The Funny World of Fred and Bunni (partially found live-action/animated variety show pilot; 1978): Difference between revisions

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|title=<center>The Funny World of Fred and Bunni</center>
|title=<center>The Funny World of Fred and Bunni</center>
|image=Funny_world_of_fred_and_bunni.jpg
|image=Funny_world_of_fred_and_bunni.jpg
|imagecaption=Fanmade depiction of what Bunni, the star and the green man could have looked like. Drawn by ''The Reynard''.
|imagecaption=Fanmade depiction of what Bunni, the star and the green man could have looked like. Drawn by user Reynard aka Gaucelm.
|status=<span style="color:Orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:Orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
}}
'''''The Funny World of Fred and Bunni''''' is the unreleased pilot of a variety show that was supposed to be broadcast on CBS, on the date of 30th August 1978. The pilot had live-action actors appearing on-screen with cartoon characters, animated by the Hanna-Barbera studios.
'''''The Funny World of Fred and Bunni''''' is the unreleased pilot of a variety show that was supposed to be broadcast on CBS, on the date of August 30th, 1978. The pilot had live-action actors appearing on-screen with cartoon characters, animated by the Hanna-Barbera studios.


It was one-hour long and starred Fred Travalena, a comedian/singer who was popular at the time for his impressions of celebrities. A sexy animated cartoon young woman, Bunni, would appear as ''"Fred's conscience"''. She was voiced by Kathie Lee Gifford (then known as Kathie Johnson).
==Characters==
The variety show was one-hour long and starred Fred Travalena, a comedian/singer who was popular at the time for his impressions of celebrities. A "sexy" animated cartoon young woman, Bunni, would appear as "Fred's conscience". She was voiced by Kathie Lee Gifford (then known as Kathie Johnson). Other animated characters included a little green man with a Peter Lorre-like voice and a bright yellow star with a Paul Lynde-like voice as an overly negative critic repeating "Boring!". Other live-action comedians that appeared in the pilot included Sandy Duncan, Vicki Lawrence and Pat Harrington.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19780830&id=P24dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4961,7090211 Article from ''The Times-News'' describing the pilot.] Retrieved 22 Jun '14</ref><ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19780830&id=9fcpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O24FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3779,5422423 Article from ''The Hour'' describing the pilot.] Retrieved 22 Jun '14</ref>


Other animated characters included a little green man with a Peter Lorre-like voice and a bright yellow star with a Paul Lynde-like voice as an overly negative critic repeating ''"Boring!"''.
[[File:Fred travalena.jpg|thumb|222px|CBS photo taken from the show, formerly sold on eBay.]]


Other live-action comedians that appeared in the pilot included Sandy Duncan, Vicki Lawrence and Pat Harrington.
==Skits==
[[File:Fred.jpg|thumb|215px|CBS photo taken from the show, formerly sold on eBay]]
The pilot contained skits such as:
The pilot contained skits such as:
*Travalena and Harrington as Lance and Louie Welk, the fictional two brothers of Lawrence Welk who, unlike him, failed into making it into show-business and depicted as stereotypical Germans. A running gag had Harrington's character spurting out ''"Sonja Henie's tutu!" ''making Travalena's character laugh.
*Travalena and Harrington as Lance and Louie Welk, the fictional two brothers of Lawrence Welk who, unlike him, failed into making it into show-business and depicted as stereotypical Germans. A running gag had Harrington's character spurting out "Sonja Henie's tutu!" making Travalena's character laugh.
*Travalena impersonating Frank Sinatra, Paul Williams, Barry Manilow and Henry Winkler in a musical number where all of the characters appear on screen together.
*Travalena impersonating Frank Sinatra, Paul Williams, Barry Manilow and Henry Winkler in a musical number where all of the characters appear on screen together.
*Travalena imitating Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Carter, Jim Nabors and Howard Cosell.
*Travalena imitating Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Carter, Jim Nabors, and Howard Cosell.
Joseph Barbera was executive producer of the special, and Iwao Takamoto developed the character of Bunni.
Joseph Barbera was executive producer of the special, and Iwao Takamoto developed the character of Bunni.


Although some newspaper critics watched the pilot before intended broadcasting, the full pilot has never resurfaced anywhere. Takamoto claims in his book that it "never even made it to air".
==Availability==
Although some newspaper critics watched the pilot before intended broadcasting, it has never resurfaced anywhere in its entirety. Takamoto described the creating process in his autobiography ''My Life With A Thousand Characters'' and claims that the full show "never even made it to air".<ref>[http://tinyurl.com/l4rt5wo Excerpt from Iwao Takamoto's recollection of the genesis of the pilot.] Retrieved 22 Jun '14</ref>


The only known part of the pilot that can be found is a performance of Travalena singing ''The Star With The Lonely Eyes''.
The only known parts of the pilot that can be found are a performance of Travalena singing "The Star With The Lonely Eyes", and another clip of him singing "I Write The Songs" along with Sandy Duncan.


{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8mUQb07MM4|320x240|center|Travalena singing in the only known surviving part from the pilot|frame}}
The special is sometimes erroneously referred to as ''The Funny World of Fred and Bunny''.
==References==
*http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19780830&id=P24dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4961,7090211 Article from ''The Times-News'' describing the pilot.


*http://tinyurl.com/l4rt5wo Excerpt from Iwao Takamoto's recollection of the genesis of the pilot.
==Gallery==
{{Video|perrow  =2
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =f8mUQb07MM4
  |description1 =Travalena singing "The Star With The Lonely Eyes".
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =Qqu4j9bxTvk
  |description2 =Travalena and Sandy Duncan singing "I Write The Songs".
}}
==See Also==
*[[Boss Cat (found British opening and ending titles of "Top Cat" animated series; 1962-1989)]]
*[[CBS Storybreak "What Happened in Hamelin" (lost episode from animated series; 1987)]]
*[[Dastardly & Muttley - Operation: Pigeon Pursuit (lost build of unreleased PlayStation 2 video game; 2007-2008)]]
*[[Fender Bender 500 (partially found episodes of "Wacky Races" reboot animated series; 1990s)]]
*[[Jetsons: The Movie "Gotcha" (partially found full version of song from Hanna-Barbera animated film; 1990)]]
*[[Jetsons: The Movie - Janet Waldo performance (lost audio of animated film; 1988-1989)]]
*[[Jokebook (partially found Hanna-Barbera animated series; 1982)]]
*[[Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone (partially found episodes of syndicated animated series; 1990)]]
*[[Return of the Bunjee (lost ABC Weekend special; 1985)]]
*[[Rock Odyssey (partially lost Hanna-Barbera animated film; 1987)]]
*[[Showbiz Pizza's Yogi Bear and Boo Boo Showtape (found animatronic audio showtape; 1987)]]
*[[The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (partially found Hanna Barbera live action-animated TV series; 1968-1969)]]
*[[The Flintstones (cancelled Seth MacFarlane reboot of animated series; 2013)]]
*[[The Flintstones Movie (partially found Sega Channel exclusive build of 2D movie tie-in platformer; 1995)]]
*[[The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour (partially found NBC comedy variety show; 1978)]]
*[[The Moxy Show (partially found episodes of CGI anthology series; 1993-2000)]]
*[[The New Teen Titans "Just Say No!" (partially lost Hanna-Barbera anti-drug animated PSA; 1983)]]
*[[The Ruff and Reddy Show (found episodes of NBC Hanna-Barbera animated series; 1957-1960)]]
*[[The Snorks (partially found unaired pilot of Hanna-Barbera animated TV series; 1982)]]


*http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19780830&id=9fcpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O24FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3779,5422423 Article from ''The Hour'' describing the pilot.
==References==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Partially found media|Funny World of Fred and Bunni]]
[[Category:Lost animation|Funny World of Fred and Bunni]]
[[Category:Lost animation|Funny World of Fred and Bunni]]
[[Category:Lost TV|Funny World of Fred and Bunni]]
[[Category:Lost TV|Funny World of Fred and Bunni]]
[[Category:Partially found media|Funny World of Fred and Bunni]]

Latest revision as of 00:34, 24 December 2022

Funny world of fred and bunni.jpg

Fanmade depiction of what Bunni, the star and the green man could have looked like. Drawn by user Reynard aka Gaucelm.

Status: Partially Found

The Funny World of Fred and Bunni is the unreleased pilot of a variety show that was supposed to be broadcast on CBS, on the date of August 30th, 1978. The pilot had live-action actors appearing on-screen with cartoon characters, animated by the Hanna-Barbera studios.

Characters

The variety show was one-hour long and starred Fred Travalena, a comedian/singer who was popular at the time for his impressions of celebrities. A "sexy" animated cartoon young woman, Bunni, would appear as "Fred's conscience". She was voiced by Kathie Lee Gifford (then known as Kathie Johnson). Other animated characters included a little green man with a Peter Lorre-like voice and a bright yellow star with a Paul Lynde-like voice as an overly negative critic repeating "Boring!". Other live-action comedians that appeared in the pilot included Sandy Duncan, Vicki Lawrence and Pat Harrington.[1][2]

CBS photo taken from the show, formerly sold on eBay.

Skits

The pilot contained skits such as:

  • Travalena and Harrington as Lance and Louie Welk, the fictional two brothers of Lawrence Welk who, unlike him, failed into making it into show-business and depicted as stereotypical Germans. A running gag had Harrington's character spurting out "Sonja Henie's tutu!" making Travalena's character laugh.
  • Travalena impersonating Frank Sinatra, Paul Williams, Barry Manilow and Henry Winkler in a musical number where all of the characters appear on screen together.
  • Travalena imitating Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Carter, Jim Nabors, and Howard Cosell.

Joseph Barbera was executive producer of the special, and Iwao Takamoto developed the character of Bunni.

Availability

Although some newspaper critics watched the pilot before intended broadcasting, it has never resurfaced anywhere in its entirety. Takamoto described the creating process in his autobiography My Life With A Thousand Characters and claims that the full show "never even made it to air".[3]

The only known parts of the pilot that can be found are a performance of Travalena singing "The Star With The Lonely Eyes", and another clip of him singing "I Write The Songs" along with Sandy Duncan.

The special is sometimes erroneously referred to as The Funny World of Fred and Bunny.

Gallery

Travalena singing "The Star With The Lonely Eyes".

Travalena and Sandy Duncan singing "I Write The Songs".

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Article from The Times-News describing the pilot. Retrieved 22 Jun '14
  2. ↑ Article from The Hour describing the pilot. Retrieved 22 Jun '14
  3. ↑ Excerpt from Iwao Takamoto's recollection of the genesis of the pilot. Retrieved 22 Jun '14
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