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Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone facts for kids

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Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone
Midnight Patrol & Potsworth & Co. (television series' logo).png
The logo for both versions of the show.
Genre Animation
Adventure
Fantasy
Comedy
Created by Martin Powell
Vivien Schrager-Powell
Developed by Dave Edwards
Directed by Don Lusk
Paul Sommers
Animation Directors:
Robert Alvarez
Creative director(s) Ray Patterson
Voices of Michael Bell
Hamilton Camp
Joan Gerber
Elisabeth Harnois
Whitby Hertford
Janice Kawaye
George Lemore
Kenneth Mars
Rob Paulsen
Clive Revill
Frank Welker
Theme music composer Michael Tavera
Country of origin United States
United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 13
Production
Executive producer(s) William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Martin Powell
Vivien Schrager-Powell
Paul Sabella
Theresa Plummer-Andrews
Producer(s) Davis Doi
Running time 21 mins
Production company(s) H-B Production Co.
Sleepy Kids PLC
Release
Original network BBC
The Children's Channel (UK)
Syndication (US)
Original release 1 September (1990-09-01) – 24 November 1990 (1990-11-24)

Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone is a fun animated TV show made by Hanna-Barbera and Sleepy Kids PLC. Outside the US, it's known as Potsworth & Co. In the United Kingdom, the BBC changed the name. They thought "Midnight Patrol" might make kids think it was okay to be awake after midnight!

The show is about four kids and their dog, Potsworth. Every night when they go to sleep, they meet in their dreams. They team up with a toy dinosaur to become the Midnight Patrol. Their mission? To protect innocent people's dreams from the scary Nightmare Prince!

Show History and Creation

How the Show Started

The idea for the show came from a real dog named Potsworth. He was an English Springer Spaniel adopted by Martin and Vivien Schrager-Powell from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Martin started writing stories about this dog and four young kids: Carter, Keiko, Rosie, and Nick.

The couple wanted to create children's shows with more believable stories. In 1987, they took their idea to Hanna-Barbera, a famous animation studio. They suggested working together to turn the stories into a TV series.

Show Popularity and Airing

Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone first aired on September 1, 1990. It was part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. The show only had 13 episodes.

It was quite popular! About 8.5 million people watched it in the US. In Britain, 5.1 million watched it on Children's BBC. This made it the second most popular children's show in Britain at the time.

Potsworth's Real-Life Fame

The real Potsworth became a bit of a celebrity in Britain. He was featured in the news to help promote the cartoon when it first aired.

A comic book version of Potsworth & Co. also appeared. It was in the merged Beezer and Topper comic from 1992 to 1993. Later, it moved to The Dandy comic from 1993 to 1994.

Show Premise and Dream Zone

Adventures in the Dream Zone

The series follows four kids and their dog, Potsworth, who live in the same neighborhood. When they fall asleep, they enter a special place called the Dream Zone. Here, they become the Midnight Patrol!

They are chosen by the Grand Dozer to protect the Dream Zone from nightmares and other dangers. The Snooze Patrol gives them their missions. Their main enemy is the tricky Nightmare Prince.

Midnight Patrol's Special Powers

When the Midnight Patrol is in the Dream Zone, they get cool special powers:

  • Keiko rides a flying skateboard.
  • Carter can draw anything, and it comes to life!
  • Nick becomes super-strong and can fly.
  • His stuffed toy, Murphy, also comes to life.
  • His sister, Rosie, doesn't have a special power, but she still helps out.
  • Potsworth the dog can talk! He often complains about his real-world life and makes funny comments about the kids. He even has a British accent in the cartoon, just like the real Potsworth.

Computer Game Fun

A computer game based on the show was released in 1992. It used the British title, Potsworth and Co. The game was available for computers like the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and Atari ST.

In this game, you played as one of the characters. You had to collect items and reach the end of each level.

Meet the Characters

The Midnight Patrol Team

These five are the main heroes of the show. Each has their own unique abilities in the Dream Zone.

  • Potsworth - A sarcastic 10-year-old English Springer Spaniel. He's the leader and can talk when he's in the Dream Zone.
  • Carter - Potsworth's owner, a 10-year-old African American boy. He's a great artist. In the Dream Zone, his magic paintbrush can make his drawings real.
  • Keiko - A 9-year-old Asian American girl. She's full of energy and very positive. She rides a flying skateboard in the Dream Zone and likes to be seen as the group's leader.
  • Rosie - An 8-year-old girl. She can be a bit rude and annoying to the group, especially her brother. But she still helps when things get dangerous. She often calls her brother "Nicholas" when she's upset with him. She is the only member without a special power.
  • Nick - Rosie's 6-year-old brother. In the Dream Zone, he becomes a flying superhero, sometimes called "Super Nick."
    • Murphy - Nick's toy Brontosaurus. He comes to life when Nick enters the Dream Zone.

Other Dream Zone Friends

The Dream Zone has many interesting characters, including:

  • The Grand Dozer - The King of the Dream Zone. He's always half-asleep on a pile of mattresses. He must stay this way, or the Dream Zone will disappear! He gives advice, but it's often in riddles.
  • The Chief - A big, friendly woman who leads the Dream Zone's police. She gives the Midnight Patrol their missions.
  • Sebastian - The Grand Dozer's main butler. He's always worried about keeping his King safe and asleep.
  • The Greystone Giant - A giant made of rock. He lives in a cave filled with objects for people's dreams. He's always busy and grumbles a lot, but he secretly loves his job.
  • The Nosey Bird - A talking bird who loves to spread gossip. He sounds a bit creepy.

The Villains of the Dream Zone

  • The Nightmare Prince - The main bad guy! He's always trying to mess up the Grand Dozer's sleep or cause other problems. He wants nightmares to take over dreams. His plans often fail because he's not very good at being evil.
    • Igor, Irving, and Shorty - These are the Nightmare Prince's silly, potato-shaped helpers.
  • The Nightmare Prince's Mother - You never see her, but she's always calling her son on a giant phone. She tells him to destroy happy dreams and gets mad when he fails.
  • The Cat - A giant cat who bullies dogs. He only appears in the episode "King Potsworth."
  • Count Bubba Bonebreaker - The Nightmare Prince's cousin. He once took over the Nightmare Prince's job. The Midnight Patrol had to help the Prince get his job back by stopping Bubba. He appears in "When Bubba Rules."

Episode Guide

No. Title Original air date
1 "Night of the BedBugs" 1 September 1990 (1990-09-01)
The Nightmare Prince lets loose creatures called BedBugs to destroy the Dream Zone. But when they start eating his castle, he needs the Midnight Patrol's help!
2 "The Dozer Walks Among Us" 8 September 1990 (1990-09-08)
The Grand Dozer starts sleepwalking and causes trouble in the Dream Zone. The Nightmare Prince lets him loose, making things even worse.
3 "King Potsworth" 15 September 1990 (1990-09-15)
Potsworth becomes the king of a dog kingdom called Dogland. He needs the Midnight Patrol's help when a giant cat attacks Dogland.
4 "The Nightmirror" 22 September 1990 (1990-09-22)
The Nightmare Prince steals the Nightmirror. He uses it to create evil copies of the Midnight Patrol who cause chaos.
5 "When Bubba Rules" 29 September 1990 (1990-09-29)
The Nightmare Prince's mother gets tired of his failures. She puts his monstrous nephew, Count Bubba Bonebreaker, in charge. The Midnight Patrol decides the Prince wasn't so bad after all!
6 "Nick's Super Switch" 6 October 1990 (1990-10-06)
Nick switches places with a superhero boy named Wonder Kid from Supertown after being bullied.
7 "Dozer Quest" 13 October 1990 (1990-10-13)
The Grand Dozer can't sleep, and if he stays awake, the Dream Zone will end! The Midnight Patrol must find a way to get him back to sleep.
8 "Rosie's Extra Sweet Day" 20 October 1990 (1990-10-20)
After talking to a magical tree, Rosie becomes the nicest girl in the Dream Zone.
9 "I Was a Teenage Babysitter" 27 October 1990 (1990-10-27)
Rosie has to babysit the Greystone Giant's little son, Rocky.
10 "The Wishing Whale" 3 November 1990 (1990-11-03)
The Midnight Patrol (except Keiko) meets the Wishing Whale, who grants their wishes. But the wishes quickly get out of control!
11 "Santa-Napped" 10 November 1990 (1990-11-10)
The Nightmare Prince captures Santa Claus! The Midnight Patrol must rescue him to save Christmas.
12 "Save the Cave" 17 November 1990 (1990-11-17)
The Greystone Giant is behind on his dream supplies. The Midnight Patrol helps him, but the Nightmare Prince tries to stop them.
13 "Rosie's Fuss Attack" 24 November 1990 (1990-11-24)
Rosie changes shape every time she complains! The Midnight Patrol must find a special cure for her.

Voice Cast

Home Video Release

In 1991, Hanna-Barbera Home Video released a VHS tape of the series in the United States. It was called Potsworth and the Midnight Patrol. This tape included four episodes: "Save the Cave", "The Wishing Whale", "King Potsworth", and "The Nightmirror".

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