As I mentioned before, for the past 4-5 years Discovery Kids has provided NBC's Saturday morning block. These shows earned a rating of between .5 and .7 on an average Saturday. So how did VeggieTales do on its first Saturday? How 'bout a .95 for you! That's about a million households tuning in! What's even more interesting is the fact that the show after VeggieTales fell to a .65, and then 3-2-1 Penguins came on and the rating popped right back up to .95 again! So Big Idea is "rocking the block!"
Will NBC notice? Will it inspire them to allow more "Christian-lite" children's programming on the air? Well, let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. Let's see what a few more weeks does to those ratings. Does America want to come over to Bob's house?
Time will tell…
I certainly hope so. Perhaps if ratings become high enough, they will let up on the restrictions they’ve put on Bob and Larry. (although I was pleased to hear scriptured quoted in 321 penguins!)
Our Media Center PC is set to record. : )
One question: it looks like from the guide information listed that it’s mostly the newest Veggie Tales episodes being featured. I personally find that some of the older (pre-bankruptcy) episodes are my favorites, and wondered how far back in the catalog we’d see on TV. I’m worried that if you go back far enough, the production values might start to become unacceptable for NBC simply because technology has advanced since the 1990s. But it would sure make me sad if at least Madam Blueberry didn’t make it to TV. : ( What are the plans there?
Thanks for the blog, btw – love getting Big Idea and Jellyfish info at the speed of RSS!
Hurray for our side!
Furthermore, PENQUINS ROCK…when I was your size, I was twice your size!!!
I loved the hole Bobs house thing. This will defenently be what I watch on tv saturday mornings. I am 14 and I have watched VT all my life. I am a huge fan and VeggieTales has truly changed my life for the better. Thank you for bringing quality and moral stuff to a world and a tv station who needs it.
Keep up the great work!
“If your friend is crazy, shoot him up to the moon!”
Those ratings are excellent! How cool…
I can’t wait to join the fun at Bob’s house tomorrow. My silly VCR malfunctioned last week, so when I returned home after a teacher training session at church I found I had missed the debut! Sheesh. Whaddaya gonna do?
Thanks for sharing the great news! We’ll keep passing the word and pray that things continue to go well.
Hey Phil!
The new VeggieTales opening rocks. It made me laugh so much. Asparagas of La Mancha is one of my personal favorites.
3-2-1 Penguins was pretty cool too. It was my first time watching it. It made me laugh and it had a good story structure. But why does NBC have all these restrictions on VeggieTales yet with Penguins they allowed a verse to be quoted AND prayers to heard? (And the vocabulary word of the day is “hypocrisy”.)
Also congrads on the ratings. Maybe NBC will loosen up a bit.
Hey Phil! Hey that’s so exciting! I hope this will give NBC a wake-up call. And every saturday I’ll go to all that trouble putting up the antennae just to watch it. =) God bless!
When the penguins aired in Orlando, ten minutes into the show it was preempted by the launch of Atlantis. I’ve never seen Penguins and I’m mad now. But I’m glad to hear it was performing so well in other places.
What is the name of the show on NBC? I found the 321 Penguins to record, but nothing about Bob or Larry.
I have always loved 321 Penguins almost as much (or at times even as much) as Veggietales! Yet they have never received the marketing that VT has. Yes, the scripture and prayers are there, folks! So what has been limited in the Veggies is alive in the Penguins and the ratings speak for themselves. So don’t forget to promote them as well. Also, it was a very clever idea to include Jr. singing “You’ve seen us on DVD” with the reply “Now at last we’re on TV”. If that isn’t an invitation to check out the DVDs, what is? As was evidenced in the “Bunny Song” saga, kids really pay attention to songs. 🙂
In my job as teacher assistant in a public school, I often work with one child at a time in my own room, so I am able to promote these shows to each and every one. They know me as the “Veggietale lady”.
Hey Phil. This morning, I watched the new Veggietales on NBC. It was disapointing to me because of the edits. I have watched Veggietales since about 1998 and have always looked forward to getting the newest videos because of the good values and actually hearing the words “God” or “Jesus”. I hope that NBC will let you edit back in to Veggietales what was taken out so that children will learn more that just “moral values’ and that there is the one and only God who made them and loves them. You know, “God made you special and He loves you very much.” Again, I really hope that NBC will enable you to be able to edit God back in and also put the Bible verse at the end. Keep up the good work and I’ll remember you and all of the Bigi Idea and Jellyfish teams in my prayers. By the way, I really look forward to “Gideon: Tuba Warrior” and “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” movie! God Bless.
Hey Everyone!
I’m in San Diego and just watched Veggie Tales and 321 Penguins on NBC – Cubo.
It’s awesome to see the characters quoting “The Good Book” and saying their prayers on national Saturday morning TV!
Praise be to God!
I love Veggie Tales (I’m known as the #1 fan by most people) and was ecstatic to learn they were on TV. I already have all the released DVD, but will the 30-minute TV show episodes be on DVD?
E-mail me, Mr. Vischer, I have something private and important to tell you. Thanks.
Also, I know “The Asparagus of La Mancha” and “Sheerluck Holmes” were on TV, so what’s next? LarryBoy and the Bad Apple? Or not one quite so new yet?
Oh, and, uh, God speed!
Wow this is soo cool, very exciting, I dont suppose anyone one has videoed them and wants to send the tape to the UK? also exciting news Veggietales has now arrived in the UK on dvd after a two year wait, which is awesome, Jonah comes out at the end of the month so im waiting for that, but have been out and brought Minnisota Cuke which is cool, yeh, I shall continue to pray for NBC and Veggietales
Dear Mr. Vischer,
Thank you for touching the lives of both young and old with your Veggie Tales characters! I regard you and your characters with the utmost respect and admiration! Congratulations on your NBC ratings! The ratings prove beyond a doubt that children still crave pure and wholesome programming! “Sheeerluck Homes and the Golden Ruler” was aired in Chicago today and was absolutely brilliant! God knows what is in your heart — please know that God is rejoicing that so many children’s lives are being positively touched by the Veggie Tales. As a Christian performer and educator, I too have been in your shoes, and been forced to remove the name of God in order to perform my plays and songs at public schools and libraries. It hurts to remove His name, but I know God would rather we teach his word to all children, even without His name, than to not spread his message at all. On NBC, God’s message came across loud and clear, even without the mention of His name — the children learned — do unto others as you would have them do unto to you! God is grateful for your creative work, and holds you, Bob and Larry in the highest esteem. My prayers are with you and I hope Veggie Tales continues to inspire mankind for years to come! You are a positive role model for people of all faiths and beliefs! In fact you inspired me to have a small Christian company in Chicago as well! Thank you for making a real differnce in this world with your God-given talents. You are truly a blessing! God bless you and your family!
Sincerely,
Karen
Yay for Veggie Tales and 321 Penguins!! I have been spreading the news to anyone who will listen to me. I think if the ratings stay as high in the following weeks then NBC might let up on the restrictions. I hope so.
pax!
Yeah!!!
GO VEGGIES! GO PENGUINS! GO PHIL!
😀 😀
Yay for Veggies and Penguins! I’m miffed because next Saturday locally, the normal time for Veggies will be taken over by some golf tournament, and the kids programming moved to 3pm. I have to wait 8 hours more!!! Anyway, it’s really exciting to see Veggies on tv, and I’m looking forward to the next show.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!! I keep missing the Bob’s House paaaart! I barely got to see Sheerluck this past saturday, but it was reeeeeally staticky…and the picture was…uuuh…running or something, but I caught the last 13 min of it.
must…see…bob’s house….part….*whimper whimper*
Hey Phil,
I`m glad that Veggie Tales are back in action. I also thought you would like to know that I wrote an article about you and Big Idea/Jellyfish Labs. It has been published in a Christian online magazines for young adults. The issue was on excellence, so I think you might like to take a look at it.
Here is the link: http://regenerateourculture.com
Hope you like it!
I have only one complaint, my kids are so enthralled by VT and 321 PENGUINS that they forget to go find mom and tell her it’s time to watch. I even saved laundry to fold while watching so I could justify taking a break from my other chores.
Hooray for the great ratings! wouldn’t it be nice if the suits would sit up and listen to what we the little viewers want to see? Wouldn’t it be cool if this would get them to take a chance on some better prime time programing too?
By the way, loved the banter at the end of VT, “Can I read the script?”
I am so glad to hear that Veggie Tales is reaching a greater audience now!!! The up and coming generation need to see that there is more to life than living for themselves. To see that living for God is the only way for true peace. I am so happy that is what Veggie Tales always has, and still does stand for….::***Tell Andy he’s a good dancer, it will freak him out ;)::.***
Oh Veggies,
They thought you were all washed up.
Has beans.
Now lettuce look at what is happening.
You’re once again bearing fruit, uh veggies.
Some of the lines are corny, but you’re one hot tomato.
You guys are like peas in a pod,
and handling it all as cool as a cucumber.
You didn’t get steamed.
Keep dangling that carrot out there,
and go kick some butter lettuce.
Hey, I caught part of VT last Saturday. We are such big fans that we could tell parts had been removed, but it was edited well. Regarding the Penguins–most of my VeggieTales Moms customers are not familiar with that series, and I’m glad they are getting more exposure.
Phil & Gang,
Haven’t seen the new series yet (we’re usually not around Saturday AM) but I’m not surprised to hear your viewership is rocking NBC’s world. Compared to the rhymes-with-trap offerings they usually show, it’s no surprise to me at all. Your shows are funny (and I mean 40-year-old-man-busting-a-gut funny) and not suggestive in the slightest. When I was a kid, all that junk was funny to me, but now that I’ve got small kids … and Jesus … you know, I mourn for what childhood might have been like.
Let God drive. If they try to get God out altogether let ’em know you’ll walk, like right now.
When their focus-groups all tell them the stuff is funny and they figure out clean Godly humour will make them money, they’ll start tossing all kinds of nastiness out the window.
Way to go!! I work with kids a lot and
I know how much they need exposure to something wholesome like Veggietales and Penguins. I can only
hope and pray that more and more people will
come to know Christ through these wonderful ministries.
Dear Sir,
I just heard that the Veggies are being chopped. Please say it isn’t so. My children have loved the show for many years and still do. The Veggie Tales is the
most brilliant idea for teaching our children as they are entertained at the same time.
These shows have touched my children’s hearts and minds and has taught them
the most important lesson of all: God loves them!
Please, don’t sell out to NBC. A network that thinks that it is okay for Madonna
to mock the crucifiction, but it is not okay for Bob the tomatoe to tell the children that God loves them. It is a disgrace. Please don’t let us down. Don’t allow this
to turn these lovely little veggies into chop suey.
With the utmost respect, please reconsider.
May God bless you.
Robin Campbell
It’s great to see VeggieTales, 3-2-1 Penquins!, and LarryBoy Adventures as regularly scheduled shows on broadcast television. The Toy that Saved Christmas special appeared on PAX (now i Network) a few years back.
Unfortunately in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Hampton (Va.) area, the local NBC affiliate WAVY-10 preempts VeggieTales at 10 am with Battle of the Brains (quiz match between two high school teams). They also preempt the 12pm-1pm hour of the qubo lineup (Jane and the Dragon and Jason Two-Two) with infomercials and/or other local programming, which does not bother me as much. I would like WAVY-10 to move Battle of the Brains, which a Jeopardy! guy like myself enjoys, to another time slot – maybe preempt some of the Saturday edition of the Today show. The local i Network affiliate WPXV-49 carries the entire qubo lineup.
Keep up the good work and God bless you.
Big ratings…. Big deal. I’m sure Gods real impressed a show whose success came from his loyal Christian flock could become so marketable on network TV, without him in it of course.
My family is so proud of you. Big things are happening with such a Big Idea. Keep up the great work. I am a counselor for middle schoolers. You are getting through to the kids. Remember that the messages that you send threw Bob, Larry, and the gang are good and all that is good is God! I will make the connections at home with my children. My prayer is that children will begin to ask for those movies that we love so much and find a deeper connection with the Lord. Oh my what a wonderful opportunity BIG IDEA has. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok I don’t like NBC anymore I’ve grown up with veggietales since I was a baby & now they are gonna ruin 1 of the only pure cartoons that has been pure since the 1990’s just because they don’t love god bad persecutors ugh!!!