The Dooley and Pals Show
A friendly alien teaches preschoolers through backyard adventures.
The Dooley and Pals Show is an American children's television series centered on Dooley, a friendly alien who explores Earth with neighborhood children as guides. The program is designed to teach moral values and educational basics to preschoolers. A secular version is produced by Victory Television for South Carolina ETV, while a 2002 repackaging by Wardley Investments, Ltd. added religious messages.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Children's television series; Educational
- Creator
- Mark Riddle
- Developer
- Kevin Barry, Gary Zeidenstein
- Writer
- Ken Jones, Suzanne Fitzpatrick
- Starring
- Ken Jones
- David Maida
- Michael Stevens
- Opening theme
- "Here Comes Dooley"
- Ending theme
- "Great Day"; "Here Comes Dooley" (instrumental)
- Composer
- Glenn Longacre
Facts from the source article.
Development and production
The character who would become Dooley was initially called Dinky and created by Mark Riddle and Kevin Barry in the late 1980s. They pitched the idea to several studios, including Hanna-Barbera. Riddle and Barry later partnered with Gary Zeidenstein to establish Mr. Z's Animation and Production Corp. Together with Scripps Howard Broadcasting, they produced ten pilots for a series originally titled The Dooley Show at WCET, PBS's Cincinnati station. These pilots aired on 25 PBS stations from July 15 to August 31, 1996, and won three Emmys. The original Dooley was a green lizard-like creature described in a press release as "species unknown... he's just a friend, another kid, but not from this world... he was born on a star." The pilots centered on a girl named Maxx, played by Caralyn Collar, and her six friends playing with Dooley in an attic. Other characters included Coach the barn owl, Chatter the squirrel, Polly the opossum, and Parker the bird. Maxx's grandmother and a magical mail carrier also appeared. Ken Jones voiced Dooley and also served as head writer, providing voices for Coach and Cosmos as well. Suzanne Fitzpatrick supervised development at Disney/MGM Studios, shifting Dooley from a dinosaur concept to a space boy. The secular version is syndicated to educational and PBS stations by South Carolina ETV. MGM Studios and the Walt Disney Company later purchased the show, producing it in Orlando, Florida until 2003, when production ended.
Characters
Dooley, voiced by Ken Jones and David Maida, is an alien who has landed his spaceship in a backyard on Earth. He learns about Earth's people and environment while teaching neighborhood children interpersonal skills. M.A.R.T.I.E. (Mechanical Assistant Robot That Interacts with Everyone), voiced by Michael Stevens, is Dooley's robot sidekick who often mangles words and accesses a data bank of Earth facts. Cosmos (Ken Jones) and Zoom (Michael Stevens) are a pair of fuzzy alien stowaways represented by puppets, appearing in comical interstitials that illustrate lessons. Mom, played by Ginger Lee McDermott, lives in the house where Dooley landed and offers guidance. Nick (Joshua Gangelhoff) is Mom's son and Maxx's brother. Maxx, played by Erika Brooke Bradley (and by Caralyn Collar in the original pilots), is Mom's daughter and Nick's sister. Michael (Eric Battle) is a neighborhood child. Chris (Justenn Notario) is Maxx's youngest boyfriend. Kayla (Nicole Marion) is the "new kid" who arrives in the first episode, daughter of Dr. Arvid. Ashley (Kaitlyn O'Fray) is a neighborhood child, Maxx's oldest best friend and Nick's girlfriend. Ms. Z. (Davonda Simmons) is the letter carrier who delivers Dooley's "Letter of the Day" and "Picture Pals," often introducing solutions through songs. Dr. Arvid (Arvid Edward II) is Kayla's father, a veterinarian who brings animals for the children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which network aired The Dooley and Pals Show?
The Dooley and Pals Show aired on Syndication.
How many episodes of The Dooley and Pals Show are there?
The Dooley and Pals Show has 39 episodes.
When did The Dooley and Pals Show first air?
The Dooley and Pals Show first aired on 3 April 2000.
When did The Dooley and Pals Show end?
The Dooley and Pals Show last aired on 25 May 2000.
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