The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon

*The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon*
The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon
	Left to right: Big Al Gator, Billy Bob Possum, Gumbo Fiddler Crab, Ribbit E. Lee, Ima Dilla, and Joe Raccoon
Genre	Education; Children's;
Created by	Bobby Goldsboro
Written by	Bobby Goldsboro
Voices of	Bobby Goldsboro
Theme music composer	Bobby Goldsboro
Opening theme	"Rollin' Down to Lost Lagoon"
Composer	Bobby Goldsboro
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
Original release
Network	Syndication (seasons 1-2); INSP (season 3)
Release	February 3, 1996 –; January 27, 2001

The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon (originally named Swamp Critters) is an American children's television series created by country music star Bobby Goldsboro. Targeted for children aged 2 to 8, the show featured characters brought to life by actors.^[1] The program aired on public television stations, TLC, and INSP from 1996 to 2001, and according to the show's website (which is partially outdated), it formerly aired on the now-defunct America One Television Network and currently on TCT Kids.^[2]

Characters

Band

William Robert "Billy Bob/Will" Possum (lead singer, bass player, tambourine, harmonica) the problem solver of the group.
Karina Desire "Kari/K.D." Watson (second lead singer, tambourine, soniator guitar/guitar, drums) the cheerful member of the group.
Rancid DuBois (bass player, keyboard,vocals) {Currently}
Joseph "Joe" Raccoon (banjo/guitar, harmonica, saxophone, vocals)
Gumbo the Fiddler Crab (fiddle/violin, vocals)
Todd Bender (bass player, vocals, cameraman)
Ribbit E. Lee (drums, vocals)
Ima Dilla Armadillo (tambourine, dancer, vocals)
Chase Isben (bass player, keyboard, vocals) {Episode 1 - 27}
Alouisious "Big Al Gator" Reptilicus (piano, accordion, vocals)

Other

T. Bone Willie
Slim Pig
Bobby Q. Pig
Cashew Squirrel
Melvis Weasley
Picasso "Speedy" Cottontail as the Easter Bunny and Kari's BFFA
Lumpkin the Pumpkin
Stinger
Patience
Henrietta Hen
Stormy Weathers
Dr. Betterfeel
Sam and Ethel Watson as Mason's Parents and Kari's Grandparents
Shecky Dangerfield-Mouse
Snorkel Elephant
Frank Possum as Suzy Ann's husband, Joel and D.J.'s father and Billy Bob's brother-in-law
Mason Watson as Kari's Widowed Father and Sam & Ethel's Son
Harry Bear
Mya Raccoon as Joe's younger sister
Suzy Ann Possum as Billy Bob's older sister, Joel and D.J.'s mother and Frank's wife
Willie Hank "Country" Weston
Freada Dyle as Big Al's girlfriend
Granny Muskrat
Bonnie and the Bunnies
Michelle Possum as Billy Bob's girlfriend with a French accent
Phinneas Phatrat
William Snakespear
Rosemary Phatrat as Phineas' twin sister and Farley's mother
Farley Phatrat as Phineas' nephew
Lil' Rock Raccoon as Joe's nephew and Mya's son
Joel Possum as Billy Bob's nephew and Frank & Suzy Ann's son
Dorothy-Jane "D.J." Possum as Billy Bob's niece and Frank and Suzy Ann's daughter
Lil' Pedro as Big Al's next restaurant neighbor
Chanel Skunk as Lil' Pedro's business partner
Jefferson Opossum as Pioneer, Billy Bob and Suzy Ann's great-great grandfather

Voice cast and performers

Jim Demetrius
Dianne Goldsboro - all female characters
Joe "Mudfish" Hitch
Jeff Maddux
Charlie Rose

Development

Goldsboro funded the show using his own money instead of getting investors to back it. According to him, "the minute somebody puts in money, they think they have the right to say, 'You know, Barney is so successful, why don't you make that alligator purple instead of green?' I've got enough to worry about without having to appease somebody else." Goldsboro also decided to start the show on a PBS affiliate rather than on a network affiliate. According to him, if he had gone to a network he "would have had to have a lot more action on the show. On the network shows, everything is fast cuts and fast movements. They think that's what kids want to see in this day and age of video games".^[3] Swamp Critter actor Charlie Rose (Billy Bob Possum and puppeteer), says "The pilot episode was produced in December 1995 at WEDU. Our company, Peeler-Productions, had spent the early part of that year designing and building the character costumes, heads, puppets, providing set designs to actor Jim Demetrius (Ribbet E. Lee) who doubled as set builder for another company." The rest of season 1 was produced in early 1996 and was broadcast the following spring. The same is true for the second season. In fall of 1996, the second season was in production, and made its first broadcast in the spring of 1997. The first two seasons aired in reruns on TLC's Ready Set Learn! block from 1997 to 1999. The reruns moved to INSP in 1999, where a third season was broadcast between fall of 2000 and spring of 2001.

Music

Each half-hour episode contains four to six songs, ranging from blues and Dixieland jazz to pop and classical and country music. For the first two seasons, over 100 songs were written. According to Goldsboro, "it's music that's on a children's show but it's not children's music. I've never understood talking down to kids and treating them like they're imbeciles. Several shows do that."^[3]

Animatronics

Each of the main characters' costume heads contains over $20,000 worth of animatronics, which are used to control their facial expressions and mouth movements.^[3]

References

^ "Bobby Goldsboro". classicbands.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
^ "Swamp Critters Television!". bobbygoldsboro.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c Pamela Davis. "Goldsboro plays new tune on PBS". South Coast Today. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

External links

The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon at IMDb

[1] "Bobby Goldsboro". classicbands.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

[2] "Swamp Critters Television!". bobbygoldsboro.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

[tune-3] Pamela Davis. "Goldsboro plays new tune on PBS". South Coast Today. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

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