Editing Arthur (TV series) (section)

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Arthur episodes{{!}}List of ''Arthur'' episodes}}
{{:List of Arthur episodes}}
Each episode of ''Arthur'' ran for half an hour. Episodes consisted of two completely self-contained 11-minute stories. The episodes usually start off with one of the characters (usually Arthur) speaking towards the audience about a situation within the story followed by the title card. The episodes were separated by a one-to-two-minute live-action [[interstitial program|interstitial]] called "And Now a Word from Us Kids" (or, in some cases, a variation of that title more specific to its contents). The live action segments almost always featured children from elementary schools (generally in the [[Greater Boston|Boston area]]) presenting subjects they are currently learning about or projects they have been working on in their classes (the subjects covered here relate to the first cartoon segment in the half-hour). This segment was seen exclusively on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] telecasts of the show, filling space otherwise used for commercials, which are generally forbidden on PBS. There was also a segment that sometimes appears at the end of the second 11-minute episode called "And Now a Word from Marc Brown" where he shows the viewers how to draw various main characters from the show. In 2007, the show began encouraging viewers to send in "video postcards" (similar to those used in the spin-off show ''[[Postcards from Buster]]''), which were shown in the interstitials of episodes until the middle of Season 12. Beginning with episode 151, the show reverted to "And Now a Word from Us Kids".

Set in a realistic environment (as opposed to the more fantastical settings prominently featured in children's programming), certain stories (often in the second half of the episode) may not necessarily focus on the titular protagonist's point of view and may instead detail the experiences and viewpoints of surrounding characters, usually Arthur's classmates. Often such episodes covered those characters handling situations often faced by children in actuality as a means of guiding audiences through those situations, including [[bed-wetting]], [[asthma]], or [[dyslexia]], and Arthur's character sometimes may see a reduced role (in some episodes, Arthur himself does not appear in the story at all). Stories in later seasons dealt with more serious issues or subjects, such as cancer, [[autism spectrum disorder]], or even [[same-sex marriage]], although numerous episodes simply addressed topics including childhood fears, trends, or fantasies. Occasionally, some episodes may not offer educational value. In spite of the realistically designed environment, the series showcased the fantasies or daydreams of a few characters on a number of occasions, and a few episodes feature supernatural elements such as ghosts or secret situations unknown to other characters such as Kate and Pal's friendship.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In May 2019, [[Alabama Public Television]] withheld the airing of "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone", where Arthur's teacher, Mr. Ratburn, married another man named Patrick.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/alabama-public-television-refuses-to-air-arthur-episode-with-gay-wedding.html|title=Alabama Public Television refuses to air Arthur episode with gay wedding|date=May 20, 2019|website=AL.com|first=Abbey|last=Crain|access-date=December 24, 2022|archive-date=June 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624085123/https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/alabama-public-television-refuses-to-air-arthur-episode-with-gay-wedding.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The station had also declined to broadcast a 2005 episode of the spin-off show, ''Postcards from Buster'', where a friend had two mothers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/watch-banned-arthur-episode-with-gay-rat-wedding.html|title=Watch banned 'Arthur' episode with gay rat wedding|last=Gore|first=Leada|work=[[The Birmingham News]]|date=May 23, 2019|access-date=May 26, 2019|archive-date=May 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526190838/https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/watch-banned-arthur-episode-with-gay-rat-wedding.html|url-status=live}}</ref>