The Puzzle Place

Season 1

A group of kids (puppets) from diverse backgrounds and cultures come together at "The Puzzle Place" to hang-out, tell stories, sing songs and hold celebrations. Along the way they learn important Life Lessons about getting along, communicating, and how to be a friend. There is usually also a sub-plot centering around the club's sibling-like dog and cat, Nuzzle and Sizzle.

Where to Watch Season 1

40 Episodes

Tippy Woo
E1
Tippy WooJulie obtains a teddy bear, and names it after herself "Tippy Wu". She also remarks on some unflattering nicknames other kids have given her, per her last name "Wu".
Train Driving Kids
E2
Train Driving KidsThe boys have a model train but refuse to share with the girls, insisting it’s a boys’ activity. Gradually everyone takes to other suggested activities, leaving only Leon and Kiki still wanting to play with the model train. Nuzzle struggles to play a toy xylophone.
Rip Van Wrinkle
E3
Rip Van WrinkleLeon, Kiki, Julie and Skye host a slumber party, but have to work together to help each other's bedtime routines/needs be met, or else the “slumber” part will be difficult. Sizzle and Nuzzle try to be nocturnal, but it’s harder than it seems. Ben and Jody only make cameo appearances.
Accentuate the Positive
E4
Accentuate the PositiveWhile the others have a tongue-twister contest, Kiki arrives dressed as an alien. She wins but leaves upset when the others laugh in celebration. She explains the alien act is because her classmates teased her for her Spanish accent.
Gotta Dance
E5
Gotta DanceThe kids obtain a sheet of dance steps and learn of various cultural dances while trying to decipher it. Sizzle recalls the time Nuzzle criticized her for carrying her tail wrong and refuses to dance with him again.
Rudy One
E6
Rudy OneA robot shows up at the Puzzle Place and befriends Leon, while insulting everyone else, in an attempt to sabotage everyone’s friendship. Sizzle turns to Nuzzle for advice after a new cat calls her a “snooty patootie.”
Butterfingers
E7
ButterfingersThe group has a relay race but Ben drops the baton, losing. His partner Leon calls him Butterfingers. The rest find the word funny, not realizing using it upsets Ben. He gets them to quit but feels worse when he drops and breaks the trophy.
Rock Dreams
E8
Rock DreamsSkye aspires to perform music, but is discouraged by the fact that he doesn't know very many Native American performers. Eventually he makes contact with Native American Robby Romero and his band, Red Thunder, who reassure him. Nuzzle gets so tired of watching Sizzle listen to Swiss yodeling music that he tries to make her yodel herself.
Roamantics
E9
RoamanticsBen brings in an ant farm to show everyone, but Leon unwittingly wreaks havoc in an attempt to give the ants fresh air, and has to make some sacrifices to restore order to The Puzzle Place. Nuzzle gets carried away with a roll of paper towel.
Spud Buds
E10
Spud BudsSkye finds a party box in the kitchen, but everyone else is too distracted watching TV to take interest. Nuzzle wishes he hadn’t let Sizzle use a flying machine all she wants.
Different Drummer
E11
Different DrummerJulie plays referee to Skye and Leon’s dispute over whose cultural drum is more significant. The two eventually agree that both drugs are significant in their own way, and neither's is necessarily better. Sizzle takes up skateboarding.
I Love Kiki
E12
I Love KikiKiki is at a loss as to what to do when she unwittingly “breaks” Julie’s toy horse, and can't bring herself to tell her. Sizzle looks after the sneaker that Nuzzle likes to chew on, but when the Piece Police throw it out as she naps, she panics. Ben does not appear in this episode.
True Colors
E13
True ColorsThe kids all partner up to paint one another, but initially can’t find a suitable paint color for everyone. Their second attempt, using chalk of different colors, is much more successful. Sizzle wants to paint a self-portrait, but it’s too hard for her.
Cute Is as Cute Does
E14
Cute Is as Cute DoesJulie wants to emulate her favorite singer, Penny Candy, but sees her true colors when a crisis in the greenhouse hits. Nuzzle bores Sizzle to sleep when he tries to show her a photo album of when he was a puppy. Leon and Ben only make cameo appearances.
Leon's Pizza
E15
Leon's PizzaEveryone wants something new for lunch, so Leon decides to try his hand at making pizza. While the others learn about different ways to eat it, Leon has trouble in the kitchen, then finds out everyone has a different favorite topping.
Real Heroes
E16
Real HeroesThe kids compare their favorite superheroes but need to band together when the pets get caught in a dangerous situation.
Going By the Book
E17
Going By the BookThe kids want to put on Sleeping Beauty, but then notice that only Ben and Jody look anything like the characters in the book's illustrations. They talk about what being beautiful or handsome really means, then Julie finds more stories.
Mad Music Magic
E18
Mad Music MagicKiki leads the kids in a makeshift band, but her authority seems to do more harm than good when she won’t allow them to play their preferred instruments. Sizzle attends her cousin’s birthday party, so Nuzzle tries to be the dog and the cat at the same time.
Party of One
E19
Party of OneLeon learns a hard lesson in racism when he’s barred from attending a friend’s birthday party simply because he’s African-American. Nuzzle refuses to fetch a stick for Kiki because she didn’t say “the magic word” (which Sizzle tries in vain to guess).
Dancing Dragon
E20
Dancing DragonJulie is sent a package at the Puzzle Place to show the others for Lunar New Year. Kiki and Skye run across it and, not knowing it's addressed to her in Chinese, accidentally tear it. With Jody, they examine it.
Picture Perfect
E21
Picture PerfectBen is unwilling to wear his glasses for a group picture because of some teasing, but unwittingly wreaks havoc when he spends a day without them. Nuzzle goes for a “hip cat” approach, which fails to impress Sizzle.
Maiden Voyages
E22
Maiden VoyagesWhile the others turn the basement into a moonwalk with many balloons, Kiki and Julie enjoy moon cakes, but a humorous misunderstanding may mean Julie will marry Leon.
Donuts and Dithering
E23
Donuts and DitheringThe kids receive six assorted donuts, and Jody gets first dibs, but she struggles to decide which one she wants. Leon attempts to manipulate her choice to keep her from picking the one he wants, but it backfires. Sizzle and Nuzzle so badly want to take a donut themselves.
Bully for Jody
E24
Bully for JodyJody is a victim of bullying when a bigger student keeps stealing her lunch. Sizzle also tries to keep away a bigger cat.
Ben's Bad Hair Day
E25
Ben's Bad Hair DayBen wanted dreadlocks like Leon so had his brothers cut his hair. But it turned out badly so he hides his head in a bag before showing the others. While they try to think of how to help, he imagines having hair like theirs.
All Weather Friends
E26
All Weather FriendsA storm hits at the Puzzle Place. Everyone is awed by it, except Leon, who fears lightning and thunder. He doesn't want to admit his weakness to the others. Nuzzle is frightened of the vacuum cleaner.
Bread and Matzoh
E27
Bread and MatzohSkye brings some special bread from his tribe to share with the kids but is troubled when Jody refuses to try any for eight days. It turns out the reason is because of one of her own Jewish customs. Sizzle and Nuzzle get very hungry because the kids forget to feed them.
Owning It
E28
Owning ItLeon obtains a new watch but drives everyone else crazy with it, causing them to snap back at him. Kiki is preparing chili in the kitchen, and Sizzle and Nuzzle want to taste it so badly.
Baffled Ben
E29
Baffled BenBen is struggling to put together a puzzle but angrily snaps and puts down anyone who tries to help him. He also insults Skye's special plant, which grows when complimented, but shrinks when put down.
Practice Makes Perfect
E30
Practice Makes PerfectWhile nearly all the kids are sick with chickenpox, Skye finds a guitar and wants to play it, but he is slow to understand that he has to put time and effort into becoming good at it. Sizzle tries playing billiards. Ben and Julie only make cameo appearances.
Finders Keepers
E31
Finders KeepersJulie finds Skye’s misplaced Apache pollen pouch and is so enamored with it that she doesn’t return it right away, damaging her friendship with Skye when she finally does. Jody does not appear in this episode. However, she does send the other kids an automatic popcorn snack, which, when heating up, makes Sizzle and Nuzzle curious. Ben only makes cameo appearances.
You Say Potato
E32
You Say PotatoThe kids bring in items for a picnic but can’t seem to agree on where to have it. While Leon and Jody are content to go anywhere, Skye and Julie prefer the mountains and Ben and Kiki prefer the park. Even the two duos can’t agree on the specifics. Sizzle and Nuzzle are excited to go on the picnic themselves, especially for bird-watching.
At the End of Our Rope
E33
At the End of Our RopeThe boys challenge the girls to a game of tug of war but are unexpectedly defeated and can’t figure out why.
Just Kidding
E34
Just KiddingThe others tease Skye when he forgets to bring a bat to a baseball game, prompting Skye to get upset and leave. Ben feels badly their teasing, even though they were just joking. Sizzle and Nuzzle climb up a tree in the greenhouse but are too scared to come down. Leon and Kiki only make cameo appearances.
Everything In Its Place
E35
Everything In Its PlaceWhile the Piece Police are on vacation, Kiki encourages the others to clean up the Puzzle Place. But instead of putting things where they belong, the kids create a bigger mess by setting everything on a card table.
Big Boys Don't Cry
E36
Big Boys Don't CryLeon cries when the others exclude him from his own pancake making recipe and is labelled a “crybaby” by Ben and Skye. Julie convinces the two that they've had reason to cry in the past. Sizzle and Nuzzle filch all the pancakes made, and get sick from doing so.
Here's to the Winners
E37
Here's to the WinnersBen becomes discouraged when everyone but him has won a trophy for something, even though he does have an impressive skill that’s worthy of a prize in and of itself. Sizzle and Nuzzle do not appear in this episode, and Skye and Julie only make cameo appearances.
A World of Difference
E38
A World of DifferenceEveryone except Skye disguise themselves as identical superheroes, but Skye can use each one's individual quirks to tell who is who.
Willing and Able
E39
Willing and AbleBen takes pity on Skye’s friend Kyle, who’s in a wheelchair. Sizzle and Nuzzle find out the hard way that she can’t bury a bone and he can’t climb a tree. Leon and Kiki only make a cameo appearance in this episode.
It's Magic
E40
It's MagicKiki becomes scared when her friends disappear after a failed magic act. Nuzzle becomes inspired by a heroic dog on TV.