1994: ABC Puts an End to 'Dinosaurs'
On this day in 1994, ABC broadcast the last original episode of Dinosaurs, a sitcom conceptualized by Jim Henson prior to his death.
The series was, in theory, a sitcom about a typically modern family, except its stars were anthropomorphic dinosaur puppets. The main family of characters were voiced by actors Stuart Pankin, Jessica Walter, Jason Willinger, Sally Struthers and Kevin Clash (the current puppeteer for Elmo).
Even though the puppets gave it the feel of a kids' show, Dinosaurs cleverly dealt with significant, topical subjects ranging from women's rights and censorshop to racism and environmentalism. The scripts were also full of pop-culture references.
The standout character was the youngest dino, Baby, whose frequently-used line "Not the mama!" became a popular catchphrase.
The series ran four seasons.