Wikipedia

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids

"Fat Albert" redirects here. For other uses, seeFat Albert (disambiguation).

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids(often referred to simply asFat Albert) is an educational Americananimated television seriescreated, produced, and hosted (inlive actionbookends) by comedianBill Cosby,who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself.Filmationwas the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972[1]and aired until 1985 (with new episodes being produced sporadically during that time frame). The show, based on Cosby's remembrances of his childhood gang, focused on Fat Albert (known for his catchphrase "Hey hey hey!" ), and his friends.[2]

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Also known as
  • Fat Albert
  • The New Fat Albert Show
  • The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Genre
Slice of Life
Created byBill Cosby
Developed byBill Cosby
Directed byHal Sutherland
Creative directorDon Christensen
StarringBill Cosby
Voices of
Narrated byBill Cosby
Theme music composer
  • Ricky Sheldon
  • Edward Fournier
Opening theme"Gonna Have A Good Time (Fat Albert Theme)" (Performed by Michael Gray)
Ending theme"Gonna have a Good Time (Fat Albert Theme)" (Instrumental)
ComposerRicky Sheldon
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No.of seasons8
No.of episodes110 + 5 specials(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerBill Cosby
Producers
Production locationCalifornia
EditorLou Scheimer
Camera setupN/A
Running time20 minutes (regular episodes)
Production companyFilmation
Original release
Network
ReleaseSeptember 9, 1972(1972-09-09)–
August 10, 1985(1985-08-10)
Related

The show features an educational lesson in each episode, emphasized by Cosby's live-action segments. In addition, at the end of the early episodes, the gang typically joins in theirNorth Philadelphiajunkyardto play a song on their cobbled-together instruments, summarizing the show's lesson.[2]

The New York Timesnoted that the show "enjoyed enormous success" throughout its run.[3]The show's success led Cosby to create a second animated series,Little Bill,in the late 1990s.[4]Little Billwas intentionally designed to be visually different fromFat Albert,while retaining similar educational lessons and roots in Cosby's childhood experiences.[4]

Origins and history

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The character Fat Albert first appeared in Bill Cosby'sstand-up comedyroutine "Buck Buck," as recorded on his 1967 albumRevenge.[5]The stories were based upon Cosby's tales about growing up ininner cityNorth Philadelphia.[6]In 1969, Cosby and veteran animator Ken Mundie brought Fat Albert to animation in a prime-timespecialentitledHey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert.

The special, which aired onNBC,was a hybrid of live action and animation. The music for the special was written and performed byjazzpianist/keyboardistHerbie Hancockin 1969[7]and was released on theWarner Bros.albumFat Albert Rotunda.For the animated portion of the special, it was necessary to develop the actual appearance of each of the Fat Albert Gang's characters. For this, Ken Mundie relied on animatorAmby Paliwoda,a former Disney artist. Paliwoda not only created all the Gang's characters, but painted a "group portrait" which was eventually shown on the front page ofTV Guidemagazine shortly before the showing of the special.[citation needed]

The producers wanted NBC to bringFat Albertto Saturday mornings, but the network programming managers rejected this because the series was too educational.[8]Bill Cosby and a new production company,Filmation Associates,then took the property toCBS.The Fat Albert gang's character images were primarily created by the artist Randy Hollar, with the assistance of one-timeDisneyanimator Michelle McKinney, under the direction of Ken Brown.[9]

RetitledFat Albert and the Cosby Kids,the series premiered on September 9, 1972, onCBS.Production lasted for 12 years, though production of the series was not continuous. It also spent another season in first-runsyndication(1984–85). Three prime-time holiday specials (Halloween,Christmas,andEaster) featuring the characters were also produced.[10]Like most Saturday morning cartoons of the era,Fat Albert and the Cosby Kidscontained an adultlaugh track,which was eliminated during the final season. The series was rerun onNBCSaturday mornings and on theUSA Networkin 1989.

In the late 1990s, Bill Cosby developed a second animated series,Little Bill,which was intentionally designed to look different fromFat Albert.[4]The executive producer ofLittle Bill,Janice Burgess,stated that the Fat Albert character was "more broadly comic" and exaggeratedly cartoonish thanLittle Bill.[4]However, the two shows shared similar educational messages.

Characters

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The Cosby Kids

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  • Fat Albert Robertson(voiced byBill Cosby;singing by Michael Gray)[11]is based on Cosby's childhood friend Albert Robertson. The main character in the series, he is usually the conscience of the Junkyard Gang. Though very obese, he is athletic and enjoys playing sports. He always wears a burnt orange shirt (which became red later on) and blue pants. Civic-minded and wise beyond his years, Fat Albert works hard to maintain integrity in the gang and with others, and is the lead singer as well asbagpipe-accordion(made from a funnel, radiator and an airbag) player in the Junkyard Band and on occasion, plays the bedspring.
  • James "Mushmouth" Mush(voiced by Bill Cosby) is a slack-jawed simpleton with big lips. He always wears a red knit hat with a blue scarf and always speaks in virtualUbbi Dubbi,tantamount to an overdose ofnovocainein the mouth, which Cosby would later use in the "Dentist" monologue from his 1983 film,Himself.Mushmouth plays a homemadebass guitarin the Junkyard Band.
  • "Dumb" Donald Parker(voiced byLou Scheimer) is a lanky, dimwitted fellow. He is Rudy's best friend. He always wears a green long-sleevedjerseythree sizes too big, and a pinkstocking knit capcovering his entire face except his eyes and mouth. In the Junkyard Band, he plays atrombonemade out of plumbers' pipe and a morning glory horn from an oldphonograph.In theFat Albertfilm and while in the real world, Donald takes off his cap and learns that he has a handsome face.
  • William "Bill" Cosby(voiced by Bill Cosby) is a character based on Cosby himself and is the host of the series. Like the others, Bill is a good athlete and enjoys playing sports. However, he spends most of his time trying, often unsuccessfully, to keep his little brother Russell out of trouble. Like Fat Albert, Bill is often a voice of reason in the gang, although at times a little more stubborn. In the Junkyard Band, he plays homemade drums made from a discarded foot-pedal trash can using spoons for sticks.
  • Russell Cosby(voiced by Jan Crawford) is Bill's younger brother (based on his real-life brother—whom he often talked about in his routines) and the smallest and youngest of the Junkyard Gang. He always wears a heavy blue jacket, a yellow scarf, red boots, and a dark blueUshankawinter hat regardless of the weather. Russell has a penchant for making snide remarks and blunt observations (much to his older brother's consternation). Russell frequently criticizes Rudy, reserving his most withering insults for when Rudy is being especially cocky. His catchphrase is "no class". He plays thexylophonein the Junkyard Band (made out of empty cans and a discarded coat rack).
  • "Old Weird" Harold Simmons(voiced by Gerald Edwards) is a tall, skinny, beady-eyed kid who is the tallest one of the Junkyard Gang and always wears a gold dress blazer, a brown sock on one foot and a red sock on the other, and is clumsy. In the Junkyard Band, he plays aharpmade from bedsprings, and on occasion plays a "dressmaker dummy" in thepercussionsection. In thefilm adaptation,he is called "OldWeird Harold ", as he was in Cosby's stand-up routines.
  • Rudy Davis(voiced by Pepe Brown for the first two seasons, then Eric Suter for the rest of the series) is a sharp-dressed, smooth-talking, cockyhucksterwhose smart-aleck attitude frequently gets him into trouble. He is Dumb Donald's best friend. Rudy's cocky attitude and dismissive demeanor are often the catalyst for a typical plot's conflict. But inside he has a good heart and usually learns lessons from his mistakes. In the Junkyard Band, he plays a makeshiftbanjo,whose parts include a broomstick handle and sewing-thread spool to hold the strings. However, when shown playing apart from the others, Rudy plays anelectric guitar(personalized with a big "R" ). He always wears an orangeflat cap,a fuchsia vest, a pink turtleneck, purplebell-bottomjeans,and boots. Rudy's personality in theFat Albertmovie is much different as he is portrayed as a kind and chivalrous gentleman who falls in love with the female lead Doris (Kyla Pratt).
  • Bucky Miller(voiced by Jan Crawford), as his name indicates, has a largeoverbite.He is a quick and flexible athlete. Bucky plays a stovepipeorganin the Junkyard Band.

Others

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  • Miss Berryis the kids' first teacher and mentor. She is later replaced byMrs. Breyfogle.In later seasons, the kids went to a different school where their teacher and mentor wasMiss Wucher.All three characters were voiced by Jay Scheimer, wife of executive producer Lou Scheimer.
  • Mudfoot Brown(voiced by Bill Cosby) is awise old manand unemployed vagrant who gives advice to the gang, often usingreverse psychologyto get his point across. He has a talent for tellingtall tales.He makes a minor appearance in thefilm adaptationat the beginning and end of the film, voiced byEarl Billings.However, he is never referred to by name in the film.
  • TheBrown Hornet(voiced by Bill Cosby) is the title character of ashowabout anAfrican-Americansuperherowhose cartoons were watched regularly by the gang. He is a parody of theGreen Hornet.
    • Stinger(voiced by Lou Scheimer) is the Brown Hornet's beefy sidekick whose gruff exterior masks a soft heart.
    • Tweeterbell(voiced byErika Scheimer) is a female robot assistant to the Brown Hornet and Stinger.
  • Cluck(voiced by Lou Scheimer) is aduckthat followed the gang regularly in early episodes, but stopped appearing after season 1.
  • Legal Eagle(voiced by Lou Scheimer) is anothershow-within-a-show,involving a crime-fighting cartoon eagle.
    • Moe and Gabby(voiced by Jan Crawford & Gerald Edwards) are two lazy, klutzy squirrel underlings that work with Legal Eagle aspolice officers.
  • Margene(voiced by Erika Scheimer) is a classmate and good friend of Fat Albert's. In one episode she and Albert ran for co-president of the Student Council and beat out two other candidates, both of whom were running on platforms of racism. A straight-A student, Margene occasionally got in with the wrong people but always managed to rebound; in a different episode she got hooked on drugs, and in another she got innocently involved in a violent cult.
  • The3 River Blockbustersare the Junkyard Gang's main rivals when it comes to competing in sports such asbaseballandfootball.The Blockbusters stole the championship in a competition called "buck buck"in the episode" Moving ". One of them was voiced by Gerald Edwards, and another was voiced by Eric Suter. They make an appearance in thefilm adaptation,which features totally different members, with the leader, dubbed as Crips, voiced by Catero Colbert and credited as "Lead Teen".
  • Pee Wee(voiced by Keith Sutherland) is a small boy who looks up to Fat Albert and the gang. While being small in stature, his best athletic skill is kicking a football at a long distance. When the bigger kids could not get anything out of a small van, Pee Wee is there to retrieve it.

Lou Scheimer, Jay Scheimer, Erika Scheimer (as "Erika Carroll" ), Keith Sutherland, Lane Scheimer, Bill Cosby, Eric Suter, Gerald Edwards, Jan Crawford, Eric Greene, Ty Henderson, Kim Hamilton,Frank Welker,Linda GaryandGreg Morrisprovided additional voices.

Episodes

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Main article:List of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids episodes

Educational lessons and songs

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Fat Albertwas honored and noted for its educational content, which included Cosby earning aDoctorate in Education.In every show's opening Cosby would playfully warn:

This is Bill Cosby comin' at you with (lots of) music and fun, and if you're not careful, you may learn something before it's done.
So let's get ready, OK?(Fat Albert voice)Hey, hey, hey!

During each episode, Fat Albert and his friends (aka The Junkyard Gang), dealt with an issue or problem commonly faced by children, ranging fromstage fright,first loves, medical operations, andpersonal hygieneto more serious themes (though toned down for younger children) includingvandalism,stealing,racism,rape, smoking, beingscammed by con artists,sexually transmitted diseases,child abuse,kidnapping,drug use,gun violence,and death.

At the end of most episodes (with some exceptions in the case of particularly serious themes), the gang would sing a song about the theme of the day. This sequence, similar to those seen in other Filmation shows includingThe Archie Show,has often been parodied. The musical sequence was dropped during theBrown Hornet/Legal Eagleyears. When Fat Albert entered syndication, some of the episodes produced prior to 1979 had their songs removed in favor of a Brown Hornet story. This was the case with "Shuttered Window" which dealt with the issue of death, in which the Brown Hornet encountered a robotic teacher and leader who realizes that his functions are worn out will soon cease to function. The teacher informs Hornet of this fact and Hornet has to let the teacher's citizens know that they must go on without their leader/teacher. This sets up the real world story regarding the recurring character Undeen and the sudden death of her Uncle Monty (although no reference to the Brown Hornet story told by Fat Albert as is the normal case in the 1979–84 episodes).

The series enjoyed one of the longest runs in the history ofSaturday morning cartoons.

Revamps and renames

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In 1979, the show was re-titledThe New Fat Albert Showand featured a new segment titled "The Brown Hornet" detailing the adventures of a black crime fighter in outer space whose design resembled a caricature of Bill Cosby, who also performed vocal talents on the character. His shows always contained an object lesson for the viewers. The gang would watch the program at the beginning of each episode, and then they would invariably face a situation that forced them to apply the object lesson.

In 1984, the show wassyndicatedand renamedThe Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.The lack of network restrictions allowed the producer to delve into more mature subject matter. A notable episode ( "Busted" ) featured the kids having an inadvertent brush with the law and given aScared Straight!-style tour of an occupiedmaximum security prison;it even contained utterances (by the jail's inmates) of the words "damn" and "bastard" (Cosby had appeared in the beginning of the episode advising viewers that those words would be used as part of the story's dialogue to realistically depict jail life). Another notable episode, "Gang Wars", featured a child being shot and killed. Another segment was added: "Legal Eagle", a crime-fighting eagle with a pair of bumbling police deputy squirrels. Production of new episodes ceased in 1985.

Theme song

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The theme song, "Gonna Have a Good Time", was composed by Ricky Sheldon and Edward Fournier,[12]and performed by Michael Gray (vocals),Kim Carnes(background vocals) and Edward Fournier (background vocals).[11][13]

A cover of the show's theme song, performed byDig,is included on the 1995tribute albumSaturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits,produced byRalph Salland released onMCA Records.The song's chorus ( "Na-na-na, gonna have a good time!" ) was also sampled inFatboy Slim's 1998 hit single "Praise You".

Reception

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Fat Albert and the Cosby Kidswas named the 82nd best animated series byIGN.[14]

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kidsreceived anEmmynomination in 1974. Production of the final season of the series overlapped with the start of production of Bill Cosby's live-action sitcom,The Cosby Show,which began airing onNBCin fall 1984.

In 1993,TV Guidemagazine namedFat Albert and the Cosby Kidsthe best cartoon series of the 1970s in its issue celebrating 40 years of television.[15]

In 2002, Fat Albert was placed at number 12 onTV Guide's list of the 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time.[16]

In 2020, Joyce Slaton ofCommon Sense Mediaargued that the series is an "old-school cartoon...[with] strong positive messages." She noted that while the show's themes like kidnapping, racism, and child abuse may cause parents to be concerned, there is "fresh humor, funky music, and the strong positive messages".[17]

Availability

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Syndication

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As of 2013,Fat Albertwas seen Saturday mornings onRetro Television Network(RTV),TheCoolTV,and weekdays and weekends onBounce TV,both of which are digital networks. It was also seen weekdays on the now-defunctSky Angelservices Angel Two andKids & Teens TV,as well asWorld Harvest Television.Fat Albertwas also available streaming online from HallmarkSpiritClips.com.

As of July 2015,Fat Albertwas no longer on Bounce TV's lineup. Bounce TV had previously pulled the comedy seriesCosbyfrom their lineup in the wake of theBill Cosby sexual assault allegations,[18]but it is unclear if the cancellations of theFat Albertepisodes was related to these allegations. However, several months after returning reruns ofThe Cosby Showin December 2016, Bounce TV quietly re-addedFat Albertto its schedule in March 2017, until it was eventually removed from the schedule again in late April 2018.

Home media

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During the mid-1980s,Thorn EMIVideo released several volumes ofFat Albert and the Cosby KidsonVHSas part of their "Children's Matinee" line of animated programs, with each cassette typically containing three episodes. Additional volumes were released later in the decade byVideo Treasures,including the three holiday specials.

In 2002,Time Lifedistributed 11 volumes of the series on VHS and DVD through mail-order. Each volume contained two episodes, with the DVD releases containing a bonus third episode, along with character profiles and a bonusBrown Hornetsegment from the 1980-82 seasons. The episodes included were from the 1972-76 seasons, with only one coming from theNew Fat Albertseason in 1979. Some of the episodes were edited versions, either using 1979-82Brown Hornetre-broadcasts in place of the closing song segments, 1984 re-broadcasts with the live-action Cosby segments re-filmed, or alternate prints of 1972 episodes with no laugh track. The 11th volume included the Christmas and Halloween specials. These were the only DVD releases to present the show in its original NTSC format, as future DVD releases use PAL prints.

In 2004, UrbanWorks Entertainment acquired the rights to the series, subsequently releasing severalFat Albert and the Cosby KidsDVDs including a two-volume collection featuring 24 episodes, as well as all specials to coincide with the theatrical release of thefeature filmadaptation. Volume 1 contains two DVDs with episodes 1–12 (airdates 9/9–11/25/1972), along with a CD containing the opening theme, the closing theme, and 12 songs from each of the 12 episodes shown in vol. 1[19]Volume 2 contains two discs with episodes 13–24 (airdates 12/2/1972–9/13/1975), along with a CD containing the opening theme, the closing theme, and 12 songs from each of the 12 episodes shown in vol. 2.[20][21][22][23]In addition, UrbanWorks Entertainment released a Greatest Hits four-disc DVD box set, containing 20 uncut episodes in their original broadcast presentation and original airdate order, as well as a five-best episodes set viaVentura Distribution.[24][25]

In 2008,Classic Mediaacquired the rights to the series and stated at the time that they intended to release the entire series on DVD.[26]This never happened as they only re-releasedThe Fat Albert Halloween SpecialandThe Fat Albert Easter Specialon DVD via distribution partnerGenius Products.[27][28]

On April 6, 2012, it was announced thatShout! Factoryhad acquired the rights to the series (under license fromClassic Media) and planned to release a complete series box set on DVD. The DVD set was released on June 25, 2013.[29]

On September 4, 2012,Classic Mediare-released all three holiday specials together in one collection entitledThe Hey Hey Hey Holiday Collectionon DVD in Region 1.[30]

Other media

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Gold Key Comicsreleased a comic book adaptation ofFat Albert,which ran for 29 issues from 1974 to 1979.[31]

In 2012, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids appeared inMetLife's "Everyone" commercial duringSuper Bowl XLVI.

Film adaptation

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In2004,20th Century Foxreleased a film adaptation of the series titledFat Albert.The film starsKenan Thompsonas Fat Albert,Kyla Pratt,and Bill Cosby. The film acts as a sequel to the series where Fat Albert and the boys journey into the real world after jumping out of a television in order to help a lonely girl named Doris (Kyla Pratt) with her social anxiety. The boys enjoy being in the real world but after a meeting with their creator, Bill Cosby, Fat Albert is informed that if he and the others do not return to the television world immediately, they will turn into celluloid dust.

See also

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References

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  1. ^William Henry Cosby, "An Integration of the Visual Media Via" Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids "into the Elementary School Curriculum as a Teaching Aid and Vehicle to Achieve Increased Learning" (January 1, 1976). Electronic Doctoral Dissertations for UMass Amherst. Paper AAI7706369.http://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI7706369
  2. ^abCD liner notes: Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, 1995 MCA Records
  3. ^Dargis, Manohla (December 24, 2004)."Return of the Rotund Guy (No, Not Santa)".The New York Times.
  4. ^abcdOwen, Rob (November 29, 1999)."'Little Bill' takes aim at kids, not merchandise ".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.26 episodes (52 stories) in its first season[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^Cosby's character in the TV series _I Spy_, Scottie, when asked his name responded "Fat Albert!" while being interrogated. [ "The Trouble with Temple", Season 2, 1967]
  6. ^Military.com.Transition Profiles — Bill Cosby.Accessed 20 November 2008.
  7. ^"Jazz Articles: Herbie Hancock: Energy in the Environment - By Jeff Tamarkin — Jazz Articles".jazztimes.com.Retrieved2016-05-12.
  8. ^"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids / Classic TV".
  9. ^Scheimer, L.; Mangels, A. (2012).Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation.TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 88.ISBN978-1-60549-044-1.RetrievedOctober 21,2022.
  10. ^Woolery, George W. (1989).Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987.Scarecrow Press. pp. 142–145.ISBN0-8108-2198-2.Retrieved27 March2020.
  11. ^ab"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids: Part Four".
  12. ^"Fat Albert".25 December 2004 – via IMDb.
  13. ^"Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids - Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids".Discogs.1973.
  14. ^"82, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids".IGN.2009-01-23. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-01-19.Retrieved2009-01-24.
  15. ^TV GuideApril 17-23, 1993.1993. p. 75.
  16. ^"TV Guide's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time".cnn.com.July 30, 2002.RetrievedJuly 28,2014.
  17. ^Slaton, Joyce (March 14, 2020)."Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Review".Common Sense Media.Archivedfrom the original on May 18, 2021.RetrievedApril 28,2022.
  18. ^"BET's Centric Network and Bounce TV have pulled Bill Cosby reruns".Entertainment Weekly.
  19. ^"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids - The Original Animated Series, Vol. 1".8 March 2005 – via Amazon.
  20. ^"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids -Vol 2".11 October 2005 – via Amazon.
  21. ^"Fat Albert's Easter Special".8 March 2005 – via Amazon.
  22. ^"Fat Albert's Halloween Special".6 September 2005 – via Amazon.
  23. ^"Fat Albert's Christmas Special".11 October 2005 – via Amazon.
  24. ^"Fat Albert's Greatest Hits The Ultimate Collection".14 December 2004 – via Amazon.
  25. ^"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids".14 December 2004 – via Amazon.
  26. ^"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids DVD news: New DVDs Planned for Classic Cartoon Series - TVShowsOnDVD.com".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-02-01.
  27. ^"Fat Albert's Halloween Special".1 July 2012 – via Amazon.
  28. ^"FAT ALBERT EASTER SPECIAL, THE".1 July 2012 – via Amazon.
  29. ^"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids - Press Release Says ALL 3 Shows in Shout!'s Set, WITH Bill Cosby's Help!".TVShowsonDVD.com. Archived fromthe originalon April 15, 2012.RetrievedApril 11,2012.
  30. ^"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids DVD news: Announcement for Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids - The Hey Hey Hey Holiday Collection - TVShowsOnDVD.com".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-08-12.
  31. ^"Fat Albert (Volume)".
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