Saturday, April 21, 2007

Zoinks!!

The conversation happened while waiting in line at the Scooby-Doo Haunted House.

It's always The Film Geek Family's first stop at King's Island Amusement Park, and typically a hot-spot for debate. The line's long, after all. And it's air conditioned. So, it's a great place to chew the fat.

I'm pretty sure she started the debate because she grew tired of my new bit; morphing the voice of Scooby-Doo with the lyrics of Fergie. Yeah, the Black-Eyed Peas Fergie.


You know, Fergalcious.


"My rody rays riscious

I be rup in da rym
Just rworkin' on my ritnes

Re's my rwitness"





Well, it's funnier when sung in the Scooby voice...

Anyway, a conversation started regarding if and when the television show Scooby-Doo jumped the shark. Both Mrs. Film Geek and I believe it did. We disagree, however, on when. She believes strongly it jumped when guest stars were used; episodes with Sonny and Cher, The Harlem Globetrotters, and even Batman and Robin.

Man, that was some classic Scoob to me!

I think it jumped with the addition of Scrappy-Doo. In fact, I believe firmly that Scrappy can be linked to the downfall of modern television cartoons. I freakin' hated that damn pup! He was the embodiment of commercialized, lazy story telling in cartoons.

"Puppy Power" ?!?

Pffftt...

Anyway, we couldn't agree on just where the show jumped the shark. So I thought I'd ask you.

Did the crew in the Mystery Machine ever jump the shark? And if so, when did it happen?

17 comments:

Kelly said...

I would have to agree with you. I think Scrappy put Scooby in the pooper. I can't stand that stupid pup.

jedijawa said...

I'm with ya on Scrappy man!

Anonymous said...

FG, you already know how I feel about this, but for the record I agree with you, Kelly, and Jedi on this one.

Scoob was at his best, in my opinion, when Mama Cass appeared. Now that is one classic Scooby episode!

The Film Geek said...

Hoyt, Kelly and Jedi: Ruh Roh!! You agree! Can't wait to tell the missus. :)

(And Hoyt: That WAS one classic episode.)

larryosaurus said...

When they changed the begining from the "scary" one to the "funny" one. That's when it jumped in my opinion.

Oh yeah, and Scrappy sucked almost as bad as Godzookie. Almost, but not quite.

Christopher Scott Jones said...

I think they jumped the shark on that one episode where Daphne and Velma finally got it on.

How the hell are you gonna top that? (note: that may have actually been a scene from a Kevin Smith movie)

Anonymous said...

I remember it clearly. It was during the second episode, when my six-year-old mind realized that the show had almost exactly the same plot as the first episode. It was the first time I remember my intelligence being insulted. Scooby Doo is one of those things like The Brady Bunch--the fact that it's fondly remembered shakes my faith in humanity a little.

But the Batman episode rocked! Even if they screwed up the model sheets and made his neck flesh-colored where the cowl was supposed to be.

The scary thing is that the current series is actually well-written and wonderfully, lushly animated. The original series doesn't hold up well at all, being made while the animation industry was at a nadir, quality-wise.

Sorry, wearing the animation critic hat there. :-)

The Film Geek said...

Jackie and Rudy, you guys are probably right about how the formula evolved.

But the Bat-Man episode did rock, particulary because it was back in the day when a Batman cartoon or film was still rather rare.

Chris, I like your version of the shark jump better. :)

Unknown said...

I remember Batman saying the Joker had gone from being "The Clown Prince of Crime to The Clown Prince of Climb" because he was trying to climb up the wall in the pit he had fallen into.

Good post. I hated Scooby-Dum, too.

Jelly-Filled said...

I don't remember the guest star episodes. I do, however, remember Scrappy Doo as the reason I stopped watching the show.

And speaking of Scooby and King's Island, do you remember way back in the '70s when there was a Scooby Doo boat ride sort of thing, kind of like Disney's "It's a Small World"? There were giant, colorful mushrooms outside it. I LOVED that ride. It later turned into a Smurf ride, I think.

The Film Geek said...

Hey Jelly-Filled: I didn't get to King's Island as a kid, but I bet Mrs. Film Geek will remember it. I'll ask her!

Anonymous said...

I'm with Route 75...Scooby Dumb was almost as bad as Scrappy...The Harlem Globetrotter episode may have been my favorite...I also remember one with Jerry Reid that was pretty good (Son!)...and another good one with Don Knotts...the guest stars were cool!

The Film Geek said...

Hiya Tim, and thanks for stopping by! I'll let Mrs. Film Geek know that her side of the shark jumping fence is getting pretty thin. :)

Anonymous said...

I wasn't a big fan of guests on the show, but it was Scrappy who made me change the channel.

the laughing gypsy said...

We could pick it apart til the cows come home but the question remains, when are you gonna post the mp3 of you singing in the Scooby voice? Your fans await with baited breath....

The Film Geek said...

Hey Laughing Gypsey! Finally, someone asked...:)

It's a pretty good impersonation.

Paul said...

You're right -- Scrappy killed the show.