Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs reimagines a prehistoric family as sitcom protagonists living with all the trappings of modern life. The Sinclairs juggle parenthood, jobs, household chores and neighborly squabbles while surrounded by televisions, appliances and corporate culture. Episodes flip between family comedy and sharper social satire, using the household's ups and downs to poke at climate, consumer habits and office politics. The tone mixes slapstick and pointed jokes, with storylines that often start light and then press on real-world concerns, staying focused on the family dynamic rather than big surprises or plot twists.

Premiering in 1991, the series was created by Michael Jacobs and Bob Young and used elaborate puppetry and animatronics to bring the characters to life, paired with voice performances from Stuart Pankin, Jessica Walter, Jason Willinger, Sally Struthers and Kevin Clash. The production values stood out for a TV sitcom, and episodes aired across the early 1990s on network television.

The show earned critical recognition and received nominations from television and industry groups for technical and production work during its run, particularly highlighting its puppetry, makeup and set design. It was praised within industry circles for marrying family entertainment with sophisticated craft.

Dinosaurs left a clear mark on pop culture, most famously through Baby Sinclair's catchphrase "Not the mama!" which became widely quoted. The show's visual style and unusual blend of puppetry plus adult-targeted satire made it memorable, and characters and lines are still referenced in retrospectives and by fans who grew up with the series.

Critics and audiences have tended to appreciate the series for its willingness to tackle weightier themes beneath a family comedy surface, reflected in steady viewer ratings and a solid vote average. Themes of environmental warning, corporate folly and generational friction recur across episodes. Some viewers found the tonal shifts jarring at times, but many valued how the series balanced humor with critique while keeping the Sinclair family's relationships central.