Flintstones reboots on Fox, from Seth MacFarlane

[HappyGilmore]

Umaril really answered very well above, but I would like to address Flick's original comment above.  I have no problem with adult humor or content . . . . FOR ADULTS.  It's a free society, everyone can take it or leave it.  My entertainment standards are probably lower than they ought to be, but the thing is, as an adult, I have the unequivocal right to set those standards and consume the entertainment of my choice.

My issue is with programming that is clearly targeted towards children, but is brimming with sex jokes, non-stop potty humor, and profanities.  THAT'S what I miss about the older kid shows.  They could be funny and clean at the same time - something that most of Hollywood today has lost the capacity to do, in its relentless war on childhood innocence.

So what's your thoughts on Ren and Stimpy?
It was on Nickelodeon, technically geared at kids, but by all accounts was laden with bizarre humor that tended to sway towards adult jokes that frankly hinted at alleged homosexuality between the two.

Seth seems to have a handle on things, I suppose, or Fox wouldn't give him 3-4 shows to be on.  I think at times he's written some somewhat clever stuff but at times seems to just take the low road for the hell of it.  I personally don't get offended by stuff, I just think they tend to rely too heavily on 'cutaway' gags that really don't add anything to the overall content.

[flackbait]

I guess my problem, like others have been saying is that something will be lost in translation. Either due to different humour or technology. I remeber watching the Flintstones as a kid and I do remember liking it a bit. I haven't seen it since I was 10 so my opinion could change if I see it a gain. But still I can't see how Seth Macfarlene is really going to do a good job rebooting it. Another Family guy clone is not what we need. To me it seems like Seth Macfarlene would have better luck trying to make an animated reboot of Manos the Hands of Fate. Actually that might be a funny idea, anybody know how to animate?

[HappyGilmore]

I guess what I miss about the old cartoon series from years ago is their innocence.  No sex jokes, no farts, no profanity  . . . it seems that with Hollywood, everything these days has to be about sex and potty humor.  I can remember when my kids were little, about half the shows on Cartoon Network we didn't let them watch.  Not that they were obscene, but just because they were rude and crude and taught kids how to be that way.

I don't want The Flintstones to be remade, by ANYBODY. I just like Family Guy. I don't have a problem with the humor. What I find surprising is that the members here tend to be into bad movies, which are loaded with inappropriate themes, sex, gore, and tons of other stuff, but yet there seems to be a large number who get offended by this kind of thing. I guess I find it strange.

I'm in the minority, I suppose.  I don't dislike Family Guy for it's inappropriate jokes or sexual things or the like.  I just think the writers are lazy and stick to the same-old same-old every week and use the sex jokes and such as things in place of actual story or real jokes.

I'm not trying to start an argument with this, but I prefer South Park.  Yes, they've been crude and offensive.  But, more often than not, most episodes seem to sway towards having a point about various topics like war, relationships, religion and hypocrisy a lot.  Like the Maury Povich episode.  It featured some crude humor, but pointed out the fact that Maury pretty much uses little girls who're sluts and such to garner ratings then "attempt to help them correct their ways" without really giving a damn about them to begin with.  Or the other Povich show where they had sick kids with disfiguring diseases on, then attempted to make good by giving them a concert by NSYNC and a trip to DisneyLand.

Now that's a comment I can appreciate.

Actually, between those two examples, I will agree that the work of Trey Parker and Matt Stone comes up a couple of notches above Seth MacFarlane. Both are formulaic, but South Park pushes the envelope of the formula more, and does tend to make more poignant points. Family Guy humor is cheaper and more redundant, I also agree, but I still like it much like I love Beavis and Butthead although every episode was almost exactly the same.

I really like the films by Stone and Parker, all five of em.  But the two best they did were the South Park movie, which features a LOT of political satire, as well as jabs at the MPAA and parenting at the root of the story.  And, Team America: World Police makes a LOT of great ideas come to fruition.  That alone I give them respect for. 

Granted, this is a show which also features talking poop and a mentally challenged kid attempting to have a rock band, but none-the-less, quite endearing characters.

[indianasmith]

I only watched Ren and Stimpy a couple of times (it was a hit after I was an adult, but before I had children).  I really didn't care for what I saw - it was just vulgar and not that funny.  But I may have caught a bad episode or two.

[Flick James]

I only watched Ren and Stimpy a couple of times (it was a hit after I was an adult, but before I had children).  I really didn't care for what I saw - it was just vulgar and not that funny.  But I may have caught a bad episode or two.

Ren & Stimpy were funny in a few episodes. I never thought it was as great as some seem to think. They had a couple of episodes that hit very, very hard, but to me the majority of them just weren't that funny. "Space Madness" was hilarious, and the one with the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" song in it was just genius. Overall, though, I never thought it was all that great.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Umaril really answered very well above, but I would like to address Flick's original comment above.  I have no problem with adult humor or content . . . . FOR ADULTS.  It's a free society, everyone can take it or leave it.  My entertainment standards are probably lower than they ought to be, but the thing is, as an adult, I have the unequivocal right to set those standards and consume the entertainment of my choice.

Right on, old buddy. Have one on me   

My issue is with programming that is clearly targeted towards children, but is brimming with sex jokes, non-stop potty humor, and profanities.  THAT'S what I miss about the older kid shows.  They could be funny and clean at the same time - something that most of Hollywood today has lost the capacity to do, in its relentless war on childhood innocence.

There too, we should consider the source these shows are coming from: Hollywood is FAR from a role model for anyone, kids notwithstanding.  I don't think this one needs any further explanation.

Funny and clean indeed! That was the magic, as opposed to the one-track (and one-trick) mindset of today.  I guess I could expound upon this by saying that there was a true standard in being clean and funny, and that it was a mark of talent to maintain that standard, being anyone can be dirty and get away with it.

[Flick James]

It really depends on context, doesn't it? I mean, potty humor has been the norm in UK television, and in most entertainment venues for that matter, for a long time, whereas this is a relatively new development in the States. This is not a "we're better than them" or vice-versa kind of thing. I don't really care about that. I'm just saying that different cultures have different versions of what is acceptable and what is inappropriate.

Hollywood is far from a role model for anybody, and never has been. They do what is marketable and what will make money. American societal norms did not accept potty humor in the 60's when the original ran, and so the show was more innocent. So, did Hollywood change societal norms or are they just reacting to those changes? It's the proverbial chicken or the egg as far as I'm concerned.

Oh and then there's film. You can't get away with quite a few things that you once WERE able to get away with. Mother's Day (1980) was a borderline torture porn that got an R-rating back then. No way that would happen today. What's considered acceptable or inappropriate shifts all the time. I find it almost impossible to keep up with.

I'm not really trying to make any particular point with this, I just find it interesting how societal norms shift with little to no logic behind it.

[Olivia Bauer]

I love Family Guy. I was there when it jumped the shark and I think it's getting it's charm again. But I don't see how somebody who devotes his life to a crude/dark/intelligent/adult humor mix can remake Flintstones. Flintstones was only partially an adult show, it's supposed to be at least appropriate enough for kids to watch too. I love McFarlane but I don't think he can do this.

[Doggett]

When are they bringing back "Bucky o' Hare" and "Cadillacs and Dinosaurs"?

Or even "The Snorks"?

[Pacman000]

I guess my problem, like others have been saying is that something will be lost in translation. Either due to different humour or technology. I remeber watching the Flintstones as a kid and I do remember liking it a bit. I haven't seen it since I was 10 so my opinion could change if I see it a gain. But still I can't see how Seth Macfarlene is really going to do a good job rebooting it. Another Family guy clone is not what we need. To me it seems like Seth Macfarlene would have better luck trying to make an animated reboot of Manos the Hands of Fate. Actually that might be a funny idea, anybody know how to animate?

It's Manos!  Quality isn't an option!  Just get a sketch book and start drawing. 

Note:  I think this reboot was discontinued.

[HappyGilmore]

I'm not sure if it's discontinued.

Heard it was postponed a few months to early 2013.

[Kaseykockroach]

Unfunny but beloved show gets rebooted by unfunny and beloved show runner. Who cares.
I find it wholly satisfying that Ren & Stimpy still makes mommies cry to this day, as if it isn't two decades old.

[66Crush]

I don't think Seth is going to take a national icon and turn it into one big fart joke (then again he might). I just hope it's funny, but I don't have high hopes. I hate how Cartoon Network revamped Looney Tunes for a modern age. It just doesn't work. The violence is gone as is most of the fun.Those old shorts were not censored for content like cartoons are today, and don't think the network isn't ramming political correctness down the throats of the writers. If MacFarlane pushes the envelope as far as he does for his other shows it will offend the purist, but if it's too safe, it's likely to be like most of the cartoons aimed at children today: Mind numbingly boring! Old cartoons are a reflection of the time they were made in, and quite frankly, who'd want to reflect the times we live in today? We no longer live in a world of black and white. Parents and schools are teaching the kids about political correctness, but don't teach them a damn thing about respect. We live in a world where technology is moving faster than a child's ability to cope with it. Our children have greater technical minds, but nowhere near the emotional maturity of past generations. Sorry to get on the soapbox, but to quote Don Henley: This is the end of the innocence.