Saturday, June 5, 2021

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

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