Top 10 Children's Programs -- #7: Bear in the Big Blue House

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This Jim Henson Television production hasn't been on TV in a little over a decade, but we have recordings of it that we still watch. It originally aired on the Disney Channel during their Playhouse Disney (now Disney Junior) time slot in 1997 and ran until 2003. The star of the show is a huge brown bear, and he shares his scenes with his friends Tutter (a small blue mouse), Ojo (a small brown bear), Treelo (a lemur?), Pip and Pop (two mischievous purple otters), and Luna (a big full moon in the sky, voiced by the late Lynne Thigpen). Bear is a giant muppet with an actor inside, much like Big Bird is on Sesame Street. The remaining characters are much smaller muppets. The show explores subjects like sharing, healthy hygiene habits (like brushing teeth and potty training), holidays and traditions, nature, and hard work while singing catchy toe-tapping tunes. The show is presented at a preschool age level, but parents can also appreciate Bear's humor and occasional Shakespeare quote.