Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration (also known as A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration: 50 Years of Hanna-Barbera) is a 1989 American live-action/animated television special written, directed and produced by Marshall Flaum, which premiered on TNT on July 17, 1989. It is hosted by Tony Danza, along with Annie Potts; it also stars Whoopi Goldberg, Betty White, Sammy Davis Jr., Tommy Lasorda, Jonathan Winters, Phyllis Diller, Valerie Harper, Shari Belafonte, Joe Ferguson and Tiffany.
Contents
Summary
The special is hosted by that night's guest stars Tony Danza and Annie Potts celebrating 50 years of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's partnership in animation. This is the first animated project to be broadcast in Dolby Surround sound system.
It covers their years working for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio and then the history of Hanna-Barbera, which was set up in 1957. It features footage and clips from the studio's various cartoons along with new animated/live-action wraparounds and a behind-the-scenes segment on the then-upcoming Jetsons: The Movie.
The special was dedicated to the loving memory of Daws Butler, who died during its production, and it was also the last television and film project of both Mel Blanc and George O'Hanlon, who died before the special's telecast. Turner Broadcasting System, which owned TNT, would later purchase Hanna-Barbera in 1991.
Cartoon characters
Among the cartoon characters that appear in this special are the following:
Celebrities
Tony Danza (host)
Annie Potts (co-host)
Betty White
Joe Ferguson
Jonathan Winters
Phyllis Diller
Sammy Davis Jr.
Shari Belafonte
Tiffany
Tommy Lasorda
Valerie Harper
Victor Borge
Whoopi Goldberg
Voices
Greg Burson as Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, and Snuffles
Danny Goldman as Brainy Smurf
Casey Kasem as Shaggy Rogers
Don Messick as Scooby-Doo, Boo-Boo Bear, Muttley and Papa Smurf
Greg Berg as Baba Looey and Augie Doggie
Henry Corden as Fred Flintstone
Jean Vander Pyl as Wilma Flintstone
George O'Hanlon as George Jetson
John Stephenson as Doggie Daddy and Snooper
Mel Blanc as Barney Rubble
Lucille Bliss as Smurfette
Penny Singleton as Jane Jetson