The Barkleys while certainly not the nadir of the (now sadly completed) world of Staurday morning network cartoon shows, it was seen as that by some at the time.   In 1972, VARIETY editorialized on the weekend animation as "shrunken adult programming", because all of the shows seemed to be pale imitations of prime-time conterparts.   George Heinemann, the man in charge of NBC's children's programming, weakly defended his products by citing a single example of where this might be true, in that Henry Corden was instructed to try to sound like Carrol O'Connor's Archie Bunker character when doing The Barkleys.   I would say the show is somewhat, at least cast wise,like All In The Family, but at the same time it's like Life Of Riley, too. I'd guess that Corden's voice was probably closer to William Bendix anyway. That he (Arnie Barkley) is a loudmouth bus driver sort of reminds one of yet another classic character, too. "Arnie" was the name of a forgotten series starring Hershel Bernardi that ended the day "The Barkleys" debuted. Just saying.   It and all the other kids shows were, at that time anyway, spared the relentless dogmatic militant politics that had spread like a grass fire through prime time. Arnie had nothing new or socially relevant to say, it was an easy-for-kids to understand slapstick sitcom. The writing flaws are numerous, the story logic fails on many levels, and as been said, the animation is typical low-grade TV value of the time. Did kids really like it? My guess is they ignored it, as it was pitted against The Brady Kids on ABC and Josie And The Pussycats In Outer Space over at CBS.

The sitcom, short for "situational comedy," is a subgenre of TV series that features a set of recurring characters, often occupying a shared environment such as a home or workspace, placed in humorous situations. Sitcoms are designed to entertain and make audiences laugh through comedic dialogue, situational humor, and often exaggerated or absurd scenarios.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry in Friends (1994)

The slapstick comedy subgenre, a term that originates from a type of wooden paddle with a hinged flap that was used in early comedic performances to create slapping noises during comedic actions, is a form of physical comedy characterized by exaggerated, boisterous, and often absurd actions, situations, and physical interactions. Slapstick humor relies on visual gags, physical stunts, and exaggerated movements to create laughs.

Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Cartoon starring dogs similar to "All in the Family" (1971).

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Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (1977)

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