Yabba dabba do! September 30 marks the 60th anniversary of the debut of that modern stone age family The Flintstones on ABC. It would go on to a six year run and have a long rerun life in syndication. The show would spawn numerous spinoffs such as Pebbles & Bamm Bamm and The Flintstone Kids. Fortunately, METV is rerunning the Flintstones so fans can get their fix of the flintstones and Rubbles each day.

With METV airing it regularly now, I think I have caught every episode. Definitely my favorite HB animated show.

Happy 60th Anniversary to The Flintstones!

Definitely the best animated show ever. Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

Definitely the best animated show ever. Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

Loved it as a kid. Yabba Dabba Doo to you too!:wave:

I still watch it when I can on METV. Still get many laughs out of it. Yabba Dabba Doo to you.

Definitely the best animated show ever. Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

So you enjoy The Flintstones, that is awesome, I enjoy it also. Great cartoon. Hanna Barbera's best work.

So you enjoy The Flintstones, that is awesome, I enjoy it also. Great cartoon. Hanna Barbera's best work.I agree it is the best work they ever did and they did a lot of great stuff such as The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, and the Laff-A-Lympics.

I agree it is the best work they ever did and they did a lot of great stuff such as The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, and the Laff-A-Lympics.

Don't forget Tom and Jerry (multiple oscars) and their other animated program, Johnny Quest!

Don't forget Tom and Jerry (multiple oscars) and their other animated program, Johnny Quest!Yes there are many great shows that they came up with.

I agree it is the best work they ever did and they did a lot of great stuff such as The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, and the Laff-A-Lympics.

I also like The Jetsons but it's always surprised me there was only the one season in 1962-63. It deserved to have a longer run than that. From 1985 to 87, about 50 additional episodes were made but I haven't seen those, I've only seen the original 1962-63 season.

I also like The Jetsons but it's always surprised me there was only the one season in 1962-63. It deserved to have a longer run than that. From 1985 to 87, about 50 additional episodes were made but I haven't seen those, I've only seen the original 1962-63 season.I have also only seen the original shows of The Jetsons and I loved them as well. The show should have continued well beyond that. I honestly do not know the reasoning why and maybe someone here does why it was discontinued. I will have to look up the shows from the 80's. Other than The Flintstones and possibly Scooby and his pals The Jetsons are right up there at the top.

I have also only seen the original shows of The Jetsons and I loved them as well. The show should have continued well beyond that. I honestly do not know the reasoning why and maybe someone here does why it was discontinued. I will have to look up the shows from the 80's. Other than The Flintstones and possibly Scooby and his pals The Jetsons are right up there at the top.

Interesting fact: The Flintstones, Top Cat, The Jetsons, and Jonny Quest are Hanna Barbera cartoons that aired on prime time TV in the 1960's. The Flintstones ran for six seasons while the other three shows ran for only one season.

Interesting fact: The Flintstones, Top Cat, The Jetsons, and Jonny Quest are Hanna Barbera cartoons that aired on prime time TV in the 1960's. The Flintstones ran for six seasons while the other three shows ran for only one season.
Interesting enough from what I remember from those days all of those shows did well. One thing though I do remember about The Flintstones is the sponsorship that it had from major sponsors. Also The Flintstones had characters that people related to even though they were from the Stone Age. That is why I don't really understand why The Jetsons didn't last but 1 season. The family was relatable even though they did things in the future.

Interesting enough from what I remember from those days all of those shows did well. One thing though I do remember about The Flintstones is the sponsorship that it had from major sponsors. Also The Flintstones had characters that people related to even though they were from the Stone Age. That is why I don't really understand why The Jetsons didn't last but 1 season. The family was relatable even though they did things in the future.

I can only figure that The Jetsons didn't do quite well enough in the ratings department so it wasn't renewed for a 2nd season in 1963-64.

The Flintstones is sort of an animated version of The Honeymooners. The four main characters, Fred, Barney, Wilma, and Betty are based on Ralph, Ed, Alice, and Trixie.

I can only figure that The Jetsons didn't do quite well enough in the ratings department so it wasn't renewed for a 2nd season in 1963-64.

The Flintstones is sort of an animated version of The Honeymooners. The four main characters, Fred, Barney, Wilma, and Betty are based on Ralph, Ed, Alice, and Trixie.

I'm shocked the Jetsons couldn't get renewed for at least a 2nd season. It had a lot of the same ingredients that made The Flintstones successful and a very talented voice cast. I always wonder if production cost might have played a big role in it getting the axe?

Janet Waldo (Judy Jetson) mentioned on the DVD commentary, that HB would show the Jet Screamer episode to new potential sponsors.

I can only figure that The Jetsons didn't do quite well enough in the ratings department so it wasn't renewed for a 2nd season in 1963-64.

The Flintstones is sort of an animated version of The Honeymooners. The four main characters, Fred, Barney, Wilma, and Betty are based on Ralph, Ed, Alice, and Trixie.

I was a kid back then so I didn't know the rating actually, I just knew I enjoyed The Jetsons. The Flintstones were based sort of off the Honeymooners which was already a success so they had that going for it. The Jetsons though also had that core set of characters with George, Jane, Judy, and Elroy that I really thought people could relate to. They didn't however have the neighbor friends although they did have Rosie the Maid robot. They also had in addition to that Mr. Spacely who was kind of like Mr. Slate.

I'm shocked the Jetsons couldn't get renewed for at least a 2nd season. It had a lot of the same ingredients that made The Flintstones successful and a very talented voice cast. I always wonder if production cost might have played a big role in it getting the axe?

Janet Waldo (Judy Jetson) mentioned on the DVD commentary, that HB would show the Jet Screamer episode to new potential sponsors.

I agree that The Jetsons deserved a longer run than just the one season. In a perfect scenario, The Jetsons would have run for four seasons and ended at the same time as The Flintstones, after the 1965-66 season.

I agree that The Jetsons deserved a longer run than just the one season. In a perfect scenario, The Jetsons would have run for four seasons and ended at the same time as The Flintstones, after the 1965-66 season.

It was the perfect show to go with The Flintstones. You had one show with a family from the Stone Age and another focusing on a family from the future.

I was a kid back then so I didn't know the rating actually, I just knew I enjoyed The Jetsons. The Flintstones were based sort of off the Honeymooners which was already a success so they had that going for it. The Jetsons though also had that core set of characters with George, Jane, Judy, and Elroy that I really thought people could relate to. They didn't however have the neighbor friends although they did have Rosie the Maid robot. They also had in addition to that Mr. Spacely who was kind of like Mr. Slate.

I was a one year old baby in 1962, too young to watch or remember The Jetsons original run. I first watched Jetsons episodes in the 1970's when the repeats were shown on TV. The Flintstones had The Rubbles as neighbors but it's true The Jetsons didn't really have neighbors that they interacted with.

It was the perfect show to go with The Flintstones. You had one show with a family from the Stone Age and another focusing on a family from the future.

Yes it was a perfect contrast. I looked at the 1962-63 TV schedule on Wikipedia, and it shows that ABC aired The Jetsons on Sunday night and The Flintstones on Friday night. Maybe The Jetsons would have done better ratings wise if ABC had placed it on Friday night right after The Flintstones. For example, put I'm Dickens He's Fenster in The Jetsons spot on Sunday night, and put The Jetsons in the I'm Dickens He's Fenster spot on Friday night.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962%E2%80%9363_United_States_network_television_schedule

Yes it was a perfect contrast. I looked at the 1962-63 TV schedule on Wikipedia, and it shows that ABC aired The Jetsons on Sunday night and The Flintstones on Friday night. Maybe The Jetsons would have done better ratings wise if ABC had placed it on Friday night right after The Flintstones. For example, put I'm Dickens He's Fenster in The Jetsons spot on Sunday night, and put The Jetsons in the I'm Dickens He's Fenster spot on Friday night.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962%E2%80%9363_United_States_network_television_schedule

Looks like it was up against some tough competition from the other two networks. Walt Disney 's Wonderful World Of Color probably dominated the family demo.

Yes it was a perfect contrast. I looked at the 1962-63 TV schedule on Wikipedia, and it shows that ABC aired The Jetsons on Sunday night and The Flintstones on Friday night. Maybe The Jetsons would have done better ratings wise if ABC had placed it on Friday night right after The Flintstones. For example, put I'm Dickens He's Fenster in The Jetsons spot on Sunday night, and put The Jetsons in the I'm Dickens He's Fenster spot on Friday night.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962%E2%80%9363_United_States_network_television_schedule
That would have made sense. Maybe ABC didn't want back to back animated shows for some reason.

LOL Fred doesn’t look a day over 45. That, The Jetsons and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home were my favorite cartoons shows.

(My all time fav: Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol)

LOL Fred doesn’t look a day over 45. That, The Jetsons and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home were my favorite cartoons shows.

(My all time fav: Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol)I love Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. A Flintstones Christmas Carol is a yearly tradition for me.

I love Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. A Flintstones Christmas Carol is a yearly tradition for me.

Generally I wasn’t a big fan of the regular Magoo series. But the Xmas Carol really made me flip. Every time I see Jim Backus (Magoo’s voice) I look fondly and smile. The Magoo Xmas Carol brought me so much joy as a child.

Generally I wasn’t a big fan of the regular Magoo series. But the Xmas Carol really made me flip. Every time I see Jim Backus (Magoo’s voice) I look fondly and smile. The Magoo Xmas Carol brought me so much joy as a child.
Mr. Magoo just works with the Christmas Carol story as does Fred Flintstone. Jim Backus I loved his voice.

Mr. Magoo just works with the Christmas Carol story as does Fred Flintstone. Jim Backus I loved his voice.

I totally agree about Jim Backus-loved his voice too. And about the Magoo show. The Flintsones, however, was to die for! I loved it as a kid. Actually, now that the Flinstones is airing on Me-TV in the early evening I may watch an ep or two this week. Not today though as Mon. I have a ZOOM meeting at that time.

Even though it’s been years since I’ve watched the Flintstones, I still remember how I loved it as a kid. I’m sure it’ll be fun to revisit it now.

I totally agree about Jim Backus-loved his voice too. And about the Magoo show. The Flintsones, however, was to die for! I loved it as a kid. Actually, now that the Flinstones is airing on Me-TV in the early evening I may watch an ep or two this week. Not today though as Mon. I have a ZOOM meeting at that time.

Even though it’s been years since I’ve watched the Flintstones, I still remember how I loved it as a kid. I’m sure it’ll be fun to revisit it now.I try to watch it each evening on METV. I still laugh quite often.

The Flintstones is sort of an animated version of The Honeymooners. The four main characters, Fred, Barney, Wilma, and Betty are based on Ralph, Ed, Alice, and Trixie.

Jackie Gleason considered suing over the Flintstones, but it was so popular he didn't want to be known as the man who stopped or tried to stop the show.

Jackie Gleason considered suing over the Flintstones, but it was so popular he didn't want to be known as the man who stopped or tried to stop the show.

Yes I remember hearing something about that. He wanted to sue but one of his legal advisors talked him out of it.

Yes I remember hearing something about that. He wanted to sue but one of his legal advisors talked him out of it.

That would have been an awful thing and a certain dark mark on his career.

Yes I remember hearing something about that. He wanted to sue but one of his legal advisors talked him out of it.

IMO it would have made him look like a petty idiot; glad he listened. BTW, I saw an ep last night on Me TV. YABBA DABBA DO!

IMO it would have made him look like a petty idiot; glad he listened. BTW, I saw an ep last night on Me TV. YABBA DABBA DO!

If Gleason had decided to sue, his chances of winning were probably slim so I imagine that's why his legal team talked him out of it.

I have The Flintstones series on DVD, I bought the six individual seasons as they were released from 2004-06. The main blemish with the DVD's is that the 3rd season episode titled The Big Move is not the complete episode, it's an edited version. Fortunately I was able to record the complete episode from the Boomerang channel a few years ago and I transferred the episode on to a DVD. :)

How The Flintstones set the stage for the adult animation boom (https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/oct/08/yabba-dabba-do-how-the-flintstones-set-the-stage-for-the-adult-animation-boom)