The Long, Long Weekend

"The Long, Long Weekend" is the twenty-fourth episode of The Flintstones season one. It aired on March 10, 1961 on ABC. It was written by Warren Foster, and produced and directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the creators of the series and the founders of Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Fred thinks his old buddy, Gus Gravel, has invited him for a relaxing weekend at his hotel, but it's really a ploy to get him, his wife, and friends to work, as his old staff have quit.

Characters

 * style="background-color:#clear"| Dino
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wilma Flintstone
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jean Vander Pyl
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Betty Rubble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Bea Benaderet
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Fred Flintstone
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Alan Reed
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Fred's mother
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Gus Gravel
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Willard Waterman
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Harvey
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Maid
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Chef
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Barney Rubble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Sea serpent
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Grand Pooh-Bah
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Chef
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Barney Rubble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Sea serpent
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Grand Pooh-Bah
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Grand Pooh-Bah
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| Mel Blanc

Organizations

 * Loyal Order of Dinosaurs
 * Royal Order of the Water Buffaloes

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * Bedrock
 * Flintstone residence
 * Gravel Hotel

Objects

 * Broom

Vehicles

 * Flintmobile

Filming
The cast was recorded on October 24, 1960.

Music
The music was composed by Hoyt Curtin.

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: March 10, 1961 on ABC

Behind the scenes

 * This episode introduces the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes, which will eventually replace the Loyal Order of Dinosaurs as if it had always been the former.
 * The Grand Poo-Bah is named after The Lord High Everything Else from The Mikado.

Errors

 * The Grand Pooh-Bah mentions how Fred can be a member of the Loyal Order of the Water Buffaloes, when he's later retconned to be a member, anyway. Additionally, The Flintstone Kids retconned the Water Buffaloes as having always existed with the Junior Water Buffaloes.

Everlasting influence

 * The episode title was referenced in the season six episode title "The Long, Long, Long Weekend."

Home availability

 * In the United States:
 * March 16, 2004: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.
 * October 28, 2008: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (limited edition) on DVD.
 * November 13, 2012: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (standard edition) on DVD.
 * May 23, 2017: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.
 * December 12, 2017: Warner Home Video releases Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection 4-Pack on DVD.
 * February 13, 2018: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.
 * October 27, 2020: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc.
 * In Australia:
 * March 2, 2005: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.
 * In the United Kingdom and Ireland:
 * July 8, 1996: First Independent Films releases The Flintstones: Bumper Edition on VHS.
 * November 7, 2005: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.