‘Laff-A-Lympics’ TV title, 1977
Hanna-Barbera’s Laff-A-Lympics first appeared on ABC in September, 1977 as a segment of Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics which also included The Scooby-Doo Show, The Blue Falcon & Dynomutt and Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels. 24 episodes were eventually produced through 1979.
The Yogi Yahooeys (‘Laff-A-Lympics,’ 1977)
Laff-A-Lympics was inspired by the Olympics (naturally) and ABC’s Battle of the Network Stars (where celebrities competed against one another in Olympic-style events). The cartoon series was hosted and co-announced by Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf – who wore yellow jackets much like ABC’s top sports announcers Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford. Three teams of Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters; The Yogi Yahooeys, The Scooby Doobies and The Really Rottens battled each week for a gold medal win.
The Scooby Doobies (‘Laff-A-Lympics,’ 1977)
I was a big fan of the series and even picked up a few issues of Marvel’s Laff-A-Lympics comics that were published for a year (1978-79). The heady mix of all of those cartoon characters from across the decades coming together, combined with still-fresh memories of the 1976 Olympics and the magnificent inanity of celebrities competing on Battle of the Network Stars was too much for my young mind to resist. Catch the intro below.
The Really Rottens (‘Laff-A-Lympics,’ 1977)
Previously, on Funshine Friday: ‘Saturday Morning Sneak Peek’ (ABC, 1973)