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The Jetsons

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The Jetsons
File:Jetsonslogo640x480.jpg
The Jetsons title card.
Voices ofGeorge O'Hanlon
Penny Singleton
Janet Waldo
Daws Butler
Mel Blanc
Don Messick
Jean Vander Pyl
Theme music composerHoyt Curtin
Country of origin United States
 Japan (associated)
No. of episodes75 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time22-25 minutes
Original release
NetworkABC (1962–1963)
Syndication (1985–1987)
ReleaseSeptember 23, 1962 – March 3, 1963 (original)
September 16, 1985 –
November 12, 1987 (revival)

The Jetsons is a prime-time animated sitcom that was produced by Hanna-Barbera. The original incarnation of the series aired Sunday nights on ABC from September 23, 1962 to March 3, 1963.

It was Hanna-Barbera’s space age counterpart to The Flintstones. Like the former show, it is a half-hour family sitcom projecting contemporary American culture and lifestyle into another time period[1]. While the Flintstones live in a world with machines powered by birds and dinosaurs, the Jetsons live in a futuristic utopia in the year 2062[2] of elaborate robotic contraptions, aliens, holograms, and whimsical inventions.

The original series, comprising 24 episodes, was produced between 1962 and 1963 and was re-run on Saturday morning for decades. Its continuing popularity led to further episodes being produced for syndication between 1985 and 1987. The series was extensively merchandised and followed by two made-for-TV movies and two theatrical feature films. The Japanese dub is associated with Toei Animation.

Plot

George Jetson works three hours a day and three days a week for his short, tyrannical boss named Mr. Cosmo Spacely, owner of the company Spacely Space Sprockets. Typical episodes involve Mr. Spacely firing and rehiring or promoting and demoting George Jetson. Mr. Spacely has a competitor, H. G. Cogswell, owner of the rival company Cogswell Cogs. The Jetson family live in Skypad Apartments in Orbit City, where all homes and businesses are raised high above the ground on adjustable columns in a style reflective of the architecture of Seattle's Space Needle or the distinct Theme Building of the Los Angeles International Airport. George commutes to work in an aerocar that resembles a flying saucer with a transparent bubble top. Daily life is characterized as being comically leisurely because of the incredible sophistication and number of labor saving devices, which occasionally break down with humorous results. George's work day consists of pressing a single computer button. Despite this, characters often complain of exhausting hard labor and difficulties of living with the remaining inconveniences.

Other Jetson family members include Jane Jetson, the wife and homemaker; teenage daughter Judy and genius preteen son Elroy. Housekeeping is seen to by a robot maid, Rosie; she only appears in two episodes of the original 1960s show, excluding her appearance in the closing credits, but makes many appearances on the 1980s show.

The family dog Astro can mumble and say his words beginning with R's. Astro's catch phrases are "Ruh-roh!" and "Right, Reorge!" or "Rats Rall Right Reorge!" Later Hanna-Barbera cartoon dogs including Scooby-Doo and Muttley would use speech as well; voice actor Don Messick played all three. In the first episode of the '80s show, an alien named Orbity joined the family.

Characters

[3] George Jetson: age 38, is a loving family man who always seems to make the wrong decision. He works full-time, 15 hours a week at Spacely's Sprockets as a computer engineer. He is married to Jane and together they have two kids, Elroy and Judy. George is the protagonist of the show. It is suggested throughout the show that he was Fred Flintstone in a past life.

Jane Jetson: age 33, is George's spouse, mother of their two children, and homemaker. Jane is obsessed with fashion and new gadgetry and her favorite store is Mooning Dales. She is also a dutiful wife who always tries to make life as pleasant as possible for her family. Outside of the home, she is a member of the Galaxy Women Historical Society and is a fan of Leonardo de Venus and Picasso Pia.

Elroy Jetson: age 6 and a half, is the younger of the two children in the Jetson family. He is highly intelligent and an expert in all space sciences. Elroy attends Little Dipper School where he studies space history, astrophysics and star geometry. He is a mild mannered and good child.

Judy Jetson: age 17, is the older child in the Jetson family. She is a stereotypical teenage girl whose prime interests include: boys, clothes, dating, going out, and revealing secrets to her digital diary.

Rosie: age 45, is the Jetson's house-hold robot. She's an out-dated model but the Jetsons love her and would never trade her for a newer model. Rosie does all the household chores and some of the parenting. She is a strong disciplinarian and occasionally dispenses advice to the family.

Astro the Dog: age unknown, is the Jetson's family dog. Prior to being a Jetson, Astro was known as Tralfaz and belonged to the fabulously rich Mr. Gottrocket. Astro is George's best friend, and is able to speak. [4]

Orbity: age unknown, is the family pet who also happens to be an alien. He is a furry animal, resembling a monkey, but with a built in slinky/spring. Elroy found Orbity on a field trip to Mars and brought it home. Orbity is a friendly pet, incredibly smart and always in a good mood. This character was Introduced in the 1980s version of the series.

Cosmo Spacely: age unknown, is George's boss and owner of Spacely Sprockets. He is a "little person" with brown hair and a bad temper. Cosmo is the antagonist in the series.

Cogswell: age unknown, is Spacely's big competitor. He owns the Cogswell's Cogs company and causes a lot of trouble for Cosmo and George.

R.U.D.I.: is George's work computer. His name is an acronym for Referential Universal Differential Index. He has a human personality and is a member of the Society Preventing Cruelty to Humans.

Henry Orbit: age unknown, is the Jetson's apartment's repair man. He is always helpful and always in a good mood. His robot Mack has a crush on Rosie.

Music

The 1962 episode "A Date With Jet Screamer", in which daughter Judy Jetson wins a date with a rock star, provided the song "Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah (Means I Love You)" written by Hoyt Curtin, William Hanna and Joseph Barbara. The episode was a surrealistic Busby Berkeley-in-space affair which prefigured conceptual MTV videos by decades.[5]

A cover of "Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah (Means I Love You)" mistitled "Eep Opp Ork (Uh, Uh)", performed by The Dickies, is included on the 1988 album Killer Klowns from Outer Space, produced by Leonard Graves Phillips and Sir Ronald Powell Hitchcock for Enigma Records.[6]

A cover of "Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah (Means I Love You)", performed by Violent Femmes, is included on the 1995 tribute album Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall for MCA Records.[7]

Differences between the 1960s version and the 1980s version

Besides the increased presence of Rosie and the addition of Orbity, further differences between the 1960s version and 1980s version include the following:

  • Although the 1960s episodes were retrofitted with title cards (as was standard for 1980s-era H-B cartoons), as both the 1960s/1980s episodes were syndicated in the 1980s as a complete package, the original 1960s episodes are distinguished by 1960s style animation, music, and references (similar to The Flintstones and other Hanna-Barbera shows of that period).
  • The cast members have a slightly softer vocal tone in their 1960s-era performances, since they were about twenty years younger when originally working on the series.
  • Whereas the 1960s stories were basically 1950s sitcom plots in a futuristic setting, the 1980s stories delved into fantastic, sci-fi cartoon territory.
  • The opening credits of the 1980s version featured a rerecorded version of the original Jetsons theme song, which features the use of synthesized drums to create percussion typical of 1980s music.
  • The closing credits are static picture captions (like most of Hanna-Barbera's shows of the time). This format replaced the original credit sequence described above when the 1960s episodes were rebroadcast.
  • The 1980s version has a smoother look and clear sound, primarily due to Hanna-Barbera's switch to computer aided animation techniques at the time.
  • While episodes made in the 1960s referenced rockets and other "space age" theme devices, reflective of the real-life U.S. space program which fascinated America, the 1980s episodes leaned more towards how computers would influence life in the future.
  • Jane's lipstick in 1980s version is darker red.

Time period

The Jetsons was originally supposed to take place in the year 2062.[2] In episode 107, 'The Flying Suit' H. G. Cogswell announces his flying suit to be the newest wonder of the 21st century, supporting the previously stated time period.

Voice cast

The Jetson family (clockwise from upper left) — Rosie (robot), George, Jane, Judy, Elroy, Astro (dog)

Minor repeating characters

  • Montague Jetson, the kindly but eccentric grandfather of George Jetson
  • Arthur Spacely, Mr. Spacely's son — Dick Beals

The Jetsons media

Episodes

Main article: List of The Jetsons episodes

Television specials

Television films

Theatrical releases

Live-action future film

In May 2007, director Robert Rodriguez entered talks with Universal Studios and Warner Bros. to film a live action film adaptation of The Jetsons for a potential 2009 theatrical release. He had also met with Universal Studios to direct a film adaptation of Land of the Lost. Rodriguez was uncertain which project he would pursue next, though the latest script draft for The Jetsons by assigned writer Adam Goldberg was further along in development.[8] Denise Di Novi and Donald De Line have signed on to produce the film, with Hanna-Barbera Productions financing it.

Further appearances

Comics

  • The Jetsons #1-36 (Gold Key Comics, January 1963 – October 1970)
  • March of Comics #276 (1965), #330 (1969), #348
  • The Jetsons #1-20 (Charlton Comics, November 1970 – December 1973); 100-page no-number issue
  • Spotlight #3 (Marvel Comics, 197x)
  • The Jetsons #1-5 (Harvey Comics, September 1992 – November 1993); Big Book #1-3, Giant Size #1-3
  • The Jetsons #1-17 (Archie Comics, September 1995 – August 1996)
  • The Flintstones and the Jetsons #1-21 (DC Comics, August 1997 – April 1999)

Games

  • The Jetsons' Ways With Words (Intellivision) (1984)
  • The Jetsons and the Legend of Robotopia (Amiga, 1990)
  • The Jetsons: By George, in Trouble Again (DOS, 1990)
  • The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper (NES, 1992)
  • The Jetsons: Robot Panic (Game Boy, 1992)
  • The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates (Super NES, 1994)
  • Jetsons the Computer Game (Amiga) (1992)
  • The Jetsons: Mealtime Malfunction (Apple)
  • The Jetsons: Space Race
  • Flintstones Jetsons Time Warp (CD-i) (1994)

DVD Releases

Warner Home Video released season 1 of The Jetsons on DVD in Region 1 on May 11, 2004, and also released it in Region 4 on July 6, 2006. Season 2, Vol. 1 was finally released, almost five years since season one, on June 2, 2009 in Region 1.[9] No word yet on a DVD release of the remainder of season two and the ten epsodes comprising the third and final season.

DVD Name Ep # Region 1 Additional Information
The Complete First Season 24 May 11, 2004
  • Commentary on 2 episodes by Janet Waldo
  • The Jetsons: The Family of the Future
  • Space Age Gadgets
  • Rosie the Robotic Maid
  • Nuclear Family Album
Season 2, Volume 1 21 June 2, 2009
  • The Jetsons: Return to the Future

The Jetsons today

See also

References

  1. ^ CD liner notes: Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, 1995 MCA Records
  2. ^ a b "The Jetsons: Did you Know...?". Did You Know?. Gemstone Publishing. May 16, 2003. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  3. ^ http://www.scarlet.nl/~ivo/family.html
  4. ^ http://www.scarlet.nl/~ivo/photo.html
  5. ^ CD liner notes: Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, 1995 MCA Records
  6. ^ http://www.thedickies.com, Retrieved on 2009-06-16.
  7. ^ http://www.tvacres.com/music_songs_jetsons.htm, Retrieved on 2009-03-19.
  8. ^ Borys Kit (2007-05-09). "Future or past for Rodriguez?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jetsons-Season-2-Volume-1/11266
  10. ^ http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/10/largest-fictional-companies-oped-books-fict1507-cx_mn_de_1211company_slide_26.html?thisSpeed=15000
  11. ^ IGN list #46

Further reading

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