Big Comfy Couch

Big Comfy Couch

The Big Comfy Couch is a Canadian children's television series about Loonette the Clown and her dolly Molly, who solve everyday problems on their "Big Comfy Couch". It aired from 1992 until early 2006. It was produced by Cheryl Wagner and Robert Mills, directed by Wayne Moss and Mills. It premiered on March 2, 1992 in Canada and in 1995 in the USA on public television stations across the country. There is also a Spanish version of the show titled, "El Sofa de mi Imaginacion". It also aired in the United Kingdom on GMTV's kids block. The show's format revolves around Loonette the Clown, who lives with her dolly Molly on the eponymous Big Comfy Couch. Episodes are generally focused on a theme or a lesson. For example, Season 3's episode "Full of Life" explored the concepts of "full" and "empty", while "Sticks and Stones" dealt with name-calling and teasing.

KidsFamilyComedy

Seasons

Pie in the Sky

1. Pie in the Sky

Air Date: 1992-03-02

Loonette and Molly spend the day discovering light and heavy things. After reading a story about a balloon, Loonette finds a balloon of her own, which she thinks can lift her off the ground. She's too heavy, of course, but the balloon does lift Molly off the couch and into the garden.

Pinch to Grow an Inch

2. Pinch to Grow an Inch

Air Date: 1993-03-08

Molly's birthday is approaching. She and Loonette hold a birthday party with games and costumes. They also have fun with big things compared to little things, particularly with a story about a gigantic cupcake.

All Aboard For Bed

3. All Aboard For Bed

Air Date: 1993-03-15

The show opens with a flashback: Loonette and Molly can't sleep. They venture around their house during the dark before Loonette reads her about a Sleep Train's magical adventure. The next day, Loonette discovers Major Bedhead asleep on the job.

Knit One Twirl Too

4. Knit One Twirl Too

Air Date:

When Molly catches a cold while skiing, Loonette decides to knit her some new mittens. But when the yarn becomes a tangled mess, Loonette abandons the task and retreats to Granny Garbanzo's garden. Granny tells a story of how she had to practice knitting as a child. This gives Loonette the confidence to keep on trying.

Upsey Downsey Day

5. Upsey Downsey Day

Air Date:

Loonette gives Molly a special heart balloon, but after a short amount of play, the balloon flies away. At Granny Garbanzo's garden, Loonette, Granny, and Major Bedhead have fun playing circus with a single rope. At the end of the circus routine, the heart balloon returns to Loonette, which brightens Molly's day.

Flippy Floppy Fun

6. Flippy Floppy Fun

Air Date:

When Molly flops over on her back, Loonette criticizes her for being lazy. But Loonette gets into a floppy mood, first by imitating a toy, and then by reading a story about a Poppy growing all by herself.

Something's Fishy Around Here

7. Something's Fishy Around Here

Air Date:

Loonette and Molly make-believe they are fishing on a boat, complete with lifejackets. With so much inactivity out on the pretend lake, Molly has to learn patience.

Scrub-a-Dub

8. Scrub-a-Dub

Air Date:

There's a big mess over at the couch. Unbeknownst to her, Loonette has brought an entire roll of toilet paper from her shoe to the couch. The pile-up is enormous. But that's not nearly as colossal as the big package Auntie Macassar sent. Beneath all the packing material are a few tiny cleaning items. With that search ended, Loonette and Major Bedhead, along with Granny Garbanzo, go into a routine called ""Slam-Dunk Your Junk.""

Red Light, Green Light

9. Red Light, Green Light

Air Date:

It's time for a few stop-and-go games, plus a pretend ride in Loonette's pretend car.

Gesundheit

10. Gesundheit

Air Date:

Loonette starts out with a bad case of nosus kaboomis, a monster sneeze. She decides to vacuum the room, prompting Molly to retrieve the dust bunnies trapped in the vacuum cleaner. Outside, Loonette's monster sneeze helps Major Bedhead get his head out of a tuba. She then flies a kite and reads from the storybook to discover the power of wind.

Ping Pong Polka

11. Ping Pong Polka

Air Date:

An energetic Loonette promises to read Molly a story, but she gets too distracted with all the bouncy things in the couch (and a few that don't bounce). When a ping pong ball bounces away, Loonette follows it outside, where Major Bedhead delivers a box of ping-pong balls.

Funny Faces

12. Funny Faces

Air Date:

Loonette shows her feelings with her face and compliments Molly's good looks. When they see that Granny Garbanzo has received a movie from her relatives, they watch and discover good feelings abroad.

Snug as a Bug

13. Snug as a Bug

Air Date:

Loonette gives Molly a nature lesson/puppet show, demonstrating how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. At Granny Garbanzo's garden, Loonette learns the right way to handle pesky insects.

Babs in Toyland

1. Babs in Toyland

Air Date: 1993-03-01

Auntie Macassar sends Loonette a doll named Babs. Immediately, Loonette lavishes attention on her (""She's so cute!""), leaving Molly feel left out. It takes a while, but Loonette expresses her friendship to Molly with the song ""The Best Friend I've Ever Had.""

1-2-3 Dizzy Dizzy Me

2. 1-2-3 Dizzy Dizzy Me

Air Date:

Loonette helps Molly to count, in part with a pretend ride in a pretend plane. Trouble is, Molly becomes dizzy. Loonette is in need of a cure, and Auntie Macassar's postcard may recommend one.

Wobbly

3. Wobbly

Air Date:

Nothing seems to go right for Loonette. There is nothing in the couch, except for a duck that she thinks is broken. Is it just one of those days? Maybe she needs a comforting word from a guest clown named Wobbly.

Jump Start

4. Jump Start

Air Date:

Loonette is in a jumping mood. She and Molly jump over to the garden at the start of a rainstorm. They soon discover Major Bedhead is scared of lightning. In an effort to cheer him up, Loonette tells a story about an elephant and a giant bean.

This Little Piggy

5. This Little Piggy

Air Date:

Loonette becomes greedy when she discovers all the coins she has in her piggy bank. She is especially overcome by her ""lucky loonie."" When she takes this loonie outside, Snicklefritz and then Major Bedhead frown on her greedy ways. She then realizes that friends are worth more than money.

Juggling the Jitters

6. Juggling the Jitters

Air Date:

Loonette wants to stage a Jumbo Juggling Jamboree, but when she realizes she can't juggle, she gets overcome with ""the jitters.""

Hoopla

7. Hoopla

Air Date:

After searching for her ball, Loonette goes over to Granny Garbanzo's garden to help make cabbage rolls. A hoop, sent from Auntie Macassar, comes with the song ""Go With The Flow,"" about trying things out.

Wrong Side of the Couch

8. Wrong Side of the Couch

Air Date:

Loonette is in a growly mood from waking up on the wrong side of the couch (i.e., behind the couch). It takes a great deal of effort and brains for her to lose that grumpy feeling.

I Feel Good

9. I Feel Good

Air Date:

Loonette and Molly want to know more about their bodies. They learn that feeling good and looking good can often compliment each other. At Granny Garbanzo's garden, Loonette and Granny help Major Bedhead get rid of his spare tire–which he wore in case his unicycle went flat.

Boomerang

10. Boomerang

Air Date:

Loonette is full of tricks today. She fools Molly with a boomerang during a game of ""catch."" Outside, she plays a trick on Major Bedhead. But Granny Garbanzo will not let herself be fooled.

Rude-I-Culous

11. Rude-I-Culous

Air Date:

First Molly and then Loonette have what they think is a riot with rude faces and noises. It takes a musical lecture from Granny to tell Loonette that there is a time and a place to be rude.

Make It Snappy

12. Make It Snappy

Air Date:

Loonette is in haste. Neither Molly nor Major Bedhead cares to do anything except at a slow pace. Will Auntie Macassar's gift change things?

Feast of Fools

13. Feast of Fools

Air Date:

It's time for the annual Feast of Fools dinner party. Granny tells Loonette that the feast reminds clowns of the days when there wasn't much food to go around. When there is plenty of food, it's cause for a celebration which is precisely what Auntie Macassar brings to the feast, in song.

1. Give Yer Head a Shake

Air Date: 1994-07-04

Loonette has to teach Molly that there are certain times when the word ""no"" is used. Snicklefritz learns this the hard way after his wild ways cause Major Bedhead to hurt his knee. Near the end of the program, Loonette reads an extended version of Mary Had a Little Lamb.

2. It's About Time

Air Date:

Granny Garbanzo is holding a sleepover in her garden. Before Loonette can go over, she has to fix an alarm clock and give Molly a time-out. It turns out Granny has to give Snicklefritz a time-out of his own. But everyone shares in the sleepover, including Auntie Macassar, who brings an inflatable cot.

3. Clownus Interruptus

Air Date:

Molly wants to get Loonette's attention by playing a rock music cassette at an ear-splitting level. Loonette tries to tell her to wait her turn. But the tables turn on Loonette when she cuts off what Major Bedhead wants to say.

4. Why?

Air Date:

Molly keeps asking ""Why?"" (thought bubble with a question mark), leaving Loonette a tense little clown. Yet both discover that this tensing and relaxing is good for them.

5. Monkey See Monkey Do

Air Date:

After teaching Molly about echoes, Loonette decides to copy everyone. This spills out into Granny Garbanzo's garden. When Granny objects to Loonette's mocking, she dresses up to mock Loonette!

6. Sticks and Stones

Air Date:

Loonette stars to call Molly ""Clumsy Clown"" because she doesn't do well at Pick-Up Sticks. When Loonette ventures outside, she and Major Bedhead make up nicknames for everything in the garden. Both think it's funny, but then Loonette gets a lesson from Auntie Macassar about unkind works. Back at the couch, Loonette decides to cheer Molly up by playing the role of a clumsy ballerina.

7. Horsing Around

Air Date:

It's National Horseplay Day, an uproarious good time for every clown–but not for Snicklefritz. Who can get him to start laughing?

8. All Over and Under

Air Date:

Loonette gets an interesting perspective of her couch and Granny Garbanzo's garden. When Major Bedhead crawls along, he helps Loonette tame Snicklefritz, who is intent on playing leapclown. Auntie Macassar's succession of picture postcards show Loonette how to view the various parts of the world from various unusual directions.

9. Pants on Fire

Air Date:

Loonette tells a few fibs to Molly and then Major Bedhead. Neither believe Loonette because she is squirming like a worm–a dead giveaway, for sure.

10. All Fall Down

Air Date:

Loonette and Molly have fun with falling down safely. The unforgotten rule is: Don't keep your hands in your pockerts.

11. Travelling Papers

Air Date:

Loonette feels the need to travel. She and Molly set their zigzag compass to go to Clowntown, but Granny Garbanzo and Major Bedhead keep them at bay. While both Loonette and Molly are too young to go to Clowntown by themselves, they can travel in their imagination. It sets up a costume piece with Granny as the Tour Guide and Major Bedhead as the Captain on their Boat of Imagination.

12. Hiccups

Air Date:

First Loonette, then Molly, can't get rid of their hiccups. They set out to Granny Garbanzo's garden, where everyone suggests crazy cures–even Auntie Macassar, who drops in for a ladies' tea.

13. Full of Life

Air Date:

What happens when Loonette decides to take everything out of the couch? She learns about empty and full the hard way. And in Granny Garbanzo's garden, after befriending a caterpillar, Loonette understands the expression ""full of life.""

1. Backwards!

Air Date: 1995-03-06

It's National Backwards Day, and every clown is performing something backward. In the process, Loonette learns how someone can accurately scracth an itch on one's back.

2. Picky Eaters

Air Date:

Molly refuses to eat her food, so it's up to Loonette to make Molly eat her food.

3. Forty Winks

Air Date:

It's nap time for Molly, but she doesn't want to take a nap. Can Loonette find a way to get Molly to snooze, or will everyone fall asleep on her?

4. Swing-a-Ling

Air Date:

Loonette is in a swinging mood, practicing her golf, her tennis, and her baseball. She takes Molly to a swing at Granny Garbanzo's garden, where a couple of close calls prompt Major Bedhead to tell a story on playing safely.

5. Spare Some Change

Air Date:

Loonette is upset that her name isn't in a book of names. So she decides to change her name to Sarsaparilla, and also to change the look of the couch and herself. It proves absolutely unfabulous to Major Bedhead and to Granny Garbanzo, who has tried to spruce up her cart. Before long, both Granny and Loonette decide, ""Out with the new and in with the old.""

6. Stuck in the Muck

Air Date:

Loonette and Molly have fun making up rhymes and pictures. After a bath, Loonette reads a rhyming tale about a sheep who got stuck while climbing a mountain.

7. Gimme Gimme Never Gets

Air Date:

Loonette is in a grabby mood en route to a treasure hunt inside the couch. Molly finds a gem in the couch, and Loonette takes it from her. Moly gets really sad and Loonette can't figure out why. Later she finds out. She lets Molly have the gem and tells a story about how manner matter.

8. One Step at a Time

Air Date:

Loonette wants Molly to know that it's important to try new things. Molly sees for herself when she climbs a stair. And Loonette sees for herself when she ventures into Granny Garbanzo's cellar for a jar of jelly.

9. Enough Already!

Air Date:

Loonette is intent on moving the couch to show Molly that they have no dust bunnies, but the couch is too big and heavy to move by herself. She tries to get help from Granny Garbanzo, but she has to rush off to Clowntown for a medicine to help an ailing Snicklefritz.

10. Where Do Clowns Come From?

Air Date:

It's Molly's mirthday, and Loonette wants to give her a companion. Before she succeeds, Loonette tells Molly the story of how they met. But that raises a dilemma: Where do clowns come from? Loonette rushes out to the garden, where Granny Garbanzo tells all.

11. Are You Ready For School?

Air Date:

Loonette wants to teach Molly about school, but she doesn't know much about it herself. Granny Garbanzo and Major Bedhead provide some insight.

12. Hit Parade

Air Date:

Not much is soft and cozy today. Molly hits a pillow viciously to try and soften it, but she gets carried away. A session of tae-clown-doe doesn't help, so Loonette must tell her in song to use words, not swinging hands, to express her feelings. They then have to teach Snicklefritz the same lesson.

13. Comfy and Joy

Air Date:

It's the Longest Night of the Year, a big holiday in Clowntown, and that means Loonette and Molly get to stay up all night with the others. Everyone exchanges gifts at Granny Garbanzo's cart, learns to appreciate the entire year, and sees heart-felt thanks.

1. Bad Hair Day

Air Date: 1996-03-03

Molly wakes up with tangles in her hair, but she won't let Loonette comb them out. Rather than face the music, Molly ties a rain hat tight to her head. Loonette has to ask for help, but Granny Garbanzo is too wrapped up with Snicklefritz's stubbornness. The biggest surprise of all occurs when Major Bedhead arrives with shaggy hair down to his hips. When everyone tells him how that long hair could cause problems, Granny proceeds to cut his hair.

2. Clownvitations

Air Date:

Loonette feels left out when Snicklefritz establishes a club house that excludes females. Granny convinces her to start a new club of their own, called The Cookie Club. This naturally draws Snicklefritz's and Major Bedhead's attention. When they are invited, Loonette gives Granny an invitation to perform at the Dance Academy.

3. Nothing to Do

Air Date:

Loonette finds everything in the couch to be boring. This foul mood seems to spill into her entire day, until Auntie Macassar sends a ""Boredom-Buster Box"" with instructions. It works: with a few common items, Loonette, Granny Garbanzo, and Major Bedhead set their imaginations going.

4. The Big Brain Drain

Air Date:

Loonette has become dreadfully forgetful. She can't remember what she wanted to say to Molly. Once in Granny Garbanzo's garden, others give suggestions to help Loonette remember.

5. One Potato Two Potato

Air Date:

Loonette takes a stinking potato over to Granny Garbanzo's garden. When Granny shows a silly-looking potato (shaped like a duck), Loonette is amazed. She, Major Bedhead, and Snicklefritz soon use the potato in a game of keep-away, but the potato busts on them. They try to blame somebody else before Granny confronts them, at which time they own up to their mistake.

6. Earth to Loonette

Air Date:

Loonette is busy daydreaming, ultimately driven by the smell of borscht brownies. But when Loonette's daydreaming almost leads to a serious accident, Major Bedhead sings a song about paying attention. Auntie Macassar gives Loonette and Molly google-eyed glasses as part of their membership in the Lert Club for Clowns. Back at the couch, Loonette and Molly take the pledge: ""I'll always be a-lert.""

7. Lettuce, Turnip and Pea

Air Date:

In preparation for a big dance, Loonette practices her best wiggly moves. What she doesn't notice is Molly's weird wiggles. It turns out Molly has wet the couch. Now it's up to Loonette to tell Molly not to have embarrassments get the better of her.

8. Time for Molly

Air Date:

Loonette is engrossed in holding a ""me"" parade for people to notice her. But she doesn't notice Molly trying to get her attention. Unruffled, Loonette tries to hold her parade in Granny Garbanzo's garden, but every clown and cat pays no attention to her. Feeling left out, Loonette sings ""A-Ways Away"" in hopes of a place where every clown gets the attention she deserves.

9. Gizmo Shmizmo

Air Date:

Loonette has installed a couch gizmo that will fetch her toys for her. But the gizmo malfunctions, spitting out ping-pong balls at an enormous rate. She tries to get Major Bedhead to help, but he shows off his own gizmo, which doesn't work either. Granny tells them (through a song) that it's better to rely on one's mind than on machines.

10. Clothes Make the Clown

Air Date:

What's the best thing to wear on a nice fall day? Both Molly and Major Bedhead have unconventional ways to keep warm. Fortunately for Molly, Auntie Macassar sends her a pink angora sweater.

11. Don't Tell

Air Date:

Granny Garbanzo is hodling a surprise party for Major Bedhead's mirthday. Everyone has to keep it a secret, including Loonette, who finds it a challenge. But she also learns that there are certain secrets you don't keep.

12. You're a Gem!

Air Date:

Loonette is obsessed with finding a gem. First she digs into the couch and pulls out a doorknob. Going into Granny's garden, Loonette, along with Major Bedhead, learn that friends are far more valuable than gems.

13. Lots to Doodle-Do

Air Date:

A compilation of favorite songs heard in the first five seasons. Packaged by American Public Television for stations' pledge drives.

14. See Ya in My Dreams

Air Date:

Loonette needs help from Dr. Molly. Lying horizontal on the couch, Loonette wants to know about her bad dream. Molly tells what her dream was. This drives Loonette to investigate about what clowns dream of.

1. Clowning in the Rain

Air Date: 2002-03-10

It looks like a dismal day. Rain has leaked through a hole in Loonette's roof. But a good stretch on her clock rug changes her outlook on life. Once the rain stops, she and Molly take part in the ""rainbow puddle hop"" with all the other clowns. And that includes the newly-arrived Uncle Chester, who gives Loonette steel wool to help patch her roof.

2. Lost and Clowned

Air Date: 2003-05-02

Molly scares Loonette by venturing off on her own. Can Loonette get a message across that Molly should stay?

3. Button Up!

Air Date: 2003-05-05

It's ""Best Foot Forward Day,"" and everyone must find the perfect pair of shoes. Molly's pair, however, has a hole in it. When she discovers a pair of shoes with sparkly buttons in a catalog, Loonette dismisses her desire as folly. That hurts Molly's feelings, leading Loonette to sing a song about when not to speak your mind.

4. Scaredy Cat!

Air Date: 2003-05-06

Loonette digs up a Phantom of the Opera mask, which scares Molly. Thus Loonetter tells her that no mask changes the person who is wearing it. It's a lesson that Snicklefritz and Major Bedhead find out the hard way.

5. It's the Thought That Counts

Air Date: 2003-05-07

Loonette searches all through the couch for her ""McGuffin,"" whatever it is. Molly wants to help, but Loonette interprets this as a hindrance. Out in the garden, Loonette is on the flip side when she and Major Bedhead want to help Granny Garbanzo fix her roof.

6. Growing Pains

Air Date: 2003-05-08

It's the day Loonette and Molly have agreed to have a tea party. But Loonette becomes distracted with worry: what will she do for a line of work? Granny Garbanzo gives her some advice in a song.

7. Donut Let It Get You Down

Air Date: 2003-05-09

Every clown and cat is ready to run an obstacle course at Granny Garbanzo's garden. Molly is out to win it again this year, but she hasn't worked out. When Snicklefritz edges out Molly for the top honor, Loonette has to cheer Molly up.

8. Fancy Dancer

Air Date: 2003-05-12

Loonette is upset because everyone but her can dance with style and grace. When she goes next door, Granny Garbanzo insists on giving her a ballet lesson. It turns into a musical number with a few crazy dance steps.

9. The Big Bang Boom

Air Date: 2003-05-13

It's midsummer, time for The Big Bang Boom. A festive holiday indeed, but not for Molly, who is afraid of the fireworks display. Loonette bulldozes Molly to the party at Granny Garbanzo's garden, at which Major Bedhead fires off the big fireworks. It takes a while, but Loonette discovers why Molly is frightened. Once again, Loonette gets a lesson in compassion.

10. Ain't It Amazing, Gracie?

Air Date: 2003-05-14

Molly digs through the couch in search of a miner's hat–which she is wearing. But it's not the only missing object around. Major Bedhead has lost his delivery bag. This requires a special visit from Uncle Chester.

11. Between the Covers

Air Date: 2003-05-15

Loonette has dug out every book in the couch, looking for something new to read. When she goes next door, Major Bedhead delivers a huge sack of books, but all for Granny Garbanzo. All Loonette receives are a bookmark and a postcard from Uncle Chester, who sings the song ""I Can Read.""

12. Going Up

Air Date: 2003-05-16

Loonette is worried that she is not growing as fast as she would like. Few things can shake her from this mood, but a surprising seed, bearing fast-growing flowers, will.

13. Cool It!

Air Date: 2003-05-19

A heat wave has emerged in Clowntown. All the clowns are fighting not only the heat, but a few hot tempers as well. Only a package from Uncle Chester can cool off a few hot heads.

1. Apple of My Eye

Air Date: 2006-10-16

2. Dat's Da Law!

Air Date:

3. Fibberish Gibberish

Air Date:

4. Slow Down, Clown!

Air Date:

5. Floppy!

Air Date:

6. Clown with a Frown

Air Date:

7. Rub-A-Dub

Air Date:

8. Upside Down Clown

Air Date:

9. The Clown Promise

Air Date:

10. Lost & Found Clown

Air Date:

11. Phony Baloney

Air Date:

12. Ready, Steady, Go!

Air Date:

13. Happy Mirthday, Granny!

Air Date:

14. Popcorn-Y

Air Date:

15. Peek-a-Boo!

Air Date:

16. Ouch!

Air Date:

17. Big Blow Hard

Air Date:

18. Shh, Shh, Shh, Quiet!

Air Date:

19. Freeze, Please!

Air Date:

20. Clown in the Round

Air Date:

21. Molly's Bellybutton

Air Date:

22. Just Purrfect

Air Date:

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

7.5/10

Release Date

1992-03-02

Episodes

101 (7 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Production Companies

American Public Television

American Public Television

Radical Sheep Productions

Radical Sheep Productions