This month’s blog series is titled “Get Animated.” Most of you are probably familiar with most of the shows we are discussing. However, today’s might be a bit more puzzling. It’s called Where’s Huddles?

This was a Hanna-Barbera Production that debuted on CBS in July of 1970. It was created as a summer replacement for Hee Haw. Some sources say it was replacing The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. The Campbell show had this timeslot in the fall and Hee Haw took if over for the winter. Both shows appeared on the schedule the following year.

When I was little, often either reruns were shown during the summer, or short-term replacement shows were created for potential long-term schedule spots.

This show was a primetime series meant to attract adults, much like The Flintstones was created to do with adult themes and a laugh track. I’m not gonna lie; I hated Hee Haw and I would have watched dentists performing root canals before watching Hee Haw.

The Flintstones had gone off the primetime schedule in 1966, so the network thought it might be time to try a new animation show in the evening.

This series featured a professional quarterback, Ed Huddles (voiced by Cliff Norton). The team’s center, Bubba McCoy (voiced by Mel Blanc) is his neighbor. Rounding out the cast was Ed’s wife Marge (voiced by Jean Vander Pyl), Bubba’s wife Penny (voiced by Marie Wilson), PomPom, the Huddles’ daughter (Jean Vander Pyl), and another teammate Freight Train (voiced by Herb Jeffries). Claude Pertwee (voiced by Paul Lynde) was a grumpy neighbor who lived with his cat Beverley. He liked the wives, but he disliked the rest of his neighbors.

Huddles and company play for the Rhinos,  and their announcer was voiced by Dick Enberg, the voice of the Los Angeles Rams. Their coach was Mad Dog Maloney (voiced by Alan Reed).

As you can tell just by reading the descriptions, it was almost too similar to The Flintstones. Ed was taller and thinner than Fred and while his wife had red hair, it was a different style than Wilma.  Bubba’s wife was a more beautiful blonde. The characters on this show were voiced by many of the same people who worked on The Flintstones.

When the show wasn’t a hit, the network had to find a replacement show,  an unknown series, All in the Family, was put on the schedule.

A comic book was released in 1971.

The theme song was similar but different for the opening and closing. The catchy tune’s lyrics were:

Opening: There’s a family down the street, the Huddles! The McCoys live right next door. Yes, I know the girls are alright Marge and Penny, but the fellas, they play football you know. Savages, that’s what they are. Give the ball and a cheer for Huddles, with point after touchdown every time! Savages!

Closing: There’s a family down the street, the Huddles! The McCoys live right next door. Give the ball and a cheer for Huddles, and he’s over the old goal line. With a point after touchdown every time!

I don’t understand having the two variations, but the show wasn’t on long enough to tweak the theme anyway.

The show didn’t attract many viewers, and it was canceled after ten episodes. However, in the fall, Hanna-Barbera would try their hand at another series, one that I was much happier about- Josie and the Pussycats. You’ll learn more about this one next week.