"The Flintstones" (1960) TV series 1960-1966

Writers:

Joseph Barbera (writer)
Herbert Finn (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

30 September 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Comedy

Plot:

The misadventures of a modern stone-age family and friends.

Plot Keywords:

The Flintstones | Theremin | Suspend Disbelief | Cartoon Dinosaur | Dinosaur As Dog

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Jean Vander Pyl	...	Wilma Flintstone / ... (167 episodes, 1959-1966)
Alan Reed	...	Fred Flintstone (166 episodes, 1960-1966)
Mel Blanc	...	Barney Rubble / ... (166 episodes, 1960-1966)
Bea Benaderet	...	Betty Rubble / ... (161 episodes, 1960-1966)
John Stephenson	...	Mr. Nate Slate / ... (74 episodes, 1960-1966)

Also Known As:

The Flagstones (USA) (working title)
The Gladstones (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (166 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Ontario/Quebec) (video rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (some episodes) | UK:U (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | USA:TV-G | Brazil:Livre

Company:

Hanna-Barbera Productions

Trivia:

To capitalize on the then-current craze of "ghoul comedies" such as "The Addams Family" (1964) and "The Munsters" (1964), the Gruesomes (Weirdly, his wife Creepella and their son Gobby) were introduced in the fifth season as the Flintstones' new neighbors. But they only appeared in two episodes.

Goofs:

Continuity: Fred and Barney's boss's name keeps changing from George Slate to George Granite and back throughout the first season.

Quotes:

Fred Flintstone: How can you be so stupid?
Barney Rubble: Hey, that's not very nice. Say you're sorry.
Fred Flintstone: I'm sorry you're stupid.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Undeclared: Prototype (#1.1)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Talkin' Loud Ain't Sayin' Nothin'

None of the other Hanna-Barbera cartoons were this funny--or this smart

"The Flintstones" was so dead-on satirical in its view of a prehistoric suburban world that I don't really understand it when people tell me they liked "The Jetsons" better. There's nobody I can relate to on "The Jetsons", no character who exudes any warmth or wit. The characters here (Fred, Barney, Wilma, Betty, Dino, Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm, Mr. Slate, Mrs. Slaghoople, etc.) have expressions and personalities which are instantly recognizable to an audience. They're a very funny bunch, and they often find each other greatly amusing as well (each character has a sense of humor--and their friendships really do seem like a bond). I don't know why the Hanna-Barbera team weren't able to duplicate the quality of this show in terms of its writing and voice-casting (perhaps it was all a fluke?), but "The Flintstones" has it all: great writing and voices which bring one-dimensional drawings to life, terrific plots, fantastic music by Hoyt Curtin. Not a kiddie show...not a sitcom...not a child-pacifier. "The Flintstones" is a minor miracle.