Animaniacs - ...And Justice for Slappy - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - ...And Justice for Slappy

From Season 2, Episode 10

Premiered November 19, 1993

Shorts from this Episode

- Mary Tyler Dot

- Windsor Hassle

- ...And Justice for Slappy

- Wheel of Morality

Quickly

Slappy is put on trial for assaulting Walter Wolf.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

Slappy is put on trial by a bunch of wolves for blowing up Walter Wolf. Walter tells his version of the story. Skippy tells his version of the story. They're both extremely false with each character being reimagined as a demon. Slappy tells the truth of the story. She blew up Walter. This isn't actually a mystery. Walter tries to trap her. Slappy blew him up. Slappy is found not guilty because she held the jury hostage.

It's interesting to think of cartoon characters being held legally responsible for their actions in cartoons. This kangaroo court isn't an example of that but it is interesting to think about.

The demon Slappy and the demon Walter Wolf are fantastically evil character designs.

Animaniacs - Woodstock Slappy - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - Woodstock Slappy

From Season 2, Episode 24

Premiered April 8, 1994

Shorts in this Episode

- Ragamuffins

- Woodstock Slappy

Quickly

Skippy and Slappy go to Woodstock.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

Skippy and Slappy are vacationing in the country during the summer of 1969. Slappy's peace and quiet is disrupted by Woodstock. Slappy drives the concert away with polka.

Woodstock was a music festival held from August 15th to 18th, 1969. It was considered a historic moment. Woodstock was intensely romanticized around the time this episode came out. In 1994 on the 25th anniversary, "Woodstock '94" was held. Five years later, another Woodstock was held, a Woodstock that is remembered for porta potty issues and overpriced water...at least that's what I remember people saying about it. I didn't go to Woodstock but I did go to Lilith Fair. The bathroom situation was good there.

Skippy and Slappy go through a long Abbott and Costello routine about the name of the band. The conversation is complicated by the names of three bands "The Band", "Who" (actually "The Who" but the gag wouldn't have worked as well), and "Yes". This is inspired by "Who's on first?". An oft homaged comedy routine by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

Three years later, the Angry Beavers featured a Woodstock inspired episode as well. It had the same conceit of the festival disrupting the lives and home of the protagonist woodland creatures. It's unconnected aside from the inspiration.

Animaniacs - Frontier Slappy - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - Frontier Slappy

From Season 2, Episode 16

Premiered February 4, 1994

Shorts in Episode

- Branimaniacs

- The Warners and the Beanstalk

- Frontier Slappy

Quickly

Slappy and Skippy face off with the tree chop happy Daniel Boone in frontier times.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

Skippy and Slappy are living their best frontier life when Daniel Boone starts cutting down their tree. Slappy is patient enough. She dumps a pot of wax on him. The man doesn't take a hint. He keeps coming and she keeps making him regret it.

Tom, Dick and Larry from "The Dover Boys" make an appearance as a singing trio. They sing the events of the cartoon. Their style is changed from the highly stylized looks in their cartoon to the style of Animaniacs. The Dover Boys is about three college students, Tom, Dick and Larry spending the day with their fiancé.

This cartoon takes Slappy and Skippy out of their usual setting like "Guardin' the Garden" and "Baghdad Café". It puts them in 1767 Kentucky (I could point out that Kentucky was a part of Virginia until 1792 but technically the county of Kentucky might have existed then).  Some Slappy cartoons feature her as the aggressor disproportionately attacking someone over a slight like "I Got Yer Can", others she has a specific goal that she will stop at nothing to achieve like "Bumbie's Mom" and she also is confronted by someone with an obsessive aggression towards her like this cartoon and "Hurray for Slappy". Slappy is confident in all of these and in control of the situation because she's genre aware. There are shorts where she loses the upper hand but she comes out on top in the end.

Animaniacs - Critical Condition - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - Critical Condition

From Season 2, Episode 1

Premiered November 5, 1993

Shorts in this Episode

- Critical Condition

- the Three Muska-Warners

Quickly

Slappy and Skippy disagree with a critic's review of Slappy's work.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

Slappy and Skippy are watching Lean Hisskill and Codger Eggbert review a laser disc release of the Best of Looney Tunes. They feature clips from "What's Opera, Doc?", "Duck Amuck", and "Porky in Wackyland". The animation of the show doesn't suffer too bad from the comparison. When they discuss Slappy Squirrel, they are explicit about their hatred of her work. Skippy is furious. He declares war on the pair of reviewers. Slappy and Skippy bomb the home the reviewers. Hisskill and Eggbert are spared because they were away at the time. Slappy and Skippy track the reviewers to a film premiere and proceed to torture them.

Hisskill and Eggbert are parody of Siskel and Ebert, a pair of well known and popular film reviewers of the time. They reviewed films together as a team for 24 years. Shirley the Loon from Tiny Toons Adventures also has a cameo.

The film Hisskill and Eggbert review is Stephen Spielberg's new dinosaur film, a reference to Jurassic Park. The film came out in June while the episode premiered in November of that year. Though Spielberg was the executive producer on the series and the writing staff probably saw his new film as a perfect opportunity to reference him.

Skippy is a joyful partner to Slappy. He's not as naïve as he was portrayed in "Bumbee's Mom". He's also not the exposition spouter he was in "Hurray for Slappy". He goes for a weapon first. He takes his bribery money to Vegas. I like him either way.

Animaniacs - Baghdad Cafe - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - Baghdad Café

Season 1, Episode 35

Premiered November 5, 1993

Shorts in this Episode

- Very Special Opening

- In the Garden of Mindy

- No Place Like Homeless

- Katie Ka-Boo

- Baghdad Café

Quickly

Slappy swaps places with Dot and goes to Baghdad with the Warner Brothers.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

The conceit of this episode is that the character pairings are mixed up. Runt and Pesto, Rita and Pinky, Mindy and Brain, Katie Ka-Boom and Boo. So it's the Warner brothers and their sister Slappy.

The plot of the short is secondary to the episode. It's a basic setup. They're in Baghdad trying to go to a café but it's not a café.

Here's the thing. When I first saw this episode, I was a little kid. I had no idea who Saddam Hussein was. I didn't know where Baghdad was. Baghdad was just a city name. I knew it was very far away and I didn't really have a concept for it outside of these cartoons. In the short, the Warners and Slappy deal with "So Darned Insane". The entire setting went a mile over my head at the time.

Dot also takes over Slappy's role in a brief cover of Slappy's song.

Animaniacs - I Got Yer Can - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - I Got Yer Can

From Season 1, Episode 27

Premiered October 25, 1993

Shorts in this Episode

You Risk Your Life

I Got Yer Can

Jockey For Position

Quickly

Slappy drives her neighbor insane.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

On her way to the store to buy buttermilk, Slappy drops an empty soda can in her neighbor's recycling bin. Slappy is annoyed when neighbor forces her to take the can out of the can and bring it home. She proceeds to drive Candy Squirrel insane.

Slappy says, "Alan Funt is a dead man." when Candy Squirrel calls out to her. He created Candid Camera. In other words, "Am I on Candid Camera?"

The point of the cartoon is Slappy can't let anything go. Skippy is just going along with it for fun. Slappy's reaction is disproportionate and indefensible and that's the joke. They try to balance it by making Candy Squirrel awful in her own way with her inflated ego.

Animaniacs - Hurray for Slappy - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - Hurray for Slappy

From Season 1, Episode 16

Premiered October 4, 1993

Shorts in this Episode

Chalkboard Jungle

Hurray for Slappy

The Great Wakkorotti: The Master and His Music

Quickly

Slappy gets recognized with a lifetime achievement award.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

Slappy is getting a lifetime achievement award at the Friars Club. Her nemeses see this and plot for revenge on her. Beanie the Bison goes first. He tries to blow her up on the red carpet. Sid the Squid tries to blow her up with a cake decorated with lit sticks of dynamite. Walter Wolf plants dynamite on her award and attempts to award it. Slappy surprises him by giving a speech thanking her former costars and awarding them the award. Skippy gets the honor of blowing them up.

Shorts set in Hollywood settings often took the opportunity to include different celebrity caricatures. Among the attendees are 3 out 4 Golden Girls, Betty White, Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty, Don Rickles, George Burns, Milton Berle and Bob Hope. I had no idea who most of them were aside from the Golden Girls when I first saw the short. I know all of them now (I have eclectic tastes).

Animaniacs - Guardin' the Garden - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - Guardin' the Garden

From Season 1, Episode 22

Premiered October 13, 1993

Shorts in this Episode

Guardin' the Garden

Plane Pals

Quickly

Slappy protects the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil from a snake.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

In a retelling of the story of Adam and Eve, Slappy protects an apple tree from a snake. The snake isn't chatting with Eve, he's going straight for the apple for himself.

This show features a cameo from baby Plucky from Tiny Toons Adventures. I still quote baby Plucky anytime I'm in an elevator. "You don't push the button. I push the button."

In the opening, the cars change from the 1930s cars to modern cars as part of a way to demonstrate the passage of time. The cars in the opening sequence are what my brain tells me a proper car looks like. The boxy, maligned 80s cars aren't what the common cars look like anymore. Like all things old school, I like their look.

While watching this, I frequently find myself just enjoying it. The animation is smooth. The characters are expressive. The slapstick is funny. The voiceover work is perfect. It's creative and fun and well done. So satisfying.

Animaniacs - Bumbie's Mom - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - Bumbie's Mom

From Season 1, Episode 8

Premiered September 22, 1993

Shorts in this Episode

The Big Candy Store

Bumbie's Mom

Quickly

Skippy is devastated by a film.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

Slappy takes Skippy to see Bumbie (a Bambi parody). Skippy is traumatized when Bumbie's Mom (spoiler for Bambi...a 79 year old film) is shot by a hunter. Slappy explains to Skippy that it was just a cartoon. Considering they are cartoons and they are aware they're cartoons (at least, Slappy's well aware), it's easy to see why this isn't reassuring to him. To comfort Skippy, Slappy takes him to visit her old friend and prove that Bumbie's Mom isn't dead.

"Have I ever lied to you before?"

"You said keno is legal in Burbank, you said Magilla Gorilla was a woman..."

I never ask my nephews if I've ever lied to them that but I regularly ask them, "Have I ever let you down?" when I want them to give me just a little bit of faith. Not a lot of faith. Just to stop complaining long enough for me to do the thing like turn on the show they've never watched before.

I've never seen either of them react to a movie the way Skippy. Although, for Christmas I bought Dr. Texas a Gremlins calendar. It was the best advent calendar I've ever seen. But his little brother, hated them. He told me about a nightmare he had about the gremlins. I'm pretty sure he's never seen the movie. At most he's seen one of the funny parts of Gremlins 2. Considering his anarchic little soul, I'm still not sure why the four year old disliked them.

Animaniacs - Slappy Goes Walnuts - Toonstalgia

Animaniacs - Slappy Goes Walnuts

From Season 1, Episode 3

Premiered September 15, 1993

Quickly

Slappy and Skippy get walnuts.

Shorts in this Episode

- H.M.S. Wakko

- Slappy Goes Walnuts

- Yakko's Universe

Thoughts, Details and Recap

This was not Slappy's first appearance but it was her first cartoon. Prior to this episode she was visible in the opening credits and in other shorts.

Slappy is my favorite Animaniacs character. I loved the show when I was a kid. Between Looney Tunes, Tiny Toons and Animaniacs, I watched a lot of Warner Bros cartoons. I still do.

Slappy is a retired golden age cartoon star. She is paired with her nephew Skippy, the avatar of the new generation. She's grumpy, crotchety, meta. She's perfect and it's sad to me that she only made one appearance in the new series. 

Slappy is rewatching one of her old cartoons when Skippy comes in hopped up on Totally, Awesome Acme Snax. She decides to make Skippy walnut fig dough surprise. To get Walnuts, they visit Doug the Dog. Doug the Dog wants to eat Slappy. What follows is top notch slapstick. There are bombs and classic gags. Slappy and Skippy get the walnuts. Doug gets bashed.

Those Endearing Young Charms is a classic gag featured in many golden age Looney Tunes cartoons like Ballot Box Bunny.

Ghostbusters - The Mini-pufts

Ghostbusters: Mini-Pufts Reaction

As I write this, the fourth Ghostbusters film hasn't been released yet and I'm watching the original Ghostbusters again for the hundredth time (conservative estimate). About two months ago, the studio released a clip from Ghostbusters: Afterlife featuring the "mini-pufts". The chaotic little confections don't show up till 28 seconds into this 54 second clip. 

It excited me in a way that few trailers have in a long time. The idea is simple, the marshmallows come to life and chaos ensues. But it's more than that. It's not repeating the first Ghostbusters. It's taking an iconic image from that film and making it something new.

I got excited and my nephews got excited. They were shouting about the marshmallows cooking each other. Then there was a debate about whether they were evil because that's just what happens.

It even makes sense that the ghost could take that form. Stay-puft is an advertising figure in that universe and he's literally staring at a bag of . Maybe it's related to Zuul and Gozer. Maybe not. It works.

I'm really excited to see this film.

a-ha - Take on Me - Toonstalgia

a-ha - Take on Me

Released 1984

MTV

The earliest memory I have of watching television is seeing this music video. It's my favorite song. There was nothing about it that didn't obsess me. The animation, the comic book setting, the supernatural plot, a classic pop song and a happy ending.

Rotoscoping

The Fleischer studio, famous for Betty Boop, Bimbo and Koko, innovated animation with the creation of rotoscoping. They used it to create cartoons with films of dancers as models. Two stand out examples are Snow White with the song St James Infirmary Blues and Minnie the Moocher with the titular song. They used rotoscoping to capture Cab Calloway's dancing. If you haven't seen these cartoons, I highly recommend them. 

The music video uses rotoscoping to create the world of a comic book the protagonist is reading and pulled into by the lead singer. There is a follow up to the storyline in the video for The Sun Always Shines On T.V.

Way Too Much Detail Recap

A woman is sitting alone in a café reading a comic book about racers. The character in the comic book winks at her and invites her into his world. She's pulled into the comic book. In the real world, the waitress finds the woman gone and assumes she skipped out on her bill. She crumbles the comic book and throws it in the trash. In the comic, the joy of the pair is disrupted by the attack of pair of comic book characters. He helps her escape. She reads further in the comic to see they attacked him. Just as she has given up hope, he appears in he hallway and becomes human. Happy ending. At least in this video.

13 Great Time Travel Films

13 Great Time Travel Films

I haven't ordered this list. My feelings on films are not at all objective. I just think these are fun movies to watch.

Frequently Asked Questions about Time Travel

This is a fun British comedy from 2009 about a trio of friends who find themselves time traveling through the toilet on one strange night at the pub. The time travel begins as a novel experience and reveals itself to be a trap they need to survive. The action restricts itself to the pub at different points in time. I caught this film for the first time on cable. This began me on a frustrating journey to find it. I was surprised when it just turned up on HBO on demand one day and rendered all efforts moot.

Star Trek - First Contact

The second film in the Enterprise series of Star Trek movies came out in 1996. The Enterprise travels back in time to stop the Borg from disrupting humanity's first contact with an extraterrestrial species. We see the consequences the crew is fighting against in the beginning when they see an Earth taken by the Borg. They meet a figure from their history and learn the truth behind the icon. This is my personal favorite Star Trek film. I watched Star Trek: The Next Generation and this built on some heavy moments from the series without requiring a deep knowledge of the series. It had one of the strongest villains.

Back to the Future

Marty McFly travels from 1985 to 1955 in a Delorean. After he accidentally stops his parents from meeting, he has to make sure his parents fall in love or face oblivion. I loved seeing it in the theater. I rented a theater to take my nephews making it the first film they saw in the theater. This is one of my favorite film novelizations. It's a great read.

Groundhog Day

This 1993 film created a shorthand for a feeling. You can have a deja vu or a day can feel like Groundhog Day and no one means it feels like a rodent told them when winter would end. A self-centered weatherman is stranded in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania reliving the same day until he can grow as a person. This is a type of time anomaly that has been repeated in many films since then including a few on this list. They didn't need a redo to get the idea right. They just did it differently on the subsequent efforts. They nailed it on the first try.

Happy Death Day

2017's slasher time travel comedy stars Jessica Rothe and Israel Broussard. A college student relives the day of her death until she can identify her murderer and prevent her own death to live to see the next day. I saw this movie in the theater with my mom. I was expecting to get really freaked out but it's not a scary movie and I was happy that it didn't scare me. I like comedies and adventures better than scary movies. I love seeing the protagonist fight back.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

A pair of affable high school students must pass history to ensure their future and the future of the world. George Carlin, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter in a 1989 classic. I learn air guitar from this movie. I didn't know anything about Doctor Who until years after I saw this movie for the first time. Even then, it took me awhile to draw that line between phonebooth and police callbox.

Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey

Bill and Ted return in 1991 as a pair of aspiring rock stars who still need help from the future. I have seen this film more times than the original because it was on cable all the time. That demon bunny really freaked me out.

About Time

Rachel McAdams was in two films where she has time traveling husbands. This is the one that came out in 2013 and has the husband with a better grasp on his time travel tricks. Domhnall Gleeson uses his ability to travel through time to have his perfect life. It's about love...romantic and familial.

Terminator 2

A reprogrammed obsolete Terminator is sent back in time to save John Connor from a newer model.

Terminator

Sarah Connor meets a man and a machine from the future. She is drawn into a future war. Future War is also a time travel film but it's not very good and it has dinosaurs.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things

In this 2021 comedic, romantic film, two high school students map the perfect moments of a single day. This is your typical Groundhog Day scenario but it has charismatic leads and a heartfelt story. I liked the solution to ending the repeating day.

Edge of Tomorrow

Tom Cruise must navigate a warzone and a time loop after he's exposed to extraterrestrial blood. The aliens are using their ability to loop time so they can gradually defeat the humans.

Arrival

This 2016 drama stars Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner as members of a team making first contact with an alien species. Amy Adams plays a linguistics professor who learns the alien language and it changes her perception of time.

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E16 - The Ransom of Scooby Chief - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979): The Ransom of Scooby Chief

Premiered January 5, 1980

Quickly

Scooby and Shaggy get abducted by a couple of guys.

Scrappy Review

1 out of 5

Scrappy lost points in this episode because I like Duke better than Scrappy. Duke's smart and calm. But his influence makes Scrappy better. He forces Scrappy to slow down and think in a way that no one else bother's too. Still Scrappy keeps making a mess regardless of Duke's influence.

Scrappy also lost point because he caused major property damage to the Mystery Machine and interfered with Shaggy and Scooby's escape.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

There's no masked bad guy in this episode. That's rare in Scooby-Doo. Not unheard of but rare. It's nice to see the writers try something different.

The gang is in New York City visiting Scrappy's neighborhood. Note: The Statue of Liberty has a burning flame. Fred, Velma and Daphne drop off Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy and drive away. I guess they're out of the episode.

Scrappy introduces Scooby to his puppy friends, Duke and Annie (Shaggy's there too). Two criminals see Scooby and identify him as a famous and valuable dog. They plot to abduct him. Scheming ensues.

Scooby and Shaggy wander off to seek food. Scooby wanders onto the kidnapper's truck. Scooby calls for help and Shaggy runs after the truck. When Shaggy gets onto the truck, he knocks off a crate. Duke talks sense into Scrappy and takes up the role of the Velma of the episode. Duke finds a piece of the broken pottery that says "Made in Japan" and Annie notices a piece of the crate says "Paris Warehouse". Duke leads them to the warehouse.

Scooby and Shaggy are officially abducted. One of the kidnappers calls Hollywood for the guy that pays ransom. Scooby and Shaggy try to escape. Hijinks ensue.

The Puppies find the warehouse and face off with the abductors. Shaggy and Scooby get abducted again and transported to a ship. The puppies aren't far behind thanks to Duke, the only competent in the episode.

More hijinks ensue when the puppies thwart Shaggy and Scooby's escape. Scrappy throws them a rope and the entire rope and I really, really miss Fred, Velma and Daphne. At least we have Duke. Duke's good people. Every time Scooby and Shaggy nearly escape, Scrappy ruins it.

Scooby and Shaggy escape with an inflatable raft. They only escape because Scrappy is literally in a net and cannot ruin it for them.

The criminals surrender.

Velma, Daphne and Fred return in time for Scrappy to wreck the Mystery Machine.

Rogue's Gallery

Carl and Tony

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E15 - Lock the Door, It's a Minotaur - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - Lock the Door, It's a Minotaur

Season 1, Episode 15

Premiere December 29, 1979

Quickly

The Minotaur terrorizes Helios.

Scrappy Review

4 out of 5

Angry Scrappy is adorable Scrappy. Scrappy isn't always nice. He repeatedly attacks people and doesn't get held responsible. It's cute when he drags or carries Scooby and Shaggy into the investigation. They hide from him like he's the monster. Watching Petros carry Scrappy with that smile on his face was satisfying.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

The gang is threatened with doom by Minotaur just as they arrive in Helios for their latest vacation. The gang starts their investigation. Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy go have some hijinks. The minotaur attacks them. 

If the issue with the show was the formulaic nature, why didn't they try character development? Never mind. I'm crazy. 

Scrappy attacks a man he thinks is the Minotaur. He ruins a bag of olives carried by, the local olive farmer and taverna owner, Petros Skouras. A pompous British Lord Silvertree walks over and criticizes Petros for the loss of the olive shipment though it very obviously wasn't his fault.

The gang meets Nick Pappas, an art student who works on the Silvertree Yacht. He explains the situation and the Minotaur curse. The gang goes to investigate Helios ruins. They split in the usual way. Petros find Shaggy and the dogs and warns them again. Scrappy finds a silver coin. The Minotaur finds them. Hijinks ensue.

Scrappy sets a Scrappy Trap and captures Petros. He is understanding. He shows them his olive storehouse in an old bomb shelter cave. He tells them how people would hide their treasures in the caves and some of the treasures still haven't been found.

The gang returns to the Taverna for dinner. When Scrappy tries to pay, Petros tells him the coin isn't a coin. Velma, Daphne and Fred leave to go back to the ruins to investigate the Minotaur throne. Shaggy pays for dinner with his American Cowards Club Card. The Minotaur attacks them.  A chase ensues. Scrappy accidentally opens a hidden trapdoor in a maze and rises up onto the Minotaur's Throne.

The gang splits up again but this time we actually get to see the Velma, Fred and Daphne investigating. They find a secret passage back into the Taverna. Daphne finds a piece of painted canvas in a barrel of olives. Velma realizes Shaggy, Scrappy and Scooby are in danger.

Onboard the Silvertree yacht, Shaggy and Scooby are eating Silvertree's olives. The Minotaur attacks the guys. Shaggy and Scooby faint and this time Scrappy really needs to save them because they're just lying there. Scooby comes around just in time to protect Scrappy and it's great. He knocks the Minotaur into the water.

Velma, Fred and Daphne explains how Nick Pappas was using the Minotaur legend to keep people off the street while he stole the recovered art treasures and smuggled them on Silvertree's yacht. 

Rogue's Gallery

The Minotaur

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E14 - The Sorcerer's a Menace - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - The Sorcerer's a Menace

Season 1, Episode 14

Premiered December 22, 1979

Quickly

The Ghost of a Magician steals a valuable black pearl.

Scrappy Review

5 out of 5

Scrappy is really at his best when he's interacting with people. It's funny when Shaggy and Scooby get mad at Scrappy for volunteering them. When Scrappy is disgusted by Lorraine calling him cute, he reminds me of my nephew. He has a few catchphrases and the catch phrases just don't work. 

I can't give a low score to anything the reminds me of my nephew.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

The gang is in Atlantic City at a magic show. Scrappy volunteers Scooby and Shaggy to volunteer for the show. The magician uses the famous black pearl of Tonga Lei. Scooby and Shaggy are given the two keys required to open the magic chest. I remember a magician saying once, think about whose lock it is. The ghost of Morgan's mentor appears on stage and "curses" Morgan's trick.

After the ghost leaves, they open the magic box and find a bunch of black dust. The team stays to investigate. In other words, Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy go have hijinks while Velma, Fred and Daphne investigate. The ghost returns to threaten Shaggy. The ghost or the human behind the ghost has the pearl so he ought to just lay low and wait for a convenient opportunity to leave with it. It's not like the real estate schemes or the larger scale thefts, he has what he wants and the ghost is just drawing more attention to the crime.

The gang finds a rival magician stalking backstage. Conrad the Conjurer calls out Scrappy for being a trouble maker (Scrappy is). Morgan accuses Conrad of being a thief. Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy wander off again and hijinks. They see a disappearing fish bowl. The ghost shows up and Shaggy distracts him with Morgan's wand by making it bloom flowers that cause the ghost to sneeze.

We catch up with Velma, Daphne and Fred in Morgan's dressing room. Velma notices Morgan's necklace is a tuning fork. After that brief detour, we return to hijinks with Shaggy and the dogs. On the stage, they discover Haldane's ghost but he just disappears as soon as Scrappy attacks it.

Velma comes up with a plan to trick the ghost with a glass replica of the pearl. Unfortunately, they didn't tell Scrappy what he needed to do to help and he accidentally interferes. But Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy use their near magical disguise powers to pretend to be basketball players and a referee. They trap the ghost in a chest. 

They explain the pearl was switched with a glass replica and broken with Morgan's tuning fork. And Morgan would have gotten away with it if it weren't for the meddling kids.

The Rogue's Gallery

The Ghost of the Great Haldane

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E13 - Rocky Mountain Yiiiii! - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - Rocky Mountain Yiiii!

Season 1, Episode 13

Premiered December 15, 1979

Quickly

A ghost scares off the customers of a ski resort.

Scrappy Review

5 out of 5

I could criticize the writing that relegates Daphne, Fred and Velma to the background but that's not the point of rating him. He's fine in this episode. His combativeness is a consistent trait. It's a problem when he spouts his catchphrases because he's at his best when he's not a doll with a pull string and instead a character. 

Way Too Much Detail Recap

The gang arrives at Pratt's Peak Lodge for a week of skiing. The housekeeper warns them of danger. Noah Reid tells them not to worry. They learn Jeremiah Pratt's ghost has been haunting the mountain. Will Henry, the ski instructor, tells them there's nothing to fear. Scrappy tries to attack Will for calling him a cute little pup. 

Jeremiah Pratt surprises Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy outside the window of their room. He tells them to leave his mountain. Velma decides to investigate immediately.

The gang splits up. Velma, Daphne and Fred go to investigate the mystery. We follow the half of the team not investigating the case. Scooby's attacked by a bear. Wow, Scooby has bad luck with bears.

Scooby and Shaggy run into Jeremiah Pratt standing in a man high snow pile. I don't understand Jeremiah's plan. He is a human so he's risking suffocation and frostbite on the off chance the few skiers on the mountain will go down the hardest hill.

Velma finds Jeremiah Pratt's journal under a floorboard in his cabin.

Scrappy very quietly saying "one more thing" about Jeremiah Pratt got a laugh out of me. Shaggy and the dogs flee from Jeremiah Pratt.

Velma uses charcoal to reveal a missing page from Jeremiah's journal. The page refers to a shipment of Eagles.

They all reunite then they separate again and there's slapstick with Shaggy and the dogs. Velma, Fred and Daphne find a secret room with explosives and digging tools.

Jeremiah attempts to murder Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy by knocking them off the ski lift. He goes to harass them in the steam. Jeremiah is one of the more physically aggressive ghosts. 

Velma sees William Henry's skis with WHP initials. She solves the case and comes up with a plan to prove it. They fake Jeremiah Pratt's covered wagon. They catch the ghost when an avalanche reveals the real lost wagon and encases him in snow.

Fred, Daphne and Velma explain the eagles were gold coins and William Henry was searching for the coins because he was Pratt's descendent (WHP=William Henry Pratt). Velma points out the gold was never Pratt's. It was a delivery for the government.

Rogue's Gallery

Ghost of Jeremiah Pratt

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E12 - The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly

Season 1, Episode 12

Premier December 8, 1979

Quickly

The gang attends a horror movie award ceremony.

Scrappy Review

4 out of 5

He's not bad in this episode. I'm starting to feel like at least some of his ire is from the opening "song" but that could just be because that's my biggest complaint. I'm convinced, the other half of the ire is from the issues with the writing and the disinterest the writers had in Fred, Velma and Daphne. It's hard not to notice the focus on Scrappy, Shaggy and Scooby when there are long stretches when it's just them. 

Thoughts, Details and Recap

The gang is on their way to the Batty Awards at Brandon Davies' Estate. It's odd considering the opening made it seem like the award ceremony was wrapping up. When they arrive, the award ceremony attendees are fleeing. Brandon Davies catches them up on the Shadow Creature coming out of the film he was premiering at the ceremony. They find the film destroyed. Pretty irresponsible for the Producer to lend the only copy of a film, even for a premier.

Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy are attacked by one of the Award ceremony guests, Crayton Aames, who's dressed as a vampire and hissing like a vampire. Daphne, Fred and Velma are threatened by the Shadow Creature. Velma notices a convenient news article about stolen first day covers. Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy are attacked by a werewolf who is also an actor in costume and acting like the Wolfman. Why is he acting like the Wolfman when he wants to patch things up with Brandon Davies. They find a stack of odd envelopes that Velma insists Shaggy hold onto.

The Shadow Creature attacks the scavenging Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy. Slapstick ensues. Scrappy captures Crayton Aimes. Aimes accuses Davies of selling the best actor awards.

Shaggy and Scooby explore in an area they hope is quiet. They meet Dolores Handfield dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein and pretending to be a wax figure. What is wrong with these people? Why are they acting the characters they are dressed as?

Velma finds a stretch of film. The team splits. Velma, Fred and Daphne go to investigate. Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy go to avoid investigating. The gag where Scrappy picks up Scooby and Shaggy and carries them is really growing on me.

Velma sees Brandon Davies exiting a Philatelist, Stamp Shop, on the piece of the ruined film. Velma realizes this is the motive behind the Shadow Creature attacks. The film shows him after he committed the robbery of the first day covers, the envelopes Shaggy found earlier. They accidentally capture the Shadow Creature, Brandon Davies. Brandon Davies admits to everything.

Rogue's Gallery

The Shadow Creature

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E11 - When You Wish Upon a Star Creature - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - When You Wish Upon a Star Creature

Season 1, Episode 11

Premiered December 7, 1979

Quickly

A Star Creature attacks an observatory.

Scrappy Review

3 out of 5

Scrappy attacks a person at Shaggy's behest. He wouldn't have attacked Professor Spaulding if Shaggy hadn't freaked out. He's in a very "puppy power" mood in this episode and that's not that bad but it's exasperating. I give him credit actually having a somewhat successful attack on the Star Creature. I like it when he's hyper competent and not messing with bear cubs and nearly getting Scooby mauled.

Thoughts, Details, Recap

The opening is repetitive and does not stand up to "Scooby-Doo, Where are you?"'s classic opening. It's not even a real opening song. It's just "Scooby, Scrappy-Dappy Doo" sung with some spoken lines. I actually think this might add to Scrappy's negative reputation.

The gang are on their way to see the most powerful telescope ever built at the Greenfield Observatory. A bunch of cars pass them while fleeing from the Star Creature. The Mystery Machine gets a flat tire but they manage to make it to the parking lot. They meet Professor Spaulding in the parking lot.

Shaggy works on changing the tire while Scrappy tries to drag Scooby inside and Fred, Velma and Daphne go inside to investigate. Regardless of the mystery, it seems irresponsible for Fred, Velma and Daphne to not attend to the flat tire. They are pretty far from anywhere else and if there's an emergency, they'll need the Mystery Machine. At least the story follows them inside after a little slapstick.

They examine the telescope. Velma notices the telescope wasn't angled towards the sky. The Greenfield of the Greenfield Observatory comes in and admonishes them for messing with his equipment though they haven't touched it. He corrects the angle of the telescope. Velma gets her first look at Greenfield 12B (named after him despite it being discovered by Professor Spaulding). He tells them to leave. I love Velma's little conspiratorial "We'll have to work fast."

Outside, they're still trying to change the tire, they see the Star Creature and slapstick ensues. Shaggy's maid routine gets Scooby and Scrappy free of the Star Creature (cute gag). Velma decides the next clue will be found at Star Laboratories. Before they can leave, Scrappy attack Hank Grime. The pan across all three of the main suspects is funnier than any of the slapstick.

At Star Labs, there's a Star Creature and slapstick. They find out secrets have leaking from the Labs. The Star Creature runs supersonically. Not actually, it just looks ridiculously fast because they didn't put enough animation in and they made the distance look too far. Scrappy decides to carry Scooby and Shaggy after the Star Creature and they land that joke because it's got the set up and it delivers.

The gang returns to the observatory. They run into Greenfield and he's a little more hospitable. He directs them to Professor Spaulding. An attack by the Star Creature leaves Scrappy holding a light belt. There was also slapstick. They find the telescope has been returned to the odd angle. Velma gets a chance to look through the telescope. 

They accidentally capture the Star Creature while messing with a very expensive telescope. It's Mr Greenfield. Industrial espionage. He was using the Star Creature to get rid of everyone.

Rogue's Gallery

The Star Creature

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E10 - I Left My Neck in San Francisco - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - I Left My Neck in San Francisco

Season 1, Episode 10

Premiered November 24, 1979

Quickly

The gang stumble onto a vampire and a jewel theft while on vacation in San Francisco.

Scrappy Review

4 out of 5

Scrappy's not the problem. The avoidance of following the part of the team investigating the crime is the problem. Scrappy actually does a good job on his trap until he accidentally turns off the light. It's charming how much Scrappy adores Scooby for trying to make him laugh. His apology to Daphne is sweet.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

The gang are visiting Alcatraz. Sally, another member of the tour, tells them about the Lady Vampire of the Bay. They split up because the tour guide, Jack, mentions ghosts in the prison and Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy stay outside. There they meet the vampire. It's the perfect moment to cut the scene and they do. We get to see Velma and Fred on the tour. They've lost Daphne. It's not a large tour group. It's hard to see how Fred could miss Daphne's absence. Scrappy goes after the vampire and finds Daphne. Velma notices the lights on the tour guide's boat is missing a lens. 

The vampire appears again at the hotel. She threatens them then disappears out the window. Daphne turns up and stands in front of the mirror. Neither Daphne nor the vampire cast a reflection in the mirror. The team splits up into 3. Daphne goes to bed, Velma and Fred go to investigate, Shaggy and the dogs go to explore the wharf. Of course, in this mystery show we don't follow the people investigating the mystery. Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy spot a woman they think is Daphne because of the red hair and purple clothes though the outfit is unlike Daphne's usually clothing aside from the color family. They catch up to see it's the vampire. Comedy ensues.

We return to Fred and Velma investigating. They hear people shouting about the lady vampire. They run to see the vampire has stolen on of the eyes off a lucky tiger at the Chinese theater. Velma theorizes the vampire is after the stolen jewels of a legendary crime. 

We return to Shaggy and the dogs. Comedy and misunderstandings ensue. Shaggy and Scooby think Daphne is the vampire.

They go with Fred and Velma to the Opera house to look for the diamond from the jewelry theft. They separate, we follow Shaggy and the dogs and comedy ensues. They catch the vampire with Scrappy's trap then she escapes. But every suspect randomly shows up. Velma realizes the criminal is Mrs Cornell who was really Lefty Callahan.

Rogue's Gallery

Lady Vampire of the Bay

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E09 - Twenty Thousand Screams Under the Sea - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - Twenty Thousand Screams Under the Sea

Season 1, Episode 9

Premiered November 17, 1979

Quickly

The Sea Beast attacks a diving contest.

Scrappy Review

4 out of 5

The opening credits of the show bother me. It's not that Scrappy is featured but that everyone but Scooby is shoved so hard to the side. The title card is emblematic of the attitude of this season. Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy are in the foreground with Velma, Daphne and Fred in tiny silhouettes in the background. This won't effect my score for Scrappy in this episode but it colors my opinion of the show. Although, I do give credit to the artist for including a skull in the tree. It reminds me of the 80s and 90s cozy mystery covers where they would have a skull drawn into a nice setting like a skull on a scone.

Scrappy calls out Scooby and Shaggy for running from his expert sand sculpture of the Sea Beast. I actually really loved seeing him mad at them for freaking out at his sand sculpture. 

Scrappy saves Scooby and Shaggy from falling off the cliff. Scrappy attacks Miguel but he actually is suspicious so inappropriate but not that bad. He beats up an octopus that did attack them. Scrappy realizes briefly that he's in over his head when the creature attacks. He finds a few clues, mostly by accident but he does help.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

The Gang are in Acapulco hanging out at the beach reading about the Sea Beast. They meet a local fisherman, Miguel Valdez who warns them about the Sea Beast. He tells them he saw it at the Cove of Fear. 

The Gang go to a cliff diving content at the Cove of Fear. Tiger, a competitor, shows up late because of his delayed plane. He gets the first position. He dives. The competition ends quickly after an appearance by the Sea Beast.

The Gang splits up. Shaggy and the dogs fall into a geyser hole. Velma, Daphne and Fred find a cave while looking for the Sea Beast. They run into Miguel Valdez who is collecting abalone in the cave. The investigation half of the team gets Miguel to take them to the site of the Sea Beast attack. They are pulled back into the cave by the tide. 

Shaggy finds a pearl necklace in an abalone. The Sea Beast attacks. The Sea Beast bears some superficial similarities to the Creature from the Black Lagoon but there is a creative hand to the design. 

Scrappy finds the number 1 in the overturned jar of numbers from the diving contest. While investigating the necklace, Scrappy and Velma find Tiger Morris visited the Jewelry Shop before them.

They return to the site of the first Sea Beast attack. Fred, Velma and Daphne dive to find a ship wreck while everyone else stays in the boat. The Sea Beast attacks and stomps a hole in their boat. Miguel Valdez saves them and brings them back to shore. I misjudged that man.

Everyone runs to the Harbor Patrol with the Sea Beast pursuing them. There's no one at the Harbor Patrol office. They flee into another boat. In the mayhem, they accidentally trap the Sea Beast.

Rogue's Gallery

Sea Beast

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E08 - The Hairy Scare of the Devil Bear - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - The Hairy Scare of the Devil Bear

Season 1, Episode 8

Premiered November 10, 1979

Quickly

The Devil Bear attacks an archaeological dig.

Scrappy Review

4 out of 5

Scrappy tries to help by reassembling the broken pot. He helps get Scooby unstuck from the little cave. He guards the tents. He tries to fight the bear when he hears him. There are a couple moments of over ambition and foolhardy aggression but that's who he is. He demonstrates a talent for fishing. I really like it when Scrappy demonstrates hyper competence. Overall, he makes a good showing in this episode. 

Way Too Much Detail

The gang are in the Grand Canyon. Their guide Ranger Brantley tells them archaeologists are digging at the old Native American cliff dwelling. When they go to visit, Professor Carver and an unidentified woman archaeologist tell them about the Devil Bear attack. Ranger Brantley leaves them to investigate the Devil Bear. 

Chuck Hunt, a member of the dig, tells Velma the only local electricity is produced by them. There's some Shaggy and Scooby antics and Scooby gets stuck in a small cave. I know I play too much Minecraft because I expected to start hearing a hiss. Their antics reveal clues to the hidden treasure. Velma finds evidence of a recent explorer. 

The Professor and Chuck tell her about a local hermit, McGee. One of my childhood dreams was to be a hermit or recluse. The gang pays a visit to McGee to find out about the Devil Bear. Meanwhile, there are Scooby and Shaggy antics. Really Scooby and Shaggy's antics aren't incorporated well into the episode. It's kind of like Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory. Occasionally, slapstick interrupts the plot. 

Scrappy hears the Devil Bear in the middle of the night and goes after him. Scooby ditches Shaggy to the Devil Bear while rescuing Scrappy. Shaggy gets paint on the back of his shirt. Later, Velma finds equipment in a hollow stalagmite. The team breaks in half and the show chooses to follow the half not investigating the mystery. And slapstick ensues.

The ending antics have Shaggy and Scooby capture the Devil Bear.

The background paintings of the cave walls are sometimes decent and sometimes beautiful. The cave paintings have a similar spread in quality.

Rogue's Gallery

The Demon Bear

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E07 - The Demon of the Dugout - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - The Demon of the Dugout

Season 1, Episode 7

Premiered November 3, 1979

Quickly

The Dragon Beast disrupts the Japan-America baseball games.

Scrappy Review

4 out of 5

Scrappy voice is an issue. 

Scrappy is trying to help but he isn't. He wanders away constantly. He steals roman candles from the Fireworks Factory. But they give the rest of the gang enough to do that Scrappy has a nice balance in this episode.

This episode features another mention of the "Scooby Scouts". Is this an official group? Does the gang pay for their constant vacationing with brand deals? Scooby Snacks? Scooby Scouts?

Thoughts, Details and Recap

The gang is in Tokyo to see the American baseball team playing Japan. They meeting Willie Turner who is trying to get tickets for the whole team to fly out of Japan. With the random suitcases sitting around, all I can think is "If you see something, say something."

They leave to investigate the Dragon Beast and Velma has one of the best lines so far.

Shaggy: "You mean, we came all the way to Japan just to catch ghosts again?"

Velma: "Let me put it this way Shaggy, yes."

Mr Husai presents the motive, the baseball diamond trophy. He explains he'll have to sell the park if the games are cancelled.

Shaggy and Scooby go scavenging for food. Sashimi on a cart in the open air with no one around. Just sitting out there with no indication of refrigeration (Yech). The Dragon Beast attacks Scooby while he retrieves the wandering puppy. The gang reunites on the baseball diamond in time to get a threatening warning from the Dragon Beast. They meet Ken Sumodo, a baseball player kicked off the team by Mr Husai. Scrappy wanders away again. When they find him, Velma notices a box of bright light bulbs.

The Dragon Beast shows up on the ledge outside Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy's hotel room. It seems pretty dangerous for someone we know is a human to walk on the ledge of a hotel. They track the Dragon Beast to a Fireworks Factory. 

Fred, Daphne and Velma go back to the Baseball field. They check on the diamond on the trophy. Velma nearly drops it.

Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy go through a secret passage in the locker where Scooby was attacked. They come out of the tunnel under a trapdoor on the field. The Dragon Beast immediately leaves Fred, Daphne and Velma to chase Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy. The Dragon Beast's animosity towards Shaggy and the Dogs is unexplained. The guys dress up as baseball players to distract the Dragon Beast while Fred, Daphne and Velma capture him.

The Dragon Beast is Mr Husai. He sold the diamond a long time ago and didn't want to lose the trophy and have his theft be revealed. Still doesn't explain why he was so fixated on attacking Scooby.

Rogue's Gallery

Dragon Beast

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E06 - The Scary Sky Skeleton - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - The Scary Sky Skeleton

Season 1, Episode 6

Premiered October 27, 1979

Quickly

The Sky Skeleton terrorizes an air field.

Scrappy-Doo Review

4 out of 5

Scrappy starts assaulting random individuals. His reckless behavior almost gets Shaggy and Scooby killed when he accidentally starts a plane. He's actually helpful when he helps them get their minecart on track. Scrappy once again demonstrates a supernatural ability as a craftsperson when he makes a paper airplane capable of carrying Scooby through the air.

Thoughts, Details, Recap

A skeleton flies a plane painted with a skeleton. It's a look.

The gang is on their way to the Sky Circus Airport to meet their friend Wendy Airs. The Sky Skeleton writes a warning in the sky. Shaggy and Scooby flee to the tower despite the skeleton being in the sky and nowhere near them on the ground. Daphne, Velma and Fred start an investigation with Amelia Palmer. On their way to find Wendy, they meet Eddie Drake, a reporter, when Scrappy attacks him. They also meet Henry Greycloud. 

Scooby falls down a well with suspiciously black and oily water. The gang search the area. Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy find the Sky Skeleton while avoiding him. Scrappy makes a mess with a plane. He immediately starts building a trap and winds up trapping Scooby and Shaggy. They crash through the floor into an old minecart. 

Velma, Daphne and Fred find the Sky Skeleton with a plan to chase it. Their pursuit is delayed by the convenient appearance of the reporter. They find a computer. They figure out the computer is controlling the plane. Conveniently, Shaggy, Scrappy and Scooby get washed into the room with the rest of the gang. The also find a map labeled "Confidential Ed Dept" and more black gunk.

Amelia Palmer's attempt to practice nearly ends in tragedy when she loses control of her plane. The Sky Skeleton takes manual control of the skeletonplane. Shaggy, Scooby, and Scrappy get stuck in the Sky Skeleton's plane. He tries to murder them. He gets thrown out onto a windmill. Through a series of contrivances, Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy land.

The skeleton is unmasked to be Eddie Drake, the reporter trying to scare everyone away from the oil on the land.

Rogue's Gallery

Sky Skeleton

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E05 - Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake

Season 1, Episode 5

Premiered October 20, 1979

Quickly

The gang encounters the Snake Demon on a trip to Haiti.

Scrappy Review

2 out of 5

Scrappy continues excusing his own irresponsible behavior with the excuse that he is a puppy when in reality, he doesn't listen. He refuses to accept responsibility for his actions and apologize. Kind of like a child, accurate but not endearing. He shows a surprising proficiency at wood carving. He doesn't really serve a purpose other than to to take up screentime.

Way Too Much Detail

Mystery Incorporated is taking a cruise on the Florida Keys to Haiti. Miss Audrey and Mr Percy are also on the ship. Miss Audrey is interviewing a witch doctor about the legend of the Snake Demon and Scrappy takes that as his cue to carry Shaggy and Scooby into the investigation. First Mate Defarge takes them on a tour. Daphne gets a Snake Demon statue as a souvenir. Shaggy finds a key on a necklace and keeps it for good luck. Miss Audrey informs them Daphne's statue is cursed.

The Snake Demon is on board the ship and I love this character. He's really simple and cool looking. The Snake Demon attacks. Scrappy falls overboard with Daphne's statue. He loses the statue in the water.

The gang searches the boat. Shaggy switches between genre awareness and naivete. He knows that the snake was going to show up while they stood guard. The Snake Demon attacks Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy.

The Snake Demon deals with Scrappy by nailing him in a box. He quickly escapes. Since Scrappy likes making traps so much, it feels like the writers could have paired him with the other members of the team like Fred occasionally.

The ship arrives in New Orleans. Velma dresses up as a police officer to stop the parade float. Then she instantly changes back into her normal clothing. Apparently, she has the gift. I like the float parade and the Snake Demon disguised as a clown. This creature would make more sense if he was supernatural because of the strength used to nail the box shut with his hand and the way the clown costume worked.

First Mate Defarge is revealed to be the Snake Demon. He needed Shaggy's key to open a secret compartment holding smuggled silver ingots.

Rogue's Galley

The Snake Demon

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E04 - The Neon Phantom of the Roller Disco! - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - The Neon Phantom of the Roller Disco!

Season 1, Episode 4

Premiered October 13, 1979

Quickly

The Neon Phantom causes power outages in Hollywood.

Scrappy Rating

3 out of 5

"So I made a mistake, I'm a puppy." Scrappy does not take responsibility for his actions. Scrappy does show moments of insight and snark that I enjoy. I'm trying to resist creating head cannon that Scrappy is fully aware of Scooby's cowardice and he's just trying to make Scooby courageous by encouraging him because that would make the character better without being better.

A scene at the Nightmare concert is a good symbol of the issues the writers seemed to have with the characters. Scrappy is dancing and for a full 8 seconds, he's the only one on screen. Shaggy and Scooby stand together shivering comedically. The rest of the gang sits motionless.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

Mystery Incorporated is visiting Hollywood to see the premiere of Hair Grease Fever at the Chinese Theater. When they see Nightmare is playing, they decide to catch the show. The show may have made up the band but they could have also been name dropping the band Nightmare. It seems likely they made it up because the band was formed in 1979. But who knows? Maybe a writer on the show was very into French metal. The concert is interrupted by the Neon Phantom. After the concert and the attacks, they go to Sparkles roller disco to investigate the Neon Phantom.

They meet the man that lives next to Sparkles, Bill Walker. He rents his home from Sparkles. They find a flyer for the Roller Disco that sticks to Scooby. Scrappy breaks into the roller disco. The team splits up to search the roller disco. They meet an owner, Joey Cassette. Scooby crashes into Steve Shimmer, Joey's partner. Joey mentions their plan to expand the roller disco. Joey invites the team to see the Sparkles rock band record. Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy go to the movie premiere. They name drop Jagger, Travolta and Streisand.

The Neon Phantom attacks the recording session and tries to kill Fred, Velma and Daphne. Velma realizes the next target for the Neon Phantom will be the movie premiere. They find a timed dimmer at the movie theater.

Velma plots to trap the Neon Phantom at the roller disco. Scooby falls when his skate gets stuck in tar.

They track the Neon Phantom to the Hollywood sign. Scrappy, Scooby and some Wile E Coyote luck results in Scooby trapping the Neon Phantom.

Mr Walker didn't want the roller disco to expand and make him homeless. It's actually easy to sympathize with a guy that wants to keep his home next to a loud Roller Disco. He was still an absurd criminal but I could sympathize with him. Although, I don't think running Sparkles out of business would have saved his home because they probably would have sold the land without the business and maybe have sold his house to someone other than him. I just don't like the idea of someone losing their home.

Rogue's Gallery

The Neon Phantom

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E03 - Strange Encounters of a Scooby Kind

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - Strange Encounters of a Scooby Kind

Premiered October 6, 1979

Season 1, Episode 3

Quickly

An extraterrestrial is stealing radioactive materials.

Scrappy Rating

2.5 out of 5

It's like they don't know what to do with Scrappy. He's superfluous. He could be lifted out of the episode and there would be little difference. The only change is Shaggy and Scooby wouldn't have willing gone onto the UFO, so he does serve a purpose. The voice characterization for Scrappy could mesh a little better with the rest of the team. They have nice, somewhat natural voices and he's a little shrill to my ear.

Thoughts

I like the relationship between Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy when they're working together.

Way Too Much Detail

Millions of dollars in radioactive metals are stolen from a lab by an extraterrestrial type with a car.

Scooby, Scrappy and Shaggy are on a late night hike. Scrappy sets up a campfire to fry steaks for everyone. The dinner is ruined by the car chase splashing them and their fire. The Extraterrestrial is picked up by a flying saucer.

Velma, Daphne and Fred are at the cabins they rented when Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy run to them. Scrappy tells the story. Daphne laughs in disbelief. Seriously? That is not the weirdest thing she's encountered. Velma, Daphne and Fred investigate the site. They find the abandoned car with glowing handprints. The three of them go to check with the police. 

Scrappy finds a construction site. The extraterrestrial attacks Scrappy, Scooby and Shaggy. 

Velma, Daphne and Fred learn of the nuclear theft.

Scrappy says, "You wouldn't send a doggy back to the kennel for an honest mistake?" What? I thought he was Scooby's nephew. They meet Mr. Moss who warns them off. Tessie tells them not to be afraid. Tessie has a Geiger counter. Tessie points them towards Mr. Moss. Tessie is abducted by a flying saucer. Velma finds a glowing remote.

Scooby and Shaggy pack. Separately, Velma finds a heavy clock with a glowing face. Velma has a clue and a plan.

The UFO lands. Shaggy and Scooby chase Scrappy onto the UFO. They are trapped when the UFO takes off.

Scooby, Scrappy, and Shaggy finds themselves in a cave with the alien and metal drums from the Nuclear Laboratories.

They escape the cave and the saucer to find they didn't go far at all. 

There was never any alien. Tessie was behind it all. The clock in Mr Moss's window set off the Geiger counter because of the radium paint. There's a really interesting story behind radium painted clocks but it's also really depressing.

What's the Word

"Scooby Scout" - They're apparently always prepared and not afraid.

"Puppy Power"

Rogue's Gallery

Alien

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E02 - The Night Ghoul of Wonderworld - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - The Night Ghoul of Wonderworld

Season 1, Episode 2

Premiered September 29, 1979

The Westworld Episode

Quickly

Mystery Incorporated goes to a futuristic theme park to live out an expensive murder mystery weekend but with robots.

Thoughts

One time in the episode, a slightly off model Scrappy is sitting to the side with no action in the scene and he blinks. It's strange that they bothered to include him in the shot. 

Scrappy Rating

3 out of 5

When he's in the background of another scene doing some antics like knocking over a suit of armor then trying to right it with a jack, he's good. He adds a bit of color.

Way Too Much Detail

The Night Ghoul steals the crown jewels. 

The gang is in London to visit Wonderworld, a cross between Fantasy Island and Westworld run by Mr Marina. They are there to indulge in Velma's fantasy of solving a mystery with Sherlock Holmes. 

Wonderworld is staffed by robots. Scrappy immediately tries to pick a fight but the robots are programmed to not attack guests.

They are accompanied to Londonworld by Mr Wodehouse and he's a creep. The gang meets Sherlock Holmes in Londonworld. Velma's mystery to solve is the case of the missing crown jewels. She's told the Night Ghoul of London has stolen them.

Mystery Inc go to the fake tower of London to investigate the site of the fictional theft. Shaggy and Scooby stumble onto a trussed up tower guard. He reveals he was the guard. Velma solves the mystery of the crown jewels. The jewels were hidden beneath the empty glass case. She realizes the case is taller than it was in the picture.

The Night Ghoul steals the crown jewels again. Shaggy and Scooby give chase with Scrappy joining them. Shaggy and Scooby aren't scared because they think he can't hurt them since the Wonderworld robots are programmed to not hurt people. Except, he was damaged in the previous meet up with Shaggy and Scooby and can hurt them.

With the crown jewels restolen, the team go to find him. Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy meet up with the Night Ghoul again. This time they incapacitate him. Mr. Marina randomly appears and promises them all refunds. Velma insists on staying to resolve the situation.

Shaggy and Scooby run into the Night Ghoul again. When Scrappy goes to attack the Night Ghoul, they point out it couldn't be the robot because he's out for repairs.

A book on the history of the Night Ghoul gives them a clue to the Night Ghoul's hide out (I have questions about this like, 'Why is there an entire book on him? Are there supervillains in this world?'). Velma interprets the clue to mean the four faces of Big Ben. Holmes disagrees and assures them it is the four walls of Westminster Abbey. Velma, Fred and Daphne join Holmes. Fred tasks Shaggy, Scooby, and Scrappy with visiting Big Ben. And of course Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy find the jewels. And of course they are attacked by the Night Ghoul.

They unmask the Night Ghoul to reveal it's Mr Marina. Scotland Yard arrives to collect the thief and the crown jewels.

What's the Word

"Scrappy-dappy-doo" - Scrappy imitates his uncle.

"Puppy Power"

"I'm just a doggy and I'm allowed a few mistakes."

Rogue's Gallery

The Night Ghoul

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979) - S01E01 - The Scarab Lives! - Toonstalgia

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - The Scarab Lives!

Season 1, Episode 1

Premiered September 22, 1979

Quickly

Mystery Incorporated investigates a comic book hero gone real life criminal.

Thoughts

I don't remember hating Scrappy when I was little. I also have no problem with his appearance in Scooby-Doo's live action film. I saw that movie in the theater. Maybe it's just the age thing. There was never a Scooby-Doo before Scrappy for me. Some episodes he was there and some episodes he wasn't there.

This cartoon has the classic, darker aesthetic.

Scrappy Rating

3 out 5 Scooby Snacks

The writing on Scrappy needed some improvement. He used two "splats" and one "I'm just a puppy" in this episode. He's actually a useful member of the team. He prompts the team to investigate the case. He accidentally finds the comic book collection that leads them to an essential clue. He also helps capture the Blue Scarab at the end.

Way Too Much Detail

The Blue Scarab lands on the roof of his creator's building. He rappels inside. He tells Sloan, the creator, to stop drawing comics.

Shaggy, Scrappy and Scooby are at the malt shop counter. Shaggy reads from the Blue Scarab comic. Velma, Daphne and Fred sit in a separate booth. It seems like this is a choice to spare the animators having to draw all six characters in every shot. Also a cost saving measure.  Velma reads an article on the opening scene. Scrappy grabs Scooby and runs to meet the Blue Scarab. They reluctantly visit Sloane and that reluctance is the first sign the writers on this series didn't really get it. Fred, Daphne and Velma want to go investigate. They don't need the puppy to convince them.

The Blue Scarab left the sign of the scarab. This is the most nonsensical image in this cartoon. It's supposed to be a warning mark on the wall. But they did it too good. It's got highlights and shadows and looks more dimensional than most of the cartoon. It would have made more sense to imitate a stencil.

Scrappy walks around Sloan's place making a mess and talking about how he will "splat" the Blue Scarab.

*In the pile of comic books, there's a Yogi bear cover.

Mr Hardy, the Publisher, explains his dilemma to Daphne, Velma and Fred. He needs the Blue Scarab or his business is in trouble. Floyd Hotchkiss, a rival artist, encourages Mr Hardy to fire Sloane.

Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy stay with Sloane. The Blue Scarab returns to threaten Sloane and proclaim his intent to turn to crime. Scrappy tackles Howard Gruber, Sloane's assistant. Howard quits.

Using the next issue of the Blue Scarab, Shaggy deduces the Blue Scarab will rob a jewelry store. He robs a bank the same night. The gang goes to the museum to head him off. The Blue Scarab tries to murder Scrappy with a statue.

Scrappy breaks the 4th wall to announce his Scrappy trap. Without much of a plan, the gang gets in an elevator to head off the Blue Scarab. Fred's mystified by the Blue Scarab's absence. No, Fred, he doesn't need to be up there somewhere. If you can go up, he can come down.

The Blue Scarab drops a tarp over Scooby from behind. Apparently, he's robs jewelry stores and plays pranks. 

Why would people cancel their subscription to a comic with so much drama? I would imagine there would be a run on the comic.

Velma has a brainwave. The gang goes to the publisher to find the Blue Scarab. He tries to murder Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy. It's Scrappy's fault. He was playing on machinery. But his guardians should have been watching him better.

Shaggy and Scooby accidentally trap the Blue Scarab.

The Blue Scarab painting turned out to be a clue to the identity of the Blue Scarab. It's still a character trait of the comic book Blue Scarab and it doesn't make sense for an elaborately painted wall mural to be his calling card.

What's the Word?

Meddling fools - A variation on meddling kids

Splat - Scrappy's threat of violence

Rogue's Gallery

The Blue Scarab

Big Wolf on Campus S03E19 What's the Story, Morning Corey

The Lost Boys: What's the Story, Morning Corey

Season 3, Episode 19

Premiered March 24, 2002

Quickly

Feldman arrives in Pleasantville to avenge Haim.

About the Show

Big Wolf on Campus was a supernatural comedy that ran from 1999 to 2002. After Tommy Dawkins, the captain of the football team, gets bit by a werewolf, he turns to Merton Dingle, the president of gothic fantasy guild, for help.

Way Too Much Detail Recap

Tommy, Merton and Lori are preparing for graduation. They're all looking forward to college. Merton is really looking forward to college. He's also resentful of Tommy's continuing popularity. Unbeknownst to them, a mysterious figure is plotting against them. This is not resolved in this episode.

Corey Feldman is in Pleasantville looking for Tommy and Merton from his limousine. He meets up with Merton and tells him he's in town to produce the script Merton sent him. This pays off the end of the Haim episode which showed Merton emailing Feldman about the script.

Feldman helps Merton charm the object of his and Tommy's affection. He tells them he's interested in looking for Haim. This is completely reasonable because his old friend is missing and was last seen in Pleasantville. They try to deny knowing him but Merton was credited on the film Haim was making.

They try to get answers out of Feldman by...playing Truth or Dare (hard sigh). Feldman admits he knew Haim was a vampire and he tells them he's in town to potentially stake him because he think Haim gave into the bloodlust. They all instantly admit to the events of the previous episode.

Feldman tells them he's going to throw a party. It's unsurprising when this turns out to be a trap. They realize all of the guests are vampires. They flee the party to Merton's basement. 

Feldman calls and reveals he's abducted their romantic interest of the episode, Sloan. They go to save Sloan. They stake a bunch of vampires. There's a funny stunt double gag. Feldman explains how Haim was his friend. Corey Haim has passed since this episode first aired and that gives the moment an unintentional somber note. Feldman says, he's going to avenge him by killing one of them. Merton volunteers and he stakes Feldman.

The ending was kind of weird after that. A big part of the show is Tommy struggling to hide his identity. He doesn't even try to hide from Sloan. He apologizes that she had to see him wolfed out. It's a moment senioritis in the penultimate episode of the show (there's a clip show after it but it's not a real episode). It's kind of lazy to drop his secret identity for no reason.