The BEST episodes of Bear in the Big Blue House
Every episode of Bear in the Big Blue House ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Bear in the Big Blue House!
Bear and his friends live in the Big Blue House, where Bear helps his house-mates to solve everyday problems or learn new things.
#1 - Halloween Bear
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/1999
It's Halloween at the Big Blue House. The house is all decorated and everyone is getting ready. Bear helps his friends to find costumes and helps Tutter with carving a pumpkin. He always helps out Treelo when he's scared by Ojo's bat costume. Later, everyone gets together for some fun trick-or-treating. The kids have all picked out their Halloween costumes, but Bear hasn't been able to find anything to dress up as. The kids go through Bear's box of costumes and come up with an amusing idea. In the Shadow segment, Shadow performs the song "What Do Shadows Do for Halloween?" Songs What Are You Gonna Be for Halloween? What Do Shadows Do for Halloween? Trick or Treat Notes Throughout the special, a couple of pumpkins slide across the screen as a scene changer and sing the first couple of lines of the "Trick or Treat" song --- "We're going trick-or-treating / We'll shout a scary greeting." In this episode, Treelo is scared of Ojo when he believes her to be an "icky" bat. Later on in the season, though, Treelo introduces all the kids to his bat friend, Benny, in "Bats are People Too" and they learn that bats are nothing to be afraid of. Apparently, Treelo met Benny in-between the events of this episode and that episode, or else he should not be afraid of someone dressed as a bat.
#2 - You Go, Ojo!
Season 2 - Episode 30 - Aired 2/13/1998
When Bear receives a photo of Ursa in the mail, Ojo is off and running, discovering her "girlness." But as she and everyone else in the Big Blue House learn, it's not being a boy or a girl that matters. It's just being yourself.
#3 - Scientific Bear
Season 2 - Episode 31 - Aired 2/16/1998
When Tutter decides to investigate new uses for Swiss cheese, Bear suggests a scientific experiment. Soon the whole gang is taking a look at the world around the Big Blue House, and before long, they find that, with a little curiosity and a question, you can be scientists, too.
#4 - Boys Will Be Boys
Season 2 - Episode 32 - Aired 2/17/1998
When Bear reads Tutter the story of "Mousy the Great," Tutter wants to be just like his hero. But when Ojo rescues him from the "dragon," he's not too sure he's very good at it. With a little help from Bear, Tutter learns that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. And every single one is great.
#5 - Wish You Were Here
Season 2 - Episode 34 - Aired 2/19/1998
When the gang all leaves the Big Blue House for the day to go to a square dance, BearTM is looking forward to getting a lot of chores done. However, each chore he starts somehow reminds him of one of his friends, and before long, the house seems awfully quiet. By the time his friends return, Bear has realized that the Big Blue House just isn't the same without them.
#6 - And To All A Good Night
Season 2 - Episode 35 - Aired 2/20/1998
It's a special night in Woodland Valley --- tonight is the night of Harvest Moon. There's a special party out at the Otter Pond and Luna even has a special surprise for Bear. Bear and his friends enjoy the delights of the night, such as fireflies and constellations. Tutter does his best to stay up, but Bear allows him to catch a little sleep before the big celebration. Bear searches for party lanterns for the celebration, but it's ultimately Pip and Pop who find them. Everything is finally ready for the big party and it's drawn quite a crowd --- besides Bear and the kids, Doc Hogg, Lois, Otto and Etta, Grandma Flutter, Christine, Jacques the Beaver, Doc Owl, and even Big Old Bullfrog are there. In fact, everyone's there except Luna --- they're worried she may have disappeared behind a cloud. But it turns out she was just getting her special surprise ready --- an old friend Bear hasn't seen in a long time! In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells a wild story about a man who takes a trip to the moon in a balloon. Songs Beauty of the Night The Goodbye Song (Full Cast Version) Notes This episode includes a brief segment, introduced by Luna, in which real kids talk about things they do at night. These include playing on a swingset, catching lightning bugs, looking at the stars and the moon, putting on pajamas and reading a story. In this special episode of the program, viewers get to see a lot of a character who is normally only seen at the end of each episode --- Luna. Luna also gets to perform in a song other than the "Goodbye Song." Ray is also seen at the very beginning of the episode. The closing credits for this episode include a special bonus featuring Bear and Ursa. The episode's title is a reference to the last six words of "The Night Before Christmas".
#7 - We Did It Our Way
Season 2 - Episode 37 - Aired 2/24/1998
When Pip and Pop lose a jar lid down a hole, Bear helps them to see how they can cooperate to solve their problem. Bear asks for the viewers' help as he prepares a pie for Doc Hogg. He completely forgot about it and Doc Hogg will be arriving soon. As he gets ready, he overhears Tutter and Treelo. Tutter doesn't want Treelo to be a puppy in his game of "King Tutter the Great," but Bear introduces the two to a game called "The Hound of Yarsburg." The Shadow segment, "Stories of Incredible Opposites," is recycled from "As Different as Day and Night." Songs Get It Together Clean Up the House
#8 - What's The Story?
Season 2 - Episode 38 - Aired 2/25/1998
s time for the Annual Woodland Valley Storytelling Festival at the Big Blue House and viewers are invited to come and listen in! As everyone gets ready for the story, Bear prepares the food and other accommodations, while also stopping to help his friends in the Big Blue House. Tutter's found a great beginning and ending for his story, but it's seriously lacking a middle. Bear also helps Treelo and Ojo with an idea for telling a story in pictures. Finally, guests from all over Woodland Valley start arriving in droves - everyone from Doc Hogg to Big Old Bullfrog. Doc Hogg "entertains" everyone with the story of his life; Pip and Pop read from a comic titled The Adventures of Clamiana Jones; Lois tells a tale in off-key song and Shadow sings the tale of The Frog Prince. Songs Once Upon a Time Characters Bear, Tutter, Ojo, Treelo, Pip and Pop, Doc Hogg, Shadow, Grandma Flutter, Otto and Etta, Jacques the Beaver, Doc Owl Notes For the Storytelling Festival, Pip and Pop read from The Adventures of Clamiana Jones. This title is a spoof on Indiana Jones..
#9 - When You've Got To Go...
Season 2 - Episode 39 - Aired 2/26/1998
Bear and Tutter are trying to have a fun game of checkers, while Ojo and Treelo are having their own fun playing. For some reason, though, everyone seems to be talking about the toilet and the bathroom. It all starts when Tutter needs to use the toilet during his game of checkers with Bear, but doesn't want to leave the checkers game. Bear assures him it will still be waiting for him. Tutter uses the bathroom and then washes his hands, stating that his Grandma Flutter taught him to. Later, Ojo has an accident and is very embarrassed, but Bear lets her know it's okay --- accidents can happen to anyone. When Pip and Pop hear about the day's events, they invite everyone to join their secret club --- The Mystic Order of the Toileteers. It's for everyone who uses, or is going to use the potty. In the Shadow segment, Shadow introduces a song with some new twists on the phrases "party party" and "potty training." Songs Potty Chair Potty Potty The Toileteers Notes This episode was adapted in book form as When You've Got To Go! The Toileteers is a parody of Disney's Mouseketeers.
#10 - Friends At Play
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/9/1999
Ojo is excited about a visit from her friend, Christine. The two quickly get involved in one of Ojo's imaginative games --- a pillow castle. Tutter arrives and asks if they'd like to play checkers, but Ojo tells him she's in the middle of her game with her "best friend," Christine. Tutter is hurt by the use of the term "best friend." He creates his own friend to play with, "Mr. Cheese," but Bear helps to mend his friendship with Ojo. He also finds Pip and Pop at odds with Treelo out at the Otter Pond. He keeps pretending to be a monster during their Deep-Sea Divers game and they don't like it at all. Bear, however, introduces them to a game called The Treasure of Kalamazoo Bay. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of "Mary Had a Little Lamb." The lamb in this version drives a car, skies and scuba dives in its efforts to follow Mary everywhere she goes. Songs Where Would You Be Without Your Friends Notes This is at least the second time that Bear has suggested a game to the kids that he once played when he was a cub. In "Share, Bear," Bear tells Ojo and Treelo about a game called "Snow Bear in the Woods" when Ojo doesn't want to share Snow Bear with Treelo.
#11 - Nothing To Fear
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/23/1999
When Bear receives a package from "L.L. Bear" in the mail, he's surprised to find that he received a skunk clock rather than the bear clock he order. Rather than returning it, he decides to give it a try and hangs it up in the kitchen. He hears Ojo and Treelo outside and finds Treelo swinging on a swing. He gets off and asks Ojo to try, but finds that she doesn't want to. She admits to being somewhat scared, but finds a compromise in starting out by first taking small swings. As Bear heads off into the living room for a nap, Tutter is disturbed by the "tick-tock" of the skunk clock, mistaking it for a real skunk. He's scared by it, but eventually comes to realize that it's actually alive and is nothing to be afraid of. Out at the Otter Pond, Pip and Pop play a game called "Double D Dare." When their daring starts to get dangerous, Bear suggests that they think of things to do that are silly, but not potentially dangerous. Sometimes, if you're scared to do something, there may be a very good reason for it. Songs What's in the Mail Today? (Shortened Version) Everybody's Afraid of Something (lyrics) Notes There is no Shadow segment in this episode. In this episode, Bear sings that "everyone's afraid of bats" and that "anyone who says they're not is tellin' you a little white lie." Bear would later change his tune in "Bats are People Too" when he befriends a bat and tells the kids that they're nothing to be afraid of. In an unusual move, this episode reuses the exact same theme, "Afraid," from the second season episode "Afraid Not." Allusions Bear receives his skunk clock from a catalog called "L.L. Bear." This is a spoof on the popular L.L. Bean catalog, a mail-order catalog generally known for outdoor equipment and clothing.
#12 - Lost And Found
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/1999
Ojo loses his favorite teddy bear and the members conducted a search party to help search for it, but in vain.In the end, they played hide-and-seek and Ojo found his bear back. Pip and Pop are out playing ball when they find a little duck who seems to be looking for something. He introduces himself as Harry and says that apparently his family got lost while they were flying south. Bear takes the opportunity to remind the viewers about what they should do if they were ever lost and promises to help reunite Harry with his family. Meanwhile, the kids of the Big Blue House get acquainted with Harry the Duck. In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells a story about a dame who's lost her shoe and a master who's lost his fiddle-stick. Songs You Will Find Your Way Notes This episode introduces the character of Harry the Duck. He and his family live at the Duck Pond, which is actually what Pip and Pop know as the Otter Pond. They fly south every winter. Bear invites Harry to come back to visit the Big Blue House when he returns in the spring. In this episode, Harry says that he's been separated from his Mom, brothers and sisters. No reference is made to his brothers and sisters in future episodes and none are present when Hallie is born in "When Harry Met Hallie." The dog in the Shadow Projects logo in the closing credits quacks like Harry.
#13 - The Senseless Detectives
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/1999
Bear is busy doing some cooking --- he's making his annual batch of cookies for everyone in Woodland Valley. As he starts to bake the cookies, he gets a call from Ojo and Tutter. They're pretending to be Big Blue House detectives, but they feel that they've solved all the mysteries in the Big Blue House, or perhaps even the world. Bear gives them a new challenge by using dishtowels to blindfold them so that they can play one of his favorite games --- "What is It?" Using senses other than sight, he first has them identify a flower and then peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Later, they find an actual mystery to solve when Treelo reports that his "banananana" is missing. With Bear's help, the senses of touch and smell are used to track down the stinky, squishy old banana. When the cookies are finally finished, the kids decide to cover up all their senses except taste in an attempt to get Bear to give them some cookies. He quickly ends the game --- he was planning to share the cookies with them anyway. They all end up sharing the cookies together outside, as Pip and Pop express their appreciation for all the wonderful sounds, sights and smells of nature. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of Little Red Riding Hood. In her twist on the story, the Granny is a doctor. Songs Making Sense of Your World
#14 - Mouse Party
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/1997
Today is Tutter's birthday, and the friends in the Big Blue House decide to throw him a special surprise birthday party. Pip and Pop are placed in charge of the decorations, but run into trouble with the balloons. All the noise attracts Tutter, but Bear manages to head him off with our help. Tutter learns that having a birthday means becoming a year older. He speculates on all the great things he'll be able to do while he's older. Ojo works on the cake and Treelo wraps Tutter's present. Treelo, though, gets so excited about the birthday that at first he wants to keep the present for himself. Songs ■When I'm Older ■Happy, Happy Birthday Notes ■A big deal is made about Tutter's present in this episode, but viewers never find out what it is. ■Luna is so old that she doesn't remember when her birthday is. ■Shadow does not appear in this episode. The time normally spent on her story is taken up by Tutter's birthday party. ■The events of this episode were the basis for the stage show Bear in the Big Blue House Live: Surprise Party. This stage show no longer tours, but is available on video. ■The "Happy, Happy Birthday" song is listed as simply "The Birthday Song" in the closing credits. Additionally, the closing credits run longer than usual.
#15 - You Never Know
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/25/1999
It's Ojo's birthday. She already knows that everyone's put together a big party for her, but she doesn't know about some special surprises. These include the biggest of all --- a visit from her good friend Ursa. Pip and Pop learn just how important it is to keep such a surprise. Treelo also learns something about surprises --- that sometimes they are fun, but the wrong kind of surprise can be scary. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings a verse of "Pop Goes the Weasel." Songs Surprise! (Big Blue House Song) Happy, Happy Birthday (shortened version)
#16 - It's All About You
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/1999
Tutter receives a postcard in the mail from his Uncle Jet Setter Tutter. He's a famous explorer, but he hasn't seen Tutter since he was just a baby mouse. He wants Tutter to write back and tell him all about himself. Tutter's worried that he'll have nothing to say, but Bear helps him to see that there's a lot that's unique about him. He also talks with Pip and Pop, who have noticed that they're not quite as alike as they thought. Bear tells them that even though they're different, they can still be great friends. He also helps Treelo to come up with a game that suits his own unique personality when he gets bored with playing Ojo's tea-party game. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells the story of the ugly duckling. She talks about another ugly duckling who didn't grow up with dashing good looks, but found that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Songs What's in the Mail Today? (shortened version) Baby, You're You What Kind of Mouse Am I?
#17 - Let's Get Interactive
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 11/10/1999
Doc Hogg is remodeling his office, so he asks Bear to hold some of his stuff at the Big Blue House for a while, including his computer. He also gives Bear permission to use it, so he shows Tutter and Ojo how it works. They learn that computers are interactive and that interactivity isn't something that can just be done with computers --- just doing something as simple as talking with someone is interacting. At first, they're reluctant to use the computer, but are soon having fun with it. As it turns out --- Pip and Pop already know about interactivity --- Pip shows Bear how much fun it is for him to interact with Pop, as opposed to something like a rock. Bear takes a crack at solving the daily puzzle, with the help of Treelo. In the Shadow segment, Shadow introduces the viewers to Gus, an "interactive shadow-dog" who's looking for his friend Gloria. Songs Good Morning (Shortened Version) The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha (Shortened Version) Notes At one point, Bear is looking for dirt, water and seeds to help solve a puzzle. He says "You know, these things would be a lot easier to find if we had a couple of guides to help us" and then Pip and Pop show up. Oddly, when he says this, closed-captioning reads "You know, these things would be a lot easier to find if we had a little blue dog to help us." This may have been intended as a reference to Blue's Clues a series featuring a blue dog named Blue who left three paw-printed shaped clues to solve puzzles not all that unsimilar to the one Bear was attempting to solve. Bear's peformer Noel MacNeal, as well as Peter Linz, are both puppeteers on the Blue's Clues spin-off program Blue's Room. Computers are a somewhat rare example of high technology in Woodland Valley. There is also a movie theater, although there are no known TVs. Back in the "When I'm Older" song in "Mouse Party," Tutter expresses an ambition to someday use a computer. However in this episode, like Ojo, he has no idea what a computer is until Bear tells
#18 - Welcome to Woodland Valley - Part 1
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/9/2002
In the first part of "Welcome to Woodland Valley," viewers learn that a tragic event has happened in Woodland Valley --- a tree has fallen and ruined part of the village library. Everyone's upset about it, but the entire Woodland Valley community is pulling together to help out. When the kids of the Big Blue House, including Harry, find out, they decide to help in their own way. Viewers explore more of Woodland Valley than they've ever seen before, visiting the library, the post office, the general store and the mouse school that Tutter will be attending, among other locations. Songs Welcome to Woodland Valley Woodland Valley No Harm Notes This episode was created partly as a response to the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001. Though there is no reference to the specific events, the episode uses the theme of a building being destroyed and a community coming together. Beginning with this episode, the opening sequence, theme, and closing sequence are changed. The opening sequence and theme now take viewers on a short tour of Woodland Valley before finishing at the Big Blue House.
#19 - The Amazing Skippy
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/30/2002
Treelo invites his squirrel friend Skippy for a visit to the Big Blue House and the kids are all excited to meet him. They are all surprised to learn that Skippy is blind and have a lot of questions for Bear while Treelo takes Skippy on a tour. They learn from Bear that Skippy has a disability, but isn't sick and that he likes to do many of the same things they do. As Skippy joins the kids during the day, they begin to wonder if he has special powers. He seems to know things that he seemingly couldn't know without some sort of special power. Skippy, however, teaches them that there's a lot one can tell by using all one's senses. Songs What's That Smell? Oh What a World It Can Be Notes The closing credits of this episode include the following note: "With special thanks to The American Council of the Blind for their generous participation." The song "What's That Smell?" returns for the fourth season. Allusions When everyone's wondering what's playing at the theater, Ojo suggests Take the Bunny and Run, a Woodsy Allen film. This is a riff on the Woody Allen film Take the Money and Run.
#20 - Great Ball of Firefighters
Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 11/4/2002
Bear is in charge of refreshments for the Woodland Valley Firefighter's Ball and Otto and Etta Otter have come to the Big Blue House to help out. As Bear heads to Mouse School to pick up Tutter, they work with Treelo, Pip and Pop to get things ready. At Mouse School, Tutter finds out that the mice kids are planning to do a dance called "The Mumble Mambo" at the ball --- one with which he's not familiar at all. At the movie theater, Ojo watches a classic film with Doc Hogg and gets her own idea of just what a ball should be like. When it comes time for the actual ball, neither have a good time, until Bear helps them to see past their expectations. Songs The Mumble Mambo Go with an Open Mind The Firefighter's Cha Cha Cha Notes This is one of the set of "leftover" fourth season episodes that aired in 2006, four years after the rest of the season. There is no Shadow segment in this episode. Harry and Mama Duck attend the Firefighter's Ball, although neither have any lines in this episode. "The Firefighter's Cha-Cha-Cha," is a send-up of "The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha" heard in many episodes. It features the same music and many of the same lines, but others are changed to be firefighter-related.
#21 - Appreciation Day
Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/7/2003
It's an ordinary day at the Big Blue House, but Bear decides to check his calendar, wondering if there's anything special coming. He checks his calendar and finds that tomorrow is Teacher Appreciation Day. Wondering if Tutter and the other mice at Mouse School know, he decides to tell them before soccer practice. It turns out when he arrives that the mice were just in the middle of talking about how much they like Miss Maxwell. Bear decides to split them all into teams of two, and partners Tutter with Lily to make Miss Maxwell a gift. Tutter's not too sure about the arrangment at first, worrying that the shy and quiet Lily won't be very good at helping him to make Miss Maxwell a gift. Bear, however, persuades Tutter to give Lily a chance and things start coming together nicely. They write a poem for Miss Maxwell. There's another special appreciation surprise later on. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells Aesop's Fable 'The Lion and the Mouse'. Songs That's "Appreciate" Notes Teacher Appreciation Day (also known as National Teacher Day) is celebrated on the first Tuesday of the first full week of May. Bear's calendar in this episode shows Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday, May 7th.
#22 - A Strange Bird
Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/27/2006
One morning, Bear decides to visit the post office, knowing that Jeremiah can be slow in delivering the mail and wondering if anything's come. At the post office, he finds a two-week old postcard that reveals that a penguin named Puck from the South Pole is paying a visit to the Big Blue House --- today! Bear hurries home to greet Puck. Everyone there is eager to meet him, but the kids begin to worry when they find his food tastes and his behaviors somewhat odd. They try to play with him, but worry that they just don't understand him. Meanwhile, Tutter learns all about diversity at Mouse School. Songs It Takes All Kinds Notes The kids of the Big Blue House play the song "I Only Have Ice for You" for Puck. The title of this song is a spoof on the classic lounge song "I Only Have Eyes for You", as performed by Frank Sinatra. The song in this episode, "It Takes All Kinds," is Track 4 on the album Playhouse Disney 2.
#23 - Let It Go
Season 4 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/28/2006
When Bear visits the kitchen for a glass of water, he finds Pip and Pop wanting one as well. They make a dash with the water for the Otter Pond, saying that they have a "serious situation." They tell Bear that they're worried the Otter Pond is going to dry out and Woodland Valley will turn into a desert. Bear offers them reassurance and then seeks to find out the origin of this rumor. It turns out to have come from a rather surprising source. Later, when rain finally does come in the form of a storm, both Bear and Shadow do their best to assuage the kids' worries. Songs Come on In You Got to Let It Go Shadow Is Here No Harm (Alternate Version)
#24 - This Is Your Life, Bear
Season 4 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/28/2006
When Bear decides to do some relaxing and tune to his favorite station, WCHA-CHA, he hears an announcement for a contest. The station will play a sample from a cha-cha record and the first caller to identify the name of the tune and the artist will win. Bear resolves to sit tight so that we won't miss the contest, but has to get up to help out when the kids in the Big Blue House call. Luckily, he manages to make it back in time for the contest and succeeds in being the first caller and identifying the record. He wins a trip for himself and everyone in the house to Sequoia City. Tutter overhears him celebrating, but only hears a little of it --- he hears Bear saying that he needs a vacation and thinks that he's upset. He and the rest of the kids decide to put together a special celebration for Bear to show him how much he's appreciated. Songs It's Great to Be a Bear Thank You, Bear Notes The episode title appears in some listings without a comma and sometimes with an exclamation mark.
#25 - Water, Water Everywhere
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/20/1997
Bear and his friends are interacting with water in this episode --- be it real or imaginary. Ojo, for example, is pretending to sail a ship in the living room. Pip and Pop join her in the fun. Bear contemplates some questions of his about water --- just what shape it is and why it's so wet. He finds Tutter in the kitchen trying to get some water of his own. He's trying to build something to make his way to the sink, but Bear helps him by giving him a lift. Bear also finds Treelo in the bathtub playing with bubbles. When the bubbles start to overflow, Bear has him pull the plug, but he's worried he'll go down the drain. Bear assures him that the drain is only for water (and bubbles). In the Shadow segment, Shadow tells the story of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider". Songs ■Oh, Water, Water, Water ■Need a Little Help Today Notes ■This episode includes a brief segment in which real kids talk about some of the shapes that water takes on. These include raindrops, drops from a sprinkler and waves. ■Tutter uses various boxes in his attempt to construct something to help him reach the faucet. Some of the boxes being used are Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and Nabisco's Ritz Bits. The letters of the brand's name on the boxes are somewhat obscured to prevent Trademark and Copyright Information.