All Rise...

Judge Clark Douglas used to own a big red dog. The monthly carpet cleaning bill was insane.

Editor's Note

Our reviews of Clifford the Big Red Dog: Clifford's Doghouse Adventures (published March 14th, 2007), Clifford's Really Big Movie (published September 21st, 2004), Clifford The Big Red Dog: Be My Big Red Valentine (published February 20th, 2008), Clifford The Big Red Dog: Clifford Tries His Best/Clifford's Schoolhouse (published March 22nd, 2005), Clifford The Big Red Dog: Everyone Loves Clifford (published May 7th, 2005), and Clifford The Big Red Dog: Playtime With Clifford (published February 20th, 2008) are also available.

The Charge

"Hi, my name is Emily Elizabeth. And this is Clifford, my big red dog!"

The Case

Given the popularity of Clifford the Big Red Dog among very young children with library cards, it was almost inevitable that the series would be transformed into an animated television program at some point. Clifford the Big Red Dog ran on PBS between 2000-2003, featuring the voice of John Ritter (Bad Santa) as the title character. Each airing of the show featured two 11-to-12-minute segments, five of which have been repackaged on this disc as Clifford the Big Red Dog: Dog Days of Summer.

Here's what you get:

"Special Delivery": Clifford tells a lie about a package he was supposed to deliver, and suffers feelings of immense guilt as a result. Message: DON'T LIE!

"Welcome to Birdwell Island": Emily Elizabeth tells a story about the old days, when people judged Clifford by his size rather than by his adorable personality. Message: DON'T JUDGE SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE DIFFERENT!

"Doing the Right Thing": Clifford starts a race riot on the hottest day of the summer. Nah, just kidding. T-Bone takes a toy that doesn't belong to him and is subsequently given a lecture by his guardian angel dog. Message: DON'T STEAL!

"The Dog Who Cried Wolf": Cleo keeps attempting to trick Clifford and T-Bone, but the tactic eventually backfires when the boys get tired of the fibs. Message: DON'T LIE! SERIOUSLY!

"Jetta's Sweater": One of Emily Elizabeth's friend loans her a sweater and then realizes she's made a terrible mistake. Message: LIFE IS COMPLICATED!

The DVD transfer is hit-and-miss: colors are vibrant and close-ups look terrific, but any long shots or complicated bits of animation look pretty rough and reveal the show's skimpy budget. Audio is sturdy throughout, offering clean dialogue and bright, bouncy music. There are no extras included on the disc.

The Verdict

Not guilty. Woof!

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