What's the Deal with Boo Boo?

In Hanna-Barbera's YOGI BEAR cartoons from 1958 and onward, Boo Boo played Yogi's sidekick.  But here's one thing about Boo Boo that has been strange from the very beginning:  his design seems to change from one cartoon to the next.  He might have a round head in a cartoon, and then be blocky in another.  He might have no forehead at all in one segment, and then he'll have a long tall forehead in the next.  The point is this:  early on, the folks at Hanna-Barbara were not terribly concerned about having a consistent model sheet for Boo Boo.  (Nor one for Ranger Smith.) 

The Huckleberry Hound Show

Here's the cast of The Huckleberry Hound Show in September 1961.  By this point, Hokey Wolf and his sidekick Ding-A-Ling had taken over the slot vacated by Yogi and Boo-Boo, who have moved over to The Yogi Bear Show, premiering that fall. 

               Hokey Wolf, Ding-A-Ling, Huckleberry Hound, Pixie, Dixie and Mr. Jinks

The Quick Draw McGraw Show

The Quick Draw McGraw Show remains one of the greatest cartoon shows ever, and certainly the most underrated cartoon show in the Hanna-Barbera library.   Quick Draw himself was a cockeyed combination of cowboy caricatures, brilliantly voiced by Daws Butler.  Unlike Huck and Yogi, whose voices were parodies of Andy Griffith and Art Carney, Quick Draw's voice was an original and one of a kind.  And the stories were provided by Mike Maltese and Warren Foster, who wrote many of the best of the Looney Tunes at Warner Bros. 

Above is a lineup of the cast from the Quick Draw series.  From left to right, that's Blabber, Baba Looey, Quick Draw McGraw, Augie Doggie with his father Doggie Daddy, and Snooper.  Snooper and Blabber were a team of "detecatives."  Baba was Quick Draw's sidekick.  But you knew that.  

The character pose is taken from an old Hanna-Barbera press release.  The background photo was taken during a family trip last month to the Grand Canyon.  Quick Draw and Baba Looey certainly fit into the terrain. 

Surprisingly,  there were some other Hanna-Barbera characters on hand at the Grand Canyon.  Near the entrance to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, we came upon the roadside attraction pictured below...

Um...Yabba-Dabba-Doo? 

"Top Cat" -- 50th Anniversary

Fifty years ago today, Top Cat premiered at 8:30 PM (7:30 Central time) -- in color** --on the ABC Television Network.  

 
** See comments section about "color."

The People Who Made "Tiny Toons" and "Animaniacs" -- Part Three

Earl Kress

Earl Kress and his wife Denise

Earl Kress was a major contributor to the writing of both Animaniacs and Pinky & the Brain.   Earl wrote or co-wrote many episodes which have become fan-favorites of the Animaniacs series, including the Slappy cartoon “Smell Ya Later” (co-starring Sherri Stoner and Jonathan Winters) and that Christmas gem "Little Drummer Warners" (directed by Lenord Robinson).  Earl was also part of the team that wrote the DVD animated feature “Wakko’s Wish.”

During the 90’s at Warner Bros, Earl also scripted some great segments for Tiny Toon Adventures (“Turtle Hurdle,” “Class Cut-up,” “Day for Knight”) and a handful of Road Rovers episodes.   Earl took home Emmy Awards for his writing on both Pinky and the Brain and  Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain.”  

I’ve known Earl since the early 80’s and have had the pleasure of working with him on a bunch of different animated series over the years, including Pound Puppies and Yogi’s Treasure Hunt during our time together at Hanna-Barbera.

Of course, Earl has worked on many cartoons outside of the Warner Bros./Hanna-Barbera spheres.  At Disney, for instance, he co-wrote the animated feature film “The Fox and the Hound.”

Earl and I grew up during the same era, and we were both big fans of the early Hanna-Barbara series starring Huck and Yogi and Quick Draw.  Earl is one of the world’s leading experts on Hanna-Barbara history and lore, and also studied voice-over acting with the legendary voice of Yogi, Huck and Quick Draw, Daws Butler.  Beyond these studies, Earl and Daws became good friends.    

You can hear some of Earl’s voice work on “Hanna-Barbera’s Pic-A-Nic Basket,” the definitive 3-CD collection of music and sfx from Hanna-Barbera shows of the late 50’s to the 70’s.  Earl not only performs on the album, he also hunted down and preserved many of the rare tracks, and produced the album as well.   

I’ve known Earl for 31 years and I’m proud to call him one of my best friends in this world of cartoons. 

 

Adventures in Advertising

Before I landed a job in animation, I lived in the New York area and pursued a career in advertising...for about six months.   After that didn't pan out, I moved to Los Angeles where Bill Hanna gave me a job as an assistant animator at Hanna-Barbera.  Thank you, Bill! 

During my brief time in pursuit of advertising, I took a test at McCann-Ericson -- a large ad agency at the time -- to get into their apprentice program.  Below is one of the pieces that I submitted for that test.  The client was Puerto Rican White Rum.   In retrospect, I guess the magazine ad I came up with would please neither the rum company executives nor their customers.   But I went with what I liked:  talking animals.  

I didn't get the job, which turned out to be a good thing.  After the advertising world passed, I was able to pursue my true goal...animation.  

The Cartoon Shows That Never Were # 2 -- "Mixed Nutz" (2008) -- Part 4 -- The Flintstones & Elmer Fudd

Another image from "Mixed Nutz," an animated TV series I pitched to Warner Bros. back in 2008.  In "Mixed Nutz," Looney Tunes characters team up with Hanna-Barbera stars. 


Viking Elmer Fudd arrives in Bedrock to conquer this stone-aged civilization.  But it's Elmer's incessant singing that drives Fred and the rest of the Flintstones out of their minds.


More to come... 

The Cartoon Shows That Never Were #2 -- "Mixed Nutz" -- Part 2

More images from my 2008 pitch to Warner Bros. for a new animated TV series starring not only the Looney Tunes but the Hanna-Barbera stars as well:  "Mixed Nutz."

In "Mixed Nutz," Yogi's pic-a-nic basket filching has brought him fame as "the world's most successful moocher."  He travels the globe giving seminars on pan-handling, like a grifter-version of  Tony Robbins.  Above:  When Yogi overstays his welcome at Bugs' Malibu beachfront home, the rabbit gives the bear a nudge toward the door.  

I kept Daffy and Porky together as a team for this parody of "The Terminator."  Rosey the Robot returns from the future to prevent Daffy from screwing up the world.

In the southwest, El Kabong is hired by the Highway Patrol to put the kibosh (and the "kabong") on the freeway speeder...the Roadrunner.

(I do so love El Kabong's rope from nowhere.)

More to come... 

The Cartoon Shows that Never Were #2 -- "Mixed Nutz" (2008) -- Part 1

Back in 2008, I proposed an animated TV series to the powers-that-be at Warner Bros.   

The basic concept of the show:  cartoon universes collide, resulting in Looney Tunes characters and Hanna-Barbera characters appearing in cartoons with each other.  

Bugs Bunny and Yogi Bear in the logo from "Mixed Nutz," an animated TV series I pitched to Warner Bros. back in 2008

I called the show "Mixed Nutz" and pitched it to Brad Globe, head of Warner Bros. global licensing.   Brad loved the concept and my pitch.  In fact, at my first meeting with him, three minutes into the pitch, after he had seen a few pieces of the art, he looked at me and, with a huge smile, said:  "We're making this show.  I've been waiting for someone to walk in with a concept like this for at least three years.  And now you've done it.  We're going to make this show."

Bugs Bunny makes a wrong turn in Albuquerque and arrives in Bedrock where he drives Fred Flintstone nuts in this segment from "Mixed Nutz," a TV series pitched to Warner Bros. by Tom Ruegger in 2008.

Pitches normally don't go this well.     

I was on cloud nine.  

A week or so later, there was a follow-up pitch with Brad, Warner Bros. Television Animation President Peter Roth, and the President of the Warner Bros. Television Group Bruce Rosenblum, and once again, "Mixed Nutz" received a very enthusiastic response, so much so that in the room that day, the three execs committed to making a pilot for the series.  Hand shakes all around.  

A very happy day.  

Daffy subs for Shaggy in this Scooby Doo segment from "Mixed Nutz," an animated TV series pitched by Tom Ruegger to Warner Bros. back in 2008. 

Over the next couple of weeks, I continued developing segments and story ideas for the show, I kept drawing and pulling artwork together, and I started to make calls in hopes of lining up some of the brilliant folks who helped make "Animaniacs" a success, funny people like Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver, Paul Rugg, John McCann, Alfred Gimeno, John McClenahan, Joey Banaskiewicz and others.  

Then, about a month after the initial pitch,  Sam Register was hired by Warner Bros. to be the executive in charge of Warner Bros. Television Animation, where he would be reporting directly to division prez Peter Roth.  Sam had his own plans for the Looney Tunes characters.  Soon after he arrived on the scene, my green-lit pilot became un-green-lit.  

Elmer has the title role and Quick Draw McGraw plays his equine sidekick in this movie parody from "Mixed Nutz," an animated TV series pitched to Warner Bros. by Tom Ruegger back in 2008.

"Mixed Nutz" was canceled before it could even get started.  

And I never heard another word from anyone at Warner Bros. 

Anyway, this post, and the subsequent posts about "Mixed Nutz," can be filed under the category "The Cartoon Shows that Never Were #2."  

Snagglepuss, Daffy, Yogi and Bugs in a spoof of "South Park" from "Mixed Nutz" (2008), an animated TV series pitched to Warner Bros. by Tom Ruegger.  

"The Yogi Bear Show" -- 50th Anniversary -- Part 3

After "The Huckleberry Hound Show" (1958) and "The Yogi Bear Show" (1961), Yogi went on to star in his own feature film, "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!" (1964) and in a number of additional television series.  Those series included:  "Yogi's Gang" AKA "Yogi's Ark Lark" (1973-1975), "Yogi's Space Race" AKA "Galaxy Goof-Ups" (1978), "Laff-A-Lympics" (1977-1979), "Yogi's Treasure Hunt" (1985-1987), "The New Yogi Bear Show" (1988),   and "Yo Yogi!" (1991).

Yogi was a regular "go-to" character for Hanna-Barbera, and the "smarter than average bear" was never far from Joe Barbera's thoughts.  Joe really felt a close kinship with this fast-talking and quick-witted star, and Joe was always developing new stories to put Yogi through his paces.  

Along with artists/colleagues including John Ludin, Earl Kress, Scott Jeralds, Alfred Gimeno, Wayne Kaatz,  Charlie Howell and plenty of others, I worked with Yogi and many of the classic Hanna-Barbera characters on the syndicated series "Yogi's Treasure Hunt," which was a regular segment of the two-hour weekend cartoon block entitled "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera."   

Above is a cel set-up with Yogi and his costars from "Yogi's Treasure Hunt."   (It was fun to have Snooper & Blabber and Augie Doggie & Doggie Daddy back in the mix!)

"The Yogi Bear Show" -- 50th Anniversary -- Part 2

 
A cell set-up of the stars from "The Yogi  Bear Show," Yogi and Boo Boo, signed by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera.

"The Yogi Bear Show" -- 50th Anniversary

January 30, 2011 marks the 50th Anniversary of the premiere of "The Yogi Bear Show" (January 30, 1961) in syndication on TV stations around the nation.  

Yogi first appeared back in October 1958 as one of the costars of "The Huckleberry Hound Show." His popularity led to his own series, in which he was supported by sidekick Boo Boo, nemesis Ranger Smith, and costars Snagglepuss, Yakky Doodle and Chopper.  

The show featured the brilliant voice acting of Daws Butler, Don Messick and, as Yakky Doodle, Jimmy Weldon.

Of course, Yogi became one of Hanna-Barbera's most enduring cartoon stars.

"The Good, the Bad, and the Huckleberry" -- starring Daws Butler

In the late 1980's, Hanna-Barbera made a syndication deal to produce ten new animated TV movies for local stations around the country.  These movies, which would air in two-hour prime time blocks, were to star many of Hanna-Barbera's biggest cartoon stars.  One of the first of these feature-length TV movies was "Yogi and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goose."  It premiered at Thanksgiving in 1987.   I recall watching it on TV with my kids...I think it was the longest two hours of their young lives.  It really did seem to go on forever, with the numerous and lengthy commercial breaks virtually destroying all tension and sense of continuity to the story.  

Others titles in this series included "Scooby Doo Meets the Boo Brothers," "The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones," and "Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats."  Many of them sounded promising, at least on paper.  But all of them seemed to collapsed under the weight of the interminable length of the time slot.  Two hours proved to be too much for a lot of these stories.  

Back then, John Ludin and I had been working together on "Yogi's Treasure Hunt" and we were both big fans of Quick Draw McGraw, so we tried to interest the powers that be in giving one of these movies to Quick Draw.  Joe Barbera, who was in charge of this movie package, wasn't keen on the Quick Draw concept, but he suggested we pursue a different title he had been considering:  "The Good, the Bad and the Huckleberry" --a western starring Huckleberry Hound.   John and I leapt at the chance to write this one.  We vowed to make it the best darned Huck cartoon ever.  

Well, it didn't quite work out the way we planned.   

We managed to tell part of the story we wanted to tell...but Mr. B had some thoughts on the subject, and he was quite insistent that we do what he requested.  We were surprised by this, because in our experience, this was not the normal procedure for Joe.  He usually let us do our own thing.  But these ten feature-length TV movies were important to him and the studio, so he took a personal interest in each one of them.  

Fortunately for John and me, Joe didn't micromanage our script, but he did insist on some moments that never quite made sense to us.  For instance, in the middle of an old western town in the 1880's, a bus containing kids would pull up, the kids would look out the bus windows, see Yogi and Boo Boo out on the street, and shout, "Look at the bears, look at the bears, look at the bears."  Yogi would find this annoying... while John and I just found it confusing.  This moment had absolutely nothing to do with  Huckleberry Hound's taming of the wild west, but Joe wanted it in there.  So it stayed in there.  

We learned later that Joe dictated the entire plot and virtually all of the dialog in almost every one of the other movies, so in the end, John and I felt fortunate that Joe trusted us enough to let us write most of the script on our own.  

But, ultimately, "The Good, the Bad, and the Huckleberry" was defeated by the same thing that brought down most of the other nine movies in this series:  they were just too dang long!  

Above is the cover page from the script, signed by the voice of Huck, Yogi, Quick Draw, Hokey Wolf and many others:  the great Daws Butler.  

The Cartoon Shows That Never Were #2: "The Trio of Triumph" Bible

Below is the preliminary "series bible" created for "The Trio of Triumph."  I worked on this with John Ludin, Scott Jeralds and Alfred Gimeno at Hanna-Barbera back in the late 80's.  Earl Kress and Wayne Kaatz had some input as well.  We'd leave this document behind after pitching the show concept to network execs. 

The words and drawings are circa 1987.  The color, for the most part, is new...