The Hit Songwriters

"The Hit Songwriters" is the first episode of The Flintstones season two, and the twenty-ninth overall. It aired on September 15, 1961 on ABC. It was written by Jack Raymond, and produced and directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the creators of the series and the founders of Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Fred & Barney write a song, which is performed by Hoagy Carmichael.

Characters

 * style="background-color:#clear"| Fred Flintstone
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Alan Reed
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wilma Flintstone
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jean Vander Pyl
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Barney Rubble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Daws Butler
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Betty Rubble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Bea Benaderet
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Librarian
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jean Vander Pyl
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Baby rooster
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Daws Butler
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Rooster
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Daws Butler
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Scat Von Roctoven
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| John Stephenson
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Rocky Rockwell
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| John Stephenson
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Sally
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jean Vander Pyl
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mabel's friend
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mabel
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Bea Benaderet
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Hoagy Carmichael
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Himself
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Rocky's wife
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Emcee
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jean Vander Pyl
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mabel's friend
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mabel
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Bea Benaderet
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Hoagy Carmichael
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Himself
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Rocky's wife
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Emcee
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Rocky's wife
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Emcee
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Emcee
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable

Organizations

 * Rockwell Music Publishers

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * Bedrock
 * Flintstone residence
 * Rubble residence
 * Public library
 * Rockwell Music Publishers building
 * Pilton Hotel

Objects

 * How to Improve Your Manners
 * There's Loot in Lryics
 * Piano

Vehicles

 * Flintmobile

Filming
The cast was recorded on February 24, 1961.

Mel Blanc was hospitalized after a terrible car accident while driving on Sunset Boulevard on January 23, 1961, which necessitated Daws Butler to substitute for Blanc while he recuperated, missing this episode and the next four. He returned rather quickly due to recording from his home while he was bedridden.

Music
The music was composed by Hoyt Curtin.

The song "Yabba-Dabba-Doo!" was written by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, and was performed by Hoagy Carmichael.

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: September 15, 1961 on ABC

Behind the scenes

 * The episode is notable for being the first episode to feature a famous celebrity on the series.
 * Wilma mentions Mrs. Gilbert and Sullivan.

Home availability

 * In the United States:
 * December 7, 2004: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Second 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.
 * October 3, 2017: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Second Season (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) 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 the United Kingdom and Ireland:
 * June 4, 2007: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Second Season on DVD.