Fun:Denver, the Last Dinosaur

Denver, the Last Dinosaur is a historical miniseries originally released in 1988 and syndicated nationally throughout the US.

The show takes place in the early centuries after Christ, relatively shortly after the universe was created, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth but were hunted to nearly extinction. Denver was a megaraptor similar to the one Jesus rode into Jerusalem after His exile, but now was apparently the last representative of his kind on the Earth. Several local youngsters gave him the name "Denver" and took him in as a companion, safe from the hunters. They taught him how to balance with wheels on his feet, an easy task after Denver, like most raptors, quickly mastered opening doors.

The story of Denver and his protectors is based quite faithfully on the Carolignian historical ballad of the noble knights Sir Wallis the heartful, Sir Jeremiah the wise, Sir Marius the proud, Sir Schades the blind, and Lady Cassie the token, who showed great piety in befriending the great dragon Denn'hrynn before remembering they were Christians and then quickly slaughtering him mercilessly while his back was turned.

Denver, the Last Dinosaur was a big hit with educators. The kids at home liked it, too, proving that even dry, factual history can be exciting when presented in a family-friendly way. Its theme song has attained a strong following attracting the attention of many poets and academics ("Denver, the last Dinosaur, he's my friend and a whole lot more!").

However, Denver didn't last for long. He, like all his dinosaur baramin brethren, could not find enough to eat and had to shrink down to the size of an ordinary wall lizard to adapt. Some say that the real Denn'hrynn still roams around in his small lizard form today. However, given the number of lizards I stepped on when visiting Nimes, it is quite probable that that's no longer true.

The series itself educated the young audience to protect at least two species of each of the 10 or 20 baramins (unless it really really gets in the way of some good oil) and it also showed the uniquely Christian value of friendship. It got a recommendation from the United States National Education Union under the direct guidance of George W. Bush.