Entertainment
Ranking All The 'Scooby-Doo' TV Shows, Because There Are Actually Way More Than You May Think
It's hard to deny it: Scooby-Doo is one of the most recognizable characters in American animation, having enjoyed more than a dozen different series over the past half century. He started on his journey to being a pop culture icon by simply solving mysteries with likewise well-known characters Shaggy (voiced by the great Casey Kasem), Velma, Daphne, and Fred.
As time went on, he broadened his crime-solving prowess to involve the supernatural, pursued other interests (like the Olympics), upgraded his van, and welcomed family members into the mix. And that's not even counting the movies!
Looking back at the 15 Scooby-Doo series (and one on the way), which can we pinpoint as the best? Here are all of the franchise's offerings, ranked from least to most epic.
Image: Warner Bros.
'Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo'
On air: September 1979 – January 1980Episode count: 16Featuring: Scooby-Doo’s nephew Scrappy-Doo
This series offered us our first glimpse of Scrappy-Doo as part of the main cast. We will always blame it for that.
Image: Warner Bros.
'The Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour'
On air: September 1982 – September 1983Episode count: 13
SCOOBY-DOO AND SCRAPPY-DOO SEGMENTS:
Featuring: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, and Scrappy-Doo
The trio expanded their mystery-solving reach via cross-country travel.
SCRAPPY AND YABBA-DOO SEGMENTS:
Featuring: Scrappy-Doo, Scooby’s cowboy brother Yabba-Doo, and Yabba’s Shaggy equivalent Deputy Dusty
Most of the characters from the original series weren’t included in this one, and instead alternate universe versions of Scooby, Shaggy, and a canine version of Cousin Oliver take their place.
(There were also Petey the Puppy segments that had no overlap with any of the Doo family’s adventures.)
Image: Warner Bros.
'Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!'
On air: Not yet!Episode count: Who knows!Featuring: The original gang.
According to Deadline, this yet-to-air reboot will bear the original formula, though a wackier visual style and, as projected, a looser and lighter attitude than the last incarnation of the franchise. The series is set during the gang’s last summer vacation before heading off to college, but we’ll have to wait until it airs (some time in 2015) to know more.
Image: Warner Bros.
'The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour'
On air: September 1976 – December 1976Episode count: 16Featuring: The original gang, with occasional appearances by Scooby-Doo’s Georgian cousin Scooby-Dum. (Scooby-Doo segments were partnered with those featuring Dynomutt, but the two never overlapped.)
Largely in step with the original ideology, but with the added presence of Scooby’s polarizing expanding family.
Image: Warner Bros.
'The New Scooby-Doo Movies'
On air: September 1972 – October 1973Episode count: 24Featuring: The original gang, plus a rotation of celebrity guest sidekicks.
As the stories expanded to fit a new hour-long broadcast format, the mysteries became a bit more elaborate, and would occasionally even feature genuine supernaturalism. The biggest change, however, was the inclusion of a regular member of the central team in the form of one or more celebrity guests.
Image: Warner Bros.
'Scooby's All Star Laff-A-Lympics'
On air: September 1977 – December 1978Episode count: 24
LAFF-A-LYMPICS SEGMENTS:
Featuring: On the “Scooby Doobies” team alone: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Scooby-Dum, Dynomutt, Blue Falcon, Captain Caveman, Brenda Chance, Taffy Dare, Dee Dee Sykes, Speed Buggy, Tinker, Babu, and Hong Kong Phooey.
Obviously the greatest departure from the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? format, the cartoon featured Scooby and co. competing in Olympic games rather than solving mysteries.
THE SCOOBY-DOO SHOW SEGMENTS:
Featuring: The original gang, with occasional appearances by Scooby-Dum
This, on the other hand, was the old song and dance.
Image: Warner Bros.
'Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?' Revival
On air: September 1978 – November 1978Episode count: 9Featuring: The original gang.
Business as usual, but you probably could have guessed that from the title.
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'The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show'
On air: September 1980 – December 1982Episode count: 21Featuring: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, and Scrappy-Doo (as with The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour, Scooby and Richie Rich’s segments never overlapped).
The Mystery Team was always thwarting the efforts of blue collar criminals aiming to shut down some corporate energy… usually a tourist attraction. It worked well, needless to say.
Image: Warner Bros.
'The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show'
On air: September 1983 – December 1983Episode count: 13Featuring: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Scrappy-Doo, and (in a long-awaited return) Daphne.
In this incarnation, the gang worked as magazine reporters rather than self-employed private eyes. Different, yes, but certainly not in a bad way.
Image: Warner Bros.
'Shaggy & Scooby Doo Get a Clue!'
On air: September 206 – March 2008Episode count: 25Featuring: Scooby and Shaggy take the lead as the others are, once again, shafted to the background.
This version of Scooby-Doo involved real monsters and high-tech gadgets (including a revamped Mystery Machine) in lieu of “true crime” mysteries. Oh, and Shaggy’s super rich uncle (who has gone missing) is funding the whole thing, so that theme is back.
Image: Warner Bros.
'The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo'
On air: September 1984 – December 1984Episode count: 13Featuring: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Scrappy-Doo, a mystical grouch named Vincent Van Ghoul, and some other supporting characters.
Scooby and co. had to deal with a baker’s dozen of genuine ghosts recently set free from a store-brand Pandora’s Box. Vincent Price played their guide on the quest to capture these nefarious ghosts.
Image: Warner Bros.
'What’s New, Scooby Doo?'
On air: September 2002 – July 2006Episode count: 42Featuring: The original gang
This show’s proclivity to make occasional tongue-in-cheek references to the original series’ most lovable elements deems it a must-see.
Image: Warner Bros.
'The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries'
On air: September 1984 – December 1984Episode count: 13Featuring: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Scrappy-Doo, Daphne, and an occasional Velma and Fred.
Velma and Fred were worked gradually back into the picture in this series, and that alone made it one of the best.
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'A Pup Named Scooby Doo'
On air: September 1988 – August 1991Episode count: 40Featuring: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, and Fred… as kids!
The biggest jump in tone and visual style, borrowing from the Tex Avery aesthetic rather than the Hanna-Barbera model with which the franchise originated. Brighter, wackier, and more postmodern than any other Scooby-Doo to date.
Image: Warner Bros.
'Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?'
On air: September 1969 – October 1970Episode count: 25Featuring: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, and Fred.
The original Scooby-Doo series, and the one that most people remember the best, which saw him and his human friends driving their behemoth van around foggy neighborhoods, regularly stumbling upon haunted houses and amusement parks. Would-be supernaturalism was always the product of deceit. As the original, it is, by default, one of the best.
Image: Warner Bros.
'Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated'
On air: April 2010 - April 2013Episode count: 52Featuring: The original gang.
If you’re a fan of the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? series, this is actually an interesting new endeavor to undertake. On the one hand, it keeps in step with episodic small-town mysteries (men in masks, nothing supernatural), but incorporates bona fide seasonal arcs involving the relationships between the characters. It’s impressive, to say the least, and was even called “epic” by The A.V. Club .
Image: Warner Bros.
