SHOWS FOR YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS TOO : ‘Blossom’s’ final bow ends series but not the strong bond between these two

Six-year-old Ross Bagley, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s” Nicky, knows why he won’t be seeing his best friend Kevin Jamal Woods on Monday night TV anymore. “He got canceled,” Ross says sadly. “Another show comes on now.”

Kevin was a regular on “Blossom,” which followed Ross’ series, but NBC decided to end the show’s five-season run this year, replacing it with “In the House” on April 10.

This week, however, “Blossom” returns for its series finale. And it’s Kevin who won’t get to see Ross this week, because the hourlong “Blossom” farewell preempts “Fresh Prince.”

The best buddies enjoyed watching each other. “It’s fun to watch Kevin right after me, cause first I watch myself, then I watch him,” says Ross, who lives in Los Angeles.

Kevin, 7, who played Blossom’s neighbor after joining the series last fall, responds: “I like to watch Ross and I like to watch myself, but even if my show isn’t on, I’ll still watch him. I like that show.”

The two met in late 1993 while shooting the movie “The Little Rascals,” where Ross portrayed Buckwheat and Kevin played Stimie. The movie, based on the Hal Roach comedies that began in the ‘20s, recently has been released on video.

“They became friends right away,” says Ross’ mom, Mary Bagley, who says their friendship was further cemented by her own close relationship with Kevin’s mother, Helen Woods.

“We just have so many of the same values; our boys are disciplined similarly,” says Helen Woods.

When Dallas-based Kevin visits L.A. he says he knows what he’ll be doing: “Auditions and visiting Ross.”

Their friendship is solid, Ross says, “because we never fight, like I do with my cousins. Kevin and I learn about stuff together. We go out. That’s why we’re friends.”

Says Kevin: “He’s very funny and cool. I like to play with him. And we both like each other.”

When Kevin heard “Blossom” was canceled, he says, “It was OK with me, but everyone else started crying. I guess I didn’t feel the same way because I wasn’t there as long.” Kevin appeared on 16 of the show’s 22 episodes this season. He says he’ll miss Courtney Chase, who plays his on-screen best friend, but Kevin knows he’ll always get to see his real best friend.

While they may not be able to visit each other often, that may be only for the moment. As Mary Bagley says, “Both boys have a four-picture deal with Universal. All the principal characters [in “Little Rascals”] do. They might come back in a sequel. It looks like they’ll be doing some kind of work, if they want.”

Both boys, as if on cue, chime in together, “I want to!”

The series finale of “Blossom” airs Monday at 8 p.m., preempting “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” which regularly airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on NBC. For ages 6 and up.

More Family Shows

Several spins on the Mother Goose story can be viewed this week:

In the premiering Three Little Pigs Sing a Gig (Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Disney Channel), piggies Lippy, Larry and Lumpy are set to make their fortune when they’re harassed by the Big Bad Wolf. This new version incorporates stop-motion animation, rhymes, humor, music and commentary from all the players. For ages 2 to 6.

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Live action combines with animation on the newly syndicated The New Adventures of Mother Goose: The Great Rhyme Rescue (Saturday noon KCBS). Mother Goose (Sally Struthers) hooks up with a publisher (Emmanuel Lewis) when he conjures up her live image on his computer. The two revamp old nursery rhymes. Old Mother Hubbard, Humpty Dumpty and the three blind mice make appearances. Struthers say the poems are now “soothing” and funny without being cruel, and archaic stereotypes have disappeared. For ages 2 to 8.

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If that’s still not enough Mother Goose for you, Disney--in honor of Mother’s Day--offers up a rebroadcast of its popular Mother Goose Rock N’ Rhyme (Sunday 3 p.m. Disney Channel). For ages 2 to 8.