The Good Night Show

For the unrelated Philippine talk show also known by this name, see The Good Night Show (Philippine TV series).

The Good Night Show
NetworkPBS Kids Sprout (now Universal Kids)
LaunchedSeptember 26, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-09-26)
ClosedMarch 31, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-03-31)
Country of originUnited States
Owner
FormatPreschool education series
Running time3 hours
Original language(s)English

The Good Night Show is a defunct television programming block for preschoolers that aired on the Sprout channel (previously known as PBS Kids Sprout). It was designed to help preschoolers get ready for bedtime.[1] The block featured recurring themes based on preschoolers' nightly routines, such as dreams, brushing teeth, and cleaning up before bed.[2]

One of Sprout's designers, Ward Jenkins, stated that "Sprout is PBS Kids' answer to Noggin."[3] Prior to New Year's Eve 2007, Noggin did not offer preschool shows in the nighttime hours.[4][5] So at the time, The Good Night Show allowed Sprout to capitalize on nighttime programming for preschoolers, setting itself apart from its competitor Noggin. The block aired daily from 6:00 pm to 3:00 am ET.[6] It appeared on Sprout from the channel's launch on September 26, 2005, until March 31, 2017.[7]

Unlike the channel's other blocks, The Good Night Show was repeated twice over the course of each night. Throughout the block, viewers (referred to as "Sproutlets") were encouraged to participate in host-led games, songs, crafts, and lessons in yoga and sign language. Activities generally revolved around a theme, and took place between animated episodes that related to this theme. These themes included issues of interest to preschool-aged children and their parents, such as imaginary friends, teddy bears, shadows, opposites, or babysitters.

  1. ^ Bellafante, Ginia (October 1, 2010). "Trying to Echo Childhood's Rhythms". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Cadler, Kate (April 1, 2008). "Nighty Night! – Kidcasters Shaping Evening Schedules To Reflect Preschool Bedtime Rituals". Kidscreen.
  3. ^ Jenkins, Ward (June 2007). "Ava Thursday: Ava on Sprout!". Ward-o-Matic, Primal Screen. Sprout is PBS Kids' answer to Noggin. When it was launched in 2005, it was the first 24 hour preschool network.
  4. ^ Ball, Ryan (December 17, 2007). "NOGGIN Becomes 24-7 Network". Animation Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference families was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ TV Schedule | PBS KIDS Sprout
  7. ^ Steinberg, Brian (May 1, 2017). "NBCU's Sprout Grows Up: Universal Kids to Debut in September". Variety. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. The Good Night Show, a three-hour programming block meant to soothe youngsters before bedtime with storytelling, sand art and cartoons, was phased out several months ago.