These girls rock!
Josie and the Pussycats is the hottest new band…if they can only get a big break! Josie, Valerie, and Melody travel around the globe with their friend Alan M, their manager Alexander, his sister Alexandra, and their cat Sebastian and try to promote the band. Unfortunately, the Pussycats always only seem to find trouble.
Josie and the Pussycats aired for one season on CBS from September 12, 1970 to January 2, 1971. The Hanna-Barbera cartoon was based on the Josie and the Pussycat series by Archie which had Josie first appearing in Archie Pals ‘n’ Gals #23 (1963) and the Pussycats following in Josie and the Pussycats #45 (1969). The musical series gained a cult following and was followed by Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space in 1972.
Josie and the Pussycats is mostly the great opening song. The series was like a lot of Hanna-Barbera series at the time…particularly Scooby-Doo and later Hanna-Barbera copied Josie for Jabberjaw which had a similar plot set-up.
Can’t we just have a concert without a criminal mastermind attacking?
I mostly knew Josie and the Pussycats from the song and Archie comics growing up…Josie in particular was always hocking Hostess products in the Archie comics. The show seemed to have tons of episodes, but like many Saturday morning cartoons, Josie and the Pussycats only really had sixteen episodes…but it still feels long.
The show is pretty much a crime show as opposed to the mystery shows of Scooby-Doo. The Pussycats inevitably end up trapped in a crime situation. The situation is usually augmented and solved by the flaws of the characters…but weirdly enough, unlike Scooby-Doo, there isn’t really any extremely likeable Josie character except Valerie.
Valerie was the first lead African-American character for a Saturday morning cartoon (though Hanna-Barbera wanted an all-white group initially) and her intelligence is often the only thing that keeps the band going. Josie is the blandest character with little personality which pairs her smartly with the bland Fred look-alike Alan M. Melody is beyond stupid and Alexandra plays the foil with her skunk hair and sometimes friendly cat Sebastian. The band’s manager Alexander is also a clone of Shaggy with Casey Kasem voicing both characters.
…I don’t even know what is going on here
The series looks like Scooby-Doo and other Hanna-Barbera productions. There is a lot of reused animation (like chase sequences etc.) and the cartoon often provides a soundtrack from the “Josie and the Pussycats” band. It does have a fun swinging feel.
Josie and the Pussycats honestly isn’t the greatest cartoon, but it is one of those cartoons you can put on and kind of watch without much commitment. There are too many characters to develop and the characters are also so paper-thin that it becomes rather irritating (also making Scooby-Doo’s characters look like they were developed by Shakespeare). The Pussycats made the leap to the big screen in 2001 and later appeared in the CW drama Riverdale.
Josie and the Pussycats—The Complete Series Episode Guide:
“The Nemo’s a No-No Affair”
Episode 1 The Nemo’s a No-No Affair Airdate: 09/12/70
When their ship is sunk, Josie, Valerie, Melody, Alan M, Alexander, Alexandra, and their cat Sebastian find themselves aboard Nemo’s submarine…and they must escape if they ever hope to get to their gig.
“A Greenthumb Is Not a Goldfinger”
Episode 2 A Greenthumb Is Not a Goldfinger Airdate: 09/19/70
Josie and the Pussycats find themselves stuck in the jungle and trapped by Dr. Greenthumb whose powerful plants could mean doom.
“The Secret Six Secret”
Episode 3 The Secret Six Secret Airdate: 09/26/70
An attempt get close to Alan M by Alexandra leads Josie, Alexander, Melody, and Valerie to accidentally witness a group called the Secret Six…and the Secret Six cannot have them reveal the truth.
“Swap Plot Flop”
Episode 4 Swap Plot Flop Airdate: 10/03/70
Valerie’s resemblance to a princess has her standing in as the princess when the princess is target by the Evil Eye and his organization.
“Midas Mix-Up”
Episode 5 Midas Mix-Up Airdate: 10/10/70
Dr. Midas has a plan…get half the world’s gold supply or activate his device to destroy all the gold! Unfortunately for Dr. Midas, the Pussycats have gotten involved in his plans.
“X Marks the Spot”
Episode 6 X Marks the Spot Airdate: 10/17/70
A stolen experiment has made a scientist named Mr. X invisible. The Pussycats find the only man with an antidote is with the Pussycats…and the Pussycats could hold the key to the cure.
“Chili Today and Hot Tamale”
Episode 7 Chili Today and Hot Tamale Airdate: 10/24/70
A trip to Mexico for a concert has the Pussycats foiling the Scorpion when they inadvertently smuggle in nuclear capsules for him.
“Never Mind a Master Mind”
Episode 8 Never Mind a Master Mind Airdate: 10/31/70
Melody accidentally gets a secret mission to stop a criminal called the Mastermind in Holland…but Mastermind has his own plans for Pussycats.
“Plateau of the Apes Plot”
Episode 9 Plateau of the Apes Plot Airdate: 11/07/70
The Pussycats crash on an island where a mad professor is transforming people into apes. When the Pussycats could be the next victims, they must stop Dr. Madro.
“Strangemoon Over Miami”
Episode 10 Strangemoon Over Miami Airdate: 11/14/70
When the Pussycats accidentally drift off in a hot air balloon, they accidentally witness a plan to destroy the world. Captured by Dr. Strangemoon, Josie and the Pussycats must save the world.
“All Wong in Hong Kong”
Episode 11 All Wong in Hong Kong Airdate: 11/21/70
The Pussycats head to Hong Kong for a concert. When Melody gets a hold of a coin desired by a toymaker named the Serpent, the Pussycats become targets.
“Melody Memory Mix-Up”
Episode 12 Melody Memory Mix-Up Airdate: 11/28/70
Professor Layton has created a force field and the Hawk wants it. When Layton accidentally downloads the information into Melody, Melody holds the secret formula in her mind.
“The Great Pussycat Chase”
Episode 13 The Great Pussycat Chase Airdate: 12/05/70
The Pussycats are entrusted to a mysterious black box and learn that a man called the Shadow wants it. The Pussycats find themselves jetting around the world to keep the black box out of the Shadow’s hands.
“Spy School Spoof”
Episode 14 Spy School Spoof Airdate: 12/12/70
The Pussycats accidentally get secret plans instead of their music. A villain named the Laser needs the plans, and the Pussycats must keep the plans out of his grasp.
“The Jumpin’ Jupiter Affair”
Episode 15 The Jumpin’ Jupiter Affair Airdate: 12/19/70
The Pussycats are playing Lima, and the Pussycats get lost in the Andes. The Pussycats are captured by an alien named Zor and find themselves forced to work in a diamond mine.
“Don’t Count on the Countess”
Episode 16 Don’t Count on a Countess Airdate: 01/02/71
The Pussycats are supposed to perform for the Countess…but the Countess has plans to steal the Pussycats’ youth.
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