The Flintstones - S1E2 - "Hot Lips Hannigan"

 The Flintstones

Season 1

Episode 2

"Hot Lips Hannigan"
Original Airdate: 10/7/1960

Opening Teaser: The screen opens up to a jazz band playing as Fred Flintstone sings "When the Saints Go Marching In", as we roll into opening credits.

Synopsis: Following the credits, we return to the Loyal Order of Dinosaurs building in downtown Bedrock.  We later see that Fred and Barney are both members.  Barney is looking forward to the annual benefit show the next week.  Fred is happy, but bothered by the fact that he has to do a solo act.  Every year he normally gets up and sings, but this year he wants to do something different.  Barney talks about doing something.  Fred laments the fact that an "no-talent" like Barney is not worried, but Fred is.  Fred takes this as a challenge to put on a better act than Barney does.  As they bid each other a good night, we are left on Fred's anger for the challenge.  Fred mocks Barney's carefree attitude, and questions his friendship.

We enter into a scene with Wilma and Fred inside their home.  Wilma is trying to cheer up Fred after 2 days brooding over the show.  She suggests he sing another song, to which Fred agrees citing tradition.  He then mentions how he "used to sing in a band" which Wilma mimics word-for-word.  She grows annoyed at his story, and shows her disdain for it.  He attempts to show her his singing skills, and she screams for him to stop it.  It finally ends when she throws a vase in his mouth.  She then kicks him out of the house.

We then see Fred relaxing out in the back yard while looking disgruntled.  He mutters something about women, when Barney starts bouncing on the other side of the wall.  He asks what's going on, and Barney show him his new trampoline.  Fred is intrigued by this, and jumps over the wall, despite warnings from Barney not to.  He ends up bouncing so high, he crashed through a tree before landing on a lower branch.  Unfazed, he is determined to get back on the trampoline and master it.

Barney then watches as Fred begins to master the trampoline.  Fred asks Barney if he can borrow the trampoline while Wilma is dressmaker shop the next day.  Barney reluctantly agrees to it, so long as Fred returns it immediately.

The next day, Fred is outside the dressmaker shop while Wilma is checking out new outfits.  He begins to bounce on the trampoline, when he accidentally looks into the another woman dressing.  As she screams in terror, she exclaims how a man is outside her window.  Wilma offers to go look, and despite missing him early on, eventually sees Fred outside to which she shows great disappointment.  She bashes him on the head with a frying pan as the trampoline sends him back up for multiple hits.

Back at home Wilma is stewing about Fred's actions.  She storms over to Fred ignoring her as he works on a magic routine for his act.  He insists on showing her a trick.  She is unamused and breaks the egg in his hand during the reveal.

Fred then attempts to pull a sheet off a fully-laden table.  Wilma pleas for him to stop, but he pulls anyways, and smashes all the dishes that were on the table.  This irritates Wilma further.  Barney and Betty come over after hearing the crash to make sure everyone is safe.  Wilma explains that Fred is working on his magic act.  Barney asks questions about the disappearing cabinet equipment.  He is then goaded into doing the trick with Betty and Wilma readily volunteering.

Wilma forms a plan with Betty to entertain the trick by heading out of the box, and hiding in the bedroom, which prompts a giggle from Betty.  She agrees, and they both sneak out of the box.

Fred begins calling out a random assortment of magic words, and as the women giggle, he opens to find them gone from the box.  Barney and Fred both marvel at the discovery.  Barney asks for Fred to bring them back, to which Fred tells Barney to enjoy the moment while the girls are gone to savor when they bring them back.  He suggests going to the Rockland Dance Hall.  This really fries Wilma up, and she has to be held back by Betty, who reassures her that she has a better idea.

Fred and Barney joke about their apparent good fortune, and dance their way out of the house en route to the dance hall.  Betty suggests her plan, while Wilma asks about hospitalizing both of them.  Betty suggest heading down to the dance hall to catch them red-handed.  She suggests using costumes she has left over from the Annual Lodge Ball.  Wilma agrees to it, and then to hospitalize them.  They agree to meet back in 20 minutes.

Fred and Barney are driving to the dance hall as Barney mentions he can't dance.  Fred asks who is dancing, as he just wants to see the band "Hot Lips Hannigan" is playing there that night.  Barney is excited to hear this, and mentions that it's one of his favorite bands.  Fred them mentions singing with Hot Lips when he was in high school.  When Barney asks what happened, he explains how marriage got in the way.  Wilma got tired of Fred being out all night. Barney understands the sentiment.

Back in the house, Wilma and Betty are checking each other out in their new costumes.  Betty has Blonde hair in a pony tail with sunglasses and a purple dress, and Wilma is sporting down blue hair, with a green dress.  They begin speaking in mockingly hip fashion as they head out to the dance hall.

At the Rockland Dance Hall, Fred and Barney roll up hearing the sounds of the hall in the distance.  They roll up and sit outside admiring the music.

Inside, we see Hot Lips Hannigan entertaining the crowd with his playing.  He finishes the song to a roar of cheers.  Fred whistles and yells for an encore.  Hannigan promises to return later with more material.  Fred calls him over to hang out, and while initially thinking it's just a huge fan, he is overjoyed to see it's his old friend and colleague Fred.  Fred introduces him to Barney, and they catch up on lost time.  They talk about how life is difficult as you age, things going on in their lives, the music not being what it used to be.  As they reminisce through classic songs of their youth, Hot Lips asks Fred to come on stage with him and perform one of their old hits.  Fred isn't sure the crowd would be hip to it, but H.L. talks him into it, and Fred agrees as long as Barney can play too.  H.L. asks his drummer to sit a number out.

Hot Lips warms up the crowd with some introductions and a short monologue on what they are about to play.  He introduces Fred, and Barney, before Barney begins to strike up a beat on the drums.

A younger hip crowd makes jokes about the band being from an old folk's home.  

Hot Lip and Barney blister into "When the Saints Go Marching In" and Fred's voice takes on new life, and becomes something amazing.

Wilma and Betty show up in their disguises, and are amazed to see Fred and Barney performing on the stage.

Fred leads an inspiring rendition that wins over the crowd that night.  Women begin fainting in the crowd.  He ends the song and has to take off running as he and Barney are being chased by a mob of screaming fangirls.  Wilma and Betty, in disguise, lead Fred and Barney into dressing room, where they are save.  Fred and Barney thank the two ladies for saving their lives.  Wilma and Betty flirt with the guys and make them feel super uncomfortable with how they are coming on to them.  The girls play around with the idea of replacing the wives to further mess with the men.  

Fred and Barney make a run for it.  They run into Hot Lips and inform him of the situation.  He agrees to stall them while Fred and Barney make their getaway.  As the ladies stop in front of Hot Lips, he begins speaking to them in a deep voice.  Wilma bashes him on the head with her purse while bringing him down to reality.

Fred and Barney go running from the dance hall as Betty and Wilma laugh in the distance.

Fred and Barney drive home as they talk about the events of the evening.  Fred pledges to bring them back and immediately return the magic equipment.

Back in the Flintstone's house, Fred struggles to remember the chant to bring the girls back.  After yelling out another poor chant, they open the door to find the women from the dance hall, complaining about how they had forgotten them.

Fred and Barney take off running around the house.  Hiding in a room, Fred and Barney listen for any sound, and decide to take a peek.  After seeing nothing, they both come out of the room and laugh about how they got away with everything.  Barney, then noticing the wives, urges Fred to stop bragging.  Fred faints at the sight of Betty and Wilma.  

Fred wakes up in bed to Barney tending to him.  He struggles to remember his name.  Fred calls Wilma over, and tells Fred they don't know about the other women.  As the Rubbles leave, Fred asks for Wilma to make him some food.  He then asks her how the magic trick was, and she responds in the voice of the other woman, letting go her secret.  Fred suddenly loses his appetite and goes to bed feeling sick as Wilma giggles about her own prank.

Character Introductions:

Hot Lips Hannigan: Long-time friend and former bandmate of Fred back in High School.  H.L. is in town to perform at the Rockland Dance Hall.

Shelly: Hot Lip's Drummer.  Asked to sit out for a number while Barney plays his drums.

Bedrock or Bust:

4 different locations:
- Loyal Order of Dinosaur's building

- Flintstone's House

- Dressmaker's building

- Rockland Dance Hall

Best Jokes:

Fred: I used to sing with old H.L. when he had the high school band.

Barney: No Kidding?  What Happened?

Fred: Wilma happened.

Wilma (in disguise as a groupie): Big Daddy-o, you forgot to take us with you

Betty: (in disguise as a groupie): Did you bring your skins, drummer boy?

Yabba-Dabba-Doo Counter: 0 (2)

None this episode.

Bedrock Inventions:

Flower Pot: Dinosaur Tusk

Saxophone: Pipe sort of invention made with dinosaur bones

Microphone: Huge Clam on a stick

Drum Stick: Regular stick and a carved drumstick

Drums: Turtle shell

Violence Counter: 4 (16)

Wilma Violence #1 (3)

Reason: Fred won't stop singing

Violence: Throws a vase into his mouth

Wilma Violence #2 (4)

Reason: Fred bounced on a trampoline and saw another woman undressing

Violence: Wilma bashed him on the head multiple times with a frying pan each time he bounces on a trampoline.

Wilma Violence #3 (5)

Reason: Fred shows off a poorly executed magic trick

Violence: She punches his hand hard enough for the egg to crack open all over his hand.

Wilma Violence #4 (6)

Reason: Hot Lips asks for some contact on his hand

Violence: Wilma bashes him on the head with her purse.

Threat Counter: 3

Wilma Threat #1 (2)

Reason: Fred tells Barney that he's going dancing with them "vanished"

Threat: (While making a fist) Stand aside, Betty.  I'll rock him good!

Wilma Threat #2 (3)

Reason: Fred and Barney have left the house for the dance hall

Threat: "And what's a better idea than hospitalizing them?"

Fred Threat #1 (9)

Reason: Barney is not worry about his act at the upcoming Benefit Show

Threat: Fred questions staying friends with Barney

Notable Notations:

- Episode Runtime: 26:22

- The episode uses the original theme music for the opening title

- Fred and Barney are members of the Loyal Order of Dinosaurs

- Fred Flintstone sang with the Rockville Center high school band 20 years prior to this episode

- Fred's singing can break glass

- Hot Lips Hannigan - The sweetest music this side of Birdland.

- Freddie Flintstone - The Golden Smog

- Barney Rubble - To Give Us Trouble

- Hot Lips' drummer is named Shelly

Barney Inventions: Trampoline

Fred's Disappearing Chant:

Alakazam!  Alakazoo!  You won't come back until I tell you to!

Fred's Returning Chant:

Whether you're near, or whether you're far, Come out , Come out wherever you are!

Names Fred Thinks of Before Barney:

- Benny

- Billy

Conclusion:

Super interesting to see how Fred Flintstone had a different career path in his youth, and gave it all up for Wilma.  That shows his love and dedication for her.  There are a lot less threats and violence in this episode, but surprisingly the one who heats up the most is Wilma.  She isn't afraid to bash some people around, or tangle with someone who has made her angry.  Barney serves as a decent drummer, and Betty looks great as always.  Not a lot of new characters in this one, but still a good story building with regular cast characters.

2/166