Why didn't The Jetsons originally work, while The Flintstones did? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-19-2021, 11:04 PM

The Flintstones had six original seasons and many spin offs and product deals. The Jetsons meanwhile, had only one original season, and came back in the '80s for two more seasons. Was it because ABC put The Jetsons against Dennis the Menace on CBS and Walt Disney on NBC, thus becoming a guaranteed death sentence for a cartoon?

Charley Knox · 02-19-2021, 11:51 PM

Also, lack of a major sponsor (Scotch Tape). Flintstones had big tobacco money to play with for the first few seasons and then got picked up by Welch's Grape Juice when it began its transition to an animated family sitcom.

Archie8 · 04-24-2021, 05:21 PM

I was under the impression that The Jetson did not work was not enough of the population of North America had Color TV's.

merlinjones · 04-27-2021, 07:58 PM

The Jetsons was scheduled against then-powerhouse Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Sunday nights -- should have been paired with The Flintstones.

Colgate was one of the sponsors of The Jetsons - the blu-ray set shows custom animated ads on the first episode.

Charley Knox · 04-27-2021, 10:01 PM

New article from METV about the expense of producing a single episode of The Flintstones. Probably can also be used as discussion on why the Jetsons where cancelled prematurely.

https://www.metv.com/stories/the-fli...hen-it-debuted

merlinjones · 04-28-2021, 02:04 PM

Yes -- and the production values were even higher on The Jetsons. It had to cost a fortune (not to mention one season of Jonny Quest!).

LUNCH · 04-28-2021, 02:30 PM

The Jetsons was certainly popular in reruns. Had they known that they would have probably kept the show going for as long as The Flintstones.

02-19-2021, 11:04 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,532	Why didn't The Jetsons originally work, while The Flintstones did? The Flintstones had six original seasons and many spin offs and product deals. The Jetsons meanwhile, had only one original season, and came back in the '80s for two more seasons. Was it because ABC put The Jetsons against Dennis the Menace on CBS and Walt Disney on NBC, thus becoming a guaranteed death sentence for a cartoon?

02-19-2021, 11:51 PM	#2
Charley Knox Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 09, 2019 Location: Tn Posts: 634	Also, lack of a major sponsor (Scotch Tape). Flintstones had big tobacco money to play with for the first few seasons and then got picked up by Welch's Grape Juice when it began its transition to an animated family sitcom.

04-24-2021, 05:21 PM	#3
Archie8 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2021 Posts: 17	I was under the impression that The Jetson did not work was not enough of the population of North America had Color TV's.

04-27-2021, 07:58 PM	#4
merlinjones Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2019 Location: los ángeles Posts: 933	The Jetsons was scheduled against then-powerhouse Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Sunday nights -- should have been paired with The Flintstones. Colgate was one of the sponsors of The Jetsons - the blu-ray set shows custom animated ads on the first episode.

04-27-2021, 10:01 PM	#5
Charley Knox Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 09, 2019 Location: Tn Posts: 634	New article from METV about the expense of producing a single episode of The Flintstones. Probably can also be used as discussion on why the Jetsons where cancelled prematurely. https://www.metv.com/stories/the-fli...hen-it-debuted

04-28-2021, 02:04 PM	#6
merlinjones Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2019 Location: los ángeles Posts: 933	Yes -- and the production values were even higher on The Jetsons. It had to cost a fortune (not to mention one season of Jonny Quest!).

04-28-2021, 02:30 PM	#7
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	The Jetsons was certainly popular in reruns. Had they known that they would have probably kept the show going for as long as The Flintstones.