I think the quality of the 'dupey' end titles would be down to Hanna Barbera. All the BBC did was chop out the couple of seconds where the words 'Top Cat' appeared because that was the name of a brand of cat food in Britain at the time.
The sound and picture jump in different places because on a film print the sound is offset by about 18 frames due to the fact that the film gate and sound head can't be right next to each other. You make a cut and it impacts the picture then the sound.
The credits here were redone by Hanna-Babera to eliminate the ending "Screen Gems" reference at the end of the titles, but they were lazy about it, and used one episode's credits for the entire season (the same thing was done on Seasons 3-6 of "The Flintstones" and on the 1962-63 season of "The Jetsons". One episode's titles were simply re-used for the entire season, or in the case of the Flintstones, one credit was used for both the fifth and sixth seasons).
I think some of this pasting of the same title on all episodes was actually done by Turner in the 1990s. I think The Flinstones actually has normal credits for all episodes after season 3 (season 1 and 2 have redone credits from 1995, as the original credits were black-and-white).
Seasons 1 & 2 do have gang credits from several different episodes, in order to replace the redone credits HB put on the show in 1966 when it went to NBC Saturday mornings and syndication. The gang credits on the remaining seasons showed up about 1991 or so (For seasons 5-6 you could tell they used a Season 6 episode for the end credits, because Harvey Korman's name was on every show for "other voices", and he pretty much only did Gazoo in Season 6).
BBC2 still show a couple of Hanna Barbera cartoons around midday in the week, which is incredible in itself. At the moment there showing the Flintstones but Top Cat as been on quite recently I'm pretty sure.
Also notable just how poor the print is - but then they were using the same prints they'd been using for 25 years, done on the cheap in the first place ...
The series returned to the BBC in 1999 after a decade, finally under its proper title and (if memory serves) with the original title sequences restored.
@RobinCarmody I just had a look at a tape I have of the episode 'King For A Day' taped from BBC in July 1989 and you aren't joking. Horrible quality opening titles and by then they had chopped out a section between Top Cat sitting down at the restaurant table and the blue BBC title 'Boss Cat'. I wonder if the whole episode is on 16mm?
The BBC had very nice prints of the Pink Panther Show at that time.
Wow, I love the really subtle jump cut at the end of the credits!
People talk now about dumbing down, but the BBC must have thought kids in the 70s and 80s were morons. Everyone in the show calls him Top Cat, the theme tune goes "da da da da da TOP CAT!" and yet we're supposed to believe the show is called Boss Cat?
They stopped calling it Boss Cat in 1989, when they stopped showing it. And they HAD to change the name (presumably legal reasons, along with BBC not wanting to be accused of advertising)
If there was ever a Manga version , TC and his crew , would probably be members of the Mob,lol. The TC and his crew are probably the coolest crew to grace the cartoon screens.They belong in cartoon hall of fame,, along with the Flintstones, and the Looney Toons Crew(Bugs,Daffy,Elmer,Foghorn Leghorn,Yosemite Sam,Porky etc) They don't make em like they used to.Real Pity.
He was called Boss Cat in the UK, because around the time of launch there was a brand of cat food called "Top Cat". The BBC couldn't be seen to be favouring any brand.
I don't know who the presenter is, but the next what you can see at the end is the start of the Pink Panther show.
Hmmm... Credits are the same as in the Turner version, but after the cut the Hanna-Barbara logo is down, not up and TC doesn't put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on his trash can.
So annoying seeing the edits made to remove T.C.'s name! Only a shame one set of production credits remains that are used for every episode you can get on DVD these days.
Great to see the credits I remember.
SozLike 6 months ago
Why didn't they just leave it as Top Cat?
Yes, there was a type of cat food called Top Cat then too bla bla bla..
But then Top Cat (the food) could have easily been the sponsers of Top Cat (the cartoon)
I bet kids back then were really confused...it says Boss Cat but they call him Top Cat... 0.o
vulpix2007 8 months ago
@vulpix2007 Under the rules of the Broadcasting Standards COuncil (and OFCOM now), AND the BBC Board... advertising on the BBC is a complete no-no.
Programme sponsorship only happens on commercial channels here.. never on the Beeb.
alcockell 7 months ago
@alcockell I'm sure I see adverts on the BBC, but perhaps you are talking about the sponcership advertising?
But I never take any notice at such things soo ... :)
But thank you regardless :)
vulpix2007 7 months ago
@vulpix2007 the "ads" you see are trailers and possibly PIFs re the licence
alcockell 7 months ago
@alcockell huh, probs.. don't tend to watch the BBC < It got shit, that and ITV. Nothing but cooking shows, soaps and reality shit :/
I tend to watch Dave :DD Comedy everywhere :P (Exept Shameless... Can't stand that T.T )
vulpix2007 7 months ago
@vulpix2007 It was on BBC = No adverts allowed.
Bubo25 6 months ago
All full episodes (in high quality) on : top-cat.info ! ;)
WatchTopCat 11 months ago
I think the quality of the 'dupey' end titles would be down to Hanna Barbera. All the BBC did was chop out the couple of seconds where the words 'Top Cat' appeared because that was the name of a brand of cat food in Britain at the time.
The sound and picture jump in different places because on a film print the sound is offset by about 18 frames due to the fact that the film gate and sound head can't be right next to each other. You make a cut and it impacts the picture then the sound.
doubledeckers 1 year ago
was boss cat ,cat food
HexicGaming 1 year ago
We are all going to miss Arnold Stang (1918-2009).
With his voice, Top Cat was always the Boss ;)
deyanmegara 2 years ago
The credits here were redone by Hanna-Babera to eliminate the ending "Screen Gems" reference at the end of the titles, but they were lazy about it, and used one episode's credits for the entire season (the same thing was done on Seasons 3-6 of "The Flintstones" and on the 1962-63 season of "The Jetsons". One episode's titles were simply re-used for the entire season, or in the case of the Flintstones, one credit was used for both the fifth and sixth seasons).
John80220 2 years ago
@John80220
I think some of this pasting of the same title on all episodes was actually done by Turner in the 1990s. I think The Flinstones actually has normal credits for all episodes after season 3 (season 1 and 2 have redone credits from 1995, as the original credits were black-and-white).
deyanmegara 2 years ago
Seasons 1 & 2 do have gang credits from several different episodes, in order to replace the redone credits HB put on the show in 1966 when it went to NBC Saturday mornings and syndication. The gang credits on the remaining seasons showed up about 1991 or so (For seasons 5-6 you could tell they used a Season 6 episode for the end credits, because Harvey Korman's name was on every show for "other voices", and he pretty much only did Gazoo in Season 6).
John80220 2 years ago
BBC2 still show a couple of Hanna Barbera cartoons around midday in the week, which is incredible in itself. At the moment there showing the Flintstones but Top Cat as been on quite recently I'm pretty sure.
TerryNutkins80 2 years ago
Also notable just how poor the print is - but then they were using the same prints they'd been using for 25 years, done on the cheap in the first place ...
The series returned to the BBC in 1999 after a decade, finally under its proper title and (if memory serves) with the original title sequences restored.
RobinCarmody 2 years ago
@RobinCarmody I just had a look at a tape I have of the episode 'King For A Day' taped from BBC in July 1989 and you aren't joking. Horrible quality opening titles and by then they had chopped out a section between Top Cat sitting down at the restaurant table and the blue BBC title 'Boss Cat'. I wonder if the whole episode is on 16mm?
The BBC had very nice prints of the Pink Panther Show at that time.
doubledeckers 1 year ago
Wow, I love the really subtle jump cut at the end of the credits!
People talk now about dumbing down, but the BBC must have thought kids in the 70s and 80s were morons. Everyone in the show calls him Top Cat, the theme tune goes "da da da da da TOP CAT!" and yet we're supposed to believe the show is called Boss Cat?
When did they stop calling it Boss Cat anyway?
AdorableRuffian 3 years ago
They stopped calling it Boss Cat in 1989, when they stopped showing it. And they HAD to change the name (presumably legal reasons, along with BBC not wanting to be accused of advertising)
filmnet 2 years ago
Top Cat was a brand of cat food at the time, so they couldnt call it Top Cat. Its not to trick people.
lewieism 2 years ago
That live-action announcer's vaguely hot - in an 80s kinda way.
Granitoons 3 years ago
So they called it Boss Cat back in the 1980s hmm, anyhow they call it Top Cat nowadays on the BBC
triassicranger 3 years ago
I think they called it "Boss Cat" until a famous brand of cat food went out of business.
*providing that Top Cat food doesn't exist anymore!
AidanLunn 3 years ago 2
love top cat!
dhtyre 3 years ago
'They're going to be doing things with a water microscope'. Hmmm ... what kind of 'things' did they do with that water microscope???????
ozzymarco 3 years ago
Wow, BBC did a horrible job editing the credits :-(
vfreeck 3 years ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
english sucks jajajajajaja please listen this cartoon in spanish the best of the best of the best
how racist ?
punkygirl06 3 years ago
SUCK ME
JURGENELL 3 years ago
If there was ever a Manga version , TC and his crew , would probably be members of the Mob,lol. The TC and his crew are probably the coolest crew to grace the cartoon screens.They belong in cartoon hall of fame,, along with the Flintstones, and the Looney Toons Crew(Bugs,Daffy,Elmer,Foghorn Leghorn,Yosemite Sam,Porky etc) They don't make em like they used to.Real Pity.
luciengrey24 4 years ago
yo that girl at the end is pretty hot
TopCatOwns 4 years ago 5
english sucks jajajajajaja please listen this cartoon in spanish the best of the best of the best
chiquiona 4 years ago
true; topcat actually talks like a wise guy.. and benny the ball sounds as cute as he looks.
it all falls together more nicely in the spanish version including the name of the cop: matute, that's hilarious.
dibbles isnt funny name
mazdaplz 4 years ago
TC ruled so much
gh0st333 4 years ago
He was called Boss Cat in the UK, because around the time of launch there was a brand of cat food called "Top Cat". The BBC couldn't be seen to be favouring any brand.
I don't know who the presenter is, but the next what you can see at the end is the start of the Pink Panther show.
bobsparkie 4 years ago 2
Bring back the old Cartoon Network. this was my show too! Love me some Top Cat!
mdt007 4 years ago
Be cool if TC and his gang beat the shit out of that cop gang style.
GameaPlaya 4 years ago
Hmmm... Credits are the same as in the Turner version, but after the cut the Hanna-Barbara logo is down, not up and TC doesn't put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on his trash can.
deyanmegara 4 years ago 2
Great vid, loved Top Cat. :)
markymark2006uk 4 years ago
So annoying seeing the edits made to remove T.C.'s name! Only a shame one set of production credits remains that are used for every episode you can get on DVD these days.
ProductionX 4 years ago
and siobhan maher used to be a member of river city people and I used to love top cat
knicksfan89 4 years ago
No worries. You'll find a complete history of CBBC Presentation (The Broom Cupboard) on my website.
granadagreg 4 years ago
The in vision presenter is Siobhan Maher, fronting the Children's BBC summer morning service which was called BUT FIRST THIS.
granadagreg 4 years ago
Thanks muchly, Greg. Much appreciated.
AntarcticaTelevision 4 years ago