Baby Bop (Barney and Friends)

Baby Bop is a main recurring character on the television series, Barney & Friends, and was a minor character in its home video predecessor, Barney & The Backyard Gang.

A three-year-old bright green triceratops, Baby Bop made her first appearance in Barney in Concert which performed in 1991 at the Majestic Theater in Dallas, Texas. During her debut, Baby Bop was depicted as being very shy until she heard music at which point she became much bolder. She became bolder (without music) in her many appearances to follow. Baby Bop debuted as a two-year-old with illeism, but eventually turned three in the episode "Look At Me, I'm 3!" (1993) and eventually grew to speak in first person.

Baby Bop is a good friend of Barney's and the younger sister of BJ. She is also Riff's cousin. Like the other dinosaurs, Baby Bop comes from the imagination of children. At the end of most episodes of Barney & Friends, she (alongside BJ and Riff) disappear into a burst of magical sparkles.

Baby Bop is like many precocious children her age. She loves to carry her yellow blanket around and is almost never even seen without it, calling it her "blankey". She sings about her blankey at times with the songs, "My Yellow Blankey" and "Baby Bop's Blankey". Baby Bop's favorite toy doll is her stuffed teddy bear, something she loves almost as much as her blanket.

She is an avid dancer, and has taken many ballet classes to pursue this hobby. She also loves to hop, as seen through the song, "The Baby Bop Hop".

Baby Bop's favorite food is macaroni and cheese, but she still likes many other foods such as apples and bananas, popcorn, and even pizza. She loves tea parties, and will try to host them with as many of her friends as she can. One of her favorite animals at the zoo is an elephant and she has an elephant doll named Nelly. She also loves to ride on her tricycle, which she got when she turned three. First appearance Barney in Concert (1991) Created by Sheryl Leach Irene Corey (builder) Suzanne Lockridge (builder) Voiced by Julie Johnson (1991-2010) see all below Costume performer Principal performers Jeff Ayers (1993-2008) Lauren Mayeux (2007-2020) see all below In-universe Information Species Triceratops Gender Female Age Three-years-old Nicknames Sissy (BJ) Baby Boppity Bop (Riff)

Favorite Foods Macaroni and cheese, apples and bananas

Favorite Color Yellow Favorite Thing Blankey Alias Wonder Princess Family BJ (brother) Riff (cousin) History Creation According to the co-creator of Barney, Sheryl Leach, Baby Bop was created as a foil character to Barney. Whereas Barney is outgoing but down-to-earth, Baby Bop is very shy but can be ecstatic at times due to her young age.

Within Baby Bop's concert debut, her name was given by The Backyard Gang. Baby Bop's name is based on the words "Boppity-bop" from the song, "Mr. Knickerbocker". Prior to Baby Bop debuting in Barney in Concert, the Barney Fan Club newsletter held a contest for the then upcoming new dinosaur. Fans could send suggestions on a separate postcard to The Lyons Group, where entries had to be received by March 31, 1991. The winner of the contest would receive a phone call with Barney. It's currently unknown if the name "Baby Bop" was submitted for consideration.

Baby Bop's logo. Baby Bop's logo. Representation Baby Bop serves as a vehicle for portraying the behaviors and activities typical of a 2 to 3-year-old, the age of much of the viewing audience.

History The costume builders of Barney, Irene Corey and her niece Suzanne Lockridge, were also contacted to make the costume of Baby Bop. Baby Bop was initially pitched to the duo in a “comic strip” like format in which the creators had already sketched out the little green dinosaur. Early costume designs for her were to be a pink and yellow dinosaur with one sharp tooth. The tooth was scrapped as it looked too threatening for a two year old dinosaur and in subsequent sketches she was altered to the color palate that she's currently seen with. Corey and Lockridge were only given a week to produce the character, which would be introduced in Barney in Concert. Portrayal Baby Bop with Julie Johnson, the original voice actress Baby Bop with Julie Johnson, the original voice actress

Voice Portrayal History During auditions, Julie Johnson, noticed that all of the people that were auditioning had pristine children's voices. When it was Julie Johnson's turn, she looked at the Baby Bop costume, and thought of the sound of a toddler demanding a toy in a mall window, then becoming Baby Bop's voice.[4][5]

Jeff Ayers inside the Baby Bop costume. Jeff Ayers inside the Baby Bop costume.

Actors Costume Actors Dao Knight (1991) Jenny Dempsey (1991–1993) Jeff Ayers (1993–2008) Lee Clark (1996 - 1998) Jennifer Romano (1997–2002) Jill Nelson (1999-2000) Jennifer Kendall (2004, 2008) Mitzi Evans (2007) Lauren Mayeux (2007-2020) Voice Actors Julie Johnson (1991–2010) Carol Farabee (1993-1994) Trivia Unlike current appearances, Baby Bop's yellow blankey originally had her face and name embroidered on it in during her appearances in Barney & The Backyard Gang and season one of Barney & Friends . Nicki Minaj referenced Baby Bop in her song, "Stupid Hoe".[6] Whenever Baby Bop would appear at the beginning of an episode or video scored by Bob Singleton in most appearances, "Baby Bop's Street Dance" would be heard as an underscore. If an episode or video was scored by Joseph Phillips, "My Yellow Blankey" would be heard upon her arrival in most appearances. Baby Bop was initially going to hatch from an egg during her debut in the respective video, but creators Sheryl Leach and Dennis DeShazer weren't able to review it before it came to filming the video. In-universe facts While it's never explicitly stated in the franchise as to where the little dinos come from, the original script of Barney's Great Adventure alludes that they come from the imagination of children. While the idea of how Baby Bop (alongside BJ and Riff) vanishes into magical sparkles went unexplored on video, it was explored within a penned a treatment titled "Barney's Magic of Music" by Stephen White in 2005. The treatment explains that the little dinos think of the fun they had throughout the day, alongside the fun they'll have tomorrow, while using their imaginations to scurry off. Voices American voice actresses Linda Young[7] and Kristin Sutton Ford[8] were substitute voices for Baby Bop on Barney & Friends whenever Julie Johnson was absent.[9] Ford is most notable for portraying Baby Bop in the Sleepytime Baby Bop plush and subbing during the filming of Let's Go to the Fire House.[10][11] Like the voices of Barney and BJ, Baby Bop was voiced by an unknown stand-in for the live show of Barney Live! World Tour - A Celebration!. Similar to Barney, she was voiced by another unknown stand-in for the Fisher-Price toys that were released in 2018. Appearances Barney & The Backyard Gang Barney & Friends Home Videos Live Shows Books Barney in Concert Rock with Barney (cameo) My Family's Just Right for Me Playing It Safe Hop To It! (cameo) Eat, Drink And Be Healthy! (cameo) Caring Means Sharing (cameo) What's That Shadow? Happy Birthday, Barney! Alphabet Soup! (cameo) Hi, Neighbor! A Splash Party, Please (cameo) Carnival of Numbers (cameo) Doctor Barney is Here! (cameo) Oh, What a Day! Everyone Is Special (episode) Falling for Autumn! May I Help You? Red, Blue and Circles Too! Hoo's in the Forest? (cameo) I Can Do That! Look At Me, I'm 3! My Favorite Things An Adventure In Make Believe (cameo) Having Tens of Fun! A Very Special Delivery! (cameo) If the Shoe Fits... Shopping for a Surprise! Twice Is Nice! Classical Cleanup Gone Fishing! It's Raining, It's Pouring... (cameo) Camera Safari Who's Who on the Choo Choo? Ship, Ahoy! First Day of School Is Everybody Happy? Tick Tock Clocks! Waiting for Mr. MacRooney (cameo) Play Ball! Let's Eat Good, Clean Fun! All Mixed Up Oh, Brother... She's My Sister Trading Places Safety First! (as Safety Officer Baby Bop) Try It, You'll Like It! Colors All Around (episode) (cameo) Hidden Treasures It's a Rainy Day! A Package Of Friendship Stick with Imagination! Snack Time! Count Me In! Who's Who at the Zoo? Excellent Exercise! Brushing Up on Teeth It's Home to Me You Can Do It! Ready, Set, Go! Up, Down and Around! Tea-riffic Manners Stop! Go! Red, Yellow and Blue! Play for Exercise! Numbers! Numbers! This Way In! This Way Out! Play It Safe! A Parade of Bikes BJ's Really Cool House On Again, Off Again Sharing Is Caring! It's Hot! It's Cold! Day and Night A-Counting We Will Go! A Little Big Day Squares, Squares Everywhere! That Makes Me Mad! It's Your Birthday, Barney! Everybody's Got Feelings Caring Hearts Let's Make Music! Movin' Along Let Your Creativity Fly! Imagine That! All About Me My Baby Brother Keep On Truckin' I'm A Builder Coming On Strong Let's Play Games! You Can Count on Me! (episode) A Wonderful World of Colors and Shapes Easy as ABC Look What I Can Do! Making a Move! Home, Safe Home On the Road Again My Friends, The Doctor and the Dentist Welcome, Cousin Riff Special Skills Boats Butterflies Bugs Shapes (episode) Colors Seeing Hearing Glad to Be Me Arts Movement BJ's Snack Attack Counting Letters Pets Vets Winter Summer Caring Rhythm Playing Games Fun with Reading Making Mistakes Separation Days of the Week Sharing Rabbits Mother Goose (episode) Fairy Tales Things I Can Do Dancing (cameo) Singing Neighborhoods Careers Kenya Pistachio The Magic Words Litterbot Bop 'til You Drop Little Red Rockin' Hood The Whole Truth The Wind and the Sun Grandpa's Visit The Big Garden Pot Full of Sunshine Trail Boss Barney Get Happy! Starlight, Star Bright No, No, No! Guess Who? Sweet Treats Best in Show That's What a Mommy Is The Shrinking Blankey What's Your Name? BJ The Great Gift of the Dinos Riff's Musical Zoo The Princess and the Frog Way to Go!: A Travel Adventure The Misbegotten Moon: A Space Adventure Riff to the Rescue!: A Wild West Adventure Lights! Camera! Action!: A Movie Adventure The Amazing Captain Pickles: A Hero Adventure A Game for Everyone: A Sports Adventure Bienvenido, Barney: Mexico Big Brother Rusty: China ¡Ahora Mismo!: Spain Sweeter Than Candy: Greece Bonjour, Barney!: France Home Sweet Earth: The Rainforest Barney's Magical Musical Adventure Barney Live! In New York City Imagination Island Barney Safety (cameo) Barney Songs Barney's Fun & Games Once Upon A Time Barney's Musical Scrapbook Camp WannaRunnaRound Barney's Adventure Bus It's Time for Counting Barney in Outer Space My Party with Barney Barney's Big Surprise Barney's Halloween Party Barney's Great Adventure (cameo) Sing and Dance with Barney What a World We Share! Walk Around the Block with Barney Let's Play School! Barney's Night Before Christmas More Barney Songs Barney's Rhyme Time Rhythm Super Singing Circus Come on Over to Barney's House Be My Valentine, Love Barney Barney's Dino Dancin' Tunes Let's Go to the Zoo Barney's Musical Castle Barney's Pajama Party Barney's Beach Party Round and Round We Go Barney's Christmas Star Barney Songs From the Park Read with Me, Dance with Me Barney's Best Manners: Your Invitation to Fun! Barney's Colorful World! Let's Go to the Farm The Land of Make Believe Can You Sing That Song? Let's Make Music Let's Go to the Fire House Barney's Dino-Mite Birthday! Celebrating Around The World Barney's Animal ABC's Hi! I'm Riff! The Best of Barney Once Upon A Dino Tale Barney's Top 20 Countdown Let's Go on Vacation Jungle Friends Let's Play Outside A-Counting We Will Go Barney's Best Fairy Tales A Very Merry Christmas I Love My Friends Barney in Concert Barney Live! In New York City A Day in the Park with Barney Barney's Big Surprise Barney's Musical Castle Barney's Theatre Barney's Colorful World! Barney Live! - The Let's Go Tour Barney's Musical Park Barney's Let's Imagine Barney's Dino-Mite Birthday! - Live On Stage Barney's Space Adventures Barney Rocks! El Concierto en Vivo! Barney Live in Concert - Birthday Bash! Barney Live! World Tour - A Celebration! Barney's Greatest Hits - Live On Stage