When I was 7 years old, I stumbled upon Sprout, a channel I didn't know existed, and watched Sesame Street until it was over, and it quickly became my favorite channel. I also quickly started watching all their other shows. I'd never heard of any of their original shows previously, but I'd previously seen or heard of most of the shows they played at the time that didn't originate from the network (Sesame Street, Barney, The Wiggles, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, Kipper, etc.). Interestingly, Sprout was one of the few channels I could turn on without help from my family. The Goodnight Show was and still is my favorite Sprout block. I watched it every night during my "Sprout phase," and continued to watch it on some nights even after I somewhat grew out of Sprout at the age of 9, until Sprout rebooted as Universal Kids in 2017. On a side note, my grandma made me a Star pillow for my 8th birthday, and she did a great job! It was my favorite present I received, and I still have it. Even though I don't mind Universal Kids, I miss Sprout. I'm a child at heart with autism, and I'm curious about the spin-off series "Nina's World."
The Goodnight Show was a calming and soothing program where Nina and her sidekick, Star, engaged in fun and relaxing activities to wind down before bed, like making arts and crafts, playing games, singing songs, doing yoga, and watching cartoons. They would also do typical pre-bedtime activities, like cleaning their house, while Star would brush his teeth, and every episode ended with them falling asleep. It could've been just another loud, obnoxious, hyperactive, and over-the-top preschool show, but it wasn't. The Goodnight Show maintained a gentle tone appropriate for bedtime, making it appealing even as I got older. We need more shows like this.
The show aimed to help kids establish a bedtime routine, make bedtime easier, and reduce the likelihood of temper tantrums about wanting to stay up longer. Nina would always give Star and the audience tips on how to settle down and relax, such as breathing deeply, stretching, and singing or listening to lullabies. Amen to that because bedtime is one of the hardest times of day (er, night) for numerous kids! However, I recently read on its Wikipedia page that Susan Lin, a Harvard University psychologist, argued that it sometimes kept kids awake rather than helping them fall asleep and did the opposite of what she thought its mission was. The president of Sprout has clarified that it was intended to help develop a bedtime routine rather than to directly lull kids to sleep. Coincidentally, Nina introduced me to the word "lull" and taught me its meaning. In that same episode, she said lullabies are called that because they're supposed to lull kids to sleep, which brings me to my next point.
The Goodnight Show had a big impact on me, which makes it even more nostalgic and easier to remember. Nina and Star taught me how to make arts and crafts I had never made before. For example, I made a pet rock and a paper flower just like theirs. I once saw a Sprout commercial that encouraged kids to create "Sproutoramas" (Sprout-themed dioramas that would appear before and after commercial breaks) and send pictures of them to their website. This inspired me to make a Goodnight Show Sproutorama featuring Nina and Star on their couch. I asked my mother to take a picture of me holding it, and shortly afterward, I gave copies of the picture to my teachers with thank-you notes on my last day of first grade. They appreciated it. I no longer have the Sproutorama, but I might still have the picture. However, I still have a few of the art projects that the show inspired me to make. The show also taught me some Spanish and sign language. If you're looking for a good show to learn Spanish from, watch The Goodnight Show instead of Dora the Explorer.
Nina was an amazing host, but not just because she advised about bedtime-related issues and routines. She was warm, gentle, and welcoming, always smiling without being bouncy, and wishing the audience sweet dreams at the end of every episode. In an interview, Michele Lepe (Nina's actress) confirmed that Nina was meant to be more of a "friend" than a mother figure or a babysitter to her audience. Although it wasn't always easy, she always patiently coaxed Star to lie down and sleep without sugarcoating the need for sleep. If we could all strive to be more like Nina, the world would be a better place.
The show/block "The Goodnight Show" reminds me of "Bear in the Big Blue House." Both shows have a calm and relaxing vibe and offer advice for bedtime-related issues (although BITBBH only does it in a couple of episodes). In the segment "Nina's Little Fables," Nina acts out Aesop's fables using shadow puppets, similar to how Shadow's stories and songs are portrayed in "Bear in the Big Blue House." The animation and art styles of "Nina's Little Fables" and Shadow's stories and songs look quite similar. Coincidentally, I recently learned that a temporary host named Leo, played by Noel MacNeal (who is also the voice and puppeteer of Bear), hosted The Goodnight Show after the original host, Melanie, was fired until Nina became the permanent replacement. I had no idea that Nina wasn't the only host the show ever had.
As I said, this was one of Sprout's blocks, and none of their blocks were ordinary blocks. They were all more like shows the channel would play for a few hours, and the shows that would air in between their blocks were like shows within shows. That's part of the reason why I loved and still love Sprout and what made it unique. Straight before the shows in between this came on, Lucy the lightning bug would always fly into the sky and light the way, which led to a portal showing up. One of the characters from the show that was about to play would appear in the portal to greet the main duo and introduce the show, and then the show would start. For example, straight before Thomas and Friends would play, Thomas would appear in the portal and say, "Hi Nina and Star! It's me, Thomas! Hop on board for adventure with me and my friends. All aboard!" The main duo would say hi back to him, and finally, his show would start. The people who voiced the aforementioned characters in their shows returned as their respective characters in the transitions. How awesome is that?
In conclusion, "The Goodnight Show" has left a lasting impression on me, serving as more than just a bedtime program; it became a warm and comforting part of my childhood. The gentle approach to bedtime routines and the creative activities inspired by Nina and Star not only helped me wind down but also encouraged my artistic expression and learning. I appreciate how the show fostered a sense of calmness and provided relatable advice for all young viewers. As I reflect on those cherished memories, I believe there is a real need for more content that prioritizes mindfulness and emotional well-being for children. Shows like "The Goodnight Show" remind us of the power of kindness and understanding, qualities that can truly make a difference in young lives, and I hope to see more programming that embraces these values in the future.
