Fat Albert & The Cosby Kids could've easily been an NBC cartoon.
Three years before the series began, Bill Cosby had returned to NBC with his first self-titled sitcom. The Bill Cosby Show ran for 2 seasons, and boasted theme music by no less than Quincy Jones. Part of the deal allowed for Cosby, who'd won Emmy awards for I Spy, to do a series of specials for NBC as well.
One of those specials was the animated Hey, Hey, Hey! It's Fat Albert!, which premiered in November 1969. Animator Ken Mundie had also been responsible for the artwork used on CBS' Wild, Wild West, and, as you'll see in this short sample, his style didn't mesh with Cosby's vision:
Unfortunately, the rest of the show is lost as of now. We know the rest of the story, of course. NBC could've taken this to series, but didn't, believing that the educational themes that Cosby stressed wouldn't work. Oh, how wrong they were! CBS & Filmation took a chance in 1972, and hit the jackpot. Of course, that year, there was also a package deal, as Cosby was given a variety show, which was his first failure.
No rating.
6 comments:
Still, for what Ken tried, it was an interesting experiment in combining live-action footage with animation that was basically roughed out on cels with grease pencil instead of starting on paper from what I've read about this production. Mundie of course was also responsible for another involvement for a company Cosby co-owned with producing a short film released in '68 called "The Door".
Have to check on "The Door" for future reference.
Yeah it's got a pretty similar approach but also quite 'adult' in its premise. Ironically it was considered a "Warner Bros. cartoon" as it was included as part of WB's theatrical package at the time.
If I can find it, I'll post it.
I saw it at the Museum of Television and Radio about 15 years ago as part of a series on Saturday morning. It was interesting to watch, not sure how it would have worked as a regular series.
It looks like the special can be viewed by anyone visiting either branch of the Museum.
Too bad the Museum doesn't have it on their website, David, but thanks.
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