Peg + Cat is an animated children's television series based on the children's picture book "The Chicken Problem", which was published in 2012. The series, which featured the voice acting of Hayley Faith Negrin and Dwayne Hill, was created by Billy Aronson and Jennifer Oxley and produced by Fred Rogers Productions and 9 Story Media Group.[2][3] It debuted on most PBS stations on October 7, 2013, as part of the revamped PBS Kids brand, and aired 63 episodes through April 23, 2018.[4] In Canada the show is broadcast on Treehouse TV.[5]

Peg + Cat
Title card
Created by
Directed byCory Bobiak
Starring
Opening theme"Peg + Cat Theme Song"
Ending theme"Peg + Cat Theme Song" (instrumental)
Composers
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes63 (125 segments)
Production
Executive producers
  • Jennifer Oxley
  • Billy Aronson
  • Vince Commisso
  • Kevin Morrison
Running time28 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseOctober 7, 2013 (2013-10-07) –
April 23, 2018 (2018-04-23)

The show is targeted to children 3 to 5 years old. The goal is to "inspire preschoolers’ natural curiosity about math and help them develop new skills and strategies for solving problems creatively in their daily lives".[6] In keeping with the math theme, the animation is presented as if it were drawn on graph paper.

On March 3, 2015, PBS Kids renewed Peg + Cat for a second season, which started on April 4, 2016.[7][8] On March 28, 2016, a one-hour two-part film aired on PBS Kids. A new film, titled Peg + Cat Save the World, focused on the duo being called upon by the President of the United States (voiced by Sandra Oh), to prevent a global disaster.[7] On March 14, 2016, PBS Kids released the first part of the film on its YouTube channel.

Characters

  • Peg – The main character, together with her talking cat, Cat. She is a young girl who wears a red hat and a blue dress. She explains the situation in each episode directly to the "camera", announces when they have "a big problem", and reasons out solutions to math-related problems. During songs, she pulls out a ukulele and plays it. She has a special blue marble hidden under her hat. Her favorite crayon is "little bluey". She is voiced by Hayley Faith Negrin.
  • Cat – An indigo cat whose best friend is Peg. He loves circles and accompanies Peg on her adventures. Cat often inspires Peg to realize a solution to a problem without being aware of it himself. Often helps to calm Peg when she is "totally freaking out". He was inspired by Jennifer Oxley's pet cat. He is voiced by Dwayne Hill.
  • Ramone – A boy who shows up to help Peg and Cat with their math problems. He is voiced by Thamela Mpumlwana in season 1 and Jaiden Lewis in season 2.
  • Pig – A pig who is usually silent except when he sings in a rich operatic tenor. His favorite shape is the triangle. Voiced by Tommy Wazelle.
  • Neighbor Ladies – A female African American character named Viv and a female Asian American character named Connie appear in several episodes. They often accidentally add to Peg and Cat's problems by trying to be nice. Viv is voiced by Angela Teek and Connie is voiced by Jean Yoon.
  • 100 Chickens – Chickens who play and live on a farm and travel to space with Pig, Peg, and Cat. Voiced by Rob Morrison and Carys Casucci.
  • The Pirates and their parrot – A quarrelsome quartet of pirates who live on an island. They like to sing in four-part harmony but sing "really bad" when they get cranky. They have had a sleepover with Peg and Cat. Voiced by Rob Morrison.
  • Big Mouth – A blue, furry, horned space monster who likes to eat things that are little and yellow.
  • Richard – A space alien from the purple planet who plays with Peg and Cat in space. He worries a lot and often cries during tense situations. Voiced by Christian DiStefano.
  • The Teens – Three cool older kids who love pizza and texting on their phones, but can't stand getting dirt on their clothes. Tessa (voiced by Addison Holley) is thirteen, Mora (voiced by Annick Obonsawin) is fourteen, and Jesse (voiced by Gabriel Giammaria) is fifteen.
  • Giants – Peg and Cat's big friends who live up the Beanstalk in Fairy Tale Land. In The Giant Problem Peg and Cat think that the Giants are going to eat them. Voiced by Bryce Kulak (Giant) and Shoshana Sperling (Giantess).
  • Mermaid – A swimming damsel who lives in the Magical Forest. The Pig stole her Golden Pyramids in The Golden Pyramid Problem. She is voiced by Emilie-Claire Barlow.
  • The Three Bears, The Three Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff - Nine Friends of Peg and Cat that get into bands like The Electric Eleven. Voiced by Kevin Brathwaite (Papa Bear), Angela Teek (Mama Bear), Phatt Al (Baby Bear), and Rob Morrison (Three Little Pigs and Three Billy Goats Gruff).
  • The Blockettes – Five dancers that dance in the Radio City Music Hall. Voiced by Allie Hughes, Jennifer Wallis, and Katie Griffin.
  • Mac – A gruff-voiced man who works various jobs in different episodes. Voiced by Kevin Del Aguila.
  • Peg's Mom – Voiced by Alison Jutzi.[9]
  • The Seven Dwarves - Voiced by Rob Morrison.
  • Dragon – A mythical creature who lives in the Magical Forest.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven – A famous music composer who has problems writing music. Voiced by Rob Morrison.
  • George Washington – The first president of the United States. Voiced by Kyle McDonald.
  • Albert Einstein – A famous scientist. Voiced by John Stocker.
  • Flat Woman – A supervillainess who likes to make things flat. Voiced by Julie Lemieux.
  • Baby Fox – A young little fox who likes building his block tower and stays with Mrs. Sheep.[10]
  • Romeo and Juliet – Two young lovers from William Shakespeare's stage play of the same name.
  • Triceratops - An adult blue dinosaur who talks. Randomly says "Horn!" during the conversation.
  • Baby T. rex - A baby dinosaur with a voracious appetite who can't talk but instead shrieks. Seen frequently with Triceratops.
  • Cleopatra - Peg + Cat's Queen of the Nile friend, along with her pet camel "Epidermis". Voiced by Patience Mpumlwana.
  • Marie Curie - Voiced by Linda Ballantyne.
  • Roxanne - A pink French cat. Voiced by Paula McNeil
  • Grandmom and Granddad - Peg's grandparents who are obsessed with the 1960s. Voiced respectfully by Judy Marshack and Jim Codrington.
  • The President of the United States - Voiced by Sandra Oh.
  • Robin Hood - A robin loosely based on the British folklore hero of the same name.
  • Aki - A ninja in training. Voiced by Mika Shimozato.
  • Billie Holiday - A famous jazz singer.

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
140October 7, 2013 (2013-10-07)September 10, 2015 (2015-09-10)
223April 4, 2016 (2016-04-04)April 23, 2018 (2018-04-23)
31December 17, 2014 (2014-12-17)December 17, 2014 (2014-12-17)

Season 1 (2013–15)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date [11]Prod.
code
11"The Chicken Problem / The Space Creature Problem"[12]October 7, 2013 (2013-10-07)101
22"The Pirate Problem/The Sleepover Problem"[13]October 8, 2013 (2013-10-08)103
33"The Three Bears Problem/The Giant Problem"[14]October 9, 2013 (2013-10-09)104
44"The Circus Problem/The Buried Treasure Problem"[15]October 10, 2013 (2013-10-10)105
55"The Tree Problem/Another Tree Problem"[16]October 14, 2013 (2013-10-14)107
66"The Messy Room Problem/The Golden Pyramid Problem"[17]October 15, 2013 (2013-10-15)102
77"The Parade Problem/The Halloween Problem"[18]October 22, 2013 (2013-10-22)113
88"The Dinosaur Problem/The Beethoven Problem"[19]November 4, 2013 (2013-11-04)108
99"The Honey Problem/The Penguin Problem"[20]November 5, 2013 (2013-11-05)109
1010"The Race Car Problem/The Big Gig Problem"[21]November 18, 2013 (2013-11-18)110
1111"The Slop Problem/The Birthday Present Problem"[22]December 16, 2013 (2013-12-16)111
1212"The Baby Problem/The Sparkling Sphere Problem"[23]December 17, 2013 (2013-12-17)112
1313"The Birthday Cake Problem/The Doohickey Problem"[24]January 3, 2014 (2014-01-03)106
1414"The Blockette Problem/The Tulip Problem"[25]January 24, 2014 (2014-01-24)114
1515"The Mega Mall Problem/The Cleopatra Problem"[26]February 17, 2014 (2014-02-17)115
1616"Yet Another Tree Problem/The Romeo and Juliet Problem"[27]April 14, 2014 (2014-04-14)116
1717"The Arch Villain Problem/The Straight and Narrow Problem"[28]May 5, 2014 (2014-05-05)120
1818"The Play Date Problem/The Blabberwocky Problem"[29]May 6, 2014 (2014-05-06)122
1919"The Perfect Ten Problem/The Long Line Problem"[30]May 7, 2014 (2014-05-07)117
2020"The Clown Problem/The Ninja Problem"[31]May 8, 2014 (2014-05-08)121
2121"The George Washington Problem/The High Noon Problem"[32]July 4, 2014 (2014-07-04)125
2222"The Big Dog Problem/The Three Friends Problem"[33]July 14, 2014 (2014-07-14)119
2323"The Pizza Problem/The Pizza Pirate Problem"[34]August 18, 2014 (2014-08-18)126
2424"The Potty Problem/The Butter Problem"[35]August 19, 2014 (2014-08-19)127
2525"The Pirate Puzzle Problem/The Scrap of Map Problem"[36]August 20, 2014 (2014-08-20)128
2626"The Sushi Problem/The Highlight Zone Problem"[37]August 21, 2014 (2014-08-21)129
2727"The Election Problem/The Littlest Chicken Problem"[38]November 3, 2014 (2014-11-03)123
2828"The Flat Woman Problem/The Hanukkah Problem"[39]December 18, 2014 (2014-12-18)136
2929"The Christmas Problem"[40]December 22, 2014 (2014-12-22)118
3030"The Allergy Problem/I Do What I Can: The Musical"[41]March 2, 2015 (2015-03-02)132
3131"The Roxanne Problem/The Girl Group Problem"[42]March 3, 2015 (2015-03-03)134
3232"The Groovy Sixties Problem/Bad Jack Is Back"[43]March 4, 2015 (2015-03-04)137
3333"The Magic Uke/The Rocking Out Problem"[44]March 5, 2015 (2015-03-05)139
3434"The Cold Camel Problem/The Einstein Problem"[45]April 3, 2015 (2015-04-03)130
3535"The T-Ball Problem/The Bus Problem"[46]June 1, 2015 (2015-06-01)138
3636"Richard The Third/The Lemonade Problem"[47]August 5, 2015 (2015-08-05)135
3737"The Wonderland Problem/The Bat Mitzvah Problem"[48]September 7, 2015 (2015-09-07)131
3838"The Robin Hood Problem/The Owl and the Pussy Cat Problem"[49]September 8, 2015 (2015-09-08)140
3939"The Ring Problem/The Wedding Problem"[50]September 9, 2015 (2015-09-09)124
4040"The Bermuda Triangle Problem/The Breeze in the Branches"[51]September 10, 2015 (2015-09-10)133

Season 2 (2016–18)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date [11]Prod.
code
411"The Polka Dot Planet Problem/The Mardi Gras Problem"[7]April 4, 2016 (2016-04-04)201
422"The Mermaid in the Mall Problem/The Painting Problem"[7]April 5, 2016 (2016-04-05)202
433"The Claymation Problem/The Grumpy Judge Problem"[7]April 6, 2016 (2016-04-06)203
444"The Imaginary Friend Problem/The Promise Problem"[7]April 7, 2016 (2016-04-07)206
455"The Camp Problem/The Two Homes Problem"[52]July 4, 2016 (2016-07-04)205
466"The Tree By the Nile Problem/The Eid al-Adha Adventure"[53]September 12, 2016 (2016-09-12)213
477"The Pentagirls Problem/The Tree Problem of National Importance"[54]October 4, 2016 (2016-10-04)218
488"The Package Problem/The Train Problem"[55]October 11, 2016 (2016-10-11)204
499"The Poetry Problem/The Disappearing Art Problem"[56]October 12, 2016 (2016-10-12)211
5010"The Friday the 13th Problem/The Looking Glass Problem"[57]October 13, 2016 (2016-10-13)219
5111"Another Train Problem/The Odd Sea"[58]October 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)215
5212"The Dance Problem/Follow The Bouncing Ball"[59]October 19, 2016 (2016-10-19)216
5313"Peg Meets Cat/The Valentine's Day Problem"[60]February 1, 2017 (2017-02-01)210
5414"The Too Big Dog Problem/The Giant Baby Problem"[61]June 5, 2017 (2017-06-05)209
5515"The Funky Seventies Problem/The Umbrella Problem"[62]June 6, 2017 (2017-06-06)217
5616"The Fuzzball Problem/The Silliest Song Problem"[63]June 7, 2017 (2017-06-07)221
5717"The Sam Problem/Mac The Fork"[64]June 8, 2017 (2017-06-08)222
5818"The Pig Problem/The Mariachi Problem"[65]September 15, 2017 (2017-09-15)220
5919"The Peanut Problem/More Adventures of Robin Hood"[66]January 8, 2018 (2018-01-08)214
6020"The Awards Show Problem/The Wrong Headed Problem"[67]February 26, 2018 (2018-02-26)212
6121"The Hotel Problem/Another Hotel Problem"[68]February 27, 2018 (2018-02-27)224
6222"The Big Dig Problem/The Crayon Problem"[69]February 28, 2018 (2018-02-28)225
6323"The Compost Problem/Raiders of the Lost Arch"[70]April 23, 2018 (2018-04-23)223

Specials (2014)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date [11]Prod.
code
11"Peg + Cat + Holidays"[71]December 17, 2014 (2014-12-17)TBA

Critical reception

Peg + Cat has received generally positive reviews from television critics and parents of young children. Ryan Berenz of Channel Guide Magazine wrote, "Problem solved: PEG + CAT equals fun!"[72]

Awards

Peg + Cat has won seven Daytime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Pre-School Children's Animated Program, Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (Hayley Faith Negrin), Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation (Jennifer Oxley, production designer),[73] Outstanding Writing in a Pre-School Animated Program (includes Peg + Cat co-creators Billy Aronson and Jennifer Oxley, Kevin Del Aguila, Dustin Ferrer, David Steven Cohen, Qui Nguyen, and writers),[74][75][76] and Outstanding Music Direction and Composition (Steven Rebollido, music supervisor; J. Walter Hawkes, music director; and Martin Erskine and D. D. Jackson, composers).[76]

Merchandise

In late 2016, Fred Rogers Productions and 9 Story Media Group signed a deal with the Montreal-based toy manufacturer Imports Dragon to create an assortment of plush, arts-and-crafts sets, games and wooden puzzles based on the Peg + Cat characters.[77]

The toys join numerous books from Candlewick Press, as well as DVDs from PBS Distribution in the U.S., eOne in Canada, ABC Commercial in Australia and Sony Music in Germany.[77]

References

  1. ^ "9 Story Entertainment Announces Peg + Cat Series". Animation World Network. February 26, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  2. ^ "Press Release: PBS Kids Announces New Math Series Peg + Cat, Premiering Fall 2013". PBS. January 14, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  3. ^ "9 Story Entertainment - Peg + Cat". 9 Story Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  4. ^ "PBS Kids Go! goes bye-bye as colorful branding revamp rolls out to stations". Current.org. August 7, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "Peg + Cat | Treehouse". Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "KET About Peg + Cat". PBS Parents. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "PBS Kids Premieres First Peg + Cat Movie: "Peg and Cat Save The World"" (Press release). March 8, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  8. ^ Bibel, Sara; Baron, Steve (March 3, 2015). "'Peg + Cat' Renewed for Season 2 by PBS Kids". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Season two of the popular show will feature 25 engaging new episodes, including a hilarious one-hour special
  9. ^ "Official Program Credits". PBS. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
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  11. ^ a b c "Peg + Cat". Zap2it. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  12. ^ "The Chicken Problem/The Space Creature Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  13. ^ "The Pirate Problem/The Sleepover Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  14. ^ "The Three Bears Problem/The Giant Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  15. ^ "The Circus Problem/The Buried Treasure Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  16. ^ "The Tree Problem/Another Tree Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  17. ^ "The Messy Room Problem/The Golden Pyramid Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  18. ^ "The Parade Problem/The Halloween Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  19. ^ "The Dinosaur Problem/The Beethoven Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  20. ^ "The Honey Problem/The Penguin Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "The Race Car Problem/The Big Gig Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  22. ^ "The Slop Problem/The Birthday Present Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  23. ^ "The Baby Problem/The Sparkling Sphere Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  24. ^ "The Birthday Cake Problem/The Doohickey Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  25. ^ "The Blockette Problem/The Tulip Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  26. ^ "The Mega Mall Problem/The Cleopatra Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  27. ^ "Yet Another Tree Problem/The Romeo and Juliet Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  28. ^ "The Arch Villain Problem/The Straight and Narrow Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  29. ^ "The Play Date Problem/The Blabberwocky Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  30. ^ "The Perfect Ten Problem/The Long Line Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  31. ^ "The Clown Problem/The Ninja Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  32. ^ "The George Washington Problem/The High Noon Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  33. ^ "The Big Dog Problem/The Three Friends Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  34. ^ "The Pizza Problem/The Pizza Pirate Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  35. ^ "The Potty Problem/The Butter Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  36. ^ "The Pirate Puzzle Problem/The Scrap of Map Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  37. ^ "The Sushi Problem/The Highlight Zone Problem". KET. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  38. ^ "The Election Problem/The Littlest Chicken Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  39. ^ "The Flat Woman Problem/The Hanukkah Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  40. ^ "The Christmas Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  41. ^ "The Allergy Problem/I Do What I Can: The Musical". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  42. ^ "The Roxanne Problem/The Girl Group Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  43. ^ "The Groovy Sixties Problem/Bad Jack Is Back". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  44. ^ "The Magic Uke/The Rocking Out Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  45. ^ "The Cold Camel Problem/The Einstein Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  46. ^ "The T-Ball Problem/The Bus Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  47. ^ "Richard The Third/The Lemonade Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  48. ^ "The Wonderland Problem/The Bat Mitzvah Problem". KET. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  49. ^ "The Robin Hood Problem/The Owl and the Pussy Cat Problem". KET. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  50. ^ "The Ring Problem/The Wedding Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  51. ^ "The Bermuda Triangle Problem/The Breeze in the Branches". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  52. ^ "The Camp Problem/The Two Homes Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  53. ^ "The Tree By the Nile Problem/The Eid al-Adha Adventure". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  54. ^ "The Pentagirls Problem/The Tree Problem of National Importance". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  55. ^ "The Package Problem/The Train Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  56. ^ "The Poetry Problem/The Disappearing Art Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  57. ^ "The Friday the 13th Problem/The Looking Glass Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  58. ^ "Another Train Problem/The Odd Sea". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  59. ^ "The Dance Problem/Follow The Bouncing Ball". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  60. ^ "Peg Meets Cat/The Valentine's Day Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  61. ^ "The Too Big Dog Problem/The Giant Baby Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  62. ^ "The Funky Seventies Problem/The Umbrella Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  63. ^ "The Fuzzball Problem/The Silliest Song Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  64. ^ "The Sam Problem/Mac The Fork". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  65. ^ "The Pig Problem/The Mariachi Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  66. ^ "The Peanut Problem/More Adventures of Robin Hood". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  67. ^ "The Awards Show Problem/The Wrong Headed Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  68. ^ "The Hotel Problem/Another Hotel Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  69. ^ "The Big Dig Problem/The Crayon Problem". KET. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  70. ^ "The Compost Problem/Raiders of the Lost Arch". KET. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  71. ^ {{}}
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