-missile-crisis-12912152 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Dallas Observer |language=en}}</ref>
*Angelo Natalie<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laguarda |first=Ignacio |date=2023-05-13 |title=As a young composer, this Stamford man penned songs for 'Barney.' At 71, he's getting his music degree. |url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/stamford-man-wrote-barney-friends-graduate-71-18095989.php |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=StamfordAdvocate |language=en-US}}</ref>
}}
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 14
| num_episodes         = 268
| list_episodes        = List of Barney & Friends episodes and videos
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sheryl Leach]] (1988–1998)
* Kathy Parker (1988–1993)
* Dennis DeShazer (1988–2002)
* Randy Dalton (2002–2005)
* Karen Barnes (2006–2009)
}}
| location             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Allen, Texas]] (1992–1993; 2000–2001)
* [[Irving, Texas]] (1994–2000)
* [[Carrollton, Texas]] (2002–2009)
}}
| runtime              = 30 minutes (1992–2005, 2008–2009)<br />15 minutes (2006–2007, 2010)
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[The Lyons Group]]
* [[Connecticut Public Television]] (1992–2006)
* [[Lyrick Studios]] (1994–2000)
* [[HIT Entertainment]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Richard Leach; Bankrolled Creation of 'Barney' Dinosaur|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 2, 2001|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-02-me-5526-story.html|access-date=September 9, 2010}}</ref> (2002–2010)
* [[WNET|WNET New York]] (2008–2010)
}}
| network              = [[PBS]]<ref>{{cite news|title=A Cable Challenger for PBS As King of the Preschool Hill|work=The New York Times|date=March 21, 1994|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/21/business/a-cable-challenger-for-pbs-as-king-of-the-preschool-hill.html|access-date=August 14, 2010|first=Bill|last=Carter}}</ref>
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1992|04|06}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2010|11|02}}
| related              = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[Barney & the Backyard Gang]]''
* ''[[Barney's World]]''
}}
| based_on             = {{Based on|''[[Barney & the Backyard Gang]]''|Sheryl Leach|Kathy Parker}}<ref name="Hofmeister"/>
}}
'''''Barney & Friends''''' is an American [[children's television series]] created by [[Sheryl Leach]] targeted at children ages 2 to 5. The flagship production of [[Barney (franchise)|the ''Barney'' franchise]], it originally aired on [[PBS]] through the [[PBS Kids]] block from April 6, 1992 to November 2, 2010, although new videos were still released on various dates after the last episode aired. It features and stars Barney, an [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] purple ''[[tyrannosaurus|Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, huggable and [[optimistic]] attitude.<ref>{{cite news|title=TELEVISION VIEW; Of Dinosaurs Why Must This One Thrive?|work=The New York Times|date=April 11, 1993|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/11/arts/television-view-of-dinosaurs-why-must-this-one-thrive.html|access-date=August 14, 2010|first=James|last=Gorman}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Stuuuupendous!|magazine=Time|date=December 21, 1992|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977303,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812192203/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977303,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2010|access-date=August 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dinosaur Is a Star, Spreading Love With Hugs, Kisses, Songs|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 3, 1993|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-03-ca-18599-story.html|access-date=August 24, 2010|first=Daniel|last=Cerone}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Barney the launching pad |work= Los Angeles Times|date=January 30, 2009|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-30-et-barney30-story.html|access-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref> Reruns aired on Sprout from 2005 to 2015, and from December 17, 2018 to January 25, 2020 on Sprout's successor network, [[Universal Kids]], until the latter's closure on March 6, 2025. On October 6, 2015, the series was initially renewed for revival with a new season to premiere in 2017, but that never came to fruition.<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter">{{cite news |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=2015-10-06 |title=MIPCOM: 'Barney & Friends' Set for Relaunch by Mattel, 9 Story |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mipcom-barney-friends-set-relaunch-829728 |access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> A CGI-animated series ''[[Barney's World]]'' aired on [[Cartoon Network]]'s [[Cartoonito (American programming block)|Cartoonito]] on October 18, 2024, and streamed on [[HBO Max]] on October 14, 2024.<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=February 13, 2023 |title=Barney the Dinosaur Gets Relaunch from Mattel |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/barney-the-dinosaur-reboot-1235322332/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |date=September 4, 2024 |title="Barney's World" to Premiere Monday, October 14 on Max |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240904628462/en/ |access-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref>

While popular with its intended audience, ''Barney & Friends'' drew severe negative reaction from adults, who [[Anti-Barney humor|mocked the title character]] in popular culture through song parodies, comedy routines such as being beaten up by [[NBA]] star [[Charles Barkley]] on a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' episode,<ref name=WJTMitchell>{{cite book | chapter-url=http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/532046.html | first=W.J.T. | last=Mitchell | author-link=W. J. T. Mitchell | title=The Last Dinosaur Book: The Life and Times of a Cultural Icon | chapter=Chapter 37: Why Children Hate Dinosaurs | publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] | year=1998 | isbn=0-226-53204-6 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/lastdinosaurbook00mitc }}</ref> and even the [[United States Army]] using music from the children's show to psychologically torture and interrogate Iraqi [[Prisoner of war|prisoner of wars]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-05-20 |title=Sesame Street breaks Iraqi POWs |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3042907.stm |access-date=2025-11-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History and development==
''Barney & Friends'' was created by [[Sheryl Leach]] of [[Dallas]], Texas.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barney! Barney! He's Kid Dinomite|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=December 10, 1992|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/12/10/barney-barney-hes-kid-dinomite/|access-date=September 9, 2010|first=Michael A|last=Lev}}</ref> She came up with the idea of a children's program after noticing that her son outgrew ''[[Wee Sing#Wee Sing Together (1985)|Wee Sing Together]]'',<ref>{{cite book|title=Women Entrepreneurs Only: 12 Women Entrepreneurs Tell the Stories of Their Success|isbn = 9780471324393|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c2L0av6Ga94C&pg=PA5|last1 = Wakin|first1 = Edward|last2 = Ericksen|first2 = Gregory K.|last3 = Young|first3 = Ernst|date = April 26, 1999| publisher=John Wiley & Sons }}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/h23AW1bCy0A Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190512011033/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h23AW1bCy0A Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=The Dinosaur Sensation: The History of Barney – Episode 1 (Barney's Beginnings)|website = [[YouTube]]| date=April 21, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h23AW1bCy0A}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and then recognizing that there were no videos to appeal to her son. Leach then brought together a team who created a series of home videos, ''[[Barney & the Backyard Gang]]'', initially released in 1988. The first three videos starred actress [[Sandy Duncan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Young Children Scream|work=The New York Times|date=December 3, 1992|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/03/garden/why-young-children-scream.html|access-date=August 14, 2010|first=Carol|last=Lawson}}</ref>

One day in 1991, the daughter of [[Connecticut Public Television]] executive Larry Rifkin rented one of the videos and was "mesmerized" by it. Rifkin thought the concept could be developed for PBS. Rifkin thought Barney had appeal because he was less neurotic than [[Big Bird]]. He pitched it to CPTV president Jerry Franklin, whose preschool son also fell in love with it. Franklin and Rifkin pitched the idea to all of their colleagues with preschoolers, and they all agreed that kids would love a ''Barney'' show. Franklin and Rifkin convinced Leach to let CPTV revamp the concept for television.<ref name=CTMag>{{cite news|url=http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/April-2013/CPTV-Celebrates-50-Years-Present-at-the-Creation|title=CPTV Celebrates 50 Years: Present at the Creation|last=Grandjean|first=Pat|publisher=Connecticut Magazine|date=April 2013}}</ref> The show debuted as ''Barney & Friends'' in 1992.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dinosaur 'Barney' to Join PBS Gang|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 6, 1992|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-06-ca-387-story.html|access-date=August 24, 2010|first=Lynne|last=Heffley}}</ref> The series was produced by CPTV and [[Lyrick Studios]] (later bought by [[HIT Entertainment]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Barney is far from extinct|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 28, 2008|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-mar-28-et-barney28-story.html|access-date=September 9, 2010|first=Lynne|last=Heffley}}</ref>

Although the show was a runaway hit, PBS initially opted not to provide funding beyond the initial 30-episode run. When Rifkin and other CPTV executives learned this, they wrote letters to their fellow PBS member stations urging them to get PBS to reconsider. The Lyons Group, meanwhile, sent out notices through the Barney Fan Club, telling parents to write letters and make phone calls to their local PBS stations to show their support for ''Barney & Friends''. By the time of the yearly member stations' meeting, station executives across the country were up in arms over the prospect of one of their most popular shows being canceled. Faced with an atmosphere that Rifkin later described as "like an insurrection", PBS ultimately relented.<ref name=CTMag/>

For several years, the show was taped at the Color Dynamics Studios facility at Greenville Avenue & Bethany Drive in [[Allen, Texas]], after which it moved to The studios at [[Las Colinas]] in [[Irving, Texas]], and then [[Carrollton, Texas|Carrollton]], a suburb of Dallas. The series was produced by [[WNET]] from 2006 to 2010.

==Episode format==
===Opening sequence===
The episodes open with the theme song (over clips from various episodes) and the title card before it dissolves into the school (in seasons 1–6) or park (in seasons 7–14). The children are seen doing an activity, occasionally relating to the episode's topic. They eventually cause Barney to come to life from a plush doll, transforming into the "real" Barney, how he appears in the children's imaginations. Beginning in season 9, Barney's transformation occurs in a clip at the end of the theme song.

===Main sequence===
Here, the main plot of the episode takes place. Barney and the children learn about the main topic of the episode, with Baby Bop, BJ, and/or Riff appearing during the episode and numerous songs themed relating to the subject featured in the series. The roles of Baby Bop, BJ, and Riff have grown larger in later seasons and later episodes venture outside of the school to other places within the neighborhood, and in season 13, to other countries around the world.

===Closing sequence===
Barney concludes with the song "I Love You", then the children say goodbye to him and leave. Barney dissolves back into his original stuffed form and winks at the viewer(s). The first story in season 10–11 episodes end with the characters singing "A Friend Like You" instead and Barney remaining alive.

The sequence transitions to ''Barney Says'' (in seasons 1–8 and 12 only) where Barney, who is off-screen, narrates what he and his friends had done that day, along with still snapshots from the episode. Barney ends the segment in seasons 1 and 2 by saying "I love you!" before the credits roll. In seasons 3–8 and 12, the segment ends with a pre-recorded clip of Barney saying, "And remember, I love you!" and waving goodbye.

=={{anchor|Cast and Crew}}Characters and cast==
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2015}}

===Dinosaurs===
* [[File:Barney show in Qatar (4340543390).jpg|thumb|Barney, the titular character]]{{vanchor|Barney}} (voiced by [[Bob West]] 1992–2000, and [[Dean Wendt]] 2001–2010;<!--Not cited to Purple Tales--> people who wore the Barney suit included [[David Joyner (actor)|David Joyner]] 1991<ref>{{cite web|author=Ramirez, Marc|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/pop-culture/2018/01/25/where-s-barney-now-actor-who-played-purple-dinosaur-a-tantric-sex-therapist/|title=Where's Barney now? Actor who played purple dinosaur a tantric sex therapist |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=January 25, 2018|access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>-2001<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-guy-who-played-barney-the-dinosaur-now-runs-a-tantric-sex-business/|author=Sager, Rebekah|title=The Guy Who Played Barney the Dinosaur Now Runs a Tantric Sex Business|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|date=2018-01-23|access-date=2020-06-11}}</ref> and Carey Stinson<ref name=GiggyPurpletales>{{cite web|author=Giggy, Sean|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/purple-tales-the-stories-and-secrets-behind-barney/287-8efc1aea-7574-4d31-87b5-36cc3f1829a5|title=Purple Tales: The stories and secrets behind Barney|work=[[WFAA]]|date=March 14, 2019|access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>): The titular character is an anthropomorphic purple and green ''[[Tyrannosaurus]]'' in stuffed animal likeness, who comes to life through the children's imagination. His theme song is "Barney is a Dinosaur", whose tune is based on "[[Yankee Doodle]]". Barney often quotes things as being "Super dee-duper". Episodes frequently end with the song "I Love You", sung to the tune of "[[This Old Man]]". Despite being a [[carnivorous]] type dinosaur, Barney does not have a carnivore's fearsome teeth. He likes many different foods such as fruits and vegetables, but his main favorite is a [[peanut butter and jelly sandwich]] with a glass of milk.
* {{vanchor|Baby Bop}} (voiced by [[Julie Johnson (actress)|Julie Johnson]]): An anthropomorphic green ''[[Triceratops]]'', who was originally two years old, but turned three in the episode "Look at Me, I'm 3!". Baby Bop has been on the show since her debut in "Barney in Concert" on July 29, 1991. She wears a pink bow and pink [[ballet slippers]] and often carries a yellow [[security blanket]]. She sings the song "My Yellow Blankey" to show how much her security blanket means to her. She likes to eat [[macaroni and cheese]] and [[pizza]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.universalkids.com/shows/barney-and-friends|title=Barney & Friends &#124; Universal Kids|website=www.universalkids.com}}</ref> She is the younger sister of BJ.
* {{vanchor|BJ}} (voiced by Patty Wirtz): A seven-year-old anthropomorphic yellow ''[[Protoceratops]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/third-dinosaur-joins-cast-of-barney/article_dd210080-1f8b-5157-8018-d7667e22122f.html|title=THIRD DINOSAUR JOINS CAST OF 'BARNEY'|website=Buffalo News|date=September 14, 1993 }}</ref> BJ has been on the show since September 27, 1993. He is the older brother of Baby Bop, whom he frequently calls "sissy" and occasionally calls by her name. He sings "BJ's Song" about himself. He wears a red [[baseball cap]] and red sneakers. He lost his hat in the episode "Hats Off to BJ!". Pickles are his favorite food and he has tried them in various ways, such as on pizza.
* {{vanchor|Riff}} (voiced by [[Michaela Dietz]]): A six-year-old{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} anthropomorphic orange ''[[Hadrosaurid|Hadrosaur]]'', who is Baby Bop and BJ's cousin, Riff has been on the show since September 18, 2006. He wears green [[Sneakers (footwear)|sneakers]]. His theme music is "I Hear Music Everywhere". Riff loves music and it is in almost everything he does. In the episode "Barney: Let's Go to the Firehouse", it was revealed that Riff also likes to invent things; he created a four-sound [[smoke detector]] (the first three were different alarm sounds and the final one his voice). He is shown to have an interest in [[marching band]]s and [[parade]]s.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

===Adults and children===
The adults and children on the show often appear as teachers, storytellers, or other characters.

====Multiple appearances====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Role
! Actor
! Description and Appearances 
|-
| [[Mother Goose]]
| style="white-space:nowrap;"|Sandy Walper, Michelle McCarel,<br />Julie Johnson
| The rhyme master herself appears in the episodes "Let's Help Mother Goose", "Honk! Honk! A Goose on the Loose", "A Little Mother Goose", "Barney's Big Surprise", and "Mother Goose/Fairy Tales".
|-
| Stella the Storyteller
| Phyllis Cicero
| Stella travels all around the world, collecting new stories to tell Barney and friends, among other people. She appeared in several episodes from seasons 3 to 6 but reappeared in the video ''The Best of Barney'', where she gave Barney a photo album of his friends over the years she made herself. After she finishes a story and when she says goodbye in every foreign language, she says her catchphrase "Toodles!" before closing the door.
|-
| [[Tomie dePaola]]
| Himself
| The famous children's author is also a good friend of Barney and usually meets his friends in the episodes he appeared in, which are "Picture This", "It's Raining, It's Pouring", and "Oh Brother, She's my Sister".
|-
| Mom
| [[Sandy Duncan]]
| Michael and Amy's mother in the first three ''Barney & the Backyard Gang'' videos.<br>Duncan also appeared as Molly the Mermaid in ''A Day at the Beach''.
|-
| Dad
| Bob Reed
| Michael and Amy's father in the first three ''Barney & the Backyard Gang'' videos.
|-
| Mr. Boyd
| Robert Sweatmon
| His full name is Grady Boyd and he has a niece named Colleen and a dog named Bingo. He worked as a musician in "Classical Cleanup", "Barney's Band", "Come Blow Your Horn!" and "Play Piano with Me!", a janitor in seasons 3 to 6 and a park keeper in seasons 7 and 8. He later reappeared in ''The Best of Barney''.
|-
| Colleen
| Claire Burdett
| Colleen is Mr. Boyd's niece, who comes to town for a visit and is introduced to Barney and the Children. She is a congenital amputee born without her right hand, as is her actress. She appeared in two episodes, "A New Friend!" and "A Perfectly Purple Day".
|-
|Linda
|Adrianne Kangas
|Linda is Chip's younger sister who appeared in Seasons 5–6, as well as two home videos.
|-
| David
| Robert Hurtekant
| David is a boy in a wheelchair who appeared at the beginning of two episodes: "Falling for Autumn!" and "Shawn and the Beanstalk".
|}

===Puppets===
A lot of puppets appeared in many seasons. The most notable puppets were:
* Scooter McNutty, a brown [[squirrel]] (seasons: 4–6, 1997–2000) performed and voiced by [[Todd Duffey]]
* Miss Etta Kette, a purple [[bird]] (seasons: 4–6, 1997–2000) performed and voiced by [[Brice Armstrong]]; Armstrong also voiced Beauregard the Cat in the video ''It's Time for Counting''.
* Booker T. Bookworm, an orange [[worm]] with interests in books (season 5: 1998–1999) performed and voiced by Earl Fisher

===Children===
<!-- Do not add more children to the cast, only notable ones. -->

Throughout the series' run, over 100 children have appeared in the series, with most of them from the [[Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex]].{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} Only a small portion of these actors have made notable appearances in media since their roles, including:
* [[Danielle Vega]]: played Kim in seasons 4–6
* [[Demi Lovato]]: played Angela in seasons 7–8
* [[Selena Gomez]]: played Gianna in seasons 7–8
* [[Peyton Alex Smith]]: played Jamal in season 10
* [[Debby Ryan]]: played Debby in season 10
* [[Madison Pettis]]: played Bridget in season 10
* [[Jaren Lewison]]: played Joshua in seasons 12–13

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Barney and Friends episodes|label1 = List of ''Barney and Friends'' episodes}}

{{:List of Barney and Friends episodes}}

==Airings==
Other than the United States, the series has aired in Canada, Mexico and Latin America, France, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Japan (on English-based DVDs under the name "{{Nihongo|Let's Play with Barney in English!|バーニーと英語であそぼう！|Bānī to Eigo de asobō!}}" and on television as simply "{{Nihongo|Barney & Friends|バーニー&フレンズ|Bānī ando Furenzu!}}"), the Philippines, Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. Australian based company and distributor [[Endemol Australia|Southern Star]] handled non-US rights to the series from the mid-'90s<ref name="kidscreen.com">{{Cite web|url=https://kidscreen.com/1996/12/01/17403-19961201/|title=Special Report – MIP' Asia: southern star brings nonviolent and educational shows}}</ref> until 2001 when HIT revoked the deal after acquiring Lyrick Studios.<ref name="c21media.net">{{Cite web|url=https://www.c21media.net/news/hit-takes-barney-off-southern-star/|title = Hit takes Barney off Southern Star}}</ref>

Two known co-productions of ''Barney & Friends'' have been produced outside of the US. The Israeli co-production {{langx|he|החברים של ברני}} ''Hachaverim shel Barney'' (The Friends of Barney) produced from 1997 to 1999 in [[Tel Aviv]], Israel, was the first of these. Rather than dubbing the original American episodes in seasons 1 to 3, the episodes were adapted with a unique set and exclusive child actors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Barney Doesn't Wear a Yarmulke|publisher=Jerusalem Report|date=December 25, 1997|first=Janine|last=Zacharia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Precker, Michael|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/06/08/the-purple-dinosaur-arrives-in-israel/|title=The purple dinosaur arrives in Israel|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|date=June 8, 1998|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref> The second co-production was broadcast in South Korea from 2001 to 2003 on [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]] (under the name "바니와 친구들" (''Baniwa Chingudeul'' (Barney and Friends))). This one, however, adapted the first six seasons (including the first three that the Israel co-production did).

As of 2025, various episodes are available on an official [[YouTube]] channel,<ref>{{Cite web |title=⭐ NEW Videos from Barney and Friends ⭐ |url=http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7p22HOpmUgVtQ3TnWoqtAyAcbq9Yw64T |access-date=2025-07-26 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref> and several episodes from Seasons 7 to 14 are available on streaming platforms including [[Tubi]], [[The Roku Channel]], [[Pluto TV]], and [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barney & Friends |url=https://tubitv.com/series/300006778/barney-friends |access-date=2025-07-26 |website=Tubi |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Barney & Friends {{!}} The Roku Channel {{!}} Roku |url=https://therokuchannel.roku.com/browse/w.bjYRmy1Gv2HJoB0w9Y4jhar2yxokwzSdLdkJN8plhQN6q179gVu985zpyWepfaY3gN3l9xiABBMAwoZmCbLK6jgQeJiK106NDQ4Vc2ar6318dwIxZbJJd2V7iw7ozNd5RlHqvayQdvAzHJLekJP3djULGl2VmKBWslzxa74eYoFyrVR6ZPNZFl3kwk5lZ9fjrj8YyBN6/barney-and-friends |website=[[The Roku Channel]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://pluto.tv/us/on-demand/series/6182ff1f7ac0a1001a121d9d/season/10 |title=Watch Barney and Friends Season 10 Free {{!}} Pluto TV |language=en |access-date=2025-07-26 |via=pluto.tv}}</ref><ref>[https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/tv/barney-and-friends/6158842826059401112 https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/tv/barney-and-friends/6158842826059401112/]</ref>

==Music==
The show's theme song was "I Love You", with original lyrics sung to the melody of the [[public domain]] song "This Old Man". The new lyrics were written for the melody in 1982 by [[Indiana]] homemaker Lee Bernstein for a children's book titled "Piggyback Songs" (1983), and these lyrics were adapted by Barney producers in the early 1990s, without knowing the words had been written by Bernstein. Upon discovering the usage of her lyrics, Bernstein retained lawyer Daniel Glavin who negotiated with Barney producers for writing credit and royalties, reported as a one-time payment of $7,500 plus $2,000 "every several years." In 1994 when Barney-related licensing was bringing in an estimated $50&nbsp;million for the Lyons Group, Bernstein sought a higher royalty payment in court.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/01/05/even-barney-has-to-face-the-music/ |title=Even Barney Has To Face The Music |last=Zorn |first=Eric |date=5 January 1993 |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.deseret.com/1994/5/2/19106575/monster-of-a-battle-to-be-waged-over-barney-s-song/ |title=Monster of a Battle to be Waged over Barney's Song |last=Marshall |first=John |date=2 May 1994 |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |agency=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref>

The song was among those used by interrogators at [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]] to coerce detainees. A US soldier told ''[[Newsweek]]'': "Trust me, it works. In training, they forced me to listen to it for 45 minutes. I never want to go through that again."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3042907.stm|title=BBC NEWS – Middle East – Sesame Street breaks Iraqi POWs|work=bbc.co.uk|date=May 20, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hann |first=Michael |date=2003-05-21 |title=No, not the Barney song! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/may/21/familyandrelationships.comment |access-date=2025-06-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In 2018, Emily Writes of ''[[The Spinoff]]'' wrote: "I don’t know any kids who watch it these days but I do know [...] that a shit load of parents continue to be haunted by the ''Barney'' theme tune."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writes |first=Emily |date=2018-06-15 |title=The worst mother fluffing kids TV theme tunes on this Godforsaken planet |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/parenting/15-06-2018/the-worst-mother-fluffing-kids-tv-theme-tunes-on-this-godforsaken-planet?amp= |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=The Spinoff |language=en}}</ref>

Demi Lovato and [[Jimmy Fallon]] performed a [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] cover of the song in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=2016-03-18 |title=Flashback: Demi Lovato, Fallon Sing Metal 'Barney' Theme |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-demi-lovato-jimmy-fallon-sing-metal-cover-of-barney-theme-236412/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

A majority of the albums of ''Barney & Friends'' feature [[Bob West]] as the voice of Barney; however, the recent album ''The Land of Make-Believe'' has [[Dean Wendt]]'s voice.{{Cn|date=June 2025}}

The United States and United Kingdom Armies has used music from Barney the Dinosaur - along with music from [[Sesame Street|''Sesame Street'']] and [[Metallica]] - to psychologically torture and interrogate Iraqi [[Prisoner of war|POWs]], by causing sleep deprivation and culturally offend the POWs by playing the music.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-05-20 |title=Sesame Street breaks Iraqi POWs |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3042907.stm |access-date=2025-11-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Recipient !! Result
|-
| 1993|| Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Series || Sheryl Leach, Kathy Parker, Dennis DeShazer|| {{nom}}
|-
| 1993 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series || Stephen White, Mark S. Bernthal|| {{nom}}
|-
| 1994|| Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Live and Tape Sound Mixing and Sound Effects || Ron Balantine, David M. Boothe || {{nom}}
|-
| 1994 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Series || Sheryl Leach, Kathy Parker, Dennis DeShazer|| {{nom}}
|-
| 1996 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series || Sheryl Leach, Dennis DeShazer, Jim Rowley || {{nom}}
|-
| 1998 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lighting Direction || Ken Craig, Murray K. Campbell || {{nom}}
|-
| 1998 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Sound Mixing || Ron Balantine, David M. Boothe, Gary French || {{nom}}
|-
| 1999 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Directing || Jim Rowley, Fred Holmes, Steve Feldman || {{nom}}
|-
| 1999 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound Mixing || Ron Ballantyne, David M. Boothe, Gary French || {{nom}}
|-
| 2000 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound Mixing || Ron Ballantyne, David M. Boothe, Gary French || {{nom}}
|-
| 2001 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound Mixing || Ron Ballantyne, David M. Boothe, Gary French || {{won}} (tied with ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (American game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire]]'')
|-
| 2003 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Sound Mixing – Live Action and Animation || Patrick Sellars, Neal Anderson || {{nom}}
|-
| 2006 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Directing || Jim Rowley, Fred Holmes, Steve Feldman || {{nom}}
|-
| 2008 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling || Lisa Odette Albertson, Traci Hutton, Lyle Huchton || {{nom}}
|-
| 2009 || Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling || Lisa Odette Albertson, Traci Hutton, Lyle Huchton || {{nom}}
|-
|}

==Reception and legacy==
{{further information|Anti-Barney humor}}
Several people have concluded that episodes contain a great deal of age-appropriate educational material, including [[Yale University]] researchers Dorothy and Jerome Singer, who called the program a "model of what preschool television should be".<ref>[http://www.iptv.org/kids/grownups/resources/ResearchItem10.cfm IPTV] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125215459/http://www.iptv.org/kids/grownups/resources/ResearchItem10.cfm|date=January 25, 2007 }}</ref> Others have criticized the show for a lack of educational value, as well as being repetitive.<ref>{{cite news|title=Advertising; Barney's Image Gets Makeover For New Crop Of Toddlers|work=The New York Times|date=August 12, 2002|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/12/business/advertising-barney-s-image-gets-makeover-for-new-crop-of-toddlers.html|access-date=August 14, 2010}}</ref>

The show is often cited as a contributing factor to the perceived sense of entitlement seen in [[millennials]], who grew up watching the show.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c92-60DlXOUC&q=barney%20the%20trophy%20generation&pg=PA248|title=The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy|publisher=Broadway Books|year=1997|isbn=9780767900461}}p. 248</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/12/10/melliennial-barack-obama-ent-manage-cx_sb_1209berglasmillennial.html|title=Entrepreneurship (Or Lack Thereof) In Millennials|author=Berglas, Steven|work=Forbes|date=December 10, 2008|access-date=July 20, 2015}}</ref> One specific criticism is:
{{blockquote|His shows do not assist children in learning to deal with negative feelings and emotions. As one commentator puts it, the real danger from Barney is "denial: the refusal to recognize the existence of unpleasant realities. For along with his steady diet of giggles and unconditional love, Barney offers our children a one-dimensional world where everyone must be happy and everything must be resolved right away."<ref>[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=11217210197395702980 Lyons Partnership v. Ted Giannoulas, 179 F.3d 384, 386 (5th Cir. 1999)], citing Chava Willig Levy, "The Bad News About Barney", ''Parents'', Feb. 1994, at 191–92 (136–39).</ref><ref name="Levy">{{cite web|author1=Chava Willig Levy|title=The Bad News About Barney (Parents Magazine, February 1994)|url=http://www.chavawilliglevy.com/in_print-articles-bad_news_barney.php|website=chavawilliglevy.com|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205184435/http://www.chavawilliglevy.com/in_print-articles-bad_news_barney.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

In 1992, the ''Barney'' franchise generated {{US$|500 million|long=no}} in retail sales.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Doug |date=14 December 1993 |title=Godzilla shows Barney bad side of dinosaur life |pages=21 |work=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/574179616/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

The creator and performer of the [[San Diego Chicken]] mascot, Ted Giannoulas, called Barney a "ubiquitous and insipid creature" in a 1999 court case.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lyons Partnership, Plaintiff-appellant, v. Ted Giannoulas, Doing Business As Famous Chicken; Tfc, Inc.,defendants-appellees, 179 F.3d 384 (5th Cir. 1999) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/179/384/546627/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Halberstadter |first=David |date=March 2003 |title=But It's a Joke! Balancing the Interests of Parodists Against Copyright and Trademark Owners without Clear Guidelines |url=https://katten.com/files/18761_But%20Its%20a%20Joke.pdf |journal=IP Litigator |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Champion |first1=Walter T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=68eUAwAAQBAJ |title=Intellectual Property Law in the Sports and Entertainment Industries |last2=Willis |first2=Kirk D. |date=2014-03-28 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-39164-4 |pages=91 |language=en}}</ref>

''Barney & Friends'' ranked No. 50 on ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'s}} 2002 list of the 50 worst TV shows of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-worst-tv-shows-ever/ |title= The Worst TV Shows Ever |publisher=CBS News |date=February 11, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319012309/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-worst-tv-shows-ever/|archive-date=19 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2023}}</ref>

In a 1993 newspaper article, Jerry Franklin, the head of Connecticut Public Television, which co-produced ''Barney & Friends'' at the time, was quoted thus:

{{Blockquote|When adults say they do not like Barney, Franklin says, 'in a way, we take that as a compliment. Barney is not designed for parents, whereas ''Sesame Street'' is designed for parents and children. We made a conscious decision to make Barney simple. It is not a program for parents. Barney relates to preschoolers. We think he speaks to them at their level, which is in simple terms and with music.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/1993/03/31/barney-friends-thrills-kids-but-makes-many-parents-nauseous/|title='Barney & Friends' Thrills Kids But Makes Many Parents Nauseous|work=tribunedigital-thecourant|access-date=August 29, 2018|language=en|archive-date=August 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830041803/http://articles.courant.com/1993-03-31/features/0000103973_1_barney-friends-purple-dinosaur-but-parents-barney-s-generation-gap|url-status=live}}</ref>}}Howard Blumenthal, producer of ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (game show)|Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?]]'', said "Even the most knowledgeable people … can't really understand why that [Barney] phenomenon happened and another didn't".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Behrens |first=Steve |date=March 6, 1995 |title=What did Barney earn, and why didn't PBS get more? |url=https://current.org/1995/03/what-did-barney-earn-and-why-didnt-pbs-get-more/ |access-date=2021-05-08 |website=Current |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|author=Genzlinger, Neil|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/arts/television/the-blame-for-barney-im-a-little-guilty.html|title=The Blame for 'Barney'? I'm a Little Guilty|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2017-04-07}}
* {{cite web|author=Lender, Jon|url=https://www.courant.com/1992/06/02/pbs-pulls-funding-rug-from-under-cptvs-barney/|title=Pbs Pulls Funding Rug From Under Cptv's 'Barney'|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=1992-06-02|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015232621/https://articles.courant.com/1992-06-02/features/0000201245_1_pbs-s-vice-president-barney-friends-shining-time-station|archive-date=October 15, 2017}}
* {{cite web|author=Lev, Michael A.|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-12-10-9204220357-story.html|title=BARNEY! BARNEY! HE'S KID DINOMITE|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=1992-12-10}}
* {{cite web|author=Perez, Samara|url=https://www.click2houston.com/features/2020/05/04/made-in-texas-how-a-texas-school-teacher-brought-dinosaur-sensation-barney-to-life/|title=Made in Texas: How a Texas school teacher brought dinosaur sensation Barney to life|publisher=[[KPRC-TV|KPRC]]|date=2020-05-04}}

==External links==
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.barneyonline.com:80/|title=Barney Online}} by [[Lyons Partnership, L.P.]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060703011828/http://pbskids.org/barney/index.htm ''Barney & Friends''] on [[PBS Kids]] (U.S.)
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.hitentertainment.com/barney/index2.asp|title=Barney the Dinosaur}} at [[Hit Entertainment]]
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://lyrickstudios.com:80/html/barney.html|title=Barney & Friends}} at [[Lyrick Studios]]
* {{IMDb title|0144701}}

{{Barney & Friends}}
{{Former PBS Kids shows}}
{{Mattel}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barney and Friends}}
[[Category:Barney (franchise)]]
[[Category:1992 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2010 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1990s American children's television series]]
[[Category:2000s American children's television series]]
[[Category:2010s American children's television series]]
[[Category:1990s American music television series]]
[[Category:2000s American music television series]]
[[Category:2010s American music television series]]
[[Category:1990s preschool education television series]]
[[Category:2000s preschool education television series]]
[[Category:2010s preschool education television series]]
[[Category:American children's adventure television series]]
[[Category:American children's fantasy television series]]
[[Category:American children's musical television series]]
[[Category:American preschool education television series]]
[[Category:American television series with live action and animation]]
[[Category:American television shows featuring puppetry]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Children's television series about talking animals]]
[[Category:PBS original programming]]
[[Category:Early childhood education in the United States]]
[[Category:American television series about children]]
[[Category:Television series about dinosaurs]]
[[Category:PBS Kids shows]]
[[Category:Television series by WNET]]
[[Category:HIT Entertainment]]
[[Category:Television shows filmed in Texas]]