# Wishbone (1995)

> A Jack Russell Terrier named Wishbone daydreams himself into the lead roles of classic literature while living with his owner in small-town Oakdale, Texas.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/2040

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 50
- Episode runtime: 28 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy, family, fantasy
- Created by: Rick Duffield
- Network: PBS Kids
- Cast: Soccer the Dog, Larry Brantley, Mary Chris Wall, Christie Abbott, Adam Springfield, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Shelley Duvall, Amy Acker
- TMDB rating: 8.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112225/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: subtle
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: whimsical, gentle, comforting, playful, warm

## Synopsis

Wishbone (1995-1997) is an American public television children's series created by Rick Duffield for PBS Kids, a family-friendly comedy fantasy with a literary bent. Soccer the Dog plays the title role, a Jack Russell Terrier whose voice is provided by Larry Brantley, and he lives with his owner Joe Talbot (Jordan Wall) in the fictional modern town of Oakdale, Texas. The engine of each episode is Wishbone's daydreams: he imagines himself as the lead character of a classic story, and in those fantasies the characters around him see him as the famous figure he is portraying rather than as a dog, so only the viewers and his daydream companions can hear him speak. Ellen Talbot (Mary Chris Wall) and other principal figures anchor the real-world scenes, where his everyday life intersects with his fantasy adventures. The show runs two seasons and fifty episodes, with each installment built as a self-contained story that mixes a playful reimagining of canonical books with gentle lessons about friendship, curiosity and storytelling. Its tone is warm, whimsical and comforting, with a bright, imaginative register suited to young viewers and the families watching alongside them. Fans of Blue's Clues, Arthur and Doug will find resonance in its blend of educational intent, a talking animal companion and playful fantasy.

## Shows like Wishbone

- [100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (1999)](https://ember.film/tv/6083)
- [Martha Speaks (2009)](https://ember.film/tv/7196)
- [Eerie, Indiana (1991)](https://ember.film/tv/3846)
- [The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs (1998)](https://ember.film/tv/3863)
- [Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999)](https://ember.film/tv/1976)
- [The Storyteller (1988)](https://ember.film/tv/5030)
- [A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988)](https://ember.film/tv/390)
- [Ghostwriter (1992)](https://ember.film/tv/3735)
- [Hey Duggee (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/64585)
- [Pup Academy (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/78902)

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