| Cappelli & Company | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Frank Cappelli |
| Presented by | Frank Cappelli |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 66 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | WTAE-TV |
| Release | |
| Original network | WTAE-TV |
| Original release | May 27, 1989 – September 5, 1992 |
Cappelli & Company is an American children's television series created by, and starring, children's songwriter/composer Frank Cappelli. [1] The series was in production for four and a half seasons, from 1989 to 1992, originating from Pittsburgh ABC affiliate WTAE-TV.
Upon the program's instant success both critically and ratings-wise in Pittsburgh, Cappelli & Company was distributed by WTAE's parent owner Hearst Television to air on all its sister stations across the country. Other Hearst-owned stations which aired the show well into the 1990s included WCVB in Boston, WDTN in Dayton, KMBC in Kansas City, WISN in Milwaukee, WBAL in Baltimore, and KCRA in Sacramento.
Cappelli & Company featured musical segments, puppets, montages, in studio sing-alongs with an audience of kids, and a variety of human interest pieces. Cappelli would usually play a role in most musical segments, which were taped in locations away from the show's main set. These segments featured original songs by Cappelli, ranging from the lighthearted "Brusha-Brusha Brush Your Teeth" to the more sentimental "Lindsay's Bakery". Various children would appear in necessary roles to help illustrate the actions/stories of each song. Depending on the segment, an influx of other adult actors would appear. The main studio segments would have Cappelli leading sing-alongs with the young audience, while playing his acoustic guitar. Guests of versatile talents would also join Cappelli and the kids in studio. Each episode would feature one human interest segment, such as a look inside a candy manufacturing company to see how its products are made (à la the "Picture Picture" segment of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood ).
Cappelli & Company's furthered success on the Hearst family of stations led to cable kids' giant Nickelodeon picking up reruns of the show for its Monday-Friday morning Nick Jr. lineup. [2] Its airtime on Nick began on April 5, 1993 [3] and ended on June 10, 1994. [4] While all Hearst stations continued to run Cappelli & Company after it went out of production in 1992 (once a week on Saturday mornings), the series' flagship station WTAE ran it the longest. In the fall of 2003, after a 14 year-run, the last 10 which had been entirely of reruns, the show was removed from WTAE's Saturday morning schedule. Most Hearst stations had only run the program until the late 1990s, while later stations acquired by the merger with Argyle Television never carried it at all.
While enjoying a great run on broadcast and cable television, Cappelli & Company won two Emmys for quality children's programming and two national Gabriel Awards for children's television. Cappelli also was signed by A&M Records as one of their national recording artists and released six audio cassettes and two video cassettes, partially based on this series. Both the audios and videos have been honored with numerous Parent Choice Awards.
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Magician" | May 27, 1989 |
| 2 | "Fireman" | June 3, 1989 |
| 3 | "Sign Language" | June 10, 1989 |
| 4 | "Negri" | June 17, 1989 |
| 5 | "Ballet" | 1989 |
| 6 | "Scientist" | 1989 |
| 7 | "Tap Dancer" | 1989 |
| 8 | "Police Officer" | 1989 |
| 9 | "Puppeteers" | 1989 |
| 10 | "Dentist" | 1989 |
| 11 | "Percussionist" | 1989 |
| 12 | "Birdman" | 1989 |
| 13 | "Storyteller" | 1989 |
| 14 | "Miss Manners" | 1989 |
| 15 | "Blind Person" | 1989 |
| 16 | "Gymnasts" | 1989 |
| 17 | "Scientist #2" | 1989 |
| 18 | "Umpire" | 1989 |
| 19 | "Pediatrician" | 1989 |
| 20 | "Veterinarian" | 1989 |
| 21 | "David Parks" | 1989 |
| 22 | "African Dancers" | 1989 |
| 23 | "Marble Champs" | 1989 |
| 24 | "Dietician" | 1990 |
| 25 | "Artist" | 1990 |
| 26 | "String Quartet" | January 27, 1990 |
| No. | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | "Bike Safety" | May 12, 1990 | |
| 28 | "Spanish" | May 19, 1990 | |
| 29 | "Recycling" | May 26, 1990 | |
| 30 | "Stuffee" | June 2, 1990 | |
| 31 | "Camping" | June 9, 1990 | |
| 32 | "Jack Hanna A" | June 16, 1990 | |
| 33 | "Liquid Air" | June 23, 1990 | |
| 34 | "Bagpiper" | July 7, 1990 | |
| 35 | "Improv" | July 14, 1990 | |
| 36 | "Storyteller" | July 21, 1990 | |
| 37 | "Seatbelt Safety" | July 28, 1990 | |
| 38 | "Jack Hanna B" | August 4, 1990 | |
| 39 | "Exercise" | August 11, 1990 | |
| 40 | "Happy Together" | 1990 | |
| Pilot episode, produced in 1988. | |||
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | "Modern Dance" | January 19, 1991 |
| 42 | "Art Appreciation" | January 26, 1991 |
| 43 | "Steel Drums" | March 30, 1991 |
| 44 | "Aqua Zoo" | February 2, 1991 |
| 45 | "Lasers" | February 9, 1991 |
| 46 | "Voice Coach" | February 16, 1991 |
| 47 | "Japanese" | April 27, 1991 |
| 48 | "Cartoonist" | February 23, 1991 |
| 49 | "Carbon Dioxide" | March 2, 1991 |
| 50 | "Basketball" | March 9, 1991 |
| 51 | "Cowboy" | May 11, 1991 |
| 52 | "Hand Puppet" | March 16, 1991 |
| 53 | "Cellist" | March 23, 1991 |
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | "Insects" | 1992 |
| 55 | "Casey at the Bat" | August 8, 1992 |
| 56 | "Reptiles" | April 18, 1992 |
| 57 | "India" | 1991 |
| 58 | "Condensation" | May 16, 1992 |
| 59 | "Woodwinds" | April 25, 1992 |
| 60 | "Astronaut" | May 9, 1992 |
| 61 | "Puppet Design" | August 15, 1992 |
| 62 | "Fred Newman" | August 22, 1992 |
| 63 | "Native American" | January 25, 1992 |
| 64 | "Dinosaurs" | May 2, 1992 |
| 65 | "Light Talker" | August 29, 1992 |
| 66 | "Endangered Species" | September 5, 1992 |
"Saturday-morning cartoon" is a colloquial term for the original animated series programming that was typically scheduled on Saturday and Sunday mornings in the United States on the "Big Three" television networks. The genre's popularity had a broad peak from the mid-1960s through the mid-2000s; over time it declined, in the face of changing cultural norms, increased competition from formats available at all times, and heavier regulations. In the last two decades of the genre's existence, Saturday-morning and Sunday-morning cartoons were primarily created and aired to meet regulations on children's television programming in the United States, or E/I. Minor television networks, in addition to the non-commercial PBS in some markets, continue to air animated programming on Saturday and Sunday while partially meeting those mandates.
ABC Kids was an American Saturday morning children's programming block that aired on ABC from September 13, 1997 to August 27, 2011. It featured a mixture of animated and live-action series from Walt Disney Television Animation and Disney Channel, aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 12. This was the only time Disney Channel content aired on over-the-air television.
Nick Jr. is an American morning programming block that airs on Nickelodeon. It was launched on January 4, 1988. Nick Jr. features a lineup of shows aimed at children under six.
WPNT is a television station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside Fox affiliate WPGH-TV. Both stations share studios on Ivory Avenue in the city's Summer Hill section, where WPNT's transmitter is also located.
Nick at Nite is an American nighttime basic cable television channel that broadcasts over the channel space of Nickelodeon. It typically broadcasts Mondays to Thursday nights from 9 p.m. - 6:30 a.m. ET/PT, Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. - 6 a.m. ET/PT, and Sunday nights from 8 p.m. - 6:30 a.m. ET/PT. The channel is similar to Adult Swim, the channel that shares channel space with Nick rival Cartoon Network.
Fox Kids was an American children's programming block and branding for a slate of international children's television channels. Originally a joint venture between the Fox Broadcasting Company (Fox) and its affiliated stations, it was later owned by Fox Family Worldwide.
The Alvin Show is an American animated television series that aired on CBS in the early 1960s. This was the first series to feature the singing characters Alvin and the Chipmunks. The Alvin Show aired for one season, from October 4, 1961, to September 12, 1962 and was originally sponsored by General Foods through its Jell-O gelatin and Post Cereal brands. Although the series was created in color, it was initially telecast in black and white. It was later rebroadcast in color from 1962-65 for Saturday mornings on CBS and again Saturday mornings on NBC in 1979.
KDKA-TV is a television station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, serving as the market's CBS outlet. It is owned and operated by the network's CBS News and Stations division alongside Jeannette-licensed CW affiliate WPCW. Both stations share studios at the Gateway Center in downtown Pittsburgh, while KDKA-TV's transmitter is located in the city's Perry North neighborhood. KDKA-TV, along with sister station KYW-TV in Philadelphia, are the only CBS-affiliated stations east of the Mississippi River with "K" call signs.
WTAE-TV is a television station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, affiliated with ABC. It has been owned by Hearst Television since the station's inception, making this one of two stations that have been built and signed on by Hearst. WTAE's studios are located on Ardmore Boulevard in the suburb of Wilkinsburg, and its transmitter is located in Buena Vista, Pennsylvania.
WPXI is a television station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Cox Media Group. The station's offices and studios are located on Evergreen Road in the Summer Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Its transmitter is on Television Hill in the Fineview section of the city, at the site of the station's original studio location.
WCVB-TV is a television station in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, affiliated with ABC and owned by Hearst Television. The station's studios are located on TV Place in Needham, Massachusetts, and its transmitter is located on Cedar Street, also in Needham, on a tower shared with several other television and radio stations.
KCWE is a television station in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, affiliated with The CW. It is owned by Hearst Television alongside ABC affiliate KMBC-TV. Both stations share studios on Winchester Avenue in the Ridge-Winchester section of Kansas City, Missouri, while KCWE's transmitter is located in the city's Blue Valley section.
A weekday cartoon is the colloquial term for the animated series programming that was typically scheduled on weekday mornings and afternoons in the United States on many major television networks and in broadcast syndication since the 1960s.
The PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a preschool television block produced by Canada-based animation studio Nelvana Limited that aired on PBS from September 30, 2000 to September 5, 2004. It typically aired on weekend mornings, depending on station preference and scheduling. The shows that formed the Bookworm Bunch were all based on children's books: Corduroy, Elliot Moose, Timothy Goes to School, Seven Little Monsters, George Shrinks, and Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse.
The CBS Kidshow was an American Saturday morning children's programming block that aired on CBS from September 13, 1997 to September 9, 2000. Originally a network-programmed block, Canada-based Nelvana took over programming responsibilities on October 3, 1998.
The CW Daytime is the former unofficial branding for an afternoon programming block that was broadcast on The CW. It was originally branded as Daytime WB, which aired on one of its predecessors, The WB, from January 2, 2006 to September 15, 2006. The CW programmed the block from September 17, 2006 until September 3, 2021.
In regard to children's television programming, CBS has aired mostly animated series, such as the original versions of Scooby-Doo, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Jim Henson's Muppet Babies, Garfield and Friends and the 1987 incarnation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This article outlines the history of children's television programming on CBS including the various blocks and notable programs that have aired throughout the television network's history.
In regard to children's programming, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) has aired mostly programming from Walt Disney Television or other producers. This article outlines the history of children's television programming on ABC including the various blocks and notable programs that have aired throughout the television network's history.
The Hearst Media Production Group is an American media and production company based in New York City, New York as a division of the Hearst Television subsidiary of Hearst Communications, with three additional offices in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Burbank, California. Many of HMPG's programs comply with federally mandated educational and informational requirements.
Weekend Adventure is an American syndicated programming block that is produced by Hearst Media Production Group, and airs weekend mornings on the owned-and-operated stations and affiliates of ABC. The block features live-action documentary and lifestyle series aimed at a family audience that meet educational programming requirements defined by the Children's Television Act. Announced on May 24, 2011, Litton's Weekend Adventure premiered on September 3, 2011, replacing the ABC Kids block.
