It’s like Scooby-Doo…except smaller
Shaggy Rogers and his puppy Scooby-Doo are up to their ears in ghosts and creatures that go bump in the night. Living in Coolsville isn’t always cool and with Freddie Jones, Daphne Blake, and Velma Dinkley, the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency is never short of horrors…or suspects. Be it blobs, killer totem poles, or headless skateboarders, the Scooby gang will solve the crime…or at least find out if Red Herring is involved.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo was an animated comedy mystery which ran on Saturday mornings for four seasons. Following The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, the series aired on ABC and consisted of a first season of thirteen episodes (September 9, 1988-December 10, 1988), a second season of eight episodes (September 9, 1989-November 4, 1989, and seasons three (September 8, 1990-November 3, 1990) and four (August 3, 1991-August 17, 1991) consisting of three episodes each. It received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Animated Program in 1989 and 1990.
Yogi…you’ve changed
I loved Scooby-Doo, and I was happy to see Scooby-Doo back on Saturday morning schedule in 1988. The story took a radically different approach to the series and even though it was still a comedy, it took a different tone. A Pup Named Scooby-Doo was a fun entry to the Scooby-Doo legacy…and it got rid of Scrappy which is a plus.
The series predominantly surrounds a very obvious mystery (like the original) for a thirty minute episodes (though near the end, a few episodes had multiple stories within them). Like the original series, figuring out the “crime” isn’t hard or really part of the story, but it instead almost becomes a bigger joke within the story. The series plays upon all the tropes of Scooby-Doo and takes it to the extreme.
All of the characters are almost parodies of the original characters, but still feel true to themselves. Velma is the rich and vain one, and Freddy is the rather dense but gung-ho. Daphne is the extreme brain (to the extent of having a pop-up computer at her side to analyze clues). The characters that seem most like their adult counterparts are Shaggy and Scooby who feel rather ageless…they still are chickens and they still are always hungry.
Will Freddy ever prove the true menace of Red Herring?
For the time, the stories and art really popped. The “extreme” cartoons that series like Ren & Stimpy, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, and later cartoons like SpongeBob SquarePants didn’t exist (Tom Ruegger who worked on the first season of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo left the show with others and joined Tiny Toons Adventures before expanding to other shows), and the Tex Avery to-the-max style of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo felt different and edgy. It hasn’t held up as well since other cartoons have done it better. It also works better in small doses than binging it…things like the Red Herring blame game are funny a few times, but episode after episode it can feel a bit tired like a lot of the jokes. The makers didn’t really intend it to be watched this way.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo—The Complete Series is a decent run. It is quick and light and gets laughs from the repetitive nature of the series. Scooby-Doo returns to pup status occasionally in flashback and other mediums, but it might be nice to see a revisiting of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo with a modern take. A Pup Named Scooby-Doo was the last regular Scooby-Doo series until What’s New, Scooby-Doo? in 2002 following a series of movies.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo—Season 1 Complete Episode Guide:
“A Bicycle Built for Boo!”
1.1 A Bicycle Built for Boo! Airdate: 09/10/88
Shaggy’s paper route is in jeopardy when his bicycle is stolen by the Green Ghost. With few clues to go on, Shaggy, Scooby, Freddie, Daphne, and Velma’s best chance is if Scooby can track the bike…but it could lead to a monster!
“The Sludge Monster from the Earth’s Core”
1.2 The Sludge Monster from the Earth’s Core Airdate: 09/17/88
The Sludge Monster from Earth’s Core has invaded Scooby’s palatial dog house…but could it be tied to the robbery of a nearby bank?
“Wanted Cheddar Alive”
1.3 Wanted Cheddar Alive Airdate: 09/24/88
Scooby learns that the Scooby-Snacks factory is shutting down due to a haunting by the Cheese Monster, and his only hope could be if the crime can be solved.
“The Schnook Who Took My Comic Book”
1.4 The Schnook Who Took My Comic Book Airdate: 10/01/88
A big comic book convention has Shaggy getting one of the few remaining Commander Cool Comics #1 comic books. The comic book villain Dr. Croaker shows up to steal the comic, the Scooby gang must solve the crime.
“For Letter or Worse”
1.5 For Letter or Worse Airdate: 10/08/88
Shaggy and Scooby are contestants on For Letter or Worse, but when the Ghost of Al Cabone takes over the studio, a mystery is afoot!
“The Babysitter from Beyond”
1.6 The Babysitter from Beyond Airdate: 10/15/88
Shaggy takes his little sister Sugie to the babysitter before plans to see Boogedy Bones Rises from the Grave with the gang, but when the real Boogedy Bones shows up, Shaggy must protect Sugie.
“Now Museum, Now You Don’t”
1.7 Now Museum, Now You Don’t Airdate: 10/22/88
When two ancient samurai swords disappear from the museum, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy are blamed. It is up to the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency to find the real thief, but the Samurai Ghost bring a curse to those who touch the swords.
“Snow Place Like Home”
1.8 Snow Place Like Home Airdate: 10/29/88
Freddy books a holiday at the Snow Mountain Lodge run by the Morgansons. The lodge is facing challenges with unusually warm winters and an Ice Demon that has a strange interest in an abandoned diamond mine.
“Scooby-Dude”
1.9 Scooby Dude Airdate: 11/05/88
Velma’s aunt Thelma who works at the Marine Institute finds her dolphins are disappearing, and it is up to the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency to not only find the identity of the Headless Skateboarder but to prove Red Herring isn’t guilty!
“Ghost Who’s Coming to Dinner”
1.10 Ghost Who’s Coming to Dinner Airdate: 11/12/88
It’s Halloween, and the ghost of a real haunted house finds himself battling Boobeard the Pirate. With the owners of the house threatening to sell, Bartholomew Byfard Boo could be out of a home if Boobeard isn’t stopped.
“The Story Stick”
1.11 The Story Stick Airdate: 11/19/88
A trip to an Indian reservation as the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency facing off against the Totem Spirit.
“Robopup”
1.12 Robopup Airdate: 12/03/88
Daphne’s new bedroom set-up is stolen, and Scooby-Doo finds a rival in the hunt for Chef Pierre Goulash from Robopup.
“Lights… Camera… Monster”
1.13 Lights… Camera… Monster Airdate: 12/10/88
Freddy’s attempt to make a movie at the Coolsville Mall hits a snag when the movie villain Stinkweed starts a crime spree.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo—Season 2 Complete Episode Guide:
“Curse of the Collar”
2.1 Curse of the Collar Airdate: 09/09/89
Scooby-Doo has been gifted his family collar whether he likes it or not. With collar in hand, Scooby becomes the target of the dog-catcher ghost known as Buster McMuttmauler.
“The Return of Commander Cool”
2.2 The Return of Commander Cool Airdate: 09/16/89
A trip of a Commander Cool memorabilia convention lands Shaggy with amnesia and believing he is Commander Cool. With an alien obsessed with stealing the blueprints of the Commander Cool toy catalogue, the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency must solve the crime before it is too late.
“The Spirit of Rock ‘n Roll”
2.3 The Spirit of Rock ’n Roll Airdate: 09/23/89
The Ghost of Purvis Parker is threatening to destroy the career of rock star Buddy Chillner. Daphne and Scooby decide they can’t let Buddy be brought down by a ghost and the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency jumps into action.
“Chickenstein Lives”
2.4 Chickenstein Lives Airdate: 09/30/89
Freddy’s uncle owns Freddy’s favorite paper The National Exaggerator, but the arrival of Chickenstein threatens to ruin the paper’s circulation and shut the Exaggerator down forever.
“Night of the Living Burger”
2.5 Night of the Living Burger Airdate: 10/14/89
The gang’s favorite movie show Count Shockula is on the verge of cancellation when the sponsor Mr. O’Greasy is threatened by the Burger Monster. The Scooby Doo Detective Agency must bring the Burger Monster to justice to keep the show on the air…but the fact that Scooby and Shaggy aren’t talking could create a problem.
“The Computer Walks Among Us”
2.6 The Computer Walks Among Us Airdate: 10/21/89
Velma has won the school’s science competition again with the creation of the Dinkley 2000. When Velma is suspended for stealing, the gang discovers the Dinkley 2000 might not be as innocent as believed.
“Dog Gone Scooby”
2.7 Dog Gone Scooby Airdate: 10/28/89
Scooby thinks no one has time for him and decides to run away. As Shaggy, Freddy, Velma, and Daphne search for Scooby, a woman seeking Scooby’s head could find him first.
“Terror, Thy Name Is Zombo”
2.8 Terror, Thy Name Is Zombo Airdate: 11/04/89
Scooby and Shaggy have won tickets to try out the new Monster Mountain ride at Jipner’s Joyland, but find the park is closed. The Scooby-Doo Detective Agency finds themselves involved in a family feud and haunted by Zombo the Clown.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo—Season 3 Complete Episode Guide:
“Night of the Boogey Biker”
“Dawn of the Spooky Shuttle Scare”
3.1 Night of the Boogey Biker/Dawn of the Spooky Shuttle Scare Airdate: 09/08/90
Night of the Boogey Biker—Freddy’s Red Herring obsession has pushed the Scooby-Doo Detective agency to the edge. With a bet that Freddy can’t go 24 hours without accusing Red Herring, the challenge is amplified when they are hired by Red’s aunt to locate her stolen motorcycle. Dawn of the Spooky Shuttle Scare—Velma has won the opportunity to put her Scooby-Snacks experiment on the latest shuttle launch, but when the Astronaut Ghost appears, Velma’s dreams could be dashed unless the mystery is solved.
“Horror of the Haunted Hairpiece”
3.2 Horror of the Haunted Hairpiece Airdate: 10/06/90
Daphne has been left in charge of her father’s arcade. When Bigwig begins to haunt the arcade, the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency must jump into action!
“Wrestle Maniacs”
3.3 Wrestle Maniacs Airdate: 11/03/90
The Coolsville Wrestling Federation is opening again, and though Daphne is less than excited, Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, and Freddy can’t wait! When the Hooded Heifer threatens to destroy the federation, the gang must go into crime solving mode.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo—Season 4 Complete Episode Guide:
“The Were-Doo of Doo Manor”
4.1 The Were-Doo of Doo Manor Airdate: 08/03/91
Shaggy and Scooby’s sleepover at Doo Manor is interrupted by the threats of the Were-Doo. When Scooby learns that he could be next in the line for the curse, the Scooby-Doo detective agency plots to help Scooby break the curse.
“Catcher on the Sly”
“The Ghost of Mrs. Shusham”
“The Wrath of Waitro”
4.2 Catcher on the Sly/The Ghost of Mrs. Shusham/The Wrath of Waitro Airdate: 08/10/91
Catcher in the Sky—Buster McMuttMauler wants Scooby behind bars and doesn’t intend to quit until it happens. The Ghost of Mrs. Shusham—The deceased library Mrs. Shusham has come for Shaggy’s overdue book the Pizza Parrot and the Butterbean Bunnies! The Wrath of Waitro—Commander Cool and Mellow Mutt must stop the threat of Waitro!
“Mayhem of the Moving Mollusk”
4.3 Mayhem of the Moving Mollusk Airdate: 08/17/91
A trip to New York to go to Critter Gitters leads the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency into a mystery…and Velma’s new invention has given Scooby a means to track mysteries.
Related Links:
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!—Season 2 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The New Scooby-Doo Movies—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The New Scooby-Doo Movies—Season 2 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo—The Complete Series Review and Complete Episode Guide
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo—The Complete Series Review and Complete Episode Guide
