Worst Flintstone episode

[Eric Brown]

Ya know,....as much as I love the Flintstones, I feel that there were some "really below par" epiodes. I'm speaking of the original prime time series, here. My worst episode picks would be episode #149 The Gravelberry Pie King and episode #156 Fred Goes Ape. It would seem that the writers just couldn't come up with anything better and tried to make what they did have, work.
Would anyone else have their worst pick?????

THANX

[Mister Intensity]

It all started falling apart in Season Six. When the fantastic elements started to really dominate over the sitcom elements is when the Flintstones started going downhill. I consider the final episode the downpoint, although most of the final season was lackluster.

Mister Intensity

[muttley123]

I agree with what's been said about the fantastic elements taking over the sitcom elements. I would add, when the wives lost screen time to focus on the adventures of Fred and Barney. I like Betty a lot so....

[Seiya]

i can't remember a bad episode of that show.

[Wussycat]

That one where Fred's double makes Wilma, Betty and Barney mad at Fred. At the end, they beat up Fred and the misunderstanding isn't cleared up.

[Sage Shinigami]

That one where Fred's double makes Wilma, Betty and Barney mad at Fred. At the end, they beat up Fred and the misunderstanding isn't cleared up.

I didn't care for that episode either. Anyone know which season that is?

[muttley123]

That's episode 22. (http://www.tv.com/the-flintstones/the-tycoon/episode/59930/summary.html) The Tycoon from the 1st season.
I don't like that one either. Actually, I think I would also vote for this being the worst.

[Eric B]

That one where Fred's double makes Wilma, Betty and Barney mad at Fred. At the end, they beat up Fred and the misunderstanding isn't cleared up.
I was just going to post that last night, but then decided to hold off and see what else people said about season 6. That one had me mad and complaining when I first saw it as a kid. My mother used it as an illustration of how I watched too much TV.
The same thing almost happened again, with those robot doubles (the ones that say mechanically "Yabba.... Daaba.... Doo"), and after not seeing the first one for a long time; I thought that might have been it, but this time, it was improved, and the others learn it was not Fred, and it ends happily.

Seasons 5 and 6 I find very interesting. It could be seen as a JTS moment for the show, but of course, they have to try new directions in every series that runs that long. I liked how the Jonny Quest score started appearing in those seasons. Sometimes they would be playing regular 1960-63 score, then all of a sudden something would happen, and one of the new pieces (which I associated with the later "Super Adventures" such as Space Ghost and Birdman) would out of nowhere come up. It was a very transitional time for HB.
I liked both Dr. Sinister, and Stonefinger Caper. Both of those basically prefigured the "Man Called Flintstone" feature. I eventually wanted to put all three on one DVD-R, (I have them on different discs now). Also very good was "Disorder in the Court", where the convict is after them, and then they see the shadow of the detective sent to protect them, and run screaming.

[Howard Fein]

One of my least favorite episodes is one regarded as a 'classic': ANN MARGROCK PRESENTS. Like many post-childbirth episodes, it's awash in cutesty sentimentality (That music video of "The Littlest Lamb" makes my fillings ache), with very little of the edge and Fred/Barney byplay that distinguished the series' first three seasons. Ms. Margaret must've been a huge sensation in 1963 because much screen time is lost to her singing. (Admittedly, "Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool No More" is very catchy.) Surprisingly this episodes is from Harvey Bullock, one of the series' better writers. ("Dino Goes Hollywrock"; "Latin Lover"; "Ladies' Day")

Another one avoid is Season 5's BEDROCK RODEO ROUND-UP, which seems to be two long scenes: the dinner and the rodeo. All the potential action in the latter is wasted on far too many reaction shots: "It's Fred!" "You're right- it is!" "Da-da! Da-da!" "Bamm-bamm!" Boney is one of the more obnoxious guest characters to be seen on the show, and one wonders why Pebbles would take to him the way she did. And Wilma shows utter lack of respect for Fred with her excessive fawning.

[Steve Carras]

One of my least favorite episodes is one regarded as a 'classic': ANN MARGROCK PRESENTS. Like many post-childbirth episodes, it's awash in cutesty sentimentality (That music video of "The Littlest Lamb" makes my fillings ache), with very little of the edge and Fred/Barney byplay that distinguished the series' first three seasons. Ms. Margaret must've been a huge sensation in 1963 because much screen time is lost to her singing. (Admittedly, "Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool No More" is very catchy.) Surprisingly this episodes is from Harvey Bullock, one of the series' better writers. ("Dino Goes Hollywrock"; "Latin Lover"; "Ladies' Day")

Another one avoid is Season 5's BEDROCK RODEO ROUND-UP, which seems to be two long scenes: the dinner and the rodeo. All the potential action in the latter is wasted on far too many reaction shots: "It's Fred!" "You're right- it is!" "Da-da! Da-da!" "Bamm-bamm!" Boney is one of the more obnoxious guest characters to be seen on the show, and one wonders why Pebbles would take to him the way she did. And Wilma shows utter lack of respect for Fred with her excessive fawning.

1.ANN MARGET: You're pretty right, Howard, on both the bad and the good (admittedly I slightly have a higher opinion of this but yes, mnost of it I don't really care for. The visual effect at the Bedrock Bowl magnifing Fred, Barney & A-M is neat-o..though.)

I agree about most last season episodes SAVE the Great Gazoo..since he brought BACK the focus onto Fred & Barney.

[Teknomancer]

Any episode with Wilma and Betty acting too smart and end up "winning".... I hate those.

[Steve Carras]

I agree with what's been said about the fantastic elements taking over the sitcom elements. I would add, when the wives lost screen time to focus on the adventures of Fred and Barney. I like Betty a lot so....

WHAT??? :p :D

First, Fred and Barney are the PEGS in the STONE HOLES of the "Flintstones", and SECOND: Wilma and Betty take up TOO MUCH time between pre-childbirth and the Gazoo.

Gazoo borught it, uh, down to earth.;)

[Mister Intensity]

Betty needed more character development. I can only think of one episode out of 166 where she was the focus (the one she took a job as an old lady). I'm not sure if there were more but I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't. It also would have been nice if there were some "Wilma and Betty" buddy episodes.

I know the reasons were because it was a reflection of the times but at least we got a sense of who Wilma was but Betty was pretty much a blank slate (pun intended).

Mister Intensity

[Kolbar]

"Ann Margrock Presents" has to be one of the weakest episodes, as well as "The Boyscout Jamboree". Episodes that contain singing are not high on my list.

BTW, if anyone's interested in writing Flintstones reviews, PM me.

[Eric B]

Ann Margarock reminds me of the Bewitched episode. That too was annoying, as it was one of these "the men are jerks and the women teach them a lesson", but this time with Samantha pulling magic tricks. Highly unfair!

[Teknomancer]

Ann Margarock reminds me of the Bewitched episode. That too was annoying, as it was one of these "the men are jerks and the women teach them a lesson", but this time with Samantha pulling magic tricks. Highly unfair!
Yeah, that episode stunk a lot.

I didn't like the episode where Fred had a double either.

[Steve Carras]

I still can remember when the episodes dealt with characters often being bested by each other (like, since we're going to Santa Anita tommorrow--I lvie in southern Calif.--"Do-o-o'nt Be-e-e-t o-o-n the Races"-Good Hal Smith "Foghorn" work--then John Stepehnson aka Fred's first boss steps up..)..

Many episode, particualry "The Mailman Cometh"[Arthur Phillips] had many cases of characters being reduced to their hands & knees (i.e.,that Herb Vigran-voiced cop who's nsooping on our boys when he brings the Stephenson-voiced "Sarge of Bedrock" after Fred and Barney in the course of events, managed to do soem stuff whilwe lokinbg for that letter, to set the mailbox on fire,all the way to "Nooo....noo..Sarge"..crawling after the sargeant..then Fred pretending to have ":spnaish flu',etc.,etc.) then this went to the "Pebbles and bamm Bamm'; shark-jumping..only for Gazoo to RETURN to focus back to FRED and BARNEY!!!! (Even though the kids once supposedly COULD see them!)

[admtitedly, that "Let the sunshine in" episode, "No Biz like Show Biz" written by the versatile Joanna Lee, whcih kicked off the final season, whose fottage ends up (as we know) often in some others like "Curtain Call at Bedrock",by George Jetson/O'Hanlon, is a masterpiece and Herb Finn's 1963-64 "Groom Gloom", one of Hanna-Barbera voice mainstay-princess Janet Waldo's earliest animations after Judy Jetson, is another good, pre-Bamm Bamm, Pebbles..that explains why teenaged Arnold (Messick) had no competiton from the likewise Mesick voiced Bamm Bamm.]