Dinosaurs is an American family sitcom television series that aired on ABC from April 26, 1991, to July 20, 1994. The show, about a family of anthropomorphic dinosaurs, was produced by Michael Jacobs Productions and Jim Henson Productions in association with Walt Disney Television. The characters were designed by Henson team member Kirk Thatcher.
Origins and development News stories written at the time of the show's premiere highlighted Dinosaurs connection to Jim Henson, who had died the year before. Henson conceived the show in 1988, according to an article in The New York Times, adding he wanted it to be a sitcom, but about a family of dinosaurs. Until the success of The Simpsons, according to Alex Rockwell, a vice president of the Henson organization, "people thought it was a crazy idea."
In the late 1980s, Henson worked with William Stout, a fantasy artist, illustrator and designer, on a feature film starring animatronic dinosaurs with the working title of The Natural History Project; a 1993 article in The New Yorker said that Henson continued to work on a dinosaur project (presumably Dinosaurs) until the "last months of his life."Owen, David. "Looking Out for Kermit", The New Yorker (Aug. 16, 1993.) (PDF)
The television division of The Walt Disney Company began working on the series in 1990 for CBS before the series landed on ABC, which Disney eventually acquired.Grover, Ron. The Disney Touch. Homewood, IL: Business One Irwin, 1991. pp. 167–168.
Rafael Montemayor Aguiton of Vulture wrote that upon premiere the show "was a hit", and Michael Jacobs stated that this was why the network did not interfere much in the production.
Aguiton wrote that ratings suffered from the show being moved to different time slots on the network. The animatronics made the show relatively expensive, with cast member Stuart Pankin recalling that "I heard it was the most expensive half-hour TV show, at least at that point" and that this contributed to the cancellation.
Plot Dinosaurs is initially set in 60,000,000 BC in Pangaea. The show centers on the Sinclair family: Earl Sneed Sinclair (father), Fran Sinclair (née Phillips – mother), their three children (Robbie, Charlene, and infant Baby Sinclair) and Fran's mother, Ethyl.
Earl's job is to push over trees for the Wesayso Corporation with his friend and coworker Roy Hess, where they work under the supervision of their boss, Bradley P. Richfield.
Characters The focus of the show's plot is the Sinclair family: Earl, Fran, Robbie, Charlene, Baby, and Ethyl. The family name is a reference to the Sinclair Oil Corporation, which had prominently featured a dinosaur as its logo and mascot for decades, under the belief that petroleum deposits were formed during the age of the dinosaurs. Other character and family names throughout the series often referred to rival petroleum companies: Phillips, Hess, B.P., Richfield, and Ethyl, among others.
Main characters Earl Sneed Sinclair (face performed by Dave Goelz in season 1-2, Mak Wilson in season 3-4, performed by Bill Barretta, voiced by Stuart Pankin) is a Megalosaurus and the patriarch of the Sinclair family. He is depicted as being thick-headed and suggestible. Earl works as a tree pusher at the Wesayso Development Corporation. Fran Phillips-Sinclair (face performed by Allan Trautman, performed by Mitchell Young Evans in season 1-2, Tony Sabin Prince in season 3-4, voiced by Jessica Walter) is an Allosaurus who is the mother and homemaker of the Sinclair family. Earl affectionately calls his wife "Frannie". Robbie Sinclair (face performed by Steve Whitmire, performed by Leif Tilden, voiced by Jason Willinger) is a Hypsilophodon who is Earl and Fran's son and oldest child. Robbie stands out with his red varsity jacket and bright red sneakers. Charlene Sinclair (face performed by Bruce Lanoil, performed by Michelan Sisti, voiced by Sally Struthers) is a Protoceratops who is Earl and Fran's only daughter and middle child. Charlene stands out by wearing sweaters, necklaces, and earrings. Baby Sinclair (performed and voiced by Kevin Clash, assisted in the arms by Terri Hardin in season 1-3, Julianne Buescher in season 4) is a Megalosaurus who is Earl and Fran's son and youngest child. His legal name is Baby Sinclair, which was given to him by the Chief Elder. Baby is sarcastic and wisecracking. His favorite thing to do is to hit Earl on the head with a frying pan. Jacobs stated that the popularity of Baby contributed to the network allowing the creators to run the show as they saw fit stating: "As long as the Baby hit his father over the head with a pot, we could use that to hide anything."
Supporting characters Ethyl Hinkleman Phillips (performed by Brian Henson in season 1-2, Rickey Boyd in season 3-4, voiced by Florence Stanley) is an Edmontonia who is Fran's mother, Earl's mother-in-law, and the maternal grandmother of Robbie, Charlene, and Baby. Ethyl comes to live with the Sinclairs and is revealed to have a son named Stan (Fran's brother). Ethyl always wears house slippers and uses a wheelchair. Ethyl enjoys making fun of Earl and hitting him with her cane. Roy Danger Hess (face performed by David Greenaway, performed by Pons Maar, voiced by Sam McMurray) is a Tyrannosaurus rex who is Earl's best friend and co-worker at Wesayso. B.P. Richfield (face performed by Steve Whitmire, occasionally understudied by Rob Mills, arms and hands performed by Leif Tilden, voiced by Sherman Hemsley) is a Triceratops who oversees the tree pushers at Wesayso. Monica DeVertebrae (performed by Julianne Buescher, voiced by Suzie Plakson) is a Brontosaurus and Fran's best friend. She is usually seen from the neck up and any exterior shots of her body outside are done with claymation. It took three or four people to operate her neck and head. Spike (performed by David Greenaway, voiced by Christopher Meloni) is a Polacanthus and the best friend of Robbie, who often refers to him as "Scooter". Spike is normally a bad influence on Robbie, whom he enjoys belittling and goading into dangerous or humiliating situations. Ralph Needlenose (occasionally performed by James Murray and Allan Trautman at different points) is a Troodon who is a co-worker of Earl and Roy at Wesayso. Gus Spikeback is a Ceratosaurus who is a co-worker of Earl and Roy at Wesayso. Sid Turtlepuss (face performed by John Kennedy, performed and voiced by Michelan Sisti) is a Psittacosaurus who is a co-worker of Earl and Roy at Wesayso. Mr. Pulman (face performed by Allan Trautman, performed by Bruce Lanoil in the first appearance, Tom Fisher in later appearances, voiced by Allan Trautman) is a bespectacled Troodon who is Robbie, Charlene, Mindy, and Spike's teacher at Bob LaBrea High School. Mindy (face performed by Julianne Buescher, performed by Star Townsend, voiced by Jessica Lundy) is a Corythosaurus who is Charlene's best friend. Howard Handupme (performed by Kevin Clash) is a Pachycephalosaurus who works as a newscaster for DNN (Dinosaur News Network). The Chief Elder is the ruler of Pangaea and is said to be the head of the Council of Elders. Multiple versions of the character appear throughout the series. The first Chief Elder, a Protoceratops, appears in the episode "Nuts to War", performed by Steve Whitmire and voiced by George Gaynes. The second Chief Elder, a Dryptosaurus, appears in the episode "And the Winner Is...", voiced by Sam McMurray. This Chief Elder later dies of a heart attack when naming Baby Sinclair and is succeeded by political analyst Edward R. Hero. The third Chief Elder appears in the episode "Green Card", performed by Mak Wilson and voiced by Joe Flaherty. The fourth Chief Elder appears in the episode "The Greatest Story Never Sold", performed by Allan Trautman and voiced by Tim Curry. The sixth Chief Elder appears in the episode "Working Girl", performed by Allan Trautman and voiced by Joe Flaherty. Mr. Lizard (performed by Bill Barretta in "The Golden Child", Allan Trautman in later appearances) is an Iguanodon who is the star of Ask Mr. Lizard, an educational series watched by Earl and Baby. Ask Mr. Lizard is a parody of the series Watch Mr. Wizard. Timmy (performed by Kirk Thatcher) is the name of several young dinosaurs who work as Mr. Lizard's assistant. They have a tendency to be killed off and replaced.
Other characters Gary (voiced by Steve Landesberg) is a 50 ft. Dilophosaurus who takes a romantic interest in Fran, and challenges Earl for her. Blarney (performed by Steve Whitmire) is a Deinonychus who appeared in Dinosaur TV segments in two fourth-season episodes – "Terrible Twos" and "Into the Woods". He is a parody of Barney the Dinosaur. Henri Poupon (performed by Allan Trautman, voiced by Tim Curry) is an Archaeopteryx who appeared in the episode "Getting to Know You". Henri is the father of Francois Poupon and husband of Simone Poupon. The Poupons come from an unnamed country outside of Pangaea. Simone Poupon (performed by Julianne Buescher) is an Archaeopteryx who is the wife of Henri and the mother of Francois. Francois Poupon (performed by Bruce Lanoil) is an Archaeopteryx who is the son of Henri Poupon and Simone Poupon. Francois was eaten by Baby Sinclair. The Monster (performed by Allan Trautman) is an unnamed Glyptodon who appeared in the episode "Monster Under the Bed". When thought to be the titular monster that has been lurking under Baby Sinclair's bed, it turns out that he was lurking under their house, which they built over his house. As a compromise, the Sinclair family's house is moved away from the Monster's house. Georgie (face performed by Allan Trautman, performed by Jack Tate, voiced by Allan Trautman in his good voice, Ed Asner in his evil voice) is a dinosaur dressed as a European hippopotamus who hosts the series The Georgie Show. He appears as kind-hearted. In reality, Georgie is a megalomaniac planning to take over the world through his financial empire and the devotion of the dinosaur children.
Unisaurs Outside of the recurring characters, there are a group of dinosaur characters called Unisaurs, whose puppet model was used for multiple characters. Some of the Unisaurs are Full-Bodied while the others are hand-puppets.
Full-Bodied Unisaurs Longsnout is a green Dryptosaurus. Longsnout's puppet is used for the following characters: Ansel from the episode "Driving Miss Ethyl" (face performed by Julianne Buescher, performed by Pons Maar, voiced by Michael McKean). The Babysitter from the episode "Terrible Twos" (face performed by Bruce Lanoil, performed by Tom Fisher, voiced by John Glover). Buddy Glimmer from the episode "Family Challenge" (face performed by David Greenaway, performed by Jack Tate, voiced by Sam McMurray). The Chef from the episode "Working Girl" (face performed by David Greenaway, performed by Jack Tate, voiced by Thom Sharp). The Devil from the episode "Life in the Faust Lane" (face performed by Bruce Lanoil, performed by Pons Maar, voiced by Tim Curry). Dr. Ficus from the episode "Germ Warfare" (face performed by Bruce Lanoil, performed by Pons Maar, voiced by Charles Kimbrough). Ed from the episode "Scent of a Reptile" (face performed by David Greenaway, performed by Jack Tate, voiced by Thom Sharp). Jerry Valentine from the episode "Fran Live" (face performed by Bruce Lanoil, performed by Jack Tate, voiced by Tony Shalhoub). Mel Luster from the episode "The Mating Dance" (face performed by Bruce Lanoil, performed by Jack Tate, voiced by Richard Portnow). Officer Decker from "Monster Under the Bed" (face performed by Rickey Boyd, performed by Jack Tate, voiced by Thom Sharp). Stu Boomird from the episode "Network Genius" (face performed by Bruce Lanoil, performed by Jack Tate, voiced by Jason Alexander). Ty Warner from the episode "Swamp Music" (face performed by Bruce Lanoil, performed by Pons Maar, voiced by Jon Polito).