Peacock TV's first trailer for I Love You, You Hate Me gives viewers a glimpse into the dark side of Barney and Friends.
The trailer, posted to Peacock's official YouTube channel on Sept. 28, introduces viewers to the sheer horror many members of the cast and crew of the beloved children's show had to endure. Directed by Tommy Avallone and produced by Trent Johnson and Scout Productions, the official synopsis for the upcoming limited series describes it as "chronicling the rise and fall of Barney the Dinosaur's furious backlash — and what it says about the human need to hate."
Created by Sheryl Leach, Barney the Dinosaur made his debut in 1988 as the star of Barney & the Backyard Gang, a series of children's edutainment videos co-created by Kathy Parker. The concept would be further developed for production by PBS in 1991 in a slightly slower format than other popular series such as Sesame Street. A year later, Barney and Friends made its premiere and became an instant hit with parents and young children, spawning a massive entertainment brand comprised of countless tie-in merchandise, games and even its own Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ballon. The original series aired its final episode in 2010.
Barney also became the target for unexpected amounts of fervent, often violent backlash, which has become the focus of I Love You, You Hate Me. Joel Chiodi, Head of Documentaries and SVP of Strategic Development at Scout Productions, explained that the film "unpacks how a children's character who stood for inclusion, understanding, and kindness birthed a movement of anger and criticism that threatened the show, its creators, and their futures." Chiodi noted, "This documentary traces the creation of the character and how it took a toll on the people closest to it, examining the surprising and lingering impact the 'Big Purple Dinosaur' left on American society."
The Violent Subculture Connected to Barney
Avallone has also remarked on his personal experiences growing up while Barney mania was in full effect. "Barney came out on television when I was just 10 years old, and I admittedly didn't understand him," he recalled. "As a teenager, for one of my birthdays I asked my aunt to make me a Barney costume, so my friends and I could beat him up on camera. Several years later, creating this docu-series, it feels good to be on the other side and no longer a Barney hater. Now having children of my own, I understand all the love that went into making the purple dinosaur."
In 2019, it was announced that Get Out and Nope star Daniel Kalluya would be producing an untitled Barney live-action film. Kaluuya opened up about the idea behind the film, stating, "Barney taught us, 'I love you, you love me. Won't you say you love me too?' That's one of the first songs I remember, and what happens when that isn't true?" He continued, "I thought that was really heartbreaking. I have no idea why but it feels like that makes sense. It feels like there's something unexpected that can be poignant but optimistic. Especially at this time now, I think that's really, really needed."
Both 60-minute episodes of I Love You, You Hate Me premiere on Peacock on Oct. 12.
Source: YouTube