Happy 20th Birthday Barney
Barney & Friends was the first TV show to use the word edutainment to describe itself. Blending entertainment with an educational focus, it strives to address a preschooler’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical needs. Most importantly, Barney is known for his unconditional love he offers to his friends, both on-screen and off. Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing none other than Barney himself. Here is what he shared: 
B. (Chuckling) Thank you Ranny. My friends and I arecelebrating by taking a big purple bus tour to travel all across thecountry, visiting Children’s Miracle Network hospitals and Toys R Usstores. We’re going to 20 cities altogether and we’re half way done,with ten more still to go. It’s really wonderful because we get to seeour friends at the hospitals. If we can, we’ll do a show or visit thekids in their rooms. Our next appearance will be at the Big Apple Circus in Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, Georgia on Friday February 8.
B. Not really that much. I have lots of new friends. But, one thing I’ve found out is that every generation is pretty much the same – everyone likes to have friends.
RL What have been the highlights of your last 20 years? What is your favorite thing?
B. Every time I get a hug – that’s my favorite thing.
RL. PBS has been a great home for your TV show. To what do you attribute your success?
B. By success, do you mean that I have lots of friends and I am loved and can be loved? I think success is also doing what you do best – because everyone can be themselves. That’s what I do. We’ve had lots of good friends on the show who have talent such as dancing and singing and we like to show them doing those things. But mostly, we just like to get together, have fun and, along the way learn other things like counting and singing.
RL. There are so many cycles and trends that influence entertainment. Something that’s hot one year is old the next. How do you deal with that?
B. You know about Riff, right? BJ and Baby Bop’s cousin. He’s with us now and he loves music. He’s in our anniversary show. He makes music out of different things, like the wind blowing through the rain or on the rooftop. And, of course imagination is a very special thing and we use that to visit lots of different places like India.
RL. You’re not just on television, you have live road shows, an internet site, I think you have downloadable programming. how do you keep up with it all. How many people are involved in helping you do what you do?
B. I really don’t know much about that. I pretty much have fun with my friends and have a lot of people around me using their imagination to make things happen.
RL. You are such an upbeat personality. What advice do you have for young people today, some of whom might have some tough things to deal with. How can someone keep such a positive attitude towards life like you do?
B. You know the reason I have a positive attitude is because I know I am so loved. If each child could remember how much they are loved, they would be happy.
