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The Jetsons - The Complete First Season

The Jetsons - The Complete First Season

List Price: $39.98
Your Price: $31.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: STILL THE SPACIEST!
Review: "The Jetsons", early '60s edition, was my all-time favorite animated series for over 25 years. Well into my 3Os, I faithfully watched both these originals and the later, not-so-great '80s version. But these DVDs are, thankfully, the real thing. Here, in all their space-age glory, are George, Jane, Judy and Elroy, with all the push-button gadgets and spacy spoofs you probably grew up with- many of which came to be, like monster TV screens and moving sidewalks (but not, thankfully, things like "cold cut capsules"). My favorite gizmos include the Astrodome-like "Outer Space Coliseum" with the robot football game therein (in "Jetson's Night Out"), the hotels (dig that flying roulette wheel!) and slot-machine robots ("try-your-luck!" "try-your-luck"!) on "Las Venus", and that huge, Saturn-
headed bucket of bolts, the one and only Uni-Blab! (Don't miss that "Jupiter Gin! Jupiter Gin!" bit in Spacely's office- it's a hoot.)
Hanna-Barbera animation, mundane as it often was, had the proper "space-age" look for this series. All the voice work, by a tight cast, still fits- including the legendary Mel Blanc, who did Mr. Spacely (with the definitive- and I mean definitive- YOU'RE FIRED!"). An unsung hero was the late Hoyt Curtin, longtime H-B musical director who did some cool space-age lounge tunes for this show- like the "Solar Samba-Ramba" heard on "Las Venus". The extras are adequate but the surprise is two commentary tracks by the very sweet and personable Janet Waldo, Judy's voice and the only living cast member. She and an uncredited Jean (Wilma) vanderPyl did most of the female parts. And did you know that zany Howie Morris, a Sid Caesar/Mel Brooks regular, did a few characters here- notably Judy's idol, space-rocker Jet Screamer?
My personal favorites of the run are "Jet Screamer", "Las Venus", "Astro the Millionaire", "Uni-Blab" and "Jetson's Night Out" (that's the one with the robot football game); you may have others. Still, if you'd like to introduce your kids- and kids-at-heart- to something that millions of us really thought would be The Future back in the '60s, check this out. The Jetsons- still the spaciest 'toon of 'em all!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I love it!
Review: "The Jetsons" has always been my favorite cartoon. So when I saw this DVD set at the store, I didn't even bat an eyelash at the fifty dollar price tag, just scooped it up and trotted happily home. And I'm so glad I did!

It has been years since I've seen these episodes and what memories came flooding back. I remember thinking that by the time I grew up, I would have my very own Rosey to clean up after me and could push a button to get fantastic meals in an instant! (Actually that still is a fantasy!)

But on to the DVD itself. The packaging is gorgeous, the menus are fun and easy to navigate, and in addition to 24 episodes of the Jetsons, there are some extras. All in all, this is well worth the cost and something that I will keep in my collection forever.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Transatlantic Jetsons
Review: Devouring 'The Jetsons' as comic books was like opening doors to another world - and yet family life and sitcom-like story retained a homely air with a fresh and witty approach to daily chores. Future life presented itself optimistically in that many technical problems had been solved though without claiming to prevent the usual break-downs, malfunctions and familiar nuisance factors, neither in machines nor in ordinary (human) relationships. Thus the glorious perfect paradise of the future was turned down in favour of good-natured comedy with a futuristic edge - easy to comprehend by viewers of all ages.

Of course, the forward-looking series was touched very little by the great American idea of a social 'melting pot' (which was left for 'Star Trek' to explore). Thus the timelessly advanced 'Jetsons' also represent an exemplary 1960s white middle-class family with best intentions and a great deal of self-irony. The few episodes I managed to watch on TV seemed a perfect match to the books.

Would that this new (2004) multi-language release were an indication of Warner's good intentions to let the Old Continent plus its offshore islands eventually benefit from a European encoded version. The former, as well as the prospective, fans over here should be quite old enough for it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Sky's the Limit
Review: Hanna-Barbera didn't invent limited animation, but they did perfect it. Budgets for a weekly TV cartoon were far smaller than for a one-time theatrical cartoon, and most producers didn't think it could be done. H-B not only did it, but in doing so, they also became the biggest studio and the most in demand. H-B is vastly underrated, but The Jetsons, along with The Flintstones, marks an all-time high. Don't be put off by the terrible Jetsons: The Movie, made at a time when producers were anxious to update and distance themselves from classic animation. This is the real deal. Unlike The Flintstones, The Jetsons only ran one season, but it proved so popular it re-ran on all three networks (abc, nbc, cbs)-unheard of at the time, and moved into syndication.

These 24 episodes are really all there are, but in 1984, new episodes were made introducing a new "mascot" character, Orbitty. A minor gripe is that for continuity the openings of this first season have been replaced with the newer opening to show Orbitty, so stations can mix the seasons. A few new episodes were also made in 1987. This four DVD set matches the other H-B/WB Golden Collection/ Classic Cartoon sets. There are a few extras, along with commentary by Janet Waldo (Judy Jetson), but it doesn't need them. The Jetsons appeared in 1962, after Top Cat and The Flintstones, The Huckleberry Hound Show (which introduced Yogi Bear), and The Ruff and Reddy Show, H-B's first entry into TV cartoons. As Daws Butler (Elroy Jetson) has said, the interaction of those early characters was pure butter. Visually the show is an imaginative feast, but listen to Waldo, Butler, Penny Singleton (Jane Jetson), the unsinkable star of Blondie, George O'Hanlon (George Jetson), not to mention Jean Vander Pyl (Rosie the robot maid), known as Wilma Flintstone, and you'll think it's radio. Play one show a day (or a week if you've got enough cartoon DVDs) for your kids, and as a new generation has taken to Scooby Do, they may discover The Jetsons.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Hey Space Pals"...It's The Jetsons First Season DVD!
Review: Hoping to capitalize on their phenomenal hit Stone Age series The Flintstones, Hanna-Barbera "scatter-zoomed" viewers into the 21st-century with their space-age family series The Jetsons. The series was originally seen in primetime in 1962 on ABC where it ran for a single season and on Saturday mornings over the big three networks for many seasons thereafter. In 1985 new episodes were produced to supplement the 60s season. The new episodes comprise the show's remaining two seasons; with the addition of a new character, Orbity, the family's new alien pet. In 1987, during the Jetson's final season viewers were treated to an unprecedented event when the Stone Age met the Space Age with the TV special "The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones." In the summer of 1990, the release of the motion picture Jetsons: The Movie finalized the franchise as viewers bid farewell to George O'Hanlon, the voice of George Jetson, who sadly died when the feature was released. O'Hanlon's exceptional voice work, along with his stellar cast members, continues to entertain viewers of all ages in the real 21st century and beyond. "Proudly preserve your TV heritage" with this classic DVD collection!

Voices:
Meet George Jetson - George O'Hanlon
His boy Elroy - Daws Butler
Daughter Judy - Janet Waldo
Jane, his wife - Penny Singleton

Features:
Commentary on 2 episodes
The Jetsons: The Family of the Future
Space Age Gadgets
Rosie the Robotic Maid
Nuclear Family Album
Closed captions

Episodes:
Rosey The Robot (1962)
A Date with Jet Screamer (1962)"Eep, Opp, Ork Ah-ah!"
Jetson's Nite Out (1962)
The Space Car (1962)
The Coming of Astro (1962)
The Good Little Scouts (1962)
The Flying Suit (1962)
Rosie's Boyfriend (1962)
Elroy's TV Show (1962) (Hanna-Barbera Studios.)
Uniblab (1962)
A Visit From Grandpa (1962)
Astro's Top Secret (1962)
Elroy's Pal (1962)
Las Venus (1962) (Hanna-Barbera Studios.)
Test Pilot (1962)
Millionaire Astro (1963)
The Little Man (1963)
Jane's Driving Lesson (1963)
G.I. Jetson (1963)
Miss Solar System (1963)
Private Property (1963)
Planet Dude (1963)
TV or Not TV (1963)
Elroy's Mob (1963)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: things are just getting better with these box sets
Review: i just recieved my 'flintstones' and 'scooby doo' box sets and i now find that they are releasing the jetsons as well, it has been a long wait but totaly worth it, these box sets are just the best thing on DVD ever.

i waited for about 6 months for the flintstones and other such cartoons to come out on DVD but had no success in the UK, so i now import them from the US. the packaging on the box sets are amazing!! i cant wait to see what they take out next and when each of the seasons are released! these are classic cartoons and we just know that they are not gona get better than these so i hope evryone has the chance to get it, its a shame that these are not avilable in the UK, well actually who cares! i got mine.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great DVD
Review: I love this DVD set. My kids had never seen the Jetsons before. They look forward to each episode now that we own the first complete season. I look forward to owning season two when it is released.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: SPACE AGE MEMORIES
Review: I remember watching the Jetsons during its one and only prime time season on ABC way back in the early sixties. At the time I was also a big fan of the Flintstones and I loved comparing the inventions on the two shows. I remember Elroy watching a TV on a wrist band. The Watchman has made that a reality. I remember Judy watching a concert on a TV screen that took up an entire wall. The home entertainment center made that a reality. Many other futuristic ideas have also made it into our lives.

Even though I hadn't seen many of the episodes since the early sixties, I still remembered them. My favorites were the first one when Rosie the robot hits Mr. Spacely with her pineapple-upside down cake, the coming of Astro the dog and the show when George is shrunk down to size.

The images are clear and the sound is excellent. The jazz background music still excites me. My only complaint is that the episodes are preceded by a storyboard from when the shows were packaged with new episodes. I like things authentic, so the adding of a storyboard showing a character who didn't exist in the original first season of episodes bothered me for a second or two. But as soon as the episode starts, all is forgiven.

These shows are classics. Each episode brought back memories and brought a smile to my face.

With the Jetsons, Flintstones and Johnny Quest out on DVD, my cartoon wish list has been wonderfully diminished. Bring on Magilla Gorilla!!!!!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I Like This Cartoon!
Review: I wasn't a big cartoon watcher as a child but I do remember watching some episodes of The Jetsons with my friends in the 1970's and thinking it was good but I only watched it a few times but years later watching The Jetsons on the cartoon network made me wish I had watched more of this cartoon as a child and I just highly recommend this DVD boxset and I think it's much better then most of the cartoons that are being made these days!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Classic and Great
Review: It's too bad The Jetsons only lasted one season back in 1962, but they fared better in Saturday morning reruns. It was the future's answer to The Flintstones (also produced by Hanna Barbera), with space-age gadgets and references to the future (think Las Venus, which was known as Rock Vegas on the other show and Ed Solarvan, which was known as Ed Sullystone, etc). George O'Hanlon was the voice of George Jetson, Penny Singleton played his wife Jane, Janet Waldo was daughter Judy, and Daws Butler played their boy, Elroy. Also, Mel Blanc played Mr. Spacely, George's boss (before Trump said "You're fired!" to one unlucky person each week, Spacely said it almost every week, but with more passion: "Jetsoooooooooon, yoooooooooooou're fiiiiiiiired!") and Don Messick played Rastro, I mean Astro, the family dog. There's not a whole to write about with the extras, except that there are a few commentaries by Janet Waldo.

Highlights include the openning episode where Judy wins a date with Jet Screamer ("Baby, baby, baby! Ah-ah-ah!" Jet performs "The Swivel" and "Eep Opp Ork, Ah-ah!"), George loses his job at Spacely Sprockets (as he did several times) to a scheming robot called Uniblab ("Spacely's a stoop! Spacely's a stoop!"), Astro swallows Elroy's spaceship and the family thinks they have a flying dog (when Mr. Spacely hears about this, he uses it as a weapon against his competitor, Cogswell Cogs), Elroy meets his hero Nimbus the Great ("It's spaaaaaaaaaace magic!"), George shrinks down to size and in order to get him back to size, he needs to aquire a cog from Mr. Spacely's rival, Cogswell Cogs (the best part is when George is trapped in a glass, so he uses a safety pin on Cogswell to escape), Mr Spacely is the judge in a Miss Universe beauty contest, much to the chagrin and jealousy of Mrs. Spacely (George takes over Spacely's spot when the angry missus dethrones him and is enthralled by Miss Western Hemisphere, whom you can guess really turns out to be), Astro is introduced and at first is not well-received by George and in another episode the Jestons find out his original owners want him back and that Astro's real name is Tralfaz ("Rich roruddy ran rery!"), Mr. Spacely and George ditch a PTA meeting for a computerized football game ("Good evening, honey, I have to work much later than I... much later than I... much later than I...."), Rosie the Robot is introduced (Jean Vanderpyl supplies Rosie's voice) and in another episode is set up with male robot Mac, thanks to the apartment janitor Henry ("Mac is the most-ut!", "Rosie, beep! beep!"), Elroy and Astro get their own TV series "Spaceboy, ZOOM!") and in another episode, Elroy's parents think he's brought home a poor report tape which really belongs to another schoolmate and punish him so Elroy and Astro run away (watch for the "15 billionth rerun of The Flintstones").

That's a lot of episodes to enjoy. Like The Flintstones inspired The Jetsons, there would be a reunion of the 2 in The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones and both series did a spinoff on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. So just relax and enjoy some bona fide "spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace magic!"


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