P-Pals

The P-Pals are similar in shape to the PBS logo; they were introduced on PBS Kids (at the time, PTV) starting in August 1993 — September 5, 1999 They were dropped on September 5, 1999 after nearly 6 years on PTV, as they were getting outdated, and were replaced with Dot and Dash when it was relaunched as PBS Kids. However, they were not completely replaced by Dot & Dash until December 2000, and continued to be used on some stations until 2002.

List of P-Pals

Pernell - The leader of the P-Pals. According to PTV release materials, Pernell is a "cool" P-Pal who wears an earring, lives in the city, and teaches children about computers (this was never implemented into the block.) He was voiced by LeVar Burton, the host of Reading Rainbow. (You can hear the voice he used as Kwame in Captain Planet come thru in bumpers like the one where Pernell introduces the P-Pals.)

Pete - The smartest of the P-Pals. He was voiced by the late Muppet veteran Jerry Nelson, known for playing The Count on Sesame Street and Floyd on The Muppet Show.

Penny - A P-Pal who likes to garden. She was voiced by Tara Strong (nee Charendoff), who would later go on to voice Bubbles from The Powerpuff Girls.

Petunia - A pretty P-Pal. She was also voiced by Tara Strong.

Peggy - A P-Pal who drives a car. She was voiced by Kath Soucie, best known as Sally Acorn from Sonic the Hedgehog and would later voice Jetta and Daffodil in Clifford the Big Red Dog. (You can hear the voice she used as Betty DeVille from Rugrats in Peggy's voice.)

Priscilla - A P-Pal with impressive hair. She was voiced by Tress MacNeille, best known as Dot from Animaniacs and Daisy Duck.

Polly - A P-Pal who likes filmmaking, and Pernell's sister. She was voiced by Cree Summer, who also voiced Susie Carmichael on Rugrats at the time and would later voice Cleo in Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Paula - A P-Pal who likes to dance. She was voiced by Janice Kawaye, best known for voicing Gi from Captain Planet.

Pat - A P-Pal who is in a wheelchair. He was voiced by Jeff Bennett, who would later go on to voice the Man with the Yellow Hat in Curious George.

Paganini - A P-Pal who plays the violin. He was voiced by Rob Paulsen, best known as Yakko from Animaniacs.

Pianissimo - A P-Pal who plays the piano. He was voiced by Frank Welker, who would later voice the titular character on Curious George.

Pierre - A P-Pal who likes art. He was voiced by Maurice LaMarche, best known as The Brain from Animaniacs.

Perry - A P-Pal who speaks with an Australian accent. His voice was done by Dee Bradley Baker, best known as Olmec from Legends of the Hidden Temple.

Paco - A Spanish P-Pal. His voice actor is unknown right now, as the only '90s voice actor who was of Spanish descent was Carlos Alazraqui, who was still only voicing Rocko from Rocko's Modern Life at the time.

Pinky - A P-Pal who wears a fedora. His voice actor is unknown right now.

P-Pet - The P-Pals' pet dog. His voice was also done by Frank Welker.

Peabo - A P-Pal who is famous. His voice actor is unknown right now.

Gallery

Pernell

Pernell graphic from the old PBS Web site

Pete graphic from the old PBS Web site

Peggy graphic from the old PBS Web site

Pat graphic from the old PBS Web site

Paula graphic from the old PBS Web site

Paco graphic from the old PBS Web site

Polly graphic from the old PBS Web site

P-Pet graphic from the old PBS Web site

Perry graphic from the old PBS Web site

Peabo graphic from the old PBS Web site

Petunia graphic from the old PBS Web site

P-Pals and P-Pet graphic from the old PBS Web site

Second Pat graphic from the old PBS Web site

Second Peggy graphic from the old PBS Web site

Second Perry graphic from the old PBS Web site

Second Pete graphic from the old PBS Web site

Second Paula graphic from the old PBS Web site

Second Polly graphic from the old PBS Web site

Second Peabo graphic from the old PBS Web site

Third Peggy graphic from the old PBS Web site (showing a rare instance where she's not in her car)

Peggy graphic from the old PBS Kids Web site

Pat graphic from the old PBS Kids Web site

Trivia

• An early bumper stated there were "over a million P-Pals," but this hasn't been referred to since.
• There was also reportedly a promo where the P-Pals talked about their family, which is lost media (if it existed) and would give more information on these otherwise bare-bones characters.
• P-Head shaped pumpkins, dinosaurs, submarines, rocket ships, blimps, and microphones exist in the P-Pals' world.
• Pernell went thru the most colour changes. He was mostly brown with a green cap in the interstitials, but the system cue had him purple with a red cap and the plush released of him as part of the Thirteen Kids Club (as well as the on-screen graphic for the club in pledge drives) had him green with a yellow cap. In addition, the "Surprise!" promo has him flash a multitude of different colours (yellow, purple, orange, green, and blue.)
• There were 2 P-Pals JavaScript games on PBS Kids' Web site from 1997-1999, called "Hide and Seek with the P-Pals" and "P-Pal Patterns." As expected, they are lost media as of current.
• Two P-Pals books existed, "The Harvest Fair" and "The Cool Hot Day." It is unknown where they were sold (presumably during pledge drives or at the PBS Store of Knowledge chain) and they are currently lost media.
• Similarities have been noticed between the P-Pals and the Peanuts gang, most notably Pernell and Peggy having a dynamic similar to Charlie Brown and Lucy (though not as mean-spirited), and P-Pet acting in a role similar to Snoopy. Coincidentally, PBS later aired the Peanuts specials in 2020 and 2021.
• It’s Unknown If The P-Pals Exist Within Dot And Dash’s Universe, It’s Possible