Dinosaurs was a sitcom on ABC that aired from 1991 until 1994. It starred the Sinclair family, a clan of dinosaurs (portrayed by puppets) who lived a stereotypical modern American life in the year 60,000,003 BCE.
The show was Jim Henson‘s final project. Henson began brainstorming ideas for the project in the late 1980s with his partner Michael Jacobs (creator of Boy Meets World). He envisioned Dinosaurs as a traditional family-based situation comedy, but with a slightly macabre sense of humor–a formula that seemed ridiculous until the runaway success of The Simpsons in 1990. (The Simpsons would reference Dinosaurs in the episode “Black Widower” in 1992.) Henson died of organ failure in 1990, but his last idea was given the green light the following year.
From the first episode, Dinosaurs displayed its caustic take on contemporary life, as family patriarch Earl Sinclair asks for a raise only to be told by his boss that he will never amount to anything. In later episodes, the show took on topical issues like drug abuse, racism, women’s rights, religion, and homosexuality. In its final episode, Dinosaurs dealt with environmental issues as Earl’s company brought about the Ice Age through reckless polluting and meddling with nature.
Dinosaurs also satirized popular culture, lampooning the television industry, advertising gimmicks, Barney the Dinosaur, and more. The show is perhaps best remembered for Kevin Clash’s portrayal of Baby Sinclair, the youngest of the Sinclair brood whose catchprase “Not the mommy!” lived on in fans’ minds long after the show ended. Clash also worked with Henson on Sesame Street, where he gave voice to another legendary puppet of the 1990s: Elmo.
Cast
Stuart Pankin
Jessica Walter
Jason Willinger
Sally Struthers
Kevin Clash
Florence Stanley
Pictures
Videos
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