On September 23, 1962, ABC The Jetsons debuted to television audiences at 7:30 p.m. Like the Flintstones of the Stone Age, futuristic animated family sitcom would become an enduring franchise for producers Hanna-Barbera. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review of the first episode, “Rosey The Robot”, is below:
The Jetsons is based on the same premise as: The flints, with the difference that the projection is in the future rather than in the past. A family situation comedy done in animation (and for those with color sets, color), the new Hanna-Barbera production should draw in a good crowd.
The jokes are familiar, but the setting gives them newness and an extra dimension, and cartoons are certainly suitable for the TV screen.
Larry Markes’ script for the first episode is lightly sketched in the characters, mother, father, two children (boy and girl) of the Jetsons, a 21st century family.
Jokes are built around gadgets of the future and some eternal problems: a skinflint boss, a gem of a maid (Rosey the Robot), a curious mother-in-law, etc. But the lines and situations get a fresh boost from the background, just like they do in Flintstones.
Viewed in black and white, the animation looked clean and crisp. The voices are good, by George O’Hanlon, Penny Singleton, Janet Waldo, Daws Butler, Don Messick, Mel Blanc and Jean Vander Pyl.
William Hanna and Joseph Barbera are co-producers and directors, with Alex Lovy as associate producer. — James Powers, originally published September 25, 1962.