Just a heads up everybody! If you don't know about it yet, the Warner Archive Collection is a service from Warner Home Video which produces DVDs of rare or obscure titles that people want but would not necessarily appeal to a wide, mass audience. The discs are produced on a manufacture-on-demand basis to reduce costs. Among the titles they've released over the past few years are a lot of the lesser known Hanna-Barbera series. Today, the latest release is a complete series set of "The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan." If all goes well, I will try and post some updates on the site this summer if I can find the time.

Here's the official blurb:

Chinese-American supersleuth Charlie Chan made his cartoon transition with his customary grace, only this time he brought along the clan. Maintaining Hanna-Barbera's winning formula (kids, mysteries, canine, van), the hit kid show also introduced some innovations (the van transforms, a double-sized team, HOWdunnits not whodunits). Most significant among these is the casting of the amazing Keye Luke (Kato, Master Po) as the voice of Charlie Chan. Not only was this the first time that an Asian-American would play Charlie Chan, it marked an apropos "graduation" for Mr. Luke, the original "Number One Son" Lee Chan of the classic Warner Oland Chan mysteries. Among those joining Mr. Luke on voice duties are Jodie Foster (Anne Chan), Lennie Weinrib (Stanley Chan) and Don Messick (Chu-Chu) in this complete 16-episode, two-disc collection. The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan - "e pluribus unum" and how!

"Jetsons Meet the Flintstones" Video Review - Posted by Ryan on August 7th 2011

Sorry about the lack of updates once again, but I do have something to tide you over until I have something bigger to premiere. Check out this video review I made of the recently released DVD of "The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones." The DVD is available to buy from the Warner Archive Collection.

Be on the look out for new updates at HB Shows.com. I have some very special "Flintstones" and "Jonny Quest" updates in the works and hopefully after that, some "Yogi" stuff to coincide with the movie.

"Pirates of Dark Water" and "Thundarr" DVDs - Posted by Ryan on October 2nd 2010

There's some good news on the Hanna-Barbera DVD front! As part of Warner Home Video's Warner Archive Collection, complete series sets have been released for both "Pirates of Dark Water" and "Thundarr the Barbarian," both under the Hanna-Barbera Classics Collection (despite the fact that "Thundarr" is a Ruby-Spears production). However, these sets are manufactured on an on-demand fashion and will not be available in stores. They are available for sale exclusively on the WB Shop website. This is the same situation as the similar release of "Yogi's First Christmas," but for some reason, that you could buy from Amazon.com, as well. Both series sets are priced at $29.95 for four discs and 21 episodes each.

Thanks to TV Shows on DVD for the news and pictures. For info can be found there for both "Pirates" and "Thundarr."

On Sunday, December 20, 2009, actor and comedian Arnold Stang passed away at the age of 91. Mr. Stang succumbed to pneumonia. Working alongside the likes of Frank Sinatra and Milton Berle over the course of a 60 year career, Mr. Stang was also a player for Hanna-Barbera Studios in the voice acting industry, most recognizable as the lead voice on the 1961-62 series "Top Cat" where he played the Phil Silvers/Sgt. Bilko inspired character. He returned to the character several times in various spin-offs including the 1987 TV movie "Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats," the 1985-86 series "Yogi's Treasure Hunt," and even a guest appearance in an episode of "Wake, Rattle, and Roll."

In addition to his work at Hanna-Barbera, Mr. Stang performed the voices of Herman for Paramount's cartoon feature shorts "Herman and Katnip," Shorty in Paramount's "Popeye," and Catfish for DePatie-Freelang's "Misterjaw." He also co-starred in a number of feature films including "The Man with the Golden Arm"
with Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," and even worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Hercules in New York" in 1970. Making appearances on shows such as "Emergency!," "Batman," and "The Cosby Show," he continued to work way into the 2000s, even providing his voice on "Courage the Cowardly Dog."

Mr. Stang is survived by his wife, JoAnne Stang. Arnold Stang will be missed, but not forgotten.

More information can be found at Sphere, the Chicago Tribune, and BND.

"Flintstones" and "Yogi" Movies Coming to DVD - Posted by Ryan on August 9th 2008

After a fiasco a couple of years ago regarding a DVD release of the feature length "The Man Called Flintstone," Warner Home Video has finally cleared the rights to release both that movie and "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear" which had the same issues. Both are due out December 2 of this year.

TV Shows on DVD has the full story. Discuss the story here.

"Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King" - Posted by Ryan on June 19th 2008

Warner Bros. is prepping a new direct-to-video "Scooby-Doo" movie to be released on September 16, 2008. No official details have been disclosed yet, so stay tuned. In the meantime, here's the cover art. Click the cover for a larger image.