I needed to do a quick post to check if my link with Facebook is now working but I didn’t have a Scooby Doo what to write about. So how about Scooby Doo?

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away …

Scooby Doo opened a chest and unleashed thirteen ghosts into the world. The Thirteen Ghosts of Scooby Doo was apparently the 7th incarnation of the greatest Dane – which is weird because I use 7 and 13 as lucky numbers and they were my two preferred numbers when playing football. By the time this version was made I was an adult and I only saw it on Boomerang or the Cartoon Network – you know in the time when you paid one subscription and got all channels. Therefore, I only saw it now and again when there was nothing else on so I never saw the full series.

The bad news about this show was that the full gang was not there, only Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby. Oh, and the even worse news is that Scrappy was there too. The good news is that unlike their other adventures this time they were dealing with real ghosts and even Vincent Price had a role as Vincent Van Ghoul.

Now what makes me think about this you might ask? Fairly random what. But no, because earlier today I watched a 2019 film called Scooby Doo and the Curse of the 13th Ghost. Apparently, they only caught 12 in the series and the worst was left.

It was pretty good or most of it was. The beginning was funny because the gang were packing up Mystery Inc as they caught the wrong person and were warned off – all wearing the same gear as in the first episode of Scooby Doo in 1969, clothes were made to last in those days. Fred has just sold the Mystery Machine and then they get a message from Vincent that the 13th ghost is after him. Now Fred and Velma don’t know about any of this and they get a shock when Daphne turns into her ghost chasing persona, even changing outfits out of the 69 dress and unveiling her own van.

So they all set out to Vincent’s castle with Daphne in charge and Fred feeling lost – he can’t even drive as he doesn’t do stick. (A US term folks for manual car.) We are all set for a rip roaring chase to capture the last ghost and incarcerate him in the chest when things take a bit of a turn. No, not an appearance by Scrappy fortunately. There is some Flimflam – but that’s alright because he was in the original – but Fred outing himself as a cheerleader does not track. Then the 13th ghost turns out not to be a ghost at all which was disappointing. Overall though a bit of a laugh for an hour and a bit, plus enough to get a quick test blog out.

None of the original cast were in it which is not a surprise considering the 34 years in between but the fun thing is that whilst Fred was not in the series he is still played here by the guy who has played him since the original Scooby Doo series of 1969 – Frank Welker. In this film they are all to turn 18 soon but by my reckoning Fred is going on 67. It is amazing really that a show that used to entertain me as a kid is still going in various guises for kids today.

Another surprising fact I found out today when I looked it up. I think it is universally agreed among Scooby Doo fans that Scrappy was the worst thing to happen to the show. In fact, in this film Flimflam notes that Scrappy is missing from the reunion and Velma asks “what is Scrappy?” I read today that Scrappy was dreamed up to help save the show from falling ratings in 1979 yet Scooby is still around in spite of Scrappy.

To paraphrase the original show title, Scrappy Doo, Where Are You?