The Future Is 1962.

No Hanna-Barbera threads would be complete without my thoughts about The Jetsons.

"The Jetsons" was to the future what "The Flintstones" was to the Stone Age. Yet there was something totally different about it.

In 1962, aside from the newly-developed picture phone, none of the gizmos on this show existed. Yet over time, I saw more than half of them become realities. Today, I convert paper documents into electronic ones, which was more or less George Jetson's job on the show. Plus, you can tell by my current signature that I truly liked the show. However, I have yet to see people walk their dogs on treadmills, or buy their own "Rosies" to do the housework.

"The Jetsons" was also the first H-B show to have robots as regular characters. Specifically Rosie, Mac, and Uniblab. Not to mention Elroy and Judy's teachers. The show was a joy to watch, and each member of the clan, Astro included, was amusing. BTW, Astro's tenure on "Space Stars" doesn't count. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Then came the 80's revival. This and two made-for-TV movies, dealt with more space travel, and even time travel. Plus, Judy now had an electronic talking diary, and Elroy an alien pet named Orbitty. I liked these new episodes just as much as the originals.

Finally, I have to say that even though I thoroughly enjoyed "Jetsons: The Movie," I concur with those who say replacing Janet Waldo with Tiffany as the voice of Judy was one of H-B's biggest mistakes.

The Jetsons was one of the pioneering "world of the future" series on television in its day. Although it's filled with zeerust now, The Jetsons had their moments:
* The Food-o-rack-o-cycle, that could fire off a Dagwood sandwich thirty inches tall with the precision of a surgeon and the speed of a Vegas blackjack dealer.
* "Boy, these three hour work days are murder," grouses George.
* Henry Orbit, the building super, can build a robot assistant out a file cabinet, two pipe wrenches, an office chair and a bucket.
* "Jetson ... YOU'RE FIRED!" Don Trump can't hold a candle to Cosmo Spacely.

Oh, try browsing YouTube for dogs and treadmills. There's one where a dog tries to get a treat at the end of an exercise treadmill, and spends three minutes at it.
And Japan has built a very lifelike robot that mimics the real thing pretty closely. Try not to think about who's buying them, or why.
For now, we have the Roomba. And Swedish chainsaw maker Husqvaarna makes a robot lawnmower that'll trim your yard ... and the neighbors' cat.

To be honest, thanks to the Jetsons, I always wanted a flying car.

Trivia Question 95: In the episode "A Jetsons' Christmas Carol," which member of the clan did Mr. Spacely help out after he/she swallowed a sprocket?

Trivia answer: Spacely brought in his own veterinarian to surgically remove a sprocket swallowed by Astro.