When "The Flintstones" went downhill - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Rezny@gmail.com · 04-19-2010, 05:23 PM

To me,it went downhill gradually during the 1965-1966 season,which was the last season.The show fluxuated between good and bad,in its final season with the episodes with "The Great Gazoo"(voiced by the late Harvey Korman.Korman ALSO did other voices on the shows'last season,(AND was the voice of the Dictabird in the live action movie "The Flintstones"which was eh-so-so,but not as good as the series ),and the character berated Fred in every episode Gazoo was featured in,except for the last one Gazoo was in(and in that one,he was pretty nice to Fred),dragging it down.What do the rest of you think?Feel free to post.

Rezny@gmail.com · 04-19-2010, 06:55 PM

In other words,except for the LAST episode that featured "The Great Gazoo",which was pretty good,most of the episodes that featured "The Great Gazoo"character were pretty bad.

Brian Damage · 04-19-2010, 07:08 PM

I agree, the Great Gazoo was like the great white shark the Flintstones jumped over.

comedyfreak · 04-20-2010, 05:56 AM

I liked the final season, Gazoo was pretty cool. The episode where Fred and Barney go up against Stonefinger and Gazoo saves the day by turning the baddies into babies.

MickeyMac · 04-20-2010, 05:32 PM

I guess I am in the minority here. I like the last season. The Bewitched espisode, and one of the best episodes Shinrock are in season six.

howilu · 04-23-2010, 10:50 AM

It seemed by the sixth season, the producers were running out of fresh ideas for the show and The Great Gazoo was added as another plot device. Six seasons was definitely a long, healthy run for TV's first half hour animated comedy but it would make lots more money in syndicated reruns.

rezny717 · 09-24-2011, 04:55 PM

Well,at least it ended on a fairly good note.

old grouch · 09-25-2011, 09:07 AM

I like the episode where they play Rockopoly.

comedyfreak · 09-28-2011, 08:33 AM

I also liked the Rock's Raiders episode Flintstone and Vander Rock.

TV Knowledge Fan · 09-28-2011, 02:54 PM

...Hanna-Barbera was producing five half-hour cartoon shows for the 1965-'66 season (including "MAGILLA GORILLA", " PETER POTAMUS", "ATOM ANT" and "SECRET SQUIRREL"), and the talent behind those series was spread rather thin. Still, Bill and Joe concentrated on their "flagship", "THE FLINTSTONES", following ABC's suggestions of using more guest stars {Tony Curtis, Liz Montgomery & Dick York, "SHINDIG!"'s Jimmy O'Neill} and something to attract more younger viewers {"The Great Gazoo"}. ABC had originally intended to renew the show for a seventh season (on the strength of its good ratings)...until "BATMAN" became a hit in January 1966. Then, producer William Dozier insisted a time slot be made available for his next series, "THE GREEN HORNET". And the only one available for the fall of '66 was--- Fridays at 7:30pm(et). That meant "THE FLINTSTONES" would have to be "sacrificed", because anything Bill Dozier produced that year was considered a better bet to succeed on Fridays than another season of "THE FLINTSTONES". Ironically, "THE GREEN HORNET" faltered against CBS' "THE WILD WILD WEST", and ended after one season.

comedyfreak · 09-30-2011, 06:00 AM

They should have saved the Flintstones as a mid season replacement.

gopyle · 11-13-2011, 10:45 PM

The first three seasons were the most consistently good, but the rest of the run had its good episodes here and there. The show became more kiddie oriented in the later seasons.

Steve M. · 11-14-2011, 12:07 AM

The Great Gazoo was my favorite "Flintstones" cahracter. Don't ask me why.

Yes, I still think it. The show's social satire wouldn't have worked going into 1967 and 1968, when things got ugly in America.

Steve Carras · 09-30-2012, 10:17 PM

I'lkl just day IU admit liking a few Gazoo episodews. but Bewitched crossover, nad most pebbles and Bamm Bamm episodes, are reasons why the last season has a bad name..IN FACT, those episodes werent; rerun till the early 70s.

GrtGzu · 02-26-2013, 12:48 PM

I dunno...I liked the lil green guy and thought he was rather funny...Especially the way he snarked on everybody, and anyThing....

04-19-2010, 05:23 PM	#1
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	When "The Flintstones" went downhill To me,it went downhill gradually during the 1965-1966 season,which was the last season.The show fluxuated between good and bad,in its final season with the episodes with "The Great Gazoo"(voiced by the late Harvey Korman.Korman ALSO did other voices on the shows'last season,(AND was the voice of the Dictabird in the live action movie "The Flintstones"which was eh-so-so,but not as good as the series ),and the character berated Fred in every episode Gazoo was featured in,except for the last one Gazoo was in(and in that one,he was pretty nice to Fred),dragging it down.What do the rest of you think?Feel free to post.

04-19-2010, 07:08 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I agree, the Great Gazoo was like the great white shark the Flintstones jumped over.
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04-20-2010, 05:56 AM	#4
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Star Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I liked the final season, Gazoo was pretty cool. The episode where Fred and Barney go up against Stonefinger and Gazoo saves the day by turning the baddies into babies.
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09-28-2011, 02:54 PM	#10
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Keep in mind that... ...Hanna-Barbera was producing five half-hour cartoon shows for the 1965-'66 season (including "MAGILLA GORILLA", " PETER POTAMUS", "ATOM ANT" and "SECRET SQUIRREL"), and the talent behind those series was spread rather thin. Still, Bill and Joe concentrated on their "flagship", "THE FLINTSTONES", following ABC's suggestions of using more guest stars {Tony Curtis, Liz Montgomery & Dick York, "SHINDIG!"'s Jimmy O'Neill} and something to attract more younger viewers {"The Great Gazoo"}. ABC had originally intended to renew the show for a seventh season (on the strength of its good ratings)...until "BATMAN" became a hit in January 1966. Then, producer William Dozier insisted a time slot be made available for his next series, "THE GREEN HORNET". And the only one available for the fall of '66 was--- Fridays at 7:30pm(et). That meant "THE FLINTSTONES" would have to be "sacrificed", because anything Bill Dozier produced that year was considered a better bet to succeed on Fridays than another season of "THE FLINTSTONES". Ironically, "THE GREEN HORNET" faltered against CBS' "THE WILD WILD WEST", and ended after one season.

11-14-2011, 12:07 AM	#13
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,307	The Great Gazoo was my favorite "Flintstones" cahracter. Don't ask me why. Yes, I still think it. The show's social satire wouldn't have worked going into 1967 and 1968, when things got ugly in America.
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04-19-2010, 06:55 PM	#2
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	In other words,except for the LAST episode that featured "The Great Gazoo",which was pretty good,most of the episodes that featured "The Great Gazoo"character were pretty bad.

04-20-2010, 05:32 PM	#5
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	I guess I am in the minority here. I like the last season. The Bewitched espisode, and one of the best episodes Shinrock are in season six.

04-23-2010, 10:50 AM	#6
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,967	It seemed by the sixth season, the producers were running out of fresh ideas for the show and The Great Gazoo was added as another plot device. Six seasons was definitely a long, healthy run for TV's first half hour animated comedy but it would make lots more money in syndicated reruns.

09-24-2011, 04:55 PM	#7
rezny717 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 06, 2011 Location: Lincoln,Nebraska Posts: 659	Well,at least it ended on a fairly good note.

09-25-2011, 09:07 AM	#8
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	I like the episode where they play Rockopoly.

09-28-2011, 08:33 AM	#9
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Star Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I also liked the Rock's Raiders episode Flintstone and Vander Rock.

09-30-2011, 06:00 AM	#11
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Star Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	They should have saved the Flintstones as a mid season replacement.

11-13-2011, 10:45 PM	#12
gopyle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2011 Posts: 235	The first three seasons were the most consistently good, but the rest of the run had its good episodes here and there. The show became more kiddie oriented in the later seasons.

09-30-2012, 10:17 PM	#14
Steve Carras Sandra Bullock RULES! Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 30, 2002 Location: Riverside County, CA Posts: 807	I'lkl just day IU admit liking a few Gazoo episodews. but Bewitched crossover, nad most pebbles and Bamm Bamm episodes, are reasons why the last season has a bad name..IN FACT, those episodes werent; rerun till the early 70s.
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02-26-2013, 12:48 PM	#15
GrtGzu Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 05, 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 203	I dunno...I liked the lil green guy and thought he was rather funny...Especially the way he snarked on everybody, and anyThing....