Little Bill is an animated educational television series based on the book series of the same name by comedian Bill Cosby. Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the series follows the inquisitive five-year-old Little Bill exploring what life is like with the help of his imagination. It was developed through research and in consultation with a panel of educational consultants, providing young viewers with a lesson or moral in every episode.[1] The show aired on Nick Jr. from November 1999 through February 2004, winning a Peabody Award and two Emmy Awards.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Little Bill debuted as a giant helium character balloon in the 2002 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, becoming the first African-American character balloon in its history. Dressed in his favorite rugby shirt and blue jeans, Little Bill gave a bright “Hello, friend!” wave to the crowd. The 48-foot tall, 54.2-foot long, and 34-foot wide not-so-Little Bill balloon was inflated with over 12,000 cubic feet of helium.
The balloon’s debut was celebrated with a series of videos created by Nickelodeon, including a behind-the-scenes look at its development at Macy’s Parade Studio and interviews with Nick Jr. executives; these were later packaged and aired as part of The CBS Thanksgiving Day Parade.[2]
In 2003, Nick Jr. and OnStar hosted the Great Big Little Bill Sweepstakes, coinciding with the balloon’s second appearance. The contest’s grand prize included a five-day trip to New York City, Thanksgiving dinner at a world-famous restaurant, $1000 in spending money, a $1000 Macy’s gift card, and a VIP limo trip to that year’s Parade. 500 first-place winners also received a prize package containing a Little Bill book, CD-ROM, and shirt.[3]
Following the series’ conclusion, the Little Bill balloon made its third and final appearance in the 2004 Parade. Its existence was last confirmed in the Macy’s Parade Warehouse in November 2016.[4]
References[]
- ↑ NOGGIN: For Parents: Shows: Little Bill. Noggin.com.
- ↑ Parade Vault. "2002 The CBS Thanksgiving Parade. YouTube.com. September 6, 2023.
- ↑ littlebillchannel. "Little Bill Macy's Thanksgiving Sweepstakes 2003." YouTube.com. May 11, 2013.
- ↑ KAdamsbaum. "Macys Studio Tour Nov 15 2016." SmugMug.com.