FETCH! is a reality-based game show where young contestants take on various challenges to gain points. During these challenges, the contestants must complete a variety of tasks assigned to them ahead of time (and on the fly) by Ruff and surrogates, depending on the situation. There is also an educational component, as contestants often must learn something (i.e. Astronomy, Carpentry, Food Science, Biology, etc) in order to complete the task.
Not all contestants leave the studio to complete tasks each episode. Remaining contests participate in the "Half-Time Quiz Show," where Ruff asks them questions based on the activities of the contestants in the field (see below). Once the contestants complete the activities in the field to the best of their abilities, they return to the studio for a daily point tally, and a daily prize is awarded to that contestant. At the end of the season, a final point tally is conducted, with the winner of the tally being declared winner of that season.
Prizes are not always desirable, and sometimes the prize holder winds up with a "booby prize". During the first season the contestant had the choice of keeping the prize, or giving it to a fellow contestant. During the second season the there are two prizes the winner can choose from that are both unknown. The prizes are hidden behind objects based on the episode's theme (e.g. "Will you pick the prize behind Idol A or Idol B?").
Points
Out on challenges, contestants have the potential to earn up to 100 points. The contestants in the studio have a chance to win a maximum of 50 points in the Half-Time Quiz Show in which they are required to answer 10 questions about events during the challenges, with 5 points for each right answer. They have a total of 90 seconds to answer all the questions, as well as a time limit on each question. There is also a Fetch Fairness Guarantee, which states that every contestant will have had an equal number of challenges (usually 13) and quiz shows (usually 6) before the final episode. Additionally, there are between 5 and 10 "Bone-us" points (a play on the word "bonus," as well as a dog bone) available for one or two stand-out contestants (however, Ruff has been known to deduct points as well). On rare occasions, such as an episode with a colonial theme, there is the possibility to earn more than 100 points (outside of any bonuses).
Animated Characters
Main Characters
Ruff Ruffman
Ruff Ruffman (voiced by Jim Conroy) is the humorous and eccentric dog who hosts the show, conveying the challenges presented by the animated Fetch 3000 computer. He is very scared of cats, but has a crush on a poodle named Charlene who lives next door. Sadly, Charlene has complained about his bad breath, and threatened to sue if he doesn't stop sending her his love poems. Ruff grouses about his contract to produce a reality TV program, and the stresses of running one. He loves all food, American-Chinese take-out in particular. His physical appearance features "eyebrows that float above his head mysteriously".
Princess Blossom Pepper Doodle Von Yum Yum
Princess Blossom Pepper Doodle Von Yum Yum (a cat) is Ruff's intern for season 2. Since Ruff has trouble remembering her full name, she is most often called simply "Blossom". Quite serious, she is usually seen taking notes on her laptop, and she has never actually spoken on the show. Instead, she makes strange squeaking sounds to get Ruff's attention. In the episode CSI Ruff, Ruff believed she stole the Grand Prize, and tried to frame him. However, it is revealed in the last episode, The Grand Prizeless Grand Finale, that it was Scruff Ruffman who stole it, and Blossom becomes the hero for getting it back.
Grandma Ruffman
Grandma Ruffman, also voiced by Conroy, is Ruff Ruffman's exceptionally stubborn grandmother who appeared in three episodes, Grandma Ruffman's Recipe for Success, The Small Fork Is For Dessert (Unless you're a dolphin), and Tape Loops and Loop-the-loop. Like Ruff, she is also pretentious, and animated in Macromedia Flash. As a writer, she attempted to market her products on her grandson's show, and as a grandmother, she constantly fussed about insignificant things, such as Ruff's manners and other FETCHers staying behind in the studio.
Supporting Characters
Henry is Ruff's boss. Only mentioned when Ruff receives phone calls, Henry provides Ruff with the show's budget, and oversees Ruff's spending. He also sent the intern Blossom to learn about producing for Season 2.
Murray is one of Ruff's cousins. He runs the behind-the-scenes technical work, and is constantly blamed for minor problems regarding the show. Unlike the other animated animals, Murray is portrayed by a real basset hound, and sometimes appears in the kids' challenges. Like Ruff, he seems to enjoy being fussed over by the FETCHers.
Charlene is Ruff's unrequited love interest. She is only seen as a poodle in a heart-shaped picture that Ruff periodically pulls out.
Scruff Ruffman is Ruff's identical (but evil) twin brother. He steals artwork in the episode Scruff Ruffman At Large!, leading to one of the episode's challenges. He also stole the Grand Prize in Season 2, which was recovered by Blossom.
Ruffiael Ruffmanowitz is Ruff's great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. He was only seen in photographs in a first season episode, and said to be the dog of inventor John Hays Hammond, Jr.. He looks exactly like Ruff, except with hair and moustache like Albert Einstein's . He also invented the FETCH 100, a primitive version of the FETCH 3000, which unfortunately calculated that 3 plus 3 is 24.
Uncle McRuffmantosh is Ruff Ruffman's great uncle and also looks like Ruff except he has a beard, kilt, and speaks with an exaggerated scottish accent. Only shown in the fifth episode in Season 2, he helped Ruff by finding the coordinates for Dogtopia and Catlantis. He has a Scottish accent, and he is very paranoid about the FETCHers going to Misery Island.
Spot Spotnik is Ruff's rival. He is mentioned in Send in the Clowns, when the kids build a water balloon launcher to get back at him, in You Lucky Dog when Ruff challenges him to a race, and in How to Get Dogs and Doggerel in Better Shape when he tries to to win Charlene's love.
"3-2-1 Blast Off!" (05/29/06) - While Ruff Ruffman scrambles to get ready for the first episode, Anna, Julia, and Khalil go on a hunt for all nine planets in a scale model of the Solar System scattered throughout the "lovely city of Boston". Taylor, Noah, and Brian stay in Studio G (Ruff's garage).
"Good Dancing and Bad Teeth" (05/29/06) - Ruff Ruffman sends Julia and Khalil to learn how to dance the waltz, while Anna and Brian investigate whether dog mouths are cleaner than human mouths. Noah and Taylor stay behind.
"How To Get Out Your Inner Hip Hop" (05/29/06) - Anna learns hip hop dance, and Noah, Khalil, and Julia cook for zoo animals. Taylor and Brian stay behind.File:FetchPBS.jpgFETCH! teaches viewers about different lifestyles and careers through demonstration. In this case, a contestant is doing chores as a colonial farmer.
"Cats? I Thought You Said Kites!" (05/29/06) - Noah and Brian built a kite to deliver a dog biscuit, and Taylor and Anna attempt to teach cats to fetch. Julia and Khalil stay behind.
"Ye Olde Colonial Episode" (06/05/06) - Ruff forces the kids to give up their electronics for a day in 1627 on Plimoth Plantation.
"Saturday Night With A Slight Fever" (06/06/06) - Taylor, Brian, and Noah are required to make a music video with some easily-recognizable stars - their grandparents- while staying under a budget. Anna, Julia, and Khalil stay behind at Studio G.
"To Bee or Not to Bee" (06/07/06) - Ruff gets stuck in a bee costume when filming an advertisement for FETCH!. Brian and Khalil learn to be beekeepers, while Julia and Anna learn to windsurf. Taylor and Noah stay in Studio G.
"B.L.T. For Breakfast?" (06/08/06) - Ruff must sell his new beverage. Brian braves a day as a short-order cook in a local diner, while Taylor, Khalil, and Noah design a new ice-cream flavor with ingredients that start with the letters B, L, and T. Anna and Julia stay at the Studio.
"The Mystery of the Missing Thing in the Haunted Castle" (06/12/06) - Ruff forces the kids to retrieve a lost invention in the castle of inventor John Hays Hammond, Jr.
"This Old... Lemonade Stand" (06/13/06) - Ruff accidentally reduces the show's budget to 13¢. Norm Abram, one of the hosts of This Old House, another program on PBS, teaches Anna and Noah to build a lemonade stand. Anna and Noah must also test thermal insulation to sell lemonade as a fundraiser. Meanwhile, the rest stay in Studio G and help bail Ruff out with his financial problems.
"It's Raining Cats and Dogs" (06/14/06) - Ruff is confused when a weather forecast predicts clear skies, but there is thunder. Taylor learns to forecast the weather, conduct interviews, and give a live weather report in front of a greenscreen. The boys paint a mural in Jamaica Plain for the mayor of Boston. Julia and Anna stay at Studio G once more.
"That Doesn't Float My Boat" (06/15/06) - Ruff Ruffman floods the doghouse when trying to relax. Julia, Anna, and Khalil build a boat out of recycled trash, test it out and race in it. Taylor, Noah, and Brian stay behind.
"Send in the Clowns" (06/19/06) - It is revealed that Ruff wanted to be a clown, but was cheated out by Spot Spotnik (see character list). Julia, Taylor, Noah, and Anna build water balloon launchers for revenge. Brian spends the day with Circus Smirkus and learns how to be a clown. Khalil stays behind, alone.
"Grandma Ruffman's Recipe for Success" (06/20/06) - Under Grandma Ruffman's marketing advice, Khalil learns to be a stand-up comedian, and Taylor, Noah, and Brian cook Grandma Ruffman's recipes on a farm to learn about energy transfers in a New Englandfood chain. Julia and Anna stay at Studio G.
"Tryin' Chef" (06/21/06) - Ruff is tired of his food. Taylor, Brian, Julia, and Khalil compete against each other as chefs - Iron Chef style to cook up new recipes for Ruff. Noah and Anna are left behind again, but help bail Ruff out.
"Don't Put the Kart Before the Sea Lion" (06/22/06) - Ruff is training for an interactive driving test monitored by the DMV, but crashes into a sea lion tank. Taylor trains sea lions; Julia helps in a pit crew for a junior go-karter. Anna, Khalil, Noah, and Brian stay behind.
"Relaxin' with Ruff" (06/26/06) - Ruff decides to calm down from the stresses of running a show. The kids learn to relax with yoga and to calculate heart rate (pulses in 15 sec * 4). Next, they mathematically measure their "fear factor" at Canobie Lake Park, an amusement park in New Hampshire.
"Scat Cat, Scat" (06/27/06) - A cat steals Ruff's kneeboard. Noah learns to kneeboard. The girls track down wild animals using various clues, especially scat. Khalil and Brian stay in the studio.
"Ruff Ruffman Spaces Out" (06/28/06) - The FETCHers go to space camp when the FETCH satellite breaks down.
"The Dogcathalon Finale" (06/29/06) - Three rounds of competition and one ultimate quiz will pit the FETCHers against each other. At last Anna was crowned FETCH! seasonal champion.
Points Chart
Contestants
Key
Points (By Episode)
Challenges
Quiz Shows
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Anna
Daily Points
80
95
90
75
110
45
96
35
105
80
45
95
100
45
40
35
95
65
90
13
6
Total Points
80
175
265
340
450
495
591
626
731
811
856
951
1051
1096
1136
1171
1266
1331
1421
1421
Placement
2nd
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
2nd
1st
1st
2nd
2nd
1st
1st
3rd
3rd
3rd
1st
1st
1st
Brian
Daily Points
40
95
40
65
125
90
70
80
100
55
85
40
85
80
90
35
100
35
95
13
6
Total Points
40
135
175
240
365
455
525
605
705
760
845
885
970
1050
1140
1175
1275
1310
1405
1405
Placement
4th
4th
4th
4th
4th
4th
4th
3rd
3rd
3rd
3rd
3rd
4th
4th
2nd
2nd
2nd
4th
5th
4th
Julia
Daily Points
80
85
100
35
105
45
91
35
105
55
45
85
70
45
75
80
90
70
110
13
6
Total Points
80
165
265
300
405
450
541
576
681
736
781
866
936
981
1056
1136
1226
1296
1406
1406
Placement
2nd
3rd
1st
2nd
3rd
5th
3rd
5th
4th
5th
5th
5th
5th
5th
6th
5th
5th
6th
4th
5th
Khalil
Daily Points
85
85
90
35
125
45
90
75
100
55
80
90
40
90
75
35
95
35
90
13
6
Total Points
85
170
260
295
420
465
555
630
730
785
865
955
995
1085
1160
1195
1290
1325
1415
1415
Placements
1st
2nd
3rd
3rd
2nd
2nd
2nd
1st
2nd
2nd
1st
1st
2nd
2nd
1st
1st
1st
3rd
3rd
2nd
Noah
Daily Points
40
45
90
65
125
95
45
75
100
75
80
40
100
80
40
35
95
105
90
13
6
Total Points
40
85
175
240
365
460
505
580
680
755
835
875
975
1055
1095
1130
1225
1330
1420
1420
Placements
4th
5th
4th
4th
4th
3rd
5th
4th
5th
4th
4th
4th
3rd
3rd
4th
6th
6th
2nd
2nd
3rd
Taylor
Daily Points
40
45
40
80
100
90
45
75
100
55
95
40
70
85
100
90
90
70
90
13
6
Total Points
40
85
125
205
305
395
440
515
615
670
765
805
875
960
1060
1150
1240
1310
1400
1400
Placements
4th
5th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
5th
4th
4th
4th
6th
6th
Yellow means the contestant was the Daily Winner.
Green means the contestant stayed in the studio for the half-time quiz show.
1. "Ruff Ruffman Breaks the Mold" (05/29/07)
Ruff sends Mike and Willie to a mold expert to learn about germs, while Nina and Madi must go to a chocolate factory to learn how to make candy. Ruff also meets his new intern... a cat! Bridget and Rosario stay behind in the studio.
2."Ruff's Case of Blues in the Brain" (5/30/07)
Ruff challenges Bridget and Mike to prove the urban myth that humans only use 10% of their brains. He sends Madi and Willie to take music lessons with Blue Man Group. Rosario and Nina stay behind.
3. "You Lucky Dog" (5/31/07)
Ruff enters Rosario, Nina and Mike into a soapbox derby race. He enters Bridget in a Chinese Dragon Boat race to improve his own bad luck. Madi and Willie stay behind.
4. "Ruff's Big Break" (6/4/07)
Ruff spins and dances on the fence outside the doghouse, and hurts his leg. He sends Bridget and Rosario to ease his fears about going to the hospital, and sends Mike and Willie to learn how to improve his balance. Nina and Madi stay behind.
5. "The Mystery of DogTopia and Catlantis" (6/5/07)
Ruff sends all the FETCHers to Misery Island to solve the mystery of what happened between dogs and cats in the lost civilization of Dogtopia and Catlantis.
6. "Reducing The Calories and Cats In Your Life" (5/28/07)
Ruff challenges Mike and Nina to make a healthier pizza and sends Bridget and Madi to volunteer as "kitty adoption counselors" at an animal shelter. Rosario and Willie stay behind.
7. "I'm OK, You're Okra" (6/6/07)
Ruff challenges Madi and Mike to prove that dogs have a soothing effect on people, and he sends Rosario and Nina to the Louisiana Bayou to learn how to make gumbo. Bridget and Willie stay behind.
8. "The Small Fork Is For Dessert (Unless You're A Dolphin)" (6/7/07)
Grandma Ruffman returns! Appalled by Ruff's manners, Grandma sends Rosario and Nina to meet an etiquette expert. She sends Willie to Florida to compete against Calvin the dolphin. Bridget, Mike, and Madi stay behind.
9. "Roughing It With Ruff" (6/11/07)
Fearing that he is being forced to live out in the wild, Ruff sends all the kids into the wilderness to meet with a survival expert to learn the ways of the woods.
10. "Ruff's Bowling Is Going Downhill" (6/12/07)
Rosario goes to the mountains to learn how to snowboard, and Bridget and Willie go to Michigan to build a better bowling machine. Mike, Madi, and Nina stay behind.
11. "Mush If By Land, Mush Mush If By Sea" (6/13/07)
In the first of this two-part episode, Willie and Nina embark on a race following Paul Revere's famous ride through the streets of Boston. Madi and Rosario go to Colorado in search of the Continental Divide. Bridget and Mike stay behind.
12. "Still More Mush If By Land, Mush Mush If By Sea" (6/14/07)
In the second half of this two-part episode, Madi and Rosario travel by dogsled and snowshoe to the Continental divide, while Nina and Willie warn the countryside (Boston suburbs) that the Redcoats are coming. Bridget and Mike are still in the studio. Technically there is no Half-time Quiz Show" in this episode (due to the fact that this was a "Part two" episode), but Ruff gave Bridget and Mike a task to complete for the same number of points.
13. "Yippie Tie Yie Yay, Get Along Little Doggies" (6/18/07)
Ruff is inspired by a dream about ranch dressing in a ten-gallon hat and sends all his FETCHers out west on a cattle drive.
14. "Tape Loops and Loop-the-Loops" (6/19/07)
Ruff challenges Mike and Madi to write a song for Grandma Ruffman; Bridget and Willie go to Disney World to design a rollercoaster. Rosario and Nina stay behind.
15. "A Lobster Bake? Oh Buoy!" (6/20/07)
Ruff challenges Nina and Willie to learn scuba diving to retrieve some stuff he lost. He then sends Bridget and Rosario out to learn about lobster trapping. Mike and Madi stay behind.
16. "How to Get Dogs and Doggerel in Better Shape" (6/21/07)
Ruff wants to impress Charlene, the poodle, so he sends Madi, Mike, and Willie to learn about getting fit. He sends Nina to learn the art of writing poetry. Bridget and Rosario stay behind.
17. "Scruff Ruffman At Large!" (6/25/07)
Ruff discovers that his evil twin, Scruff Ruffman, has pulled off a major art heist. Ruff sends Bridget, Rosario, and Nina down into a cave to recover the missing paintings. He challenges Madi to be a trapeze artist. Willie and Mike stay behind.
18. "Take Me Out to the Fashion Show" (6/26/07)
Ruff has two things that are mistakenly at the same time- throw the first pitch at a baseball game and go to Europe for a party for his fashion cousin, Helga. So, he hires someone to dress up like him and throw the pitch while he goes to Europe. He soon realizes he accidentally put his clothes in the trash and his trash in the dry cleaning. After the party, Helga tells Ruff he can no longer go to Europe unless he can get some fashion sense, and the Ruff costume was so big the pitch was thrown badly. Ruff sends Mike out to the ballpark to learn the science of pitching strikes, and he challenges Bridget, Madi and Rosario to create high fashion for dogs. Willie and Nina stay behind.
19. "CSI Ruff" (6/27/07)
Ruff's grand prize has been stolen! Ruff sends the all the FETCHers to a forensics lab to solve the crime.
20. "The Grand Prizeless Grand Finale" (6/28/07)
It's the grand finale and Ruff may be going to jail for stealing the FETCH Grand Prize! The kids compete in a series of elimination games to become the FETCH Grand Champion. Blossom disguises as Scruff, gets the grand prize fom Scruff's assistants and gives it to Ruff, meaning Ruff doesn't go to jail.
Points
Data as of the final opportunity for all contestants to earn points.
The Grand Prize for season 1 was a camera (for most points won that episode) and, as decided by a contestant, a chance to go white water rafting. However, every cast member also got to go white water rafting.
Season 2 has the first 2-part episode in the series and the Half Time Quiz Show was won (all 50 points) in You Lucky Dog and The Small Fork Is For Dessert (Unless You're A Dolphin). In Season 1 it was won once in This Old... Lemonade Stand.
Though the first episode was scheduled to be the first aired episode (the premiere), for unknown reasons, episode 6 ("Reducing the Calories and Cats in Your Life") was shown first, pushing the airing dates for the first five episodes one day back.
Madi and Nina from Season 2 are the only FETCHers who are left handed.
At the end of the season 2 finale, Ruff hinted that there will be a third season. Also, it was hinted that Ruff's intern, Princess Blossom Pepper doodle von Yum Yum would not be back next season but this fact is not confirmed.
In the first season the winner of the day was given a choice to keep the mystery prize or give it to someone else, but in season two that was changed to having the winner pick one of two mystery prizes. But in the episode I'm OK, You're Okra, Rosario gave the prize to Nina as a result.
Laurel McGoff, Brian of Season 1's sister, appeared in two Season 1 episodes and also participated in Kid Nation.
According to the FETCH website, Nina was the youngest FETCHer in Season 2; she was 10. Also according to the official website, Khalil was the youngest FETCHer in Season 1, while Anna was the oldest.
Promotions
In order to promote the show, the first season's contestants (along with a live action version of Ruff Ruffman)and the Jonas Brothers participated in the 80th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 23rd, 2006. The Season 2 FETCHers appeared on the same float in the 81st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 22nd, 2007 - Corbin Bleu appeared on the float as well, singing.
Production and Funding
Production
Fetch! is produced by WGBH Boston with much of the show's challenges currently taking place around the Boston metropolitan area. Fetch! is also produced with the help of a Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit.[1]
Casting
To try out for FETCH!, kids are required to be between the ages of 10 and 14 and be able to live in the greater Boston area over the summer, during school vacations, and several weekends throughout the school year. Moreover, FETCHers must be able to be filmed without missing school. Casting for Season 3 has already taken place. [citation needed].
Funding
Funding for Fetch! is provided by the following organizations:
United States
