10 things you never knew about The Jetsons
Originally created to be the space-aged counterpart to The Flinstones, Hanna-Barbera’s animated sitcom, The Jetsons first hit television screens in 1962. With its nuclear family of characters and a firm view of what the future would look like, The Jetsons drew viewers into the wacky Orbit City where cars fly and robots do all the housework. But here are a few things you probably never knew about The Jetsons.
1. The show originally only ran for one season. After an initial run of 24 episodes, which aired from 1962-1963, the show was cancelled. In 1984, Hanna-Barbera began producing new episodes with an eye for syndication. 41 episodes were added to the original 24 in 1985. By 1987, a further 10 episodes were included in the rotation.
2. Just like The Flinstones, The Jetsons was originally produced with a laugh track. However, the 1980s-produced episodes did not include one.
3. Rosie the Robot (originally spelt “Rosey”) was only included in two of the original episodes. She is much more prominent in the newer seasons.
4. Taking note of how technology was advancing, the show’s animators opted to include flat buttons and lit consoles in place of things like switches, dials, and knobs, as used in the original episodes.
5. A 2017 direct-to-DVD Jetsons movie was made in a partnership between Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera, and WWE Studios. The Jetsons: WWE: Robo-Wrestle Mania! Featured time travel, wresting robots, and wrestling stars.
6. Several feature film adaptations have been planned over the years, beginning in 1985 with plans for a live-action version. The latest news is that Warner Bros. is producing an animated film.
7. A live-action remake of the TV show was ordered by ABC in the US in 2017.
8. Pat Carroll (perhaps most famous for her work as Ursula in Disney’s The Little Mermaid) was originally cast as Jane Jetson. She and Morey Amsterdam, the original voice of George Jetson, were replaced after recording the pilot episode. Their work was recorded over before the episode aired.
9. The Jetsons’ flying car was inspired by a Ford concept car from 1954, the FX-Atmos.
10. The Jetson’s phone number was VENUS-1234.
Which do you prefer – The Flintstones or The Jetsons?