The ORIGINAL 1962-1963 ABC version of "The Jetsons"

[Rezny@gmail.com]

Versus the 1980's syndicated version of "The Jetsons"-The syndicated version was a distinct letdown(although George 0"Hanlon,(George),Penny Singleton (Jane),Janet Waldo(Elroy) and Mel Blanc(Mr.Spacely)did the same characters they voiced on the original,as did Howard Morris,and Don Messick),and it wasn't the same.Also,in the 1980's version George was kinda wimpy,and Mr.Spacely,who had been fairly nice in the original,was downright MEAN.And the 1980's version was babyish,whereas the original was sort of sophisticated,and kind of adult,and funny.Anyone agree that the ORIGINAL 1962-1963 ABC version was far better than the 1980's version?

[Brian Damage]

The original is by leaps & bounds better.........

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...keep in mind that the first season was a weekly prime-time series aimed at an "adult audience" (as "THE FLINTSTONES" was, even though they was basically aimed at "the entire family"), with a lot more care and effort focused on the production [even though the Hanna-Barbera studio was well on its way to becoming a "cartoon sausage factory" at that time with "THE FLINTSTONES", "THE NEW HANNA-BARBERA CARTOON SHOW" (unofficial title for "Wally Gator", "Lippy & Hardy", "Touche Turtle & Dum Dum") and their theatrical "Loopy DeLoop" series for Columbia]. When H-B revived the series in the fall of 1985, it became a daily half-hour, with more emphasis on kids watching it in syndication in mid-afternoons {with a nod to their parents who grew up watching the original}; this is why "Orbitty", that cute little alien with Frank Welker's voice, was introduced, and why the scripts tended to have more of a "Saturday morning" tang, with "valuable lessons" snuck in from time to time, to fulfill "educational requirements". Also keep in mind that the voice-actor cast was 23 years older, and that George O'Hanlon [he had to use large cue cards to read his dialogue, as his eyesight was virtually gone], Daws Butler, Janet Waldo, Penny Singleton and Mel Blanc were in their '60s and '70s. They sounded "different", due to their various ages- George didn't have the "oomph" he previously had as "George Jetson", and Mel's voice had roughened considerably over the years [he had a tendency to sound more "crochety" as "Mr. Spacely"]. 51 new episodes were produced between 1985 and '87, and they're not quite as great as the original 24.

[Marvo301]

The original episodes from the 60's are the only ones I own on DVD.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

The original episodes from the 60's are the only ones I own on DVD.

Me too! It's just like the later incarnations of The Flintstones, they sucked. (Well, I guess Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, was okay).

What year did The Flintstones Meet the Jetsons come out? I think all the actors who voiced the characters were still alive except for Betty (Gerry Johnson). I couldn't handle the new voice! It didn't sound like Bea Benaderet/Gerry Johnson. It ruined the whole show!

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by markway895

Me too! It's just like the later incarnations of The Flintstones, they sucked. (Well, I guess Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, was okay).

What year did The Flintstones Meet the Jetsons come out? I think all the actors who voiced the characters were still alive except for Betty (Gerry Johnson). I couldn't handle the new voice! It didn't sound like Bea Benaderet/Gerry Johnson. It ruined the whole show!

That movie came out in 1987.

[Rezny@gmail.com]

And one thing I don't get:In the 1962-1963 ORIGINAL ABC version,Mr.Spacely's wife was named Stella.But in the 1980's inferior remake,her name was Petunia.Or was it always Stella?