Editing Humphrey B. Bear

{{Short description|Australian children's television character}}
{{About|the Australian TV character|the Disney cartoon character|Humphrey the Bear}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox character
| name          = Humphrey B. Bear
| series        = [[Here's Humphrey]]
| image         = HumphreyBearMed.jpg
| caption       = Humphrey B. Bear
| first         = 24 May 1965 on Children’s TV show ''The Channel Niners'', with hosts Ian Fairweather and Ann North
| last          = 
| portrayer     = Edwin Duryea (original) 
| voice         = 
| lbl1          = 
| data1         = 
| lbl2          = 
| data2         = 
| lbl3          = 
| data3         = 
| nickname      = Humphrey
| alias         =
| species       = [[Brown bear]]
| gender        = Male
| occupation    = 
| title         = 
| family        = 
| spouse        = 
| significant_other = 
}}

'''Humphrey B. Bear''' is a fictional character first created in an Australian [[children's television series]] called ''[[Here's Humphrey]]'', which first went to air in 1965. Its fictional character namesake is an icon of Australian children's television.<ref name="tvtonight2007">{{Cite news|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2007/02/humphrey-barely-survives-the-bone.html|title=Humphrey barely survives the bone|date=16 February 2007|work=TV Tonight|last=Knox|first=David|access-date=4 October 2018}}</ref> ''Humphrey B. Bear'' first aired on [[Adelaide]]'s [[NWS-9]] on Monday, 24 May 1965. The show became one of the most successful programs for pre-schoolers in Australia. Edwin "Ted" Duryea (c.1930-2009), an actor, singer and dancer, first played the part of Humphrey.

The character of Humphrey is a tall, shaggy honey-loving brown bear with a large, round, shining, glossy black nose, straw boater hat, tartan waist-coat and oversized yellow bow-tie. His television show always features a companion who assists and narrates Humphrey's various adventures in the "magic forest" including his brightly coloured treehouse. In the early days, the character was known as Bear Bear, and was named Humphrey B. Bear as the result of an on-air competition.

==Television show==
{{Main|Here's Humphrey}}
The show has won [[Logie Award|Logie]]s for Best Children's Series and the Humphrey character has received national awards and commendations, including the "Citizen of the Year" Award at the 1994 [[Australia Day]] celebrations.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} ''Humphrey B. Bear'' has viewers all over the world thanks to the United States version of his show shown on [[PBS]] in America and the Spanish version shown on [[Galavisión (USA)|Galavision]]. It has been translated or produced in 55 different languages.<ref name="Humphrey">{{cite web |title=Humphrey B Bear |url=https://humphreybbear.com/about/ |website=Here's Humphrey |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>

The writers of ''Humphrey B. Bear'', including Anthony O'Donohue (also long-time host of the show), attempt to set up each show as a new adventure for Humphrey. Each episode parallels the needs, encounters and interests of the average young child. The character of Humphrey explores life as they do, trying to reinforce their self-esteem and showing them it's all right to embrace challenges. The series attempts to show it's important to be the best that you can be, and to give things your best shot. The series also encourages the viewer to simply take part in your life, family, community and the world.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

On 14 February 2007, it was reported that the [[Nine Network]] would record a new ''Here's Humphrey'' series for the first time since 2003.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/02/13/1171128967982.html Humphrey Bear lives on], 16 February 2007, ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''</ref>

In February 2012, Imagination Ventures, the philanthropic enterprise of media company Imagination Entertainment, purchased the assets of Banksia Productions that included all the rights to the ''Humphrey B. Bear''.<ref name="imagination">{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/entertainment-tycoon-buys-entertainment-icon-humphrey-b-bear/news-story/200a3a2c4e84c686e7f1f37b8c4a6750?nk=6d806e3707029d1db4085e87cf50b16d-1683101802 |date=4 February 2012|title=Entertainment tycoon buys entertainment icon Humphrey B. Bear |newspaper= [[The Advertiser (Adelaide)]] |access-date= 3 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503081642/https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/entertainment-tycoon-buys-entertainment-icon-humphrey-b-bear/news-story/200a3a2c4e84c686e7f1f37b8c4a6750?nk=6d806e3707029d1db4085e87cf50b16d-1683101802|url-status=live|archive-date=3 May 2023}}</ref>

In May 2012 Humphrey was announced as the official "Ambassabear" for the Women & Children's Hospital Foundation. His first major fundraising effort saw the release of a limited edition gift set featuring a Humphrey plush doll and DVD. All proceeds from that product went to the hospitals' Kids FUNd program. Humphrey then started reappearing across Australia, taking part in live shows such as school performances, community events, and birthday parties.<ref name="ambassabear">{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/humphrey-b-bear-making-a-comeback-as-childrens-hospital-ambassabear/news-story/33444a4b11bc5d60a3340612d5919f41 |date=27 April 2012|title=Humphrey B. Bear making a comeback as children's hospital 'ambassabear' |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date= 3 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503082837/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/humphrey-b-bear-making-a-comeback-as-childrens-hospital-ambassabear/news-story/33444a4b11bc5d60a3340612d5919f41?nk=6aa21fe8b1a698cff7457a023918d7fe-1683102517|url-status=live|archive-date=3 May 2023}}</ref>

In July 2013 Humphrey returned to national TV screens on television stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. Humphrey celebrated his 50th anniversary in 2015.<ref name="50years">{{Cite news|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/05/humphrey-b-bear-turns-50.html|title=Humphrey B. Bear turns 50|date=24 May 2015|publisher=TV Tonight|last=Knox|first=David|access-date=2 May 2023}}</ref>

==Ownership==
In September 2016, OZPIX Entertainment facilitated the acquisition of all the assets and rights to Humphrey B. Bear from [[Imagination Games|Imagination Ventures]]. Imagination Ventures continues to partner with the Humphrey B. Bear brand.

[[Village Roadshow Studios]] now play host to Humphrey B. Bear's new headquarters at their studios on the Gold Coast, Australia.

==Highlights & Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Highlight/Award
|-
|1965
|A star is born
Release of Theme Song #1

Competition to rename "Bear Bear" and the winner is "Humphrey"    
|-
|1968
|First Plush Toy Released
|-
|1969
|1st Logie Award - Best Children's TV Series    
|-
|1975
|Parents Without Partners Distinguished Service to Children Award
|-
|1978
|2nd Logie Award - Favourite Children's Personality    
Gold Record for outstanding sales of "Look There<nowiki>'s Humphrey Bear''</nowiki> Music Record

Festival of Light Award    
|-
|1979
|Television Society of Australia Individual Achievement 
|-
|1982
|3rd Logie Award - Best Children's TV Series 
Penguin Award - Best Children's Personality    
|-
|1990
|Release of Theme Song #2
|-
|1994
|Citizenship Award
Release of Mandarin/Chinese version

Release of Theme Song #3    
|-
|1998
|Launch on "Here's Humphrey" USA Series as part of "Someday School" on PBS    
|-
|1999
|Launch of Humphrey Australia Post Postage Stamp 
Launch of "Hispanic Humphrey" Series on Galavision

Humphrey for President Campaign    
|-
|2003
|Humphrey becomes Heritage Listed and a National Trust Icon    
|}
'''Other Highlights'''

Humphrey has been recognised as an icon of Australian television and is featured in the Australian National Museum.

He became the only bear in the world to become a cub when he was initiated into the Scouting Movement.

===APRA Music Awards===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Nominated works
! Award
! Result
! Lost to
|-
|[[APRA Music Awards of 1999|1999]]
|"Fun With Humphrey" (Peter Douglas, Robert Pippan)
|Most Performed Children's Work
|{{nominated}}
|[[The Wiggles]] – "Captain Feathersword Fell Asleep On His Pirate Ship (Quack Quack)"
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.humphreybbear.com}}

[[Category:Fictional bears]]
[[Category:Fictional mute characters]]
[[Category:Children's television characters]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1965]]
[[Category:Male characters in television]]