Barney is back for a 14th year

He’s big, he’s purple and he’s not going anywhere.

Barney, the sugary sweet dinosaur loved by toddlers, is back for another season on public television, where he has been singing and dancing for 14 years.

There’s a new twist to the old story, as well: The first new dinosaur to appear in 13 years on the Texas-based show will join the main character alongside the usual cast of adoring children.

The familiar strains of “I love you, you love me” will echo for many years to come if executive producer Karen Barnes has her way. Barnes sees a limitless future for the sappy reptile.

“It’s an iconic character, part of the culture,” she said. “We have a new audience every two or three years. What Barney teaches doesn’t go out of style.”

The new season that kicks off Monday adds a new splash of color, a tiny orange hadrosaur named Riff. The pint-sized cousin of Barney’s pals BJ and Baby Bop loves music, showing his enjoyment when his crest blinks with colorful light.

Former teacher Sheryl Leach, who noted her 2-year-old son’s fascination with dinosaurs at a museum exhibit, created the first Barney program, sold at video stores beginning in 1987. The show has aired on PBS since 1992.

HIT Entertainment acquired the company that produces “Barney,” Allen-based Lyrick Studios, in 2001 for $275 million.

The program is produced in the Dallas suburb of Carrollton, inside an unadorned red brick building that bears no hint of the beehive of activity within.

Barney really is two people, as are each of his dinosaur sidekicks.

The athletic Carey Stinson is the hopping, dancing person inside the 30-pound purple suit. The distinctive voice, locked away in a dark sound room above the parklike set, belongs to former Radio Disney deejay Dean Wendt.

Barney’s popularity has declined from a decade ago, but the show still consistently ranks among the top 20 among all children’s programs, including PBS broadcast and cable outlets.

“We know what our target audience loves,” Barnes said. “We know that moms love us.”

The huggable T-rex has found himself the object of increasing derision over the years by some who find his act a bit too sweet. Many anti-Barney sites have been launched on the Internet.

The people who produce the show appear blissfully unaware that not everyone finds the dinosaur “tee-rific!” Barnes, who once worked for the Jim Henson Company, said criticism comes with the territory when you’ve been around as long as Barney has.