Bobby's World facts for kids

Bobby's World was a popular American animated television show. It aired from 1990 to 1998 on FOX Kids. The story was set in 1979 in California. It followed the life of a young boy named Bobby Generic (pronounced JEN-ə-rik). The show explored how Bobby saw the world through his amazing imagination.

The show was created by Canadian actor and comedian Howie Mandel. Mandel also voiced both Bobby and his dad, Howard Generic. Howard looked like a cartoon version of Howie Mandel himself! The theme song for Bobby's World was created by John Tesh and Michael Hanna.

How the Show Started

The character of Bobby first appeared in Howie Mandel's stand-up comedy shows. Mandel would often use Bobby's voice. He would talk as if he was speaking to an unseen "parent."

The voices for Bobby's sister, Kelly Generic, and his mom, Martha Generic, were inspired by characters played by Gail Matthius. She was a cast member on Saturday Night Live in 1980. Martha's voice was based on a character named Roweena. Kelly's voice was based on a "valley girl" character named Vicky.

In the US, during the show's last season, it had open captions. This helped younger children learn to read along with the show.

In 2006, Howie Mandel said he wanted to bring the show back. You can still watch old episodes of Bobby's World in reruns or online. Howie Mandel has even mentioned working on new episodes in a video on YouTube. In 2007, Bobby made a fun surprise appearance on an episode of Deal or No Deal.

How Each Episode Worked

Each episode of Bobby's World often started or ended with a short live-action part. Sometimes it had both. In these parts, Howie Mandel would talk about the story. He would often share how it related to his own childhood.

Sometimes, Bobby would appear as a cartoon character in these live-action parts. He would talk with Howie Mandel. Other times, a real child would appear and chat with Mandel. At the end of the show, Mandel would often talk directly to the viewers. Bobby would also sometimes talk to the audience, sharing his thoughts on life.

Meet the Characters

Here are some of the main characters from Bobby's World:

• Bobby Generic – He is a 4-year-old boy. Howie Mandel did his voice.
• Howard Generic – Bobby's father. Howie Mandel also voiced him using his regular voice.
• Martha Generic – Bobby's mother. She has a strong accent and often says funny phrases. These include "Fer cryin' in the mud" and "don't 'cha know." Gail Matthius voiced her.
• Kelly Generic – Bobby's 14-year-old sister. She has a cool haircut and wears purple eye shadow. She also has a "valley girl" accent. Charity James voiced her.
• Derek Generic – Bobby's 10-year-old brother. He has a rat-tail haircut and is often sarcastic. Kevin Smets voiced him for seasons 1-5, and Pamela Segall for seasons 6-7.
• The Generic Twins – These are Bobby's baby brothers. They were introduced in Season 4. Martha was pregnant with them in earlier seasons.
• Aunt Ruth – Bobby's aunt and Martha's sister. Edie McClurg voiced her.
• Uncle Ted – Bobby's uncle and Martha's brother. He loves to give Bobby "noogies." He also collects interesting things, like "Socks In A Can." Tino Insana voiced him.
• Roger – The Generic family dog. Frank Welker did his voice.
• Jackie – Bobby's kind girlfriend and neighbor. She has long pigtails and a crush on Bobby, often giving him kisses. She could even fly using her pigtails! Debi Derryberry voiced her.
• Charlotte – A fun and adventurous girl. She was known for not liking chocolate. She also loved to tease Bobby about little things he did.

Seasons of the Show

DVDs and Video Game

Some Bobby's World episodes were released on DVD in North America. These included Classic Scratch 'n' Sniff Episodes and The Signature Episodes.

A Bobby's World video game was also made. It was available for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Game Gear. In the game, Bobby's mom tells him to clean his room. As he cleans, Bobby starts daydreaming about his toys. After you finish a level, Bobby has another daydream about a toy he puts away.

See also

In Spanish: El mundo de Bobby para niños