Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman |
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| Genre | Children's game show Reality television Comedy |
| Created by | Kate Taylor |
| Developed by | WGBH Boston |
| Written by | Glen Berger Jim Conroy |
| Directed by | Clifford Saito Adam Dalley Joe Truesdell Peter Lyons Wayne Simpson Dean Raymond Robert V. Lange Chris Whitbeck |
| Presented by | Jim Conroy |
| Starring | List of contestants |
| Voices of | Jim Conroy |
| Narrated by | Jim Conroy |
| Theme music composer | Terry Tompkins, Rocco Gagliese, Steve D'Angelo for Eggplant LLC |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 100 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Kate Taylor |
| Producer(s) | Paul Serafini Marcy Gunther Eric Handler Alan Catello Grazioso |
| Production location(s) | Boston, Massachusetts, and other parts of the USA |
| Editor(s) | Jessica Rueter Andrews Lisa Wolf Kathryn Farrelly Jennifer Lorenz Joe Headrick Arnie Harchik John Warren Mark Geffen Maureen Barillaro Karen Silverstein Cherry Enoki James Rutenback |
| Camera setup | Mark C. Helton Dan Lang Stephen McCarthy Ken Willinger Multi-camera (For Studio Segments) |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | WGBH-TV |
| Distributor | WGBH-TV |
| Release | |
| Original network | PBS Kids |
| Picture format | 480i (4:3 SDTV) (2006–2008) 1080i ( HDTV) (2009–2010) |
| First shown in | United States |
| Original release | May 29, 2006 – November 4, 2010 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | The Ruff Ruffman Show |
Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman (often called Fetch!) was a fun American TV show. It mixed real-life action with cartoons. The show was like a reality game show where an animated dog named Ruff Ruffman hosted. Ruff gave challenges to real kids who were contestants.
The series ran for five seasons and had 100 episodes. It was on PBS Kids Go! from May 29, 2006, to November 4, 2010. Over its run, 30 different kids got to be contestants. Even though a sixth season was planned, the show ended because it ran out of money. In 2008, the show won an Emmy Award for its catchy theme song!
Contents
Meet Ruff Ruffman's Studio G
Studio G is the main place where Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman happens. Three important parts of the show take place here: the introduction, the halftime quiz, and the "Triumph Tally." In the first season, the contestants thought Studio G looked like a garage. This really annoyed Ruff, who insisted it was a proper studio!
The studio changed a bit over the show's five seasons. In seasons 1 and 2, it stayed mostly the same. But for season 3, there were bigger changes. The old TV screen, where contestants talked to Ruff, was replaced with a modern flat-screen TV. Ruff's owner also started parking her dusty old car, a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, right in the studio!
In season 2, they added a flamingo, some trees, a "Studio G" sign, and a "wall of fame." This wall showed pictures of past winners. By season 4, a new remote-control mailbox appeared on the TV screen. It would pop out when a challenge was inside. The biggest change happened in the season 5 finale. Studio G became "Studio P" for the "Go Get It!" show, with new pink chairs and carpet.
Characters on the Show
You can find out more about all the characters, including Ruff and his assistants, on the main list page.
How the Game Show Works
Fetch! is a game show where young contestants, usually between 10 and 14 years old, take on different challenges to earn points. During these challenges, the kids have to complete tasks given by Ruff. Sometimes, they also get new tasks while they are out on their adventures.
The show is also very educational! Contestants often learn about cool subjects like Astronomy, Carpentry, Engineering, Food Science, Biology, Physics, or Mathematics. They need to use this new knowledge to finish their tasks.
Not all contestants leave the studio for challenges in every episode. Ruff's computer, the "Fetch 3000," decides who stays behind. The kids who stay in the studio play the "Half-Time Quiz Show." Ruff asks them questions about what the other contestants are doing on their challenges.
Contestants out on challenges can earn up to 100 points. Those in the studio can win up to 50 points in the quiz show. The show has a "Fetch Fairness Guarantee." This means every contestant gets to compete for the same number of points over 13 challenges and six quiz shows before the final episode. Ruff also gives "Bone-us" points (usually 5 or 10, sometimes 15 or 20) to kids who do really well. The most points ever earned in one episode was 125!
At the end of each season, all the points are added up. The contestant with the most points wins the "Grand Prize" and gets their poster on the Fetch Wall of Fame.
The prizes aren't always amazing, and sometimes a winner gets a "booby prize" (a silly or not-so-great prize). For example, two contestants once had to dance a waltz in the studio as their prize! In the first season, winners could choose to keep their prize or give it to another contestant. In later seasons, winners chose between two mystery prizes. Sometimes the prize was mailed to Studio G, and sometimes it was hidden somewhere else on the set.
Ruff Ruffman: Humble Media Genius
In 2014, a new short animated series called Ruff Ruffman: Humble Media Genius was released. These short videos feature Ruff Ruffman and teach kids about being safe and smart online. They cover topics like texting, sharing photos, and using the internet.
The Ruff Ruffman Show
Ruff Ruffman, along with his assistants Blossom and Chet, returned in a new digital series called The Ruff Ruffman Show in 2017. In this show, they answer questions from real kids and take on new challenges. They also learn about the importance of trying hard, while teaching science skills.
Team Hamster!
A web series called Team Hamster! started in 2020. This show focuses on Ruff Ruffman's hamsters: Sadie, Mateo, and Tasha. It also connects with games on the PBS KIDS website.
Awards and Recognition
Fetch! has won many awards over the years for being a great show. Here are some of them:
- 2009: Grand Award for "The Ruff Guide to Science."
- 2009: "Certificate for Creative Excellence" for Children's Programming.
- 2009: Nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Children's Series."
- 2008: Won a Daytime Emmy Award for its "Outstanding Original Song" (the Fetch! Theme Song!).
- 2008: First Place "Gold Camera Award" for Children's Programming.
- 2007: Won a Parents' Choice Gold Award.
