Top Cat (1961–1962) User Reviews

TOP CAT = TOP NOTCH! Yet Another By Product of serious Drama; Rendered by the Animator's pen and the Best Voice Acting Ensemble available!

[redryan64 · 6/10 · 10 June 2008]

When the Animation Team of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera first enjoyed success on TV, it was with some anthropomorphic "funny animals" series. RUFF & REDDY (Hanna Barbera/Screen Gems, 1957) on NBC's Saturday morning schedule was followed by the syndicated HUCKLEBERRY HOUND Show (Hanna-Barbara/Screen Gems, 1958); which introduced not only old HUCK, but also YOGI BEAR and PIXIE, DIXIE & MR. JINX.

About a year or so later western spoofing QUICK DRAW McGRAW Show (Hanna-Barbera/Screen Gems, 1959) bowed (also syndicated). It gave us not only "Queeks Draw" & Baba Louie, but added back up features of SUPER SNOOP & BLABBER MOUSE (Detective Parody) and single parent family of AUGIE DOGGIE & DOGGIE DADDY.

HANNA-BARBERA made the jump back to the networks with ABC TV and THE FLINTSTONES (Hanna-Barbera/Screen Gems TV, 1960). It was shown on Friday evenings, early; but it was in primetime. The Stone Age HONEYMOONERS derivative was highly successful; hitting all the right demographics as well as piling up some good ratings in the nights "Lead-Off Position. The ground was traveled and a new phenomenon was broken into the networks, the Primetime Family Animated Cartoon Series.

THE folks at Hanna-Barbera Productions next hit on a second primetime project with the idea of a group of New York specific comedy series which would be highly reminiscent of the old Movies set in the Big Apple with a lot of characters which would definitely remind one of folks like Bogart, Cagney, John Garfireld, Frank McHugh, Marc Lawrence,Warren Hymer, "Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom, Ed Brophy, "Rags" Ragland,Jimmy Gleason and Allen Jenkins.

The main characters were mostly of the Feline Persuasion; except for the Beat Cop, Officer Dibble. They were voiced by a fine gang of NY types; with the title guy, Top Cat (Arnold Stang), Choo-Choo (Marvin Kaplan), Benny the Ball (Maurice Gosfield from SGT. BILKO), Fancy-Fancy (John Stevenson) and Brain & Spook (Leo DeLyon). The voice for Officer Dibble was done by the previously mentioned, Allen Jenkins. The resulting series, TOP CAT (Hanna-Barbera/Screen Gems/ABC TV, 1961-62), was born.

IN one Episode after another the action would revolve around the "boys" getting involved in some sort of mischief or deal; which was not exactly kosher with the law. Officer Dibble always had Top Cat and the Gang under suspicion and they usually pulled through the crisis with flying colors; the hard-boiled Dibble usually revealed a soft side as well as a deep down affection and admiration for the gang of alley cats.

ANIMATION is of the limited type as all of the Made for TV stuff was and basically is. The backgrounds were of the typical sorts that the Hanna-Barbera Productions' teams had made famous. Their extra long and repetitive hallways, fences and tree lined cityscapes with multi identical trees, planks and other landmarks abound and flourished. The incidental music was mostly the standard made-for-television stock stuff; with usually some of the original theme music blended in.

WE found TOP CAT to be greatly to our liking in our household. The stories were quite upbeat, often clever and most importantly, they were funny. But alas, the show failed to get any great sized following and consequently did not survive the cut leading up to a season two. That we believe to this very day was unfortunate; for the production team really gave some great individual personalities to the characters. There was a large component of the fresh and originality present; which is oft a rare commodity in TV.

AS for a model for TOP CAT as an individual character and as the Series; we were surprised to see that Nat Hiken's YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH/SGT. BILKO Show with Phil Silvers and Company was chosen to get the sort of semi-official nod and endorsement. There is a certain resemblance to Sgt. Ernie Bilko's barking out of orders to a subordinate; but there is so much more to it. First of all, the storyline is not in a Military setting; but rather it's in an urban, NYC type of locale.

PERSONALLY speaking, we (that is I) always felt that we were watching a sort of animated funny animal spin-off of the DEAD END Kids or rather their own off spring, THE BOWERY BOYS. The similarities are there. TOP CAT is essentially animated EAST SIDE KIDS/BOWERY BOYS Series.

OR is it the other way around; THE BOWERY BOYS movies are actually a Live Action sort of Cartoon?

It's food for thought, anyway!

POODLE SCHNITZ!!

Good

[afonsobritofalves · 7/10 · 25 January 2019]

Very good, good soundtrack, good actors, good characters and funny and interesting story that captivated me until the end of the series. Highly recommend.

Hanna-Barbera in their prime

[smetin · 8/10 · 6 October 2017]

Top Cat is a cartoon I have fond memories from in my youth. I think I must be going through a pre-midlife crisis because I find myself re-watching all the cartoons I used to enjoy as a kid. I have gone through so many Hanna-Barbera classics this year and it would not be complete without an excursion to the antics of a certain cat in a top hat!

Just like other Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the time, Top Cat comes from a period when cartoons had much more free reign on what they could get away with. As such, much of the comedy would not pass the ever-restrictive TV censors. Clear examples of this are referring to native Americans as red Indians, the lack of racial diversity and obvious racial stereotypes whenever such diversity was included. However, as I said, this is a reflection of the time. I often found myself laughing at these jokes, but not in the way they were originally intended, but in an "Oh my gosh, this is so controversial!" kind of way.

The episodes themselves revolve around Top Cat and his gang of alleycats and their antics that are almost always illegal. Their illicit activities results in Officer Dibble getting involved at some point and Top Cat always manages to pull one over on him. It was always funny to see how he would do it. Other cartoons lack this distinction and seem to blend into one another, but Top Cat does not suffer from this since the plots of each episode were always very different to keep things fresh.

Each character in the gang adds their own comedic element. Top Cat is the brains behind the operation and always seems one step ahead of the police, whilst the others fulfil the roles of the trusty sidekick, the idiot and so on. The voices are also brilliant and so different to the typical American accent you hear in cartoons today. The backing music is also so well done and just so iconic when you hear it.

Top Cat is not just a great cartoon, it is an excellent piece of television. What I also like about this cartoon is that it can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. If you want to find a cartoon to watch with your children that won't drive you off the bend, Top Cat (among many other Hanna-Barbera classics) would be a great shout!

The best cartoon series ever

[stevenfallonnyc · 22 July 2003]

Top Cat has always been my favorite cartoon series. set in my town, NYC, Top Cat and his gang (Chooch, Fancy Fancy, Benny, Spook and Brain) struggle on the streets trying to survive and make a buck. Their efforts are always being thwarted by the cop on the beat, Officer Dibble, who in reality actually has a soft spot for the cats (as they do him).

This was a primetime series, hence the slightly-adult humor from time to time. One way Top Cat and the cats always try to make a buck is by fleecing people (especially tourists) in various different creative ways. They even try to set up gambling, as Dibble once caught Top Cat with a roulette wheel! They even like to bet on the horses (Spook: "Hey TC, like when are we going to the track?" Top Cat: "As soon as we raise the two bucks for a bet!").

The dynamic between Dibble and the cats is often exhibited in many ways, because really Dibble doesn't actually want to run them in the slammer. Dibble even narrated the beginning of one episode explaining the delicate balance of his beat, it being "non-scientific" but he keeps that balance. And his unique relationship with TC and the others is a big part of that balance.

So far only one episode (to my knowledge) has been released on DVD, on a cartoon compilation release. I really hope the entire series gets a DVD release, that'll be incredible! Every second of all 30 episodes is a winner.

Top Cat

[jboothmillard · 6/10 · 10 June 2005]

When I was younger and occasionally today I think Top Cat is quite a good cartoon from the creators of Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry, Hanna-Barbera. Top Cat is the cat who leads a gang of street cats who hang out in the alley way and mos of the time try to get food or money. The gang members that are remembered are Benny the Ball (the most helpful), Choo Choo (the enthusiastic) and Brain (the dim one). The only thing stopping Top Cat and the gang from getting their money or food is Officer Dibble patrolling the alley way, and answering his alley phone. Sometimes some good gags were Top Cat using this phone without permission. This cartoon also had a very good theme tune. It was number 28 on The 100 Greatest Kids' TV Shows, and it was number 64 on The 100 Greatest Cartoons. Good!

Top Cat is a classic!

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 29 December 2009]

I love this show, I have loved it ever since I was 8. Just for the record I love Hanna Barbera cartoons-Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry, the Flintstones etc. but I will always have a soft spot for Top Cat. The animation is typical of Hanna Barbera and holds up reasonably well after all these years. The theme tune is in one word irresistible, and the show is very funny a vast majority of the time, especially with the character of Benny. Another character I loved was Officer Dibble, he was priceless and had a caring side towards the mischievous cats. And I have to love Top Cat, such an iconic and individual character.

Top Cat is constantly witty, humorous and charming. It is non-violent and often simple, but this is in most ways a good thing. The voices are superb particularly from the late Arnold Stang, Allen Jenkins and Marice Gosfield. Superb show, wish it had lasted longer though. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Thank the Lord T.C. is FINALLY on DVD!

[Moax429 · 9/10 · 30 January 2006]

I first remember seeing "Top Cat" when it was part of NBC's Saturday morning lineup in the late 60's (I was born on April 29, 1962, when the show was halfway through its first - and only - prime-time season on ABC).

Whoever said, "You don't really appreciate something until after it's gone," was right - once "Top Cat" left NBC in 1969, all I had were comic books of the show to enjoy, as well as a coloring book of when T.C. and the gang went to the local zoo. When "T.C." was first syndicated in 1969, no stations here in Detroit (or around Lansing, Michigan, where I moved to in 1971 and lived until 1978) decided to purchase the reruns and show them (apparently the program directors of said stations didn't know a good cartoon series when they saw one); until 1996, when Cartoon Network reran "T.C." for the first time in ages, it would be a miracle (such as when I visited my relatives near Pittsburgh or my grandparents in California) before I ever saw any episodes of the show again.

About two weeks ago (January 14), I FINALLY purchased the entire 30-episode DVD box set of "Top Cat." It was such a treat to see all the episodes again, as well as the shorts with the actors who voiced the characters (my favorite "Top Cat" episodes have to be "All That Jazz," about the "diamond mine in Diambodi," and "The Golden Fleecing," about the female cat Honeydew Melon). And the best part is: Now I DON'T have to wait until if and when Boomerang decides to rerun "T.C." in the future; I can watch the show again any time I want!

(I also recently tracked down a copy of the 1962 TV soundtrack album on vinyl, so now I have another "T.C." collectible to enjoy. I hope to have one of my friends dub it onto a CD for me.)

So thanks, Warner Home Video, for helping revive an old, enjoyable childhood memory. It was certainly $45 well spent! (Now would you PLEASE see about putting another one of my all-time favorite, and seldom-seen, Hanna-Barbera cartoon series, "The Roman Holidays," on DVD soon? I know that would also be worth paying good money for!)

All-time classic series; now complete on DVD

[pizzawarrior1956-1 · 10/10 · 22 August 2006]

I must admit that I was never a big fan of this show, but after learning that at long last, Warner Home video had issued the COMPLETE SERIES on DVD recently, I just had to take a look; especially since this may be the ONLY chance to view it unless my cable system decides to offer the Cartoon Network's BOOMERANG channel sometime soon.

Despite the fact that the original run of this series was only from 1961-62, "TOP CAT" still has a cult following, as well as a high place on the top 100 Cartoons of All-Time.

From my point of view, the only apparent fault I could find was that some of the episodes could have much shorter; though I am sure the purists out there would disagree.

The four DVD set contains all 30 original episodes, and includes the pilot about the gang's trip to Hawaii, as well as some priceless background information for the serious fanatic out there.

Like other animated prime-time series ("The Flintstones", "The Jetsons", "Rocky & Bullwinkle"), this played to an adult audience as well as the kids; which explains the wide appeal of this program, and its continued durability after 40+ years.

AMAZING !!!

As for quality, all of the episodes have been digitized and restored to their uncut brilliance, complete with the original laugh tracks, that is if you like that kind of thing.

As a result, the show seems not to have aged at all, and consiering that the scripts were first-rate to begin with, it really hasn't.

It is hopefully apparent that along with our other favorites from this Golden Age of 'TV-toons', Warner will make sure that this trend continues; and considering that Hanna-Barbera virtually owned Staurday morning as well as prime time, we should be looking forward to other collections very soon; allowing us baby-boomers to relive our childhoods once more, and share with future generations who otherwise have been deprived of genuine quality entertainment.

After all, if people are willing to pay top dollar for these 'blasts from the past', there isn't much out there anymore to watch.

Top Cat is Tops!

[jackielach48 · 10/10 · 28 February 2018]

One of the best cartoons ever written. Love these anti-hero characters that were really not so bad inside their little hearts. Fine cast doing the voices and were all fine movie actors in actual movies back in the day. Hanna-Barbera were the masters of cartoons during my youth! This is must see show!

Classic cartoon from the days when they really cared.

[zippgun · 26 February 2004]

Based on "The Phil Silvers show",this cartoon translates army capers into the adventures of a bunch of cats in a rundown New York alley.They are led by Top Cat,a conniver who could even teach Bilko a thing or two!Their nemesis and sometime victim is policeman Charlie Dibble.Each of the cats has his own very distinct character.I especially like Spook with his beatnik "hep cat" language. The show is full of humor,wit and charm.The voice actors are superb-including Bilko regular Maurice Gosfield("Benny").Fortunately Hanna-Barbera haven't revived the show;the result would undoubtedly be of much lower standard than the 30 original gems from 1961-2

Funny TV Cartoon

[Celeste_1977 · 10/10 · 24 March 2021]

I've watched this during my childhood with my sibling. It was very funny, what a pity that it ran for such a short time of one season. It is a little underrated and unknown by the general public but it has a charm of it's own

Fun for the Whole Family, still holds up Today,

[lesleyharris30 · 8/10 · 24 June 2010]

Top Cat is a brilliant television series with very well written episodes and a fantastic voice cast. It's an absolute classic, the humour still holds up today and there's enough in it for both kids and adults to enjoy, it's a typical Hanna Barbera series, with the same sort of comedic tone that features in the Flintstones, and I would say it's one of their finest, the characters are still remembered and very loved to this day, which shows the timelessness of it. It's certainly not perfect, there a several weak episodes where the storyline just feels like they couldn't think of anything else to do, and for children it could get a bit tiring, it's certainly not as wacky as Scooby Doo or as zany as Tom and Jerry, a lot of the show takes place in the same locations and it's very dialogue based, but once the lines are well written it isn't a huge issue. For only thirty episodes and a very small cast Top Cat still remains a well remembered series, whether it be the lead characters patronising attitude towards his best friends, Officer Dibble, the gang trying to mind a baby, or the Untouchables parody, there isn't a single episode that dosen't have at least one classic moment. Funny when your a child, even funnier when you're an adult, Top Cat is a hugely entertaining show that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good animated series.

Top Cat and his friends have outrageous adventures, ducking and diving their way through the city streets, while trying to stay out of the way of the long suffering Officer Dibble.

Best Episode: The Unscratchables Worst Episode: The Case of the Absent Anteater

Top-class!

[Piccolo_King · 10/10 · 16 October 2014]

He's the chief, yes, he's the king, that's true too, but above everything he's the most tip-top Top Cat. It's a crying shame that Hanna-Barbera's understated comedy about a gang of alley-dwelling cats against the backdrop of 1960s Manhattan lasted only a meager thirty episodes. Nevertheless, in its short run "Top Cat" managed to cement its status as an animated classic and left its fans longing for more of TC's shenanigans.

It's slightly difficult to pinpoint what exactly the show is about. You could say it's about TC and his boys' attempts at hustling the naive city folk but that would be giving the story too rigid of a structure. I'd say the best way to put it is, they're up to no good. TC's batch of ne'er-do-wells consists of Benny the Ball, Brain, Choo-Choo, Fancy-Fancy, and Spook. Keeping a close watch on them is Officer Charles Dibble: A well-meaning law enforcer who only wants these anthropomorphic cats to stop engaging in monkey business. But that's too much to ask apparently.

Every character has a role to play but as the title would suggest, it's Top Cat running the show. Brought to life by Arnold Stang's outstandingly good voice acting, he's the smooth-talking, charismatic, well-spoken leader everyone looks up to for a reason. Class and TC always go hand in hand with each other. Watch the closing credits for a memorable demonstration on how to make a trash can feel like the presidential suite of a high-end hotel!

The interplay between Dibble and our protagonist constitutes the highlight of each episode. Everything works because the writers rely more on sophisticated dialogue-driven humor typical of wise guys than slapstick comedy. The humor is refreshingly unique in that the appeal runs the gamut from kids to grown-ups. There's something to enjoy for everyone.

The hand-drawn animation work of HB studios looks gorgeous. Squeaky-clean alleyways, high-rise buildings, shiny sidewalks endowed with hydrants, busy intersections, radiant traffic lights, and so on together pervade an evocative atmosphere unique to the hustle and bustle of big cities. The visuals paint a romanticized portrait of urban living in the early '60s. Every frame is well drawn and oozes quality as though Hoagy's Alley were a character in itself.

Watching Top Cat today fills me with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. I mean it as a compliment when I say that there's a time-capsule quality to the experience.

Top Cat is tip top!

[SonicStuart · 31 July 2004]

Top Cat is another one of my favorite Hanna-Barbera cartoons! Set in the Alleys of New York, "Top Cat" tells the story of a gang of low-life cats (Choo Choo, Benny the Ball, Fancy-Fancy, Spook and Brian) with their charismatic Leader, Top Cat. With ability and mischief, Top Cat will always try to get rich gambling, to eat for free, or to play jokes on someone, but he is always being watched by Officer Dibble, who is very strict and fierce with them, but in fact is a friend to all of them. This is series is so funny.

User Rating: 9/10

BOTTOM LINE: HE IS THE KING, HE IS TIP TOP, TOP CAT!

A wonderful Hanna-Barbara classic

[q_leo_rahman · 9/10 · 16 November 2014]

This show will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first cartoon, as well as the first Hanna-Barbara cartoon I ever saw. The studio pioneered limited animation and the use of plot/wit to create some truly wonderful cartoons – Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, Dick Dastardly, and Scooby-Doo. Top Cat is a little overshadowed by these icons, but can never be underestimated.

In 1960s New York, Top Cat leads a gang of alley cats as they pursue the dream of wealth and the good life, through whatever means they can (illegal, but not lethal – they're decent people and it's a kids' show). Hampering them is the strict by-the-lawbook constable Charlie Dibble, who is always on the prowl for any shenanigans afoot, especially from his nemesis Top Cat. However, though the two annoy and harass each other constantly, they are just as much best friends; TC would rather have Officer Dibble than any other constable, and Dibble often has to deal with criminals that are worse than a flimflam feline (usually with the said feline's help).

The show is notable for showcasing a hero who acts distinctly anti- heroic, even more so than the picnic-pilfering Yogi Bear; TC cheats, fast-talks and uses almost everyone around him to get what he wants (and when he wants it, as part of a larger scheme), but he possesses such charisma and wit (and a rarely-seen good heart) that you end up rooting for him anyway. And the show strikes a balance between success and failure for TC – one episode had him con Dibble and then have Dibble learn the con and throw TC into a garbage truck (For the most part TC's schemes fail, but only due to a plot twist or to maintain the status quo for the show rather than from any morality).

Against him almost all the other supporting characters pale into near- insignificance. All the members of TC's gang are one-note characters, with the exception of Benny the Ball, an innocent tyke who is T.C.'s best friend and conscience, and Choo-Choo, an educated Siamese cat with a romantic heart. Giving the best contrast with TC though is Officer Dibble, who is both rigidly duty-bound to the law and a caring pal to the gang. The dynamic between the two is sparky and sweet, filled with hilarious insults and heartwarming moments.

I recommend this show to everyone. Not just because it's one of my favourites, but because it's well-written, done by Hanna-Barbara in the best years of their career, and features a truly wonderful and unique cop-robber duo. He's the most tip-top, Top Cat!

Top Cat Is One Tip Top Cartoon Classic

[wchngliu · 9/10 · 15 January 2008]

Well what more can be said about Top Cat, which hasn't been said before? Well for starters, it is based on the hit Phil Silvers US sitcom of yesteryear, Sgt Bilko and secondly it debuted on US TV 20 years before my birth year. Top Cat is an all-time classic, brimming in quality animation and great gags. It was not your ordinary cartoon either, hell, like The Flintstones, this show was reminiscent of a sitcom, a TV comedy with a laughter track.

Top Cat was what you could say a so-called smooth operator, a schemer a chancer; and with Yogi Bear titled: 'smarter than the average bear', you could say that Top Cat was smarter than the average cat. Anyhow, Top Cat and his gang live in a New York alleyway in some run down dumpster, whose antics attract the attention of cop, Officer Dibble. Dibble himself has a long standing love/hate relationship with the guys. The gang was made up of Choo Choo, Spook,Fancy Fancy,Brain and my favourite, Benny the Ball.

Unlike say Disney and Warner Bros.,many of Hanna Barbera's cartoons were and are aimed at adult audiences, thus the humour and feel good factor wasn't lost here; the charisma and charm displayed by TC himself is still a joy to behold as this show is replayed years on end. Nowadays newer, as well as younger and older generations of cartoon fans are getting the chance to see and watch this type of cartoon via DVDs and the internet, which is sadly lacking in TV schedules in today's era.

The story lines are amusing, light-hearted and entertaining, the wit and charm is still there even after 40+ years, the music score is one of the most memorable around and the characters, ranging from Top Cat to Benny are lovable and are up there with the very best in the cartoon world.

Cartoon classics such as this puts many of todays so called excuse of 'cartoons' to utter shame. As the last end of the theme goes: 'He's most tip top, Top Cat!', he most definitely is

It's Top Cat in the UK not Boss Cat.

[goodworker-23244 · 10/10 · 27 November 2022]

Top Cat has been and has always been Top Cat in the UK never once has it ever been called Boss Cat. Before the dvd releases before the Top Cat Movie when it was being shown on the UK in the 90's as re runs from the 60's it was always Top Cat or TC (to his closest friends). This show has always been amazing to watch i was shocked to find it only had 30 episodes in total i always thought it had more. Any who Top Cat has always been an amazing show to watch by the time you get to episode 30 you want to re watch again and again. To me it is a show that has stood the test of time and proven to the world TC is the greatest cat around.

Cats

[safenoe · 10/10 · 4 November 2022]

Top Cat brings back fond memories, and rest assured it ain't Fritz the Cat because Top Cat is clean and definitely rated for the children (kinder in German, as in kindergarten) and even adults which love this cat-based series.

It's not Garfield exactly but in some ways Garfield became the true successor to Top Cat, and maybe Bill Murray would be an ideal voice for Top Cat in a reboot.

I'd love to see a reboot of Top Cat, probably a real life version, but that was Cats wasn't it, where the motion picture flopped big time which was a bit unfair somewhat. Anyway, if you can watch Top Cat please do.

My 8 year old never saw this

[eag11 · 30 August 2006]

My 8 year old asked what cartoons I used to watch. I'm 56 so I mentioned Top Cat.I explained to him it was a show about cats that acted out people roles.There was no violence or evil villains, just a bunch of guys trying to beat the system.The old get by while the other guys do all the work.They always had a get rich quick gimmick going that was going to put them on easy street and every time they made it on to easy street they missed the good old days and officer Dibble.It was similar to Bilko, McHales navy and other popular sitcoms of that era.

I was amazed my 8 year old hadn't seen an episode. We have DISH TV so I did a search and it did not come up. I thought Boomerang or Cartoon network would have had it on. My 17 year old son came home and caught me looking up Top Cat. He remembered the show. He told his brother it was a great show where a cat had a bunch of trash can buddies that hung out in an alley. How the cartoon network can not have this show on the air is a crime against children everywhere.

Superb

[Alexhannah15 · 9/10 · 10 July 2007]

one could argue topcat is in fact the greatest television show 'of all time'!.

the plot lines were well thought out with witty quirks round every corner. you can claim that the characters were ripped off but i disagree that this negates the show in any way.

the episodes were iconic of the times, a generation of people were touched not only at the time of its creation, but also in the modern day.

if anyone can say that top cat is not fantastic than they must be a very depressed person

NYC 400 - #372 - "Top Cat"

[DeanNYC · 8/10 · 26 April 2024]

I think many people were admirers or even fans of the work of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. That's probably because many of the programs they produced were continually being shown on various networks and local stations throughout the 1960s and 70s.

For the kids viewing these animated series during that era, the revelation came when they grew up, as they realized that just about everything Hanna-Barbera were responsible for was just a parody of somebody else's stuff. Case in point, :"Top Cat."

I'm not kidding when I say the biggest early television successes of Hanna-Barbera were ideas they swiped. Yogi Bear was taken from the name of Hall of Fame Yankees Catcher Yogi Berra. Huckleberry Hound was taken from Hall of Fame Yankees Shortstop, Phil Rizzuto's habit of calling people "huckleberry." And their most enduring series, "The Flintstones," was just "The Honeymooners" set during the Stone Age.

"Top Cat" was the story of a gang of alley cats (back when New York had alleys) and was loosely based on both "The Bowery Boys," a series of short comedy films (that ran very much like "The Three Stooges" shorts) about teenage street toughs who were out for themselves, and "The Phil Silvers Show," aka "Sergeant Bilko." On "Bilko," Silvers played the ringleader of his privates who were always doing something ridiculous on the sly, poker games, parties, having some kind of contraband (like booze, ladies or both) in the barracks, and always got away with everything because the superior officers never managed to catch them.

That's essentially the plot of "Top Cat," with T. C. in the Bilko role and the rest of his cat gang, his subordinates. Arnold Stang, who voiced the lead character, even did a Phil Silvers style vocal characterization, just in case somebody missed the connection!

Officer Dibble was constantly hounding the cats for whatever fun and games they were planning. And of course Top Cat had culture, class and extremely expensive taste, but never the money to afford it, so he was continually plotting ways for the gang to make it out of the alley and to some penthouse apartment building with a get rich quick scheme that always failed. The positive thing was, they never let it get them down. They just tried again, the next time!

New York played a part because the city has those dividing lines between the haves and the have nots, and it was never made more clear when these poor cats were just trying to eke out their survival and were harassed by The Man every step of the way.

Top Cat and his pals were never "bad," but they always managed to bend the rules a little just to get a meal, to have some relaxation from the rat race of the city or just keep their hopes and dreams alive. Dibble was occasionally sympathetic to the gang, but usually would just threaten them or chase them out of the alley when he saw them congregating and plotting their latest ploy.

Of all the shows on my list of 400 shows set in New York City, so far, this is the first one I could fully envision having a reboot, what with the authoritarian style policing and the poor, but intelligent and friendly collection of protagonists looking to have some success. We'd need to add some women cats to the gang, deal with the various elements like governmental interference in the lives of citizens, the patriarchy, the upper and lower class, even the immigration crisis would be topics worthy of exploring. Top Cat vs. The Fat Cats. Maybe current NYC Mayor "Cat-ams" would be more sympathetic to the group than the flatfoot on patrol?

It would be a really neat metaphor, and would have a lot more meaning for an audience than the shlocky plots lifted from a 1950s military sitcom. Imagine "Top Cat," becoming a vessel for sociological change and the discussion of societal problems? That would land the series a lot higher on this list!

Ahead of its time

[pire · 20 April 2001]

This is a jewel of a show: fun, clean, sometimes even very clever. Why was this show so short running? Maybe it was ahead of its time. As not as cynic as more recent cats (like Garfield), Top Cat has its dose of pinching quotes and memorable, clever one-liners, as the 'hobo-like' background puts the acid dose to the series. The show is maybe naive for the 90's and beyond, but in the innocence of the early 60's it had punch and spice, maybe 20 years before its time.

Top Cat Was My Hero

[Big Movie Fan · 12 December 2002]

We all love Top Cat. If you didn't like Top Cat then you must be either a zombie or a robot.

In the show, Top Cat lived in a dustbin and along with his friends caused trouble for Police Officer Dibble. One thing T.C. did frequently was using the police telephone for his own calls. T.C. generally was always looking for ways to make money and mischief, the two things generally going hand in hand.

Top Cat kind of reminds me of my childhood many many years ago. I was a good child and I tended to hang around on the streets kicking balls around and trying to figure out games we could play with a stick and a tin can. There were also the constant trips to the shop to waste pocket money on cans of pop and sweets. I was never a naughty child but there always seemed to be miserable adults (of which I am now one) around trying to spoil the fun. I didn't have my own Officer Dibbles but I do remember one elderly guy who seemed to hate kids having any kind of fun.

That must be why I liked watching Top Cat as a child-because really I was looking at me and my friends in the mirror. But isn't hanging round on street corners with your friends something that kids having been doing since time began?

All in all, Top Cat was my hero and I urge you to check him out if he comes on your screen.

Wonderful comedians with one-of-a-kind voices

[Walt-11 · 18 November 2005]

A little trivia. You can see Arnold Stang (Top Cat) and Marvin Kaplan (Choo Choo) together as a hilarious duo in the classic comedy "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" 1963. They play the hapless gas station owners that take on the crazy Jonathan Winters' character, a truly funny highlight in a movie that is filled with great comedy. They make such an absolutely wonderful team that I wonder why they never got paired up again; except that it might have been feared that they would steal the show. I can't recommend their scenes and the entire movie enough. Marvin Kaplan was also on a half dozen episodes of the TV show "Becker" as a returning patient, Mr Gordon. It's funny just hearing these voices.

Commentary on Top Cat: Hanna-Barbera's second animated series that lasted one season

[raysond · 5 September 2007]

Imagine the 1955-1959 CBS prime-time nighttime sitcom The Phil Silvers Show(aka You'll Never Get Rich)redone as an animated cartoon using alley cats in New York City and you have a good idea of what this cartoon was like. Top Cat(T.C. to his feline cohorts)was the Sergeant Bilko equivalent,the one who masterminded the scams,including pool and pinochle games to get the best things in life for free. His activities,especially when they involved using the police telephone on a pole in his alley often drew the wrath of Officer Dibble(Allen Jenkins),but the gullible cop was always too thoroughly fooled by T.C.'s cons to be able to capture and put the latter behind bars. His five followers had rather distinct personalities,although Benny,the short rotund blue cat,did seem to be his most diligent follower and the ironically named Brain,had the most trouble in following orders leaving T.C. and some of the pals to make sure he kept up with the orders that he was told to do not to mention staying one step ahead of Officer Dibble in the process. Interestingly enough,Maurice Gosfield,who was the voice of Benny,had a similar role on The Phil Silvers Show as Privare Duane Doberman.

Believe or not,this Hanna-Barbera production attracted some major names who auditioned unsuccessfully to voice a cat. Such names as Herschel Bernardi, Stubby Kaye, Ken Murray, Jack Oakie,and Jesse White. Additionally,the regular Hanna-Barbera stock player Daws Butler(who was also the voice of Yogi Bear,Huckleberry Hound,and several other classic cartoon H-B characters)was set to do the voice of T.C. when other commitments forced him to withdraw. As a replacement actor Arnold Stang was hired on the spot as the voice of T.C. throughout the series' entire run. TOP CAT however,was Hanna-Barbera's second animated series to be shown in prime-time after the runaway success of their first prime time venture "The Flintstones". However,from the first episode,TOP CAT was a smash hit with not only adults but with children since it was aimed at adult audiences(just like The Flintstones). The series ran for one season in prime time on ABC-TV,producing 30 episodes. However,the series didn't do very well in the ratings,but it managed to do excel well in its time slot. When TOP CAT premiered on ABC-TV on September 27,1961 the series premiered opposite NBC's The Joey Bishop Show and CBS' rebroadcast of Robert Young's family comedy series Father Knows Best. As for the original episodes,TOP CAT was basically filmed in color,but the network's original broadcast ran the entire 30 episodes in black and white. However,the series ran originally in prime time from September 27,1961 until September 26,1962. Then ABC-TV switched the series from prime time to Saturday Mornings where it ran from October 6,1962 thru March 30,1963,and this time the network broadcast all 30 episodes repeated in color. Then the show switched networks,this time over to NBC-TV where the episodes were repeated on Saturday Mornings from April 3,1965 thru May 10,1969 and again as part of the Peacock Network's Saturday Morning schedule during the summer of 1970.

Question: Why was TOP CAT never again shown on Saturday Mornings when other Hanna-Barbera shows like The Flintstones and The Jetsons,not to mention their first action-adventure series Jonny Quest were recycled in repeated episodes for the next three decades??? After TOP CAT ended its Saturday Morning run in 1970,the series was again shown that same year for repeated episodes in syndication and after that the series was never heard from again.....until 1996,when Ted Turner's Cartoon Network resurrected a series that has been in hiatus for the last three decades was brought back for a new generation for those who had never seen the show. The repeated episodes can be seen on a regular on Boomerrang from Cartoon Network. TOP CAT was the floor plan for a other shows that featured a cast of crafty cons(and this show premiered in 1961,some four years before Hogan's Heroes),not to mention crafty conning animals that wheel and deal and suckered out their human counterparts....The TOP CAT formula was be used again some ten years later in 1971 for the short-lived H-B series "Help!It's The Hair Bear Bunch!",that featured another cast of conning animals-these time around dealing with a group of conning bears in a wonderland zoo instead of a bunch of cunning alley cats in New York City.