I was watching the Simpson's episode the other day in which the studios that produce Itchy & Scratchy are sued for plagerism. The accused pleads that animation is based on the stealing of ideas from film and tv commedians.

One example he gives is to suggest that Top Cat was a direct parody of Phil Silvers as Sgt Bilko...and there are some similarities (although Bilko never lived in a dustbin, as far as I recall).

Anyone have any opinions on this strange subject, or remember the other animated characters the studio boss lists as such copies?

I think he claims the Flintstones are based on a series called the Honeymooners...but I think that's a Yank series and I've never seen or heard of it before.

I remember that episode, and yes top cat is a rip off of sgtbilko! I can't think of many others though, although in the episode 'three men and a comic book' on hteir way bacjk from the comic book convention lisa and bart suggest richie rich and casper the ghost are one and the same.

Strangest thing is that when I was a kid, my uncle lived in Minnesota. One year he sent me some comicbooks through the post and Richie Rich and Casper were among the titles. This was the first time I'd seen or heard of either character and I thought they were related somehow myself.

Of course the simpsons themselves have been compared to the Flinstones and the Jetsons.

Top Cat was certainly based on Bilko - don't know that this necessarily makes it a 'rip-off' though. It added plenty that was new to the formula if I remember rightly.

Some of Top Cat's voice over artists were actors who appeared in Bilko too, so there are plenty of similarities. I'm sure Google would reveal more about this.

Heres a review of TopCat Dvds, with a peice on hte connection, which is far more interesting than any cartoon should be :D

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/12/132941.php

Originally posted by AndrewC
Of course the simpsons themselves have been compared to the Flinstones and the Jetsons.

I'm reminded of the episode where a sulking Smithers prompts Monty Burns to come out with the following to Homer:

"Why, if it isn't Fred Flintstone and his lovely wife Wilma...and this must be little Pebbles..."

Yeah, Top Cat (Boss Cat as it was known here) was based on Sgt Bilko, and I don't think it was ever kept secret. The characters of Benny in Top Cat, and Doberman on The Phil Silvers Show were both played by Maurice Gosfield.

As for the Flintstones the four main characters were based on the four main characters from The Honeymooners.

Both of these series were made in colour but were shown in black and white when they were first on TV.

Originally posted by Snook
Yeah, Top Cat (Boss Cat as it was known here) was based on Sgt Bilko, and I don't think it was ever kept secret. The characters of Benny in Top Cat, and Doberman on The Phil Silvers Show were both played by Maurice Gosfield.

As for the Flintstones the four main characters were based on the four main characters from The Honeymooners.

Both of these series were made in colour but were shown in black and white when they were first on TV.

Yes Flintstones was a deffinate take of of the Honeymooners (Jackie Gleason/Art Carnie) I recall the Flints in colour but never the Honeymooners, they were shown in the I love Lucy time in black/white, unless we only had a black/white tv at that time.

Not heard of Top Cat.

Originally posted by poppins
Yes Flintstones was a deffinate take of of the Honeymooners (Jackie Gleason/Art Carnie) I recall the Flints in colour but never the Honeymooners, they were shown in the I love Lucy time in black/white, unless we only had a black/white tv at that time.

Not heard of Top Cat.

Sorry, I meant both Top Cat and The Flintstones were made in Colour but shown in B&W.

I find it quite intetersting that actors from Bilko actually voiced similar characters on Top Cat and the fact that the latter seems to be an open parody of the former. I'm put in mind to wonder if this doesn't hark back to a bygone age where lawsuits and litigation didn't loom over every horizon.

Originally posted by Snook
Yeah, Top Cat (Boss Cat as it was known here)

LOL, yes, even as a kid I always thought that was funny. How the theme tune went "TOP CAT, the most de de de de TOP CAT. Good friends get to call him TC, de de dee dee wicky ka chee, TOP CAT..." etc, then a title card used to come up saying "BOSS CAT" - and all because there was a cat food called Top Cat or something.

Originally posted by Damon
LOL, yes, even as a kid I always thought that was funny. How the theme tune went "TOP CAT, the most de de de de TOP CAT. Good friends get to call him TC, de de dee dee wicky ka chee, TOP CAT..." etc, then a title card used to come up saying "BOSS CAT" - and all because there was a cat food called Top Cat or something.

Surely the ancient animate series predated the cat food?

Damn moggies!