Bear tours his new home with his pals. One morning, Bear finds Ojo playing pretend, having created a tent that's she's pretending is her home. Her imaginary home gets him thinking about his real home, the Big Blue House. He decides to take us all on a guided tour of the home. He takes us to the kitchen, which we learn is Tutter's favorite room. The bathroom is the favorite haunt of Pip and Pop. Treelo likes Bear's bedroom, mainly because of the bed. Shadow retells the story of the little old lady who lived in a shoe. Finally, Bear also enjoys going up to the attic, because he gets to talk there each night with his friend Luna, the moon. Songs ■(It's) Great to Be at Home ■No Place Like My Bedroom Notes ■Pip and Pop perform their short bath song to the tune of the classic opera song La donna è mobile. ■This being the first episode, Bear's asking of Luna if she'll sing the "Goodbye Song" is a bit different than other episodes. He asks her if she'll sing a goodbye song with him, rather than the "Goodbye Song." A subtle difference in phrasing to note that this is a routine that is being established. ■This episode, as the premiere, features the first use of the opening theme, "Welcome to the Blue House" and the "Goodbye Song." There are also two other original songs "(It's) Great to Be at Home" and "No Place Like My Bedroom." The first song is Track 11 on the album Songs from Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House and is titled simply "Great to Be at Home" on that album. It is Track 4 on the first Playhouse Disney album and is titled "It's Great to Be at Home" on both that album and the closing credits for this episode. ■This episode includes a brief real-kids segment in which kids talk about their homes (or fantasize about them.)
Bear and his friends are interacting with water in this episode --- be it real or imaginary. Ojo, for example, is pretending to sail a ship in the living room. Pip and Pop join her in the fun. Bear contemplates some questions of his about water --- just what shape it is and why it's so wet. He finds Tutter in the kitchen trying to get some water of his own. He's trying to build something to make his way to the sink, but Bear helps him by giving him a lift. Bear also finds Treelo in the bathtub playing with bubbles. When the bubbles start to overflow, Bear has him pull the plug, but he's worried he'll go down the drain. Bear assures him that the drain is only for water (and bubbles). In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells the story of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider". Songs ■Oh, Water, Water, Water ■Need a Little Help Today Notes ■This episode includes a brief segment in which real kids talk about some of the shapes that water takes on. These include raindrops, drops from a sprinkler and waves. ■Tutter uses various boxes in his attempt to construct something to help him reach the faucet. Some of the boxes being used are Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and Nabisco's Ritz Bits. The letters of the brand's name on the boxes are somewhat obscured to prevent Trademark and Copyright Information.
Today is Tutter's birthday, and the friends in the Big Blue House decide to throw him a special surprise birthday party. Pip and Pop are placed in charge of the decorations, but run into trouble with the balloons. All the noise attracts Tutter, but Bear manages to head him off with our help. Tutter learns that having a birthday means becoming a year older. He speculates on all the great things he'll be able to do while he's older. Ojo works on the cake and Treelo wraps Tutter's present. Treelo, though, gets so excited about the birthday that at first he wants to keep the present for himself. Songs ■When I'm Older ■Happy, Happy Birthday Notes ■A big deal is made about Tutter's present in this episode, but viewers never find out what it is. ■Luna is so old that she doesn't remember when her birthday is. ■Shadow does not appear in this episode. The time normally spent on her story is taken up by Tutter's birthday party. ■The events of this episode were the basis for the stage show Bear in the Big Blue House Live: Surprise Party. This stage show no longer tours, but is available on video. ■The "Happy, Happy Birthday" song is listed as simply "The Birthday Song" in the closing credits. Additionally, the closing credits run longer than usual.
Tutter is excited because Bear has promised to bring him a box, but he's getting a bit impatient at the wait. Viewers learn that the box is a rectangle and that there are shapes all around. They also find out that everyone has their own unique shape --- something that Ojo, Pip and Pop learn when they become shape explorers. Treelo also learns about shapes when Bear plays with him in a "tent" he made out of a bedsheet. Shadow also pays Bear a visit and tells a story of a very special shape --- a star. Songs ■Me, I'm the Shape of the Bear (and Reprise) ■Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Notes ■When Ojo is playing with her blocks, she sings "Heigh-ho. Heigh-ho. I love my blocks, you know." This is a play on "Heigh-ho. Heigh-ho. It's off to work we go" --- lyrics from the song "Heigh-Ho" in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. ■The Bear-only version of the song in this episode is Track 18 on the album Songs from Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House. On the album it is titled simply "Shape of a Bear," but on the credits at the end of the episode, it is listed as "Me, I'm the Shape of the Bear."
While Bear gets ready for his Woodland Workout with Pip and Pop, he stops at Ojo and Treelo playing doctor. Tutter is trying to put his cheese in his mouse-hole and Bear tells Tutter to have quiet time. Except Pip and Pop did the workout without him. Bear is excited and ready to do his Woodland Workout at the Otter Pond. When he heads into the living room, he finds Ojo and Tutter, who give him a pretend checkup. They diagnose him with "big bear-itis," but give him just the right medicine to feel better. As he heads into the kitchen to leave the Big Blue House, he comes upon Tutter, grunting and groaning. He discovers that Tutter is tired from trying store cheese in his mousehole for the winter and advises him to take "quiet time." Reluctant at first, Tutter eventually takes the advice. When Bear learns that Pip and Pop went ahead with the workout themselves due to his lateness, he ends up taking some quiet time himself. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of the five little monkeys jumping on the bed. Songs ■Picture of Health ■Quiet Time and Reprise ■The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha
On a nice day at the Big Blue House, Bear is doing some gardening and friends are playing together quietly. At least, they were, until Ojo and Treelo have a disagreement when Treelo wants to play with Ojo's favorite stuffed toy Snow Bear. Bear suggests a way they could both play together. Meanwhile, Tutter has created a large sandwich and Pip and Pop want to have some. Tutter, however, thinks that he can eat it all himself. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of Baa Baa Black Sheep. Songs * Always Something to Share * Clean Up the House Notes * This episode was adapted in book form as Two Can Share, Too. * The closing credits run unusually long. At the end of the closing credits, the dog in the Shadow Projects logo quacks like a duck. * This episode includes a brief Real Kids segment in which some kids talk about things that they share. * It is revealed that Bear had his own Snow Bear when he was a kid.
Pip and Pop invite Bear to the Otter Pond for a game of catch, but he keeps getting distracted by other events in the Big Blue House. Ojo and Treelo are pretending to fly and it gets Bear thinking about gravity and things that fly. When Ojo takes a fall and hurts herself, however, after trying to fly for real, Bear has to tell her that bears and kids can't fly, no matter how hard they try. He also helps Tutter to use gravity to get eggs into his mouse hole. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of Humpty Dumpty. Songs Gravity (Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek)
It's fall / autumn in the Big Blue House. Treelo asks Bear to come into the living room, where Ojo is standing completely still. She's pretending to be a tree and so Treelo and Bear join and pretend to be an entire forest. When the leaves start falling off for all, Treelo begs for them not to go and Bear realizes that Treelo doesn't understand about why the leaves are falling off. As Bear begins hunting for Treelo, he comes upon Tutter, who's pushing a pumpkin into his mousehole. Bear helps him to push the pumpkin and learns that fall is Tutter's favorite season because it's a time when everything changes. He's making pumpkin pie this year and he promises Bear a special something. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells the story of "Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater" and also gives Bear a tip to help find Treelo. He eventually finds Treelo with Pip and Pop, trying to glue leaves back onto trees. He explains to Treelo that the leaves fall off to make way for new leaves in the spring and Treelo realizes that nothing is wrong with the leaves after all. Songs Falling for Fall Notes This episode includes a brief segment in which real kids discuss what they love best about the fall. Much it involves leaves --- leaves falling, changing color, throwing leaves, jumping in them and making collages with them. Other favorites include wearing sweaters and jackets, it not being so hot and eating apples.
One morning, Bear steps just outside the Big Blue House to check the mail. There's plenty of mail, but Pip and Pop are disappointed to learn there's none for them. Bear cheers them up by letting them deliver the mail to everyone and personally takes a letter to Tutter --- his first ever. It's from his Grandma Flutter and he's very pleased to receive it. Pip and Pop deliver a package to Treelo, which turns out to contain a feather. Tutter decides to write a letter back to his Grandma. Ojo also receives mail --- a postcard from her Uncle Koala. Shadow tells a story of a girl who wrote a letter, but lost it. Songs "What's in the Mail Today?" Dear Grandma Notes The first song in this episode, "What's in the Mail Today?" is Track 2 on the album More Songs from Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House. The second, "Dear Grandma" is Track 4 on the album Songs from Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House The first song is listed in the closing credits of the episodes without a question mark and the second is titled "Dear Grandma Flutter" in the credits. "What's in the Mail Today?" is sometimes heard in a shortened form in later episodes. The version on the album contains additional lyrics and a backup choir not heard on the TV version. There is no mention of Jeremiah Tortoise in this episode, but as the Woodland Valley mailman, he will become an important figure later in the series. This episode appears in most online listings with neither a comma nor a question mark in the title.
Bear feels like dancing and everyone else in the Big Blue House is dancing too. Bear would really like to dance the cha cha cha, but his friends would like to show him their dances as well. Bear is feeling great, so great that he rather wants to dance. His favorite dance is the cha-cha-cha, but he finds that the kids of the Big Blue House are dancing as well. Bear finds Ojo dancing a dance created herself --- a variation on the flamenco called the "flamingo." When Bear turns on the radio in his room, but leaves to go find his maracas, Treelo comes in and dances. Bear's search leads him to the kitchen, where he finds Tutter taking a nap in the dish rack. Tutter tells Bear that he has "no rhythm, no beat," but Pip and Pop arrive to school him in dancing. Shadow sings a song about a dancing teddy bear. Songs "Dancing the Day Away" "The Otter Dancing School" "The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha" Notes "The Otter Dancing School" is listed as "Otter Rap" in the closing credits.
After Bear finds coupons for the market, he decides to take everyone in the Big Blue House to the market. He runs into an unexpected delay when he finds out that Ojo has decided to repaint the wagon. Bear teaches her all about mixing paint to create different colors, Treelo admires all of his own colors in the mirror, and Bear plays fashion consultant when Tutter can't decide what color outfit would be best to wear to the market. Songs What's in the Mail Today? Some of the Colors I See Notes The events of this episode were loosely adapted as the book Bear Loves Colors! Tutter shows off his tendency to shout out names of cheeses as if they were epithets in this episode. He shouts out the names of no less than three different cheeses (cheddar chunks, brie and gorgonzola) when he gets upset over being unable to decide what to wear to the market.
Things you can do with dirt. Planting a tree; digging for buried treasure; sweeping; making mud. Songs Why Can't the Dirt Just Leave Me Alone? Notes Adapted as the book Dirt is Delightful!
Ojo has formed an orchestra and has invited everyone in the Big Blue House to participate. Viewers are invited to participate too as Bear and the kids hold a concert out at the Otter Pond. Ojo is the orchestra "constructor," and Pip and Pop are using pot and pan lids for cymbals. As Bear searches for his kazoo, he comes across Treelo and asks for his help. When Treelo spots a radio, he turns it on and starts singing and dancing to music. He then goes off to create his own instrument. Bear finds his kazoo and also finds that Tutter wants to play the clarinet, but it's too big for him. Bear helps Tutter to come up with another way to participate in the orchestra. In the Shadow segment, Shadow presents the tale of the cat and the fiddle. Songs Everywhere There's Music Hey, We Can Play Notes Tutter says that he received his clarinet from the Klutter Tutters. This performing musical trio consisted of his Auntie Klutter Tutter, cousin Skitter Tutter and Uncle Nutter Tutter.
Bear, along with his friends, Ojo, Pip & Pop, Treelo and Tutter, teach us about the different kinds of 'connections' - from ojects including zippers, hinges and telephone wires, to relationships between siblings and friends.
It's a hot summer day and Bear and everyone else in the Big Blue House are taking it easy. Bear receives a checkers set in the mail and plays checkers with both Pip and Pop and Treelo. To his surprise, they win handily, despite never having played the game before. They seem to have developed a wild move to take all of Bear's checkers in a single flurry of jumps. Pip and Pop also beat the heat by hanging out at the Otter Pond. They're later joined by Ojo, Treelo and Bear, but Tutter has own way of staying cool. He's created his very own Club Tutter in the kitchen, using the sink as a swimming pool. Songs In the Middle of the Summer Notes Bear states in this episode that his favorite drink is wild berry soda. Tutter, on the other hand, enjoys a "cheesarita." The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits makes a "beep beep" noise like a car honking its horn.
Tutter receives a letter in the mail that his Grandma Flutter is paying a visit to the Big Blue House. Bear informs Tutter that the letter says she's coming today, which sends Tutter into something of a panic. His Grandma likes for things to be clean, but Tutter doesn't feel there's enough time to get ready. Everyone in the Big Blue House helps Tutter to make a go of it. They clean up the house, Tutter cleans out his mousehole, and Pip and Pop weed the flowerbeds with Ojo's help. Having all gotten dirty, they take a bath. But then, Bear does the cha-cha-cha and Tutter joins, leaving him all hot and sweaty. Grandma Flutter arrives and Tutter learns she's just happy to see him. He even finds out some things he never knew about her before. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells the story of "Hickory Dicky Dock," about the mouse who went up the clock. Songs Clean Up the House The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha Notes This episode was adapted in book form as A Surprise in the Mailbox. Bear comments that Grandma Flutter's letter must have been delayed in the mail. This is no surprise, as viewers later learn that the mail in Woodland Valley is delivered by a tortoise named Jeremiah. In the fourth-season episode, "A Strange Bird," Bear learns that a penguin named Puck is coming to the Big Blue House when he finds a two-week old postcard at the post office. The closing credits refer to this episode as including the songs "What's In The Mail Today?" and "Everybody in the Tub." However, these two songs are heard only in brief instrumental forms.
On a cold winter day, Bear puts on his nightcap and decides to take a nice winter's nap. However, it would seem that others in the Big Blue House have other plans for Bear. Ojo comes to Bear in alarm --- concerned about the sudden disappearance of her duck friends from the Otter Pond. Bear makes her a cup of cocoa and tells her about migration. Treelo takes Bear outside, telling him there's feathers falling from the sky. Bear introduces him to the delights of snow. Bear finally settles down for the nap, but is woken up by Pip and Pop. They take him outside, where all the kids have a special surprise for him. Tutter's been trying to take a nap too, but with all the noise, he finds himself just as awake as Bear. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tries to help Bear get to sleep. She sings "Rockabye Baby." Songs In the Middle of Winter Notes In this episode, Ojo talks about her duck friends out at the Otter Pond. Duck characters were first seen on the program in the third season, with the introduction of Harry and his Mom in "Lost and Found."
It's time for Bear to go to work, and a bear's work is berry-picking. He invites the viewers to join him as he locates his berry-picking bucket and hunts for berries to fill it, including strawberries, boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries and huckleberries. Before he finds his bucket, he finds Ojo and Treelo playing in the living room. Their game has come to a halt, as Ojo is tired of Treelo pretending to be a baby. Bear helps her to find something new to play and shows her how Treelo can still be the baby in the new game. Bear learns about Tutter's work, which includes cleaning up his mousehole and shopping for cheese. Shadow sings the song "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and gives Bear a tip as to where to find his berry-picking bucket. Later, after Bear finishes his work, Bear talks with Pip and Pop and helps them to see that they too did work today. Songs Workin' Like a Kid Everybody in the Tub Notes This episode deals with work. A later episode from the fourth season, "A Trip to the General Store," deals with the idea of money and spending. Bear's work is berry-picking, but whether he makes any profit from it (or if it in some way supports the continued operation of the Big Blue House) remains unclear.
Bear has just gone inside the Big Blue House for some relaxing swinging in the living room in the kitchen. Ojo, however, is soon there to remind Bear of a promise he made. She's very hungry and Bear had promised to make her his "incredible banana berry whole-wheat pancakes with maplely syrup." So Bear heads to the kitchen to get cooking, and Ojo offers to help out. She goes to get Snow Bear and soon after, Pip and Pop join in the cooking. Tutter and Treelo appear soon after and Tutter's a bit annoyed with Treelo for taking him flying through the trees. Still, they join in the preparation as well --- Bear has them set the table. Tutter disagrees with Treelo as to how to fold the napkins, but Bear gets them working together on a new way to do it. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings the song "Muffin Man." In her version, however, the Muffin Man is a super treat that's able to fly into your mouth (with a little help.) Songs Magic in the Kitchen Clean Up the House
Spring has sprung! And everyone in the Big Blue House has spring fever, Pip & Pop help Bear do his spring cleaning; Tutter and Ojo plant seeds in their garden; while Treelo is just bursting with excitement and energy.
Bear, along with his friends, Ojo, Pip & Pop, Treelo and Tutter, teach us about the many things that grow. Pip & Pop plant a see and wait, while Tutter tries on his baby clothes realizing they don't fit because he's grown a lot.
Bear and his friends, Ojo, Pip & Pop, Treelo and Tutter prepare for a picnic. They all decide on the different foods to bring, including clams, cheese sandwiches and bananas - a little something for everyone.
Bear hears a shout coming from the kitchen and finds Ojo begging Tutter to let her peek inside his mousehole. When he won't let her, saying that she's too big, she cries. It turns out that she's lost her favorite toy, Snowbear. Not wanting to see her cry, Tutter agrees to help her find it --- mice are great at finding things. Pip and Pop soon join the hunt, but Bear's bedroom gets rather messed up in the process. Ojo begins to despair, but Bear helps ro raise her spirits by encouraging her to keep up the hunt. Treelo then comes up with a great idea that could help her to find Snowbear. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells the story of the "Three Little Kittens" --- the ones that lost their mittens. Songs Lost Thing Snow Bear Where Can You Be Notes This episode was adapted in storybook form as Lost and Found.
Bear has caught a cold and his nose is so stuffed up that he just has to take it as assumed that the viewers smell good today. Tutter suggests he get a little rest on the couch and then the kids all decide that they'll do their best to help Bear feel better. Tutter recalls that when he needed some water, Bear helped him to reach the faucet. Ojo brings Bear her favorite toy, Snow Bear, to help cheer him up. She recalls the time when he helped her to feel better when she fell down while trying to fly. Pip and Pop deliver Bear a package containing a clam with the message "Get Well Soon." They recall the time when Bear let them be postal delivery otters. Treelo gives Bear a hug and recalls the time that he was afraid of going down the drain in the bathtub. And Tutter recalls a time when he wasn't feeling all that well himself. Songs Need a Little Help Today Quiet Time Notes This episode consists in large part of flashbacks to scenes from past episodes. As such, there is no Shadow segment in this episode and no real-kids segment either.
Bear receives a package in the mail containing a tape of soothing sounds. He's eager to sit down and listen to them, but Ojo is worried that the tape will disturb the game of "camping in the woods" she's playing. When she learns it's soothing sounds, she's eager to hear them, but then Treelo shows up and starts making noises of his own. At first, Ojo is irritated, but then Bear helps Treelo with making some sounds that won't bother Ojo. All of this gives Ojo a great idea for a real camping trip. Meanwhile, Tutter is busy dancing, and doesn't want any part of the camping trip when he hears about it. Pip and Pop are interested, though, after Bear tells them about it on their plastic cup telephone. Notes Ojo, Tutter, Treelo, Pip and Pop join in the singing of the second half of the Goodbye Song. Pip and Pop refer to Bear as "Smokey." This is a reference to Smokey Bear of the United States Forest Service, who encourages people to remember that "Only YOU can prevent forest fires" and more recently "Only YOU can prevent wildfires."
Pip and Pop are playing hide-and-seek, but disagree on where they should play. Bear introduces them to the method of flipping a coin. Bear stops to contemplate friendship and then finds Treelo waiting for Ojo. He wants to play their favorite game --- Rock Boy and Snow Bear, but Ojo keeps dashing off outside. Treelo tries to get Tutter to play the game instead, but finds that Tutter's not interested in the game. Both of them eventually join Pip and Pops' game of hide-and-seek and then find out the reason why Ojo has been so busy. Songs Friends for Life When You Make Yourself a Friend Notes Ojo makes a new friend in this episode --- a little bunny rabbit who hangs around the Otter Pond. Although no name is given for this character in this episode, she will later be known as Christine.
Grandma Flutter drops her granddaughter, Baby Blotter, off at the Big Blue House while she goes to her dance class. Bear helps Tutter learn how to care for a baby -- but everyone's at a loss when Blotter starts to cry. The day is saved by Treelo, who comforts the baby and gives her his rattle.
Bear opens the door and greets the viewers, saying he was wondering when we were going to get here. He invites us to come in the Big Blue House. He starts to say that he was on the way to the kitchen, but then stops and sniffs, asking if we were just outside in the backyard, because we smell "all fresh and grassy." He suggests that maybe it's just that we smell this good all the time and then heads into the kitchen, where he has something he wants to show us. It turns out to be a microscope... Notes ■This episode was adapted in storybook form as a book by the same name. ■During the song, "Let's Go Exploring", puppets from The Animal Show (including Randall the Zebra and Julie the Flamingo) appear. ■The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits quacks like a duck.
It's nighttime at the Big Blue House and Bear is all set to sit on his swing and read a good book. Then, Ojo shows up --- it turns out that there's a sleepover scheduled tonight that Bear completely forgot about. Before he knows it, Tutter, Ojo, Treelo, Pip and Pop are all there and ready for the big sleepover, despite his protests that they're not ready. He tries to settle back down to his book, but there's a lot to do during a sleepover. He prepares the kids a snack, reads them a story and supervises as they all brush their teeth. Finally, everyone is ready to go to bed, after some final, special good-night touches. Ojo has difficulty getting to sleep, but eventually dozes, only to be awakened by a bad dream. Bear soothes her back to sleep and then finds Shadow. Shadow sings her own special version of the lullaby "Hush, Little Baby." Songs ■Under Your Blanket ■Brush Brush Bree ■Go to Bed, Sleepy Head Notes ■The title of this episode is a reference to Raymond Chandler's 1939 novel The Big Sleep. In the novel, the phrase refers to death, not sleep itself. ■Tutter holds a sleepover of his own in the fourth season episode "Tutter's First Big Sleepover Bash."
Bear gets a new Spanish-language tape in the mail, but just as he's about to try it, he's waylaid by Tutter, who, it seems, has a touch of laryngitis. He cant talk at all. A concerned Bear gives him a small bell to call him when he needs some-thing, and Tutter keeps bear running back and forth his Spanish lessons with Pip&Pop to a misunderstanding between Ojo and Treelo. During the course of Bear's busy day, we discover how to communicate with words and without them.
Today, everybody wants time with Bear, and he gets the big idea to make a schedule that will accommodate everyone's wishes. Everyone's happy with this arrangement except for Treelo, who's having a hard time waiting for sunset time, his scheduled time with Bear. He even goes as far as to change the clock to make his time come faster! Eventually, Treelo sees the sun - Bear's good friend, Ray V set...right at the end of the day, at the right time.
Bear gets a notice in the mail that he¡¦s just received a free mambo lesson! Everyone is inspired by the subject of learning, including Ojo, who plays make-believe school with Treelo, Snow and Rock Bay. And everybody¡¦s extra excited to learn the mambo with Bear when the instructor turns out to be Grandma Flutter!
After Ojo runs in from the kitchen scared of a bee, Bear suggests that they watch a bee at a safe distance in order to find out what the insects do other than sting. In the course of the day, Bear, Ojo, Pip&Pop and Tutter find that every creature has a place and a purpose¡K "just part of that many..." great things about nature. Notes ■A portion of the events of this episode were adapted for the book Bugged by Bugs.
Ojo gets the idea to put on some Olympics games out by the pond. Everyone's excited, especially Tutter, who predicts that he¡¦s going to win every event. He doesn't, he realizes that you don't have to be good at everything to be a winner, but when the limbo competition rolls around K it turns out nobody can get lover than a mouse!
Everybody's pretending and having a great time, expect for Tutter, who, after a little questioning, blurts out that he really doesn't know how to pretend. Through a little friendly trickery, Bear shows Tutter that he's better at pretending than he thought.
Bear's getting ready for a trip to the fair and there's a lot to remember. He gets a little help from his friends and from a bunch of strings tied around his fingers. Along the way, they even find time for some fond memories, and for learning about the joy and importance for remembering.
Bear mistakenly receives a piece of Doc Hogg's mail, and decides to give him a call and let him know. This begins a day full of mistakes, including wrong numbers, a broken vase, and Pip & Pop's accidental discovery of a new type of sandwich. Eventually, Doc arrives, the vase is mended, and, hey, those baloney-on-the-outside, bread-in-middle sandwiches are delicious! Maybe mistakes aren't such bad things after all.
It's Bear's birthday. He goes to check the mail and finds a nice card from his friend Ursa. He then settles in to enjoy a relaxing day. He wants to do nothing at all, but the kids of the Big Blue House have other ideas. When they find out about Bear's plans for the day, they talk about just what they can do to show Bear how much they appreciate him. Ojo decides that they should give him a surprise party. With our help, they work hard to put together the party, while making sure the surprise isn't spoiled. Shadow even helps out, first by distracting Bear and then by telling him a story about the children of the week. Songs ■"The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha" ■"Everybody in the Tub" ■"Happy, Happy Birthday (to Bear!)" Notes ■This episode contains many references to "Mouse Party" from the first season. It features the same basic idea of giving someone a surprise party. The characters generally fall into the same party-preparation roles they had in that episode. Tutter, joining in on the preparations this time, prepares a four-cheese cheesecake (the same type of cake he had at his party) with the aid of the book Cooking with Cheese. He was seen reading from this book in the song "When I'm Older" in "Mouse Party." Pip and Pop once again get tangled up in the decorations. Finally, the kids perform for Bear the "Happy, Happy Birthday" song that was heard in "Mouse Party." ■In the closing credits, "Happy, Happy Birthday" appears by that title; it was listed in the closing credits of "Mouse Party" as "The Birthday Song".
Since Bear's friend Ursa has never seen the Big Blue House, he's decided to take some pictures of things around the Big Blue House and make an album to send to her. As he searches for good opportunities, he finds that the kids of the Big Blue House are curious about his camera. Tutter seems to keep popping up whenever he tries to take a shot in the kitchen, so he finally has Tutter pose for a photo. The other kids have their photos taken as well. Treelo is a bit reluctant because he doesn't understand how the camera works and is worried he'll be sucked into it. While taking everyone's photos, Bear also notices that his camera seems to keep disappearing, but by the time he looks for it again, it's back where it was. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells an unusual version of the traditional "Roses are Red" poem. It ends with an alligator eating a pair of blue-suede shoes. Songs ■Picture This Notes ■Ursa later sees the Big Blue House in person when she surprises Ojo for her birthday in "You Never Know."
Doc Hogg pays a special visit to the Big Blue House to give everyone a checkup. Before he arrives, Pip and Pop dress up as doctors and pretend to give a checkup to Treelo. Bear tells the viewers all about Doc Hogg and what doctors do. Later, Doc Hogg gives everyone their checkup, but Ojo seems to have disappeared. Bear finds her hiding with Snow Bear --- it turns out that she's scared of getting a shot. Bear helps her out by teaching her a special song that Doc Hogg once taught him. Songs ■Old Doc Hogg ■Everybody Say Ah ■Just Say Ow Notes ■This episode was adapted in book form as The Big Blue House Call. ■There is no Shadow segment in this episode. ■The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits laughs like Doc Hogg instead of barking.
Bear is expecting Doc Hogg to show up for lunch, but busy ol' Doc keeps changing the plan. Bear and his friends learn to "roll with it" in a day of all kinds of change.
At the Big Blue House, Bear finds that his friends are all making inventions. Tutter has decided to create a "mouseapult," hoping to reach the cheese drawer more easily. He finds that it still has some kinks to work out. Ojo and Treelo create a device called an "everything machine." It's just pretend, but it's still a lot of fun. Additionally, Bear finds that Pip and Pop's ball is stuck in a tree, but he finds that he's not quite tall enough to reach it. He ends up inventing a ball-grabber device, but it turns out to be more of an "everything-grabber." In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells the story of Yankee Doodle, or tries to anyway. She finds, though, that Yankee Doodle has different ideas about the type of animal he should be riding on and what he sticks in his hat. Songs ■Look What I Made Notes ■Treelo appears at the end of the episode, flexing Bear's "everything-grabber" and saying "grabby grabby." During the closing credits, the dog in the Shadow Projects logo also says this in Treelo's voice.
When Ojo decides to pretend that she's a big bear, Bear invites her to join him on a berry-picking expedition at the Otter Pond. He's going to make a triple-berry pie, but first needs the most important ingredients. He teaches Ojo the essentials --- showing her what types of berries are good to pick. After she learns the basics, Bear leaves her to the picking so he can prepare the crust for the pie. He and Ojo also find that Pip and Pop are trying something new. They each have a new toy --- their very own otter hoops. When they can't them to work, they express concern that they're broken. Bear and Ojo help them to see that often you have to practice at something before you can be good at it. In the Shadow segment, Shadow puts her spin on "Here We Go 'round the Mulberry Bush." In her version, a dog and a woman are washing clothes by hand, but decide instead to take them to a laundromat. They're then freed up to go perform in a circus, until a man sends them back to work on the laundry. Songs ■Keep at It ■The Otter Hoop Notes ■Tutter and Treelo are absent from this episode.
Last night there was a big storm, but today it's a warm, sunny day outside, so Bear and the kids have decided to go swimming out at the Otter Pond. They've even come up with something tempt Tutter out of the Big Blue House and into the water --- a floating chair that even includes a place for him to put his cheesarita. Everyone goes outside for some summer fun, but they find that the pond is covered in debris blown in by the storm --- leaves and branches everywhere. They all work together to clean it up, but then it starts raining. Tutter scatters at the first sign of rain. Pip and Pop want to stay outside, but when the lightning comes, in they go. Inside, Ojo and Treelo find themselves bored, until Bear gets their imaginations going for a weather-filled trip to Ojo Island. Pip and Pop despair the rain, but learn that without the rain, they could never have fun at the pond. Then, once the rain stops, Ray provides a special surprise for everyone. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells a story of a robin who manages to have fun even in snowy weather. Songs ■Good Morning ■Weather Notes ■In "Summer Cooler," Tutter creates his own swimming club using the kitchen sink and remains inside on a summer day. In this episode, Bear and the kids finally manage to tempt him to go outside for a swim in the pond.
Bear is really excited about building the new birdhouse kit that he got in the mail, but Pip & PopTM and TutterTM are more excited about making something out of the box it came in. After gladly surrendering the box to his friends, Bear sets out it build the birdhouse on his back stoop, only to find that Jacques, an industrious local beaver, has bigger plans for Bear's seemingly simple subject.
Tutter is nervous when Grandma Flutter plans to take him on a trip outside the Big Blue House. Tutter'sTM going for a trip with his grandma today and is a little worried about the whole "big world, little mouse" thing. BearTM assures him that traveling is a really great thing. "Although the world is big, its bigness makes a lot of wonderful things to see and learn, and all of his friends will be waiting for him right here in the Big Blue House when he gets back..." Notes ■This episode was adapted in storybook form as Tutter's Tiny Trip.
It's a peaceful, relaxing day in the Big Blue House, or at least it would be if it weren't for Treelo. While Ojo draws a picture, Pip and Pop create a still-life, Bear swings and Tutter naps, Treelo wants to dance-dance-dance! Nobody wants to join him at first, but Treelo's persistence soon has everyone dancing. First, Bear does The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha. Next, Tutter feels like doing the limbo. Later on, Grandma Flutter pays a visit. Treelo has finally become all tired up, but Grandma Flutter gets him up-and-going to do the mambo. Songs ■Take it Lower ■Dance Fever ■The Grandma Mambo Notes ■There is no Shadow segment in this episode. ■Portions of the events of this episode were adapted for the book Time to Cha-Cha-Cha!.
When Bear talks to Ray in the morning, he learns that there's a thunderstorm coming. He gets things ready for the upcoming storm, and then hears Ojo and Treelo racing inside. They got scared by the storm and are worried that they're still in danger. Bear assures them that he's prepared at that they're safe inside the Big Blue House. Tutter gets scared too, and everyone's really scared when the power goes out. Bear allays their fears with his Bearcraft flashlight, but then Tutter gets scared by his shadow. Eventually, the power comes back on, and the kids start a game of hide-and-seek. Tutter then comes across Pip and Pop pretending to be a purple flower monster and is scared into hiding himself. Although they were just trying to have fun, they eventually realize their mistake and apologize. Together, everyone summons Shadow, who tells the tale of Little Miss Muffet. In Shadow's version, Little Miss Muffet isn't the least bit scared of the spider who sits down beside her and invites it to share her curds and whey. Songs ■Good Morning (Shortened Version) ■Nothing to Be Afraid Of Notes ■The theme for this episode, "Afraid," was later reused in the third season episode "Nothing to Fear."
BearTM searches for a new look, but along with everyone eise in the Big Blue House, he finds that when you feel good about yourself, just about anything is possible.
There's a bug loose in the Big Blue House. The house is divided between bug lovers and, well, bug not - lovers. That is, not until TutterTM, a bug not-lover, learns that this particular bug is one of the best gardeners around.
Bear is having a hard day -- he misses Luna, who he loves very much. Pip and Pop make up a song, "Otter Love", to express their love too. Meanwhile, Ojo is furious with Tutter when he accidentally breaks her new toy airplane. She eventually forgives him, learning that friends are more important than things. Notes ■This episode was adapted in storybook form as Love Is All You Need. ■This episode won a DGA Award in 1999 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs.
There's nothing like listening to a good mystery on the radio. But when Ojo's ribbons, Pip & Pop's sticks and Treelo's feathers mysteriously disappear, the gang puts on their own detective caps and gets ready to solve a real mystery in the Big Blue House. Notes ■This episode was adapted in book form as Mystery at the Big Blue House.
One morning, Bear is trying to decide on what type of tea to have --- cold iced tea or hot tea. With the viewers' help, he decides on the iced tea. He also finds Tutter trying to get some tea as well, but needing his help to get a glass and the sugar. At first, Tutter is bothered by how his small size keeps him from doing anything. Then, he helps Bear and he finds that being the opposite of big isn't so bad after all. More opposites are explored when Bear keeps filling his lemonade glass and Pip and Pop keep emptying it. He also shows Ojo and Treelo how they can dance together, alternating their opposite favorite styles of music. In the Shadow segment, Shadow presents a feature called "Tales of Incredible Opposites," featuring a story about Jack Sprat and his wife. Songs EditGood Morning (Shortened Version) Opposites Notes The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits shouts "Go, Daddy!"
Pip & Pop can hardly wait for their grandma Etta and grandpa Otto to visit. But when Bear unexpectedly has to leave the Big Blue House, the gang is a little uncertain what to do with their elderly visitors. That is, until they find out that grandparents just want to have fun.
The characters of the Big Blue House find themselves feeling many different ways and Bear is there to help sort it out. Things all start when Pip and Pop are happy and excited after they receive a fantastic new toy in the mail --- Clammy, a talking clam. Later, they're extremely sad when they think Clammy's broken. Elsewhere, Treelo gets angry with Ojo for spilling his feathers out the window, but Ojo is hurt and worried because it was only an accident. Treelo says he wants to stay angry forever, but Bear helps to see that this may not be what he really wants. Later, Tutter's hilarious impressions have everyone feeling silly. In the Shadow segment, Shadow explores the feelings of a girl who's good at rock and roll but has a curl of hair pointing out of her forehead. Songs The Way That You're Feelin' Today Notes This episode was adapted in book form as The Way I Feel Today. Bear in the Big Blue House episodes typically include a single segment featuring thoughts from real kids. This episode features a series of three of these segments in which kids talk about feelings. The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing-credits says "yep yep" in a voice that sounds like a child's.
When Bear receives a photo of Ursa in the mail, Ojo is off and running, discovering her "girlness." But as she and everyone else in the Big Blue House learn, it's not being a boy or a girl that matters. It's just being yourself.
When Tutter decides to investigate new uses for Swiss cheese, Bear suggests a scientific experiment. Soon the whole gang is taking a look at the world around the Big Blue House, and before long, they find that, with a little curiosity and a question, you can be scientists, too.
When Bear reads Tutter the story of "Mousy the Great," Tutter wants to be just like his hero. But when Ojo rescues him from the "dragon," he's not too sure he's very good at it. With a little help from Bear, Tutter learns that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. And every single one is great.
Bear has received a book of brainteasers and is eager to try some of them. As he tries them out and shares them with the viewers, he finds that the kids of the house are doing some thinking as well. Tutter found a piece of string and is delighted because there's all sorts of things he can do with it. A couple of things he does include using it as a lasso for cheese and as a trail to direct Bear to a present --- his very own ball of string. While out at his favorite thinking spot, Bear talks with Pip and Pop. They try to do some thinking of their own, but can't figure out anything to think about. Bear helps them to see that they are in fact, thinking, and helps them to recap several things they thought about later during the day. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells a story about a man in the wilderness. It finally comes time for a break from all that thinking and Ojo and Treelo decide they want in on whatever fun thing Bear is going to do. It turns out that it's time for the Bear Cha-Cha-Cha! Songs Think About It The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha Notes Tutter mentions his Great Aunt Twizzler Tutter in this episode.
When the gang all leaves the Big Blue House for the day to go to a square dance, BearTM is looking forward to getting a lot of chores done. However, each chore he starts somehow reminds him of one of his friends, and before long, the house seems awfully quiet. By the time his friends return, Bear has realized that the Big Blue House just isn't the same without them.
It's a special night in Woodland Valley --- tonight is the night of Harvest Moon. There's a special party out at the Otter Pond and Luna even has a special surprise for Bear. Bear and his friends enjoy the delights of the night, such as fireflies and constellations. Tutter does his best to stay up, but Bear allows him to catch a little sleep before the big celebration. Bear searches for party lanterns for the celebration, but it's ultimately Pip and Pop who find them. Everything is finally ready for the big party and it's drawn quite a crowd --- besides Bear and the kids, Doc Hogg, Lois, Otto and Etta, Grandma Flutter, Christine, Jacques the Beaver, Doc Owl, and even Big Old Bullfrog are there. In fact, everyone's there except Luna --- they're worried she may have disappeared behind a cloud. But it turns out she was just getting her special surprise ready --- an old friend Bear hasn't seen in a long time! In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells a wild story about a man who takes a trip to the moon in a balloon. Songs Beauty of the Night The Goodbye Song (Full Cast Version) Notes This episode includes a brief segment, introduced by Luna, in which real kids talk about things they do at night. These include playing on a swingset, catching lightning bugs, looking at the stars and the moon, putting on pajamas and reading a story. In this special episode of the program, viewers get to see a lot of a character who is normally only seen at the end of each episode --- Luna. Luna also gets to perform in a song other than the "Goodbye Song." Ray is also seen at the very beginning of the episode. The closing credits for this episode include a special bonus featuring Bear and Ursa. The episode's title is a reference to the last six words of "The Night Before Christmas".
Bear and the kids have had a busy day and are now turning in for the night. Ojo, Tutter, Treelo, Pip and Pop are all sleeping over in the living room of the Big Blue House. He tells them a bedtime story about a dragon and some very brave knights just like them who helped it. Bear reflects on all of the great things that can happen in a day. In flashbacks, he and the viewers take a look back at some things that happened that day. He and the kids all had a lot of fun at the Otter Pond, splashing and playing ball. In fact, Pip and Pop had so much fun that they get out of bed to ask if they can go back down there right now, but Bear tells them it'll still be there tomorrow. Bear also recalls that Tutter tried to eat a large amount of carrots and bran to get ready for a checkup with Doc Hogg. Bear helped him to see that he was already ready and when Tutter shows up full of energy, Bear gives him some warm milk to help get him to sleep. Bear also recalls that Ojo pretended that Snow Bear was her baby --- giving her a bath in the sink and feeding her mashed fruit. He gives Snow Bear a good-night kiss, and Ojo one too. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells a story about a day in the life of a dog. Songs What's That Smell? At the Pond
When Pip and Pop lose a jar lid down a hole, Bear helps them to see how they can cooperate to solve their problem. Bear asks for the viewers' help as he prepares a pie for Doc Hogg. He completely forgot about it and Doc Hogg will be arriving soon. As he gets ready, he overhears Tutter and Treelo. Tutter doesn't want Treelo to be a puppy in his game of "King Tutter the Great," but Bear introduces the two to a game called "The Hound of Yarsburg." The Shadow segment, "Stories of Incredible Opposites," is recycled from "As Different as Day and Night." Songs Get It Together Clean Up the House
s time for the Annual Woodland Valley Storytelling Festival at the Big Blue House and viewers are invited to come and listen in! As everyone gets ready for the story, Bear prepares the food and other accommodations, while also stopping to help his friends in the Big Blue House. Tutter's found a great beginning and ending for his story, but it's seriously lacking a middle. Bear also helps Treelo and Ojo with an idea for telling a story in pictures. Finally, guests from all over Woodland Valley start arriving in droves - everyone from Doc Hogg to Big Old Bullfrog. Doc Hogg "entertains" everyone with the story of his life; Pip and Pop read from a comic titled The Adventures of Clamiana Jones; Lois tells a tale in off-key song and Shadow sings the tale of The Frog Prince. Songs Once Upon a Time Characters Bear, Tutter, Ojo, Treelo, Pip and Pop, Doc Hogg, Shadow, Grandma Flutter, Otto and Etta, Jacques the Beaver, Doc Owl Notes For the Storytelling Festival, Pip and Pop read from The Adventures of Clamiana Jones. This title is a spoof on Indiana Jones..
Bear and Tutter are trying to have a fun game of checkers, while Ojo and Treelo are having their own fun playing. For some reason, though, everyone seems to be talking about the toilet and the bathroom. It all starts when Tutter needs to use the toilet during his game of checkers with Bear, but doesn't want to leave the checkers game. Bear assures him it will still be waiting for him. Tutter uses the bathroom and then washes his hands, stating that his Grandma Flutter taught him to. Later, Ojo has an accident and is very embarrassed, but Bear lets her know it's okay --- accidents can happen to anyone. When Pip and Pop hear about the day's events, they invite everyone to join their secret club --- The Mystic Order of the Toileteers. It's for everyone who uses, or is going to use the potty. In the Shadow segment, Shadow introduces a song with some new twists on the phrases "party party" and "potty training." Songs Potty Chair Potty Potty The Toileteers Notes This episode was adapted in book form as When You've Got To Go! The Toileteers is a parody of Disney's Mouseketeers.
Ojo is excited about a visit from her friend, Christine. The two quickly get involved in one of Ojo's imaginative games --- a pillow castle. Tutter arrives and asks if they'd like to play checkers, but Ojo tells him she's in the middle of her game with her "best friend," Christine. Tutter is hurt by the use of the term "best friend." He creates his own friend to play with, "Mr. Cheese," but Bear helps to mend his friendship with Ojo. He also finds Pip and Pop at odds with Treelo out at the Otter Pond. He keeps pretending to be a monster during their Deep-Sea Divers game and they don't like it at all. Bear, however, introduces them to a game called The Treasure of Kalamazoo Bay. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of "Mary Had a Little Lamb." The lamb in this version drives a car, skies and scuba dives in its efforts to follow Mary everywhere she goes. Songs Where Would You Be Without Your Friends Notes This is at least the second time that Bear has suggested a game to the kids that he once played when he was a cub. In "Share, Bear," Bear tells Ojo and Treelo about a game called "Snow Bear in the Woods" when Ojo doesn't want to share Snow Bear with Treelo.
When Bear receives a package from "L.L. Bear" in the mail, he's surprised to find that he received a skunk clock rather than the bear clock he order. Rather than returning it, he decides to give it a try and hangs it up in the kitchen. He hears Ojo and Treelo outside and finds Treelo swinging on a swing. He gets off and asks Ojo to try, but finds that she doesn't want to. She admits to being somewhat scared, but finds a compromise in starting out by first taking small swings. As Bear heads off into the living room for a nap, Tutter is disturbed by the "tick-tock" of the skunk clock, mistaking it for a real skunk. He's scared by it, but eventually comes to realize that it's actually alive and is nothing to be afraid of. Out at the Otter Pond, Pip and Pop play a game called "Double D Dare." When their daring starts to get dangerous, Bear suggests that they think of things to do that are silly, but not potentially dangerous. Sometimes, if you're scared to do something, there may be a very good reason for it. Songs What's in the Mail Today? (Shortened Version) Everybody's Afraid of Something (lyrics) Notes There is no Shadow segment in this episode. In this episode, Bear sings that "everyone's afraid of bats" and that "anyone who says they're not is tellin' you a little white lie." Bear would later change his tune in "Bats are People Too" when he befriends a bat and tells the kids that they're nothing to be afraid of. In an unusual move, this episode reuses the exact same theme, "Afraid," from the second season episode "Afraid Not." Allusions Bear receives his skunk clock from a catalog called "L.L. Bear." This is a spoof on the popular L.L. Bean catalog, a mail-order catalog generally known for outdoor equipment and clothing.
Ojo loses his favorite teddy bear and the members conducted a search party to help search for it, but in vain.In the end, they played hide-and-seek and Ojo found his bear back. Pip and Pop are out playing ball when they find a little duck who seems to be looking for something. He introduces himself as Harry and says that apparently his family got lost while they were flying south. Bear takes the opportunity to remind the viewers about what they should do if they were ever lost and promises to help reunite Harry with his family. Meanwhile, the kids of the Big Blue House get acquainted with Harry the Duck. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells a story about a dame who's lost her shoe and a master who's lost his fiddle-stick. Songs You Will Find Your Way Notes This episode introduces the character of Harry the Duck. He and his family live at the Duck Pond, which is actually what Pip and Pop know as the Otter Pond. They fly south every winter. Bear invites Harry to come back to visit the Big Blue House when he returns in the spring. In this episode, Harry says that he's been separated from his Mom, brothers and sisters. No reference is made to his brothers and sisters in future episodes and none are present when Hallie is born in "When Harry Met Hallie." The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits quacks like Harry.
Bear is busy doing some cooking --- he's making his annual batch of cookies for everyone in Woodland Valley. As he starts to bake the cookies, he gets a call from Ojo and Tutter. They're pretending to be Big Blue House detectives, but they feel that they've solved all the mysteries in the Big Blue House, or perhaps even the world. Bear gives them a new challenge by using dishtowels to blindfold them so that they can play one of his favorite games --- "What is It?" Using senses other than sight, he first has them identify a flower and then peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Later, they find an actual mystery to solve when Treelo reports that his "banananana" is missing. With Bear's help, the senses of touch and smell are used to track down the stinky, squishy old banana. When the cookies are finally finished, the kids decide to cover up all their senses except taste in an attempt to get Bear to give them some cookies. He quickly ends the game --- he was planning to share the cookies with them anyway. They all end up sharing the cookies together outside, as Pip and Pop express their appreciation for all the wonderful sounds, sights and smells of nature. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of Little Red Riding Hood. In her twist on the story, the Granny is a doctor. Songs Making Sense of Your World
It's Halloween at the Big Blue House. The house is all decorated and everyone is getting ready. Bear helps his friends to find costumes and helps Tutter with carving a pumpkin. He always helps out Treelo when he's scared by Ojo's bat costume. Later, everyone gets together for some fun trick-or-treating. The kids have all picked out their Halloween costumes, but Bear hasn't been able to find anything to dress up as. The kids go through Bear's box of costumes and come up with an amusing idea. In the Shadow segment, Shadow performs the song "What Do Shadows Do for Halloween?" Songs What Are You Gonna Be for Halloween? What Do Shadows Do for Halloween? Trick or Treat Notes Throughout the special, a couple of pumpkins slide across the screen as a scene changer and sing the first couple of lines of the "Trick or Treat" song --- "We're going trick-or-treating / We'll shout a scary greeting." In this episode, Treelo is scared of Ojo when he believes her to be an "icky" bat. Later on in the season, though, Treelo introduces all the kids to his bat friend, Benny, in "Bats are People Too" and they learn that bats are nothing to be afraid of. Apparently, Treelo met Benny in-between the events of this episode and that episode, or else he should not be afraid of someone dressed as a bat.
It's Ojo's birthday. She already knows that everyone's put together a big party for her, but she doesn't know about some special surprises. These include the biggest of all --- a visit from her good friend Ursa. Pip and Pop learn just how important it is to keep such a surprise. Treelo also learns something about surprises --- that sometimes they are fun, but the wrong kind of surprise can be scary. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings a verse of "Pop Goes the Weasel." Songs Surprise! (Big Blue House Song) Happy, Happy Birthday (shortened version)
Tutter receives a postcard in the mail from his Uncle Jet Setter Tutter. He's a famous explorer, but he hasn't seen Tutter since he was just a baby mouse. He wants Tutter to write back and tell him all about himself. Tutter's worried that he'll have nothing to say, but Bear helps him to see that there's a lot that's unique about him. He also talks with Pip and Pop, who have noticed that they're not quite as alike as they thought. Bear tells them that even though they're different, they can still be great friends. He also helps Treelo to come up with a game that suits his own unique personality when he gets bored with playing Ojo's tea-party game. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of the ugly duckling. She talks about another ugly duckling who didn't grow up with dashing good looks, but found that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Songs What's in the Mail Today? (shortened version) Baby, You're You What Kind of Mouse Am I?
Despite something of a mess in the living room of the Big Blue House, Bear is prepared for a relaxing day. He settles down for some relaxing music listening, but then receives a phone call. It's Ms. Henrietta Vanderpeen, informing him that the Big Blue House has been selected as the House of the Month for Woodland House Wonderful. Bear is excited, but worries about the state of the house. He tells the kids the exciting news, but finds out from them that there's even more cleaning to do than he thought. Everybody pitches in to get ready by cleaning the house, taking a bath, and brushing their teeth. Songs Clean Up the House Everybody in the Tub Brush Brush Bree
Pip and Pop s cousin Tally plans to visit.
A package comes in the mail for Ojo --- a book from Ursa titled Bears Around the World. Ojo wants to keep it all for herself at first and read it alone, despite Tutter and Treelo's pleas for her to share it. Bear explains to them that sometimes when somebody has something new, they might want to keep it to themselves at first. But as Ojo becomes excited by the book, she begins to change her thinking. Meanwhile, Bear finds himself sharing quite a bit. He shares his food, he shares his berry-picking bucket with Pip and Pop and he lets Ojo, Tutter and Treelo use his bed as a comfy reading spot. Songs What's in the Mail Today? What's Mine is Yours Notes This episode is somewhat similar to the first season's "Share, Bear." It involves a picnic, just like in "Share, Bear." Bear reads the names of two potential alternate Bear in the Big Blue House shows from Ojo's book --- Bear in the Big Bamboo House and Canadian Bear in the Big Log Cabin (from Canada, near Saskatchewan).
Pip and Pop, along with Treelo, have decided to go fossil-hunting. They've gathered up all their gear in a backpack and are ready to go. This gets Bear thinking about discoveries and how much he enjoys discovering things himself. He then hears Ojo and Tutter calling him. They've been searching around the attic and came across an old, dusty box. It turns out to be a treasure chest filled with some of Bear's old things. He remembers that the played with them all in a secret cave, but he can't recall just where exactly the cave is. Ojo and Tutter decide to get the help of the rest of the kids to rediscover the secret cave. Once there, they find out some things they never knew about Bear and realize that he's a lot like them. Songs I Love to Discover A Lot Like You Notes The kids discover drawings on the wall of Bear's secret cave. These drawings are of two of Bear's friends when he was a kid: Don Deer and Roger Badger.
Spring has come to Woodland Valley and Bear is delighted by all of smells of the season. It's a veritable smellorama for him. As he makes his way to the kitchen, he finds smells there as well. Tutter has created his own "smellseum." Bear loves the smell of lilacs in his collection, but doesn't think much of his limburger cheese sandwich smell. Later, he finds Ojo with Treelo in the living room. As Mademoiselle Ojo, she's trying to create special perfumes to capture the essences of her friends. She's creates "You de Treelo" and then invents a perfume for Bear. Later on, Bear helps Pip and Pop to track a rather stinky smell. They find Ojo and their old friend Snook the skunk, who's found a new way into Bear's secret cave that even Bear can fit into. He also tells them all about his favorite smells, some of which are rather stinky. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells a story about an entire town that seemed to have lost its scent. As it turned out, though, everyone living there simply had a cold. Songs What's That Smell? Smellorama
One morning, Bear finds that he can no longer do The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha. It seems that he has simply lost his rhythm. It's so bad that he can't even say "cha-cha-cha." He loaned his records to Doc Hogg, but when he can't get them back, he has to find some other way to regain his rhythm. Pip and Pop attempt to help by providing their services as the "rhythm-masters." Later, Bear finds Treelo dancing to a calypso beat and joins in. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings a song called "Tingalayo." About a donkey, it featueres a Latin beat. She also gives Bear a tip to help find his rhythm. Songs Rhythm in the Air Let the Rhythm Take You You've Got the Rhythm The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha (Shortened Version) Notes Portions of the events of this episode were adapted for the book Time to Cha-Cha-Cha!.
Patience is discussed here, while Ojo and Pip and Pop wait for a package to arrive. Tutter can't wait for his cheesy fruit pops to be finished, so Bear helps him out with an alarm clock that will let Tutter know when the pops are finished.
Bear, Tutter, Treelo, Ojo, Pip and Pop have just had a sleepover and now Bear is waking up in the morning. It's still early, but the sun's about to rise and then everyone will be getting up. Some rise faster than others --- for example, Ojo finds all the morning noise upsetting at first, but given just a bit longer to sleep, she's good to go. Bear gets everybody going with a good breakfast. Treelo wants to run and play, but Bear helps him to appreciate that breakfast will give him the fuel to do that. Then, fueled and ready to go, they head for the events of the day. While Tutter, Treelo and Ojo go out flower-sniffing, Pip and Pop decide to go riding in their inner-tubes. When Pop can't find his, they all help to tidy up the house in an effort to find it. Bear then settles down to read a book, but not before the Shadow segment. Shadow sings a song about the morning, featuring a newspaper-fetching dog and sweetly-mooing cows. Songs Good Morning Brush Brush Bree Clean Up the House Notes Ray, the sun, appears in this episode, but Geoffrey Holder is uncredited. The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits meows twice.
When Bear hears a commotion in the living room, he finds Ojo and Tutter in something of a panic. They were playing and Tutter hurt his tail. It's all bent up and in a lot of pain. Bear does his best to help him feel better and then puts in a call to Doc Hogg. Doc Hogg asks Bear to bring Tutter over to his office, but Tutter is somewhat scared. Ojo's been there before, though, and offers to come with him. He also brings along his stuffed toy, Kitty. When he gets there, he's still somewhat scared, but eventually finds that there's really nothing to be afraid of. The Shadow segment, Five Little Monkeys, is recycled from "Picture of Health." Songs Hello Doctor Just Say Ow (Shortened Version) Notes Pip and Pop are absent from this episode. In the waiting room, a red bird is reading the book, The Adventures of Clamiana Jones, that Pip and Pop read from "What's the Story?"
The annual Tutter Family Reunion is held at the Big Blue House. Everyone works hard to get ready for this big occasion featuring Tutter's huge family. Notes Tutter's relatives include Grandma Flutter, Uncle Tito del Tutter, Tardy, Grandpa Highland McTutter, Whiner, Shouter, Jim and June. This episode was adapted in book form as The Tutter Family Reunion.
As the viewer arrives, Bear decides to try something a little different --- he wants the viewer to sniff him! It turns out that Bear's idea may have been prophetic because some very different things are happening around the area of the Big Blue House. Pip and Pop were out playing by the Otter Pond when they found something they've never seen before --- something with wings hanging upside-down from a tree. Bear explains to them that it's a bat. He tries to tell them all about it, but they disappear in a flash. Bear returns to the Big Blue House, where Ojo and Tutter both express the same sentiment. They're scared of the bat and don't want to have anything to do with it. Things only get worse when they all sit down and talk about it. Bear, however, meets the bat, whose name is Benny, and asks everyone else to meet it too. They reluctantly agree and find that not only is he not like what they expected --- Treelo is already his friend! Songs We're All Different Bat Dance Notes There is no Shadow segment in this episode. The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits shouts "Later!" in Tutter's voice.
Bear wakes up early on a sunny day and finds himself thinking about words. He enjoys reading the words in the Woodland Valley Gazette, as it helps him to keep up-to-date on what's happening in Woodland Valley. While reading the paper, he hears a commotion in the kitchen and finds Harry and Tutter playing there. Tutter wanted to play knights and shining armor, but something about what he's saying is causing Harry to quack up a storm. He told Harry that he could be "Big Beaky the Dragon" and now every time he says "big beak," Harry goes "all quacky." Bear has the two talk things out and Tutter finds that Harry is sensitive about the size of his beak. He apologizes, saying that he likes his beak. Next, Bear helps Pip and Pop when they can't find the "whatchamacallit" that stops the water from draining out of the bathtub --- the plug. Pip and Pop find that they'e good with words, and rhyming. Later on, Ojo and the others hold a tea party in the attic. Harry's shy and afraid to join in, but Bear tells him that if he uses his words, the others will let him join in. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells the tale of Peter Piper, who picked a peck of pickled peppers. Songs Good Morning (Shortened Version) Find the Words Notes Headlines in the edition Bear reads of the Woodland Valley Gazette include "Mating Season Begins - Sparrows All A-Twitter", "Bears Blissful as Berry Bushes Bloom", "Snail Marathon Planned - Race to Last All Summer" and "Snake Wrestling Ends in a Tie". Allusions In this episode, Bear quotes William Shakespeare and comments "I hear he was pretty good with words." The lines quoted by Bear are from Shakespeare's Sonnet 18. Bear reads in the Woodland Valley Gazette that there's a new movie opening down at the multiplex --- Citizen Crane. It's described as "the story of a young bird's rise to fame and power." This is a reference to Citizen Kane. This popular film from the 1940s was directed by the prolific Orson Welles and is #21 on IMDb's
Doc Hogg is remodeling his office, so he asks Bear to hold some of his stuff at the Big Blue House for a while, including his computer. He also gives Bear permission to use it, so he shows Tutter and Ojo how it works. They learn that computers are interactive and that interactivity isn't something that can just be done with computers --- just doing something as simple as talking with someone is interacting. At first, they're reluctant to use the computer, but are soon having fun with it. As it turns out --- Pip and Pop already know about interactivity --- Pip shows Bear how much fun it is for him to interact with Pop, as opposed to something like a rock. Bear takes a crack at solving the daily puzzle, with the help of Treelo. In the Shadow segment, Shadow introduces the viewers to Gus, an "interactive shadow-dog" who's looking for his friend Gloria. Songs Good Morning (Shortened Version) The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha (Shortened Version) Notes At one point, Bear is looking for dirt, water and seeds to help solve a puzzle. He says "You know, these things would be a lot easier to find if we had a couple of guides to help us" and then Pip and Pop show up. Oddly, when he says this, closed-captioning reads "You know, these things would be a lot easier to find if we had a little blue dog to help us." This may have been intended as a reference to Blue's Clues a series featuring a blue dog named Blue who left three paw-printed shaped clues to solve puzzles not all that unsimilar to the one Bear was attempting to solve. Bear's peformer Noel MacNeal, as well as Peter Linz, are both puppeteers on the Blue's Clues spin-off program Blue's Room. Computers are a somewhat rare example of high technology in Woodland Valley. There is also a movie theater, although there are no known TVs. Back in the "When I'm Older" song in "Mouse Party," Tutter expresses an ambition to someday use a computer. However in this episode, like Ojo, he has no idea what a computer is until Bear tells
Doc Hogg stops by the Big Blue House to collect for charity. He's collecting for muskrat relief following recent flooding that left many of them homeless. Bear is completely out of money, so Doc Hogg agrees to come back later. Bear and Ojo then find Tutter struggling to cram an excess of stuff into his mousehole, giving Ojo the idea for a yard sale. The idea takes off and Pip and Pop are assigned to be sales-otters. Treelo finds some things of his own to sell and Ojo helps out by painting pictures. Tutter, however, finds it difficult at first to part with some of his things. Songs A Million Nickels Notes Many of the shows most prevalent recurring guest-characters are present for the yard sale, including Otto and Etta Otter, Grandma Flutter, Jeremiah Tortoise, Lois, Harry, and Mama Duck. The characters exchange dollars and cents for their purchases in this episode. However, in the fourth-season episode "A Trip to the General Store," clams are used as Woodland Valley's official currency. Joey Mazzarino is credited as Joseph Mazzarino. Allusions Otto and Etta Otter pose in the style of the famous American Gothic for Ojo's painting. Doc Hogg states in this episode that he is the great imperial boar of the Woodland Valley chapter of the "Swiners." This is a reference the Shriners, an order of free masons known for their charitable works. The Imperial Potentate is the highest ranking Shriner in the world.
It's Thanksgiving at the Big Blue House, and Bear is preparing his annual feast. There are all sorts of delicious food, and Grandma Flutter and Doc Hogg are coming over to join the celebration. Everyone is very thankful for Bear's great feast, but Ojo wonders if there isn't more she can do to help. She becomes a sort of Thanksgiving commander and takes charge of the decorations and the Thanksgiving pageant. Ojo wants everything to be perfect, but soon finds things going outside her control. When it seems like all is ruined, Bear provides some reassuring thoughts on what the holiday is really all about. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells the story of the very first Thanksgiving. Songs "So Much to Be Thankful For" (Bear solo and Full Cast versions) "Thanksgiving with My Friends"
Bear is holding his weekly book club. He's excited that the mail has come because he ordered a new book and sure enough, there's a package waiting for him. However, when he opens the package, he finds that the book is called 1001 Ways to Cook Slop. This definitely isn't the book he ordered. A quick phone call to Jeremiah Tortoise reveals the mixup --- Bear must have received Doc Hogg's cookbook by mistake, while Doc Hogg got the book intended for Bear. He says that he'll get the problem taken care of as fast as he can. This leaves Bear with a bit of a dilemma, as he still needs a book to read for his club, but it could take a while for Jeremiah to bring the right book. Bear decides to search the Big Blue House for another book to read. As he goes about his search, he finds that everybody in the Big Blue House has ideas on books that he could read. Notes The books that Bear finds in the kitchen are titled "The Brothers Bearmazov" and "Jane Bear." Bear mentions that when he was little cub, he read a book called "Buck Antler: Deer in Space." This is a reference to Buck Rogers. Earl has an appearance in the book "Mouse the Great".
Ojo is sleeping over at the Big Blue House. Bear helps get ready to go to bed, tucks her in and aids her in "surfing off to dreamland." Ojo falls fast asleep. Bear thinks of getting some sleep himself when he hears a knocking at the back-door. It turns out that Jeremiah Tortoise and Doc Hogg have arrived for an exciting card game of Go Fish. Jeremiah brought the cards --- special cards that actually contain pictures of fish --- but Bear hasn't even put out any snacks. He has totally forgotten that their game was scheduled for tonight, and now all the noise threatens to wake up both Tutter and Ojo. Sure enough, Tutter shows up, saying that he needs a drink of water. Bear tries to attend to Tutter's needs, while keeping his attention on the card game as well. Songs Next Stop Dreamland Shadow's Lullaby Notes Bear, Doc Hogg and Jeremiah Tortoise play Go Fish using cards featuring actual pictures of fish. Although the faces of the cards are never seen, the following fish are requested throughout the game --- trout, shark, salmon, seahorses and mud guppies. Additionally, Tutter suggests that Bear "go for the mackerel." Bear hums the song "Wipeout" after suggesting to Ojo that she surf off to Dreamland. "Shadow's Lullaby" is track 7 on the album More Songs from Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House. "Next Stop Dreamland" is track 26 on the same album. Additionally, a short instrumental reprise of "Go to Bed, Sleepy Head" from Songs from Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House can be heard towards the beginning of the episode.
The winter holidays find Bear and his friends planning a big celebration. They're all getting ready for Christmas, but also learn about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Bear also celebrates his favorite tradition, The finding of the winter berry. As things start out, Pip and Pop have put together a reindeer wreath. Everyone wants to help out with the wreath, so Bear suggests they all add something of their own. Later, the group meets Santa Hogg and presents him with a large list of holiday wishes. Then there's a bit of an argument when Treelo wants to open everyone's presents and not just his own. In the Shadow segment, Shadow thanks Bear for his gift of a scarf --- Shadows don't get cold, but it's the thought that counts. She then sings the song "It's Kwanzaa Time." After hearing a howling noise, the group takes in an old hound named Jack with no home and invites him to stay at the Big Blue House for the holidays. This gets everyone thinking about the true meaning of the holidays. The story continues in part two. Songs Berry Bear Christmas A Holiday for Everyone That's All I Want for Christmas It's Kwanzaa Time What If (There Was No Big Blue House) Just Listen Notes Shadow twists the format of the Shadow segment in this episode. Instead of Bear searching for her, she searches for him and sings "Where Oh Where is Bear?" The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits says "Happy holidays!" in Treelo's voice, but only on the TV version. Both parts of this special were adapted as the book Bear's Berry Christmas. Dave Goelz performed Jack in this double length episode with a voice that resembles Uncle Traveling Matt and Waldorf. Cuts When the special aired on Playhouse Disney over two days, the first Shadow segment was cut, as well as Bear hanging the reindeer wreath on the door and then hearing the kids arguing. On the VHS version of the special, there are no closing credits shown --- instead, Luna is shown setting
Continuing from part one of the Berry Bear Christmas special, the entire gang (now with Jack) goes out caroling. As the kids settle down to try to figure out what to do about a Christmas present for Bear, Bear turns his attention to the finding of the winter berry. Jack overhears the kids' conversation and suggests making something. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings a song about a Hanukah dreidel. She then wants to give Bear a present, but says there isn't much a shadow can give a bear. So she has him kneel down and she gives him a kiss. Everyone enjoys their presents, but they worry that they've left out Jack. Jack helps them to see that they've already given him a gift -- a peaceful, happy holiday in a warm house with good friends. Later, the search for the winter berry proves fruitful for all. Songs Berry Bear Christmas Woodland Valley Carols (medley) Best Present Ever Searching for the Winter Berry Winter Berry / Holiday Reprise Cuts When the special aired on Playhouse Disney over two days, the following scenes are cut: Jack tries to sneak away after the "Best Present Ever" song, but Bear convinces him to stay for the search for the winter berry. Additionally, the "Holiday" portion of the "Winter Berry / Holiday" reprise song is cut. On the VHS version of this part of the special, the opening song "A Berry Bear Christmas" is not repeated. Additionally, a segment following the caroling in which Bear says the viewer smells like sugarplums and then discusses holiday traditions is removed. Bear discusses Tutter's special holiday tradition -- leaving a pair of shoes out to be filled with cheese. Allusions Doc Hogg refers to Fiddler on the Woof in this episode, a riff on Fiddler on the Roof.
In the first part of "Welcome to Woodland Valley," viewers learn that a tragic event has happened in Woodland Valley --- a tree has fallen and ruined part of the village library. Everyone's upset about it, but the entire Woodland Valley community is pulling together to help out. When the kids of the Big Blue House, including Harry, find out, they decide to help in their own way. Viewers explore more of Woodland Valley than they've ever seen before, visiting the library, the post office, the general store and the mouse school that Tutter will be attending, among other locations. Songs Welcome to Woodland Valley Woodland Valley No Harm Notes This episode was created partly as a response to the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001. Though there is no reference to the specific events, the episode uses the theme of a building being destroyed and a community coming together. Beginning with this episode, the opening sequence, theme, and closing sequence are changed. The opening sequence and theme now take viewers on a short tour of Woodland Valley before finishing at the Big Blue House.
In the second half of the two part special, the plans are coming together for a potluck dinner Bear is holding. Everyone will get together at the Big Blue House, eat good food and talk about solutions to fix up the library. The kids are hard at work collecting books to restore the library's collection. And Doc Hogg is getting down to business as to just what to do about the tree currently occupying a large portion of the library. He wants to remove it, chop it up and use it for firewood to heat all of Woodland Valley, but Ojo makes a discovery that changes the plan --- a couple of possums living within the tree. Songs Good Morning Everything's Great About the Library Woodland Valley Cha Cha Goodbye Song Notes This is a direct continuation from Part 1. Brad Garrett and Gilbert Gottfried voice the Possums in this episode and receive a "With" credit. They had previously appeared on Hollywood Squares with Bear.
Tutter is getting ready to start Mouse School. His teacher, Miss Maxwell, is coming to visit him at the Big Blue House. Tutter is excited about the visit, but worries over things like what tie he should wear and how he should introduce himself. Then, Ojo, Pip and Pop tell him that he'll have to know a lot to go to school, and he begins to worry that he's just not ready. As he frets, Treelo helps Bear to make a cake. And when they all pay a visit to the General Store, Pip and Pop note the training wheels on Ojo's bike. Worried they make her seem like a little bear, she borrows Bear's wrench to remove them. Songs (Take It) Step By Step
It's finally Tutter's very first day at Mouse School. He's really excited and happily shows off his bookbag and other school supplies to the other kids in the Big Blue House. Meanwhile, Bear and Doc Hogg share a cry over how much he's growing up. But when it comes time to go to school, Tutter is scared that he won't fit in. Bear agrees to accompany him and to wait outside the school, until he's comfortable with being there without him. Songs First Time for Everything
Pip and Pop are eager to introduce Bear and everyone at the Big Blue House to Rocko --- an old friend of theirs that they haven't seen in a long time. On the way to pick him up, they describe him to Bear as being a bit shy, so it comes as a big surprise when the Rocko they meet up with turns out to be full of energy --- singing and dancing and raring to go. Indeed, it seems like Rocko's going to be a lot of fun at first, but then he starts trying to play games that everyone's uncomfortable with and behaving rudely. Suddenly, nobody wants to play with Rocko, but Bear wonders if Rocko is hiding something behind his "cool" personality. Songs Rocko Rocks What a Good Friend I Could Be Notes Everyone goes to the movies to see Hare, starring puppets from The Tale of the Bunny Picnic. The title of the movie is a spoof on the title of the hit Broadway musical, Hair. When telling Bear about the movie Hare, Lois tells him that Roger Ebert says that it captures an important moment in bunny culture and goes on to say that he gives it a "great big wing up." The name of the game that Rocko suggests in this episode, "William, Don't Tell" is a reference to the Swiss hero William Tell who was the reference for the famous "William Tell Overture."
Harry visits the Big Blue House with big news --- his Mama has laid an egg and it's going to be hatching really soon! Everyone in the Big Blue House is excited about the hatching. They pay Mama Duck a visit, but then return to the Big Blue House to give her some peace. Harry is excited at first to be a big brother, but doubt begins to creep in when the kids at the Big Blue House tell him some of the things they've heard about babies. It starts to seem like there isn't going to be any time for him. He recalls their predictions as Doc Hogg unconsciously talks him out of his favorite toy and Treelo draws a picture -- not for him, but for the baby. Songs Lucky Day, Ducky Today Someone to Look Up to You Notes Harry's little sister, Hallie, is born in this episode. Mama names her this after her babushka, Halinska. Allusions The title of this episode references the film When Harry Met Sally Harry's favorite toy, Swanny, performs a tune with lyrics that are a riff off of the Irish folk tune "Danny Boy."
Ojo is in a hurry for Tutter to get home from Mouse School so that they can play their favorite game, Cave Explorers. Bear goes to pick Tutter up and finds out that Tutter has an assignment --- everyone at Mouse School is to give a show-and-tell of their favorite thing on Monday. Tutter considers it a big responsibility and is eager to get started, even though Bear notes that he has all weekend to work on it. Tutter gets so caught up in the project that he tells Ojo he doesn't have time to play cave explorers. Ojo becomes upset and feels that all Tutter ever talks about anymore is school. Meanwhile, Bear plans for a relaxing day at the Big Blue House, but is distracted by a leaky faucet. Songs My Favorite Stuff The Best Thing (My Favorite Stuff reprise) Notes Watch Bear's reactions during Tutter's over-the-top song about his favorite stuff. At various points, he cleans out his ear and gives odd looks.
Bear is coaching the soccer team for Mouse School. At the first team practice, the team is confused by Bear's complicated diagram, while Tutter is amused by a comment of Moss'. Tutter decides he wants to be Moss' friend, but is worried because he's never actually made a new friend before. He's known the kids in the Big Blue House practically his whole life and thinks of them as family. When he hears that Ojo made friends with Christine Rabbit by doing nice things for her, he gets the idea that the way to make friends with Moss is to impress him. Songs With a Friend Like Moss Notes There is no Shadow segment in this episode. Tutter's invention from "Look What I Made," the mouseapult, reappears in this episode. Additionally, Tutter once again fantasizes about going to the Moon, like in the "When I'm Older" song from "Mouse Party."
When Bear plays hide-and-seek with Tutter and Ojo, Ojo puts an abrupt end to the game when she calls for the two of them. It turns out that she's discovered something interesting --- some sort of old stones or bricks. Bear says that it looks like the remains of an old house and so Tutter and Ojo decide once again to be detectives and figure out what the deal with it is. Bear takes them to the library where they find a picture of the house as it once was in a book titled Houses of Woodland Valley. Otto and Etta recognize the name of the home's owner --- Hephaestus as being the name of Jeremiah's great-grandfather. So Bear, Ojo and Tutter head to the General Store, where Jeremiah has a quite a story for them. Songs The Mystery of History The Mystery of History (Reprise) Notes According to production order, this is the 100th episode of Bear in the Big Blue House. There is no Shadow segment in this episode.
Pip and Pop absolutely love baseball. They collect baseball cards and are especially obsessed with Ferret Jeeter, whom they believe to be capable of any sort of amazing feat. They declare Ferret Jeeter to be their hero and take little notice of Bear's attempts to tell them that he knows Ferret Jeeter. After all, everyone knows Ferret Jeeter. But it turns out that Bear really does know him personally; he and Ferret were classmates (and teammates) at Hazelnut High. Bear invites Ferret over to the Big Blue House, where he teaches the gang some things they never knew about Bear. Songs He Can Do It All Oh, What a Game Allusions Bear gives his collection of baseball cards to Pip and Pop. Included in the album are cards of a few more players with spoof names --- Joe DiMagpie, Willie Neighs and Jackie Robinsegg, which, respectively, are plays on the names of baseball greats Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson.
Treelo invites his squirrel friend Skippy for a visit to the Big Blue House and the kids are all excited to meet him. They are all surprised to learn that Skippy is blind and have a lot of questions for Bear while Treelo takes Skippy on a tour. They learn from Bear that Skippy has a disability, but isn't sick and that he likes to do many of the same things they do. As Skippy joins the kids during the day, they begin to wonder if he has special powers. He seems to know things that he seemingly couldn't know without some sort of special power. Skippy, however, teaches them that there's a lot one can tell by using all one's senses. Songs What's That Smell? Oh What a World It Can Be Notes The closing credits of this episode include the following note: "With special thanks to The American Council of the Blind for their generous participation." The song "What's That Smell?" returns for the fourth season. Allusions When everyone's wondering what's playing at the theater, Ojo suggests Take the Bunny and Run, a Woodsy Allen film. This is a riff on the Woody Allen film Take the Money and Run.
At Mouse School, Miss Maxwell announces a field trip and gives all the mice a permission slip for their parent or guardian to sign. Tutter is excited about the trip at first and eagerly tells the kids at the Big Blue House about it when he gets there. When he tells them that Miss Maxwell said the location would be a surprise, Pip and Pop figure that the trip must be to a field. The kids think about all of the fun things they could do on a trip around the world. Tutter, however, becomes very worried that he's going to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. He hides his permission slip from Bear and later decides to fake being sick. Meanwhile, Ojo plans a big trip on her bike. She plots out her course, but finds that sometimes you need a guide, such as a responsible adult, to help out. When Miss Maxwell hears that Tutter is worried about the trip, she provides him with some reassuring, but also a bit surprising news. Songs The Wide, Wide World
It's an ordinary day at the Big Blue House, but Bear decides to check his calendar, wondering if there's anything special coming. He checks his calendar and finds that tomorrow is Teacher Appreciation Day. Wondering if Tutter and the other mice at Mouse School know, he decides to tell them before soccer practice. It turns out when he arrives that the mice were just in the middle of talking about how much they like Miss Maxwell. Bear decides to split them all into teams of two, and partners Tutter with Lily to make Miss Maxwell a gift. Tutter's not too sure about the arrangment at first, worrying that the shy and quiet Lily won't be very good at helping him to make Miss Maxwell a gift. Bear, however, persuades Tutter to give Lily a chance and things start coming together nicely. They write a poem for Miss Maxwell. There's another special appreciation surprise later on. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells Aesop's Fable 'The Lion and the Mouse'. Songs That's "Appreciate" Notes Teacher Appreciation Day (also known as National Teacher Day) is celebrated on the first Tuesday of the first full week of May. Bear's calendar in this episode shows Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday, May 7th.
One weekend, Bear decides to start a new hobby --- "whittlin'." He gets a block of wood and an instruction book, but finds that his early efforts don't look much like the duck in the book. He determines, however, to keep trying. Meanwhile, the kids in the Big Blue House are exploring talents of their own. Ojo continues working on her bike-riding, while Pip and Pop have developed a synchronized-swimming routine. Treelo searches all over for his talent. Tutter, however, experiences a lack of confidence when he learns how great Rita is at kicking the ball in soccer. He tells Bear that he's quitting the team. Songs Do Your Thing Notes There is no Shadow segment in this episode.
Bear and our friends from the Big Blue House are on their way to attend a performance of the famous musician, the Great Bandini. All of them are in awe of the Bandini's skill and on their way, they meet somebody headed to the concert --- Edwina Badger. Edwina Badger helps them all to see the musical talents that they also possess. They learn that there are all sorts of ways to make music and that the voice can be a powerful instrument. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings a song about jazz music. Songs Otter Love Grandma Mambo Music All Around Notes Whoopi Goldberg guest-stars as Edwina Badger/The Great Bandini in this episode. At one point while on their way to the library, Bear and the gang stop by a signpost. The signpost has arrows labeled with the following: Shah Shalla (left), Brigadoon (right), Camelot (left), Library (right), Woodland Valley (right), Shangra-La (right), Xanadu (left), Sequoia City (right), Never Never Land (left). This episode features two songs heard in previous episodes --- "Otter Love" and "The Grandma Mambo." Two versions of "Music All Around" are heard, although the second is essentially just a shorter version of the first. Doc Hogg also sings a bit of "Pig in the Poke Polka."
When Miss Maxwell notices Tutter's enthusiasm for singing the "Woodland Valley Mouse School Song", she asks him to sing the Emmentaler Solo in the upcoming recital. Bear discusses the idea of bravery and notes that being brave often means simply trying something new. Ojo's skill on her bike continues to improve, she decides to try taking off her training wheels. Songs "Woodland Valley Mouse School Song" "You're Braver Than You Know" "The Cheese Chorus/Emmentaler Solo" Notes Songs "Woodland Valley Mouse School Song" "You're Braver Than You Know" "The Cheese Chorus/Emmentaler Solo" Notes The closing credits state "This episode is dedicated to Dean Brent McCune Jr."
On a nice day, Bear decides to make a trip to the General Store to pick up some things he needs. Hearing that he's going to the store, everyone in the Big Blue House asks if they can come too, and Bear agrees. They ask him just how the whole process of buying things and getting money works, so he tells them all about how to earn money and how clams are used as currency in Woodland Valley. Bear wants to get going to the store, but instead they all split up to find ways to earn money. Finally, they all get going to the store. But something happens at the store that teaches them another lesson entirely. Also, Bear spends some time with Shadow at the store, and she tells him a story about a turtle who saved money. Songs General Store Notes To make money, Ojo, Treelo and Tutter create a lemonade stand. Sales are slow, but they sell Bear cookies and lemonade for a total of four clams. The lemonade was made with salt instead of sugar and Bear gets a horrified look on his face after he gulps down an entire pitcher full. Pip and Pop make money by gathering clams, which they sell to Lois, who says that she'll make jewelry out of them. They receive two Woodland Valley clams for their sale. Two rabbit characters are introduced in this episode --- a little boy named Billy and his mother Bonnie. Their home was flooded in the storm that wrecked the library in " Welcome to Woodland Valley." Jeremiah Tortoise is the sole proprietor of the Woodland Valley General Store. Goofs and Nitpicks In this episode, the characters all use a form of currency unique to Woodland Valley --- clams. However, in "The Yard Sale," they all used dollars and cents.
One morning, Bear decides to visit the post office, knowing that Jeremiah can be slow in delivering the mail and wondering if anything's come. At the post office, he finds a two-week old postcard that reveals that a penguin named Puck from the South Pole is paying a visit to the Big Blue House --- today! Bear hurries home to greet Puck. Everyone there is eager to meet him, but the kids begin to worry when they find his food tastes and his behaviors somewhat odd. They try to play with him, but worry that they just don't understand him. Meanwhile, Tutter learns all about diversity at Mouse School. Songs It Takes All Kinds Notes The kids of the Big Blue House play the song "I Only Have Ice for You" for Puck. The title of this song is a spoof on the classic lounge song "I Only Have Eyes for You", as performed by Frank Sinatra. The song in this episode, "It Takes All Kinds," is Track 4 on the album Playhouse Disney 2.
At Mouse School, Miss Maxwell shows the mice a fruit bowl and asks some of them to tell her what they see. She explains the idea of point of view and assigns everyone a project to demonstrate their point of view to the class. Tutter struggles with the assignment --- as far as he's concerned, he sees things from a "boring old Tutter point of view," and not any differently than anyone else. After hearing about the assignment, Treelo paints some paintings to show his point of view. Meanwhile, Tutter finds a camera his Grandma Flutter gave him and decides to make a film called Mouse on Mars --- but not only does he not know much about Mars, it doesn't really represent his point of view. He joins Bear in listening to a Shadow story about the point of view of a duck and a ladybug. Afterwards, Treelo's paintings provide inspiration. Songs It All Depends Upon Your Point of View Notes This is the first of a set of eight episodes shown from April 24-28, 2006. These episodes were produced for the fourth season, but didn't air on Disney Channel until 2006, well over two years after new episodes of the show originally stopped airing. It was long rumored that these episodes might eventually appear, as there were gaps in the known production numbers. These episodes have previously appeared in some foreign markets. Allusions Tutter's film-title, Mouse on Mars, shares its name with a popular band from Germany known for electronic music.
Bear returns to the Big Blue House from a business trip for Bearcraft Tools to find that everything's a mess. He left Lois in charge while he was away and it seems she was perfectly willing to go along with the kids' idea of not cleaning up so that they'd have more time to play. Now Ojo and Treelo are missing their toys --- Snow Bear and Rockboy, Pip and Pop have been stuck in one spot playing an increasingly boring game of tag and Tutter's trapped in the cheese drawer. Bear talks things over with everyone and they begin to see that maybe their time-saving idea is actually wasting time. They then have the same sort of idea about taking a bath, but Bear helps them by getting them to visualize what would happen if they stopped taking baths. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings a song about how to make doing chores fun. Songs Clean Up the House Everybody in the Tub Brush Brush Bree Notes This episode features the same set of songs heard in "Woodland House Wonderful" --- "Clean Up the House," "Everybody in the Tub" and "Brush Brush Bree."
Bear is in charge of refreshments for the Woodland Valley Firefighter's Ball and Otto and Etta Otter have come to the Big Blue House to help out. As Bear heads to Mouse School to pick up Tutter, they work with Treelo, Pip and Pop to get things ready. At Mouse School, Tutter finds out that the mice kids are planning to do a dance called "The Mumble Mambo" at the ball --- one with which he's not familiar at all. At the movie theater, Ojo watches a classic film with Doc Hogg and gets her own idea of just what a ball should be like. When it comes time for the actual ball, neither have a good time, until Bear helps them to see past their expectations. Songs The Mumble Mambo Go with an Open Mind The Firefighter's Cha Cha Cha Notes This is one of the set of "leftover" fourth season episodes that aired in 2006, four years after the rest of the season. There is no Shadow segment in this episode. Harry and Mama Duck attend the Firefighter's Ball, although neither have any lines in this episode. "The Firefighter's Cha-Cha-Cha," is a send-up of "The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha" heard in many episodes. It features the same music and many of the same lines, but others are changed to be firefighter-related.
It's Grandma Flutter's 100th birthday. Bear and the kids of the Big Blue House take some time to reflect on aging and all of the experiences that life has to offer. Ojo, Treelo, Pip and Pop work to decorate the house and prepare for the party, but Tutter still needs to pick out a gift for her. Bear takes him to the General Store, but he's not sure exactly what to buy her. While at the General Store, Tutter learns about some of the wonderful things that his Grandma has done in her life. As he hears more and more, he becomes overwhelmed, until Bear helps him to see how he can work it all into a perfect gift. Bear also plays a game of chess with Doc Hogg. He's not very good, but Doc Hogg helps him to see that he has a lot of time to learn. Shadow also pays a visit and tells a story about about the life of a hammer. Songs For All Your Days Notes This episode also appears in online listings "Granny Flutter's Birthday." Doc Hogg sings Shadow's song. Additionally, a bit of "Happy Happy Birthday" can be heard in this episode. Some of the experiences of Grandma Flutter's life include playing baseball (disguised with a moustache) for the River City Rodents, starting a women's baseball league, starring in the play Ain't Mouse Behavin', meeting the Dalai Llama (he spits) and being a steamboat captain.
While Treelo, Pip and Pop are staying at Otto and Etta's, Tutter holds a sleepover for all classmates at school at the Big Blue House, with Ojo joining in as well. The mice are astounded by the size of the house and everything in it, but Bear does his best to assure them that they'll be well taken care of. He suggests that they think of it as their "home away from home." They decide to play a game called "parmcheesy" and Ojo's worried because it sounds like a game only for mice, but Tutter assures her it wouldn't be a party without her. When it comes time for bed, Keisha wants to call her parents and soon all the other mice do too. As for Tutter, he's a bit worried what the mice will think of his stuffed toy, Kitty, but Bear shows him that they all have their own stuffed toys. As they settle in to sleep, Luke is first uncomfortable with his pillow and then wants to hear a lullaby. Shadow appears to sing her special lullaby, but Luke misses the one sung by his parents and wants to go home. Songs Come on In Home Away from Home Shadow's Lullaby Notes Bear discovers the unique difficulties of feeding a large group of mice in "Tutter's First Big Sleepover Bash." He first puts out a cheese platter, but is surprised when the contents vanish before his eyes. Tutter tells him that they "warmed up on that" and Luke indicates that they're waiting for a more substantial snack. So Bear makes baked Brie for them. Performers Noel MacNeal as Bear and Moss Peter Linz as Tutter Vicki Eibner as Ojo Anney McKilligan as Rita Tara Mooney as Shadow (voice) Lynne Thigpen as Luna (voice)
Bear plans to head out into Woodland Valley to do some volunteer work, but is sidelined when he trips and falls on a skateboard left out by Pip and Pop. His "extreme skateboarding" has left him with a sprained toe, as diagnosed by Doc Hogg. Pip and Pop, as well as Tutter, Treelo and Ojo want to help out Bear, so Doc Hogg suggests they do some volunteering in his place. At first they're not sure they can do anything to help, but agree after being encouraged by Doc Hogg and Bear. Doc Hogg drops off Tutter, Pip and Pop at the library and Ojo and Treelo off at the fire station. At the library, Tutter, Pip and Pop find that a lot of Bear's volunteering there involves heavy lifting, but decide that they can help out with storytime. As they read Little Bunnies on the Glen to a group of actual little bunnies, Ojo and Treelo try to help out at the fire station. They can't change the tires on the fire truck, Bessie, like Bear was going to, but they can help to clean it up. Songs Come on In Clean Up the Truck Notes This episode also appears in online listing as "Volunteers of the Woodland."
When Bear visits the kitchen for a glass of water, he finds Pip and Pop wanting one as well. They make a dash with the water for the Otter Pond, saying that they have a "serious situation." They tell Bear that they're worried the Otter Pond is going to dry out and Woodland Valley will turn into a desert. Bear offers them reassurance and then seeks to find out the origin of this rumor. It turns out to have come from a rather surprising source. Later, when rain finally does come in the form of a storm, both Bear and Shadow do their best to assuage the kids' worries. Songs Come on In You Got to Let It Go Shadow Is Here No Harm (Alternate Version)
When Bear decides to do some relaxing and tune to his favorite station, WCHA-CHA, he hears an announcement for a contest. The station will play a sample from a cha-cha record and the first caller to identify the name of the tune and the artist will win. Bear resolves to sit tight so that we won't miss the contest, but has to get up to help out when the kids in the Big Blue House call. Luckily, he manages to make it back in time for the contest and succeeds in being the first caller and identifying the record. He wins a trip for himself and everyone in the house to Sequoia City. Tutter overhears him celebrating, but only hears a little of it --- he hears Bear saying that he needs a vacation and thinks that he's upset. He and the rest of the kids decide to put together a special celebration for Bear to show him how much he's appreciated. Songs It's Great to Be a Bear Thank You, Bear Notes The episode title appears in some listings without a comma and sometimes with an exclamation mark.
Singing and Dancing With Bear and Friends was a VHS tape released in 2000 exclusively to members of the Bear in the Big Blue House fan club, featuring sing-along versions of several songs from the TV series.
