"Hey, hey, hey!"
If you grew up anywhere near a television between 1972 and the mid-eighties, those three words are hardwired into your brain. They mean junkyards, homemade instruments, and a group of kids from North Philly just trying to figure out life. But lately, there’s been a weird amount of chatter online about a "new Fat Albert show" or some kind of modern reboot.
People are nostalgic. I get it. We live in an era where everything from X-Men '97 to iCarly gets a second life on streaming. Naturally, fans started wondering if the Junkyard Gang is next.
Honestly? It’s complicated. If you're looking for a release date for a 2026 revival, you're going to be waiting a long time. There is no new series in production. While the "New Fat Albert Show" was an actual title used back in 1979 for the show's fifth season on CBS, today the brand is essentially stuck in a permanent legal and cultural limbo.
The Reality of the "New" Fat Albert
When people search for "The New Fat Albert Show," they are often actually finding references to the 1979-1981 era of the original cartoon. That was the year the show shifted its name and introduced the Brown Hornet segments—the sci-fi superhero show-within-a-show that Fat Albert and his friends watched.
It was a peak moment for the franchise. The production values went up, and the educational "learning moments" became even more stylized. But that's history, not news.
As of right now, no major network like Netflix, Disney+, or Max has greenlit a new project. You might see fan-made trailers on YouTube or rumors on Reddit, but those are mostly "what-if" scenarios. In fact, a planned reboot was reportedly discussed around 2013-2014, but those plans evaporated almost instantly.
The Bill Cosby Problem
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. You can't separate Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids from its creator, Bill Cosby.
Cosby didn't just host the show; he voiced Fat Albert, Mushmouth, and Bill. He owns the rights. He even renewed the trademarks for "Hey, Hey, Hey" and the character names back in 2017 while his legal battles were in full swing. Because he holds the keys to the kingdom, any new show would require his involvement or his permission.
Most studios wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole.
In 2021, when Cosby's conviction was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on a procedural technicality, there was a tiny ripple of "could he come back?" talk. But the industry has largely moved on. Major distributors like DreamWorks Animation, who own various classic properties, have steered clear of the Fat Albert IP because the brand association is just too risky in the current climate.
Where the Rights Stand in 2026
Legally, the situation is a mess.
- Bill Cosby/SAH Enterprises: They own the core characters and the trademarks.
- Filmation Associates: The original animation house. Their library has changed hands dozens of times (eventually landing with DreamWorks/Classic Media), but their rights are usually for the existing episodes, not the right to make new ones without the creator.
- CBS/Paramount: They handled the original broadcast, but they don't own the character.
Because the ownership is split and the creator is a pariah in Hollywood, the "new show" is effectively dead in the water. Even the 2004 live-action movie starring Kenan Thompson, which was an attempt to modernize the gang, is now viewed as the final gasp of the franchise.
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The C-130 Confusion
Interestingly, if you search for "Fat Albert" news in 2025 or 2026, you might see headlines about a "major overhaul" or "returning to service."
Don't get your hopes up for a cartoon.
They are talking about a plane. Specifically, the Blue Angels' C-130J Hercules support aircraft, affectionately nicknamed "Fat Albert." That plane has been undergoing a massive structural overhaul at Marshall Aerospace in the UK. It’s scheduled to return to the U.S. airshow circuit in March 2026 at the NAF El Centro Festival of Flight.
So, while "Fat Albert" will be back in the air, he won't be back on your TV screen.
Why a Reboot Is So Hard to Write
Even if you took Cosby out of the equation, writing a new Fat Albert show in 2026 is a massive challenge. The original show was a product of its time. It dealt with heavy stuff—divorce, death, poverty, and even gun violence—but it did so with a very specific 1970s "urban" aesthetic.
How do you update the Junkyard Gang?
Do they still hang out in a junkyard?
Are they still playing instruments made out of trash cans and bedsprings?
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In a world of smartphones and TikTok, the core charm of the show—the resourceful, low-income kids making something out of nothing—feels like a period piece. To make it "new," you'd have to change it so much it wouldn't be Fat Albert anymore. Or you keep it the same, and it feels like a museum exhibit.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're missing the show and realize a reboot isn't coming, here is what you can actually do to revisit that world:
- Check the DVDs: The complete series was released on DVD by Shout! Factory years ago. It’s the only way to see the episodes uncut, as many streaming versions have been pulled or edited.
- YouTube Archives: There are several unofficial channels that have archived the Brown Hornet segments and the original PSAs.
- The Blue Angels: If you just like the name, keep an eye on the 2026 airshow schedule. The C-130 "Fat Albert" is a beast of a plane and puts on an incredible show.
- Support New Creators: Shows like The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder or Craig of the Creek carry the spiritual torch of the "kids in the neighborhood" vibe that Fat Albert pioneered.
The legacy of the Junkyard Gang is huge. It broke barriers for Black representation in animation and proved that Saturday morning cartoons could actually teach you something. But as of now, the "New Fat Albert Show" remains a piece of 1979 nostalgia, not a 2026 reality.