The Coming of Astro

"The Coming of Astro" is the fifth episode of The Jetsons season one. It aired on October 21, 1962 on ABC. It was written by Tony Benedict and produced and directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the creators of the series and the founders of Hanna-Barbera Productions.

George forbids the family from adopting Astro, before buying them a robot dog called 'Lectronimo. But when a burglar breaks in, Astro proves to be the better dog.

Characters

 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jane Jetson
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Penny Singleton
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pierre
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Daws Butler
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Judy Jetson
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Janet Waldo
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Elroy Jetson
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Daws Butler
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Astro
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Don Messick
 * style="background-color:#clear"| George Jetson
 * style="background-color:#clear"| George O'Hanlon
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Jane's mother
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pet shop employee
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Don Messick
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| 'Lectronimo
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Bat burgler
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Don Messick
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Police officer
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pet shop employee
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Don Messick
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| 'Lectronimo
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Bat burgler
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Don Messick
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Police officer
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Police officer
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable

Organizations

 * Spacely Space Sprockets, Inc.

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * Orbit City
 * Galaxie Beauty Salon
 * Sky Pad Apartments
 * Jetson residence
 * Spacely Space Sprockets building
 * Pet shop
 * The Moon

Objects

 * Televiewer

Vehicles

 * Space cars

Aftermath
When The Jetsons originally aired, no title cards were present. They were only added when the series was revived in the 1980s, and the original episodes were given title cards for consistency. Notably, they all include Orbitty, who wasn't in the original series.

Music
The score was composed and conducted by Hoyt Curtin.

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: October 21, 1962 on ABC

Behind the scenes

 * This is one of the rare occasions where George is at work, without Mr. Spacely appearing.
 * How Elroy met Astro is revealed in "Millionaire Astro."

Errors

 * The televiewer may or may not be the visaphone.

Home availability

 * In the United States:
 * May 11, 2004: Warner Home Video releases The Jetsons: The Complete First Season on DVD.
 * May 23, 2017: Warner Home Video releases The Jetsons: The Complete First Season (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.
 * September 10, 2019: Warner Archive Collection releases The Jetsons: The Compete Original Series on Blu-ray Disc.
 * October 13, 2020: Warner Home Video releases The Jetsons: The Complete Series (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.