Scooby Doo 50 : The New Scooby Doo Movies

Scooby Doo 50 

        When you have a successful property why not do more?  After "Scooby Doo Where Are You?" did well, CBS, of course, wanted more and Hannah and ]Barbera liked money it was a match made in heaven.  Premiering on CBS on September  9th, 1972,  with two seasons with 24 episodes, The New Scooby-Doo Movies.



            I loved watching this series when it reran on Cartoon Network on Sunday afternoons (I think it was Sundays). The differences between this series are 1) the length instead of 30 minutes (with commercials ) the episodes were 1 hour (with commercials). 2) It followed the format but with famous people and characters.

   

     The fun thing about this series is that instead of Mystery Inc gang just faffing around and running into mysteries it instead had the Mystery Inc gang faffing around running into mysterious but with celebrities.   The fun thing is also seeing the real-life people being put into animated versions like with the first episode with the Three Stooges.

There's 3 of them / Copyright AT&T who owns Warner

   It wasn't new for the three stooges to be seen in animated there was animated series in 1965, I've also written about (I think) about a Three stooges animated series in 1977 where the Stooges were a part robot now because why the heck not?  Anyway, the 2nd episode was them meeting with Batman Robin.  Which wasn't their first run in animation either. In fact, Batman and Robin met with Scooby Doo twice.
   

Get in the van and don't ask questions/ Copyright Warner Media

         

     They're OOky and they're spooky. It's kind of fun to have this cross over where Scooby and the gang meet the Addams Family.  Interestingly enough, the Addams Family didn't have animated series before this episode aired. They were first appearing as comic characters but the frame of reference was the 1960's live-action series.  Hanna and Barbera did a series with them in 1973 for NBC. With many of the actors from the 1964 series doing the voices.  Going back to the episode, "Wednesday is Missing"  John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, and Ted Cassidy from the 1964 series came and did the voices.

                                         Addams Family Doo / Copyright Warner Media
                                       

     So apparently the Addams Family in the Scooby, never mind explaining this would just be too weird.  I love how this show also was filmed in front of a live studio audience, wait a minute, that's just a laugh track.  In this episode, the Mystery Inc gang end up as housekeepers while Morticia and Gomez go on vacation because they really wanted to leave this show.

Ha ha /Copyright Warner Media 

  I'm mostly breezing through the episodes because there's so much and it why not try a new style for the blog. The next few episodes had real-life celebrities came in be animated and join the cast for whatever mysterious.   Johnathan Winters, a famous comedian,  Don Knotts (the kids love Three's Company, oh wait that was before, the kids love Andy Griffith )  Phyllis Diller, Sandy Duncan (the kids love Search for Tomorrow)  who had a show on CBS the season before that lasted 13 episodes so never mind, and Sonny and Cher. (Who also had a show on CBS)



   Don Knotts appeared again then Laurel and Hardy, The Three Stooges.  The Harlem Globetrotters even appeared.  Meanwhile, while Marcia Brady had a hard time meeting Davy Jones, The Mystery inc just get to bump into him like that.  It is kind of sad that so far none of the guest stars were the villains I guess, we'll save that for "Murder, She Wrote".
 

Davy Jones locker/Copyright Warner Media 

     Jerry Reed, a country music star, also appeared.  Again the show is of its time with the real-life celebrities because well, of course, it was also going to be that way.  The season finished up with Batman and Robin's second appearance and The Harlem Globetrotters.   Season 2 was shorter than a season which had 13 episodes, the second season had  8 episodes.

Can I see your homework and copy it?/Copyright Warner Media 

    It's interesting that they didn't think of the idea until later of having other Hanna Barbera characterless appear on this Scooby Doo series.  Finally, we got an episode where they meet "Josie and the Pussy Cats"  To be fair they are more Archie characters that H&B got to animate but don't you start.  Also since some of the Josie characters were voiced by the same people who did Scooby characters it was a match made in episode haven.

A Talking speed buggy, that's silly right Scooby?/Copyright Warner Media 

           

        Do you remember there being an animated "I dream of Jeannie"no? Me neither, the decided that might as well have these shows cross over.  "Jeannie"  was about the same "Jeannie" but she was a high school girl disguise now (because anime) and something something something silly.  Tim Conway and Don Adams appeared in the next two episodes, sadly not together.  Then H&B did another crossover this time with "Speed Buggy" because a talking dog wasn't silly enough. Plus, it is funny because H&B had the tendency to "rip themselves off" so having characters from a show that kind of copied formula is actually perfect.   They ended the series with Dick Van Dyke (no Mary Tyler Moore).



         It's a fun series that also shows they were trying to keep "Scooby" fresh so, did this new idea. This was the last new Scooby series for  CBS because they didn't order another one, and the next series came out in 1976 on ABC.  I decided not to do a thing where I would talk about a specific episode since it really follows the same idea as the first series with the hook of famous people are here and have fun. It's not a bad series or boring but really kind of just it's own thing.



   This idea has been done later with Scooby Doo, something we'll get to later I'm sure. But coming in 2019 they are doing a new series called "Scooby Doo and Guess Who?" which brings this format back where it's the gang meeting a famous person or character.  It will have updated stars and Batman is back so that's fun.



   That's our look tune in next time when we meet Scooby Doo and he doesn't know who we are.

The Lookback: The First Easter Rabbit

The Flashback Easter 

    Ah yes, it's Easter time again , and that means we find another Easter special to look at and thanks to our friends at Rankin-Bass we have another one to talk about !  (How do you know they're our friends, did you ask them?)  Last year, we looked at their special "Here Comes the Easter Bunny" , this year we go back a year to a special they made in 1976 because that's how we roll at this blog.

      Our look this time is called "The First Easter Rabbit" that first aired on April 9th 1976 on NBC (finally a special for NBC on the blog).  It seems to be another Easter Bunny origin story as well.  This special is drawn  animation versus stop motion which means we get more of that nice Rankin Bass hand-drawn animation this time.

        Burl Ives is back to narrate this special after doing "Rudolph" in 1964.  Let's take a look now join us. (please, or he wont' stop talking)

       It starts with a Christmas tree and some Christmas like bells, so apparently I put in the wrong thing, sorry about that oh wait there's somebody here.  There's a bunny voiced by Burl Ives  who calls himself G.B and he says we must be wondering where  is Santa? (Yes, I was wondering where Santa was in this Easter special)   Apparently, G.B has time traveled  because time travel exits. He points to a house to tell us how important for there to be an Easter Rabbit.
   

In my past life I was as snowman, what kind of reincarnation is this? I wanted to be a slime! (Copyright Rankin Bass) 

     The theme song is fun, very peppy and joyful i like it, again it's more of  Maury Laws and Jules Bass made music for the R&B specials and they are always enjoyable.  There's a stuffed rabbit that was a Christmas present for a girl named Glinda (Time for people to bring this name back!) she names him Stuffy.  Meanwhile, real life rabbits are committing carrot crimes.(Did you know you aren't supposed to give rabbits carrots, or something go ahead Duck Duck go it!) They see Stuffy and notice that he's not a real rabbit but apparently Stuffy thinks he his because yes, Stuffy can think.
         

 I think while you sleep/ Copyright Rankin Bass 

     Stuffy is voiced by Robert Morse who you may know from "Mad men" if you know from something from before Mad Men then even better because I only gave a short example.  Glinda and Stuffy have a good time and that means something bad happens, poor Glinda has gotten Scarlet Fever.  The doctor says that they should burn all her bedding and the rabbit. (I'd like to have  second opinion, maybe doctor burns needs to calm the heck down)  So, the mother decides to set everything outside to burn it.  Stuffy cries  and a fairy appears and tells him that her job is turn toys that kids used to have but get thrown into real things. (Uhhh wait a minute, I have several questions)  She turns him real and she then tells him that his job will be the First Easter Rabbit (roll credits).

 Now to turn some dolls into real children / Copyright Rankin Bass

    I know this special is 24 minutes long, but we are moving fast here.   The song from earlier gets used again with more verses.  Calliope, the fairy, then tells Stuffy to go to Easter Valley, where it's always spring. (what?)  Also, he has two weeks to get ready for Easter. (ooh well then that's weird) Oh, and watch out for Zero! (Who' or What is Zero? nobody knows)
         

     Stuffy meets the carrot rabbits from earlier  and they think that he's a little strange and they decide to follow him.   Meanwhile, Zero is going to be our Villain  his job is to keep the North Pole all what keeps the North Pole what it is , but the problem is Easter Valley  somehow exists and he's trying to figure out what keeps that place not following the laws of physics. (He is really a villain though?)

I'm Zero, I spell my name like this : 0 / Copyright Rankin Bass

     Anyway our rabbit gang continues their search for Easter Valley.  Oh, they found it (that 24 minute run time really speeds things up) and guess what Santa Claus is there in Easter Valley. (Crossover)  Santa is there to help Stuffy set up for Easter and, they decide that it would be best to test pilot this Easter Rabbit thing in one town first.   Then Santa leaves.  Oh, the thing that keeps Easter Valley all spring like is a flower called the Golden Lilly and if it were to disappear all of spring would be gone. (Wait hold on!)

I have all those outfits/ Copyright Rankin Bass

   How is Glinda doing? She's getting better from her scarlet fever and still mumbling about her rabbit. Stuffy decides to visit her but, we didn't have time for them to hear what they talked about. Glinda found that her mother had burn all her clothes and stuff because doctor quick to burn's idea.
 

Now, I'm off to tell some children they have to burn their favorite pet/ Copyrights Rankin Bass 

   Meanwhile, Zero finally figures out how to get into Easter Valley because we need to have tension in this special. Now, it starts to snow in Easter Valley (now I've seen snow on Easter so I wouldn't be shocked) because Zero got the flower while, his snowball Bruce thought he went too far and decides to help the rabbits.   Bruce tells Santa who rescues the rabbits.  Santa helps the rabbits and they delver Easter gifts. Doctor Burns stuff (yeah I am going to keep calling him that) gave Glinda an Easter Dress and she meets him at Noon.

High Noon / Copyright Rankin Bass 

      I also think the doctor and mother fell in love, and we didn't see a Mr.Glinda's father in this special so, woah.  They use the Easter Parade song to finish up the fun. Santa tells Zero to make spring come back or he's moving to the South Pole. (Santa is tough but fair)  Zero doesn't want to be alone without Santa and his folks so he decides to put the flower back.  Also, our narrator ,GB was Stuffy all along. 

       
     This special didn't capture me as much as the other Rankin Bass Easter special I talked about.  That doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable because it was it seems like due to the length of time and they had to do  a forced bad guy then rush his redemption in an also forced way.    I mention the Christmas in special as interesting  so, it's time for me to play the over-thinking game.  Christmas and Easter aren't usually thought of together even though, the holidays do have a connection to each other without Christmas no Easter to say.   I think it's alright a good special with some minor writing problems and maybe the length of time was too short for the story they wanted to tell but, at the same time if it was longer it would have felt dragged out. I kind of do wonder why Stuffy was picked to be the Easter Rabbit. We also really don't know why he wanted to be 'real' but, at the same I feel it was just a way to connect the two things for the story which attributes to the off writing in this special. We also didn't get enough on why Glinda loves that rabbit mostly because doctor I want to burn things really was of no help and again they must have needed her as a reason to have a stuffed rabbit to make it work.
 
   Again, It's alright and give it watch if you haven't seen  it I'm just saying I enjoyed the other one more.   On the  positive it's well animated, still fun to watch, and even they use the same song multiple times, it's not a bad song. Also Burl Ives makes this special great as well.

   Well, does it for us now, tune in next time when we tell a child with chicken pox we have to  burn their favorite toys  and they have to watch!
     
     

A Visit from the Easter Beagle

Peanuts

      Unless I am somehow wrong for this year, or this post is seen in the future and things have changed : The Easter Beagle Peanuts special hasn't aired on TV since 2014 and it won't air this year ( I won't even insert the current year in this post because I don't think that will change, and if it does then the date stamp above tells you the year anyway).  That's sad really and also I don't know why don't air special anymore maybe ABC felt they couldn't air it anymore. We have , so far, no official reason.   Anyway this post isn't here to wonder or bemoan that ABC isn't airing this special for some reason anymore it's to talk about the special itself. Let's get to that!

        The first thing I want to talk about before the content of the special or even give facts about the airing and that normal thing I do , I want to talk about the music in this special. I love it. Vince Guaraldi's music has a little more acid flavoring to it with guitar riffs. Personally, my favorite part is the music used during them showing off Woodstock's very 70's house interior that music fits that scene so well has perfect 70's vibe to it.


            This special first aired on CBS (Yes, I really love hammering in that part)  on April 9th 1974 and became CBS' yearly Easter tradition up to the last year the lost the rights in 2000, then ABC took the reigns along with the other specials but as mentioned before, haven't aired it since 2014. That means the special is 45 years old in 2019.    Linus for some reason thinks that there's an Easter beagle and not bunny it's quite interesting how he even surmised that thought , the reason for the Great Pumpkin is that he apparently confused Santa for the mythical creation for Halloween  but for this he just thinks there's  an Easter Beagle.  Then again, why not have Peanuts have its own thing and not follow the crowd?


          It starts with our first plot line that will run through the special with Peppermint Patty and Marcie working on Easter Eggs. Apparently, Marcie doesn't understand this concept and starts by frying the eggs which causes Peppermint Patty much annoyance.  Time for Lucy and Schroeder  and she's talking about how Easter is the season to get stuff and he scolds her  but again, she doesn't care because Lucy. The next plot line gets its start  where Woodstock's nest is not good at holding out the weather and he's not very happy about this. He goes to Snoopy and tells him. Sally has an important problem she has no shoes to wear for Easter then because this is Peanuts Linus and Lucy just break into Charlie Brown's house to tell them they are going to the store to get Easter stuff. and invite them to join.  Linus then tell them about the title character of the special, the Easter Beagle (roll credits). Linus tells them that Easter Beagle is about pretty much the Easter Bunny's job but beagle.   The gang meets up with Peppermint Patty and Marcie who are getting more eggs. Nice department store, if not a little strange for having their Christmas stuff out before Christmas like 246 days before. (Either that or they were lazy and decided to just roll with keeping the stuff up.)

This store outsmarted other retailers/ Copyright Peanuts 

        Part of this special is some of the characters faffing around the department store, but it's not boring or taking away anything from the special. Charlie Brown helps his sister look for some shoes (I didn't know Charlie Brown had Shoe buying money. Snoopy buys a gum ball from a machine and they all come out then we get a scene I love with Snoopy dancing with bunnies. The music is also very nice too.  Snoopy finds a bird house for Woodstock and buys it. (Snoopy somehow has money, don't question it.)   Linus continues his quest to convince Sally about the Easter beagle  and this special happened after that Halloween incident because Sally remembers that.

Ah the 70's shoes are painful//Copyright Peanuts 

        Marcie decides that she's going to waffle iron the eggs then put some others in the oven. Peppermint Patty could have just taken those eggs out of the stove but apparently, I don't know what  happened there and has to get more eggs. Linus tries to proselytize to Peppermint Patty and Marcie about the beagle and she's like nope.   Another part I really love is where Woodstock apparently made this 1970's  interior in his bird house, I would want to live in that house now.

Swanky/ Copyright Peanuts 

     Snoopy destroys the house and now has to buy a new one and meets with Peppermint Patty at the department store.   He decides to dance with the ladies with some Christmas music boxes. Back the grind though, and Snoopy buys a new bird house for his friend. Does Marcie boil the eggs?  Well yes but she cracks them open instead.  This running gag didn't get boring or annoying to me, but Peppermint Patty should have shown her how to do it herself  like a couple egg batches ago.  Poor Peppermint Patty and Marcie don't have anymore money and can't egg color anymore. Linus tries to once again do his thing.
         

Moments before tragedy / Copyright Peanuts 

      Lucy paints her eggs and marks where she hid them meanwhile, Snoopy is sneaking behind her and picking up the eggs. ( I wonder where this is going)   Peppermint Patty and Marcie aren't happy on Easter morning , Sally seems a little upset too, Charlie Brown is upset because he's Charlie Brown.  Lucy is happy because Lucy. (Wait what?)  The music swells and yes the Easter Beagle shows up and gives the kids their eggs except Charlie Brown because he ran out some how  ( he did throw some eggs out of the basket giving them to no one and could have given one of those but logic) , and Charlie Brown has to be sad or something.   Also Marcie. eats the egg with the shell still on because Marcie.
                                   

      It's 10 weeks later and Lucy is un happy that  Snoopy used her eggs  she holds a long grudge.  She offers to fight him ( I think that's illegal) but he just kisses her ( I think that's illegal) and she's fine. (Well, I don't know now)

        Much like the other Peanuts specials for holidays it shows us characters doing things typical of the holiday set up. I think it really does that well. This special has 3 main plots to it the first being Marcie and Peppermint Patty's Easter eggs. Marcie's different attempts at doing everything but the proper egg being boiled are funny and don't get stale or annoying to out last its welcome.  Snoopy and Woodstock's plot is funny and really it's nice to see the dedication Snoopy has to help Woodstock. also Woodstock has the same Tardis house abilities that  Snoopy has.  Linus' plot is sprinkled in it keeps him in his character and I'm glad he gets a happier ending than from Halloween.

       Charlie Brown is kind of in the background  this special, poor guy doesn't get Easter treats either. Lucy was slightly background too, but it is in her character to just set up her own eggs. It is a great Easter special so take a look. See ya next time for  It's Tax Day, Charlie Brown!

Into the Twilight : A Modern Era

Reviews  The Twilight Zone 

    [Spoilers- Duh] [Also : Our bad humor is presented in this article] 

           In 1959 the series, "The Twilight Zone" first premiered on CBS (so this is the 60th year) and ran until 1964.  On this blog we've covered episodes from the first and 2nd remakes from the 80's and early 2000's.   This year (2019) a third revival has premiered on CBS' streaming service (that most still won't be getting because why?)  On April 1st, they released the first two episodes called "The Comedian" and  "Nightmare at 30,000 Feet".  That second title sounds like a remake of "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" from the original series.   

        "The Comedian" 

            Oh dang, the show is rated TV MA, what the heck? why?  Run children run, you can't read this post!  That's a first, never expected a TV MA rating for the Twilight Zone, that's like turning on Lassie and getting a TV 14 rating. Sorry, back on track. 

            The episode starts with , are we watching CNN why am I am I hearing politics? Oh it's a comedian, I think.  (That would be the title sir) He doesn't seem to be getting roaring laughs. (It wasn't really funny.)  The Comedian man  wants his comedy to be more thoughtful , or to make people think. Oh that's why it's TV-MA , language (what is this Shotime?).  He meets man who gives him advice for a better comedy thing.  

    Later on Samir goes on again and more 2nd Amendment talk but, then he tries the advice of be more personal. People start laughing.   Going of the rails here, I will say the camera work is pretty nice it does have a cinematic feel to it.  The man goes home and notices that the dog is missing  and his girlfriend says they don't even have a dog.   10 Minutes in Jordan Peele , who is the producer of this remake , does the Rod Sterling thing of introducing our story. (Took them 10 minutes then?) The Intro starts with a modern feeling because modern. Which it is a nice intro so, it gets some points. 

    So Samir brings his girlfriend's nephew, Devon, with him to another comedy show. (Hey, This is TV MA, no kids!) He starts with his politics thing again and the room is deader than (I don't want to finish that). He starts making jokes about the guy before him and gets laughs. That man doesn't exist anymore and the bus stop wasn't crashed into anymore.  

      Samir starts using his new powers to eliminate people from existence. These are people he has decided shouldn't exist because of his judgement, we are getting all "Death Note" on us.  It seems his mind has gone warped  He tries again in an act with but it has no name so it doesn't work so he starts talking about his girlfriend's mentor and the laughs return. Because, he got rid of the professor his girlfriend, Rena, is not a lawyer anymore and works as a waitress. (oops)  She also ends up breaking it off with him 

             At the end, Samir seems too have lost it just naming off people making them not exist anymore.  Rena comes into the club and starts booing and she goes off on him and this causes him to talk about himself.  This causes himself to no longer exist. 

    

   I looked at this episode on Youtube  released by CBS themselves and they didn't release the other episode for free, This means that I don't have access to the 2nd episode that seems to be a remake of an original series episode.  (Maybe one day.)

    It was a 55 minute episode  so, even longer than it would have been if it ran on CBS. The episode did have a slow pace to it because of the length of time.  The episode plot and working was very much the feeling of a classic Twilight Zone episode it hit all those marks very well. For, it the episode was somewhat jarring because I wasn't expecting an episode of a show called "The Twilight Zone" to have strong  language it shocks me because of the show. If this was a different show title or something it might be less jarring to me personally. That doesn't detract from the show though. It being somewhat shorter would have been a little better.  I mentioned this above, it's well done in camera work and art design. 

   If you want to see this episode it's on Youtube currently (not sure how long) but it's here for now. 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19GO8-Rrn0g 

Tune in next time, when wonder something something. 

It's a Lookback ,Charlie Brown : It's your First Kiss,Charlie Brown

Peanuts The Flashback 

              We wrap up our look at non-holiday specials from the 1970's yes, this is final non-holiday lookback of Peanuts specials from the 1970's since we didn't go in chronological order. This is one is a controversial special and  I'll get to that in this look.

    "It's Your First Kiss" premiered on October 24th 1977 on guess where? (C B S!)   For a note about most of the Peanuts series  the Little Red Haired Girl didn't really have a name or a look in any of the comics. The reader would never see what she looked like.  Now, Schulz did have a design for her in the 1950's but, never used it and really he is later said the reason was because he didn't  think there was a look to satisfy the readers.   Though, it would be been interesting to have her be built up by Charlie Brown so much and think she is the most beautiful girl in the world and see her  and not look much different to any other peanuts character would have been amazing.

              The little red haired girl  in the specials took a different note - she was seen.  Though not a real consistent look besides that she has red hair.    Personally, I like  the design in "The Peanuts Movie"; the most.

 copyright Blue Sky which is owned by Disney by this point probably I don't even know anymore please help me! 

   Also, her name wasn't really in the comic strips so some specials and the 2015 movie gave her the name Heather, which is fine or something. 

          Anyway, this special was the first special to show her in face, she had been mentioned in past specials but not seen before. The first to use the name too.   So, after all that let's start. 

     

            It starts with Woodstock using Snoopy as a helicopter because  Peanuts doesn't have any logic to it, if you think it does then you are in the wrong world.   Just like what kind of elementary school has a homecoming?  Anyway the town is is having a homecoming parade , Charlie Brown and Linus and some others are escorts. (don't think that way) The homecoming queen is  Heather. (I'm glad I don't have to the other name this time)  Charlie Brown will be her date and also will get to kiss her. (this town has interesting customs) 

    For those that don't  know homecoming involves football, again I'm not sure why an elementary school's football thing is such a big affair when it's usually a high school thing but this might not be  a very good special either.  (Didn't you just say that the dog became a helicopter for a while?)  For 1977 this special is advanced having two girls on football team (Lucy and Peppermint Patty) good work special.  Even the crowd is children and Snoopy of course, is the ref. ( We are now taking calls , Delaware Hello. Hey yes, first time caller long time show watcher, I have a Peanuts theory.  Yes sir, what is it?  I think all the adults are dead and Snoopy is the supreme leader which is why he takes all things you see adults doing. Thanks caller, this gag is over now)    Meanwhile, Lucy decides not to take this football game seriously and decides that  the best way to start the game is to do the football gag with Charlie Brown. and both teams pile on top of  flopped over Charlie Brown. He crawls out and gets some boos because these people must be stupid and not able comprehend what just happened.  Or this might not be a very good special.  (Kansas Hello.  Hey yeah, I think Lucy is a --, thanks caller we don't wanna have to use the 7 second delay again) 

         More football action because football football.  Now there's a chance for Charlie Brown to be hero and get the extra point. Again, Lucy is  there and guess what she does with the football? So yes, she moves the ball away during the game that's supposed be serious game not her and Charlie Brown faffing around in the park and does this because reasons. (Indiana Hello.  Yeah, I think Lucy Van Pelt is worst person ever!  I'm glad you didn't try to swear! %#@! You.  Mean!)   Charlie Brown flies and lands on the other football players. (Pause!) 

Gotta love how causal this team dresses/Copyright Peanuts 

     

       Hello, I'm Bret Baxter here to tell you a fun fact!  At about 7:41 into this special you will notice that Peppermint Patty was possessed  by the devil where she starts speaking in tongues.  This is not actually, her being possessed by the devil it also not your VCR or DVD player being possessed either , it is instead an edit.  In the original clip Peppermint Patty speaks like a normal human being  as shown here :

            

     So yes, you don't need to call an exorcist   but instead... (Hey! Who are you?) I'm trying to tell the people about -- (Get out!)  

    More after the jump

Scooby Doo 50: What's New Scooby Doo?

Scooby Doo 50 

      Preface : We continue a look at "Scooby Doo" related media for the 50th anniversary of the mystery solving great dane.  This is part of our Scooby Doo 50. 

             In 1969 Scooby Doo first appeared on our screens with the famous series called "Scooby Doo Where are You?" that aired on CBS  it was a big hit  that made CBS want more and made a series called "The New Scooby Doo Movies" in 1972. Then ABC had Scooby programming  and Scooby ran with out maybe a year with out a new something between 1975 and 1991.  The other market that happened for Scooby was syndication. It aired on TBS, USA Network,  and more. I've talked about Scooby Doo movie specials from the  Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 series. 

   Meanwhile, Ted Turner was taking over the world and bought up Hanna-Barbera in the early 1990's and at this point he made Scooby-Doo exclusive to his networks (TNT,TBS, and some new network called Cartoon Network).  If any exposure to Scooby Doo 90's kids would get it would be thanks to the Turner networks.   Before this point it did seem Scooby's popularity had waned and people had grown tired of it, this was the case seen before back during the let's add more Scrappy to boost the franchise phase.    Ted Turner had seemed to get tired of running the world and sold his stuff to Time Warner in 1996  and Hanna-Barbera ended up  being part of Warner Brothers animation. Reruns of the different Scooby-Doo series and movies aired on Cartoon Network. 

   With this new found popularity maybe it was time to have some new Scooby media.  From 1998 they made new direct to video movies that also aired on Cartoon Network.  Even a live action movie came out in 2001.  Over this time though, something hadn't been done, a Scooby Doo TV series.  This brings us to the 2002 series "What's new Scooby Doo?" 

          "What's new Scooby Doo" came out in September of 2002 airing on Cartoon Network and on broadcast TV with Kids WB.  The concept of the series was  a short of back to basics for the franchise after years of different gimmicks ,characters being side-lined, and etc maybe it was time to just try something new but familiar.  "What's New Scooby Doo?"  brings us back the concept that started Scooby Doo in the first place "Scooby Doo, Where are you?".  It's also the first series, that wasn't "A Pup Named Scooby Doo" to bring back  Velma and Fred.   It takes place in our modern (2002) times. 

       The voice cast was Frank Welker , who has been the voice of Fred since the start, had the return of Casey Kasem as Shaggy. Also Frank Welker is the voice of Scooby due to the death of Don Messick in 1997. Grey DeLisle was the voice of Daphne  and Mindy Chon is Velma. The series returns us back to random person in a mask format compared to them trying "hey the monsters are real now!"

      The Theme song is just as catchy as the original 

   The theme was done by a Canadian rock band called, Simple Plan,  which you call maybe a n alt-rock group with some emo added in for fun.  They even guest started in an episode and some of their songs ended up in the chase scenes.


  more after the jump

The Lookback: Two of a Kind and Little bit of T.G.I.F

Sitcoms  The Flashback

       It's time for us to get back into another bread and butter topic but something we've not touched in sometime-- A Short lived sitcom. There's a context to this sitcom that we must explain.

       First  let's talk about T..G.I.F on ABC. The block is well know for giving hit series from "Full House", "Family Matters", "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", "Boy Meets World", and more.  It was a highly successful block for ABC  who has thought to even bring it back twice. The original block was doing very well until about 1997-98 season this is where things took a turn.  Rewind back to 1996, ast this point TGIF had removed two veteran shows from focus to add in series to refresh the line up a little, this brings us "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"  It fit with new owner, Disney, idea to give the line up from a family show block to a more teen block.  Also Clueless  but that died. (We may talk about that one day)  This change allowed to end two series "Step by Step", and "Family Matters" which were going down in the ratings (with age) canceled.  These shows didn't want die so easily and another network had their eye on them ,CBS. (Yes I did that pun and don't feel ashamed about it.)

           Back to 1997, CBS had launched a new block to compete with a slightly weakened T.G.I.F with the CBS block party.  Which,also allowed "Family Matters" and "Step By Step " to continue to live.  To be fair, the Block party did hurt T.G.I.F but it was more like a double sided sword where they stabbed T.G.I.F and let some blood out and slowly died while the block party got injured more and died after year.   T.G.I.F had tried the whole "hey this show works for us, so let's make more of that" with "You Wish" (one day will cover that maybe) and "Teen Angel"  to work on Sabrina's supernatural greatness, these shows failed and T.G.I.F for rest of the season was 2 shows.

   To 1998.  Where they kind of lost it , but we may have to talk more about T.G.I.F later.   In 1998 they had tried a new show with some star power , The Olsen Twins.  If you don't know this, the Olsen twins were big in the 1990's they starred on "Full House" and then branched off into movies, and specials, and series to the point of over exposure.  ABC had thought that maybe bringing them back to TV on their network would help  so much faith in this program they put it as the launch show at 8pm/7c.  Leading into vetrans, Boy Meets World, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.  This brings us to our topic  "Two of a Kind".

            More after the jump because we went long here.

Garfield: Garfield on the Town

 The Flashback Garfield

     We are back to writing about Garfield, everyone's favorite lasagna eating cat, and another TV special. Since this is how this blog rolls, we aren't doing them in order and already did the last special , now it's time for the 2nd special "Garfield on the Town".  "Garfield on the Town" has a "Peanuts" connection (this happens alot) with Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez  were producers for it though you won't get any Peanuts character style this time. Of course Phil Roman directed it.  It was originally aired on CBS on October 28th 1983.   It won a prime time Emmy in 1984 beating "A Disney Christmas Gift", "It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown", and "The Smurfic games". Being the first ,but not last Garfield special to win an Emmy.  Alright let's start.


     

            Garfield doesn't want to get out of bed and walk on the cold floor (we are all like Garfield)  , then Garfield and we get a theme song by Lou Rawls.  Odie and Garfield mess up the house and Jon scolds them and especially points out Garfield saying that the cat is being hyperactive.  So, Vet time. (eek) Garfield accidentally falls  out of the car and Jon apparently doesn't notice. (He's a bright bulb)  Garfield walks  around town (roll credits?)  and gets told by lady cats to buzz off. Meanwhile, Jon calls the pet hospital  to see if Garfield ended up there after all.


       Garfield wonders the back alleys and runs into a cat with a gold tooth (I don't know) and they start a cat rumble ( I think , it's more West Side Story cat rumbling). He thinks he won but then there are more alley cats. (more Alley cats in the alley, I'm surprised) Garfield runs while the horde of cats chase him and he finds an old run down building to run inside.  Then he meets a cat, that turns out to be his mother.

awww/ Copyright Jim Davis 

    It's the next morning and his mother tells him that used to be a kitchen of the Italian restaurant where he grew up.   The special gives us a back story into how Garfield likes lasagna and other Italian food  which is a nice touch.  His mother shows him his family or cousins. They are "mousers", cats who eat mice  which Garfield doesn't like personally.  Anyway, those Alley cats from earlier show up and his family decide to fight the gang of cats and an old fashioned rumble starts and they win!  His family decides he should go home because he's not suited to this life and he bids his mother a farewell.

awww 2 / Copyright Jim Davis 

        Just by timing somehow, Garfield finds Jon driving by  and chases the car then Odie notices and everyone is reunited.
 
    Another fun fact: This special was the only Garfield special co-written by  Lorenzo Music (the voice of Garfield) the other writer being "Garfield" creator , Jim Davis.
   It's  simple special but one with a lot of heart , I can see why it won an Emmy. It has touching moments between Garfield and his mother and the end with Garfield, Jon, and Odie. The music in the special is wonderful with the final song enough to bring some tears. I think it's fine special and can see why it's a Garfield classic.  Give this one a watch.