View Full Version : Rocky and Bullwinkle or Beany and Cecil?


24/7 reruns
09-28-2025, 12:13 PM
Most have said that Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons are the best at creating 2 levels of humor. One kid focused th other adult focused.

I've been rewatching Beany and Cecil and feel those cartoons do a better job. Now much of the adult understood humor is a bit dated. I'm not sure how many pre-boomers would know/remember Dinah Shore, from "Cecil Meets a Singing Dinasor" or George Gobel from, "Dirty Bird". Yet for me Beany and Cecil does the kid/adult humor better than Rocky and Bullwinkle.

cd637299
09-28-2025, 02:13 PM
To each his own.

1 vote from me for R&B.

One COULD say that the humor in R&B still holds up today, especially when it got political (see “Goof Gas Attack” or “Wossamatta U” on YouTube if still available).

The first story of R&B, “Jet Fuel Formula,” was a bit more serious in tone, and of course being the first one, nobody knew how popular it would be.

R&B, like I have said before, was one of those comedies that got *funnier* as it went along—with increases of breaking-the-fourth-wall humor, like for instance the characters telling the narrator to shut up or something. The animation, while still poor, did improve vastly since Jet Fuel!

And…who, outside of 50s/60s celebrity Durward Kirby, didn’t like the Kirward Derby? (Kirby tried to sue, to where Jay Ward said, “Go ahead. We could use the publicity.”)

cd

24/7 reruns
09-28-2025, 03:27 PM
To each his own.

1 vote from me for R&B.

One COULD say that the humor in R&B still holds up today, especially when it got political (see “Goof Gas Attack” or “Wossamatta U” on YouTube if still available).

The first story of R&B, “Jet Fuel Formula,” was a bit more serious in tone, and of course being the first one, nobody knew how popular it would be.

R&B, like I have said before, was one of those comedies that got *funnier* as it went along—with increases of breaking-the-fourth-wall humor, like for instance the characters telling the narrator to shut up or something. The animation, while still poor, did improve vastly since Jet Fuel!

And…who, outside of 50s/60s celebrity Durward Kirby, didn’t like the Kirward Derby? (Kirby tried to sue, to where Jay Ward said, “Go ahead. We could use the publicity.”)

cd
All good points. You're right on only people of a certain age would understand/remember people like Durward Kirby and the reasons for the political tone that some of the Rocky and Bullwinkle took.

Alan Brady's Hair
09-28-2025, 06:20 PM
Probably the Beany and Cecil characters, but the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show. R&B's other cartoons add a lot of value.

cd637299
09-28-2025, 06:31 PM
Probably the Beany and Cecil characters, but the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show. R&B's other cartoons add a lot of value.

I had the 1981 edition of Jeff Lenburg’s Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, with a full page drawing full of the Beany one-shot characters like So What & the 7 Whatnots, Davey Crickett, Tearalong the Dotted Lion, et al. Funny names to be sure….

But yes R&B’s supporting cartoons prop up that show. I like Peabody as much as Dudley, and of course Fractured Fairy Tales. Loved Peabody’s horrible puns to end an ep.

I recorded the 1990s special “Of Moose and Men” from PBS. It should be on YouTube.

cd

24/7 reruns
09-28-2025, 06:34 PM
Yes, if you factor in the other cartoon characters that compliment Rocky and Bullwinkle then they would be better than Beany and Cecil. With Rocky and Bullwinkle as a stand alone then I feel Beany and Cecil would win out.

stevea
09-28-2025, 11:05 PM
I had the 1981 edition of Jeff Lenburg’s Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, with a full page drawing full of the Beany one-shot characters like So What & the 7 Whatnots, Davey Crickett, Tearalong the Dotted Lion, et al. Funny names to be sure….

But yes R&B’s supporting cartoons prop up that show. I like Peabody as much as Dudley, and of course Fractured Fairy Tales. Loved Peabody’s horrible puns to end an ep.

I recorded the 1990s special “Of Moose and Men” from PBS. It should be on YouTube.

cd

Yes, I agree with you and ABH--the other cartoons prop the show up. R&B bridging animation was more entertaining than their stories. Hey, Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit outta my hat. (OK that got old...)

Yes, I liked Peabody and Sherman, Dudley was funny, Ed. Ev. Horton and the tales were enjoyable, too.

howilu
09-29-2025, 09:49 AM
Both Rocky and Bullwinkle and Beany and Cecil were very funny cartoons. Moose & Squirrel (as I frequently refer to the show) were very well written cartoons that still hold up today along with the supporting segments that include Mr. Peabody and Dudley Do-Right.

As for Beany and Cecil, the show was frequently aired in the 1960s and 1970s but now it hardly airs on any channel. Those cartoons were very funny with characters such as Tearalong the Dotted Lion, Davey Cricket and Harecules. Some cartoons you might find on YouTube. If MeTV Toons or Tubi can get the rights to Beany and Cecil, it would be great to see these cartoons for the first time in years.

Dude111
09-29-2025, 11:34 AM
Rocky and Bullwinkle!!

cd637299
09-29-2025, 01:08 PM
Both Rocky and Bullwinkle and Beany and Cecil were very funny cartoons. Moose & Squirrel (as I frequently refer to the show) were very well written cartoons that still hold up today along with the supporting segments that include Mr. Peabody and Dudley Do-Right.

As for Beany and Cecil, the show was frequently aired in the 1960s and 1970s but now it hardly airs on any channel. Those cartoons were very funny with characters such as Tearalong the Dotted Lion, Davey Cricket and Harecules. Some cartoons you might find on YouTube. If MeTV Toons or Tubi can get the rights to Beany and Cecil, it would be great to see these cartoons for the first time in years.

Sad that Toons lost R&B in a rights-snag. Neal Sabin at Weigel said they are trying to get it back, and paraphrasing, he wants it back as much as I do!

Many Beanys are on YouTube, and you’re right, they aren’t on TV anymore. I myself tried to get into it, but it just seemed too way-out for me. Even the Clampett cartoons at WB were a little on the far-out side. But I get the appeal, I guess. I do have Clampett’s “Porky in Wackyland” in my top ten WB toons.

cd

stevea
09-29-2025, 06:17 PM
My guess is B&C is another of those animated shows produced in color but shown on ABC in black and white. At some point they were remastered in color, but from what's on Youtube, I'd have to think from inferior sources.

Since the two DVD volumes were a total of around 22-23 cartoons, I doubt the entire series has had updated broadcast masters produced.