Here we go. I am going to plow through a half-century, sampling all the shows, all the groups of movies, and assorted homages/parodies I just alluded to and then some!
First the various series
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? –
Season 1, Episode 1: “What A Night For A Knight”
The very beginning. In 1969, this was the first tale that introduced the world to its favorite talking Great Dane. We saw some great physical comedy in this story set in a museum (where the titular knight is located), the characters were as funny as we would come to expect, and the format was set up perfectly.
Season 2, Episode 7: “Who´s Afraid Of The Big Bad Werewolf?”
By now they had refined the formula and plus there were really great sight gags here. I decided to review an episode from each season of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? because the creative minds cared enough to change the opening theme slightly for the second season and it was awesome both times!
Season 1, Episode 16: ” A Night of Fright Is No Delight”
I decided to review this episode as well, for reasons you’ll see later. Nice scares!
The New Scooby-Doo Movies –
Season 1, Episode 9: “The Spooky Fog of Juneberry”
In this case the celebrity guest was Don Knotts, who’s a funny addition to anything. Plus this show’s hour-long format left time for more scares and physical comedy! Terrific addition to Scooby-Doo’s history!
The Scooby-Doo Show –
Season 1, Episode 16: ” The Spirits of ’76”
We have another museum-episode, but it’s better than “What A Night For A Knight”. The main reason for that is the specific plot is interesting enough to describe. The statues in a traitors’ exhibit (Benedict Arnold, William Demont, and John Andre) seemingly come to life and terrorize people. There’s also a tunnel underneath the museum featured in what turns out to be a nice mystery, with some good jokes.
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo –
Season 1, Episode 12: “The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly”
Turns out I was wrong about Scrappy being introduced in the previous series. He hit the ground running in this one. The first season of the show still followed the format of previous Scooby series though. This particular episode was convoluted but I liked it because it was movie-related and it kept me guessing.
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo –
Season 1, Episode 13: “Robot Ranch”/”Scooby Dooby Guru”/”Surprised Spies”
I’m differentiating the first season of Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo from the others because the subsequent seasons were so different. Instead of one half-hour mystery, we got three very short stories with actual supernatural occurences. As far as this specific episode, the first story actually came across like a Westworld parody, the second spoke to me since it was set in India, and the third had Alcatraz as a setting. Given I chose to watch an episode of this show that bastardized the whole concept of Scooby-Doo, I at least picked the best possible one!
Note: The individual segments are for some reason not grouped together on Amazon as they originally aired. I’m referring to Amazon’s episode 13 of Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo’s overall second season.
The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries – This show seems completely lost to time! Not only is it the only Scooby-Doo content not on Amazon, I couldn’t find it anywhere online. I’m wondering if a Warner Bros. executive snatched up all the copies and hid them in order to inflate their value so he could sell them for a massive profit. We’ll find out when we unmask him while he’s trying to scare people who get near his hiding place. Joke’s on him anyway – I don’t remember the show being any good. 😉
Note: While writing this I realized this show was actually the second season of a show called The New Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show and ALL of that is lumped under Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo on Amazon. I suppose I could watch an episode of each of those two seasons now, but I’ve realized even I can get burned out from too much Scooby-Doo. Especially if Scrappy is going to be there! Props to this incarnation for bringing back Daphne and (to a much lesser extent, in the second season), Fred and Velma.
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo –
Season 1, Episode 1: “To All the Ghouls I’ve Loved Before”
Wow. Such a horrible series. Even Vincent Price as “Vincent Van Ghoul” can’t save it. One comment I have to make is that as annoying as Scrappy was in previous series, at least he had a personality. Here he’s just another coward while some kid named “Flim Flam” takes over the part of insufferable half-pint. Looks like this was basically the Daphne And Flim Flam Show, with Scooby and Shaggy there simply to set up the conflict in really labored unbelievable ways. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I’m not going to watch any more of this show to find out.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
Season 1, Episode 7: “Now Museum, Now You Don’t”
The one Scooby series that takes me back to Saturday mornings of my own childhood and the third episode in this post that takes place in a museum. A Pup Named Scooby-Doo holds up remarkably well, with the lack of even the tiny horror you might see in other installments made up for by a zaniness comparable to that in Loony Tunes cartoons. Plus there are actually some good puns in this episode, although doing this project has taught me that the Shaggy character has always been crazy about those. Anyway, I recommend the series, although purists might be annoyed by Daphne being a high-maintenance valley girl and Fred being an obnoxious blowhard.
What’s New, Scooby-Doo?
Season 1, Episode 4: “Big Scare in the Big Easy”
Cheesy theme song notwithstanding, this was a great return to the original format 24 years after The Scooby-Doo Show ended. I chose this episode because it involved an amusement park and New Orleans, two things I love (anyone who knows me personally remind me to tell you about a certain experience I had). It was actually a great mystery that left me guessing and surprised me!
Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!
Season 1, Episode 1: ” Shags to Riches”
Ugh.This felt more like a Beavis and Butt-Head revival than a part of the Scooby-Doo legacy. Shaggy and Scooby just come across as unlikeable swamp creatures. I couldn’t sit through the whole episode.
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated
Season 1, Episode 3: “The Secret of the Ghost Rig”
Maybe every valley is followed by a peak! This episode had some chills, creepy music, a good mystery and plenty of humor! Terrific series.
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!
Season 1, Episode 1: ” Mystery 101″
I started watching this episode and lost interest quickly once I realized how Velma-centric it would be. The series seemed promising enough to give another chance though.
Season 1, Episode 5: ” Grand Scam”
I’m so glad I did. I’m crazy about baseball and this episode featured plenty of pictures of real players and a lot of sabermetrics (I should mention that I also love math)!
Even leaving aside my love of those two things, though, it’s a great story featuring a hilarious washed-up wanna-be ballplayer and a terrific arc with Shaggy showing the first courage of his life in order to help his favorite team. Despite some odd changes (Daphne is an utter ditz, Shaggy is short, etc.) this is a wonderful series.
Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?
Season 1, Episode 7: “The Cursed Cabinet of Professor Madds Markson!”
This seems inspired by The New Scooby-Doo Movies, what with different celebrity guests each episode. Also, they brought back the original theme tune (even referenced in the episode itself) and original drawing style. Yet this wasn’t just some derivative show. There was an extremely inventive mystery set in the “City That Never Sleeps” (okay, that’s really New York, but this episode showed that I’m not alone in having thought that was Las Vegas – Shaggy did too), with guest stars Penn & Teller proving hilarious!
Season 1, Episode 8: ” When Urkel-Bots Go Bad!
The previous episode looked (and was) good but seeing this next one had Urkel I decided to check it out, too. He’s somehow even MORE annoying than on Family Matters, but he’s plenty funny. The gang is too, naturally, and I liked the surprising mystery!
That’s the last of the series. Considering how good Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? is, I’m stoked that it’s still in production!
Honorable Mention:
Laff-A-Lympics
Season 1, Episode 1: ” “Switzerland and Japan”
I had to include this show due to our favorite canine’s prominent placement, especially because the show’s full name was Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A Lympics. Ultimately this series is all about the high-concept. You either get excited seeing dozens of Hanna-Barbera characters from different franchises playing sports against each other or you don’t. I can’t overstate how much I do!
Now time for various TV/direct-to-video movies
Scooby Goes Hollywood (1979)
This was a onetime special. Basic plot is that Scooby is tired of just being known as a Saturday morning cartoon star and (with much aggressive prodding from Shaggy) attempts to get a gig on a primetime adult-skewing series. Somewhat dated, given the parodies are of popular programs of the time, but fairly entertaining.
Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers (1987)
This was part of a series of made-for-TV 2D animated movies I watched when they originally aired. They were under the heading Hanna-Barbera Superstars. Other titles included The Jetsons Meet The Flinstones and The Good, The Bad, And The Huckleberry Hound. I remember Boo Brothers just had Scooby and Shaggy instead of the whole gang (apparently Scrappy was there but maybe I blocked him out) and the titular ghosts taught me the “What’s Up Dog?” joke seen in the clip here from The Office. Pretty mediocre otherwise.
Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999)
This was part of a series of direct-to-video 2D animated movies made after CN reruns restored Scooby’s popularity – and it’s amazing! The New England atmosphere was capturd beautifully via the scenery and music. The mystery was haunting – and actually supernatural, per the norm for this series of movies. It was great seeing Velma having a love interest, given he appeared a great fit for her yet was not a nerd caricature. Also, it should be mentioned that here you see probably the only deaths there will ever be in a Scooby-Doo story. Admittedly of evil pumpkins, but they were sentient! Despite some odd rewriting of canon (Scooby doesn’t know he’s a dog? And doesn’t like bones?) I loved this movie.
Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster (2010)
This was part of a series of three live-action movies made for television. The Scooby special effects so bad and the sound effects so lame that I just had to turn the stupid thing off.
Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Scarecrow (2013)
This was part of a series of direct-to-video releases Warner made for Scooby boxsets that included episodes of previous series. Nice scares although just an okay mystery.
Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery (2014)
Although this came out in 2014, it was clearly set in 2012 what with the specific stars there. I would have done without Santino Marella, and I was wondering why A.J. Lee looked white instead of Puerto Rican. Also, Fred’s sudden photography felt kind of shorehorned into the plot. Still, it was a good Scooby mystery set in the world of wrestling. Thumbs up.
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon (2016)
Given my fondness for wrestling, I had to review the sequel, set two years later, to the previous movie. “Dead Meat” and “Skinny Man”, as Scooby and Shaggy are called after their wrestling endeavor in the last movie, are now partaking in a race with the WWE stars. This wound up becoming a posthumous tribute to Dusty Rhodes, who figured prominently in the plot and died the year before the movie set in 2014 was released. That especially lends poignance to the scenes featuring him with his sons. The storyline where Stephanie and Daphne bond as fellow princesses is also intriguing, while Miz is hilarious in his self-deprecating role in both movies! Although this movie technically doesn’t have any wrestling, the racing the wrestlers do in their vehicles is actually super exciting despite being animated! That’s to say nothing of the strong mystery. Fantastic movie
LEGO Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywood (2016)
This is one of several LEGO Scooby movies that were made. How could I NOT love a Scooby-Doo adventure set on a movie studio backlot? Certainly made me nostalgic for my time working at different studios (which I’ll hopefully be doing again soon). Loved that Elvira was a cast member and Boris Karloff was parodied throughout. Mystery was exciting and unpredictable!
Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)
This is incredible! Works as a great comic book animated film with the usual Scooby-Doo humor seamlessly incorporated. Thank God Warner Bros. owns both DC Comics and Scooby-Doo, as they are able to pool resources with projects such as this, the Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? episodes featuring Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash, and the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode “Bat-Mite Presents: Batman’s Strangest Cases” with Scooby and his friends in the second half. Really glad that the current powers-that-be decided to carry on the tradition the people in charge at the time of The New Scooby-Doo Movies in the early 1970s created.
Miscellaneous
Influences:
I Love A Mystery – A radio series about three mystery solvers. Was apparently a big deal back in its day. I tried listening to a little; it’s didn’t sound bad but I didn’t have the patience for the whole thing.
Famous Five – This British series of “Young Adult” fiction is thought to be one source of inspiration, given it’s about four young mystery solvers with a dog. That makes sense when you consider how the show was originally supposed to be about mystery solving, instead of foregrounding a talking dog. I’ll mention that my worst summer growing up was when I had to be in India the entire time but bright spots came those rare times I was given access to a Famous Five book (or a Secret Seven book by the same author, as neither were available in America).
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis – This is a show that was apparently fairly popular in its day but has largely been lost to time. Not completely, though, as you can see it on the free app Tubi. I tried it out, since the creators of Scooby-Doo made clear this was the inspiration for the human members of the gang. Notably, Dobie was the inspiration for Fred and his friend played by Bob Denver (yes, Gilligan) was the inspiration for Shaggy. Boring show though; don’t bother.
Appearances By Scooby On Other Shows:
Bravo Dooby-Doo – The second segment of the third episode of the first season of Johnny Bravo. Now I see why he was included in that 2002 award ceremony I mentioned, LOL. It’s not available to stream for free, but based on this clip I saw it seems funny!
Robot Chicken – This long-running series has had multiple Scooby-Doo parodies, and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, a similar show that aired during Robot Chicken’s early days, featured Scooby as well. Funny clips exist!
Teen Titans – The appearance on this show wasn’t particularly funny, though. The gang faced the main characters on Family Feud.
The Scooby-Doo Project – This Blair Witch Project homage made by the Cartoon Network is one of the best parodies, plus it’s scary and also long enough to be a great short film!
MadTV – This parody is hilarious!
Supernatural – Episode 16 of Season 13 is incredible! It’s called “Scoobynatural” and featured the main characters of this show thrust into the aforementioned Scooby episode ” A Night of Fright Is No Delight”. There is a bit of a culture clash, as Sam and Dean fight real monsters, not people in costumes like Scooby and his Mystery Machine gang have in most series. However, that’s funny, as is Dean’s romantic pursuit of Daphne and Velma’s of Sam. It’s so awesome the characters were incorporated into an actual classic episode!
Note: I consider all show episodes in this past section crossovers, because the characters were drawn exactly like in the actual Scooby cartoons for content affiliated with Warner Bros., Scooby’s rights holders.
Parodies/Jokes:
Saturday Morning Fun Pit – The nineteenth episode of the 7th season of Futurama is a ridiculously funny self-contained episode parodying children’s cartoons. At least the first segment, the one I’ve seen, is awesome – it’s called “Bendy-Bendy-Boo!” The theme song even featured a joke about Fred’s ascot, something I never thought about until I binged all this Scooby-Doo content. Turns out it’s been joked about a lot, even in recent actual Scooby cartoons.
“Korn’s Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery” – The tenth episode of the 3rd season of South Park is a pretty funny episode in and of itself but a weak Scooby-Doo parody.
CollegeHumor – More terrific comedy!
CinemaSins – I was not going to watch the 2002 movie Scooby-Doo or its sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed even for this post. These videos are great though! Also, Matthew Lillard did an awesome enough job in the movies as Shaggy that voicing him became a new permanent gig.
TV Sins – Made by the same people, this YouTube series was cool enough to have an episode on ” A Night of Fright Is No Delight”! Hilarious.
Other Media:
Scooby-Doo Educational Filmstrips – There were a series of these made in the late 70s and very early 80s. They were for schools, and they certainly would have been a lot better than listening to any teacher! Still, I couldn’t sit through the video of this outdated technology.
I’m done. Wow, this was BY FAR my most time-consuming project besides reviewing the entire MCU. Now I give my final verdict on Scooby-Doo, the dog, the myth, the legend, the franchise.
Of course I’ll give him a perfect rating! Would I spend all this time on him if I didn’t love him to death? Despite the occasional misstep (The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo Get A Clue, the late 2000s live-action movies), Scooby is one of the best things to ever happen to American pop culture.
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