The Flintstones (TV Series) Hop Happy (1964) User Reviews

In his current mood, I don't dare ask why he's wearing boxing gloves!

[williamlangan-22870 · 8/10 · 6 May 2020]

Season 5 of The Flintstones began with some changes. The first one is Betty's voice (originally voiced by Bea Benederet) was replaced by Gerry Johnson, previously a talk show hostess. The 2nd was the Rubbles got a new pet named Hoppy (voiced by Don Messick) in Season 5's debut, Hop Happy, written by Warren Foster. Plot synopsis: Bamm Bamm loves playing with Dino so Barney decides to get a pet of their own. He and Bamm Bamm go to the "pet shoppy" and Barney is not impressed with the pets they sell, especially when one swallows him and another giant bird steps on him! Then the salesman shows then a new pet from "Down Under." It's a green kangaroo (known as a Hoparoo) which as a built in sack for Bamm Bamm to ride in, which charms Barney and Bamm Bamm immediately. So they being him home and Betty agrees they can keep him, "But not in the house!" Meanwhile at the Flintstones, Wilma is scared by a mouse. Fred has Dino chase him. The mouse runs all the way to the Rubbles' house. There, Dino and Hoppy meet and later Fred. Both are scared of him, because they think he's a giant mouse! So Barney introduces Hoppy to Fred and Fred decides to challenge Hoppy to a boxing match. Hoppy kicks Fred off his feet! So Fred decides to move away. Wilma talks him into waiting until after the picnic with the Rubbles (she knows Fred's appetite too well!). Right before the picnic, Fred says he doesn't want Hoppy to go so Barney says "Then Dino can't go!" So they leave Hoppy and Dino at home but the 2 follow them anyway. At the picnic, Fred tries to fix the car which winds starts running and winds up on a cliff. Dino rescues Pebbles and Bamm Bamm from falling off and Hoppy summons the police and fire department. The next morning, Fred thinks Hoppy is not so bad since both Bamm Bamm and Pebbles love playing with him but also because he got his picture with Hoppy on the front page of the newspaper! Trivia: Gerry Johnson's birthday is the same as original Betty voice Bea Benederet. Also, Hoppy is identified as male, though identified as female in a later episode. Overview: I liked the scene where Fred draws what a mouse looks like and Dino draws a more accurate mouse. I also liked the scene where Fred is coaxed into staying when Wilma describes all the delicious food "all wasted!" 8 Hoparoos out of 10.

A new voice and a new pet

[gregorycanfield · 8/10 · 20 June 2022]

Suddenly, Betty sounded different. Why? Because Bea Benaderet was out of the picture, and we now had Gerry Johnson. Betty's voice change, to me, was more significant than the addition of Hoppy. The "honking" sound he made was kind of annoying. It was curious that both Fred and Dino originally thought Hoppy was a giant mouse. After it was confirmed that Hoppy was the Rubbles' new pet, the tone of the episode took a sharp turn. Basically, Dino always had a presence on the show. I don't think Hoppy ever developed a presence. As for Gerry Johnson, I don't think she had much of a presence, either. Bea Benaderet did the part better. Overall, a pretty good start to the fifth season.