Today, I'm going to review Season 4's Fred El Terrifico, written by Joanna Lee. It features Janet Waldo's debut as Mrs. Slaghoople, Wilma's mother (she also plays Mildred, a passenger in the airplane). It also features Howard Morris as the evil Rockoff, the airline bird, the airport proprietor and the tall detective). Jean Vander Pyl (who plays Wilma and Pebbles) also plays Shala, the sultry but evil niece of Rockoff. Don Messick plays Bamm Bamm and Mildred's meek husband Harry and a turtle in Rockopulco. Mel Blanc plays the short detective.
Fred and Wilma prepare for their trip to Rockopulco. Fred wants not to look like the typical tourist and has grown a small mustache to fit in with the natives. Mrs. Slaghoople agrees to take care of Pebbles and Bamm Bamm but asks for a picture postcard and tells Fred to shave off his dirt! "That is not dirt! Goodbye!," shouts Fred. On the plane, Fred brags about his adventures to 2 passengers Harry and Mildred. Little does he know Rockoff and Shala are also listening. They plan to plant some stolen diamonds with Fred. Wilma bribes the proprietor to arrest El Terrifico (Fred's new alter ego) when they arrive! Once bailed out, they go to a store to buy sombreros. Fred, however, purchases a matador's hat which comes with a cape. At the stadium, Fred gets mistaken as the Matador and must fight the bull-asaurus. He is thrown a rose by Shala, much to the chagrin of Wilma. As Shala follows them around, Wilma gets more jealous and banishes Fred and Barney from their beach. 2 detectives warn Fred how dangerous Shala is but Fred thinks Wilma hired the detectives. On their last night, Shala invites them to a party. Wilma has no interest in attending until she overhears Shala proclaim "Freddie, you are marvelous!" Then Shala gives Fred a maraca filled with diamonds she and Rockoff stole and flirts with Fred. Wilma breaks the maraca over Shala's head and the diamonds fall out!
My views: I noticed the hats Barney, Betty and Wilma purchased were different from the ones they wore at the stadium. Things I liked: The wisecracks from the bird as he lands, Wilma's wisecrack "Just be your same old sloppy self and I'll pretend I'm with the Rubbles" and Barney saying "Fred's flipped his chili beans." I also liked the Spanish guitar music arranged by Hoyt Curtin. But most of all, I like how Wilma saves the day for Fred, despite how cocky and naive he is to Shala's flirting! 9 sombreros out of 10!
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