The Flintstones (TV Series) The Hit Song Writers (1961) User Reviews

Let's just say I added some pretty black dots!

[williamlangan-22870 · 9/10 · 18 April 2020]

This is the opening episode of Season 2. Since Mel Blanc had surgery, Daws Butler supplied the voice of Barney in this episode and 5 others. Daws also supplied the voice of the roosters and the Lawrence Welk caricature. Jean Vander Pyl played the librarian and Bea Benederet played Mr. Rockwell's secretary. John Stephenson played Scat, the crooked music salesman and the grumpy music agent Mr. Rockwell. And for the 1st time, The Flintstones had a special guest- Hoagy Carmichael, who loaned his voice with his animated likeness! Plot summary: When Fred comes home from a grueling day from work, Wilma shares a poem Barney wrote for Betty. Naturally, Fred gets jealous and visits Barney to take care of his poetry fever. Barney reads Fred a poem he wrote for him and that's not much more appreciated. But Fred gets the idea of becoming a songwriter and keeps Barney up all night trying to write a "hit song." Wilma wryly observes "Now I know how Miss Gilbert and Sullivan felt!"The next morning, Fred visits Scat Von Rocktoben, a con artist who promises to "add the pretty black dots" to their song. Barney is suspicious of Scat but still accompanies Fred to Rockwell's office. There they run into Hoagy Carmichael and Fred tells Hoagy about his aspiration to become a hit songwriter. They sneak into Mr. Rockwell's office through Hoagy. Rockwell is not happy to see Fred and Barney but Hoagy graciously agrees to play the piano to their song, which turns out to be Stardust! Rockwell throws them out but comes across Barney's poem Yabba Dabba Dabba Dabba Doo and likes it! So Hoagy Carmichael performs it live, with the Flintstones and Rubbles contributing. What I liked: I liked Wilma imitating Fred's temper tantrum as he walked in the door, the young rooster crowing for the 1st time. Most of all, I think I liked Hoagy Carmichael's guest appearance. He comes across in the episode as both humble and gracious. Hearing him perform Yabba Dabba Dabba Dabba Doo is a real treat, in addition. As we know, other actors and performers would loan their voices on The Flintstones on later seasons. This review is dedicated to Martha Custis Washington, who made a recent viewing of this episode possible. 9 pretty black dots out of 10.

Mel Blanc sorely missed.

[vitoscotti · 4/10 · 30 September 2023]

Not only is it impossible to replace Mel Blanc's Barney Rubble voice. But, all the other hilarious voices he does leave a huge hole in the show without him. There was zero chemistry without Mel Blanc. Daws Butler was only ok taking over the Barney Rubble voice. Makes you realize how irreplaceable the four main stars are how gifted they are. Fred's voice would later be replaced in future reboots of the series that I never really cared for. Episode only ok. The next four without Mel Blanc I'm not expecting too much from.

Interesting timing possibly to deflect the loss of Mel Blanc the show's first guest Hoagy Carmichael. He was fun to hear interact and sing. Nothing really funny in the episode. The singing was probably the highlight.