Series synopsis
The Magic School Bus is a Canadian animation sci-fi & fantasy family action & adventure kids television series that premiered on PBS Kids on September 10, 1994. It ended on December 6, 1997. It was created by Bruce Degen, Joanna Cole. It stars Lily Tomlin, Max Beckford, Daniel DeSanto and Stuart Stone.
Ms. Frizzle's sister takes her class on a slew of wild science adventures in this update of the beloved animated show.
Premise
Ms. Frizzle's sister takes her class on a slew of wild science adventures in this update of the beloved animated show.
Premise: Seat belts, everyone!
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Lily Tomlin as Ms. Frizzle (voice)
- Max Beckford as Tim (voice)
- Daniel DeSanto as Carlos (voice)
- Stuart Stone as Ralphie (voice)
- Erica Luttrell as Keesha (voice)
- Lisa Yamanaka as Wanda (voice)
- Tara Meyer as Dorothy Ann (voice)
- Maia Filar as Phoebe (voice)
Supporting cast
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner as The Producer (voice)
- Amos Crawley as Arnold (voice)
- Carol Channing as Cornelia C. Contralto II (voice)
- Elliott Gould as Mr. Perlstein (voice)
- Dana Elcar as Mr. Terese (voice)
- Dom DeLuise as Baker (voice)
- Sherman Hemsley as Mr. Junkett (voice)
- Ed Asner as Gen. Aranius (voice)
- Alex Trebek as Announcer (voice)
- Tyne Daly as Ralphie's Mom (voice)
- Michael York as Harry Herpst (voice)
- Eartha Kitt as Mrs. Franklin (voice)
Guest cast
- Amos Crawley as Arnold (voice)
- Carol Channing as Cornelia C. Contralto II (voice)
- Elliott Gould as Mr. Perlstein (voice)
- Dana Elcar as Mr. Terese (voice)
- Dom DeLuise as Baker (voice)
- Sherman Hemsley as Mr. Junkett (voice)
- Ed Asner as Gen. Aranius (voice)
- Alex Trebek as Announcer (voice)
- Tyne Daly as Ralphie's Mom (voice)
- Michael York as Harry Herpst (voice)
- Eartha Kitt as Mrs. Franklin (voice)
- Edward James Olmos as Mr. Ramon (voice)
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 52 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 13 | September 10, 1994 | December 4, 1994 |
| Season 2 | 13 | September 9, 1995 | December 2, 1995 |
| Season 3 | 13 | September 14, 1996 | December 25, 1996 |
| Season 4 | 13 | September 13, 1997 | December 6, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Gets Lost in Space Arnold's know-it-all cousin Janet drives the kids crazy when she joins Ms. Frizzle's class on a field trip and gets them lost in outer space! |
September 10, 1994 |
| 2 |
For Lunch Arnold's so excited he doesn't have to go on a field trip! But when he accidentally swallows his miniaturised class, he becomes the field trip! |
September 17, 1994 |
| 3 |
Inside Ralphie Ralphie is crushed when a fever keeps him home from school the day he's scheduled to host a FNN (Frizzle News Network) television broadcast on health. With Tyne Daly as Ralphie’s mom. |
September 24, 1994 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Blows Its Top To help them understand how the Earth makes islands, Ms. Frizzle presents the kids with an island that hasn’t been discovered yet! |
September 9, 1995 |
| 2 |
Flexes Its Muscles Ms. Frizzle takes the class on a field trip to R.U. Humerus's Body Shop. They learn how bones, muscles and joints all work together to help us move. |
September 16, 1995 |
| 3 |
The Busasaurus Ms. Frizzle takes the class on a dinosaur dig, courtesy of her old school chum, paleontologist Dr. Carmina Skeledon, and travels 67 million years back in time! |
September 23, 1995 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
In a Beehive Tim’s beekeeper Grandfather has the sweetest honey in town. Ms. Frizzle turns her class into bees so they can visit a hive and learn how raw honey is processed firsthand. |
September 14, 1996 |
| 2 |
In the Arctic “Where did the hot go?” wonders Arnold when his hot cocoa cools off. So, Ms. Frizzle whisks the class to the Arctic! |
September 21, 1996 |
| 3 |
Spins a Web Ms. Frizzle transports the class into a 1950s horror movie, where a 50-foot praying mantis is wreaking havoc on the town. Ed Asner stars as the film’s power-mad protagonist, General Araneus. |
September 28, 1996 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Meets Molly Cule When Wanda’s favorite singer, Molly Cule comes to town and she chooses Ms. Frizzle’s class to wash her famous car, the kids discover how to clean the car down to the very last bit. |
September 13, 1997 |
| 2 |
Cracks a Yolk The principal, Mr. Ruhle, has to go away for a few days and leaves his beloved chicken, Giblets, in Dorothy Ann’s care. The Friz takes the class on a field trip to see how eggs are made - from the inside out! |
September 20, 1997 |
| 3 |
Goes to Mussel Beach Ms. Frizzle’s “Uncle Shelby” wants the class to look after his beachfront property. The kids soon discover that this “luxurious” accommodation is only a tiny spot on the shoreline. |
September 27, 1997 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | PBS Kids |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 10, 1994 |
| Last aired | December 6, 1997 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Saturday at 06:30:00 |