Bear Behaving Badly is a CBBC sitcom that originally ran from 2007 to 2010. It features the small blue puppet bear Nev (from the Sunday morning programme Smile!) alongside fellow CBBC presenter Barney Harwood.
Nev and Barney live together in a flat, within an apartment block owned by Barney's wealthy uncle Rupert. Among their neighbours include caretaker Andy Prank, who Nev refers to as "Angry Pants". Mr Prank is Nev's worst enemy, who in return sees him as an annoying blue nuisance who sets off his allergies. There is also Crazy Keith the koala, who lives underneath the floorboards of Barney and Nev's flat.
Tropes of Bear Behaving Badly are listed here:
- Accidental Misnaming: "Plank", as Aunt Barbara calls him, despite Mr Prank constantly trying to correct her.
- All Animals Are Dogs: Aunt Barbara always sees Nev as a dog and gives him doggie treats (which he likes).
- As Himself: Barney Harwood plays himself, who works as a television presenter in-universe. In other words, his actual career.
- Beary Friendly: Nev is a small blue bear who is not threatening in the slightest, as well as Crazy Keith, a koala bear.
- Big Word Shout: Mr Prank's "BEEEEAAAARR!"
- Bottle Episode: As per tradition for most British live-action series. Nearly every episode spends time inside the apartment block, with Barney's flat having the most focus. Although there are some exceptions such as Nev being chased by Mr Prank around the park in one episode, and the occasional shots outside on the road of their apartment.
- Butt-Monkey: Mr Prank aka Angry Pants. He's hassled by Nev once every often, disliked by Aunt Barbara and his caretaking duties always seem to end up in a mess.
- Captain Oblivious: Barney is mainly away at his job and does not partake in the misadventures that Nev and company have in some episodes.
- Character Catchphrase: Nev has a lot considering his limited vocabulary: "Yeah-yeah-yeah!", "Too right bro!", "No way hose!", "Oh dear oh dear oh dear" and "Tiptoperoo!"
- Prank's "BEAR!" whenever Nev causes a hassle.
- Crazy Keith's "Wackadoo!"
- Aunt Barbara has a knack of saying this whenever Plank's around: "Caretaker, caretaker, couldn't care less-taker!"
- Chase Scene: Plenty involving Nev and Mr. Prank.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Mr Prank's nephew Bouncer Boy and the mice (called the Squealers) who lived with Keith under the floorboards disappeared when series two started.
- Comedic Underwear Exposure: In the episode "Frog Prince" Mr Prank vacuums his own trousers, exposing his red and white striped underwear.
- Cousin Oliver: Melanie. Played literally as well since she's Barney's cousin.
- Duck!: When Barney arrives back into his flat, he smells something cooking and asks what's for dinner. Nev and Crazy Keith shout 'Duck!'Barney: I love duck, it's my favourite– (gets hit by wads of spaghetti) ...food. Now when you said duck, you meant 'watch out' duck, not like, 'quack quack' duck.
- Enemy Mine: Nev and Prank are clear archenemies, however they have no qualms working together if a situation is called for.
- Every Episode Ending: Barney and Nev getting ready for bed.
- Funny Foreigner: The illegal immigrant koala that is Crazy Keith speaks in a typical Australian accent, he lives under the floorboards, only a few amount of the residents know about his existence, constantly plans hare-brained schemes with Nev, and is in a relationship with a stuffed bunny called Doris.
- The Ghost: Uncle Rupert is the owner of the flats who's never made one physical appearance, besides the painting located in Barney's main room which seems to change its expression depending on what's happening.
- Girl Next Door: Beatrice, who Barney is trying to get together with.
- Good Angel, Bad Angel: In most of the episodes in the first series, Nev had these appear in the form of rubber ducks.
- Grumpy Old Lady: Aunt Barbara sometimes.
- Hidden Depths: Mr Prank is actually a successful ice cream maker who's business is overshadowed by his caretaking duties.
- In-Series Nickname: Mr Prank has Angry Pants, introduced by Nev.
- Jerkass: Mr Prank. On his better days he's a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
- Keet: Nev is easily excitable.
- Love Interest: Beatrice is to Barney.
- Love Potion: The episode with the same name has Prank try and get Barbara on his side by falling in love with him through drinking tea. However, he ends up drinking the wrong cup and falls for his worst nemesis Nev instead. Meanwhile after both drink the potion, Beatrice falls for Barney which can be considered good for him... although he is too busy admiring his own self at the moment to notice.
- Mailman vs. Dog: During "Robopostie Rampage", when the robotic Postie was causing havoc in the flats (by forcefully making Prank her husband and Nev their child), Aunt Barbara arrives to give “Nevvie doggy” some doggie treats, which prompts Robopostie to become frightened. Barney also claims that Nev is a dog, and she gets chased out of the block by Nev's growling.
- Mirror Universe: Nev and Crazy Keith encounter one after falling through a magic mirror in the episode "Nev Through the Looking Glass". There, they find out Prank is now Nev's best mate, Barney is the evil caretaker, and a wicked version of Beatrice is wanting to use Nev's fur to make a new coat. Finally, there's Boring Keith, a dull version of Crazy Keith with an extensive library of books.
- Musical Episode: "Sing a Song of Secrets" involves Barney rediscovering a music box. When the key is placed in its lock, it opens at its own will and causes the person it targets to burst into song and sing the truth.
- Nephewism: Melanie apparently lives with her Aunt Barbara rather than staying with her parents. It's the same deal with Mr Prank's nephew Bouncer Boy.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Nev has a tendency to start problems, or make problems even worse, hence the show's name.
- The Nicknamer: Nev has a few: "Angry Pants", (Andy Prank) "Beetroot" (Beatrice), "Bouncer Belly" (Bouncer Boy) and "Smelanie" (Melanie).
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Crazy Keith occasionally disguises himself and anyone who doesn't know about his secret will go with it.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: The episode "Everybody Loves Chops", has everyone genuinely surprised that Aunt Barbara's growling dog who always lived inside her handbag emerged as a cute poodle.
- Screams Like a Little Girl: A constant trait of Nev.
- Secret-Keeper: Crazy Keith the koala lives under the floorboards and is a secret to everyone apart from Nev, Barney and Beatrice.
- Shout-Out: The title itself is a reference to Men Behaving Badly.
- "Day of the Terrific" has the giant house-plant which is a complete reference to Little Shop of Horrors.
- The wibbles from their own episode are an obvious parody on the tribbles from Star Trek.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Mr Prank, for a normal caretaker, seems to aim for a high profile.
- Spiders Are Scary: Nev at one point had to take care of a tarantula named Bubbles, who escaped from his cage right before Mr Prank's twin brother was due for a visit.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Nev and Crazy Keith love ice cream. Nev also likes jam.
- Uncanny Family Resemblance: A live-action example as Mr Prank has a twin brother named Martin.
- Unstoppable Mailwoman: Their local postwoman named Postie.
