TV Show spotlight
Fred and Barney Meet The Thing
Fred and Barney Meet The Thing is a 60-minute Saturday morning animated package show produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from September 8, 1979 to December 1, 1979 on NBC. It contained the following segments: ⁕The New Fred and Barney Show ⁕The Thing Despite the title, the two segments remained separate and did not crossover with one another. Fred, Barney and the Thing were only featured together during the show's opening title sequence and in brief bumpers between segments. The unusual combination of a Marvel superhero and The Flintstones was possible because, at this time, Marvel Comics owned the rights to several Hanna-Barbera franchises and were, in fact, publishing comic books based upon them; The Flintstones was one of these. For the 1979-80 season, the series was expanded to ninety-minutes with the addition of The New Shmoo episodes and retitled Fred and Barney Meet the Shmoo.
Insights
Plot Summary
When Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble get jobs working for a shady exterminator in Los Angeles, they accidentally unleash a giant, destructive alien creature known as The Thing. The duo must then find a way to stop the creature before it causes irreversible damage to the city, all while trying to protect their families and their newfound reputations as heroes.
Critical Reception
This animated special was a peculiar crossover that aimed to blend the Hanna-Barbera slapstick humor of The Flintstones with a superhero narrative. While it garnered some attention for its unusual premise and the novelty of seeing Fred and Barney interact with a giant monster, it was generally met with a mixed to negative reception, often criticized for its convoluted plot and jarring tonal shifts.
What Reviewers Say
Peculiar and uninspired crossover that fails to blend its disparate elements.
Lacks the charm of classic Flintstones episodes, with a weak plot and forced superhero angle.
A forgettable entry in the Hanna-Barbera catalogue, primarily of interest to die-hard fans.
Google audience: Audience reception for this special is largely absent from public records, suggesting it did not generate significant discussion or strong opinions among viewers.
Fun Fact
The alien creature, The Thing, was designed to be a deliberate visual departure from typical Hanna-Barbera designs, aiming for a more imposing and slightly menacing appearance.
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