SETH MACFARLANE GETS WARNER BROTHERS OK TO REBOOT "THE FLINTSTONES"

[gregg75]

deadline.com reports that MacFarlane has the "ok" to make a Flintstone movie or series.
Deadline questions if he will turn the Flintstones into a raunchy Family Guy type program.
I hope not, but PROBABLY SO, would be my guess.

The story is on the main page right now, but may be moved to it's own spot.
http://www.deadline.com/tv/

 

[vchimpanzee]

Okay, that's scary. He did one scene on one of his shows, and I didn't like it.

You just can't mess with Fred and Wilma.

 

[MarcB]

You just can't mess with Fred and Wilma.

Cartoon Network did and people weren't too happy. There was a movie several years ago. In the movie Fred was cheating on Wilma. It was called something to the effect of "Flintstones On the Rocks".


Then there was the X-Rated Movie that aired on the porno channel when I was younger.

 

[only1moore]

This is a big mistake on Warner Brothers' part to allow this project to go forward. Did anyone at WB learn from what happened to "Wonder Woman" about not to tamper with a classic?

 

[ShawnHill1]

Okay, that's scary. He did one scene on one of his shows, and I didn't like it.

You just can't mess with Fred and Wilma.

There a few other instances...a most recent example, John Bunnell (of World's Wildest Police Videos) narrated a police chase in which Fred (with Dino, Pebbles, and Bamm-Bamm in the back seat) is involved in a high-speed chase, and gets beaten afterwards for his troubles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALwF8-ajyh4

I maybe in the minority here, but I'm curious to see a more-adult version of The Flintstones, although I will agree I hope it doesn't get too raunchy.

 

[Markieo]

There was an episode of "Robot Chicken" where Barney kills Fred over his Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles. He also kills Wilma, Betty, and a bunch of appliances, before being hung while an announcer says "Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles are part of a nutritious breakfast".

 

[pab]

I maybe in the minority here, but I'm curious to see a more-adult version of The Flintstones, although I will agree I hope it doesn't get too raunchy.

In the 1960's, the Flintstones WERE aimed at an adult audience. There were too many subtle references and jokes aimed at adults for it to be considered "kids' fare." It wasn't until 1970's syndication when people assumed that cartoons were just for kids, and the reboots (like "Pebbles and Bamm Bamm" and "Fred and Barney Meet the Thing") were made with that attitude in mind.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

I maybe in the minority here, but I'm curious to see a more-adult version of The Flintstones, although I will agree I hope it doesn't get too raunchy.

In the 1960's, the Flintstones WERE aimed at an adult audience. There were too many subtle references and jokes aimed at adults for it to be considered "kids' fare." It wasn't until 1970's syndication when people assumed that cartoons were just for kids, and the reboots (like "Pebbles and Bamm Bamm" and "Fred and Barney Meet the Thing") were made with that attitude in mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZvHiiWFbBU

 

[DToTheJ]

Okay, that's scary. He did one scene on one of his shows, and I didn't like it...

There a few other instances...a most recent example, John Bunnell (of World's Wildest Police Videos) narrated a police chase in which Fred (with Dino, Pebbles, and Bamm-Bamm in the back seat) is involved in a high-speed chase, and gets beaten afterwards for his troubles...

And who can forget when they were in New York City (very early episode) and they suddenly walk into Bedrock?

 

[FilmCritic3K]

deadline.com reports that MacFarlane has the "ok" to make a Flintstone movie or series.
Deadline questions if he will turn the Flintstones into a raunchy Family Guy type program.
I hope not, but PROBABLY SO, would be my guess.

The story is on the main page right now, but may be moved to it's own spot.
http://www.deadline.com/tv/

My understanding is that is one of the reasons why the negotiations for this deal took so long: Warner Bros. would not relinquish the rights unless MacFarlane produced a more family-friendly series.

And as others have stated, MacFarlane got his start at Cartoon Network, where he worked on Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and Cow and Chicken.

 

[MarcB]

deadline.com reports that MacFarlane has the "ok" to make a Flintstone movie or series.
Deadline questions if he will turn the Flintstones into a raunchy Family Guy type program.
I hope not, but PROBABLY SO, would be my guess.

The story is on the main page right now, but may be moved to it's own spot.
http://www.deadline.com/tv/

1010 WINS out of NYC had the story from DEADLINE.COM last night. They said the new series was gonna air on FOX, but they didn't speculate as to when it would start.


A Macfarlane cartoon on FOX? There's a shocker.

 

[Braves2005]

deadline.com reports that MacFarlane has the "ok" to make a Flintstone movie or series.
Deadline questions if he will turn the Flintstones into a raunchy Family Guy type program.
I hope not, but PROBABLY SO, would be my guess.

The story is on the main page right now, but may be moved to it's own spot.
http://www.deadline.com/tv/

1010 WINS out of NYC had the story from DEADLINE.COM last night. They said the new series was gonna air on FOX, but they didn't speculate as to when it would start.


A Macfarlane cartoon on FOX? There's a shocker.

According from what I heard sometime in 2013.

Anything to get rid of Bob's Burgers away from FOX. At least MacFarlane draws better than those who made a mess of that cartoon.

 

[gregg75]

Here here. Bob's Burgers is a bit like $#*! My Dad Says, looked good on paper but just
didn't "hold the mustard". ;D

 

[FreddyE1977]

What's next? Betty Boop Does Dallas?
Does every childhood memory have to be pornified?

 

[Braves2005]

I just wonder if they are going to keep Pebbles and Bamm Bamm as babies or as teenagers like they were in the 1970's version of The Flintstones or as a married couple like they did on a Cartoon Network movie where they were married in Las Vegas. The main thing is hopefully that they won't tarnish the image of them that we all know and love.

But I could see the following: Pebbles and Bamm Bamm on American Idol, The Flintstones and Rubbles doing a reality show, etc. As long as they are updating the show into the 2010's might as well keep up with today.

 

[DToTheJ]

My hunch is that if this new "Flintstones" series takes off, a new "Jetsons" is next!

 

[Nate Wesley]

This is a big mistake on Warner Brothers' part to allow this project to go forward. Did anyone at WB learn from what happened to "Wonder Woman" about not to tamper with a classic?

What an overreaction. Warner Bros. Studios (owner of the Hanna-Barbera library to which The Flintstones originally belonged), probably sees the same cross-generational viability seen in a franchise like Scooby-Doo. There are easily grandparents and grandchildren who have tuned in to a scripted adventure featuring those associated characters since the show first debuted in 1969. Saturday morning cartoons, animated and live-action films, merchandising...it's all been done before, and successfully.

(See also Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Charles Schultz' Peanuts, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, etc. It IS possible to do successful updates to such creative works.)

 

[DToTheJ]

Oh, yeah - you can bet rebroadcasts of the new Fox "Flintstones" show are almost guaranteed to air on TBS, if not one of the Turner networks (TBS and Cartoon Network run "Family Guy," and I believe the latter airs "American Dad," as well).

It would mark the first time since the "Superstation" era that the network aired a "Flintstones" show.

 

[justpassingthough]

I don't think Seth MacFarlane is getting a fair shake here. Yes, Family Guy can often be crude and the humor can be very adolescent, but it is also known for a level of pop culture awareness and parody that could suit an updated Flintstones quite well.

Imagine a revived Flintstones that skewered the cultural and political wars of the past few decades, in an allegorical sense, set back in the stone age....it could potentially be comedy gold. The only real drawback could be MacFarlane's obvious political bent- which may turn off more than a few viewers.

 

[pab]

Also of interest, this series means that the Flintstones will have been on four different major TV networks, one of the few series to be able to say that. They debuted on ABC, were on CBS from 1971-1973 (as "Pebbles and Bamm Bamm" and "The Flintstone Comedy Hour") and NBC from 1979-1984 under a variety of titles.

And as much as I dislike Seth MacFarlane (I consider him a one-trick pony, and "Family Guy" as a show that ran out of steam shortly after it was revived) I don't think he'd be stupid enough to change the tone of the show too much. If anything, it will probably be along the lines of the middle seasons of the original show: written on two levels so the adults get a lot more jokes but family friendly for the kids. That would also make it a natural for the 7 PM slot starting off Sunday nights.