The Cartoon Network recently aired a newly produced Flintstones feature length special “The Flintstones On the Rocks”, which originally premiered in Nov. 2001. Having missed the first airing, we had the chance to see it again tonight. We were sorry we wasted our time. Not that we dislike the Flintstones, it’s worn a bit for our taste but, nostalga is a compelling emotion at times.
Instead of giving the lovable bunch the typical sets of problems to solve and tripping them up along the way with the usual pitfalls and antics, this time they took us for a new ride. Instead and quite distastefully, they tossed another dilema at the hapless gang of cave people. Divorce, marital discontent, and infidelity. Nasty business for toons to have to deal with. It was a ridiculus construct that was uncomfortable to have to watch, to say the least. Especially in front of out kids.
Given that the Flintstones was a product of the WWII generation cartoon, with older and more solid ideals about marriage. It was literally appalling to watch the writers dragging the beloved cast through territory that is mostly born of the boomer generation and it’s and disregard and contempt for tradition and family values. In fact, watching these characters being dragged through the motions of behavior suited to selfish 40 somethings was uncomfortable to say the least. To say the most, it was discgraceful and contemptuous.
What behavior? Well, Fred and Wilma both “expose their feelings” to a marriage conselor, in a role playing fiasco that ends in Fred exclaiming that Wilma is “not a natural redhead.” To which, Wilma charges at Fred in a murderous rage (see pic above). They both acknowledge their “problem” and head off on an “marriage re-invigorating” exotic vacation. Instead of rediscovering love, Fred find himself fruitlessly trying to buy Wilma’s affection while Wilma is chased and wooed by some cartoon playboy stud. Much to Fred’s angst. There is more but, take my word for it. It sucked.
Why am I so angry about this? Because I feel that this productiion was meant to please my parents generation, the boomers, who really didn’t like it. In fact, despite it’s originl 8 year run, it wasn’t exactly a smash. It’s real sucess came in post 1970 in re-runs. That’s when our generation took to it and loved it. The boomers, in my mind, had no right to bastardize it with their warped values, hangups, and disgusting behavior. Allow me to speak for my generation and say. Keep that nonsense away from our children, you know your grandchildren? the ones you see twice a year? We are trying to raise them with decent morals and values that we’ve created from our television families, like the Flintstones. God knows we didn’t learn them by example.