The VeggieTales Show

The VeggieTales Show (often marketed as simply VeggieTales) is a television series and a revival of the American Christian computer-animated franchise VeggieTales. The series is produced through the partnerships of TBN, NBCUniversal, Big Idea Entertainment, and Trilogy Animation, and premiered on October 22, 2019.[1]

The VeggieTales Show
The VeggieTales Show Logo
Genre
Created by
Based onVeggieTales
Written by
Directed by
  • Todd Waterman
  • Guy Vasilovich
  • Tod Carter
Voices of
Theme music composer
Opening theme"It’s The VeggieTales Show"
Ending theme"VeggieTales Theme Song" (instrumental)
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producers
  • Todd Waterman
  • Phil Vischer
  • Mike Nawrocki
Producers
  • Matt Crouch
  • Laurie Crouch
  • Leslie Ferrell
  • Eric Newman
  • Tom Newman
  • Vincent Aniceto
EditorLindsey Myers
Running time24-30 minutes
Production companies
DistributorNBCUniversal Television Distribution
Release
Original network
Picture formatHDTV 16:9 aspect ratio
Audio formatDolby Digital 5.1
Original releaseOctober 22, 2019 (2019-10-22) 
present
Chronology
Related shows

Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki, (the creators of VeggieTales) and Lisa Vischer (Phil's wife) reprise their respective roles as the voices of Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and Junior Asparagus, with Kurt Heinecke returning to compose the show's music score. They are joined by the creative team led by show-runner Todd Waterman (who worked on such projects as the 1998 Disney film Mulan and Transformers: Prime).

Premise

The show focuses on the VeggieTales characters putting on Broadway-style shows in Mr. Nezzer's theater that retell Bible stories and parody mainstream Pop-culture. Phil Vischer says the show will start with a question in the form of a letter from a kid, and then Bob and Larry will respond to that question by putting on a show. Bob the Tomato attempts to use the show to accomplish his dream of becoming the next Mister Rogers. According to Vischer, "the thing that drives Bob crazy is when Mister Rogers does Mister Rogers, everything goes perfectly. Nothing ever goes wrong on ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.’ And Bob wants that for his show, but he can never achieve it.”[2] Each show would never go the way that Bob had initially planned, resulting in complete and total chaos.

Phil Vischer says "It's really all about Bob and Larry wanting to put on a show for kids. They want to teach things to kids. Bob wants to help kids, Larry wants to help Bob."

Most of the new episodes act out stories and lessons from the Bible. The show includes a nine-episode series about the fruit of the Spirit. There are also new adventures with LarryBoy and the League of Incredible Vegetables. According to Phil Vischer, the first season consists of 18 episodes in which Vischer would write the first ten and Nawrocki would write the last eight.[3] The series will provide VeggieTales content through 2021.[4]

Characters

Most of the characters are the same from the other VeggieTales videos. The show brings back Mr. Nezzer, as the owner of the theater in which the show takes place. It also features Petunia Rhubarb as the President of the VeggieTales fan club.[1] Khalil the half-worm, half-caterpillar is featured in the orchestra pit. Bruce Onion from Celery Night Fever also returns as the orchestra's conductor. Goliath from Dave and the Giant Pickle has been teased in storyboards from the teaser trailer dressed as a Christmas tree, with possibilities that he will be included in the series too.

Some characters from the Netflix series appear in the show, including Callie Flower.[1] Phil Vischer also stated in a radio interview that no new characters will be created, but all the characters previously created within the franchise are penned to be revived and utilized in the new series.[5]

Voice cast

Production

When DreamWorks bought Classic Media and Big Idea Entertainment in 2012, all VeggieTales productions produced at Big Idea were to be controlled and overseen by DreamWorks.[14] As a result, DreamWorks launched production of the Netflix original series VeggieTales in the House in late 2013 and announced that it would shut down production of the original VeggieTales direct-to-DVD series after the release of its 58th episode entitled VeggieTales: Noah's Ark in 2015.[15] DreamWorks replaced the original creative crew that had been working at Big Idea Entertainment for nearly two decades with an entirely new team of nearly 75 artists led under the direction of Doug TenNapel.[16] VeggieTales creators Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki were given no control over the creative content of VeggieTales in the House and were only allowed to provide the characters' voices.[17] Since DreamWorks ordered 78 22-minute episodes for VeggieTales in the House in 2013, production of the last 13 episodes wrapped up in the summer of 2017 and DreamWorks' team left Big Idea Entertainment to work on new animated series for Netflix such as Trolls: The Beat Goes on and Dragons Rescue Riders.[18][19] DreamWorks originally planned to shut down Big Idea Entertainment once production concluded. While the last season of VeggieTales in the City premiered on Netflix in the fall of 2017, marketing employees continued to work at Big Idea Entertainment.[15]

Midway through production of VeggieTales in the House, NBCUniversal bought DreamWorks for $3.8 billion on April 28, 2016.[20] A year after production of VeggieTales in the City wrapped, NBCUniversal reopened Big Idea Entertainment and allowed them to create more VeggieTales content without the control or supervision of DreamWorks.[17] Since DreamWorks sold the Big Idea Entertainment's headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee after VeggieTales in the City wrapped production in 2017, NBCUniversal relocated the headquarters of Big Idea Entertainment to Tustin, a city in Orange County, California, which is near the headquarters of The Trinity Broadcast Network.[21] NBCUniversal allowed Big Idea Entertainment to bring back many of the original characters that had been removed from the series' cast under DreamWorks’ direction, including Mr. Nezzer. They also allowed VeggieTales to be licensed to other networks.[17]

In late 2018, Vischer received a phone call from The Trinity Broadcast Network, which was in talks to license VeggieTales from NBCUniversal in order to create a new reboot.[2] TBN, who had been trying to buy VeggieTales for nearly a decade, asked if he would be interested in reprising the voice of Bob the Tomato for the reboot. Vischer said that he wasn't interested in being part of the new reboot unless he had a role in shaping the creative and educational content for the show. As a result, NBCUniversal and TBN allowed him to view an early draft of the pilot. Vischer was encouraged by the fact that the early draft of the pilot reflected the heart of the classic episodes from the original series, instead of VeggieTales in the House and VeggieTales in the city.[2] NBCUniversal and TBN then allowed Vischer to rewrite the pilot.[17] Before long, he and Nawrocki signed on as head-writers, executive producers, and voice actors for the reboot.[2]

Although VeggieTales in the House was critically successful and was nominated for several Emmy Awards, fans of the original series were disappointed by the entire "Netflix series", and a majority of the fans were disgusted and unsatisfied with the redesigns of the characters.[14] On social media, fans complained that their favorite characters were given completely different personalities, the theological teachings were shallow, and the series as a whole was too babyish compared to the original series. With this being said, the viewership of VeggieTales in the House on Netflix was significantly lower than the viewership of the original series. As a result, Vischer and Nawrocki made The VeggieTales Show feel much like the original series as possible. They brought back the original character designs. They brought back many members of the creative team from the original series including Big Idea Entertainment's original music director, Kurt Heniecke, and lead storyboard artists/director, Tod Carter.[22] Lisa Vischer, the original voice of Junior Asparagus, also returned from a five-year hiatus to reprise the role.[17]

After a few years away from VeggieTales, Vischer revealed some of his regrets of the original series. According to Vischer, he spent years making VeggieTales "persuade kids to behave Christianly without teaching them Christianity".[23] With this being said, Vischer has made The VeggieTales Show go more theologically in-depth than the previous few series (from the "Netflix era"). It teaches the tenets of Christianity rather than just teaching children to behave morally.[17] Vischer also wouldn't be returning as the voice of Mr. Nezzer as it was announced in late September 2019 that David Mann of Tyler Perry fame would take over the role.[24]

Due to the high number of iTunes digital downloads for the pilot, “The Best Christmas Gift”, as well as the large number of DVD's sold in the first two weeks of its release, TBN ordered an additional eight episodes for Season One on November 1, 2019, bringing the total number of episodes to 26.[25]

Episodes

Christmas Special

The theater in which the show takes place for the promotion of the series.

It was released on iTunes on October 15, 2019, on DVD a week later on October 22, and later premiered on TBN on Christmas Day of 2019.[1]

The first episode of The VeggieTales Show (originally planned as the second episode for the show) is a Christmas special called "The Best Christmas Gift". It features the characters putting on a Christmas show, and as they struggle to know what the show should be about, they find out the true meaning of Christmas.[26]

Bob and Larry and the rest of the VeggieTales crew are putting on a Christmas show in Mr. Nezzer's theater, but when they have trouble putting on the show, Bob begins to wonder how to celebrate Christmas when everything is going wrong. It's Pa Grape's idea to go back to the very first Christmas. It's through the eyes of a junior shepherd they all learn what the promise of Christmas is.[27]

Season 1 (2019–21)

All new episodes will be premiering once a month from 2020 to 2022 exclusive on TBN's streaming service Yippee!.[28]

No.TitleBible StoryDirected byWritten byOriginal Release Date
(Streaming Services)
TBN Air Date
1"The Best Christmas Gift"
Jesus' Birth (the Nativity Story)Todd WatermanPhil VischerOctober 15, 2019 (2019-10-15) (iTunes) December 2, 2019 (2019-12-02) (Yippee)December 25, 2019

Bob the Tomato directs his first Christmas special at the new Nezzer Theater. But when he receives a letter from a young fan who's having a difficult holiday season, Bob begins to wonder what's the point of celebrating Christmas when so much is wrong in the world? Larry and the rest of the gang band together to put on a spectacular show reminding the audience (and Bob) that the promise of Christmas is God with us in the bad times, and God with us to END the bad times!

Lesson: God Being With Us (the True Meaning of Christmas)

Notes: This was not the original pilot episode for the series. This was the second episode written after the original pilot. However, this was the first episode to enter production and to be released in order to make the 2019 Christmas season. This is also the only episode to feature the original "VeggieTales Theme Song" from the original series.

https://watch.yippee.tv/new-veggietales-category/videos/the-best-christmas-gift
2"God Wants Us To Make Peace"
Abraham & LotTodd WatermanPhil VischerFebruary 28, 2020 (2020-02-28)April 12, 2020

Bob the Tomato pitches billionaire Mr. Nezzer a new series idea and asks him for permission to use his theater. Nezzer grants Bob access to his theater on one condition, that he brings back the entire original cast of "VeggieTales " for the new show. Bob is reluctant to bring back the original cast because they were dysfunctional, never followed his directions, and always messed things up in each episode of the previous VeggieTales series. Believing he learned from his mistakes from the previous series, Bob makes it his sole duty to put himself and his ideas first in order to have a good and successful show. The cast auditions and pitches ideas for the show, but each of them conflict with Bob’s me first attitude. It’s only when Pa Grape shares the story of Abraham who chooses to make peace with his nephew Lot that Bob learns a valuable lesson in making peace with his cast members.

Lesson: Getting Along With Others (Fruit of the Spirit: Peace)

Note: This was the original pilot episode that sets up the series premise of Mr. Nezzer giving Bob the Tomato the keys to his theater for the new show. This was the second episode to be placed into production and be released in order for the Christmas episode to make the 2019 Christmas season. This is also the first episode to feature the series theme song entitled " The VeggieTales Show Theme Song".

https://watch.yippee.tv/new-veggietales-category/videos/god-wants-us-to-make-peace
3"A Lifetime Supply of Joy"
Paul and SilasGuy VasilovichPhil VischerMarch 30, 2020 (2020-03-30)April 12, 2020

Larry the Cucumber is a finalist to receive a lifetime supply of Doodle-Whoppers Cookies! Now he can finally be happy! But when Junior Asparagus is revealed as the other finalist, Bob determines that both veggie friends need a lesson in the true meaning of “joy” — happiness that lasts. Bob rallies the veggies for a performance on the story of Paul and Silas — two friends who remained joyful even in the midst of a prison sentence.

Lesson: Having a Happy Heart (Fruit of the Spirit: Joy)

Silly Songs With Larry: “The Agitated Song”

Notes: This episode marks the return of the popular “Silly Songs With Larry” segment after a five year hiatus since 2015, and the first instance of a character from the Netflix series (Callie Flower) being ported over to the new show.

https://watch.yippee.tv/new-veggietales-category/videos/a-lifetime-supply-of-joy
4"The Power of Love"
Ruth, Naomi, and BoazTodd WatermannPhil VischerApril 2, 2020 (2020-04-02) (originally) April 28, 2020 (2020-04-28) (official)TBA

As the cast discusses ideas for the night’s show, Laura Carrot runs into the theater declaring her love for teen singing idol Jimmy Lucky. Laura believes that true love is a warm and gushy feeling you have inside you. However, Petunia teaches Laura what true love actually is through the Bible story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz.

Lesson: Love That You Do (Fruit of the Spirit: Love)

Note: This is the first VeggieTales production to feature the new 2020 Big Idea logo.

Note 2: There was a technical error on TBN's Yippee Streaming service for the release date of this episode. This episode was originally released a month early on April 2, 2020. NBCUniversal, Big Idea Entertainment, and TBN had scheduled this episode to be released on May 1, 2020. As a result, this episode was removed from the service 24 hours later when the company realized the mistake. It was re-released on May 1, 2020.

https://watch.yippee.tv/new-veggietales-category/videos/veggietales-the-power-of-love
5"It's Cool to Be Kind"
Peter, John, and the Lame BeggarGuy VasilovichPhil VischerMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)TBA

Callie Flower has a family problem and attempts to tell the rest of the cast. However, the casts are too occupied with answering a fan’s question for the night’s show to pay attention to Callie. The question they are trying to answer is “how to make the world a better place”. Jimmy and Jerry believe the best way to make the world a better place is through an invention that feeds the poor. Pa Grape on the other hand believes the best example of making the world a better place is the Bible story of Peter, John, and the lame beggar.

Lesson: Helping Others (Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness)

Silly Songs With Larry: “Amazing Glazed”

https://watch.yippee.tv/new-veggietales-category/videos/veggietales-its-cool-to-be-kind
6"A ShakeSparagus Play"
The Madness of King NebuchadnezzarTodd WatermanSean GaffneyJune 30, 2020 (2020-06-30)TBA

Mr. Nezzer is approached by renowned playwright, ShakeSparagus, who was extremely impressed by Larry’s performance in the last show. As a result, ShakeSparagus gives Nezzer the script to his new play entitled “MacCheese” and wants Larry to play the lead. However, being the main star of ShakeSparagus’ new play goes to Larry’s head. His pride causes Larry to ruin the play and to hurt the feelings of the other cast mates. Bob decides to teach Larry a lesson in humility through the Bible story of the Madness of King Nebuchadnezzar.

Lesson: Humility

https://watch.yippee.tv/new-veggietales-category/videos/veggietales-a-shakesparagus-play
7"When Being Good Means Giving Up"
The Parable of the Foolish Rich ManGuy VasilovichPhil VischerJuly 30, 2020 (2020-07-30)TBA

As the cast prepares for the night’s show, Larry vows to never be “good” again after his good deed causes him to miss out on getting the new L-1 Mark 5, a collectors item of the popular robot from the tv show “Space Rangers of Durble”. Mr. Lunt takes this opportunity to convince Bob to allow him to advertise his new product “Mr. Lunt’s Robot Call” to the audience throughout the entire show. As Mr. Lunt’s product goes awry, Pa Grape steps in to teach Larry a lesson of goodness through a western version of the Bible parable of the Foolish Rich Man.

Lesson: “What is Really Good” (Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness)

https://watch.yippee.tv/veggietales-when-being-good-means-giving-up
8"Little Things Matter"
The Parable of the Talents & David and JonathanTodd WatermanPhil VischerSeptember 1, 2020 (2020-09-01)TBA

As the cast prepares for the night’s show, Madame Blueberry returns from vacation and discovers her prized plant had died. She becomes furious at Junior because he promised to water her plant when she was on vacation. Junior thought it was no big deal since it was just a plant and not very big or important. Pa Grape steps in to teach Junior a lesson of faithfulness by putting on a play about a record producer who gives his two interns a small task to do. This is the retelling of the Bible parable of the Talents. Afterwards, Archibald the Asparagus tells the Bible story of David and Jonathan.

Lesson: "Being Faithful" (Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness)

Silly Songs With Larry: "Wanna Wallaby"

https://watch.yippee.tv/veggietales-little-things-matter
9"Patience Takes Practice"
Noah’s ArkTodd WatermanMike NawrockiOctober 1, 2020 (2020-10-01)TBA

Larry the Cucumber completes his script about the Wright Brothers and wants it to be performed for next week’s show so he could carefully build a replica of the Wright flyer. However, Bob the Tomato moves Larry’s play up for that night’s show because he did not prepare any script and fears that Mr. Nezzer will replace him with the mailman as director of the theater. The mailman is much faster at his job than Bob is at his. As a result, Bob rushes the construction of the replica of the Wright flyer. This causes it to completely fall apart and injure the actors on stage. Petunia Rubarb then takes control of the show and decides to teach Bob and the audience a lesson in patience through the Bible story of Noah’s Ark.

Lesson: "Being Patient" (Fruit of the Spirit: Patience)
10"Being Gentle Makes You Great"
King RehoboamTodd WatermanPhil VischerOctober 30, 2020 (2020-10-30)TBA

Jimmy and Jerry Gourd have ruined some of the Veggie show costumes by washing them on the heavy duty, extra-hard cycle. Bob is awfully frustrated and he is not gentle with his reply to Jimmy and Jerry. But they were only trying to help! It makes for a good time for a lesson about gentle actions and gentle words. It’s through the story of King Rehoboam in the Bible that the Veggies learn the meaning and importance of gentleness. As a result relationships are mended and the crew is happily back together again.

Lesson: "Being Tenderhearted" (Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness)

Silly Songs With Larry: "Oh Pluto"
11"LarryBoy and the Cape-Coat Caper"
N/AGuy VasilovichAdam BeechenNovember 23, 2020 (2020-11-23)TBA

When LarryBoy’s biggest super-fan, Callie Flower, accidentally wrecks the LarryMobile, she makes a not-so-good choice and lies, making up a story about how the accident happened. Callie’s lie causes trouble for LarryBoy and the residents of Bumblyburg lose faith in their superhero. Callie sees the hurt she has caused and tells the truth about the accident. Callie learns a valuable lesson straight from God’s word: always tell the truth!

Note: This is the first episode to not take place in Mr. Nezzer's Theater (except for the Theme Song).

Lesson: Telling the Truth
12"The Wonderfulness of Wisdom"
David, Abigail and NabalTod CarterPhil VischerDecember 31, 2020 (2020-12-31)TBA

Excited about his new smart phone, Larry believes access to more knowledge will solve all his problems. Pa Grape and Blueberry suggest there might be something even more important than knowledge - wisdom. Dr. Flurry demonstrates the difference between knowledge and wisdom with an animal show starring Jimmy and Jerry that goes horribly wrong. Petunia launches a retelling of the biblical story of Abigail and Nabal where the Veggies learn that being wise is something really valuable.

Lesson: Wisdom
13"Forgiveness Brings the Fixing"
The Prodigal SonGuy VasilovichPhil VischerJanuary 1, 2021 (2021-01-01) (Originally)
February 1, 2021 (2021-02-01) (Officially)
TBA

Larry wants to play his new kazoo in the show, but his kazoo is broken. Junior and Laura are determined to do their space show but it goes horribly wrong and spoils their friendship. It seems that so many things are breaking on the Veggie set. Pa Grape suggests the story of the Prodigal Son to learn about how to fix broken friendships. Join the Veggies as they learn the importance of forgiveness in mending a friendship that is broken.

Lesson: Forgiveness

Notes: This episode marks the first time that Phil Vischer has voiced Mr. Nezzer since Veggies in Space: the Fennel Frontier.

Setting

The show takes place in a theater that is owned by Mr. Nezzer. The VeggieTales characters perform on a broadway-style stage. There are other veggies watching the show from the seats in the auditorium and balconies. There is also a backstage area in which the VeggieTales characters plan and practice the shows.[1] It is inspired by the setting of The Muppet Show, with similarities in visual and conceptual design to the Muppet Theater and its backstage area.[5]

References

  1. VeggieTales Official (April 24, 2019), VeggieTales is Back: Brand New VeggieTales Show Trailer, retrieved April 30, 2019
  2. "VeggieTales to mount latest revival on Trinity Broadcasting Network". Religion News Service. August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  3. "The Holy Post : Ep 346: Confronting the Evangelical Industrial Complex with Julie Roys". thephilvischerpodcast.libsyn.com. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  4. "TBN and Big Idea Content Group Partner to Produce All-New "VeggieTales" Episodes". TBN. April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  5. K-LOVE Positive People: VeggieTales is Reborn – Co-Creator Phil Vischer Gets Back to Basics, retrieved May 23, 2019
  6. The Peach from the IRS (April 14, 2019), More Details on 'The VeggieTales Show', retrieved May 2, 2019
  7. "The Holy Post : Ep 346: Confronting the Evangelical Industrial Complex with Julie Roys". thephilvischerpodcast.libsyn.com. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  8. GMA (September 24, 2019). "David Mann Joins the Cast of Veggie Tales". The Gospel Music Association. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  9. "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  10. VeggieTales - The Best Christmas Gift [OFFICIAL TRAILER], retrieved August 21, 2019
  11. The VeggieTales Show (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb, retrieved August 21, 2019
  12. "New VeggieTales". Yippee. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  13. "Joe Zieja - Author and Voice Actor - Posts". Facebook. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  14. "Episode 121: The History of Bob and Larry - Phil Vischer - Official Blog of VeggieTales Creator". Phil Vischer. September 30, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  15. "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  16. The Phil Vischer Podcast, Episode 121: The History of Bob and Larry, retrieved August 22, 2019
  17. "The Movie Proposal: Episode 63: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part". themovieproposal.libsyn.com. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  18. "The Movie Proposal: Episode 37: The Shape of Water". themovieproposal.libsyn.com. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  19. Hipes, Patrick (July 22, 2019). "Netflix Boosts Preschool Slate With Seven New Series". Deadline. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  20. "NBCUniversal completes purchase of DreamWorks Animation; Katzenberg payday tops $390 million". Los Angeles Times. August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  21. The Babylon Bee (May 1, 2020). "Cucumber For Christ: The Mike Nawrocki Interview". YouTube. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  22. VeggieTales is Back: Brand New VeggieTales Show Trailer, retrieved August 22, 2019
  23. "Phil Vischer shares regrets about Veggie Tales – and how he's making it right". www.christianexaminer.com. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  24. GMA (September 24, 2019). "David Mann Joins the Cast of Veggie Tales". The Gospel Music Association. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  25. "Every Generation in Every Nation". TBN. November 1, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  26. VeggieTales - The Best Christmas Gift [OFFICIAL TRAILER], retrieved August 22, 2019
  27. VeggieTales (August 7, 2019). "Say hello to an all-new Veggie show coming October 22". Facebook. Facebook. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  28. 26 New VeggieTales Shows only on Yippee!, retrieved September 21, 2020
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