And so Rifkin pitched the show for national distribution. The very next year, 1992, “Barney and the Backyard Gang” hit PBS as “Barney & Friends” and found its way into the homes of millions of kids.

“Barney and the Backyard Gang” hit PBS as “Barney & Friends” and found its way into the homes of millions of kids. “Barney was a one off,” Rifkin said. “As I say, Barney was a unicor ...

Meet "Generation Barney," a podcast about the media we loved as kids and how it shapes us. It's about the purple dinosaur. But it's also about music and love and backlash and toys and nostalgia.

"Barney And The Backyard Gang" hit PBS as "Barney & Friends" and found its way into the homes of millions of kids, including mine. (SOUNDBITE OF GOGGLEBOX SONG, "BARNEY AND FRIENDS") HERRERA ...

Explore PBS Parents, a trusted source for information on child development, early learning and expert tips on raising children. Enjoy educational kids activities and fun games for toddlers ...

But PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting had recently put out a call for more preschool programming. And as a programmer, Larry understood how important it was to listen to your audience.