LigiaMontoya
Similar to the Archies or Scooby-Doo, with a notable distinction: really good music. Led by the vocals of Motown Artist Patrice Holloway (Brenda Holloway's sister, who actually played Valerie on the concert tours) and backed by the vocals of future Charlie's Angel Cheryl Ladd as Melody, the producers used ace studio musicians and ace singers to produce real soul music - in a cartoon.I wonder how many people who like this show were aware that there was a live band that went on tour with the songs as "Josie and the Pussycats" to promote it?It was also funnier than either the Archies or Scooby-Doo. Although Alex annoys me - he's exactly the same character and Shaggy on Scooby-Doo. But Alexandra is hysterical.Valerie was also the first regular black character on a children's cartoon show.
r-c-s
While I understandably loved this cartoon as a child decades ago, I find it still enjoyable today, unlike a few other H&B cartoons. It is indeed a re-cooked Scooby Doo thing, and both series have lots in common but I love this one much more. Unlike the "superfriends megapowers show", where non-white characters look more like "tokens" to appease politically correct minds, and in some instances like idiots, this (much earlier) show makes Valerie as one of the best actors with her A-team ability to assemble & disassemble anything electronic. Made in 1970, the songs are not that bad even today, considering this was a low-profile cartoon and not some billionaire operation. Plots are paper thin but hey, it was a show designed for children, as it delivers quality as such.
RealLiveClaude
I rediscovered the cartoon when the 2001 movie starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Tara Reid was almost released. The show was broadcasted in a Canadian Cable Network (YTV).I have watched it in 1972-73 and re-watching it was going into the same fun I had when I was a kid. Stories that were funny, written the "Hanna Barbera" way and with such a sense of humor. I can say here the show distanced a bit from the Archie comic book itself. For example, Alex left his arrogant ego in the comic book and becomes a coward in this one (and that voice from Casey Kasem, I burst out, this is funny ). For the rest, Alexandra with her envys of stealing Alan from Josie and give the Pussycats a "music lesson" and Melody with her everlasting ditziness makes the show...Noticeable thing here: since the original series started when "Scooby Doo" took a break, I found that Josie and the Pussycats were patterned the same way, with same music and expressions like "meddling kids". Otherwise, the rest is fun to watch and was also a great geography course because in each show, they were in a different country. And even one of the shows did feature a chase around the world (one of the best episodes called "The Great Pussycat Chase"...).A fun classic to be enjoyed over and over again...
Gerald Brown
The fearless redhead. The dingbatty blonde. The ingenious African-American. The hunky roadie. The gutless manager. The catty raven. The snickering Shorttail. The gallery of brilliant villains. A library of marvelous music. The perfect formula for a great cartoon series named "Josie and The Pussycats". Yeah, yeah, dirty minds(and several little minds)would go nuts about a certain part of the title, but the rest of us think the title was really groovy. Based on Archie Comics' great comic book, the Hanna-Barbera cartoon showcases musicians Josie McCoy, Melody Valentine and Valerie Brown, their roadie Alan Mayberry, their manager Alexander Cabot III, his volatile sister Alexandra and her snickering cat Sebastian. They perform all around the world, spending their spare time thwarting international schemes to conquer the world. Troublemakers such as The Countess, Mr. X, Greenthumb, Evil Eye, Midas, Nemo, and the Scorpion make the band's lives a living HELP(a term Alexander never forgets to yell for in every episode)! Janet Waldo, Jackie Joseph, and Barbara Pariot are the terrific trio, Jerry Dexter and Scooby Doo Alumni Casey Kasem are the dudes, Sherry Alberoni is the 'tude and Scooby himself, Don Messick, is the cool cat. The girls who give us those cool tunes such as my favorite, "You still have a way to go" are really Catherine Dougherty, Patrice Halloway and Cheryl Ladd as Melody's singing voice. JATP's charm comes from Josie and her allies. Josie makes the perfect leader, a perfect combo of wisdom, strength and beauty. Melody is the giggling silly of the group, always smiling and laughing no matter what the situation. Valerie is one of the first influential Afro-American cartoon characters. A pre-Cleopatra Jones like super spy who's the brains of the outfit and the lyrics of Josie's songs. Alexandra's cattiness keeps Josie on her toes and Alexander's gutlessness makes for some fine comedy. Alan's hunky appearance makes Josie and Alexandra's conflicts even more juicier. I felt it was only fair for me to rave over this great cartoon series, because I dissed the movie. Mayhaps if the writers made the movie more closer to the cartoon and more family friendly, I would have loved it. But NOOOOOOO, those saps made it just another Hollywood PG-13 zombie. Phooey on them! Their spin-off, JATP IN OUTER SPACE, may not have all the songs, but it is equally entertaining. I suggest you all see both the cartoon versions . .. and the comics, too.