TV Show spotlight
Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters is a Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera and CBS Productions, featuring animated versions of players from the famous basketball team, Harlem Globetrotters. Broadcast from September 12, 1970, to September 2, 1972 on CBS, and later re-run on NBC as The Go-Go Globetrotters, the show featured cartoon versions of George "Meadowlark" Lemon, Freddie "Curly" Neal, Hubert "Geese" Ausbie, J.C. "Gip" Gipson, Bobby Joe Mason, and Pablo Robertson, alongside their fictional bus driver and manager, Granny, and their dog mascot, Dribbles. The series worked to a formula where the team travels somewhere and typically get involved in a local conflict that leads to one of the Globetrotters proposing a basketball game to settle the issue. To ensure the Globetrotters' defeat, the villains rig the contest; however, before the second half of the contest, the team always finds a way to even the odds, become all but invincible, and win the game.
Insights
Plot Summary
This Saturday morning cartoon series featured animated adventures of the legendary Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. Each episode saw the team, including famous players like Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal, traveling the world and getting into various comical situations, often involving their basketball skills being used to solve problems or outwit villains. The show blended sports action with humorous escapades and educational elements.
Critical Reception
As a children's animated series from the early 1970s, 'Harlem Globetrotters' was generally well-received by its target audience for its lighthearted fun and positive representation of the iconic sports team. Critical reviews from the time focused on its entertainment value for young viewers, noting its blend of sports, comedy, and adventure. It successfully captured the charisma and skillful play of the actual Globetrotters in an accessible format for families.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its family-friendly humor and energetic animation.
Appreciated for showcasing the beloved Harlem Globetrotters' skills in a fun, cartoon format.
Seen as an entertaining and lighthearted show for young audiences of the era.
Google audience: While specific Google user reviews for this 1971 animated series are not readily available, general audience reception from the era indicated it was a popular and enjoyable show for children, who appreciated the cartoon's humor and the inclusion of their favorite basketball stars.
Fun Fact
The animated series served as a vehicle to further popularize the already famous Harlem Globetrotters, making their iconic style of play and personalities accessible to a new generation of fans through television.
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