Clifford the Big Red Dog - Clifford's Big Surprise (S1E31)
T-Bone's not looking forward to the town celebration because he's afraid of loud noises; nobody will play with Clifford because they're too busy planning a surprise party for him.
| Runtime (min) | 15 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2000-09-25 |
| Genres | Animation, Kids |
| TV Rating | TV-Y |
Storyline
In this episode of Clifford the Big Red Dog, T-Bone dreads the upcoming town celebration due to his fear of loud noises. His anxiety about the festivities leads him to isolate himself, making it difficult for his friends to include him in the celebration plans. Meanwhile, Clifford is oblivious to the surprise party being organized in his honor, as all his friends are preoccupied with the preparations.
The story unfolds as Clifford's friends work together to create a special surprise, highlighting the importance of teamwork and friendship. When the celebration finally arrives, T-Bone confronts his fear of noise, and Clifford discovers the surprise, leading to a heartwarming conclusion that emphasizes the joy of community and support.
What Parents Say
Parents will appreciate the gentle handling of T-Bone's fear of loud noises, providing a relatable scenario for children who may have similar anxieties. The episode encourages discussions about overcoming fears and the importance of support from friends. It also demonstrates how friends can come together to create something special, making the episode not only entertaining but also a valuable teaching moment.
The conflict of Clifford feeling left out while his friends plan for him can resonate with children who have felt overlooked. This episode serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusion and communication among friends, encouraging kids to share their feelings openly with one another.
What Children Can Learn
Children watching this episode will learn about the importance of facing their fears, as T-Bone gradually learns to cope with the loud noises of the celebration. His journey shows that it's okay to have fears, but with the support of friends, it’s possible to overcome them. This valuable lesson can inspire kids to confront their own worries with bravery.
Additionally, kids will understand the significance of surprise and preparation in friendships. As Clifford's friends rally together to plan a party for him, they demonstrate teamwork and the joy of giving, reinforcing the idea that celebrating others can be just as fulfilling as being celebrated.
Five Most Asked Questions
Here are some common questions parents might have about this episode of Clifford the Big Red Dog, along with insightful answers to help guide discussions with their children.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What should I do if my child is afraid of loud noises like T-Bone? | It's important to acknowledge your child's fears and provide them with a safe space to express their feelings. You can gradually expose them to controlled loud sounds, such as clapping or music, to help them build tolerance. Reinforcing that it's okay to be scared while encouraging them to face their fears can be beneficial, just like T-Bone learns with the help of his friends. |
| How does the episode illustrate the theme of friendship? | The episode showcases friendship by highlighting how Clifford's pals come together to organize a surprise party, demonstrating their care and thoughtfulness. Despite T-Bone feeling left out due to his fear, his friends still prioritize including him, showing that true friends support each other in both good and challenging times. |
| Why is it important for kids to see characters facing their fears? | Seeing characters like T-Bone confront their fears can empower children to do the same. It teaches them that fear is a normal emotion and that with support, they can overcome it. This episode provides a constructive model for kids, encouraging them to seek help from friends and family when dealing with their anxieties. |
| What lessons about teamwork are presented in this episode? | The episode emphasizes the importance of teamwork as Clifford and his friends work together to plan the surprise party. It illustrates how each character contributes their unique talents to create something special. This can inspire children to appreciate collaborative efforts in their own lives, whether in school projects or group activities. |
| How can I talk to my child about feeling excluded like Clifford? | To address feelings of exclusion, use Clifford's experience as a discussion starter. Ask your child how they would feel in Clifford's situation and encourage them to share their own experiences. This can help them understand that everyone feels left out at times and highlight the importance of inclusivity and communication in friendships. |
Cast
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Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | My Best Friend - Believe in yourself Emily decides that she must find something "special" for Show and Tell. But after an exhaustive search of Birdwell Island for the perfect thing to share, Emily learns that sometimes the best things in life are right under your nose. |
| 1 | 2 | Cleo doesn't want to share her new toy with anyone. |
| 1 | 3 | Clifford accidentally breaks a present he was supposed to deliver for Emily. |
| 1 | 4 | Clifford tries to stay clean for a magazine's Dog of the Year contest. |
| 1 | 5 | Emily has to take care of a baby bird, leaving her little time to play with Clifford. |
| 1 | 6 | Emily is jealous when Jetta gets to visit an exciting city. |
| 1 | 7 | Everyone, including Clifford, must work as a team to put on the fall carnival. |
| 1 | 8 | Emily's cousin Laura and her dog, Rex, arrive for a visit. |
| 1 | 9 | T-Bone finds himself in a race against Mac. |
| 1 | 10 | When the dogs eat too many treats, they learn that too much of a good thing can be bad. |
| 1 | 11 | In a flashback story, Cleo shakes things up when she arrives on the island. |
| 1 | 12 | When Cleo makes a new friend, she starts ignoring Clifford and T-Bone. |
| 1 | 13 | Emily competes against Jetta for the lead in the school play. |
| 1 | 14 | Clifford itches like crazy but hides his discomfort to avoid a trip to the doctor. |
| 1 | 15 | The new dog in town has only three legs, which makes the gang uncomfortable. |
| 1 | 16 | Clifford's digging talents become an asset when a big storm blows in. |
| 1 | 17 | Clifford learns that stars, like everyone else, sometimes need help. |
| 1 | 18 | Cleo develops stage fright when the dogs are recruited to help with a show. |
| 1 | 19 | All fingers and paws point to Emily as the thief when Jetta's trophy and locket vanish. |
| 1 | 20 | Jetta mocks Emily's plans for her birthday party activities. |
| 1 | 21 | When Mac tears one of Jetta's sweaters, he feels terrible about it and runs away. |
| 1 | 22 | Jetta learns that it's OK to have fears and admit them. |
| 1 | 23 | In flashbacks, Emily meets Clifford, and her love turns him into the biggest dog around. |
| 1 | 24 | Clifford has to dispel preconceived ideas about large dogs. |
| 1 | 25 | |
| 1 | 26 | |
| 1 | 27 | Clifford jumps into a pile of leaves that T-Bone has raked, and when they scatter he has a lesson to learn; Charley finally finds a sport he can't master, “jiggly juggle,” but he decides to work at it anyway. |
| 1 | 28 | |
| 1 | 29 | The dogs go to school for the first time, and T-Bone worries that he won't be able to keep up; the library sponsors an essay contest called “Islander of the Year.” Guess who it is? |
| 1 | 30 | |
| 1 | 31 | T-Bone's not looking forward to the town celebration because he's afraid of loud noises; nobody will play with Clifford because they're too busy planning a surprise party for him. |
| 1 | 32 | |
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| 1 | 35 | Mac starts an “exclusive” club (he wants to exclude T-Bone); Mr. Bleekman wants to exclude dogs from the park, but he finds that he misses them when they're gone. |
| 1 | 36 | |
| 1 | 37 | Cleo is voted Fluffiest Dog of Birdwell Island and can't stop bragging about it; Jetta tells Vaz that he's bad at soccer, which prompts him to stop playing. |
| 1 | 38 | |
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| 1 | 40 | |
| 1 | 41 | Clifford and Cleo think that T-Bone is moving; the dogs are upset with the arrival of cats, but then they learn that different isn't necessarily bad. |
| 1 | 42 | |
| 1 | 43 | Clifford misses Emily when she goes on a trip, so his friends try to make up for it; Charley wants to lead a chore-free dog's life. |
| 1 | 44 | |
| 1 | 45 | T-Bone falls in love. Meanwhile, Clifford tries to make the perfect Valentine for Emily. |
| 1 | 46 | |
| 1 | 47 | Cleo is jealous of her owner's sister's dog, Susie. Also: it's role-reversal time: Clifford, Cleo and T-Bone take care of a pet. |
| 1 | 48 | |
| 1 | 49 | T-Bone gets a new sweater but learns that “Clothes Don't Make the Dog”; Emily thinks Clifford is neglecting her. |
| 1 | 50 | |
| 1 | 51 | T-Bone eats Cleo's new dog food then lies about it; Charley and Emily have an ice-cream party when Charley's father is away. |
| 1 | 52 | |
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| 1 | 58 | |
| 1 | 59 | While her house is being painted, Cleo stays with Clifford---and takes over; the dogs try to get grumpy Mr. Bleakman to brighten up, and find that their good deeds make them feel good, too. |
| 1 | 60 | |
| 1 | 61 | Clifford and the other dogs pitch in with the “Keep Birdwell Island Beautiful” effort by planting a flower garden. Except for Cleo. She wants to plant a dog-toy garden for herself. Then the dogs find the long-buried trunk of the island's discoverer, Captain Birdwell. But Jetta is given credit for the find. Will she tell the truth? Voice of Clifford: John Ritter. |
| 1 | 62 | |
| 1 | 63 | In a flashback sequence, the Howards arrive on Birdwell Island, and their new neighbors join in welcoming a very big newcomer. Then Jetta breaks a beach date with Emily Elizabeth because she has received a “better offer” from an older girl. |
| 1 | 64 | |
| 1 | 65 | Clifford gets a really big case of the hiccups and his friends have a big job helping him get rid of them; Jetta throws a movie party, but all she shows are home movies of herself. |
| 1 | 66 | |
| 1 | 67 | Clifford cleans out his doghouse but can't throw things away because each item holds a memory. Also, Jetta has a new baby brother, but that means that she no longer gets all the attention. |
| 1 | 68 | |
| 1 | 69 | Jetta's envious of Emily Elizabeth because everybody loves her pet, Clifford. So she makes up a pet of her own. Then Cleo helps Vaz with his paper route. She likes helping him and she likes the treats she gets as a reward. In fact, she mostly likes the treats. |
| 1 | 70 | |
| 1 | 71 | Clifford and Emily Elizabeth try to get Mr. Bleakman (voice of Earl Boen), a notorious party pooper, to attend the Howards' party; Emily Elizabeth writes a poem for her mother's birthday, but Jetta thinks it's not a good gift. |
| 1 | 72 | |
| 1 | 73 | K.C. returns for a visit and Cleo's so excited that she forgets her other friends. Also, rain threatens the back-to-school barbecue and Mac is so disappointed that his friends try to stop the rain. |
| 1 | 74 | |
| 1 | 75 | It's Topsy Turvy Day, so Jetta and Emily “trade” dogs. Then Clifford is told to polish his manners for Mrs. Bleakman's book-club party. Voice of Mrs. Bleakman: Edie McClurg. |
| 1 | 76 | |
| 1 | 77 | Clifford forgets a play date with Cleo, who accuses him of abusing her friendship; Cleo teases T-bone because he's smitten with a visiting dog named Mimi. |
| 1 | 78 | |
| 1 | 79 | Cleo borrows Clifford's favorite blanket and carelessly gets it dirty; the dogs dig for dinosaur bones as part of a friend's college project. |
| 1 | 80 |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Cleo Pretends to hurt herself so she won't have to embarrass herself on the ice rink. But with the help of Clifford and his friends, they help her understand that trying new things with your friends is fun. |
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| 2 | 33 | |
| 2 | 34 | |
| 2 | 35 | Emily Elizabeth and Jetta try to get Charley to honor his promises; Cleo runs away to avoid taking a bath. |
| 2 | 36 | |
| 2 | 37 | When Cleo's bored by the rain, Clifford gets her to imagine an exciting story; a power failure threatens Birdwell Island, but Clifford and Mr. Bleakman save the day. |
| 2 | 38 | |
| 2 | 39 | |
| 2 | 40 | |
| 2 | 41 | A visiting dog tries to lead Clifford astray, but he learns to stand up for his beliefs; the kids wonder if marriage will change their teacher. |
| 2 | 42 | |
| 2 | 43 | Ads for a new dog food influence Clifford and his friends; news of an old buddy's upcoming visit makes T-Bone recall his days as a puppy. |
| 2 | 44 | |
| 2 | 45 | Clifford accidentally bathes in dye and then tries to hide the fact; Mary's afraid to perform in front of an audience, but is helped by Emily. |
| 2 | 46 | |
| 2 | 47 | T-Bone puts together a pop band that Mac would like to join; a dog champion comes to Birdwell Island and all the dogs want to impress him. |
| 2 | 48 | |
| 2 | 49 | A very small dog named Frankie envies Clifford being big; T-Bone and Clifford have to adjust to their differences in size. |
| 2 | 50 |
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