Special Agent Oso

Updated on Dec 07, 2023

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Theme music composer Ford Riley Original language(s) EnglishSpanish No. of episodes 61 (list of episodes)		Country of origin United States No. of series 2
Voices of Sean AstinMeghan StrangeGary Anthony WilliamsPhill LewisAmber HoodCam Clarke Similar Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny

Special Agent Oso is an American CGI-animated series for pre-school audiences series created by Ford Riley. The series premiered on April 4, 2009 as part of Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney block, and was one of the charter series that was part of the replacement Disney Junior block which started on February 14, 2011, and later, the Disney Junior channel.

Premise

Each episode begins with Special Agent Oso in the midst of a training exercise, which he usually fails ("all part of the plan—more or less"). Invariably, during the exercise, a child is confronted with a simple task he or she does not have the skill to complete, which a "Shutterbug" drone notices. Oso is always assigned to the case, and his Paw Pilot, along with the unseen Mr. Dos, illustrate his client's plight and assign him a mission to help the child complete the task. To do so, the Paw Pilot provides Oso with "three special steps," a simplified step-by-step guide to completing the task. Oso is transported to the child's location and attempts to follow the steps; as the three special steps are, in and of themselves, usually too vague to complete the task properly, the Paw Pilot also gives further elaborations, including at least one helpful trick. The Paw Pilot can sense the time limit on the task and begins counting down when the time limit is near; Oso and the child usually complete the task just as time runs out.

Returning from the assignment, the helpful trick given during the assignment always turns out to be the same trick Oso needed to complete the interrupted training exercise, which he likewise completes and passes.

Additional voices

Lou Holtz as Uncle Lou (character was modeled to look like himself)

Nathan Lane as Briana's Dad/Emma's Dad

Lara Flynn Boyle as Isabella's Mom

Megan Hollingshead as David's Mom

Jeremy Irons as Nave's Dad

James Earl Jones as Mr. Thompson

Madge Sinclair as Maya's Mom

Mel Brooks as Grandpa Mel

Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Braden's Dad

Kimberly Brooks as Doc's Mom

Components

Each episode is composed of four components:

The Three Special Steps are the steps that Paw Pilot gives Oso to follow when he is on his special assignments. Oso has a matter of time to finish the three special steps. The third step is usually timed for 3-19 seconds.

The training exercises are Oso's training task assigned by Wolfie, Dotty or Bufo. Oso usually messes up on his first try, but in the course of doing the special assignments he refers to the mistake he made in his training exercise, thanks to the person he is helping. He then returns to his training exercise and does it correctly, then earns a "Digi-Medal.

Audience participation or interaction with Oso. Sometimes, Oso will ask the audience to help him find something hidden or missing on the screen. Other times, Oso will ask the audience to try something physically demanding that he is doing.

The special assignments are missions that Oso is requested to complete by the mysterious Mr. Dos, in order to help a child in need. Oso tries to complete the Three Special Steps that Paw Pilot gives him. Then he earns a "Digi-Medal".

Episodes

The show has 62 episodes; 24 in the first season and 38 in the second. The episode names are usually references to the names of James Bond films, such as Three Wheels Are Not Enough and The Boy with the Golden Gift. The first two seasons contain at least one episode title that parodies all 22 of the existing Bond films at the time (as Skyfall was released after Season 2 originally concluded, same with Spectre). Some episode titles also parody the Carly Simon song "Nobody Does it Better" which is the popular theme song to The Spy Who Loved Me.

Three Healthy Steps

Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps is a short series that airs in the United States and the United Kingdom during the Disney Junior programming block. It encourages children to use "three healthy steps" regarding eating, being healthy and exercising.

Characters that are featured in the short series are Special Agent Oso, Paw Pilot, Special Agent Wolfie, Special Agent Dotty, and Professor Buffo.

References

Special Agent Oso Wikipedia

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