| The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor | |
| Season 2, Episode 10a | |
| Series: The Berenstain Bears (2002) | |
 | |
| Air date | February 11, 2003 (Treehouse TV) October 17, 2003 (PBS) |
| Written by | Bridget Newson |
| Directed by | Scott Glynn & Gary Hurst |
| Preceded by The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Grown-Ups |
Followed by The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore) |
“Brother: Take a deep breath. Stick out your tongue.
Sister: Come see Dr. Grizzly while you are young.”
—Opening quote
The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor is the first segment of the tenth episode in season 2 of The Berenstain Bears. It first aired on Treehouse TV on February 11, 2003, and later on PBS on October 17, 2003. It is based on the book of the same name.
Summary[]
Brother and Sister's younger cousin, Honey Brown, is apprehensive about going to the doctor's office for a checkup. Sister dispels Honey's fear of the unknown by setting up a pretend doctor's office and taking Honey through all the procedures of a checkup, using the instruments in her toy doctor's bag.
Meanwhile, Papa comes down with a bad cold as a result of him not seeing a doctor.
Plot[]
The cubs are in Papa's workshop playing with building blocks when Mama tells them it's time to go see their doctor. Sister tells her that she and Brother aren't sick. Mama reminds them they're only going for their yearly checkup and the doctor wants to make sure they're still growing like healthy cubs. Papa tells them that he doesn't need checkups because he never gets sick, but sneezes shortly after. Mama hands Papa a tissue and he blows his nose.
Later at Dr. Grizzly's office, the cubs are having a checkup with Dr. Grizzly measuring how tall the cubs have gotten, looking into their eyes with a flashlight, testing their eyesight on an eye chart, and listening to their respiratory system with her stethoscope. Brother hands her a rubber mallet to Dr. Grizzly, which she then uses to test Sister's reflexes. After Dr. Grizzly presses on Sister's stomach and checks her tongue with a tongue depressor, she, Brother, and Mama all return home. Shortly after, Cousin Audra Brown and her daughter Honey visit the Bear family. Mama and Audra go inside the house to discuss quilts while Sister takes Honey inside for lemonade and cookies.
In the kitchen, Sister mentions Dr. Grizzly, making Honey upset. Audra explains to Sister that Honey is scared of her checkup and she isn't going to the doctor. Sister gets an idea and leaves the kitchen. She later returns to the kitchen dressed as a doctor and takes Honey to the living room where they have a pretend checkup. Sister shows her the procedure of a checkup to help quell Honey's anxiety of going to the doctor. Shortly after, Audra enters the living room to get her daughter, and Honey tells her that she's ready to go see Dr. Grizzly.
That night, Dr. Grizzly visits the Bear family and presents Sister an award for helping Honey get over her fear of going for a checkup. Papa then sneezes and Dr. Grizzly performs a quick examination on him by checking his temperature, looking at his red throat, and into his stuffy nose. When she finished, Dr. Grizzly declares Papa is sick and asks Sister to watch over him.
Later, as Papa is in bed sick, Brother brings him some juice. Sister and Brother remind Papa that had he gone to the doctor regularly as he should, he wouldn't have gotten sick. Mama then tells the cubs that it's time for them to go to bed after praising them for keeping Papa in check. As Mama goes to tuck the cubs in, Papa asks for more juice and an extra blanket then blows his nose.
Quotes[]
Sister: (to Dr. Grizzly) If you need help with any other patients, I’m happy to help.
Mama: (after Papa sniffles a little) I think Dr. Grizzly’s next patient is right here.
Papa: Achoo!
Dr. Grizzly (feels Papa’s forehead) Hmm. Oh, your temperature’s above normal. Open your mouth and say “Aah”.
Papa: Aah.
Dr. Grizzly: (shines a flashlight into Papa’s mouth) Hmm. Red throat, stuffy nose... Papa, I’m afraid you’re sick.
Papa: But I never get sick. Well, I mean almost never.
Dr. Grizzly: (to Sister) Dr. Bear, make sure this patient gets plenty of bed rest and lots to drink. (to Papa) And Papa?
Papa: Yes, doctor?
Dr. Grizzly: Do what Sister says.
Papa: Yes, doctor.
Watch Episode[]
Differences From the Book:[]
- The book began with Brother and Sister going to bed one night, with Mama and Papa telling them they were going to see Dr. Grizzly the next day. The episode began with Brother and Sister building a skyscraper out of wooden blocks in Papa's workshop.
- In the book, the cubs wore white tank tops and shorts when seeing Dr. Grizzly. In the episode, the cubs wear their everyday clothing during their appointment.
- In the episode, Sister pretended to be a doctor to help her cousin Honey get over her fear of going to the doctor. This did not happen in the book.
- Additionally, Honey (not to be confused with the latest member of the Bear family) is exclusive to the episode and not present in the book.
- The book ended with Papa seeing Dr. Grizzly for an appointment after he was shown to be sick. The episode ended with Papa going to bed early after Dr. Grizzly declares he's sick.
- In the book, Brother and Sister get a vaccination shot. This was omitted from the episode.