In 1997, two exhausted parents were having difficulty putting their three children to bed. Amidst the crying and fidgeting, Alex Greene and his wife, Carol Sweeney (of Macomb Township) were faced with a situation that commonly haunts most households. In an attempt to remedy this
unfortunate nighttime ritual, Greene thought, "Why isn't there a program to teach kids how to go to bed?" A simple question prompted a simple answer. He decided to create such a television show. One year later, the storyline had been established and character sketches were put to paper. One moment, seemingly ordinary, ignited a growing enterprise. Alex and Carol were now the proud
parents of their newest child, My Bedbugs.
Sweeney was still working as a designer for automotive companies when Greene made the
professional shift to executive producer of My Bedbugs. Upon investigating the sobering cost to
finance just four episodes through other production studios, Greene decided to build his own.
Soon after, Sweeney joined her husband and their search for a studio marked its end in Clinton Township, having leased a warehouse nestled within an industrial complex just south of Hall Road. The facility is under constant expansion, desperately trying to accommodate for a growing
production staff of more than 30 and additional sound stages.
And what about My Bedbugs? What makes this group of cuddly characters different from most other children's ensembles? It's simple. It is a live-action show that incorporates singing and
dancing while educating at the same time. In a market that seems to be "oversaturated with
computer animation," Greene states, "we connect with kids on a more magical level. Gooby,
Toofy, Woozy - all of our characters - are real."
As My Bedbugs began to tape its first episodes several networks, including PBS, sharpened their focus on Greenestuff, Inc. It became apparent that this television program had gained monumental support from local families and friends. Its trajectory was well established and it was only a matter of time when the show would take off. Greene was particularly interested in PBS. The courtship began and, consequently, led to a time slot on Detroit Public Television's children's network. June 6 of 2004 was a day that marked the shift from aspiration to accomplishment. My Bedbugs can now be seen on DPTV Monday through Friday at 10am and Sunday at 8:30am.
"I believe it's the perfect marriage - Greenestuff with PBS" Greene says. "We have the same values, both professionally and personally. It's the only station I trust with my most prized possessions - my kids and my show." When asked about programs available to children, Greene upholds the idea that, "Education and entertainment should become one. That has been my beacon from day one."
Just as Greene and Sweeney value the life of their show so, too, do they take pride in their
employees. All are Michigan natives and reside within the area. Greene stresses, "We are very
adamant on building this company from untapped resources." Every employee, from executive
assistants to talent is an element that composes this Michigan-based company.
The people of Greenestuff, Inc. have dedicated their time, talent, and energy into making "My
Bedbugs" a quality, children's program - one that ensures parents of education, and delivers
entertainment to their children. Now available to approximately 4 million homes within the
Detroit and Windsor area, it is doing just that.
