 Loonette the Clown - On the award
winning educational program for preschoolers, THE BIG COMFY COUCH/SYN/PBS/1993.
Alyson Court played Loonette, an energetic clown, who sat on a big,
comfy green couch with a floral print and played with her best
friend, a doll named Molly Dolly (manipulated by Bob Stutt).
Together, Loonette and Molly played games, read stories and
participated in imaginative activities that taught sharing and
caring for others.
The freckle-faced Loonette sported black hair
(with side pony-tails), a round red ball on her nose, black and
white striped stocking, loose uniform-like dress and a blue hat. Her
dolly, Molly (a miniature version of Loonette without the hat)
didn't speak, but communicated by moving her arms and legs and
pointing at things.
The huge oversized couch used on the show helped create the illusion
that the adult actress Alyson Court was a small child sitting on a
large couch (an idea used by comedian Lily Tomlin in the '60s & '70s
when she sat in an oversized rocking chair playing the role of her
little girl character Edith Ann).
Theme Song Lyrics
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready to clown around?
With Loonette and Molly
A clown and her dolly
On the big comfy couch
There is lots to doodle do
Loonette loves to sing for you
With a wiggle and a giggle and loony friends
The playtime silliness never ends
Get Ready
All over and under the big comfy couch
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready to clown around?
With Loonette and Molly
A clown and her dolly
On the big comfy couch
Special recurring themes and activities on the show included Clock
Rug Stretch (Loonette stretched on a "clock rug" by moving her arms
and legs like clock hands); Dance Academy (Loonette performed in
fancy costumes at the Dance Academy); The Alphabet Game (Loonette
formed letters of the alphabet with her body); The Foley Family
(Dad, Mom and Andy Foley explored family issues); Storybook Time (Loonette
read a story to Molly every day); and The 10 Second Tidy (encouraged
children to clean up after themselves)
Regulars on the program included Fred Stinson as Major Bedhead;
Grindi Kuchirka as Granny Garbonzo; Taborah Johnson as Auntie
Macassar; Gary Farmer as Wobbly; Fred Stinson as Roberto; Fred
Stinson, Jani Lavzon and Jackie Harris as The Foley Family; and Bob
Stutt and Rob Mills as The Dust Bunnies
The series concept was created by Cheryl Wagner. The Big Comfy Couch
was produced by Radical Sheep Productions based in Toronto, Ontario,
Canada. The Radical Sheep Shop, headed by Karen Valleau, built and
performed all the puppets and props seen on program.
Loonette and Molly made a special guest appearance on an installment
of THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW on January 18, 1999. Host Rosie
O'Donnell dressed up to look like Loonette and sat and played with
her and Molly on "The Big Comfy Couch."
As of 2006, Ramona Gilmour-Darling replaced Alyson Court as
Loonette the Clown who played the role from 1993-2003.
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