Arthur (season 8)

Arthur (season 8)
Country of origin	United States Canada
No. of episodes	10 (19 segments)
Release
Original network	PBS
Original release	September 15 – December 26, 2003

The eighth season of the television series Arthur was originally broadcast on PBS in the United States. This season is the last with Mark Rendall voicing Arthur, and with CINAR producing the series, as CINAR was rebranded as Cookie Jar Group the following year. This season is the first with a new voice actor for Francine Frensky's older sister, Catherine. From this point until the end of season 15, she is voiced by Alexina Cowan. This is also the last season where Alex Hood voices Brain.

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
106	1	"Dear Adil / Bitzi's Break Up"	September 15, 2003
Dear Adil: Arthur writes letters to a Turkish boy who is looking for a pen pal after reading David's letters from Japan. He is not sure what life is like in Turkey, so to give him an idea, he looks at Buster's comics set in that country. However, these give him a stereotypical picture of Turkey, and Adil is befuddled when Arthur asks him about his camel, tent or the taste of lambs' eyes. Arthur finds in his paper Adil's email address and they find out that they are alike in many ways. Bitzi's Break Up: Bitzi announces to Buster that she's breaking up with her boyfriend, Harry. Buster is dismayed, so he creates a plan to reunite them.
107	2	"Fernfern and the Secret of Moose Mountain / Thanks a Lot, Binky"	September 16, 2003
Fernfern and the Secret of Moose Mountain: Mr. Frensky takes several of the girls on a mountain trail hiking trip. Fern believes that Moose Mountain is where her hero, Zutzut went. Fern and Francine clash personalities on the way up and end up separated from the group. They learn to work together and end up as the only group that makes it to the top of the mountain. (Zutzut is a parody of Tintin.) Thanks a Lot, Binky: After saving Rattles from being hurt in a dangerous stunt he planned and not getting thanked for it, Binky is shown in a dream what the world would be like if he was not kind with Uncle Sam the wrestler. It ends with his parents leaving on a cruise without him, and without leaving him money, food or water. Realizing that his mother does a lot of things without getting thanked, he decides to do her chores for her and alongside a thank you card. Note: Arthur is absent in both episodes.
108	3	"Arthur's Snow Biz / Bugged"	September 17, 2003
Arthur's Snow Biz: Arthur begins a snow shoveling business to make money. He allows Buster to join but Buster hardly does any work and expects to earn more money. They argue, straining their friendship, so Buster decides to start his own snow shoveling business and the two vie for customers. Bugged: Brain has a dream where he becomes a bug to see how his friends really see him (as someone who bugs them all the time). He decides to never try to speak or to help them again, but soon learns that it might not be the best solution to his problems.
109	4	"Fernkenstein's Monster / D.W., Dancing Queen"	September 18, 2003
Fernkenstein's Monster: Fern conjures up a scary story that results in her friends horrified and frightened. They later attempt to avoid her. D.W., Dancing Queen: D.W. and Binky are paired for a school project. Binky teaches D.W. how to dance, but thinks she is struggling. Molly and Rattles then want to learn "Kung Fu Young" (ballet). This time, they both point out Binky's mistakes. After days of practicing with a reformed curriculum, he teaches D.W to spin, but he ends up with a twisted ankle. D.W. has to do the recital herself, even though she does not have enough courage.
110	5	"Vomitrocious / Sue Ellen Chickens Out"	September 19, 2003
Vomitrocious: Francine and her friends pick on George due to his constant nose bleeds. But when Francine suddenly vomits in the cafeteria, she learns a hard lesson about teasing others when she and George discuss their embarrassment. Sue Ellen Chickens Out: The Sugar Bowl manager attempts to sell the shop to a fast-food chain called Chicken Lickin'. Sue Ellen immediately goes to the Sugar Bowl's defense, but her friends ignore this crisis. Sue Ellen, Binky and Buster later protest at the new opening at the mall.
111	6	"Postcards from Buster"	December 22, 2003
Pilot for the Postcards from Buster spin-off series. Buster is about to start his 2003–2004 travel with his dad, and poor old Buster is convinced that his mother is going to miss him. Meanwhile, D.W. wants to see "Unicornucopia", a 1-star rated play showing in New York City, so she tries to save money through every way possible. After Buster is finally convinced that his mother will not miss him as much as he thought, he decides to go to New York with Arthur anyway. While she and her parents go to see the play, Arthur and Buster explore New York with Bo. First they go to Chinatown, El Barrio, meet up with subway break dancers and a sidewalk chalk artist, James De La Vega. Then they try to meet Los Viajeros at "The Point", a children's recreation center in the Bronx, but they get lost. They ask some girls if they know the way to "The Point" which they do find, but do not meet up with Los Viajeros because they are not there. Suddenly Arthur forgets he was supposed to see "Unicornucopia" with his family, which was a good thing, because the play wasn't even worth it anyway. At the end of the episode Arthur thanks Buster for a good time.
112	7	"Desk Wars / Desperately Seeking Stanley"	December 23, 2003
Desk Wars: On a super-hot day, Arthur and his friends get into a complete war over each other's desks involving the seats by the fan. Everyone except George fights over with consequences. After Mr. Haney nearly gets hit by a moldy sandwich, the class clean up the classroom and goes to Muffy's pool party. Desperately Seeking Stanley: Victa sells Arthur's teddy bear, Stanley, at the garage sale. Arthur regrets this decision and goes on a search. Later, after the commotion, he gives Stanley to Ms. Tibble, who has a room full of stuffed animals.
113	8	"Muffy's Art Attack / Tales from the Crib"	December 24, 2003
Muffy's Art Attack: Muffy tries to build a beach house for her dolls. Owing inspiration from an exhibition of the work of Arthur Ganson, she and Bailey build kinetic sculptures. The exhibition is a success and Ganson shows up to install "Machine with Wishbone", which was bought by Mr. Crosswire. He sees Muffy's beach landscape and tells her that is art. Arthur Ganson, kinetic sculptor, guest stars. Tales from the Crib: Vicita has to use a new bed, but she wants to keep her crib. D.W. tells Vicita the story of how she grew out of her crib.
114	9	"Flea to Be You and Me / Kiss and Tell"	December 25, 2003
Flea to Be You and Me: A flea named Pepe tells his around the world story of how he became separated from his brother Sale. Kiss and Tell: Emily tells D.W. how she felt when a boy kissed her on vacation, and D.W. begins to wonder what it feels like. When James kisses her, though, she realizes that she may be too young to fully appreciate it, and Emily told D.W. that it was a kiss on the hand.
115	10	"Big Horns George / Bleep"	December 26, 2003
Big Horns George: George learns how to sing the blues with a little inspiration from his dummy Wally and Brain's CDs. Koko Taylor and Taj Mahal guest star. Bleep: D.W. overhears a curse word from a teenage boy, but she is afraid if she says it, something will break. The Tibbles tell her if she says it, anyone will become her zombie servant. D.W. tests this on Vicita, only to get in trouble, but her mother does not punish her because she did not know what it meant. She then decides to talk to her friends about cursing.

References

General references

• "Arthur Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
• "Arthur: Episode Guide". MSN TV. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
• "Arthur Season 8 Episode Guide". TV.com. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
• "Seasons 4-8". Arthur episodes. PBS parents. Retrieved March 7, 2010.