Introducing…Scrappy…ugh
Scooby-Doo has a new best buddy who believes in him more than anyone else. When Scooby finds himself taking care of his nephew Scrappy-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma learn Scrappy-Doo could be a bit of a handful. With ghosts and mysteries abound, the Mystery Inc. gang must bust the ghosts and solve the crimes…and it could take some extra Puppy-Power to do it!
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo was a half-hour Saturday morning animated series airing from September 22, 1979 to January 5, 1980 on ABC. Following The Scooby-Doo Show which ran from 1976-1978, the series introduced the character of Scrappy-Doo.
Even as a kid, the Scrappy-Doo episodes of Scooby-Doo were groan-worthy, but in the world of Scooby-Doo, this season was a bit more tolerable than most of the other Scrappy-Doo run. With the entire Scooby-Gang involved, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo at least kept up the mystery aspect of the original Scooby-Doo series…even if you had to tolerate Scrappy to do it.
Seriously, Scooby. Put him back on the train…
The mysteries are pretty much as you’d expect Scooby-Doo mysteries, but I don’t find the villains in this seasons as inspiring as some of the earlier villain designs. Old Scooby-Doo episodes really boosted the “characters” by having them in the opening sequence so you always wanted to see an episode featured in the title sequence. Here, you just have Scooby-Doo meeting Scrappy at a train station (which is a little odd too).
Scrappy is the biggest problem with the Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo show. The show wasn’t ever meant to be streamed and watched episodes back-to-back, but if you do, Scrappy’s irritating nature really blossoms. Even as a kid, I found him kind of irritating, but watching episode after episode, his “Uncle Scooby and Shaggy you’re going the wrong way” routine get old by about the second episode…along with his “Puppy Power” cry. In amplifying Scrappy’s role, Freddy, Velma, and Daphne begin to fall off during the series (I wonder if Velma was bitter that she never got assigned to Shaggy and Scooby anymore when they split up).
The gang’s all here (until they get jettisoned by annoying Puppy Power)
The last episode of the series “The Ransom of Scooby Chief” shows a real shift in the series by not even doing a mystery…and it feels a bit like a backdoor pilot. You have Scrappy and his friends Duke and Annie trying to rescue Scooby-Doo and Shaggy from kidnappers…and of course hilarity ensues (sarcasm). It feels like a really generic standard cartoon.
Overall, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo is tolerable, but with Scooby-Doo you kind of hope for more. There is also an odd change during the course of the show when Marla Frumpkin replaces the second Velma actress Pat Stevens midway through the season and Frumpkin just doesn’t have the voice down…it is kind a sign of the Scooby-Doo problem in this season in general. The series is everything you’d expect from Scooby-Doo, but it just doesn’t feel as fun and fresh. Following this season, the series was combined for The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show which ran from 1980-1981 then replaced Richie Rich becoming The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour.
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo—The Complete Series Episode Guide:
“The Scarab Lives!”
Episode 1 The Scarab Lives! Airdate: 09/22/79
Jerry Sloan, the artist who created the Blue Scarab comic, finds himself haunted by a living version of his creation. When the Blue Scarab starts enacting crimes around the city, it is up to the Scooby Gang to solve the crime before the Blue Scarab comic is cancelled.
“The Night Ghoul of Wonderworld”
Episode 2 The Night Ghoul of Wonderworld Airdate: 09/29/79
Wonderworld allows people to live their dreams, and Velma’s dream is to work with the legendary Sherlock Holmes. The planned mystery is the Night Ghoul’s theft of the Crown Jewels, but when the Scooby Gang finds the Night Ghoul might not be an animatronic, a real mystery arises.
“Strange Encounters of a Scooby Kind”
Episode 3 Strange Encounters of a Scooby Kind Airdate: 10/06/79
When Scooby, Scrappy, and Shaggy encounter an alien, Mystery Inc. finds themselves on the case of unearthly events and stolen radioactive material.
“The Neon Phantom of the Roller Disco”
Episode 4 The Neon Phantom of the Roller Disco! Airdate: 10/13/79
A trip to Hollywood has the Scooby Gang investigating a haunting. The Sparkles Roller Rink is being haunted by the Neon Phantom, and if the Neon Phantom isn’t stopped, the roller rink is doomed!
“Shiver and Shake, the Demon’s a Snake”
Episode 5 Shiver and Shake, The Demon’s a Snake Airdate: 10/20/79
When Daphne picks up a snake statue on a trip to Haiti, the gang finds themselves plagued by a voodoo snake demon…and the only hope could be Shaggy’s lucky key.
“The Scary Sky Skeleton”
Episode 6 The Scary Sky Skeleton Airdate: 10/27/79
Mystery Inc. goes to visit their friend Wendy Airs at the airshow where she is performing…and discovers a ghostly pilot haunting the hangers.
“The Demon of the Dugout”
Episode 7 The Demon of the Dugout Airdate: 11/03/79
The Scooby Gang heads for Japan for an international baseball game but learn that the stadium is being haunted by the Dragon Beast.
“The Hairy Scare of the Devil Bear”
Episode 8 The Hairy Scare of the Devil Bear Airdate: 11/10/79
An archaeological dig at the Grand Canyon has unleashed the Devil Bear upon the archaeologists, and it is up to Scooby, Freddy, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scrappy to solve the mystery.
“Twenty Thousand Screams Under the Sea”
Episode 9 Twenty Thousand Screams Under the Sea Airdate: 11/17/79
A vacation in Acapulco leads to mystery when a sea creature haunts the coast.
“I Left My Neck in San Francisco”
Episode 10 I Left My Neck in San Francisco Airdate: 11/24/79
A trip to San Francisco has the Mystery Inc. gang haunted by the Lady Vampire of the Bay, but when Daphne isn’t seen in the presence of the vampire, Shaggy and Scooby suspect it could be her.
“When You Wish Upon a Star Creature”
Episode 11 When You Wish Upon a Star Creature Airdate: 12/01/79
The Star Creature comes through the telescope of Green Hills Observatory when Professor Spaulding discovers a new star, but the Scooby Gang must determine how and why the Star Creature is attacking.
“The Ghoul, the Bat, and the Ugly”
Episode 12 The Ghoul, the Bat, and the Ugly Airdate: 12/08/79
The Batty Awards is interrupted by the appearance of the Shadow Creature who threatens to destroy the horror awards forever.
“Rocky Mountain Yiiiii!”
Episode 13 Rocky Mountain Yiiiii! Airdate: 12/15/79
The Mystery Inc. gang goes skiing at the Pratt’s Ski Lodge but learn that the ghost of Jeremiah Pratt is haunting the mountain.
“The Sorcerer’s a Menace”
Episode 14 The Sorcerer’s a Menace Airdate: 12/22/79
A magic show leads to the disappearance of the black pearl, and it is up to Mystery Inc. to find out how the ghost did it.
“Lock the Door, It’s a Minotaur!”
Episode 15 Lock the Door, It’s a Minotaur! Airdate: 12/29/79
A minotaur has been scaring everyone away from a town in Greece, and the Scooby Gang realize they have a mystery to solve.
“The Ransom of Scooby Chief”
Episode 16 The Ransom of Scooby Chief Airdate: 01/05/80
Scooby, Scrappy, and Shaggy go to New York City to visit Scrappy’s old neighborhood, but the visit turns into a rescue mission when Scooby and Shaggy are kidnapped for ransom.
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
