Storyline

The Puzzle Place is an American children's television series produced by KCET in Los Angeles, California and Lancit Media in New York City, New York. It premiered on the Public Broadcasting Service on January 16, 1995, and ran for about four years, airing its final episode on December 4, 1998. Reruns were continued until March 31, 2000. The show followed a multi-ethnic group of kids from different parts of the United States who hung out at "the Puzzle Place", which is a teen hangout themed around jigsaw puzzle pieces. In each episode the characters were confronted with an everyday conflict usually encountered in childhood and even early teenagerdom, such as making moral decisions, sharing, racism, sexism, etc.

First Aired

1995-01-16
Last Aired

1998-12-04
Creator
Genre

Comedy, Kids
Seasons

3
Episodes

75
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

PBS Kids

Keywords:

multiculturalism friendship puppet educational clubhouse

Stream and watch The Puzzle Place

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

1. Tippy Woo

Julie obtains a teddy bear, and names it after herself "Tippy Wu". She also remarks on some unflatteri...More

Julie obtains a teddy bear, and names it after herself "Tippy Wu". She also remarks on some unflattering nicknames other kids have given her, per her last name "Wu".Less

29mins 1995-01-16

2. Train Driving Kids

The boys have a model train but refuse to share with the girls, insisting it’s a boys’ activity. Gradu...More

The boys have a model train but refuse to share with the girls, insisting it’s a boys’ activity. Gradually everyone takes to other suggested activities, leaving only Leon and Kiki still wanting to play with the model train. Nuzzle struggles to play a toy xylophone.Less

29mins 1995-01-17

3. Rip Van Wrinkle

Leon, Kiki, Julie and Skye host a slumber party, but have to work together to help each other's bedtim...More

Leon, Kiki, Julie and Skye host a slumber party, but have to work together to help each other's bedtime routines/needs be met, or else the “slumber” part will be difficult. Sizzle and Nuzzle try to be nocturnal, but it’s harder than it seems. Ben and Jody only make cameo appearances.Less

29mins 1995-01-18

4. Accentuate the Positive

Kiki dresses as a space alien, distressed that other kids at school laughed at her Hispanic accent.

Kiki dresses as a space alien, distressed that other kids at school laughed at her Hispanic accent.Less

29mins 1995-01-19

5. Gotta Dance

The kids obtain a sheet of dance steps and learn of various cultural dances while trying to decipher i...More

The kids obtain a sheet of dance steps and learn of various cultural dances while trying to decipher it. Sizzle recalls the time Nuzzle criticized her for carrying her tail wrong and refuses to dance with him again.Less

29mins 1995-01-20

6. Rudy One

A robot shows up at the Puzzle Place and befriends Leon, while insulting everyone else, in an attempt ...More

A robot shows up at the Puzzle Place and befriends Leon, while insulting everyone else, in an attempt to sabotage everyone’s friendship. Sizzle turns to Nuzzle for advice after a new cat calls her a “snooty patootie.”Less

29mins 1995-01-23

7. Butterfingers

The kids hold a relay race, but Ben drops his baton, prompting the nickname “Butterfingers” from every...More

The kids hold a relay race, but Ben drops his baton, prompting the nickname “Butterfingers” from everyone else. Nuzzle tries to show off his bravado by wanting to be called “Professor Muscles.”Less

29mins 1995-01-24

8. Rock Dreams

Skye aspires to perform music, but is discouraged by the fact that he doesn't know very many Native Am...More

Skye aspires to perform music, but is discouraged by the fact that he doesn't know very many Native American performers. Eventually he makes contact with Native American Robby Romero and his band, Red Thunder, who reassure him. Nuzzle gets so tired of watching Sizzle listen to Swiss yodeling music that he tries to make her yodel herself.Less

29mins 1995-01-25

9. Roamantics

Ben brings in an ant farm to show everyone, but Leon unwittingly wreaks havoc in an attempt to give th...More

Ben brings in an ant farm to show everyone, but Leon unwittingly wreaks havoc in an attempt to give the ants fresh air, and has to make some sacrifices to restore order to The Puzzle Place. Nuzzle gets carried away with a roll of paper towel.Less

29mins 1995-01-26

10. Spud Buds

Skye finds a party box in the kitchen, but everyone else is too distracted watching TV to take interes...More

Skye finds a party box in the kitchen, but everyone else is too distracted watching TV to take interest. Nuzzle wishes he hadn’t let Sizzle use a flying machine all she wants.Less

29mins 1995-01-27

11. Different Drummer

Julie plays referee to Skye and Leon’s dispute over whose cultural drum is more significant. The two e...More

Julie plays referee to Skye and Leon’s dispute over whose cultural drum is more significant. The two eventually agree that both drugs are significant in their own way, and neither's is necessarily better. Sizzle takes up skateboarding.Less

29mins 1995-01-30

12. I Love Kiki

Kiki is at a loss as to what to do when she unwittingly “breaks” Julie’s toy horse, and can't bring he...More

Kiki is at a loss as to what to do when she unwittingly “breaks” Julie’s toy horse, and can't bring herself to tell her. Sizzle looks after the sneaker that Nuzzle likes to chew on, but when the Piece Police throw it out as she naps, she panics. Ben does not appear in this episode.Less

29mins 1995-01-31

13. True Colors

The kids all partner up to paint one another, but initially can’t find a suitable paint color for ever...More

The kids all partner up to paint one another, but initially can’t find a suitable paint color for everyone. Their second attempt, using chalk of different colors, is much more successful. Sizzle wants to paint a self-portrait, but it’s too hard for her.Less

29mins 1995-02-01

14. Cute Is as Cute Does

Julie wants to emulate her favorite singer, Penny Candy, but sees her true colors when a crisis in the...More

Julie wants to emulate her favorite singer, Penny Candy, but sees her true colors when a crisis in the greenhouse hits. Nuzzle bores Sizzle to sleep when he tries to show her a photo album of when he was a puppy. Leon and Ben only make cameo appearances.Less

29mins 1995-02-02

15. Leon's Pizza

Leon wants to make a pizza for everyone, but he needs a creative solution to satisfy everyone’s differ...More

Leon wants to make a pizza for everyone, but he needs a creative solution to satisfy everyone’s different topping preferences. Sizzle and Nuzzle fight over which toy is better.Less

29mins 1995-02-03

16. Real Heroes

The kids compare their favorite superheroes but need to band together when the pets get caught in a da...More

The kids compare their favorite superheroes but need to band together when the pets get caught in a dangerous situation.Less

29mins 1995-02-06

17. Going By the Book

The kids want to play Sleeping Beauty, but as four of them don’t fit the description of the protagonis...More

The kids want to play Sleeping Beauty, but as four of them don’t fit the description of the protagonists, they research other princes and princesses that reflect their individual heritages.Less

29mins 1995-02-07

18. Mad Music Magic

Kiki leads the kids in a makeshift band, but her authority seems to do more harm than good when she wo...More

Kiki leads the kids in a makeshift band, but her authority seems to do more harm than good when she won’t allow them to play their preferred instruments. Sizzle attends her cousin’s birthday party, so Nuzzle tries to be the dog and the cat at the same time.Less

29mins 1995-02-08

19. Party of One

Leon learns a hard lesson in racism when he’s barred from attending a friend’s birthday party simply b...More

Leon learns a hard lesson in racism when he’s barred from attending a friend’s birthday party simply because he’s African-American. Nuzzle refuses to fetch a stick for Kiki because she didn’t say “the magic word” (which Sizzle tries in vain to guess).Less

29mins 1995-02-09

20. Dancing Dragon

Skye and Kiki unwittingly invade Julie’s privacy by opening a package meant for her. Nuzzle and Sizzle...More

Skye and Kiki unwittingly invade Julie’s privacy by opening a package meant for her. Nuzzle and Sizzle cause some mischief with it.Less

29mins 1995-02-10

21. Picture Perfect

Ben is unwilling to wear his glasses for a group picture because of some teasing, but unwittingly wrea...More

Ben is unwilling to wear his glasses for a group picture because of some teasing, but unwittingly wreaks havoc when he spends a day without them. Nuzzle goes for a “hip cat” approach, which fails to impress Sizzle.Less

29mins 1995-02-13

22. Maiden Voyages

While the others turn the basement into a moonwalk with many balloons, Kiki and Julie enjoy moon cakes...More

While the others turn the basement into a moonwalk with many balloons, Kiki and Julie enjoy moon cakes, but a humorous misunderstanding may mean Julie will marry Leon.Less

29mins 1995-02-14

23. Donuts and Dithering

The kids receive six assorted donuts, and Jody gets first dibs, but she struggles to decide which one ...More

The kids receive six assorted donuts, and Jody gets first dibs, but she struggles to decide which one she wants. Leon attempts to manipulate her choice to keep her from picking the one he wants, but it backfires. Sizzle and Nuzzle so badly want to take a donut themselves.Less

29mins 1995-02-15

24. Bully for Jody

Jody is a victim of bullying when a bigger student keeps stealing her lunch. Sizzle also tries to keep...More

Jody is a victim of bullying when a bigger student keeps stealing her lunch. Sizzle also tries to keep away a bigger cat.Less

29mins 1995-02-16

25. Ben's Bad Hair Day

Ben attempts to change his “boring” hairstyle with disastrous results, before learning that his hair w...More

Ben attempts to change his “boring” hairstyle with disastrous results, before learning that his hair was fine the way it was.Less

29mins 1995-02-17

26. All Weather Friends

When a storm hits the Puzzle Place, Leon is embarrassed to admit he is afraid of thunder and lightning...More

When a storm hits the Puzzle Place, Leon is embarrassed to admit he is afraid of thunder and lightning.Less

29mins 1995-02-20

27. Bread and Matzoh

Skye brings some special bread from his tribe to share with the kids but is troubled when Jody refuses...More

Skye brings some special bread from his tribe to share with the kids but is troubled when Jody refuses to try any for eight days. It turns out the reason is because of one of her own Jewish customs. Sizzle and Nuzzle get very hungry because the kids forget to feed them.Less

29mins 1995-02-21

28. Owning It

Leon obtains a new watch but drives everyone else crazy with it, causing them to snap back at him. Kik...More

Leon obtains a new watch but drives everyone else crazy with it, causing them to snap back at him. Kiki is preparing chili in the kitchen, and Sizzle and Nuzzle want to taste it so badly.Less

29mins 1995-02-22

29. Baffled Ben

Ben is struggling to put together a puzzle but angrily snaps and puts down anyone who tries to help hi...More

Ben is struggling to put together a puzzle but angrily snaps and puts down anyone who tries to help him. He also insults Skye's special plant, which grows when complimented, but shrinks when put down.Less

29mins 1995-02-23

30. Practice Makes Perfect

While nearly all the kids are sick with chickenpox, Skye finds a guitar and wants to play it, but he i...More

While nearly all the kids are sick with chickenpox, Skye finds a guitar and wants to play it, but he is slow to understand that he has to put time and effort into becoming good at it. Sizzle tries playing billiards. Ben and Julie only make cameo appearances.Less

29mins 1995-02-24

31. Finders Keepers

Julie finds Skye’s misplaced Apache pollen pouch and is so enamored with it that she doesn’t return it...More

Julie finds Skye’s misplaced Apache pollen pouch and is so enamored with it that she doesn’t return it right away, damaging her friendship with Skye when she finally does. Jody does not appear in this episode. However, she does send the other kids an automatic popcorn snack, which, when heating up, makes Sizzle and Nuzzle curious. Ben only makes cameo appearances.Less

29mins 1995-02-27

32. You Say Potato

The kids bring in items for a picnic but can’t seem to agree on where to have it. While Leon and Jody ...More

The kids bring in items for a picnic but can’t seem to agree on where to have it. While Leon and Jody are content to go anywhere, Skye and Julie prefer the mountains and Ben and Kiki prefer the park. Even the two duos can’t agree on the specifics. Sizzle and Nuzzle are excited to go on the picnic themselves, especially for bird-watching.Less

29mins 1995-02-28

33. At the End of Our Rope

The boys challenge the girls to a game of tug of war but are unexpectedly defeated and can’t figure ou...More

The boys challenge the girls to a game of tug of war but are unexpectedly defeated and can’t figure out why.Less

29mins 1995-03-01

34. Just Kidding

The others tease Skye when he forgets to bring a bat to a baseball game, prompting Skye to get upset a...More

The others tease Skye when he forgets to bring a bat to a baseball game, prompting Skye to get upset and leave. Ben feels badly their teasing, even though they were just joking. Sizzle and Nuzzle climb up a tree in the greenhouse but are too scared to come down. Leon and Kiki only make cameo appearances.Less

29mins 1995-03-02

35. Everything In Its Place

Kiki makes plans to clean the place, but it doesn’t go as planned.

Kiki makes plans to clean the place, but it doesn’t go as planned.Less

29mins 1995-03-03

36. Big Boys Don't Cry

Leon cries when the others exclude him from his own pancake making recipe and is labelled a “crybaby” ...More

Leon cries when the others exclude him from his own pancake making recipe and is labelled a “crybaby” by Ben and Skye. Julie convinces the two that they've had reason to cry in the past. Sizzle and Nuzzle filch all the pancakes made, and get sick from doing so.Less

29mins 1995-03-06

37. Here's to the Winners

Ben becomes discouraged when everyone but him has won a trophy for something, even though he does have...More

Ben becomes discouraged when everyone but him has won a trophy for something, even though he does have an impressive skill that’s worthy of a prize in and of itself. Sizzle and Nuzzle do not appear in this episode, and Skye and Julie only make cameo appearances.Less

29mins 1995-03-07

38. A World of Difference

Everyone except Skye disguise themselves as identical superheroes, but Skye can use each one's individ...More

Everyone except Skye disguise themselves as identical superheroes, but Skye can use each one's individual quirks to tell who is who.Less

29mins 1995-03-08

39. Willing and Able

Ben takes pity on Skye’s friend Kyle, who’s in a wheelchair. Sizzle and Nuzzle find out the hard way t...More

Ben takes pity on Skye’s friend Kyle, who’s in a wheelchair. Sizzle and Nuzzle find out the hard way that she can’t bury a bone and he can’t climb a tree. Leon and Kiki only make a cameo appearance in this episode.Less