Top Cat: The Complete Series (Repackaged/DVD)

Not taking anything away from "The Flintstones" or "The Jetsons" or any of the other great Hanna Barbera cartoons, but "Top Cat" may just be the funniest, hippest, smartest show HB ever put out. From the writing, the backgrounds, setting the show in a real (as opposed to fictional) city--New York--and Gershwin-esq music ques, every episode of "Top Cat" is quality comedy from the first frame to the last. I absolutely loved this show as a kid, and now that I'm an adult I can watch it with a new appreciation for the talent that went into making it.Seven characters voiced by six great actors (The wonderful Leo de Lyon pulled double duty as the voice of both Brain and Spook), each with a distinct and endearing personality. Arnold Stang is brilliantly cast as Top Cat, bringing a sensitivity and vulnerability to the role of this "hukster." Maurice Gosfield is hilarious as the delightful Benny the Ball, as is Marvin Kapland as Choo-Choo. And Allen Jenkins is perfect as officer Dribble, er, I mean Dibble. Really, the only character who doesn't do much for me is Fancy-Fancy, but the episodes tend to leave him and Spook (whom I do like) a bit more in the background than the other characters.Combine great characters with great actors and great writing and you get some great comedy. In the first episode, "Hawaii Here We Come," the opening shot of little Benny hula dancing and singing "Aloha Hoyiiiiie!" is just one of the funniest things I've ever seen. And in that same episode they seem to take a swipe at Disney with a line about Davy Crockett and "that song," which Dibble tries to remember but comes up with "Daaaavy Crockett, with the googlie eyes . . . no, that's not it."This is most definitely a show for all ages. Kids will like the funny cats, and adults will appreciate the more subtle aspects of the humor. On that basis alone I'd recommend this DVD, but wait! There's more!This DVD package has some great extras. The documentary Back to Hoagy's Alley, hosted by Leo de Lyon (Spook and Brain) is very nice, and I really love the interview with Mr. T.C. himself, Arnold Stang. I have watched one of the commentaries so far, and that's very good as well, and I look forward to watching the other two. Video quality is excellent and holds up even on my 42" plasma. My only complaint (just a nit-pick, really) is that disc 4 is two sided so you have to flip it over. Couldn't they have made it single sided, dual-layered instead? Oh, well, not really important.In short, if you are a fan of TV animation from the 50s and 60s then you must get this set. It's a shame that T.C. only got 30 episodes (though they were shown for years on Sat. mornings). This show should have gone on much longer. But maybe with this DVD release T.C. will get some new fans and the show will get the broad recognition it deserves.

Brings back the good ole days

I was just a kid when Top Cat became the second prime-time cartoon show, and couldn't wait to watch it. The Flintstones broke the ice in '60, and TC and crew came on in '61. It is a real tragedy they didn't make more Top Cat, because of the two, I and many others prefer this feline take on the old Sgt. Bilko show.The quality of the video is fantastic--and it's GREAT seeing them all in color. (I had no idea Choo-Choo was PINK)... of course it was only done that way to create all the right shades of gray/white/black for a show that only aired in black and white--but in color it's even better. The audio could be a little louder, unless it's just that my DVD player doesn't pick up the audio track that well; I have to have the volume almost to full 100 to get it clear across my living room. Other than that, I split my sides watching the antics of TC and company, and am amazed at how much I remember even after not having seen this show in over 40 years! I KNEW sooner or later he'd call officer Dibble--Officer Dribble... I distinctly remembered it... and he did. Memories, Memories!Benny the Ball, Chooch, Fancy, Brain, Spook, and TC, they're all here and what fun it is to share them with my grandkids who love them as much as I did. It's SO refreshing to be able to show them cartoons that do NOT have kids who hate their parents, dysfunctional families that are rife with obscenities, and sexual innuendo... none of that.. just good clean wholesome...and funny entertainment. Love it.Oh, and the extra features on each disc are fun as well... interviews with the voices of Leo De Lyon who was both Spook and Brain, (Am I just spinning wheels, or was there a character called Leo the Lion, and Hardy Har Har?---could this be the guy who was THAT voice too? LOL) and in another one, the guy who was Chooch's voice, and even Top Cat himself. They also have one episode on each disk where you can hear them discussing the show as it's played (this is NOT the regular show--but an extra)... and it's really enlightening hearing all the commentary.I was leery of the investment at first, and still rue the fact that there aren't a whole lot more episodes of this wonderful show available. That said, anyone who came up in the era of those great Hanna-Barbera cartoon shows like Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Deputy Dawg, Flintstones, Jetsons,...all great FAMILY fun... will just love TC and the Gang!

Makes a great addition to your vintage cartoon library. All shows are digitally remastered. Highly recommended!