Yogi Bear debuted in 1958 as a supporting
character on The Huckleberry Hound Show.
Yogi became very
popular, and in 1961 was given his own show, which included
the following sequences: Snagglepuss and Yakky Doodle.
Over the years he would appear in many other spin-off
series as well, including Yogi's Gang (1973), Yogi's
Space Race (1978), Galaxy Goof-Ups (1978), Yogi's Treasure
Hunt (1985), The New Yogi Bear Show (1988) and Yo Yogi
(1991).
Like many Hanna-Barbera characters, Yogi's personality
and mannerisms were based on a popular celebrity of
the time. Art Carney's character on The Honeymooners
was said to be Yogi's inspiration. Yogi's name is an
obvious nod to the famed baseball star Yogi Berra.
The plot of most of Yogi's cartoons centered around
his antics in the fictional Jellystone Park, a takeoff
on the famous Yellowstone National Park. Yogi,
accompanied by his reluctant best friend Boo Boo would
often try to steal picnic baskets from campers in the
park, much to the chagrin of Park Ranger Smith.
Yogi Bear is well-known for a variety of different
catchphrases, including his pet name for picnic baskets
("pic-a-nic baskets") and his favorite self-promotion
("I'm smarter than the average bear!"). although
he often overestimated his own cleverness.
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