Partridge Family 2200 A.D. Explained

Alt Name:The Partridge Family in Outer Space
Genre:Science fiction
Runtime:30 minutes
Based On:The Partridge Family by Bernard Slade
Director:Charles A. Nichols
Executive Producer:William Hanna
Joseph Barbera (based on characters created by Bernard Slade)
Voices:Joan Gerber
Danny Bonaduce
Sherry Alberoni
Chuck McLendon
Suzanne Crough
Brian Forster
John Stephenson
Susan Dey (2 episodes)
Frank Welker
Country:United States
Company:Hanna-Barbera Productions
Columbia Pictures Television
Language:English
Network:CBS
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:16
Related:The Partridge Family
The Jetsons
Fred Flintstone and Friends

Partridge Family 2200 A.D. is an American science fiction Saturday-morning animated series and a spin-off of the 1970–1974 ABC live-action sitcom The Partridge Family produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Columbia Pictures Television and broadcast on CBS from September 7 to December 21, 1974, though, it would air in reruns until March 8, 1975.[1] The band performed one of their pop hits in each episode.[2]

Production

While in pre-production, Hanna-Barbera originally proposed an updated version of The Jetsons, in which Elroy would be a teenager and Judy would have a steady job as an ace reporter. CBS, under the leadership of Fred Silverman, discarded the idea and decided to make an animated version of The Partridge Family instead.[3] The Partridge Family had already been recurring characters on a previous Hanna-Barbera production, Goober and the Ghost Chasers.[4]

In this new iteration of the series, The Partridge Family is—without any explanation—living in a Jetsons-like futuristic environment in 2200 A.D. The family's "galaxy-famous" musical act is notably more successful than in the live-action show, and they appear to manage themselves: the character of Ruben Kincaid is not a regular. Danny has a robotic dog named Orbit, and Keith and Laurie have two good friends that travel with the family (though they are not part of the musical act): Marion, a two-toned green and blue Martian who can fly, and Veenie, a purple-haired Venusian with a distinct buzzing vocal tic.

Danny Bonaduce, Suzanne Crough, and Brian Forster voiced their respective characters from the live action series.[5] Susan Dey provided Laurie's voice for only two episodes before she was replaced by former Mouseketeer Sherry Alberoni, who had voiced Alexandra for Hanna-Barbera's Josie and the Pussycats. Chuck McLenan served as both the speaking and singing voice of Keith Partridge instead of David Cassidy; Joan Gerber voiced Shirley Partridge in place of Shirley Jones, while John Stephenson took over the role of Reuben Kincaid from Dave Madden in the few episodes in which he appears.

Micky Dolenz, a member of a previous made-for-television band (The Monkees), had various recurring roles in the series, one of his first voice-over roles.

Sixteen half-hour episodes were produced for Partridge Family 2200 A.D., which lasted half a season on CBS Saturday morning (September 7, 1974 – March 8, 1975). In 1977–78, it was retitled The Partridge Family in Outer Space when episodes were serialized on the syndicated weekday series Fred Flintstone and Friends.[6] Like many animated series created by Hanna-Barbera in the 1970s, the series contained a laugh track created by the studio.

Due to its ties to The Partridge Family, Partridge Family 2200 A.D. is one of only two Hanna-Barbera produced series since H-B's 1967 sale to Taft Broadcasting that are owned outright by Sony Pictures Television (whose predecessor, Screen Gems, produced the live-action series); Jeannie (an animated spin-off of I Dream of Jeannie) is the other (the copyrights to both animated series are currently held by CPT Holdings).

Cast

Chuck McLenan also was the singing voice for musical numbers.

Home media

In October 2005, two restored episodes of Partridge Family 2200 A.D., "My Son, The Spaceball Star" and "Car Trouble", were included as bonuses on The Partridge Family: The Complete First Season DVD set.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Perlmutter . David . The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows . 2018 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-1538103739 . 444–445.
  2. Book: Woolery . George W. . Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part 1: Animated Cartoon Series . 1983 . Scarecrow Press . 0-8108-1557-5 . registration . 14 March 2020 . 211–212.
  3. News: Cronin . Brian . TV Legends: The Bizarre Origin Behind Partridge Family 2200 A.D. . . August 12, 2018 . June 20, 2019.
  4. News: Tramel . Jimmie . Scooby-Doo is 50 and this is why your puppy love springs eternal . . April 23, 2019 . June 20, 2019.
  5. News: 'Partridge Family' star Suzanne Crough dead at 52 . . April 29, 2015 . June 20, 2019.
  6. Book: Erickson . Hal . Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 . 2005 . 2nd . McFarland & Co . 978-1476665993 . 603–604.