The Flintstones premiered on this day in 1960 — and you can watch them on MeTV starting today!

They're a page right out of history! And they're back on broadcast television!

Friday, September 30, 1960, was an incredible night to stay home and watch television. The Twilight Zone kicked off its second season. Rawhide kept "them doggies" rolling with its third season premiere. But in between the two, history was made.

That historic evening, Hanna-Barbera boldly took cartoons where they had never gone before — primetime. In the late 1950s, the animation studio had found early success with The Huckleberry Hound Show and The Quickdraw McGraw Show, two shows aimed at children. The Flintstones was something altogether different and bold — a cartoon aimed at adults.

Today, in a world filled with The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers, we take the idea for granted. In 1960, it was revolutionary. Here was a sitcom with characters, plots and jokes like any other (well, in particular, much like The Honeymooners). The only difference? The episodes were drawn by talented artists.

As the show progressed over its six hit seasons, it slowly veered more into a program aimed at the Boomer youth. Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm were introduced in seasons three and four, respectively. A catch new sing-along theme song was added in season three. Yes, "Meet the Flintstones" did not come along until then! 

This cultural sensation welcomed celebrity guests like Elizabeth Montgomery and Ann-Margret. It spawned cereals, vitamins, toys and countless other collectibles. Now, on its birthday, The Flintstones is back on broadcast television!

MeTV will take you back to Bedrock Weeknights with one full hour of The Flintstones at 6PM Eastern | 5PM Central. Oh, and you can wake up with cartoons on the weekend again with two full hours every Sunday starting at 10AM Eastern | 9 Central.

In the meantime, see if you can ace our big, big Flintstones quiz!

You'll have plenty of time to study up when watching The Flintstones six days a week!

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26 Comments

Brian 62 months ago
I was little when this show aired, but one thing I do remember: IT WAS A BIG DEAL. I loved this show, and remember my neighbors had some sort of a Flintstones board game, which I wished we could afford. If memory serves, that game (whatever it was) had a little Flintstones car, and I just about died of "want" for that car (once a car guy, always car guy).

Looking back, it seems this show was well written and it had unique characters, although the goofy stone-rock-flint naming got tiring. The Flintstones also great voice acting, and the sound effects were pretty good. But it seems like it suffered from the same thing so many H-B toons did: inexpensive animation. That is, it wasn't in the same league as the 1950s Looney Tunes as far as high-quality animation quality goes.

Thanks for bring it back, MeTV!
cperrynaples 62 months ago
Well, I must bring up Barney's eyes! Notice how everyone else has normal eyes but Barney is different! Sometimes they're little black dots and other times they're empty circles like Little Orphan Annie! Anybody else freaked out by that?
cperrynaples 62 months ago
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cperrynaples harlow1313 62 months ago
Yes, remember the Robot Chicken where he murdered Fred for his Pebbles cereal and then had to kill the appliances because they were talking animals?
cperrynaples 62 months ago
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Vinny cperrynaples 55 months ago
Incorrect. Willma also had just black dots for eyes.
Bluedaisy 63 months ago
Please bring Mama’s Family back at 6pm. I enjoyed watching her while having dinner. I see she is not on the line up anywhere. Why take off Mama who was only on at 6? You have the Flintstone’s on at 6 & 6:30 and also Sunday 4 times. Hey, I like the Flintstone’s, always watched them as a kid. But why so many times? Bring Mama & the Jefferson’s back please!
Wiseguy Bluedaisy 62 months ago
Why did you enjoy watching Mama have dinner?
elvicare35 63 months ago
Is Mama's Family going to be on again?
Pacificsun 63 months ago
Scheduling Tip: Lead into "Sci-Fi" Saturday Night with The Flintstones! Follow with Wild, Wild West, (You're getting the adults that way). Svengoolie. Star Trek, Wonder Woman, and the Irwin Allen shows, going into overnight.

(Get rid of the Stooges. They've been on all summer. It was promised to be only a fill-in show anyway. If they have to stay, run them at the early hours of Sunday morning).

If you put Flintstones on at 6:00 pm weeknights, people don't get home in time. And it's competing with the News in many markets. At least put it on an hour later. And that would be a very happy lead-in to the weekly evenings sitcoms. You'd lock in everybody that way.
VaughnBaskin Pacificsun 63 months ago
Well, how about email MeTV to create Super Sci-Fi Saturday Mornings with The Flintstones, H.R. Pufnstuf, Thundarr The Barbarian, and The Land Of The Giants!
Moody Pacificsun 63 months ago
Good suggestions. I'd like to see an entire Saturday of old sci-fi shows like Planet of the Apes, Logans Run, Time Tunnel, etc. You could run some kid oriented stuff in the mornings & eventually move to the more adult oriented shows. Something for everyone.
VaughnBaskin Moody 63 months ago
Well if Super Sci-Fi Saturday Nights would be for fans of Wonder Woman, Star Trek, Planet Of The Apes, and every Irwin Allen classics, then Super Sci-Fi Saturday Mornings would be for fans of Thundarr The Barbarian, The Flintstones, ALF, and every Sid and Marty Krofft klassics!
VaughnBaskin 63 months ago
I Sense that 2020 more H-B and Krofft shows will invade MeTV's weekday and weekend morning lineup, along with MeTV's version of "The Funtastic World Of Hanna-Barbera" on Sundays featuring Tom And Jeery, The Flintstone, and The Adventures Of Jonny Quest, and it will hosted and presented by Fred, Barney Wilma, and Betty in their live action forms.
Weekend mornings must contain I/E approved shows.
So, nothing nostalgic nor fun!
Sorry Rob, but MeTV is anti-E/I and the days of Bill Nye and Beakman are looooooooooong gone!

Plus MeTV can be a place for retro kids and teens shows, "ALF", "Saved By The Bell" and "The Flintstones" are just the 1st but soon there will be more!
They have been running Alf and Saved By The Bell for awhile.
I was sure Saved By The Bell fell under E/I. Oh, well.
Sorry but both ALF and Saved By The Bell are not E/I shows.
Just as well. Thanks for the info.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Entertainment/2009_April_4
Wiseguy VaughnBaskin 62 months ago
Saved By the Bell is definitely shown as an E/I program.
VaughnBaskin Wiseguy 62 months ago
Sorry Wiseguy but MeTV don't need any E/I shows, and besides Saved By The Bell is a teen show.
thedude1500 63 months ago
If there's any doubt that the Flintstones were aimed at a general prime time audience in 1960:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAExoSozc2c
cperrynaples thedude1500 63 months ago
Yes, It was sponsored by Winston cigarettes! How many kids started smoking when they saw Fred and Barney do it...LOL!!!
StaceyBrownlee 63 months ago
Hello, please pretty please :) Add the Flinstones to the evening line up twice. Some of us don't get in by the 6pm air time. YES WE'RE ALL EXCITED TO HAVE THE SHOW BACK ON AIR
Moody StaceyBrownlee 63 months ago
It's on Sunday mornings also. Hopefully you can see it then.
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