Fat Albert anyone?

[CookieS]

I must admit, I watched the show only once in a while, but considering a new live-action movie is being released this holiday season, I'm wondering if anyone remembers the show much anymore. For anyone that is a fan, I think TVparty.com has a great behind-the-scenes article on the series and Cosby's role in its development with Filmmation:

http://www.tvparty.com/satfat.html

[guinaevere]

Fat Albert was one of the great things about Saturday mornings. It was a great show. Not only did it have characters who weren't like characters on every other tv show in existance, it always delivered a wholesome and inspiring message. Be yourself, do what's right. And enjoy the ride.


off topic. I so love the Boomerang forum graphics!

[Zach Williams]

I've only seen the Christmas Special a long time back on UPN, and I wish they'd air it again this year. By-the-way, on the topic of the movie, Nick-At-Nite is airing a Behind-the Scenes special on it, and A Cosby marathon after that on December 21.

[Brainatra]

I used to watch Fat Albert when it originally ran, as a kid. Was entertaining, and nice to see cartoon characters that were Black like myself (though other shows I liked did throw in Black characters, like "Josie" or "Capt. Caveman and the Teen Angels").

But I did see the trailer on TV for this film last week, and *geez Louise*----it looked to me pretty dubious. Another "character pulled from the cartoon world into the real world" plot (like the Bullwinkle movie)?! Even despite the gang already supposed to live (despite their animated aspects) in a more realistic-than-normal-for-most-cartoons setting---hence the social messages aspect of the show?! Oh, well... will probably catch it on video.

-B.

[Tak Mazé]

A member of my forum has a fansite about that guy, but I haven't a clue who he is :-S

[CookieS]

Then go check out the link I posted at the top. The series came out in the 70's and had comedian Bill Cosby doing voices in it.

[Doyng]

:D

For the Fat Albert fans, Next month we'll see the LONG AWAITED dvd release of this 70's classic. Then, we'll start to see more releases next year on dvd (Hooray!!!). Now we won't have to settle for that high priced set of releases previously offered through mail. I can't wait to pick up my copy next spring.

[mammy2shoesfan]

I loved Fat Albert as a kid I wish they would show it on TV once again. I'm not to sure about the movie but I think I may check it out just for old times sake.

[SAMaine]

Well, Fat Albert is up there as a long running US cartoon series like The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, and The Simpsons. While The Simpsons has yet to spawn a live-action movie... let alone a movie in general, Flintstones and Scooby-Doo have. The hardest thing about making one of these live-action movies based on animated cartoons, comics, or video games is getting the look of the characters right without looking too hokey. Characters that are SUPPOSED to be animated like Scooby, Garfield, and hell, even Rocky & Bullwinkle look and sound right, because they remained animated. Personally, they should just keep it animated. Fat Albert could work as a live action movie, if they gave the characters normal looking clothes. Hell, all it would take is to make the clothing darker, and make few modifications of the clothes to de-exaggerate the characters.

In conclusion, Hollywood has now DESTROYED my childhood. DAMN YOU!!! :mad:

[JCorey3rd]

the Fat Albert DVDs have been out before - via Timelife

[Doyng]

:D

Fat Albert fans:

If you've brought (or rented 1 of 4 discs) Fat Albert's Greatest Hits, Look at Disc #3. Disc #3 has three episodes from The New Fat Albert Show. These episodes are "lost" because they haven't aired with the syndicated episodes back in 1984. I predicted they would air the original opening/closing titles of this new version. I'm happy to say that this disc contains THE ORIGINAL opening/closing titles of The New Fat Albert Show. Thank You, Urbanworks for keeping these in tact! :)

Although the soundtrack to the episodes are sped up, this release was well worth the wait. Fat Albert is getting the respect it deserves. Next Year, Fat Albert will enjoy HUGE recognition with a massive release list of three volumes (1972 season, Vol #1, 1973-75, Vol #2, and 1975-76, Vol #3), The New Fat Albert Show set (1979-82), and three holiday specials. The 1984 season set is postponed 'til 2006. Let's give thanks to Bill Cosby, who cared about education so much, for creating such a rare series that tackled real life issues for a Saturday morning audience. I'm sure the next generation needs to hear these messages Fat Albert taught us; I know they need to hear it because they are still just as relevant as it was yesterday. :)

Filmation, thank you for this wonderful series.

[ThePeterNetwork]

When I first saw the Fat Albert DVDs in an Entertainment Outlet in NYC, I thought to myself, "I really need this." Sadly, I was strapped for cash. But now with the news that it's going to be released as volumes, I think I can save my money for when they will become available.

[Geezil]

Fat Albert was one of the great things about Saturday mornings. It was a great show. Not only did it have characters who weren't like characters on every other tv show in existance, it always delivered a wholesome and inspiring message. Be yourself, do what's right. And enjoy the ride.
Yes. It was a solidly educational show, it was wholesome and it was inspiring for its targeted age group. Even the Filmation visual style was tolerable there.

There was just one thing missing: even the tiniest trace of Bill Cosby's own trademark comedy.

And while I haven't yet seen the new feature film, it's to be hoped that Mr. Cosby at least tried to fix that flaw this time around. :)

[Captain C]

Fat Albert was a cool show. I kinda wanna see the movie, but have a feeling i'd be better off waiting for it to be on DVD. Has anyone else noticed that 90% of the people that wear those Fat Albert T-shirts actually have no idea what Fat Albert is? :sweat: I mean, my sister would see someone wearing one and say "Hey, I remember that show" and they'd stare at her blankly. Kinda funny, huh?

[PeppeRaskell1]

:D

Filmation, thank you for this wonderful series.
About one of the few 'toons they ever did right.
Make that the only toon they ever did right.

[MultiMEDEA]

About one of the few 'toons they ever did right.
Make that the only toon they ever did right.What?! No love for Gilligan's Planet here? :D

[Zyzzybalubah]

Fat Albert rocks! I wish Boomerang or some channel would play it. I'm seeing the movie tomorow with my friends. :D

[discoduck777]

The only toon they ever did right?
What about He-man, She-ra, Flash Gordon, Blackstar,Archie,Sabrina, Groovie Goolies,Ghostbusters, Bravestarr, Giligan's Planet,etc?

[Dudley]

I've only seen one episode of the show, and it wasn't in English.
:sad:

[Doyng]

The only toon they ever did right?
What about He-man, She-ra, Flash Gordon, Blackstar,Archie,Sabrina, Groovie Goolies,Ghostbusters, Bravestarr, Giligan's Planet,etc?If you go on the Entertainment Rights website, you'll see that this British based company has brought the Filmation library (shows/specials/movies/live action titles). That's how we were able to see Fat Albert again! What they don't own are: Shazam! (live action), DC Comics Heroes, The Mighty Mouse/Heckle & Jeckle/Quackula show, Tom and Jerry, Flash Gordon, Gilligan, Tarzan, The Super 7 and others. (for obvious reasons you know why they weren't included):) Say what you want, Filmation is getting the respect it deserves. Hallmark didn't give this library the attention it needed. Thank you, ER:D

[swarlock]

I always cringe when I hear that cartoon characters get turned into live action movies because half the time they get butchered or made over for the sensibilities of The Here And Now.

Some toons just don't translate well to live action. He-Man is good example.

But at least Fat Albert is getting the attention it rightfully deserves.

[hobbyfan]

If you go on the Entertainment Rights website, you'll see that this British based company has brought the Filmation library (shows/specials/movies/live action titles). That's how we were able to see Fat Albert again! What they don't own are: Shazam! (live action), DC Comics Heroes, The Mighty Mouse/Heckle & Jeckle/Quackula show, Tom and Jerry, Flash Gordon, Gilligan, Tarzan, The Super 7 and others. (for obvious reasons you know why they weren't included):) Say what you want, Filmation is getting the respect it deserves. Hallmark didn't give this library the attention it needed. Thank you, ER:D
To fill in the blank, Warners owns Shazam!, the DC Comics toons, Tom & Jerry, and the 2 Gilligan series. Flash Gordon either belongs to King Features or Hearst, Tarzan to the Burroughs estate, Mighty Mouse & Heckle & Jeckle, Brady Kids, & Star Trek to Paramount/Viacom. Don't know why Super 7 is "in limbo". DIC owned the Archie toons the last I checked, but don't know about Fabulous Funnies.

[Hordesman]

Cosby wrote the movie. Eh, it was professional actors cosplaying and a couple of them were cute. And a whole different animation style in the toon bits. Would've been cool if some of it was in Filmation style- even if it was the live action with redubbed close-ups. And Rudy's not a troublemaker. Let's see, I've taken my little sister to this, Are We There Yet? and Hitch. The last two were terrible.

I like how the original show didn't whitewash issues or always assign them to single-episode characters. Would you see a series regular actually light up a cigarette on US SatAm today?

[Doyng]

To fill in the blank, Warners owns Shazam!, the DC Comics toons, Tom & Jerry, and the 2 Gilligan series. Flash Gordon either belongs to King Features or Hearst, Tarzan to the Burroughs estate, Mighty Mouse & Heckle & Jeckle, Brady Kids, & Star Trek to Paramount/Viacom. Don't know why Super 7 is "in limbo". DIC owned the Archie toons the last I checked, but don't know about Fabulous Funnies.
:cool:

Here's what ER (Entertainment Rights) can distribute from Filmation's Library:

The Archies (and the spin-offs)
Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids (including the specials)
He-Man
She-Ra
Ghostbusters (live action version from '75 and animated version from '86)
Shazam! and Hero High (from '81)
Blackstar
Bravestarr
Jason of Star Command
Space Academy
Groovie Goolies
Lassie's Rescue Rangers
My Favorite Martians
Fabulous Funnies
M*U*S*H*
Wacky and Packy
The Secrets of Isis
The Freedom Force
The New Adventures of The Lone Ranger
The New Adventures of Zorro
The New Adventures of Waldo Kitty (Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty)
A Snow White Christmas
The Space Sentinels
He-Man and She-Ra Christmas
Journey Back to OZ
Pinnocchio and the Emperor of the Night
Fraidy Cat

Web Woman, Manta & Moray, and Superstretch & Microwoman SHOULD be included in this library since they are owned by Filmation. Maybe it's still lost or under the limbo due to their packaging from "Tarzan (Batman) and the Super 7."

[Hordesman]

What I'm curious is, does Entertainment Rights own negatives to all of Filmation's stuff or just what was listed in the previous post? Because if it's the former, they can release all of it if the licenses are obtained.

BTW, anyone seen Fat Albert and company in Alex Ross' Kingdom Come series? :evil:

[Doyng]

:confused:

I have a question:

I know Fat Albert's Singing voice (for the Junkyard Band songs) was provided by Michael Gray. Is this the same Michael who played Billy Batson on Filmation's "Shazam!" or was it another man who did it?

If it was from another man, does anyone have info on him? It'll be greatly appreciated. He did a great job breathing life into those songs.:D

[JordanS.]

I wish Cool McCool, Krazy Kat, Betty Boop and all the other King Feature Classics were on Boomerang too. It would be great to see them in the same Channle, where all the classics comes back. :)

Jordan