The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss

The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss is an American live-action/puppet television series based on characters created by Dr. Seuss, produced by The Jim Henson Company. It aired from October 13, 1996, to December 28, 1998, on Nickelodeon. It is notable for its use of live puppets with digitally animated backgrounds, and in its first season, for refashioning characters and themes from the original Dr. Seuss books into new stories that often retained much of the flavor of Dr. Seuss' own works.

The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss
Genre
Created byDr. Seuss (characters)
Based onThe Works of Theodor Geisel
Directed byDavid Gumpel
Creative directorEd Eyth
Presented by
Starring
Narrated by
Theme music composerJoe Caroll, Hal J. Cohen and David Steven Cohen
Opening theme
  • Wubbulous Feet
  • Come on Along
Ending theme
  • Wubbulous Feet (Season 1, instrumental)
  • Come on Along (Season 2, instrumental)
ComposersJoe Caroll, Mark Gray, Peter Thom, Steve Klapper, Hal J. Cohen, Zina Goldrich and David Steven Cohen
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes40
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Jonathan C. Meath
  • David Gumpel
Running time30 minutes
Production companyJim Henson Productions
DistributorThe Jim Henson Company
Release
Original networkNickelodeon
Audio formatDolby Surround
Original releaseOctober 13, 1996 (1996-10-13) 
December 28, 1998 (1998-12-28)

Format

In many respects seasons one and two of the program are very different shows. The two seasons have completely different intro and outro credit sequences and songs reflecting their differing orientations. The virtual settings seen in this show are created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

Season One

Each episode is a self-contained story based on Dr. Seuss characters such as Yertle the Turtle and Horton the Elephant. The unifying element is that the stories are introduced and commented on by The Cat in the Hat (performed by Bruce Lanoil) who serves as host of the show. Occasionally The Cat in the Hat himself appears in the episode, reprising his role as a bit of a trickster, as in his original eponymous books (ex. episode 1.6: "The Simplifier").

Season one is notable for hewing closely to many of the themes of the original Dr. Seuss stories which were surreal and often had a strong moral overtone. As a result, some episodes have distinctly dark or sinister elements which, like some Dr. Seuss books, may not be appropriate for younger children.[1]

Season Two

For season two the show was reworked along the lines of a more traditional children's program. The Cat in the Hat (now voiced by a much less gravelly sounding Martin P. Robinson) lives in a playhouse with his Little Cats A through Z and the often flustered Terrence McBird (performed by Anthony Asbury). Aside from the residents of the house there are usually visitors based on Dr. Seuss characters. Each episode revolves around a theme (such as family, health, art) and features one or two songs about the theme. The action shifts between The Cat in the Hat and what is going on in his playhouse and shorter related story interludes, which he shows to the audience by means of his "Wubbuloscope." These story vignettes take place in various locations like:

  • Seussville – A contemporary city where Sarah Hall Small and her family lives.
  • Jungle of Nool – A jungle that is home to Horton the Elephant, Morton the Elephant-Bird, Jane Kangaroo, Junior Kangaroo, Yertle the Turtle, the Wickershams, and the Sneels.
  • Kingdom of Didd – A Renaissance-like kingdom which is ruled by King Derwin.
  • Mount Crumpitt – Home of the Grinch and his dog, Max.

The tone of season two is much lighter, no doubt the result of bringing in a number of comedic writers such as Adam Felber and Mo Rocca. The Cat in the Hat is no longer a trickster and instead has assumed the role of a friendly and enthusiastic host who is helpful, nurturing and sweet. Although this revised format only lasted one season before the show ended, the format was recognizably previously featured in Jim Henson Productions' next children's program Bear in the Big Blue House which was aired on Disney Channel.

Characters

Main

  • The Cat in the Hat – (performed by Bruce Lanoil in Season 1 and Martin P. Robinson in Season 2) – The main character and host of the series. He starts out as a trickster, then becomes a more nurturing host.
  • The Little Cats – They debuted in The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
    • Little Cat A (performed by Kathryn Mullen in Season 1 and Leslie Carrara-Rudolph in Season 2) – Seen as one of the Cat in the Hat's sidekicks.
    • Little Cat B (performed by Stephanie D'Abruzzo) – Seen as one of the Cat in the Hat's sidekicks.
    • Little Cat C (performed by John Kennedy) – Seen as one of the Cat in the Hat's sidekicks.
    • Little Cat F (performed by Pam Arciero) – Seen in Season 2 at the Cat in the Hat's playhouse.
    • Little Cat N (performed by Pam Arciero) – Seen in Season 2 at the Cat in the Hat's playhouse.
    • Little Cat P (performed by Tim Lagasse) – Seen in Season 2 at the Cat in the Hat's playhouse.
    • Little Cat S (performed by Stephanie D'Abruzzo) – Seen in Season 2 at the Cat in the Hat's playhouse.
    • Little Cat Z (performed by Anthony Asbury) – Seen in Season 2 at the Cat in the Hat's playhouse. He is the smallest of all.
    • Little Cat Fleep (performed by Kevin Clash) - An indifferent little cat who only speaks in fleeps.
  • Terrence McBird (performed by Anthony Asbury) – A bird that joins the main cast in Season 2.

Supporting

Minor

  • Mayor Stovepipe ( performed by Kathryn Mullen) - The mayor of suessville who appeared in season 1.
  • Matthew Katroom (performed by Anthony Asbury) – A boy who is a resident of Seussville and is good friends with Sarah Hall Small.
  • The Birthday Bird (performed by John Kennedy) He appeared from Happy Birthday to You! He Lives in Katroo and loves birthdays.
  • Sally Spingel-Spungel-Sporn (performed by Camille Bonora in "The Muckster" and Stephanie D'Abruzzo in "Max the Hero" and "Horton Has a Hit") – She is a News reporter who came from The Cat in the Hat Song Book.
  • King Derwin (performed by Anthony Asbury) – The King of the Kingdom of Didd who came from The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.
  • Princess Tizz (performed by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) – The daughter of King Derwin.
  • Norval the Fish (performed by John Kennedy) – Norval would appear in different roles in the show. Around Season 2, Norval would work as an advisor to the King Derwin of the Kingdom of Didd.
  • Milo (performed by John Kennedy) – A boy who resides in the Kingdom of Didd and serves as King Derwin's page.
  • The Yapper-Nap (performed by John Kennedy) – A monster likes to takes nap in Seussville.
  • Snark (performed by Fran Brill) – A pink bird that appears and lives in the Jungle of Nool. She is seen in Season 2. Snark is a recycled version of Shirley from The Muppet Show.
  • Sneels (performed by Kathryn Mullen, Heather Asch, Bruce Lanoil and Stephanie D'Abruzzo) – A race of green and pink furry creatures that live in the Jungle of Nool. They were previously used as background cave creatures in Fraggle Rock, but had different eyes here.
  • Mick Maputo Bird (performed by Anthony Asbury) – An Elvis Presley-themed bird that lives in the Jungle of Nool who is also seen in season 2. He sings "Out in the Jungle" in the episode "The Cat in the Hat's Indoor Picnic."
  • Lester McBird (performed by Joey Mazzarino) - Terrence McBird's twin brother who is very sensitive towards things he doesn't like and speaks in an upper English accent.

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
120October 13, 1996 (1996-10-13)August 17, 1997 (1997-08-17)
220March 9, 1998 (1998-03-09)December 28, 1998 (1998-12-28)

Season 1 (1996–97)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
11"The Gink"David GumpelBelinda WardOctober 13, 1996 (1996-10-13)105
22"Who Are You, Sue Snue?"David GumpelAnnie Evans (s)
Will Ryan (t)
October 20, 1996 (1996-10-20)106
33"The King's Beard"David GumpelWill RyanOctober 27, 1996 (1996-10-27)103
44"The Song of the Zubble-Wump"David GumpelDavid Steven CohenNovember 3, 1996 (1996-11-03)101
55"The Guest"David GumpelCarin Greenberg Baker (s) & Craig Shemin
Will Ryan (t)
November 10, 1996 (1996-11-10)107
66"The Simplifier"David GumpelLou BergerNovember 24, 1996 (1996-11-24)[2]102
77"The Snoozer"John LeoDavid CohenNovember 17, 1996 (1996-11-17)[3]108
88"Mrs. Zabarelli's Holiday Baton"John LeoCraig SheminDecember 15, 1996 (1996-12-15)104
99"The Mystery of Winna-Bango Falls"Scott PrestonAlan Neuwirth & Gary CooperJanuary 5, 1997 (1997-01-05)109
1010"Almost There"David GumpelCraig SheminFebruary 2, 1997 (1997-02-02)111
1111"Oh, The People You'll Meet"John LeoWill RyanFebruary 9, 1997 (1997-02-09)110
1212"The Blag-Bludder Beast"David GumpelPhil LollarMarch 2, 1997 (1997-03-02)112
1313"The Muckster"David GumpelBill MarsilliMarch 23, 1997 (1997-03-23)[4]113
1414"Norval the Great"David GumpelWill RyanMarch 30, 1997 (1997-03-30)114
1515"Max the Hero"Scott PrestonDavid CohenJuly 13, 1997 (1997-07-13)115
1616"The Road To Ka-Larry"John LeoCraig Shemin & Will RyanJuly 20, 1997 (1997-07-20)116
1717"Yertle the King"John LeoPhil LollarJuly 27, 1997 (1997-07-27)117
1818"Horton Has a Hit"David GumpelBill MarsilliAugust 3, 1997 (1997-08-03)118
1919"The Birthday Moose"David NebelWill Ryan & Craig SheminAugust 10, 1997 (1997-08-10)119
2020"The Grinch Meets His Max / Halfway Home to Malamaroo"David GumpelCraig Shemin, Will Ryan & David CohenAugust 17, 1997 (1997-08-17)120

Season 2 (1998)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
211"The Cat in the Hat Takes a Nap"David NebelStephanie SimpsonMarch 9, 1998 (1998-03-09)
222"The Cat in the Hat Cleans Up His Act"David GumpelAdam FelberMarch 10, 1998 (1998-03-10)
233"The Cat in the Hat's Big Birthday Surprise"David GumpelStephanie SimpsonMarch 10, 1998 (1998-03-10)[5]
244"The Sounds All Around"David GumpelAdam FelberMarch 11, 1998 (1998-03-11)
255"Make Yourself at Home"David GumpelStephanie SimpsonMarch 11, 1998 (1998-03-11)[6]
266"The Cat in the Hat's Flower Power"Emily Squires & David GumpelStephanie SimpsonMarch 21, 1998 (1998-03-21)
277"The Feed You Need"David GumpelAdam FelberMarch 28, 1998 (1998-03-28)
288"The Cat in the Hat's First-First Day"David GumpelJay MartelApril 5, 1998 (1998-04-05)
299"The Cat in the Hat Gets a Package"David GumpelJay MartelApril 12, 1998 (1998-04-12)
3010"The Cat in the Hat's Indoor Picnic"Emily Squires & Rick VelleuMo RoccaApril 19, 1998 (1998-04-19)
3111"A Bird's Guide to Health"David GumpelAdam FelberApril 26, 1998 (1998-04-26)
3212"The Cat in the Hat Builds a Door-a-Matic"David GumpelAdam FeblerMay 2, 1998 (1998-05-02)
3313"A Bird's Best Friend"David GumpelAdam FeblerJune 9, 1998 (1998-06-09)
3414"The Cat in the Hat's Art House"Emily SquiresMo RoccaJuly 16, 1998 (1998-07-16)
3515"Lester Leaps In"Emily Squires & Kathryn MullenAdam FelberAugust 23, 1998 (1998-08-23)
3616"There Is Nothing to Fear in Here"Emily Squires & Kathryn MullenMarcello PiconeSeptember 30, 1998 (1998-09-30)
3717"Talkin' with the Cat"Kathy Mullen & Emily SquiresMo RoccaOctober 7, 1998 (1998-10-07)
3818"Walkin' with the Cat"Kathy Mullen & Emily SquiresMo RoccaNovember 14, 1998 (1998-11-14)
3919"The Cat in the Hat Helps a Friend"Kathy Mullen & Emily SquiresMo RoccaNovember 21, 1998 (1998-11-21)
4020"Cat's Play"Stephanie SimpsonJerry KupferDecember 28, 1998 (1998-12-28)

Puppeteers

  • Bruce Lanoil – The Cat in the Hat (1996–1997), Fox in Socks (1996–1997), Alonzo, Announcer, Aunt May, Barney Balaban, Big Nosed Whozit, Big-Bottomed Rumpit, Bob the King of the Wickershams, First Mate, Grandpa Mullally, Green-Tufted Sneel (in "Yertle the King"), The Grinch's Singing Voice (in "The Guest"), Haji, The Hum-Bleeper, King Noogle of Nug, Larry Nooly, Little Wimpy Guy (puppetry only), Mayor's Servant, Money Whozit, Morton's Pink Friend, Mr. Webley, Newsboy, Onlooker #2, Pa Blozzit, Ronald Q. Clark, Singing Classmate in Play, Subscription-Selling Whozit, Tiger, Uncle Dutter, Unhappy Man, The Wickershams, Zander, Zauber
  • Martin P. Robinson – The Cat in the Hat (1998), Civil Servant #1, Civil Servant #2, Civil Servant #5, Civil Servant #6, The Milk, The Old Man, Goober the dog, Paul Hall Small, Friver McGee, Flying dog, Oven
  • Anthony Asbury – Terrence McBird, Little Cat Z, The Grinch, Yertle the Turtle, Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, Matthew Katroom, King Derwin, Mr. Hall Small, 8th Birthday Glurk, Bald Eagle with Toupee, Bullfrog, Charlie, Dad Tidbiddle, Footman, Gink, Grandpa Jacob Kangaroo, Little Guy in Machine, Mick Maputo Bird (in "The Cat In The Hats Indoor Picnic), Morris Nooly, Morton's Purple Friend, Mrs. Zabarelli, Onlooker #3, The Royal Herald, Singing Classmate in Play, Uncle Bocks, Uncle Schmeeze, Voice from Globe, Waldo F. Sterling, The Wickershams
  • Stephanie D'Abruzzo – Little Cat B, Little Cat S, Jane Kangaroo, Max the Dog (1998), Pam-I-Am, Sarah Hall Small, Admiral Abigail Breeze, Annie DeLoo, Backup Singer, Bunny, The Cheese, Civil Servant #4, Daisy-Head Mayzie, Dolores Nooly, Dr. Gazeat, Elise, Eskimo Kid, Fiona Phish, Goofy Gargaloof, Green-Tufted Sneel, Happy Announcer, Heather Tidbiddle, Iguana from Xanadu, Lady Fretibula, Lady from "Up With Folks", Lulu, Ma Blozzit, Mandy, Megan Mullally, Mom Jalloo, Morton's Yellow Friend, Mrs. Dorfman, Nola Nicola Raphaella Miraldo, Poodle That Doodles, Sally Spingel-Spungel-Sporn (in "Max the Hero" and "Horton Has a Hit"), Space Creature, Sue Snue, Tallullah, The Travel Poohbah, Web-Footed Batula, White-Tuffted Floozle Bird
  • John E. Kennedy – Little Cat C, Horton the Elephant, Mr. Knox, Norval the Fish, Sam-I-Am, Felix Finkledooper, Milo, Alvin, Announcer, Armand, Backup Singer, The Birthday Bird, Celli, Delivery Bird, Downer Than Down Whozit, Earl, Flitzpizzle, The Grinch (assistant in "The Guest" and "There is Nothing to Fear in Here"), Hairy, Herbie Tidbiddle, Horace P. Riddley, Irish Setter, Julian Jeremy Jaroo Jalloo, King Lindy of Lime, Little Wimpy Guy (voice), Man from "Up With Folks", McZuff, Money Whozit, Mr. Dorfman, Muckster, Narrator, Nervous Whozit, Raffle Ticket-Selling Kid, Rock Singer, Royal Archer, Singing Lion, Spaceman, Thaddeus, Uncle Docks, Uncle Dutter (assistant), Uncle Norton the Elephant, The Wickershams, Yapper-Nap
  • Kathryn Mullen – Little Cat A (1996–1997), Junior Kangaroo (1996–1997), Max the Dog (1996-1997), Morton the Elephant Bird (1996–1997), Aunt Mertle, Babs Balaban, Backup Singer, Civil Servant #3, Daisy's Mom, Disgusted Guest, Down Whozit, Eliza Jane Dorfman, Finnegan, Gertrude, Hopwood, Mayor Stovepipe, Molly Livingood, Mom Tidbiddle, Money Whozit, Mrs. Orissa Buttons, Onlooker #1, Number One, Phone Operator, Pink-Tufted Sneel, Princess Mindy, Queen Regina of Ka-Larry, The Sandwich, Singing Classmate in Play, Squirrel, The Teacher, Tubby Tarbaloot, Verma
  • Leslie Carrara-Rudolph – Little Cat A (1998), Morton the Elephant Bird (1998), Princess Tizz, Mrs. Hall Small, Grandma Hall Small, Grox, Sadie the dog
  • Tim Lagasse – Little Cat P, Fox in Socks (1998), Junior Kangaroo (1998), Annoying Greebles, Ben, Bunky Balaban, The Clam, Eskimo Kid, The Grinch's Right Hand Puppeteer (in "The Song Of the Zubble Wump"), Mr. Moriarty Seagoin Eccles, Old Man Time, Scotty, Sid Spider, The Speaker, Smooch Smooch the pooch, Weasel from Sleezeldoo, Mink, Dormouse
  • Pam Arciero – Little Cat F, Little Cat N, Lulu's Dog, Zubble-Wump, snake
  • Bill Barretta – Uncle Berklummer, Picnic bug
  • Joey Mazzarino – Elwood the Jester (in "The King's Beard"), Lester McBird (in "Lester Leaps In")
  • Vicki Eibner - Puffy the cat (in "Cats Play"), Snooty Bird
  • Heather Asch - Sneels, Ariana (in "Mrs. Zabarelli's Holiday Baton")
  • Nikki Tilroe - Civil Servant #7, Poochie the poodle
  • Brian Muehl - Binkham Tamino McDoyal the third
  • Camille Bonora – Sally Spingel-Spungel-Sporn (in "The Muckster")
  • Jim Kroupa – Annoying Greebles, Dad Jalloo, Doily-Cart, Mr. Wimpletwerp, Space Creature, Zippedy Quick
  • Jerry Nelson – Snoozer
  • John Tartaglia – Bird ( in "The Kings Beard"), Delivery Man
  • Kevin Clash – Little Cat Fleep
  • Fran Brill - Snark

Home video releases

The series was never systematically issued to home video on either VHS or DVD. Current DVD releases contain three episodes per disc and are a mix of episodes from the first and second seasons.

In 2015, the whole series was released on DVD from Shock Entertainment in Australia.

Syndication

Nickelodeon aired the series from October 13, 1996, to 1998, with reruns airing until January 22, 2000.

Starz Kids & Family began carrying reruns of the series in 2018.

Reception

The show received mixed reviews. The humor and writing were praised, but some criticized the virtual backgrounds.

Later appearances

  • The puppet used for Annie DeLoo was later used for Billy in episode 17 of Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony and later used in Puppet Up! alongside the Flitzpizzle and another Whatnot from this show.
  • Each of the Whozits have appeared as different characters in Mopatop's Shop.
  • The puppet used for one of the Wickershams used for Nascount Greasemonkey from Episode 4154 of Sesame Street.
  • The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss is currently airing reruns on Semillitas and Starz Kids.

References

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