Generation Barney

For years, two men brought Barney to life. One was the voice, one was the body, and together they entertained kids around the world. Bob West and David Joyner created an iconic character in Barney, from the goofy laugh to those gravity-defying jumps. Just like the character meant so much to many of us, Barney meant a lot to Bob and David, too.

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In the 90s, preschoolers went nuts for “Barney & Friends” — and that’s kind of by design. The people behind the show put a lot of thought into every detail, from the word choices in scripts to the behaviors Barney modeled. Barney spoke to kids in a language they could understand. And those little ones? They were also central to the creation, and evolution, of the show.

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Kids all over the world loved Barney. But even though Barney loved everybody, not everybody loved him back. Some parents found the character pretty annoying. Other grown-ups took things a step further. In some cases, the Barney backlash even got violent. That extreme reaction from adults? It can tell us a bit about our culture today — and how much our identities can get wrapped up in the things we love and hate.

On “Barney & Friends,” Barney starts off as a plush toy and then comes to life. That iconic stuffed animal wasn’t just on the small screen; it was in the homes of children around the world. Merchandise was a huge part of the show’s success. But “Barney & Friends” wasn’t the first movie or TV show to connect with fans through merch. That dates back a long time — and has a history that includes He-Man, Ronald Rea...

For a lot of young viewers, Barney wasn’t just a character on TV. He was more like a friend. Barney even became a kind of mentor for some kids. For one group of friends, their friendship — and even careers — might’ve turned out totally different had it not been for a purple dinosaur.

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“Barney & Friends” was all about the music. Barney and the kids on the show would learn about everything through song. The people behind Barney’s tunes had to make sure toddlers could easily understand what they were hearing — that meant songs had to be active, repetitive, and simple. But those same ingredients? They made some parents cringe. For a lot of them, the songs felt like torture.

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Barney made kids feel loved. He was a friend, sometimes even a father figure, to Millennials and Gen Zers. To this day, many are finding comfort in this purple dinosaur and trying to put his values into practice. So, why do the things we loved as kids stick with us? What draws us back to them decades later?

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/DINO and get on...