The Puzzle Place is an American children's television series produced by KCET in Los Angeles and Lancit Media in New York City. Although production was dated and premiered on two Los Angeles PBS stations, KCET and KLCS, on September 15, 1994, it did not officially premiere on all PBS stations nationwide until January 16, 1995, with its final episode airing on December 4, 1998, and reruns airing until March 31, 2000. It became one of PBS Kids' most popular series on the line-up since Barney & Friends and Sesame Street. It follows a multi-ethnic group of kids from different parts of the United States who hang out at "the Puzzle Place", which is a teen hangout themed around jigsaw puzzle pieces. In each episode the characters are confronted with an everyday conflict usually encountered in childhood and even teenage years, such as making moral decisions, sharing, racism, and sexism. On April 3, 2000, Between the Lions replaced it on the schedule.
Characters
Julie Woo: A Chinese American girl from San Francisco, California. She is very sensitive and caring of her personal possessions and she sometimes tries a little too hard. She especially loves singing; though, outside of the show's musical numbers, her voice can be cacophonous to humorous effect. Performed by Alice Dinnean.
Kiki Flores: A Mexican American girl from San Antonio, Texas. She is very outgoing and has a temper. She once pretended to be a space alien after being teased about her accent. She is also a great chili cook and has a Spanish-speaking cousin named Magdalena who helps everyone to learn about acceptance. Performed by Carmen Osbahr.
Ben Olafson: A Scandinavian American boy of German and Norwegian descent from a farm near Renner, South Dakota. Like Jody, he is a child without both parents, but unlike her, whose are divorced, his father is deceased. He is good at solving difficult puzzles and a talented dancer. Though normally easygoing and friendly, he can be unforgiving when angered. Performed by Jim Martin.
Leon MacNeal: An African American boy, possibly of West African origin from New York City. He wears dreadlocks, gets jealous easily, and sometimes does not think before he acts. He is a fan of hip-hop music and loves basketball. Performed by Noel MacNeal, with Eric Jacobson puppeteering him to MacNeal's voice in season 3.
Skye Nakaiye: A White Mountain Apache boy from an Indian reservation in Arizona. He always wears a bandanna, raincoat, and feather necklace. He is naturally curious and believes in staying true to his values and culture. Performed by Peter Linz in seasons 1 and 2, and Matt Vogel in season 3.
Weebus: The group's smart talking computer that they use to communicate with people outside of the Puzzle Place. She is also capable of performing automated tasks and playing video clips to answer a question.
Nuzzle and Sizzle: The anthropomorphic pet dog and cat, respectively, at the Puzzle Place. They are seen mostly in the basement, talking to each other, and acting as animals around the kids. They are usually involved in a subplot. Sizzle is performed by Alice Dinnean and Nuzzle is performed by Peter Linz in Seasons 1 and 2 and Matt Vogel in Season 3.
The Piece Police: Multicolored inhabitants of the Puzzle Place. They communicate amongst themselves using grumbling noises, although they understand English. It is hinted in some episodes that they all know what Sizzle and Nuzzle are saying. Performed by Carmen Osbahr, Jim Martin, Noel MacNeal, and Alison Mork, with Stephanie D'Abruzzo replacing Mork in Season 2, and Eric Jacobson and Terri Hardin replacing MacNeal and D'Abruzzo in Season 3. D'Abruzzo also provides their singing voices.
In the weeks after its debut, The Puzzle Place won a great deal of acclaim and "enjoyed an average audience-per-viewing second only to Barney and Friends among shows in the popular PBS daily children's block." It received a citation of excellence from UNIMA-USA for its use of puppetry. In 1997, ten more episodes of the show were "in the works". Toys "R" Us, Sears, and Payless ShoeSource all announced that they would carry merchandising from the series and showcase that merchandise in its own separate "boutique" rather than integrating it with the other products.
In early 1994, two pilot episodes were produced for the series known as "The Puzzle Works". Eventually, the show was renamed "The Puzzle Place" shortly before its premiere months later.
Cancellation
After three seasons and 75 episodes, the show stopped production, but it was seen in reruns until March 31, 2000. It was replaced by Between the Lions the following week. Reruns were aired on TLC's Ready Set Learn channel from June 1, 2000 until February 23, 2003. The Paz Show was introduced the following day.
