Dick Tooley

The live-action children's television series "Wishbone" aired on PBS from 1995 to 1997. It featured a Jack Russell Terrier named Wishbone who envisioned himself as the protagonist in adaptations of classic literature. The show aimed to introduce children aged 6 to 11 to great books in an entertaining way. Despite its target demographic, the series garnered a significant following among college students and adults.

The premise of each episode involved a contemporary storyline that would remind Wishbone of a literary work. The narrative would then interweave between the modern-day plot and Wishbone's imaginative portrayal of characters from classic tales. Notably, the show was recognized for its fidelity to the source material, not shying away from mature themes like murder, execution, suicide, and the impact of slavery found in the original works. The series concluded with a behind-the-scenes segment titled "Tail Ends," focusing on a production aspect of the episode.

A distinctive characteristic of "Wishbone" was its commitment to presenting classic literature to a young audience. The show's creators intentionally adapted stories in a manner that remained faithful to the original texts, even when dealing with challenging or somber subject matter. Unlike many children's programming that might sanitize difficult themes, "Wishbone" included elements such as murder, execution, suicide, and the brutal realities of slavery. This approach was lauded for providing a more authentic introduction to literary classics, allowing viewers to engage with the full spectrum of human experience as depicted in these works. The contemporary storylines were designed to parallel the literary plots, reinforcing the connections and themes for the young audience.

The series was developed with the core concept of telling stories from a dog's perspective, with the ultimate goal of making classic literature accessible and engaging for children. Despite critical acclaim and awards, including a Peabody Award and multiple Emmy Awards, only 50 episodes were produced. This limited run was attributed to a perceived lack of merchandising potential by PBS. The show's influence extended beyond television, spawning several book series, video games, and a planned film adaptation. The dog who portrayed Wishbone, Soccer, was treated with considerable care during promotional tours, even reportedly being given the codename "The President."