Zoobilee Zoo

{{about|the television series|the toyline by Spin Master|Zoobles!|the anime|Zoobles! (anime)}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Zoobilee Zoo cast photo.gif

| caption = Cast of Zoobilee Zoo

| alt = Cast of Zoobilee Zoo

| camera =

| runtime = 21–22 minutes

| creator =

| developer = Hallmark

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| presenter = Ben Vereen

| producer = Mary Jo Blue

| starring =

| narrated =

| open_theme = "Zoobilee Zoo" by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy

| end_theme = "Zoobilee Zoo"

| company = {{Plainlist|

}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| network = First-run syndication

| first_aired = {{Start date|1986|09|15}}

| last_aired = {{End date|1987|03|27}}

| num_episodes = 65 (plus three direct-to-video episodes)

}}

Zoobilee Zoo is a children's television series featuring actors dressed as animal characters that originally aired from 1986 to 1987.{{cite book |last1 = Hyatt |first1 = Wesley |title = The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television |date = 1997 |publisher = Watson-Guptill Publications |isbn = 978-0823083152 |url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofda00hyat |url-access = registration |access-date = March 22, 2020 |page = [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofda00hyat/page/487 487]}} It continued to run in syndication until 2000 on several television channels including commercial network television stations, PBS stations, The Learning Channel, and Hallmark Channel. The original 65 episodes are currently owned by Hallmark Properties and were produced by WQED Pittsburgh.

Hosted by Ben Vereen, the show revolves around a group of six creative animal friends who live in a magical land called Zoobilee Zoo. Each possess a unique artistic skill and they frequently break into song and dance.

Plot

Each episode is opened by a greeting from host Ben Vereen, dressed as a spotted snow leopard, who plays the mayor of Zoobilee Zoo. Speaking directly to viewers that he refers to as "Zoobaroos", Vereen usually appears throughout each episode to summarize the main themes or to perform a song and dance.

The plot in each episode revolves around the main characters, called Zoobles,{{cite book |first1 = Gordon L. |last1 = Berry |first2 = Joy Keiko |last2 = Asamen |title = Children and Television: Images in a Changing Socio-Cultural World |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Ra51AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA138 |date = May 25, 1993 |publisher = SAGE Publications |isbn = 978-1-4522-5374-9 |pages = 138–139}} as they play together and encounter difficulties common to young children. The primary themes are cooperation, making friends, and creativity.

Cast and characters

Each Zooble character has a certain artistic talent that shapes the way they approach different scenario:{{cite news |title = 'Zoo'—Will It Pass Syndication Test? |date = December 31, 1986 |first = Lee |last = Margulies |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-31-ca-1429-story.html |access-date = December 26, 2016 |archive-date = August 27, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190827055527/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-31-ca-1429-story.html |url-status = live}}

Sandey Grinn as Bill Der Beaver in all but 2 episodes, who likes to invent and fix stuff.
Michael Sheehan as the original Bill Der Beaver in 2 episodes. When Sheehan decided to leave the show for other interests (such as Jem), he was replaced by Sandey Grinn.
Forrest Gardner as Van Go Lion, who enjoys art.
Karen Hartman as Talkatoo Cockatoo, who enjoys reading, writing, and speech.
Michael B. Moynahan as Lookout Bear, who enjoys adventuring and travel.
Gary Schwartz as Bravo Fox, who enjoys performing.
Louise Vallance (Stevie Vallance) as Whazzat Kangaroo, the youngest Zooble who encourages kids to enjoy music and dance.
Ben Vereen as Mayor Ben, a snow leopard who stars as the host of the show explaining what kind of adventure the Zoobles will be having. Apart from the opening he rarely interacts with any of the other characters.

=Minor characters=

Roger Behr as Limerick Leprechaun and Peter Possum
Roger Peltz as Rhymin' Simon and the Genie
Crosby the Dog as Crosby
Suzy Gilstrap as Sandy
Robert Shields as Elmo the Clown
Patty Maloney as Ergo
Helen Lambros as the Witch
Vinson Crump as Vince
Norman Merrill as Dr. Feelright
Caleb Chung as Bert Backtrack

In addition, Grinn, Schwartz and Vallance have also played some minor characters. Schwartz played the gorilla in "A Camping We Will Go" (revealed in a blooper reel) and Grinn played Bravo's Vaudeville friend Charlie Google in "Vaudeville Star". Due to this, in the respective episodes, neither Bravo nor Bill appear. Vallance voiced Gilda the Tooth Fairy in "When You Wish Upon a Tooth Fairy".

Background and production

Premiering on September 15, 1986, Zoobilee Zoo was produced and directed by Steve Binder. The show's concept was developed by Hallmark Entertainment, which partnered with children's production company DIC Enterprises.{{cite web |title = The Lost Magic of 'Zoobilee Zoo' |first = Jake |last = Rossen |date = May 19, 2016 |website = Mental Floss |url = http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/80166/lost-magic-zoobilee-zoo |access-date = December 26, 2016 |archive-date = December 27, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161227055113/http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/80166/lost-magic-zoobilee-zoo |url-status = live}}

In 1992, The Learning Channel picked up the show as part of its Ready Set Learn! lineup for preschoolers.{{cite news |title = Disney offers lullabies for the toddlers while the Learning Channel prepares kids for the classroom |date = December 27, 1992 |first = N.F. |last = Mendoza |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-27-tv-4959-story.html |access-date = December 26, 2016 |archive-date = September 21, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230921130758/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-27-tv-4959-story.html |url-status = live}}

Episodes were released on a wide array of VHS tapes—the most recent series released in 1997—but not yet released to DVD. In 2000, three new direct-to-video episodes and soundtracks were released, and the stage show Zoobilee Zoo Live! toured briefly.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Reception

Zoobilee Zoo was well-received critically, but earned only modest viewer ratings. It was praised by the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. In addition, it was endorsed by the Action for Children's Television (ACT).