Month: August 2022

SUMMARY:                   RUNNING TIME: 22:00 Min.

First aired by ABC-TV on September 9, 1979, a pup named Scrappy-Doo debuts in a mystery inspired by his (and Shaggy’s) (and Scooby’s) favorite super-hero.  Stalked by a living incarnation of the masked Blue Scarab, bewildered comic book writer/artist Jerry Sloan needs Mystery Inc. to decipher who is impersonating Sloan’s fictional creation.  

Fred Jones: Frank Welker

Daphne Blake: Heather North (aka Heather North Kenney)

Velma Dinkley: Patricia Stevens

“Shaggy” Rogers: Casey Kasem

Scooby-Doo: Don Messick

Scrappy-Doo: Lennie Weinrib

Jerry Sloan: Jack Angel

Blue Scarab & Howard Gruger: Pat Fraley

REVIEW:

Standard-issue Scrappy-Doo antics aside, this premiere episode succeeds in reviving the spirit of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?  Not only is this entertaining episode re-watchable, it’s a reminder of why the entire Mystery Inc. gang is necessary to help reduce Scrappy’s a-little-goes-a-long-way screen time. Overall, this episode is remarkably good.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    7 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                       RUNNING TIME: 24:00 Min.

First aired by ABC-TV on October 22, 1977, the Mystery Inc. gang are aboard a cruise ship in the South Seas attending Professor Von Klamp’s presentation of his time travel machine.  Seemingly from the far future, a lobster-man hybrid emerges from the machine and abducts Von Klamp.  It’s up to Scooby and his friends to save the missing professor from the monster, whose motive is unknown.  

Fred Jones, Simon Grady, & Ship Captain: Frank Welker

Daphne Blake: Heather North

Velma Dinkley: Patricia Stevens

“Shaggy” Rogers & Investor # 2: Casey Kasem

Scooby-Doo & Investor # 1 : Don Messick

Professor Von Klamp & Lobster-Man Monster: John Stephenson

Note: For whatever reason, as of this writing this episode hasn’t been released to DVD.  Still, it doubles as the same-numbered episode for The Scooby-Doo Show.

REVIEW:

Suffice to say, savvy first graders ought to be insulted by such an ultra-simplistic mystery.  This silly episode, otherwise, is merely a time-killer that wastes decent animation.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 3½ Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                RUNNING TIME: 43:00 Min.

First aired by CBS-TV on September 15, 1973, the episode’s animated crossover stars are Josie & The Pussycats (with the voice cast reprising their roles from their two prior animated programs).  By chance, stranded Mystery Inc. encounter Josie & The Pussycats, as they prepare for their next gig aboard an antiquated riverboat off the Mississippi coast. 

Ominously, the boat’s crew vanishes, as it appears that ghosts are on the prowl.  It’s up to the combined gangs to ferret out why somebody is sabotaging the boat’s re-launch (not to mention, the Pussycats’ upcoming concert).

Fred Jones & Other Voices: Frank Welker

Daphne Blake: Heather North

Velma Dinkley: Nicole Jaffe

“Shaggy” Rogers, Alexander “Alex” Cabot III, & Other Voices: Casey Kasem

Scooby-Doo, Sebastian the Cat, & Other Voices: Don Messick

Melody Valentine: Jackie Joseph

Alexandra Cabot: Sherry Alberoni

Valerie Brown: Barbara Pariot

Josie McCoy: Janet Waldo

Alan “Alan M.” Mayberry: Jerry Dexter

REVIEW:

This rare opportunity to witness Mystery Inc. and Josie & The Pussycats mingling could have offered some ideal kiddie fun.  Josie’s voice cast, in that regard, meshes well with the Scooby-Doo cast.  Case in point: Casey Kasem delightfully plays both sides of Shaggy & Alex’s banter while Daphne & Fred’s relationship (and tidbits of jealousy) mirrors that of Josie & Alan. 

Yet, there isn’t enough plot to stretch a double-length episode. “The Haunted Showboat,” unfortunately, is then left to suffer through multiple dull stretches.  Worse than its half-hearted mystery angle, the inconsistent animation is disappointing. Specifically, numerous animation cels are crudely devised, as if Hanna-Barbera’s animators fell far short on time and money. If anything, this episode’s charm plays off nostalgia rather than its unimpressive content. 

Of the various celebrity guest stars from The New Scooby Movies, this team-up’s comedic potential is one that the recent Scooby-Doo! Team-Up comic book series really ought to have revisited.  Considering that DC Comics & Archie Comics have collaborated before (i.e. Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica), perhaps it could still happen.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    3 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                 RUNNING TIME: 43:00 Min.

First aired by CBS-TV on October 28, 1972, the episode’s guest stars are Sonny Bono & Cher.  Bumping into married couple Cher & Sonny Bono, the Mystery Inc. gang join them at a condemned island resort that looks absolutely nothing like the outdated travel brochure. 

Instead of a festive second honeymoon, a now-stranded Sonny & Cher join Scooby and his friends to find out what suspicious activities are going on at the rickety hotel.  Once the hotel manager and sole maid vanish, the gang splits up to search the premises for more clues as to what sinister shenanigans exist beneath the resort.  

Fred Jones: Frank Welker

Daphne Blake: Heather North

Velma Dinkley: Nicole Jaffe

“Shaggy” Rogers: Casey Kasem

Scooby-Doo, Matilda, & Matt Hildalgo: Don Messick

Cher & Sonny Bono: Themselves

Milo Meekly: John Stephenson

REVIEW:

Despite the plotting’s utterly mediocre mystery, what makes this cartoon somehow watchable is Cher’s marital ‘snark-casm’ banter and trademark putdowns of husband Sonny Bono.  Their guest chemistry with Mystery Inc. isn’t half-bad, as far as helping make nearly forty-five minutes float by.  This episode may not be one of the best-remembered New Scooby-Doo Movies, but it’s by no means one the worst episode, either.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    5 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                     RUNNING TIME: 43:00 Min.

First aired by CBS-TV on September 30, 1972, the episode’s guest star is comedian Jonathan Winters.  Out for a drive in the country, the Mystery Inc. gang come upon a stranded Jonathan Winters at a gas station.  Giving him a ride to Ma Frickert’s farm, Scooby-Doo and his friends discover that two hippie intruders are prowling the property that night. 

Worse yet, an ominous scarecrow is also up to no good.  It stands to reason that somebody is after Ma Frickert’s secret fried chicken recipe.     

Fred Jones: Frank Welker

Daphne Blake: Heather North

Velma Dinkley: Nicole Jaffe

“Shaggy” Rogers & Rock Festival Dude # 1: Casey Kasem

Scooby-Doo & Rock Festival Dude # 2: Don Messick

Jonathan Winters & Ma Frickert: Jonathan Winters

Vernon the Handyman, Simon Shakey, & Scarecrow: John Stephenson

REVIEW:

As sometimes the case with The New Scooby-Doo Movies, there’s just enough plot for a single 22-minute cartoon.  Long stretches of “The Frickert Fracas” are excessive padding (i.e. Scooby watches Winters & Shaggy trade off wacky voice impersonations while hiding in the barn). 

While Jonathan Winters is a kid-friendly choice, his animated counterpart fails to contribute anything to solving this supposed ‘mystery,’ unlike other celebrity guest stars. One might say this episode’s various plot twists are more eye-rolling silly than funny.  Hence, “The Frickert Fracas” can be a bore to watch.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   4 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE