I loved this PBS show in the 1990s. It featured a Jack Russell terrier who
daydreamed that he was various literary characters (such as Sherlock Holmes,
Don Quixote, etc.). He wore various costumes in the daydreams. Soccer
(who played Wishbone) was such a talented dog, and actor Larry Brantley
was perfectly cast as his voice. Cute dog, great show.

My son had a VHS tape of that show when he was small and he really liked it.

Yes, I used to watch it a lot as a child. I think it's still on TV. At least I think I saw it not long ago a couple times while flipping through the channels. Not sure it's on PBS anymore, though.

They also had a book series. My Dad bought me two of them years back.

I have a DVD, some episodes that I taped, four of the books, and a talking
Wishbone dog toy. I'm still a kid at heart, I guess. (The fact that Wishbone
reminded my older sister and me of the dog we used to have was also a
factor, I'm sure.) :)

^ He was a cute little dog, I seem to recall him wearing a robe & a crown on that vhs tape my son had. I'm guessing he was a king or a member of royalty in that episode.

Wishbone is da MAN!

(AUSTIN, TX – April 13, 2026) On the 30th anniversary of Wishbone, Novel Tails in association with Loud Pictures, brings audiences across North America the charming documentary “What’s The Story, Wishbone?” Directed by Joey Stewart (“Wishbone,” “The Night of the White Pants,” “The Seventh Day,” “Walker, Texas Ranger”), the documentary pulls back the curtain on how a small dog with a big imagination brought classic literature to life for millions of kids earning television’s highest achievements the Peabody Award as well as multiple Emmy Awards, and a loyal fanbase around the globe. Featuring the writers, cast and the voice of Wishbone, alongside the creators behind the show, the film explores the ambition, chaos, and lasting impact of one of the most unique children’s series ever made. Watch the trailer here ahead of the films debut airing on Public Television Stations (formerly known as the Public Broadcasting Service) May 27th through June 9th, 2026 – a perfect return home, before it’s TVOD/Digital release on all platforms where you can rent or buy movies across North America on June 10th, 2026.

“On the 30th anniversary of Wishbone, I’m excited to pull back the curtain on how this little show became a real cultural phenomenon. I made this film to celebrate its impact and reconnect the audiences who grew up with it in a meaningful way,” states director Joey Stewart.

This incredible behind-the-scenes look at the beloved PBS series that turned classic literature into must-see TV, became a cultural phenomenon for a generation. Featuring rare archival footage, behind-the-scenes stories, and commentary from voices including Mo Rocca (“Bewitched,” “The Good Wife”), George W. Bush, and Dan Rather, as well as Creator/Executive Producer Rick Duffield, Producer Betty Buckley (Emmy and Peabody award winning producer & founder of Women in Film Dallas) the Voice of Wishbone Larry Brantley (veteran voice actor), Head Writer Stephanie Simpson (BAFTA winning writer of animated series “Arthur,” “Hilda,”), Wishbone’s Trainer Jackie Kaptan, Cast Mary Chris Wall (“Criminal Minds”), Angee Hughes (“Scrubs”), Jeanne Simpson (“Joan of Arc”), Matt Tompkins (“Frankenstein”), Production Designer Chris Henry (“Talk Radio”), Costume Designer Steven Chudej (“Raising Arizona”), Makeup & Hair Designer Gigi Coker (“Eight Men Out”), Post Production Supervisor Mike Losurdo Jr. (“Sea Warriors: The Royal Navy in the Age of Sail”), and Visual Effects Supervisor Caris Turpin (“Howard the Duck”).

“For most of my professional life I have been asked the question, “What was it like working on Wishbone?” After 30 years I can finally say, watch this film,” states Producer & Voice of Wishbone Larry Brantley.

The documentary shares how the series captured the imagination of audiences—and why it’s influence still resonates decades later. The film offers a uniquely personal perspective on the making of the show. “What’s The Story, Wishbone?” clocks in at just under 90 minutes from the team who helmed the original award-winning series – directed by Joey Stewart (“Wishbone,” “The Night of the White Pants,” “The Seventh Day,” “Walker, Texas Ranger”), produced by Betty Buckley (Emmy and Peabody award winning producer & founder of Women in Film Dallas), Joey Stewart, Larry Brantley (veteran voice actor and the voice of “Wishbone”), Stephanie Simpson (BAFTA winning writer of animated series “Arthur,” “Hilda,” and writer of “Wishbone”).

Producer Betty Buckley shares “Producing Wishbone was such a joy in every way. Revisiting this iconic series and reflecting on the experience that inspired a love of reading in children is something I’m incredibly excited to share with audiences.”

Originally airing in the mid-1990s, Wishbone reimagined classic works of literature through the adventures of a Jack Russell Terrier, introducing a generation of kids to stories ranging from Sherlock Holmes to The Odyssey. This documentary revisits the creative team behind the series and reveals how an ambitious idea became a lasting cultural touchstone. Through the voices of the writers, directors, producers, and cast, this film explores how it all came together—and how something that felt chaotic at the time ended up meaning so much to an entire generation.

Find the film in your market or your preferred platform at www.whatsthestorywishbone.com and follow the film on Instagram: @thewishbonedocumentary (https://www.instagram.com/thewishbonedocumentary/) and on Facebook: @wishbonedocumentary (https://www.facebook.com/wishbonedocumentary)

What’s the Story, Wishbone? | Official Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-oWwJ-PbBY)

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Before BookTok, before online reading challenges, and before classic literature was being explained in bite-sized internet videos, PBS gave ’90s kids a Jack Russell terrier who somehow made Dickens, Shakespeare, Homer, Sherlock Holmes, and Frankenstein feel exciting.

That show was Wishbone (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125256/http://www.jumptheshark.com/w/wishbone.htm).

On the surface, it sounded ridiculous: a little dog living in suburban Texas imagines himself as the hero of classic novels. But somehow, Wishbone became one of the smartest and most ambitious children’s shows PBS ever made. It turned old books into adventures, made literature feel approachable, and convinced a generation of kids they were just watching a funny dog in costumes — while secretly teaching them to love stories.

In this Dial-Up Days deep dive, we look back at the creation of Wishbone, the real Jack Russell terrier named Soccer who became the star, the voice performance of Larry Brantley, the massive production effort behind each episode, and why the show only lasted two seasons despite critical acclaim.

We’ll also explore why Wishbone is so hard to watch today, what happened to the rights, and why this strange, brilliant PBS classic still means so much to the kids who grew up with it.

Were you a Wishbone kid? Did you watch it at home on PBS, or was this a TV-cart-in-the-classroom memory? Which episode or book do you still remember? Drop your memories in the comments — and let us know what PBS classic from the ’80s or ’90s we should cover next.

If you enjoy nostalgic deep dives into the shows, movies, and pop culture that shaped the way we grew up, hit like and subscribe for more from Dial-Up Days.