Little Bill is an American animated television series created by Bill Cosby.[1] It aired on Nickelodeon and Noggin.[2] The main character was inspired by both Cosby's childhood and by his late son, Ennis Cosby.[3] Little Bill's catchphrase "Hello, friend!" was originally a greeting that Ennis used.[4] The show ran for two production seasons,[5] each containing 26 episodes (52 episodes in total).[6]
Series overview
edit| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 26 | November 28, 1999[6] | June 10, 2002 | |
| 2 | 26 | May 7, 2001 | February 6, 2004 | |
Episodes
editSeason 1 (1999–2002)
editThe first season has a total of 26 episodes.[6] Most episodes are divided into two stories.[6] The season was first announced in 1997; at first, it was planned to be a series of three specials, before it was expanded into a 26-episode season.[4]
| No. in series |
Title | Original air date[7] | Production code[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Treasure Hunt / The Best Way to Play" | November 28, 1999[1] (Nickelodeon) September 17, 2007[15] (Noggin) | 101 |
|
"The Treasure Hunt": Little Bill goes on a treasure hunt in order to keep himself occupied on a rainy day. "The Best Way to Play": Little Bill learns that things you want can sometimes be expensive, such as a video game. Andrew gets a Space Explorers video game, but the gameplay, sounds and designs are more boring than they expected, and they learn that playing Space Explorers outside is better. | |||
| 2 | "Monty's Roar / Natural Root Pals" | December 19, 1999 (Nickelodeon) September 18, 2007 (Noggin) | 102 |
|
"Monty's Roar": Little Bill meets Monty, a boy with cerebral palsy who likes dinosaurs. "Natural Root Pals": Little Bill's friend Dorado helps him past the time while their mothers get their hair done at a beauty parlor. | |||
| 3 | "Zoopity Zoo / The Neighborhood Park" | September 6, 2000 (Nickelodeon) September 20, 2007 (Noggin) | 103 |
|
"Zoopity Zoo": Little Bill learns how to make cleaning his room fun, and later they clean Andrew's room as well. "The Neighborhood Park": Little Bill and his friends and family turn a vacant lot into a park. | |||
| 4 | "Guppies / The Magic Quilt" | January 9, 2000 (Nickelodeon) September 21, 2007[15] (Noggin) | 104 |
|
"Guppies": Little Bill takes swimming lessons with his cousin Fuchsia. He is a bit scared of the big pool at first, but soon gets used to it. "The Magic Quilt": Little Bill is afraid of the dark, but a quilt from Alice the Great helps overcome his fear of it. | |||
| 5 | "Just a Baby / The Campout" | December 5, 1999 (Nickelodeon) September 24, 2007 (Noggin) | 105 |
|
"Just a Baby": Little Bill's baby cousin Jamal visits and Little Bill learns about babies from Brenda, Big Bill, and Bobby. "The Campout": Little Bill and Andrew pretend to play camp out in the backyard with Bobby. "Note": This is the only episode to feature Madeline Kahn. Kahn died five days after she recorded her lines for Mrs. Shapiro. This episode was dedicated to her memory. | |||
| 6 | "The Dollar / The Choice" | December 12, 1999 (Nickelodeon) September 25, 2007 (Noggin) | 106 |
|
"The Dollar": Little Bill finds a dollar bill and contemplates what to spend it on. At Uncle Al's store, he and his friends can't get all the big prizes because they don't have enough money and he decides to buy small egg-toys instead. "The Choice": Little Bill is upset because he never gets to choose ice cream or anything else at the supermarket until he, April, and Bobby have to pick out a box of cereal and Little Bill chooses the variety pack which has each of the kinds of cereal that the kids all want. | |||
| 7 | "Chicken Pox / Shipwreck Saturday" | June 4, 2000 (Nickelodeon) September 26, 2007 (Noggin) | 107 |
|
"Chicken Pox": Little Bill has had the chicken pox for a week, and has to stay home and rest from a blue sox baseball game. While at home, special guests such as Miss Murray and the mailman visit him. "Shipwreck Saturday": Little Bill and his father make a toy sailing ship to sail, but a man in his canoe accidentally hits it. | |||
| 8 | "The Promise / The Practice" | September 7, 2000 (Nickelodeon) September 27, 2007 (Noggin) | 108 |
|
"The Promise": Little Bill borrows his sister April's basketball trophy for show and tell, but his friends lose the ball. "The Practice": April takes Little Bill to basketball practice while Alice the Great is at the dentist, but Little Bill gets annoyed when he thinks he doesn't want to go to April's basketball practice. | |||
| 9 | "The Meanest Thing to Say / Lavatory Story" | February 6, 2000 (Nickelodeon) September 10, 2007[15] (Noggin) | 109 |
|
"The Meanest Thing to Say": A new boy at school named Michael bullies Little Bill and his friends by playing the dozens. "Lavatory Story": Little Bill tries to show Michael to the bathroom, or the "lavatory", with many other room visits as well. | |||
| 10 | "Big Kid / The Bills Go to Work" | June 19, 2000 (Nickelodeon) September 28, 2007 (Noggin) | 110 |
|
"Big Kid": Little Bill acts like a big kid after he watches a movie where Captain Brainstorm's dog Sparky saved the planet Yubba and is called a big dog. "The Bills Go to Work": Big Bill takes Little Bill to his work for the first time to show him what he does. | |||
| 11 | "Are We There Yet? / Super Family Fun Land!" | September 8, 2000 | 111 |
|
"Are We There Yet?": Little Bill and his family take a road trip to an amusement park, but it rains along the way as they play games. "Super Family Fun Land!": The family spends time at Super Family Fun Land which has the spider and centipede rides and all the other fun rides. | |||
| 12 | "The Zoo / My Pet Elephant" | February 20, 2000 | 112 |
|
"The Zoo": Little Bill's class goes on a field trip to the zoo. Little Bill wants to see the elephants, but there are many other animals to see before that. "My Pet Elephant": Following the class's field trip to the zoo, Little Bill gets a new pet hamster and decides to name it "Elephant". | |||
| 13 | "Copy Cat / Picture Day" | February 26, 2001 | 113 |
|
"Copy Cat": Little Bill is upset when Andrew calls him a copycat. "Picture Day": Little Bill wants to pick out his own clothes for Picture Day. | |||
| 14 | "Elephant on the Loose / If a Bird Rings, Answer It" | September 5, 2000 | 114 |
|
"Elephant on the Loose": Elephant gets lost in the house, so the family tries to find him. "If a Bird Rings, Answer It": Little Bill finds a lost parrot with an abnormal talent. | |||
| 15 | "The Ring Bear / Miss Murray's Wedding" | November 13, 2000 (Nickelodeon) February 14, 2009 (Noggin) | 115 |
|
"The Ring Bear": Little Bill is going to be a ring bearer and Kiku is going to be a flower girl for Miss Murray's wedding. "Miss Murray's Wedding": Miss Murray marries Dr. Winthrop Clinkscales. | |||
| 16 | "Little Bill's Adventure with Captain Brainstorm" | September 4, 2000 | 116 |
|
Little Bill and his friends go to the mall to see Captain Brainstorm in person. At first, Little Bill gets nervous. However, after reading a story he wrote, Little Bill gains the confidence to go up to Captain Brainstorm and take a photo with him. | |||
| 17 | "The Birthday Present / The Birthday Party" | November 14, 2000 | 117 |
|
"The Birthday Present": Little Bill accidentally ruins Fuchsia's birthday present, a Gooey Bot. "The Birthday Party": Little Bill attends Fuchsia's birthday party, but is concerned when Andrew got the same kind of present as he did. | |||
| 18 | "Rolling Along / The Stage Trick" | November 17, 2000 September 11, 2007[15] (Noggin) | 118 |
|
"Rolling Along": Little Bill tries to learn how to roll, which he complains about until April teaches him. "The Stage Trick": Little Bill gets stage fright while practicing for a school play and thinks he doesn't want to be the grass anymore, so Ms. Murray helps him do a calming-down trick. | |||
| 19 | "A Trip to the Hospital / The Wrong Thing to Do" | November 15, 2000 | 119 |
|
"A Trip to the Hospital": Little Bill and Fuchsia are playing Wild West until Little Bill falls down, causing him to break his arm. Alice the Great takes him to the hospital, but calls his mother to meet them and comfort him. "The Wrong Thing to Do": Little Bill is upset that he has to stay inside due to his broken arm, so he imagines that he is playing basketball, but gets in trouble when he draws on April's door and gets a timeout in his room. | |||
| 20 | "Making Mother's Day / Picture Perfect" | November 16, 2000 (Nickelodeon) May 11, 2008 (Noggin) | 120 |
|
"Making Mother's Day": Little Bill forgets to bring his mother's day gift to his mother from school. It is up to him to find something else as a gift for his mother for Mother's Day. "Picture Perfect": Little Bill learns how to use a camera, which is not too easy. | |||
| 21 | "Number One on Honeywood Street / Baseball Glovers" | June 10, 2002 (Nickelodeon) August 10, 2008 (Noggin) | 121 |
|
"Number One on Honeywood Street": Little Bill, Bobby, and April compete against Andrew and his cousins. "Baseball Glovers": Little Bill's entire family plays baseball at a family reunion, but when Alice the Great is unable to run due to a sore knee, Little Bill fills in for her. | |||
| 22 | "The Violin Lesson / Squirmy" | May 8, 2001 | 122 |
|
"The Violin Lesson": Little Bill unintentionally upsets Bobby when he makes fun of the way Bobby plays the violin. "Squirmy": Little Bill finds an earthworm and wants to keep it as a pet. | |||
| 23 | "Michael Sleeps Over / Michael's First Snow" | February 4, 2002 (Nickelodeon) December 10, 2007 (Noggin) | 123 |
|
"Michael Sleeps Over": Michael gets homesick when he sleeps over at Little Bill's house. "Michael's First Snow": Little Bill helps Michael get used to snow. | |||
| 24 | "Monty Visits / Mom's Trip" | May 9, 2001 (Nickelodeon) May 11, 2008 (Noggin) | 124 |
|
"Monty Visits": Little Bill is jealous of Monty being with Alice the Great when he says that he loves Alice the Great instead of Little Bill. "Mom's Trip": Little Bill misses his mother when she goes on an overnight business trip. | |||
| 25 | "The Snack Helper / Buds" | February 19, 2001 (Nickelodeon) April 13, 2008 (Noggin) | 125 |
|
"The Snack Helper": Little Bill faces a tough decision on whom to send to the snack table first as the snack helper. "Buds": Little Bill and Andrew learn about nature. | |||
| 26 | "A Day at the Beach / The Get Well Song" | January 7, 2002 (Nickelodeon) June 8, 2008 (Noggin) | 126 |
|
"A Day at the Beach": Little Bill and his family goes to the beach. "The Get Well Song": Little Bill helps his sick father feel better by recording a song with his friends at their school. | |||
Season 2 (2001–2004)
editLike the previous season, this season has a total of 26 episodes.
| No. in series |
Title | Original air date[7] | Production code[16][17][18][19][5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | "The Incredible Shrinking Little Bill / The Big Swings" | April 7, 2003 (Nickelodeon) August 10, 2008 (Noggin) | 201 |
|
"The Incredible Shrinking Little Bill": Little Bill thinks he is shrinking after he measures himself on the wrong side of the head. "The Big Swings": Bobby accidentally scares Little Bill by pushing him too high on the swings. | |||
| 28 | "The New Neighbors / Doggie Magic" | September 18, 2002 (Nickelodeon) May 15, 2008 (Noggin) | 202 |
|
"The New Neighbors": Little Bill meets Mr. Rojas and his dog, Miguelito (or Lito for short), who had recently moved into Mrs. Shapiro's old house. "Doggie Magic": Little Bill spends time at Mr. Rojas's house to watch Captain Brainstorm while Big Bill helps fix Mr. Rojas's car, but after he runs to the backyard with Lito, he accidentally locks himself out while Captain Brainstorm is still on. | |||
| 29 | "The Car Keys / Doggie Sitting" | September 20, 2002 | 203 |
|
"The Car Keys": Little Bill accidentally loses Big Bill's car keys. "Doggie Sitting": Little Bill, Bobby, and April try to take care of Mr. Rojas's dog, Lito. | |||
| 30 | "Same Moon, Same Sun, Same Star / All Together Now" | September 16, 2002 (Nickelodeon) May 11, 2008 (Noggin) | 204 |
|
"Same Moon, Same Sun, Same Star": Mrs. Shapiro is moving back to Hawaii in order to live with her sister Mimi, which makes Little Bill disappointed. "All Together Now": Little Bill wants to run away to avoid taking a nap, so his family pretends they're running away too to show how much they love him. | |||
| 31 | "Wabbit Worries / Wabbit Babies" | February 5, 2002 (VHS release) March 25, 2002 (Nickelodeon) March 23, 2008 (Noggin) | 205 |
|
"Wabbit Worries": Little Bill is concerned about one of the class' pet rabbits, who is pregnant. "Wabbit Babies": Little Bill tries to find a place for the baby rabbits to live. | |||
| 32 | "Ready, Set, Read! / I Got a Letter" | April 29, 2002 (Nickelodeon) September 12, 2007[15] (Noggin) | 206 |
|
"Ready, Set, Read!": Little Bill wants to learn how to read, which he does at school with the help of a word hunt and the Harry the Helpful Horse book. "I Got a Letter": Little Bill learns how to write letters, and wants to get letters of his own. | |||
| 33 | "New Foods / Elephant Tricks" | November 5, 2002 | 207 |
|
"New Foods": Valencia and Dorado invite Little Bill over to their house for dinner, but Little Bill is afraid to try new foods. "Elephant Tricks": Little Bill tries to get Elephant to do tricks, which are unsuccessful. | |||
| 34 | "When Friends Get Mad / The Party Box" | September 17, 2002 | 208 |
|
"When Friends Get Mad": Little Bill gets mad at Kiku after she accidentally spills water on his picture and refuses to apologize after he crumples up her picture in return. "The Party Box": Little Bill is disappointed when he finds that his parents and Alice the Great are having an adult party and he cannot come. | |||
| 35 | "The No-Talking Contest / The Search for the Sock" | May 10, 2001 | 209 |
|
"The No-Talking Contest": Little Bill, Bobby, and April have a no-talking contest, which becomes a problem when Bobby's watch is about to get thrown out. "The Search for the Sock": Little Bill loses one of April's lucky socks in her absence. | |||
| 36 | "Summertime in the Wintertime / Snowracer" | September 24, 2002 (VHS release) March 2, 2003 (Nickelodeon) January 30, 2008 (Noggin) | 210 |
|
"Summertime in the Wintertime": During a blizzard, Little Bill pretends that it is summertime in the wintertime. "Snowracer": Little Bill and Michael build a snow race car, but the snowcar melts as it gets warmer outside. | |||
| 37 | "What About Me? / Happy Not Birthday to You" | November 6, 2002 | 211 |
|
"What About Me?": Little Bill feels left out when his parents are too busy to spend time with him. "Happy Not Birthday to You": Little Bill wants to cheer up April when she loses the basketball championship, the reason being she missed an important shot. | |||
| 38 | "Monty Joins the Class / Dad Goes to School" | May 7, 2001 (Nickelodeon) September 13, 2007[15] (Noggin) | 212 |
|
"Monty Joins the Class": Monty joins Little Bill's class, and he's eager to help Monty find his way, which becomes a problem for Monty. "Dad Goes to School": Big Bill goes to Johnson Elementary School to tell Little Bill's class how his jobs works. | |||
| 39 | "Racing Time / All Tied Up" | February 17, 2003 (Nickelodeon) September 14, 2007[15] (Noggin) | 213 |
|
"Racing Time": Little Bill runs late for school due to his dawdling. "All Tied Up": Little Bill wants to learn how to tie his shoes. | |||
| 40 | "The Surprise! / Good Ol' Lightnin'" | January 13, 2003 | 214 |
|
"The Surprise!": Little Bill tries to help prepare for Alice the Great's birthday. "Good Ol' Lightnin'": When looking at a photo album, Little Bill discovers Alice the Great's old wagon, Ol' Lightnin'. | |||
| 41 | "Get Well, Elephant / Elephant's Best Friend" | June 16, 2003 | 215 |
|
"Get Well, Elephant": Elephant is sick, so Little Bill takes care of him. "Elephant's Best Friend": Little Bill wants to get Elephant a best friend. | |||
| 42 | "The New Babysitter / My Friend Isabel" | November 4, 2002 | 216 |
|
"The New Babysitter": Little Bill gets a new babysitter, Isabel, who he takes some time getting used to. "My Friend Isabel": Little Bill is upset at saying goodbye to Isabel. | |||
| 43 | "The Halloween Costume / The Haunted Halloween Party" | October 29, 2001 (Nickelodeon) October 31, 2007 (Noggin) | 217 |
|
"The Halloween Costume": Little Bill is upset that a Captain Brainstorm costume he wanted is sold out, until he makes his own from the stuff in the house. "The Haunted Halloween Party": Little Bill attends a Halloween party. | |||
| 44 | "The Best Book Ever! / A Ramp for Monty" | November 7, 2002 (Nickelodeon) September 7, 2008 (Noggin) | 218 |
|
"The Best Book Ever!": Little Bill gets a library card and checks out a fictional book about hamsters. "A Ramp for Monty": Little Bill and Big Bill build a ramp for Monty to make it easier for him to get into the backyard. | |||
| 45 | "The Skating Lesson / Mr. Moth" | May 12, 2003 (Nickelodeon) August 10, 2008 (Noggin) | 219 |
|
"The Skating Lesson": April teaches Little Bill how to skate. "Mr. Moth": Little Bill waits for his moth to hatch, which is taking a rather long time. | |||
| 46 | "Private Time / Never" | February 6, 2004 (Nickelodeon) May 11, 2008 (Noggin) | 220 |
|
"Private Time": Little Bill and Brenda have some private time after she and Big Bill dance to their favorite song. "Never": Little Bill and Alice the Great make a new friend named Clarke Terry. | |||
| 47 | "The Musical Instrument / The Choir" | April 21, 2003 (Nickelodeon) March 15, 2009 (Noggin) | 221 |
|
"The Musical Instrument": Little Bill wants to play an instrument. He and Big Bill goes to a music shop, but do not find the right one. Later, Little Bill uses his voice as an instrument. "The Choir": Little Bill does not listen to April's choir instructions. | |||
| 48 | "Merry Christmas, Little Bill!" | December 3, 2001 (Nickelodeon) December 21, 2007 (Noggin) | 222 |
|
Little Bill is afraid that Alice the Great will not be home in time for Christmas. | |||
| 49 | "I Can Sign / The Sign for Friend" | May 5, 2003 | 223 |
|
"I Can Sign": Little Bill and Brenda are going grocery shopping at the marker when he meets a deaf employee and learns sign language from April. "The Sign for Friend": Little Bill and Andrew call out to a girl, but she doesn't answer. Little Bill and Andrew are confused at first until they realize that the girl is deaf and only knows sign language. | |||
| 50 | "Echo Falls / Going Fishing" | November 8, 2002 (Nickelodeon) June 15, 2008 (Noggin) | 224 |
|
"Echo Falls": Little Bill, Fuchsia and their fathers hike to Echo Falls, with the help of a few red arrows. "Going Fishing": Little Bill wants to catch a fish. On the first boat trip, his attempts are unsuccessful, but with the help of a hot dog, he catches one on the second. | |||
| 51 | "The Early Bill / Going Camping" | September 19, 2002 (Nickelodeon) July 13, 2008 (Noggin) | 225 |
|
"The Early Bill": Little Bill gets up early at 5:00am, and Alice the Great takes him for a walk. "Going Camping": Little Bill and Big Bill camp out in the backyard while Bobby and April go for a school camping trip. | |||
| 52 | "Little Bill's Giant Space Adventure" | July 8, 2002 | 226 |
|
Max the Alien and Little Bill have to save Captain Brainstorm from the giant purple aliens on Planet Bleep Blop, but they soon realize the purple aliens need help. | |||
References
edit- ^ a b Zurawik, David (November 28, 1999). "Cosby's 'Little Bill' sends the right message to kids". The Baltimore Sun.
- ^ "Little Bill NOGGIN Release" (PDF). Nickelodeon Press. September 5, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2016.
- ^ Bill Cosby. "Bill Cosby - June 15, 2014".
All of the characteristics of Little Bill include Ennis and Big Bill (I am Big Bill - my memories of around that age).
- ^ a b Mehren, Elizabeth (December 12, 1997). "Cos and Effect". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b "Little Bill, Episode 224". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Owen, Rob (November 29, 1999). "'Little Bill' takes aim at kids, not merchandise". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
26 episodes (52 stories) in its first season
- ^ a b "Little Bill episodes". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ "Little Bill Episode Guide". NickJr.com. 1999. Archived from the original on March 1, 2000.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 102". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 105". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 107". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 116". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 120". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 122". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Noggin September TV Schedule". Noggin.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2007.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 201". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on July 19, 2016.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 207". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 212". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Little Bill, Episode 215". NickJr.com. 2004. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016.