Zoobilee Zoo is a children's television series featuring actors dressed as animal characters that originally aired from 1986 to 1987. It continued to run in syndication until 2000 on several television channels including commercial network television stations, public television stations, The Learning Channel, and the Hallmark Channel. The original 65 episodes are currently owned by Hallmark Properties and were produced by WQED Pittsburgh. Hosted by Ben Vereen, the show centers 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 centers around the main characters, called Zoobles, 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.
Sandey Grinn as Bill Der Beaver in all but 2 episodes, who likes to invent and fix stuff.
Michael B. Moynahan as Lookout Bear, who enjoys adventuring and travel.
Gary Schwartz as Bravo Fox, an Ed Wynn-like showman who encourages the talents of theatre and acting.
Louise 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.
Michael Sheehan as the original Bill Der Beaver in 2 episodes. When Sheehan decided to leave the show for other interests, he was replaced by Sandey Grinn.
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. Feelwell
In addition, Grinn, Schwartz and Vallance have also played some minor characters. Schwartz played the gorilla in "A Camping We Will Go" 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. In 1992, The Learning Channel picked up the show as part of its Ready Set Learn lineup for preschoolers. 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.
