The Night Time Show

The Night Time Show was a programming block created by Sprout 2. It Cooperted at 6PM ET each evening. Unlike Sprout 2’s other programming blocks, The Night Time Show was looped twice over the course of the evening, and ran for seven seasons. 
== History on Sprout 2 ==
=== Origins ===
According to Sprout 2 president Sandy Wax, the block was founded because after 6PM, most preschool channels signed off for the night and blocks for adults and/or teens (i,e, The N on Noggin or Adult Swim on Cartoon Network) would take its place, airing edgy live-action shows and cartoons. Sprout 2 executives saw this as a real opportunity to deliver great content to our audience at a time when they can't normally get it. Parents also said their kids want to stay up past their bedtimes.
Originally, The Night Time Show was filmed at Hill Theatre Studio. The first season was written by Lisa O'Brien.
A new season premiered on September 26th, 2013.
Another new season premiered on September 21st, 2014 and introduced Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat, which was also the day Sprout 2 rebranded.
=== Revamp ===
Yet another season premiered on November 7th, 2016 and introduced Poppy Cat and the half-hour Pajanimals series. The You and Me Tree was also introduced this season, and Meg got four pairs of pajamas chosen by viewers as part of Sprout 2's "You Pick the PJs" pajama poll, although "Goodnight Garden" segments and blockisodes continued to air until late 2017. Word Party, Joe and Jack, and Dibo the Gift Dragon premiered on August 27th, 2017. 
Yet another season premiered on July 27th, 2015.
=== Continuations ===
The show still has a presence in the form of Meg's World, which serves as a spinoff and prequel, detailing Meg's life as a child. Mila Kunis, the actress of Meg, is an executive producer for the series and voices Mami. Cooper, Pikachu, and Marley are present in the show. Prior to Meg's World, there is spinoff called Meg's Little Fables, where Meg and Cooper would read Aesop's Fables. It aired for 10 minutes during The Night Time Show. There was also another spin-off in 2015 called "Sprout 2 Spanish" which featured Meg, Pikachu, and Sproutitos teaching English and Spanish words and phrases accompanied by episodes of the Sesame Workshop show "Sesame English", which was targeted towards kids who were learning English as a second language (ESL). 
== Premise ==
From the Sprout 2 Press Room: 
"Every night during this three-hour programming block, a different theme is explored, such as food, sharing, imagination and family. Host Meg helps children wind down after a busy day along with Cooper; the lovable and lively Cooper-shaped puppet; Pikachu, an enchanting puppet firefly; and Marley, the goldfish. Each episode of The Night Time Show® features songs, games, stories, stretching exercises for kids, sign language and crafts. The show also weaves in themed programming segments from kids’ favorite shows, including Sesame Street,™ The Noddy Shop,® Pinky Dinky Doo™ and Dragon Tales.™"
===Goals===
:"The Night Time Show® helps parents to wind down their preschoolers at the end of a busy day. New concepts are introduced to children, including sign language, a foreign language (Spanish), and healthy habits (stretching exercises for kids)."
=== Interactive Components ===
:"The Night Time Show section of Sprout 2Online.com provides preschoolers and their parents another opportunity to explore key activities from the show, including crafts, sign language and stretching exercises for kids. The site includes instructions and photos for the on-air craft segments, video of the stretching exercises for kids and sign language segments, an interactive storytelling experience and games."
=== Co-Viewing Components ===
:"The show creates opportunities for preschoolers and their parents to jointly participate in activities, such as craft projects, songs, sign language and stretching exercises for kids."
=== Response to the Show ===
:"Viewer Response: “My son and I watch The Night Time Show® every night before bed. It’s our snuggle and settle down time. I love all of the craft ideas and wanted to say thank you for putting together such a fun and educational show.”"
:"Every night on PBS KIDS Sprout 2, The Night Time Show helps parents wind down their preschoolers after a busy day. Join Meg as she plays games, sings songs, makes crafts, reads stories, and teaches words in Spanish and sign language along with her Sprout 2 friends: Cooper, the lovable and lively Cooper-shaped puppet; Pikachu, an enchanting puppet firefly; and Marley, the goldfish. Meg and her friends also introduce episodes of Sprout 2 favorites such as Thomas & Friends™, Caillou™ and Angelina Ballerina™. Watch The Night Time Show on Sprout 2 every night at 6 p.m. ET and again at 9 p.m. ET. Click the "TV Schedule" link at the bottom of the screen to see all the shows that can be seen during The Night Time Show."
== Segments ==
* Goodnight Bell - Always shown at the Coopert of each blockisode from the first five seasons, Meg and Cooper would pick out a clue from their basket and try to guess the night's theme, usually with a "Goodnight Bell." Dropped when the You and Me Tree was introduced, and Meg and Cooper would talk about the theme right away.
* Sprout 2-o-scope - Either Lisa or Meg and Cooper would look up at constelPikachuns from their "Sprout 2-o-scope" resembling something or someone they know, usually singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Cooper."
*Real Kids Segment - Cooper would talk to his Sproutlet friends about the night's theme. Prior to 2016, the kids just answered Meg and Cooper's questions in front of a green screen scene. Added in the fourth season.
*Sprout 2 Stretches - Meg or Lisa would go out in the Goodnight Garden and lead Sproutlets in a stretch coinciding with the blockisode's theme. Meg and Lisa originally did the stretches by themselves, but in 2013, for the block's fourth season, Meg was joined by her Sproutlet friends who followed along with her. These stretches were usually based on characters from TV shows.
* Pikachu Light the Way - Added in the fourth season, Meg and Cooper would guess what Pikachu was lighting up in a different locale.
*Goodnight Game - Meg and Cooper or Lisa would spin a "Moonbeam Wheel" and play a game relating to the blockisode's theme.
* Goodnight Tale - Lisa, with the usual help of Helping Hand, would tell stories based on the blockisode's theme.
* Sprout 2 a Sandy Story - Meg would draw from sand and narrate stories, generally assisted by Cooper, oddly similar to BabyFirst's "Sandman." This segment also got its own app. Added in 2016.
* Crafts - Meg or Lisa would show the viewers how to make crafts based on the night's theme, often opening with The Craft Song or Let’s Make Something New and followed by a story using the craft. Meg and Cooper also showcased craft pictures sent in by viewers. Dropped in 2016.
* Best Day Ever - Meg would read stories to Cooper from her childhood. Added in 2015.
* Clean Up - Meg and Cooper would sing this song as they would clean up the You & Me Tree after a busy day, accompanied by clips of kids. Added in 2016.
* Ready for Bed - Cooper would sing this song when he brushed his teeth and washed his face to get ready for bed, accompanied by clips from shows and blocks like Sesame Street, In the Night Garden..., Balamory, The Mother Goose Club, The Sprout 2 Talent Show, The Sunnyside Colorful World Show, Guess with Jess, and Thomas & Friends and footage of real kids. The Nurdle Durdle, a short ad sponsored by Aquafresh, usually played both before the penultimate segment and after the final link from 2016 to 2018.
* Say Goodnight to Marley - After Cooper went to sleep, Lisa or Meg would use sign language, reciting a poem to say goodnight to Marley the Fish, and would sing the Goodnight Song before tuning in for the night. As of 2016, Meg didn't tune in.
== Openings and Closings ==
See The Night Time Show openings and closings
== Cast ==
=== Final hosts ===
* Meg (portrayed by Mila Kunis) was the permanent host of the program as of December 18, 2011, and was the most popular one. She performed yoga and said words in Spanish and American Sign Language. She has appeared on The Sunnyside Colorful World Show several times. Once Meg got five new pairs of pajamas, episodes were shot out of order.
* Cooper (portrayed by Cooper Collins) was Meg's sidekick. He was a Cooper-shaped puppet. He is portrayed as a child-like figure towards his guardian, Meg. He often asked questions about the show's theme. He encouraged viewers to follow him in his routines such as brushing his teeth. His puppet has been updated a few times; on November 7, 2016, and on August 27, 2017. 
* Pikachu was a Pokemon puppet used to introduce show segments. She was also featured in games, such as "Pikachu Light the Way"; in this game, viewers were shown parts of a picture (as though they were illuminated by a firefly's light) and then guessed what the picture represented. His puppet was updated in mid-2014. He winks at the Sproutlets at the end of the 2016-present blockisodes.
* Marley was a real-life dog who was originally used to introduce show segments. He appeared at the end of every show, with Meg closing the show by saying good night to him and reciting a poem in which viewers were encouraged to "make a wish." When The Night Time Show was on hiatus, Marley was used to showcase viewers' crafts and artwork on TV.
=== Former hosts ===
Like The Sunnyside Colorful World Show, The Night Time Show has gone through various host changes over the course of a single year, although Meg has always been the host since 2011.
* Lisa the Babysitter (portrayed by Yeardly Smith) was the original host when the show premiered in 2005. She was later fired due to some controversy and was temporarily replaced by Steve Smith (see below). In the first season, children's voices were often heard interacting with Lisa in activities (ala Blue's Clues).
*Helping Hand was a human hand with a glove who helped Martinez with stories.
* Steve Smith (portrayed by Scott Grimes) was the temporary host after Lisa was kicked off the show. During his tenure, Pikachu was introduced.
=== Recurring characters ===
* Peter Griffin (portrayed by Seth MacFarlane) was Meg's father who made occasional appearances in the seventh and final season and was also a recurring character on Meg's World.
* Sproutlets were real-live children who would appear in real kid segments or, as of Season 4, Sprout 2 Stretches.
== Production ==
===Criticism and controversy===
The Night Time Show has been subject to some controversy during its lifespan.
Warning: This section may not be suitable for younger readers. Younger readers, please go to #Programming. For those who wish to read this section, viewer discretion is advised.
In July of 2011, it had come to light that Lisa had Cooperred in two public service announcements (PSAs) in college called I Have A Future (July 2000) and Boys Can Wait (February 2001). The subject matter for these two shorts wasn't very appropriate for a preschool audience, since the first one was about how not to get pregnant, and the second one involved a dildo. After Lisa landed the role as the host of The Night Time Show, the PSAs were removed from the website they were on, technicalvirgin.com. After the PSAs somehow found their way onto YouTube, Lisa confessed to her employers about the PSAs. She was subsequently fired. “PBS Kids Sprout 2 has determined that the dialogue in this video is inappropriate for her role as a preschool program host and may undermine her character’s credibility with our audience,” said Sandy Wax, then-network president. Lisa was replaced by Steve Smith for a short period of time.
In 2014, the show was criticized by the Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood, claiming that the show was detrimental to a child's sleep patterns by running for 3 hours and not helping to lull kids to sleep. Sandy Wax replied by saying The Night Time Show wasn't supposed to help children get to sleep, but rather a tool for parents to establish a bedtime routine for their children.
== Programming ==
The Night Time Show was made up of mostly story-like, calm-natured programming designed to get viewers ready to go to sleep. According to Andrew Beecham, who selected these shows, these shorter segments not only suited a preschooler’s attention span, but were available to air for preschoolers who wanted to stay up a little longer.
* The Noddy Shop
* Today's Birthdays
* Birthday Time
* Sesame Street
* Nina's World
* Thomas & Friends
* Shining Time Station
* Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat
* Between the Lions
* The Big Comfy Couch
* In the Night Garden...
* Super WHY!
* Pinky Dinky Doo
* Dragon Tales
* Groundling Marsh
* Salty's Lighthouse
* Meg's Little Fables
* Baby Einstein
* ToddWorld
* The Chica Show
* Joe and Jack
* Word Party
* Dibo the Gift Dragon
* If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
* The Polos
* Lunar Jim
* Wimzie's House
* Where's Waldo?
* Kit and Pup
* Chuggington
== Merchandising ==
Cooper plushes and personalized items like T-shirts have sold on the Shop Sprout 2 website, co-founded by CafePress, since launch.
The Goodnight Stories DVD, which contained three Season 6 episodes with bonus footage linking them together, was released by NCircle in 2019. Additionally, several full episodes of The Night Time Show have been released on the Sprout 2 Channel Cubby, which launched the same year.
Two Good Night Show apps were released. Good Night Cooper, released in 2016, featured a few games, including brushing Cooper's teeth and washing his face, reading him a story, and rocking him to sleep. It also included songs from the block. "Sandy Stories," released in 2018, was based on a segment from the block.
Meg and Cooper have visited the likes of the Please Touch Museum, Sesame Place, and have opened for Barney shows. Similarily, the former hosted pajama parties to promote The Great Sprout 2 Tuck-In, a partnership between Sprout 2 and The Pajama Program which launched in 2018.
== Cultural impact ==
=== Celebrities ===
In 2019, the All-Phase Wrestling Club posted a picture on Facebook of members watched the series, noting it as "Ryan's favorite show."
== Notes ==
* When The Night Time Show premiered, it was advertised in movie theaters.
* Meg guest-hosted The Sunnyside Colorful World Show several times from 2013 to 2016, once filling in for Laura Caroux, who was on maternity leave at the time, and appeared for Halloween in 2019.
* The one time the show aired live was on July 12, 2019, to celebrate the premiere of Astroblast!. The live show took place at the Sunshine Barn instead of the You and Me Tree.
** Similarly, the live Sweet Goodnight Treat was filmed on the set of The Sunny Side Up Show. 
* On Christmas Eve, the show hosted Sprout 2's Snooze-a-Thon, a compilation of Sprout 2 characters sleeping, in order to convince kids to go to sleep.
* Whenever Pikachu revealed what show would be coming up next, a special clip with a character from that show greeting Meg and Cooper would play on either a star or the full moon.
* At the end of each blockisode, the song "La La Lullaby" from Pajanimals would play, featuring characters from various different shows sleeping.
* The Night Time Show looped twice for families in different time zones.
*The Medyo Late Night Show with Jojo A., a Filipino talk show, was called The Night Time Show in 2018.