LITTLE ROCK — What is it? Scooby-Doo Where Are You!, the complete series, 41 half-hour episodes on eight discs from Warner Home Entertainment.
How much? $79.95.
When? Now.
What’s it about? Does the series really need much introduction? If anything, Scooby and his pals have only gotten more popular and famous since their debut in 1969.
There have been many incarnations since, but this is where it all began.
The gang’s all here: trapbuilding leader Fred, brainy Velma, danger-prone Daphne. And, of course, Shaggy and Scooby - always hungry, always scared.
The story is simple: the four teenagers and their talking Great Dane travel around in a psychedelic van solving mysteries. They stumble across abandoned amusement parks and haunted houses, bedeviled by ghosts, monsters and curses. Naturally, it’s always a sham and the gang always unmasks the crook, who blames his downfall on those “meddling kids.”
And before you ask, no, this set doesn’t include the gang teaming up with the likes ofthe Harlem Globetrotters or Batman. That was The New Scooby-Doo Movies.
How does it hold up? I’ll admit to being biased, as Scooby was a huge part of my childhood. But it’s still fun, even for an adult. Of course, some of that could be the nostalgia talking.
The mysteries aren’t terribly complicated, but they’re not the point, really. The show is packed with cartoon comedy and silliness, chase scenes set to 1960s-70s pop songs and some low-level creepiness every now and then. There was a very distinct formula for Scooby-Doo, but it worked.
It’s simple, but it’s campy fun and a good time for all ages - provided you appreciate the Hanna-Barbera brand of humor.
Special note must be made of the packaging. The discs are tucked into pockets in a foldout cardboard case. Generally, I dislike this type of packaging because it increases the chances of scratching the discs. I’ll give it a pass this time, though, because the case is stored in a plastic replica of the Mystery Machine van, complete with Shaggy and Scooby figures in the front seats. It’s absolutely adorable.
Any extras? Of course. Afew are just brief silly bits, like a tongue-in-cheek analysis of the characters’ fashions and a music video about Scooby. Others are more serious, if still lighthearted and not terribly in-depth:
Scooby-Doo’s Ultimate Fans: Fans showing off their extensive Scooby memorabilia collections.
Hanna-Barbera: From H to B: A 20-minute piece with interviews about Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera and their legendary animation studio.
Scooby-Doo: The Whole World Loves You: About 17 minutes, with interviews about the popularity and longevity of the franchise.
The Eerie Mystery of the Scooby-Doo History: A 10-minute history of the development of the series.
The Scooby-Doo Gang in Their Own Words: A short segment on the voice actors.
New this week: Have Gun Will Travel, Season 5, Volume 1; The Lucy Show, Season 3; Parks and Recreation, Season 2.
Next week: Bonanza, Season 2, Volume 1; Boy Meets World, Season 4; Law & Order, Season 8; Vega$, Season 2, Volume 1; The Virginian, Season 2.
Style, Pages 58 on 11/28/2010