When Did 'The Flinstones' Jump the Dreaded Shark? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-31-2011, 10:15 PM

The birth of Pebbles? The emergence of the Great Gazoo? It never did?

TV Knowledge Fan · 03-31-2011, 11:53 PM

....Jon Hein, founder of jumptheshark.com, claims in his 2002 book that the introduction of "The Great Gazoo" in the fall of 1965 was the reason "THE FLINTSTONES" was cancelled after that season. Others claim the birth of "Pebbles", in February 1963, was the beginning of the end for the show. Still others say that "Bamm-Bamm", introduced that October, was the catalyst. Some say it was "Hoppy"'s first appearance, in September 1964. There are those who believe that when Gerry Johnson replaced Bea Benaderet as "Betty"'s voice in the 1964-'65 season, that's when the series started to decline.

You know what? I don't think ANY of those were the reason for the series' eventual cancellation. No, the way I see it, the show never "jumped the shark".

One possible reason as to why the series ended after its sixth season, was that William Dozier, who had become an "overnight" success as producer of "BATMAN", the surprise mid-season hit of ABC's 1965-'66 schedule, was guaranteed a time period for his next potential "hit"- an adaptation of the radio and comic book icon "THE GREEN HORNET"....and the only time available was Fridays at 7:30pm(et), which happened to be when "THE FLINTSTONES" was on. The show's ratings sagged a bit, due to competition from CBS' "THE WILD WILD WEST" in the fall of '65. And even though "big name" guest stars like Tony Curtis, Elizabeth Montgomery & Dick York [from "BEWITCHED"] and "SHINDIG!"'s Jimmy O'Neill appeared as their Stone Age counterparts that season to good ratings, ABC wanted something more "flashier" to compete with Robert Conrad and Ross Martin. Even though "THE FLINTSTONES" was still drawing a decent audience, the network decided to give their time slot to Dozier and "THE GREEN HORNET" for the fall of '66. And you know? While "THE FLINTSTONES" began its legacy to new generations of kids in network and syndicated repeats (and new spinoffs, starting on CBS' Saturday morning schedule in the '70s), "THE GREEN HORNET" lasted just one season.

Regulus · 04-01-2011, 07:43 AM

Never Jumped!

old grouch · 04-01-2011, 11:25 AM

While I wasn't a big fan of Gazoo, Harvey Korman's unique voiceovers added a lot to the show. I think the Flintstones jumped in the 70's when they started doing all the Saturday morning sequels, such as 'Fred and Barney Meet the Schmoo' and 'The Flintstone Kids'.

Regulus · 04-01-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

While I wasn't a big fan of Gazoo, Harvey Korman's unique voiceovers added a lot to the show. I think the Flintstones jumped in the 70's when they started doing all the Saturday morning sequels, such as 'Fred and Barney Meet the Schmoo' and 'The Flintstone Kids'.

Those are SEPARATE Series, and since they came out AFTER the Original Flintstones was cancelled you really cannot blame the other series on it. It would be like saying the original Star Trek jumped the shark after ST: The Next Generation and all it's spinoffs made their debut. Nope, those other shows "Jumped the Shark" by themselves!

BTW IMO NONE of the STAR TREK shows ever "Jumped", I'm just using them as an example.

MickeyMac · 04-01-2011, 04:15 PM

As far as I am concerned the original Flintstones never jumped the shark. There were a few episodes here and there that weren't spectacular, but from beginning to end, it was a great cartoon.

MrCleveland · 04-01-2011, 06:47 PM

More than likely...when The Great Gazoo came along. Many people were turned-off with the character.

Mr. Television · 04-01-2011, 07:53 PM

It never jumped. This was the best animated sitcom of all time IMO.

Adamantium · 04-01-2011, 09:49 PM

I think the title of this thread should be...

"When Did 'The Flintstones' Jump the Sharkasuarus?"

Regulus · 04-01-2011, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

As far as I am concerned the original Flintstones never jumped the shark. There were a few episodes here and there that weren't spectacular, but from beginning to end, it was a great cartoon.

EVERY TV Show I ever watched has had at least one episode that wasn't that great. But who's to judge. Even the best Students have had that one Class they "Bombed". But that wasn't the end of the world, they just recouped their losses and moved on.

old grouch · 04-02-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus

Those are SEPARATE Series, and since they came out AFTER the Original Flintstones was cancelled you really cannot blame the other series on it. It would be like saying the original Star Trek jumped the shark after ST: The Next Generation and all it's spinoffs made their debut. Nope, those other shows "Jumped the Shark" by themselves!

BTW IMO NONE of the STAR TREK shows ever "Jumped", I'm just using them as an example.

Different series, same franchise. In other words the original series never jumped, but all of the Saturday morning sequels caused the Flintstones franchise to jump.

LUNCH · 04-02-2011, 12:12 PM

The original Flintstones never jumped .The last season was just as good as the earlier seasons.If the show was not cancelled I think it could have easily ran for at least another 3 years.

jimpickens · 04-03-2011, 03:49 AM

Never jumped just a victim of network politics.

McGillicuddy · 04-03-2011, 10:50 PM

Yeah, the original series never jumped. The Flintstones "Jump the Shark" moments were plenty with all the sequel series, like when they "mellowed out" Fred.

tv star collector · 04-04-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Yeah, the original series never jumped. The Flintstones "Jump the Shark" moments were plenty with all the sequel series, like when they "mellowed out" Fred.

Fred became more "mellow" when Hanna and Barbera were forced to replace
the late Alan Reed with actor Henry Corden (in the later shows). The character was just never the same after that (kind of like the two Darrens
on Bewitched).

03-31-2011, 10:15 PM	#1
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	When Did 'The Flinstones' Jump the Dreaded Shark? The birth of Pebbles? The emergence of the Great Gazoo? It never did?
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03-31-2011, 11:53 PM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	There are several opinons as to when the series "jumped the shark"... ....Jon Hein, founder of jumptheshark.com, claims in his 2002 book that the introduction of "The Great Gazoo" in the fall of 1965 was the reason "THE FLINTSTONES" was cancelled after that season. Others claim the birth of "Pebbles", in February 1963, was the beginning of the end for the show. Still others say that "Bamm-Bamm", introduced that October, was the catalyst. Some say it was "Hoppy"'s first appearance, in September 1964. There are those who believe that when Gerry Johnson replaced Bea Benaderet as "Betty"'s voice in the 1964-'65 season, that's when the series started to decline. You know what? I don't think ANY of those were the reason for the series' eventual cancellation. No, the way I see it, the show never "jumped the shark". One possible reason as to why the series ended after its sixth season, was that William Dozier, who had become an "overnight" success as producer of "BATMAN", the surprise mid-season hit of ABC's 1965-'66 schedule, was guaranteed a time period for his next potential "hit"- an adaptation of the radio and comic book icon "THE GREEN HORNET"....and the only time available was Fridays at 7:30pm(et), which happened to be when "THE FLINTSTONES" was on. The show's ratings sagged a bit, due to competition from CBS' "THE WILD WILD WEST" in the fall of '65. And even though "big name" guest stars like Tony Curtis, Elizabeth Montgomery & Dick York [from "BEWITCHED"] and "SHINDIG!"'s Jimmy O'Neill appeared as their Stone Age counterparts that season to good ratings, ABC wanted something more "flashier" to compete with Robert Conrad and Ross Martin. Even though "THE FLINTSTONES" was still drawing a decent audience, the network decided to give their time slot to Dozier and "THE GREEN HORNET" for the fall of '66. And you know? While "THE FLINTSTONES" began its legacy to new generations of kids in network and syndicated repeats (and new spinoffs, starting on CBS' Saturday morning schedule in the '70s), "THE GREEN HORNET" lasted just one season.

04-01-2011, 07:43 AM	#3
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	Never Jumped!
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04-01-2011, 06:47 PM	#7
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,236	More than likely...when The Great Gazoo came along. Many people were turned-off with the character.
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04-01-2011, 07:53 PM	#8
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	It never jumped. This was the best animated sitcom of all time IMO.
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04-01-2011, 11:25 AM	#4
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	While I wasn't a big fan of Gazoo, Harvey Korman's unique voiceovers added a lot to the show. I think the Flintstones jumped in the 70's when they started doing all the Saturday morning sequels, such as 'Fred and Barney Meet the Schmoo' and 'The Flintstone Kids'.

04-01-2011, 04:15 PM	#6
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	As far as I am concerned the original Flintstones never jumped the shark. There were a few episodes here and there that weren't spectacular, but from beginning to end, it was a great cartoon.

04-01-2011, 09:49 PM	#9
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,840	I think the title of this thread should be... "When Did 'The Flintstones' Jump the Sharkasuarus?"

04-02-2011, 12:12 PM	#12
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	The original Flintstones never jumped .The last season was just as good as the earlier seasons.If the show was not cancelled I think it could have easily ran for at least another 3 years.

04-03-2011, 03:49 AM	#13
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,393	Never jumped just a victim of network politics.

04-03-2011, 10:50 PM	#14
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Yeah, the original series never jumped. The Flintstones "Jump the Shark" moments were plenty with all the sequel series, like when they "mellowed out" Fred.