The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon

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 PBS and The Learning Channel from 1996 to 2001, and according to the show's website, it currently airs on the America One Television Network and on TCT Kids.[2]

Swamp Critters
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 byBobby Goldsboro
Written byBobby Goldsboro
Voices ofBobby Goldsboro
Theme music composerBobby Goldsboro
Opening theme"Rollin' Down to Lost Lagoon"
ComposerBobby Goldsboro
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Release
Original network
Original releaseFebruary 3, 1996 (1996-02-03) –
January 27, 2001 (2001-01-27)

Characters

Band
  • William Robert "Billy Bob/Will" Possum (lead singer, bass player, tambourine, harmonica), The problem solver of the group & Suzy Ann's younger brother.
  • Karina "Kari/K.D." Watson (singer, tambourine, guitar/sonator guitar, drums), Daughter of Mason Watson.
  • Joseph "Joe" Raccoon (banjo/guitar, harmonica, saxophone, vocals), Mya's older brother.
  • Chase Isben (bass, keyboard, vocals) {Seasons 1 and 2}
  • Rancid DuBois (bass, keyboard, vocals) {Seasons 3 and 4}
  • Todd Bender (bass, vocals)
  • Gumbo the Fiddler Crab (fiddle/violin, vocals)
  • Ribbit E. Lee (drums, vocals)
  • Ima Dilla Armadillo (tambourine, dancer, vocals)
  • Alouisious "Big Al Gator" Reptilicus (piano, accordion, vocals), the owner of the cafe where the Swamp Critters play.

Other characters
  • 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 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
  • Phineas Phatrat
  • William Snakespear
  • Farley Phatrat as Phineas' nephew
  • Lil' Rock Raccoon as Joe's nephew
  • 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

Cast and crew
  • Billy Bob Possum - Charlie Rose
  • Kari Watson - Samantha Caras
  • Joe Raccoon - Jeff W. Maddux
  • Chase Isben - Christopher Huber {Seasons 1 and 2}
  • Rancid DuBois - Marquise Wilson {Seasons 3 and 4}
  • Todd Bender - Seth Adkins
  • Big Al Gator - Joe "Mudfish" Hitch
  • Ima Dilla Armadillo - Dianne Goldsboro
  • Sam Watson - Tom Bosley
  • Ethel Watson - Marion Ross
  • Gumbo Fiddler Crab - puppeteer Daniel. W. Peeler
  • Bobby Q. - puppeteer Paul Taylor
  • Mya Raccoon - Cree Summers
  • Frank Possum - Pep Harris
  • Granny Muskrat - puppeteer Russi Taylor
  • Melvis Weasley - Jeff Bennett
  • Michelle Possum - Casey Carlson
  • Suzy Ann Possum - Michelle Muller
  • Slim Pig - Jack Reilly
  • Phinneas Phatrat - Dan Povenmire
  • Ribbit E. Lee - Jim Demetrius
  • Freada Dyle - Faith Prince
  • Mason Watson and All characters (voices) – Bobby Goldsboro
  • Suzy Ann Possum (voice) - Pamelyn Ferdin {Episodes 13 and 14}
                           Rue Phillips {Season 2}
                           Christine Westmoreland {Seasons 3 and 4}
  • Frank Possum (voice) - Mike Henry
  • Michelle Possum (voice) - Chantal Strand
  • Freada Dyle (voice) - Kath Soucie
  • Mya Raccoon (voice) - Tress MacNeille

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] The first season was produced in late 1995 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. Between 1998 and 1999, the first two seasons aired in reruns on PBS and TLC, and in the year 2000, the show was revived for a third season, which 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]

Episodes

Season 1 (1996)
  1. "Bobby Q. Runs Away" (Feb. 03, 1996)
  2. "Bayou Jamballa Jubilee" (Feb. 10, 1996)
  3. "Where's Ima?" (Feb. 17, 1996)
  4. "The Bluesville" (Feb. 24, 1996)
  5. "Yellowbeard the Pirate" (Mar. 2, 1996)
  6. "Phatrat & the Manatees" (Mar. 9, 1996)
  7. "Foggy Bottom Fiddlin' Contest" (Mar. 16, 1996)
  8. "Promise Them Anything" (Mar. 23, 1996)
  9. "Blues in My Shoes" (Mar. 30, 1996)
  10. "Classic Gumbo" (Apr. 06, 1996)
  11. "The Easter Show" (Apr. 13, 1996)
  12. "The Halloween Show" (Oct. 26, 1996)
  13. "The Christmas Show" (Dec. 21, 1996)

Season 2 (1997)
  1. "Back to the Fifties" (Mar. 01, 1997)
  2. "Another Jubilee" (Mar. 08, 1997)
  3. "Big Al Finds Courage" (Mar. 15, 1997)
  4. "Joe Writes a Hit" (Mar. 22, 1997)
  5. "Big Al Meets Cupid" (Mar. 29, 1997)
  6. "Disco Here, 'Dat Go There" (Apr. 05, 1997)
  7. "The Taffy Pull" (Apr. 12, 1997)
  8. "Eager Beaver" (Apr. 19, 1997)
  9. "Easter Egg Mornin'" (Apr. 26, 1997)
  10. "The Opening Act" (May. 03, 1997)
  11. "Little Lie, Big Lie" (May 10, 1997)
  12. "Ribbit Goes to Mexico" (May. 17, 1997)
  13. "Savin' the Everglades" (May. 24, 1997)

Season 3 (2000–01)
  1. "Ribbit to the Rescue" (Nov. 04, 2000)
  2. "Songs of Love & Inspiration" (Nov. 11, 2000)
  3. "The Ballad of Country Weston" (Nov. 18, 2000)
  4. "The Best That You Can Be" (Nov. 25, 2000)
  5. "School Daze" (Dec. 2, 2000)
  6. "Rainy Daze (God's River of Love)" (Dec. 09, 2000)
  7. "The Shot Heard Round the Swamp" (Dec. 16, 2000)
  8. "(Unknown Title)" (Dec. 23, 2000)
  9. "(Unknown Title)" (Dec. 30, 2000)
  10. "(Unknown Title)" (Jan. 06, 2001)
  11. "The Story of Snuffy Part 1" (Jan. 13, 2001)
  12. "The Story of Snuffy Part 2" (Jan. 20, 2001)
  13. "The Story of Snuffy Part 3" (Jan. 27, 2001)

Sing Along Special (2001)
  1. "Sing Along with the Swamp Critters" (Feb. 03, 2001)

References
  1. "Bobby Goldsboro". classicbands.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  2. "Swamp Critters Television!". bobbygoldsboro.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  3. Pamela Davis. "Goldsboro plays new tune on PBS". South Coast Today. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
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