FOLLOWING ON THE heels of their highly successful, ground-breaking production of THE FLINTSTONES, the good folks over at Hanna=-Barbera Productions sought new worlds to conquer. With the premier of Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty and Dino's weekly half hour, the cartoon series had been brought to prime-time.
THE NATURAL AND obvious move was that of a sort of reverse play. The logic was simple, direct and almost mandatory. For if our ancient cartoon ancestors were the FLINTSTONES of Bedrock; our descendants in the far future should be represented on this animation family tree.
FOR SOME REASON or another, the exploits of George & Jane Jetson, their family and futuristic community failed to garner the support (Nielsen Ratings) needed to stay on ABC prime-time. They were canceled after a season.
PERHAPS WE SHOULDN'T say canceled, but rather shelved; as THE JETSONS reappeared over two decades later to continue their run. This time it was a healthy three or four years; lasting from 1985-88. This go-round also included the theatrical release, THE JETSONS MOVIE (1990).
THE PROBLEMS IN getting a sufficient following initially certainly weren't because of quality of animation, production values or the talents of the voice actors. The animation was tops for TV, the series was done by the skillful hands of the Hanna-Barbera people; who comprised the best cartoon company in television.
AS FOR THE cast, it couldn't have been better. We have Geoege Jetson, portrayed by veteran comic player/supporting actor George O'Hanlon. He starred in the long running series of JOE McDOAKES Shorts from Warner Brothers. Jane was also in the best of hands in Penny Singleton. She is best remembered as BLONDIE in those Columbia "B" movies.
THE REST OF the cast was filled out by all veterans of Hanna-Barbera's stable of blue ribbon performers. Headed up by the one and only "Mr. Voice" himself, Mel Blanc, it included: Daws Butler, Janet Waldo, Don Messick and Jean Vander Pyl.
SO, IN CONCLUSION, we can only find that THE JETSONS had the rough road to success due only to two things. Those being scheduling and the time slot.
AFTER ALL, IT has been said that TIME-ing is everything in life; be that time prehistoric or futuristic.
THE NATURAL AND obvious move was that of a sort of reverse play. The logic was simple, direct and almost mandatory. For if our ancient cartoon ancestors were the FLINTSTONES of Bedrock; our descendants in the far future should be represented on this animation family tree.
FOR SOME REASON or another, the exploits of George & Jane Jetson, their family and futuristic community failed to garner the support (Nielsen Ratings) needed to stay on ABC prime-time. They were canceled after a season.
PERHAPS WE SHOULDN'T say canceled, but rather shelved; as THE JETSONS reappeared over two decades later to continue their run. This time it was a healthy three or four years; lasting from 1985-88. This go-round also included the theatrical release, THE JETSONS MOVIE (1990).
THE PROBLEMS IN getting a sufficient following initially certainly weren't because of quality of animation, production values or the talents of the voice actors. The animation was tops for TV, the series was done by the skillful hands of the Hanna-Barbera people; who comprised the best cartoon company in television.
AS FOR THE cast, it couldn't have been better. We have Geoege Jetson, portrayed by veteran comic player/supporting actor George O'Hanlon. He starred in the long running series of JOE McDOAKES Shorts from Warner Brothers. Jane was also in the best of hands in Penny Singleton. She is best remembered as BLONDIE in those Columbia "B" movies.
THE REST OF the cast was filled out by all veterans of Hanna-Barbera's stable of blue ribbon performers. Headed up by the one and only "Mr. Voice" himself, Mel Blanc, it included: Daws Butler, Janet Waldo, Don Messick and Jean Vander Pyl.
SO, IN CONCLUSION, we can only find that THE JETSONS had the rough road to success due only to two things. Those being scheduling and the time slot.
AFTER ALL, IT has been said that TIME-ing is everything in life; be that time prehistoric or futuristic.