Happy Birthday (?) George Jetson

Earlier this week, I encountered two references relating to the impending birth of George J. Jetson, future employee of Spacely Sprokets – an enterprise which should be in full operation in 40 years. You know George, his boy, Elroy, Daughter Judy, and Jane, his wife. Sure you do. Well, George is 40 in the year 2062, meaning that he will be born sometime this year. To be specific, he will be born sometime between July 31st and August 27th.

I’ve seen both dates posted this past week, on the same data card presumably from Hanna Barbara productions. I’ll presume that both were somehow photoshopped by some enthusiastic fans.

Writers create backstories for their creations – assisted by enthusiastic fans who will somehow embellish the writer’s backstory to the Nth degree. For instance, Jane, his wife’s birthday has been pegged by fans to be on the 23rd of September, 2024. Judy and Elroy’s birthdays are still a bit hazy – Judy will be born in 2043 – Elroy in 2053.

I’m sure that Judy and Elroy’s exact dates of birth will be forthcoming before too much longer. Fans will tell us.

While musing about the impending birth of George Jetson, I recall a line I heard on an episode of The Simpsons, where Bart pointed out that a couple of Hanna Barbara cartoons were based on sitcoms: Specifically mentioned were The Flintstones, based loosely on Jackie Gleason’s The Honeymooners, and Top Cat, with characters cribbed from Phil Silvers’ Sergeant Bilko.

Allow me to add The Jetsons to that list.

I’m thinking of a comic strip family who made it to theatric shorts and at least a couple of attempts at a television series.

Blondie.

The elements are there, if you look for them.

George Jetson and Dagwood Bumstead both work for bombastic bosses (Mr. Spacely and Mr. Dithers) in ordinary jobs despite having a pedigreed background. (George’s grandfather was named Montague, a sure sign of family wealth – The original premise of Blondie was that she was a gold-digger, prompting Dagwood’s father to disinherit him.)

Jetson and Bumstead each have two children, an older girl and a younger boy, and both have non-descript dogs (Ast – er – Rastro and Daisy) who figure into the story lines.

The clincher is with the wife. Jane Jetson is voiced by actor Penny Singleton – the actor who portrayed Blondie Bumstead in the theatrical shorts and in one of the attempts to bring Blondie to television!

How’s that for detective work!

Regardless, we have a window for George Jetson’s birthday. The question now is, will our technology catch up with what we’ve been told to expect for 2062?

Time will tell.

Till then, Happy Birthday, George!

Be Seeing You!