Barney, a large purple dinosaur with green spots, was created in 1987 by Sheryl Leach of Dallas, Texas. She came up with the idea for the show, while considering TV shows that she felt would be educational and appeal to her son. She then brought together a team which created a series of home videos, the first being (Barney and the Backyard Gang) which also starred actress Sandy Duncan. Barney has joined in with Baby Bop and B.J. Although the videos were a modest regional success, Barney only became a mega hit when picked up by the Public Broadcasting System and debuting as "Barney & Friends" in 1992. For several years, the show was taped at the ColorDynamics Studios facility at Greenville Avenue & Bethany Drive in Allen, Texas, after which it moved to The Studios at Las Colinas in Las Colinas, Texas. Currently, the series shoots in a northern suburb of Dallas. The TV series and videos are distributed by HIT Entertainment. Barney & Friends was made possible by HIT Entertainment, Connecticut Public Television, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Chuck E Cheese's, Chef JR., Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Mead Johnson, Public Broadcasting Service), and Viewers Like You. |
