The Jetsons Season 1, Episode 2
"A Date with Jet Screamer"
Original Airdate: Sep. 30, 1962
Writer: Harvey Bullock
Directors: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
Cast: George O'Hanlon, Penny Singleton, Daws Butler, Janet Waldo, Don Messick, Jean Vander Pyl, Mel Blanc
In my previous recap, I mentioned how The Jetsons looked to remind its audience that, even in the tech-laden land of tomorrow, some things never change. Well, “A Date with Jet Screamer” doubles down on this mantra with a wink, a grin, and one of the most irresistible earworms to pop its head out of primetime TV. Even in a world where your house can talk back to you and your car folds into a briefcase, the essentials of family life – including the occasional clash of tastes – still bubble to the surface. Add a pinch of overprotective dad, a sentimentally silly glimpse at the ever-present generational gap, and enough teen idol energy to power a subdivision’s worth of Skypad Apartments, and it’s easy to see why this futuristic follow-up remains the most memorable episode of them all.
Originally airing on September 30th, 1962, “A Date with Jet Screamer” focuses on Judy (Janet Waldo), who’s caught up in the gravitational pull of the galaxy’s number-one teen heartthrob, Jet Screamer (Howard Morris, in his first voice-acting role for Hanna-Barbera). When a songwriting contest offers her the chance of winning a date with the rocket-age rocker, the twitterpated teen sets to work, completely swept up in fan fever. Needless to say, George (George O’Hanlon) is far less enthusiastic. Exhausted by the constant Jet Screamer craze echoing through the house, not to mention one too many crowded commutes on the skyway, he becomes determined to keep Judy from winning the contest and putting an end to her fervent obsession once and for all.
With her entry complete and ready for the post office, George sets to work – replacing the heartfelt lyrics with a scrap of secret code from Elroy’s (Daws Butler) room. It’s classic sitcom sabotage, future-style: a dad convinced he’s cleverly outsmarting the system while hilariously underestimating the universe’s ability to boomerang his plans right back at him. Figuring it for a guaranteed loser, George is shocked just days later when Judy is announced as the winner on national TV. Suddenly the Jetson home becomes ground zero for media mayhem. Before George even has a chance to put his foot down, the house is invaded by Jet and an eager entourage of commentators, photographers, and cameramen excited to document the date from every possible angle. That is, until Jet and Judy zip off in his sporty saucer for an evening of amusement around Orbit City. Worried for his little girl’s safety, George decides to follow them — because even in the future, dads are gonna dad.
What follows is a night of entertainment and good clean fun capped off with a pit stop at The Swivel Lounge for a rockin’ rendition of "Eep Opp Ork" that’s been living rent free in my brain since I first saw the episode back in 1989 – yeah, I’m a syndication baby! If there’s one song that defines the Jetsons’ retrofuture energy, it’s this one. The tune bounces, the atmosphere is electric, and the animation — full of opulent onomatopoeia, neon lights, and bop-happy backup dancers — leans all the way into the atompunk ambiance. It’s here that boyfriend-blocker George, who’s sneaked in the back with the band and bribed one of the musicians to take the night off, finally has a moment to shine. Before breaking into his next hit for the eager audience, “Space Dust Daddy” George is invited to perform a drum solo that serves as the perfect segue into Judy’s Jet Screamer jam. Watching George reluctantly find his groove is half the fun; by the time all is said and done, he’s not just grooving along — he’s full-on rockin’ out. And in true sitcom fashion, the guy who was once so determined to shut the whole thing down ends up becoming the newest president of the Jet Screamer Fan Club!
In addition to offering up one seriously toe-tappin’ tune, “A Date with Jet Screamer” proves that dads never stop being dads and that it never hurts to give something new a chance. The episode also brilliantly captures the spirit of early '60s youth culture — the fandom, the music, the energy — through a lens polished with Hanna-Barbera optimism. Plus, you’ve got to love how the show’s bright-eyed future completely sidesteps any doom-and-gloom predictions about inflation or technological overload. Orbit City may be wild, wacky, and occasionally weird, but it’s always warm at heart.
Baby, Baby Baby, this is one seriously swivelin’ episode!
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