Because Fat Albert was too instructive, NBC rejected the producers’ request to air the show on Saturday mornings. The property was acquired by CBS by Bill Cosby and Filmation Associates, a new production firm. Under Ken Brown’s supervision, Randy Hollar, an illustrator, worked with former Disney animator Michelle McKinney to design the majority of the character images for the Fat Albert gang.
The show, now known as Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, debuted on CBS on September 9, 1972, and ran for 12 years (albeit it wasn’t produced continuously). In 1984–1985, it was also in first-run syndication for another season. The characters were also featured in a number of prime-time Christmas specials. Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids had an adult laugh track, like the majority of animated shows of the time, but it was removed in the last season. In 1989, the show was repeated on the USA Network and NBC Saturday AM. The program debuted on Retro Television Network in 2010.
Although Cosby’s one-time idea for a network of Fat Albert hamburger joints appears to have been forgotten, “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” hasn’t been forgotten more than 40 years after it originally became a Saturday morning TV mainstay. On eBay, bootleg videos of “Fat Albert” episodes command exorbitant prices. In the 1990s, Time Life put some of the performances on video, and other series have acknowledged the enduring appeal of Fat Albert, including “South Park,” “NewsRadio,” “Scrubs,” and “Saturday Night Live.” Hello, hello, hello!
The Personas:
Albert Jackson, who was overweight Based on his childhood friend Albert Robertson, Bill Cosby provided the voice. Fat Albert, the show’s protagonist, is the Junkyard group’s heart and soul as well as frequently their conscience. Despite being portrayed as obese, he stays active due to his passion for sports and frequently participates in various games with the group. Fat Albert plays the bagpipes/accordion (built from a radiator and an airbag) in the Junkyard Band and works hard to uphold integrity within the gang and with others.
