LRF NOW Original Series: Life with Barney - Season 1 Episode 1

 

Life with Barney
Genre: Animation/Family
Executive Producer: Angela Santomero
Writer: Jacob Jones
Based on Barney and Friends


Season 1 Episode 1: First Day at School

Voice Cast:
Dean Wendt .... Barney the Dinosaur
Miriam Spumpkin .... Marcie
Roger Dale Floyd .... Matthew
Mykal-Michelle Harris .... Anna
Ravi Cabot-Conyers .... Pablo
Brayden Newburn .... DJ
Alejandra Howard .... Gabi
Patty Witz .... BJ
Julie Johnson .... Baby Bop
Sasaki Miyu .... Kairi
Robert Sweatmon .... Mr. Roberts


As a new morning begins on Oakwood Elementary, a car rolls into the parking lot carrying a nervous looking girl. Her dad and mother reassure that it’s going to be great and that she’ll love it in Oakwood before sending her off her way. She looks around the area, slowly walking up the steps before coming across Marcie (Miriam Spumpkin). Despite being taken aback by her spirited introduction, the new girl introduces herself as Anna (Mykal-Michelle Harris).

From there, Marcie takes Anna into Oakwood Elementary and introduces her to some of her other friends including Pablo (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), D.J (Brayden Newburn) and Kairi (Sasaki Miyu) before finally entering Mr. Roberts’s class (Robert Sweatmon). As a new school day begins, Mr. Roberts introduces everyone to Anna and gives her an introduction to ‘their greatest friend’, Barney (Dean Wendt), a purple T-Rex plush toy. Anna sits by Marcie, confused by everyone’s intrigue over him.

At recess, the kids meet up with Matthew (Roger Dale Floyd) and Gabi (Alejandra Howard), older siblings of Marcie and Pablo, and learn of Anna’s first day. Matthew suggests doing something to welcome her and the gang all begin to spread various ideas. Within a flash, the Barney plush toy springs into action, much to the surprise of everyone except Marcie. As it turns out, by spreading their imagination, they managed to bring Barney to life.

With Barney now by their side, everyone begins to work out ways to welcome their new friend, all in their various different styles. Matthew with his love of sports, Kairi embracing her love of art with paint, D.J building a volcano out of things from Barney’s bag, Pablo and Gabi using the power of music and Marcie trying to start up a game of freeze tag. Along the way, they’re introduced to B.J (Patty Wirtz) and his little sister Baby Bop (Julie Johnson) and almost encounter Mr. Roberts (Barney managed to make himself invisible before he sees him).

Eventually, the kids realize that the best way to introduce themselves to Anna. As she sadly sits on the swing, Anna is officially introduced to the others and Barney and learns of their interests. The group combines all their interests into one gigantic play date, ending with Anna enjoying everything they do, even revealing her own thing, flying kites. Now with a whole new group of friends, Anna thanks everyone for being with her today. With recess almost over, Barney reassured everyone that he’ll be there whenever they’re using their imagination. As the kids head back to school, Anna looks at Barney, now back to being a plush toy and realizes that things are going to be just fine at her new school.


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"The entire concept - and especially how Barney is portrayed and utilized - is confusing and bizarre. It feels long has too many redundant characters. Writer Jacob Jones clearly means well, but I don't see things taking off well after this well-crafted but ill-conceived pilot." - Cal Crowe, Washington Globe

"Barney is not a character that has aged well. He now feels more creepy than friendly. Even with the wise decision to switch from live-action to animation, I cannot fathom what the audience for this show is. Barney was always more of a character for toddlers, but here we have a show set around a group of kids that are older than those that might watch." - Jeff Stockton, The Roundup

"I don't know if anyone really thought Barney needed a comeback, but this shows why that character is timeless. I might not be a fan of the character, but I know kids will watch this show if their parents turn it on based on this pilot." - Jessie Wicke, Voxxx