http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/18/barbera.ap/index.html

Saw this today. What a career!

Another story link: http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah3161.shtml

Never did get the appeal of Tom 'n Jerry, but many of the other toons were instant hits with me.

...so what's your fave?

Mine are Flintstones & Yogi Bear.

Flintstones all the way! For a time around '69 or '70 KPTV ran it twice a day. The Jetsons were a close second but in retrospect the scriptwriting was not nearly as good on the Jetsons, which appears to be more of a kids show when watching it today.

While the Flintstones are tame by today's standards they were a little edgy in their day. The Flintstones, probably more than any other factor, laid the groundwork for the Simpsons. Matt Groenig simply took it to the next level.

Unfortunately Cartoon Network has taken all the classic cartoons off and put them all on another channel called Boomerang. Boomerang is only available (if at all) on the top tiers of cable, DirecTV and Dish Network.

Bringing this back around to Hanna & Barbera, CN for a time aired a lot of H&B's old MGM cartoons mixed in with the blocks Warner Looney Tunes and such. Most of the MGM material used generic characters that didn't make repeat appearances, but they were good cartoons just the same.

Yep. Jetsons was a let-down all things considered. The core elements were there, but the characters were flat and uninspiring. Not enough dynamics to really get goofy.

Loved the art though! Way cool spacy stuff.

IMHO, the Jetsons with some serious character work could have been as big as the Flintstones was. Some parallels here to Futurama as well. Hmmm...

Never thought about it, but I think you are spot on with Flintstones being an inspiration for the Simpsons. They have a lot in common. Both edgy in their time and both will age very well.

I really like Futurama better, but I fear it won't age quite so well. Characters are solid, but not identifiable enough to endure like both the cast of the Flinstones and Simpsons will.

"Unfortunately Cartoon Network has taken all the classic cartoons off and put them all on another channel called Boomerang. Boomerang is only available (if at all) on the top tiers of cable, DirecTV and Dish Network."

Thanks, Randy ... I've sometimes wondered what became of those obviously still in demand features.

What happened to the original "Rocky & His Friends" and "The Bullwinkle Show" (Jay Ward and Alex Anderson, who had both previously collaborated on Crusader Rabbit)?

Think i'll take a trip to costco and purchase all four volumes of loony toons before they disappear forever.

Marvin the Martian was my favorite.

Puny Earth Creature

Yogi should steal an extra picnic basket in tribute.

You ever wonder if Joe Barbera smoked a lot of pot when he was young?? Every time I watchh Scooby Doo there is always pot references in EVERY EPISODE! If you litereally translate everything on that show, you realize that the content is not for kids.
Joe Barbera BIG STONER!!