Barney & Friends

Barney & Friends
Genre
Created by
Based on
Barney & the Backyard Gang
by
  • Sheryl Leach
  • Kathy Parker
Voices of
Opening theme"Barney Theme Song"
Ending theme"Barney's Dilemma" (1992–2000)
"Barney Theme Song" (instrumental) (2002–2010)
Composers
  • Philip Parker (1990–1999)
  • Bob Singleton (1990–2000)
  • Joe Phillips (1996–2009)
  • Holly Doubet
  • Angelo Natalie
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons14
No. of episodes268 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Sheryl Leach (1988–1998)
  • Kathy Parker (1988–1993)
  • Dennis DeShazer (1988–2002)
  • Randy Dalton (2002–2005)
  • Karen Barnes (2006–2009)
Production locations
Camera setupMulti-camera setup
Running time30 minutes (1992–2005, 2008–2009)
15 minutes (2006–2007, 2010)
Production companies
Original release
NetworkPBS
ReleaseApril 6, 1992 (1992-04-06) –
November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02)
Related
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Barney & Friends is an American children's television series created by Sheryl Leach targeted at children ages 2 to 5. The flagship production of the Barney franchise, it originally aired on PBS through the PBS Kids block from April 6, 1992 to November 2, 2010, although new videos were still released on various dates after the last episode aired. It features and stars Barney, an anthropomorphic purple Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, huggable and optimistic attitude. Reruns aired on Sprout from 2005 to 2015, and from December 17, 2018 to January 25, 2020 on Sprout's successor network, Universal Kids, until the latter's closure on March 6, 2025. On October 6, 2015, the series was initially renewed for revival with a new season to premiere in 2017, but that never came to fruition. A CGI-animated series Barney's World aired on Cartoon Network's Cartoonito on October 18, 2024, and streamed on HBO Max on October 14, 2024.

While popular with its intended audience, Barney & Friends drew severe negative reaction from adults, who mocked the title character in popular culture through song parodies, comedy routines such as being beaten up by NBA star Charles Barkley on a Saturday Night Live episode, and even the United States Army using music from the children's show to psychologically torture and interrogate Iraqi prisoners of war.