Each episode begins with Special Agent Oso in the midst of a training exercise, which he usually fails on his first try, causing him to say "It's all part of the plan more or less" and Paw Pilot, his computerized assistant, which gives him a special alert by saying "Special Alert, Special Alert". Invariably, during the exercise, at least one child is confronted with a simple task which they have trouble completing, an event which a Shutterbug drone notices. Oso is always assigned to the case, and Paw Pilot, along with the unseen Mr. Dos, illustrate his client's plight and assign him a mission to help the child complete the task. To do so, Paw Pilot provides Oso with three special steps, a simplified step-by-step guide to completing the task. Oso is transported to the child's location and attempts to follow the steps as the three special steps are, in and of themselves, usually too vague to complete the task properly, the Paw Pilot also gives further elaborations, including at least one helpful trick. On the third and final step, the Paw Pilot senses the time limit on the task between 3 and 19 seconds and begins counting down when the time limit is near. Oso and the child usually complete the task just as the time is up. Then Paw Pilot says " Assignment Complete". Returning from the assignment, the helpful trick given during the assignment always turns out to be the same trick Oso needed to complete the interrupted training exercise, which he likewise completes and passes, getting a medal for both the training exercise and the special assignment.
Episodes
The show has 60 episodes; 24 in the first season and 36 in the second. The episode names are usually references to the names of James Bond films from Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions LTD, such as The World Is Not Enough and The Man with the Golden Gun. The first two seasons contain at least one episode title that parodies all 22 of the existing Bond films at the time as Skyfall was released after Season 2 originally concluded, same with Spectre and No Time to Die. Some episode titles also parody the Carly Simon song Nobody Does it Better which is the popular theme song to The Spy Who Loved Me. One episode references the non-Eon film Never Say Never Again.
The 3 Special Steps are the steps that Paw Pilot gives Oso to follow when he is on his special assignments. Oso has a matter of time to finish the 3 special steps. The third step is usually timed between 3 & 19 seconds.
The training exercises are Oso's training task assigned by Wolfie, Dotty or Buffo. Oso usually messes up on his first try, but in the course of doing the special assignments he refers to the mistake he made in his training exercise, thanks to the person he is helping. He then returns to his training exercise and does it right, then earns a "Digi-Medal".
The special assignments are missions that Oso is requested to complete by the mysterious Mr. Dos, in order to help a child in need. Sometimes, Oso asks the audience to help him on his special assignments if it gets tricky and he needs some help. Oso tries to complete the Three Special Steps that Paw Pilot gives him. Then he earns a "Digi-Medal".
Audience participation or interaction with Oso. Sometimes, Oso will ask the audience to help him find something hidden or missing on the screen. Other times, Oso will ask the audience to try something physically demanding that he is doing.
Three Healthy Steps
Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps is a short series that airs in the United States during the Disney Juniorprogramming block. It encourages children to use "three healthy steps" regarding eating, being healthy and exercising. This series combined both animated characters and real life actors. The animated characters that are featured in the short series are Special Agent Oso, Paw Pilot, Special Agent Wolfie, Special Agent Dotty and Professor Buffo.
The first season of Special Agent Oso premiered in the United States and United Kingdom on April 4, 2009, and aired through April 17, 2010; the second and final season premiered on July 10, 2010 and the series finale aired May 17, 2012.