Slightly Off-Topic: Which Jay Ward series should come to DVD?

[speedy fast]

Out of the various animated shows produced by Jay ward, which ones do you think should become available on DVD?

I didn't list Rocky and Bullwinkle because the first three seasons are already available, and I think I've read that Fractured Flickers has also been released on DVD. I also didn't list The Dudley Do-Right Show because that show mainly featured segments that originated on Rocky and Bullwinkle.

I also didn't list The Watts Gnu Show, The Nut House, or any other failed pilots made by Ward, though I would like to see those pilots.

[gilligan fanati]

I have seen all of them and I enjoyed Crusader Rabbit the most.

[Thad]

All of the above, naturally! I haven't seen any of Crusader or Hoppity, but I wouldn't mind seeing them. I'd love to see George of the Jungle again too.

[Geezil]

Heck, all of them! :D

[speedy fast]

I voted for George of the Jungle. However, I would like to see Crusader rabbit. I'm not too sure on whether I'd be interested in Hoppity Hooper or not.

[Jon Cooke]

You can never have too much Jay Ward on DVD!! (Yes, the complete "Fractured Flickers" is available on DVD)

I voted for George but would also like to see Hoppety Hooper someday.


-Jon

[Sogturtle]

I'd like to see Hoppity Hooper, have fond memories of it :) . Hans Conried was great in it. (Course on the other hand there's a complete, ahem, unoffical set of it out there).

[Matt the Y]

Well, I voted for "George". I remember that show being quite funny (yes, even Super Chicken). I last saw it in 1997 on a videocassette and, damn, it was great!

Admittedly, I have NEVER even remotely seen any of either "Crusader Rabbit" or "Hoppity Hopper" but if they're anything like Bullwinkle & company, I'M INTERESTED!!!!

[Nelson]

I voted for Hoppity, but does Classic Media owns all of the Jay Ward series?

[speedy fast]

You can never have too much Jay Ward on DVD!! (Yes, the complete "Fractured Flickers" is available on DVD)


Is it still in print? I haven't seen any copies in any stores (whether they be retail, video rental stores, libraries, or flea markets).

Do you know if anything was cut from the set due to legal issues? (I'm not sure if there are any legal issues involved with the use of the films featured in the show).

[speedy fast]

Well, I voted for "George". I remember that show being quite funny (yes, even Super Chicken). I last saw it in 1997 on a videocassette and, damn, it was great!

That's odd. By coincidence, I also once rented a video of that show in 1997 as well.

Admittedly, I have NEVER even remotely seen any of either "Crusader Rabbit" or "Hoppity Hopper" but if they're anything like Bullwinkle & company, I'M INTERESTED!!!!

Both shows had serial-type stories, just like Rocky and Bullwinkle. Hoppity Hooper was basically an episode of Bullwinkle but with Hoppity Hooper segments instead of Rocky and Bullwinkle. That show had all of the other short segments seen on Rocky and Bullwinkle (Dudley Do-Right, Fractured fairy tales, etc.), and there have been episodes featuring crossover appearances by Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, and Boris Badanov. According to the book "The Moose That Roarded", however, it was said that many people thought of it as a poor cousin to Bullwinkle.

[Jon Cooke]

Is it still in print? I haven't seen any copies in any stores (whether they be retail, video rental stores, libraries, or flea markets).

Do you know if anything was cut from the set due to legal issues? (I'm not sure if there are any legal issues involved with the use of the films featured in the show).

As far as I know nothing was cut. It is still in-print. It was released by a smaller label (VCI Home Video) so it is mainly available from online sources --- I know Amazon.com and DeepDiscountDVD.com both carry it. It is also available directly from VCI's website: http://www.vcientertainment.com/

The earlier episodes of FF are the funniest. The set is worth owning for the hysterical "Dinky Dunston: Boy Cheerleader" skit alone (footage from Lon Chaney's "Hunchback of Notre Dame" re-dubbed and re-edited into the tale of "Dinky"). It is one of the funniest things Jay Ward ever did!


-Jon

[Tim Lones]

[QUOTE=Jon Cooke]As far as I know nothing was cut. It is still in-print. It was released by a smaller label (VCI Home Video) so it is mainly available from online sources --- I know Amazon.com and DeepDiscountDVD.com both carry it. It is also available directly from VCI's website: http://www.vcientertainment.com/

I have purchased VCI Product (Ultimate Beverly Hillbillies) from Wal-Mart and Best Buy, where I bought VCI's Doris Day Show Season One. I have also bought VCI product at Deep Discount DVD..(Official Petticoat Junction-21 first season episodes)..Deep Discount is pretty good on prices and customer service..I think I have seen Fractured Flickers at Best Buy.

VCI really seems to do a good job on the material it is given. The sets I bought from them contain a lot of extras, commentary, etc

[FleischerFan]

All the Jay Ward stuff is worth preserving. Hoppity Hooper is probably the least remembered, but it's not bad at all. Basically, Hoppity is a naive frog who's continualy conned by a fox (who claims to be Hoppity's uncle despite the fact that he is a different species). "Uncle" Waldo is also aided by a dimwitted bear named Fillmore. Their adventures were in the "cliffhanger" style of Rocky & Bullwinkle, but I believe the story arcs were much shorter.

I don't believe that "Duddly Do-Right was ever part of the show - at least during its network run. The half-hours featured "Fractured Fairy Tales" and R&B appearing in "Mr. Know-It-All" segments. The half-hours also featured one non-Ward produced cartoon: "The World of Commander McBragg." While Jay Ward had nothing to do with this cartoon, it was also animated by the same studio that Ward farmed his animation out to (Gamma Animation/Total Television: the same guys who did King Leonardo, Tenesse Tuxedo, etc.), so I assume that is how this character got lumped in with the Ward stuff.

The only problem with a Hoppity disc is that the "Fractured Fairy Tales" and "Mr. Know-It-All" segments were essentially repeats of stuff already broadcast on "Rocky & Friends" (and that stuff is available on DVD).

"George of the Jungle" definitely deserves a DVD set. Not only was the show all original stuff, but it was the most vividly colored stuff Jay Ward ever produced (coming as the psychedelic 60's were in full swing). For my kids, this is their favorite Ward series.

"Crusader Rabbit" is important historically as the first made-for-TV cartoon. A couple of VHS tapes were produced by Rhino Video back in the 80's. The duo are definitely the forerunners of Rocky & Bullwinkle - bright, heroic little guy (Crusader) and big, dumb sidekick (Rags the Tiger). However, the series was all black & white (reducing its appeal in today's market) and the animation is really little more than still pictures illustrating the soundtrack. Also, most of the great voice actors who populated the later Ward series (including Bill Scott) were not yet on-board.

All that is beside the point for me. I voted "all of them."

[speedy fast]

The only problem with a Hoppity disc is that the "Fractured Fairy Tales" and "Mr. Know-It-All" segments were essentially repeats of stuff already broadcast on "Rocky & Friends" (and that stuff is available on DVD).

I believe that many segments featured in season 3 of Rocky and Bullwinkle were repeats of segments from earlier seasons. Also, there have recently been family market DVD releases of many individual recurring segments (a Mr. Peabody DVD, a Dudley Do-Right DVD) which is also a bunch of repeats from the season sets.


Also, most of the great voice actors who populated the later Ward series (including Bill Scott) were not yet on-board.


I don't think kids would care whether the same voice actors from Rocky and Bullwinkle were the voices of the characters.

[chuckamuck45]

IMHO - I've never really cared for Crusader Rabbit (Rocky and Bullwinkle did it better) and Hoppity Hooper is interesting to me only for Hans Conried's voicework - gotts love that Uncle Waldo!.

I voted for George of The Jungle. It had that ol' Jay Ward wackiness, good co-stars (Tom Slick and my personal fave, Super Chicken), and a terrific cast with Daws Butler, June Foray, Paul Frees, Bill Scott, etc.

I just hope the reason it isn't out yet has nothing to do with Disney's live-action crap-fests, er, films:o

[FleischerFan]

I believe that many segments featured in season 3 of Rocky and Bullwinkle were repeats of segments from earlier seasons. Also, there have recently been family market DVD releases of many individual recurring segments (a Mr. Peabody DVD, a Dudley Do-Right DVD) which is also a bunch of repeats from the season sets.

You are quite correct. However, the R&B DVD sets have so far avoided repeating cartoons from set to set. The specific "Do-Right" & "Peabody" sets are exceptions as they appear to be aimed at people who did not buy the Rocky & Bullwinkle sets.

I can't imagine there being enough demand for a "Hoppity Hooper" stand-alone disc (even though I would buy it).

Also, most of the great voice actors who populated the later Ward series (including Bill Scott) were not yet on-board.


I don't think kids would care whether the same voice actors from Rocky and Bullwinkle were the voices of the characters.

First of all, I think a Crusader Rabbit set would have virtually zero kid appeal. Today's kids demand much more from animatiomn that these crude B&W efforts would deliver. A Crusader Rabbit set would be clearly aimed at adult collectors. Mostly the aging Baby Boomers who would remember this series from the early days of TV.

Secondly, my point was that the voice work is nowhere near as skillful as in the later Ward efforts. The writing is also not as sharp.

[speedy fast]

You are quite correct. However, the R&B DVD sets have so far avoided repeating cartoons from set to set. The specific "Do-Right" & "Peabody" sets are exceptions as they appear to be aimed at people who did not buy the Rocky & Bullwinkle sets.

I think that Season 3 repeats Bullwinkles Corner and Mr. Know-It-All segments.

[frogboxer]

I went ahead and voted for "All of the above" although I would most like to see "George of the Jungle" on DVD.

[cbrubaker]

I wouldn't mind seeing "Crusader" and "Hoppity" on DVD, but if I had to pick, it's definatly "George of the Jungle".

Also, wasn't "George" the only Jay Ward cartoon that was animated inhouse instead of Gamma in Mexico? I think Virgil Ross was one of the animators.

[Sogturtle]

I wouldn't mind seeing "Crusader" and "Hoppity" on DVD, but if I had to pick, it's definatly "George of the Jungle".

Also, wasn't "George" the only Jay Ward cartoon that was animated inhouse instead of Gamma in Mexico? I think Virgil Ross was one of the animators.

Charles~

I started to mention it earlier (but didn't:p ) that "George Of The Jungle" was animated in-house... That was reputedly what priced it out of existence and Ward permanently out of the entertainment-animation business... I don't remember the great Virgil Ross animating on it but I DO remember three other terrific animators who toiled on it... Namely Rod Scribner (yes SCRIBNER), Herman Cohen, and Rudy Zamora.

[As memories serves me, a teeny bit of Rocky and Bullwinkle was animated in L.A.]

[cbrubaker]

Oops. Ross wasn't in "George". I may have been confusing with Scribner.

[Jon Cooke]

[As memories serves me, a teeny bit of Rocky and Bullwinkle was animated in L.A.]

You remember correctly, in the book THE MOOSE THAT ROARED, I recall Keith Scott mentioning that some of the Fractured Fairy Tales and some of the early Dudley Do-Rights were done in the USA.


-Jon

[speedy fast]

I thought that all of the Dudley Do-Right episodes were animated in Hollywood. I think that one of the Mr. Peabody segments was filmed in Hollywood as well, because the regular mexican animation studio that animated those segment refused to animate the segment where mr. peabody and Sherman meet Pancho Vanilla.

[MarkTheShark]

I voted "all of the above." Now, I seem to remember reading something on line somewhere in the last couple of years that the Ward family was planning to release "George Of The Jungle," but I don't think there really were any details. Does Classic Media own George? Maybe it would be released as a tie-in if they do another movie. (Too bad that's what it takes sometimes.)

"Hoppity Hooper" (also known by the syndicated title, "Uncle Waldo's Cartoon Show") also should belong to Classic Media. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) I'd love to see these shows available as well...however, there is the issue of how to release them, in what kind of configuration? Any version of the show I've seen, be it syndicated episodes or network dubs, have repeated cartoons in them (Fractured Fairy Tales, Peabody, etc) and it would be redundant after the R&B releases. Hoppity also probably would not sell well on its own, for being so relatively obscure.

Glad to see some of the Total TV stuff being released (Tuxedo, Gophers) but I really would like to see these shows given a comparable treatment to what's been done with the Rocky & Bullwinkle shows...no, they're not Jay Ward cartoons, but that doesn't mean they're throwaways. (Well, not completely.)

Check out the book "How Underdog Was Born." It's a real hoot!