Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert
Encyclopedia
Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert is an animated primetime special which originally aired on November 12, 1969 on NBC
in the United States
, though NBC did reair it twice following its initial airing, it has rarely been seen since. It was created by Bill Cosby
and animator Ken Mundie. It was based on Cosby's stand-up routines, which were based on his childhood. It would later inspire the long-running 1972 animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
.
The special has a very different style from the later series. Due to time and a tight budget, the animators had to draw directly onto cells with grease pencils
and actual images of Philadelphia were used for backgrounds.. The music was provided by Herbie Hancock
, who later used some the music he composed on his album Fat Albert Rotunda
. Unlike the later "Cosby Kids" series and specials it has not been released on DVD.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, though NBC did reair it twice following its initial airing, it has rarely been seen since. It was created by Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
and animator Ken Mundie. It was based on Cosby's stand-up routines, which were based on his childhood. It would later inspire the long-running 1972 animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972 and ran until 1985...
.
The special has a very different style from the later series. Due to time and a tight budget, the animators had to draw directly onto cells with grease pencils
Grease pencil
The grease pencil, a wax writing tool also known as a wax pencil, china marker, , is made of hardened colored wax and is useful for marking on hard, glossy non-porous surfaces such as porcelain, glass, polished stone, plastic, ceramics and other glazed, lacquered or polished surfaces, as well as...
and actual images of Philadelphia were used for backgrounds.. The music was provided by Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
, who later used some the music he composed on his album Fat Albert Rotunda
Fat Albert Rotunda
Fat Albert Rotunda is the eighth album by jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock, released in 1969. It also was the first album that Hancock had on the Warner Bros. Records label, since leaving Blue Note Records.-About the Album:...
. Unlike the later "Cosby Kids" series and specials it has not been released on DVD.