Today’s fan spotlight is Justin! Justin is a huge Scooby fan and has a gigantic Scooby collection. While I loved all the fan spotlights’ responses, I was amazed how much Justin and I think alike. When first reading his answers, I was like “I agree with that, and I agree with that, and I agree with that…” haha.
1. What is your name? My name is Justin and online I go by CollectorScooby on my Twitter page. 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? I got into Scooby at an early age by just watching it on TV. It’s funny because when I was young I was so scared of it that I would run and hide but anytime my parents would try to change the channel I would yell at them not to! I’ve loved it ever since even now as an adult! 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? This is a tough one. My favorite episode of all time might have to be “Harum Scarum Sanitarium” from The Scooby-Doo Show. Dr. Coffin and the creepy hospital make for such a classic, spooky episode. As for favorite Scooby movie I’d have to pick “Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase” because it’s so nostalgic to me, and I always loved the music in it. It was also cool to see the gang team up with the Cyber Gang! 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? I’m involved in the Scooby fandom online through my Twitter account @CollectorScooby (“Scooby Doo Collector”). What started out as making an account to post a few of the Scooby merch I have been collecting (not expecting much) turned into having over 1.3K already and I’m so happy for that! I love knowing people like to see what I collect and also come to my page for up-to-date Scooby-related news. I’ve also been trying to jump start a Scooby website for reviews and other fun things so maybe one of these days I will have that up. It’ll surprise everyone (including myself!) 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? Another tough one. Yes the ‘70s are the greatest, however, I think peak Scooby was in the late 90s with Zombie Island, Witches Ghost, Alien Invaders, etc. The darker vibe and more mature versions of the gang proved to be a hit! 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? I would love to see a sequel to Alien Invaders. Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted Shaggy and Scooby to make contact with Crystal and Amber again. Maybe someday! But only if Warner Bros. does it right! 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? Going forward I really would love the franchise to return to the vibe of the late 90s, early 2000’s. I liked the darker, more mature stories while still incorporating the jokes and humor that we all know and love from this franchise. I’ve said it many times... this is a franchise that’s been around for 51 years now, so there is generations of fans. Scooby is for everyone and making content that’s targeted to both kids and adults instead of only just young kids, I think is key! 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? My favorite member of the gang is Shaggy because I share so many personality qualities with him. I kind of look like him in real life, but I also love food and I love just having a good time. I also get scared really easily with jump scares. My girlfriend makes fun of me for that all the time haha. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? My favorite villain would have to be the Phantom Shadows (or Green Ghosts, whichever you prefer). It’s such a classic villain and their laugh always creeped me out! A runner up would have to be Ben Ravencroft. Talk about a plot twist! 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? There’s a couple I debated between as my favorite but I’m gonna go with The Hex Girls. I love when they show up every now and then. I hope they get their own DTV team up soon. I can honestly see that happening not too far down the road. (I hope Scrappy makes a return someday too. One can hope right?) 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? I have a HUGE Scooby collection. I’ve showcased some of it on my Twitter page, but not even a dent of what I actually have! I have every movie and show on various platforms. I also have tons of figurines, production cells, posters with signatures, clothes, clocks, a Scooby pinball machine, among many others. I could go on all day trying to list it all. One of my favorite pieces is original production art for 1969’s Scooby-Doo Where Are You! My plan is to create a “Scooby room” in my house to showcase my entire collection. I would also love to see if I could go for a world record at some point too (maybe). One of my biggest, most exciting purchases is coming in the fall so stay tuned for when I post about it! 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? I think Scooby is just as popular as ever today, 51 years later, because of its everlasting appeal. It has elements of so many different genres (comedy, horror, mystery, drama) so it is constantly bringing people back to it. Everyone knows these characters and with every new generation it keeps getting reintroduced all over again. I’m convinced the franchise will go on forever, or at least for my lifetime. Kids and adults will always watch it so I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon! 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? I’m a college graduate with a degree in Communications and Journalism. I would love to write or work somehow for the Scooby franchise someday. I also am really into music, especially rock music. I like listening to and making music as well. 14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! Thanks for including me in the fan spotlight. I love getting to talk to so many of you in this fandom regularly. Also, just throwing this out there: I’ve been told I do a really good Shaggy impersonation. So if anyone is ever trying to create a fan-made Scooby show (live or cartoon) I would love to be involved by trying out for Shaggy! That would be fun for everyone to come together and do sometime! So writers, animators, actors, let me know if you ever wanna try to do something! :) Thank you so much again to Justin for his detailed responses, and for participating in these fan spotlights! I’m super excited to see his Scooby site when it comes out! Feel free to leave Justin any comments you may have for him below, and check back tomorrow to meet another awesome Scooby fan! :)
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Today, our fan spotlight is Dan Farrell! Dan is a self-published author who is a huge Scooby fan! He’s very active with the Twitter Scooby-Doo community, and also writes paranormal romance novels.
Let’s get to know Dan a little more through his fan profile: 1. What is your name? My name is Dan Farrell, though online (Twitter, Instagram, etc.) I’m known as danfaz94. 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? I was a fan of the show as a young child through the reruns shown on UK television during the 90s, but it was buying the Zombie Island VHS that started my obsession. 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? My overall favourite episode is probably “A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts” – I just love the idea of multiple monsters and the eeriness of the castle setting. It’s the episode that comes to mind when thinking about classic Scooby. My favourite film is “Zombie Island” without question – it’s not even just my favourite Scooby, but one of my favourite films in general. It has a very mature plot and would translate flawlessly into live action. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? I’m active amongst the Scooby community on Twitter and often upload posts about it to Instagram. I’m not an active member of any Scooby-themed forums, but I lurk on several. 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? As much as I love modern Scooby, the classic “Where Are You” will always be my favourite. It has a unique feel and certain spookiness that I don’t think has ever been truly recaptured. 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? I’d say I’d want a follow-up to the Zombie Island / Witch’s Ghost / Alien Invaders / Cyber Chase era where the gang are adults. And I don’t mean like “Return to Zombie Island” – I’d want a true follow-up that didn’t retcon everything. 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I would like the franchise to embrace its dark side. I think it always works well when there’s a touch of scariness to it all. Where Are You, Zombie Island and Mystery Incorporated all prove that Scooby is at its best when it embraces the fact that it’s about monsters and ghouls. 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? My favourite member of the gang is Daphne. I like how open to interpretation she is depending on the incarnation and I appreciate how she’s gone from damsel in distress to a fully-fledged character in her own right. My favourite is Reporter Daphne from “Zombie Island”, but I do have an affinity for her “Be Cool” incarnation. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? The Ghost of Dr. Coffin – that whole episode was creepy and I think having him as the villain really helped to sell that. 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? I like Marcie (Hot Dog Water) from Mystery Incorporated. I wish they had done more with her. 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? I have the gang as action figures along with the Mystery Machine, as well as a Lego Mystery Machine with Scooby, Shaggy and Fred Lego figures – plus, a Fred Funko Pop Vinyl. I have multiple Scooby-themed t-shirts, too, if that counts. 11. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? I think it has a basic, but interesting, premise. Kids like to be spooked and I think people in general have a liking for mysteries. It works so well because it can be constantly altered to keep it interesting, whilst also being true to what makes the franchise great. 12. What is one fun fact about you in real life? I’m a self-published author and, whilst I’m currently focused on paranormal romances, I do want to branch out and write crime/mystery novels which will very much be inspired by Scooby-Doo’s adventures. I’ll hopefully get around to them some day. 13. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! It was recently revealed that Velma was intended to be a member of the LGBT community in both the originals script for the 2002 live action film and in Mystery Incorporated – as an openly gay person myself, I’d love to see this kind of representation shown properly in the franchise eventually. I’d like to thank Dan so much for his detailed responses and for participating in these fan spotlights! Be sure to check back tomorrow, same time, same place to meet another awesome Scooby fan! I’m super excited to have Conall with us as our fan spotlight on this lovely Tuesday! Conall is a big Scooby fan who’s very active on both this site and Twitter. Check out his fan profile below:
1. What is your name? My name is Conall Turley. 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? I got into Scooby-Doo from watching it as a child. I can’t even remember a time when I didn’t watch Scooby. It’s been a big part of my life since I was very young. 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? Gosh picking a favourite episode is so hard! I love so many episodes from various iterations. I think I’ll go for “A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts” from Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! The setting of the spooky castle, the 3 classic movie monsters, the hilarious shenanigans, the creepy moments… it’s just classic. As for my favourite movie, it’s almost cliché at this point but Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is definitely my favourite. What more is there to say! It’s the best of the best. To provide a bit of variety, my second favourite Scooby movie is probably Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare (I always wrestle with my rankings. I love so many of the DTVs). I’m a huge horror movie fan, and since this movie is pretty much Scooby-Doo meets Friday the 13th, it’s perfect for me. I love the summer camp setting, the 3 monsters (maybe that’s my thing, lol), the music, the action sequences, the mystery, the side characters. It all comes together perfectly. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? I love to interact with all my fellow Scooby fanatics on Twitter. I follow your website and blog! It’s the best source of info on all things Scooby. I’m also part of a Scooby/HB fan group on Facebook. 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? I think the best series is Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. It took everything that made the original series great and made it even better in my opinion. Everything works for me: the overarching mystery, the darker tone, the comedy, the character development, the music and the art style (which I adore). I grew up watching the original shows and What’s New, Scooby-Doo? but SDMI was the first show I can remember sitting down to watch every week. It came along at just the right time for me (I was 12 when it started). Honestly, I could sing this show praises all day. As for the best era of Scooby, this is a tricky one. I always find myself torn between the WNSD era and the 2010-2013 era. They both had excellent shows (WNSD & SDMI) and great DTVs. They also both had live-action movies, and I love all of those too. I’m going to go for the 2010 – 2013 era because I think all the DTVs released during that time were excellent, whereas with the WNSD era some of the later movies were pretty meh. 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? I don’t think there are any DTVs that need a sequel, especially considering what we got with Return to Zombie Island. I would actually like a sequel to the first two live-action movies, whether it be live-action or animated. I love Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, and I think another movie with that cast would be amazing. 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I think the franchise needs to get more creative again. Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? is a safe Scooby series. Real back to basics after SDMI and Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! both took big risks. Also, the DTVs have been pretty much crossovers for the last few years. I would like a Scooby project (probably a series) that once again isn’t afraid to go in a direction the franchise hasn’t been before. I haven’t given much thought as to what that could entail, but something new and different, whilst still adhering to the classic formula. 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? My favourite member of the gang has always been Daphne. I think Zombie Island and What’s New, Scooby-Doo? are to thank for that. What’s New was the Scooby show airing when I was a kid and at that time Daphne was getting more to do; playing more of an active role within the gang. That was also done in Zombie Island, and it proved that there was more to her character than just “the pretty girl”. I think I identified with her character traits; I was never a leader or the smartest amongst my friends, but I’ve always had a big heart which I think is one of Daphne’s strongest attributes. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? Another tough one. There are so many villains I love, especially from the original era. My favourite villain from a series though has to be Professor Pericles. I think he’s the most formidable and evil villain the gang has ever faced. My favourite movie villains are the Yowie Yahoo and Wildwind vampires from Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire. I really like their designs, and I think the grandiose entry of the Yowie Yahoo every time he appears is really memorable and scary. 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? I mean it has to be the Hex Girls. They are Scooby-Doo legends. The fact that they haven’t had their own spin-off show yet is criminal, lol. 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? Yes, I do have a Scooby-Doo collection. The largest part of which are my VHS tapes, DVDs and Blu rays. I’ve pretty much collected every DVD & Blu ray I can get my hands on, and I have 9 or 10 VHS tapes from when I was a kid. I also have lots of Scooby-Doo comics, activity books and annuals. Scooby toys, including all the LEGO sets, plush toys, action figures and board games. I also have a few random bits and pieces like a Scooby-Doo Christmas decoration that sings, Scooby cups and mugs and a Scooby-Doo costume from years ago. 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? I think it’s a combination of the characters and the versatility of the formula. There’s a member of the gang for everyone, as they all have distinctive attributes and personalities. Then there’s the formula; who doesn’t love a good mystery? There’s so much that can be done with it, as realised by the different shows, DTVs, live action movies etc. The show can keep evolving without losing what makes it work in the first place. 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? Some people might know this already, but I have a YouTube channel where I upload my LEGO Scooby-Doo stop-motion videos. These are either recreations of scenes from the movies or my own LEGO Scooby-Doo series; some of my favourite Scooby-Doo episodes from various series that I’ve made in LEGO. I got into stop-motion with LEGO back in 2010 just from watching videos on YouTube and it soon became my main hobby. 14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! I guess just if anyone is reading this and likes to get involved with Scooby discussions on Twitter (or Doctor Who; I LOVE Doctor Who as well) then feel free to follow me, I’ll follow you and we can chat about our favourite meddling kids and their dumb dog! I’m @ConallJT on Twitter Thanks so much to Conall for being today’s fan spotlight! Feel free to ask any questions you may have for him in the comment section, and be sure to check back tomorrow for another fan spotlight! I’m excited to have BigScoobyDooFan with us today! BigScoobyDooFan is a regular commenter on the blog from the UK, and also writes Scooby-Doo fanfiction!
Check out his responses below: 1. What is your name? My name is Kyas but I am mostly known online as Bigscoobydoofan or Bigscoobydoofan2! And it repesents who I am! You guessed it....A BIG SCOOBY DOO FAN! Mind bower, right? 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? Well, it all started in Year 1 (or kindergarten if you’re in America) and I remember one day that we sat down and watched a movie on the smart-screen. That movie was actually Scooby Doo, Where’s My Mummy?! I instantly became obsessed, and begged my mum for the dvd of it so that I could watch it again at home. I started growing this strong love for Scooby Doo, and the rest is history! 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? Gee! This is really hard! I’d say Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 2 episode 13 Wrath of the Krampus is my favourite. I loved the twist that it was the gang all along! And it was so cleverly executed. I thought it was Pericles at first but then I was in shock when I saw that it wasn’t! My favourite MOVIE is actually Scooby Doo! Pirates Ahoy! I don’t know why but I like it a lot! Updated answer: Last time I said SDMI Wrath of the Krampus, but now I have no idea why I said that, it's not even in my top 10 favourite episodes of the franchise, but NOW my fav episode of the franchise is The Headless Horseman of Halloween. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? Well, obviously I visit the Scoobysnax website every day lol, and also write a lot of fanfiction!! I will talk about that more in the last question thingy. 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? IMO, the best series is Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated. It’s a very dark version of Scooby Doo, but still manages to keep that comedic charm that the original series had. I know truly that the best era is the 1998-2001 direct-to-DVD films. They are all amazing in their own way, with Zombie Island being grotesque and creepy! Updated answer: The best series is The Scooby-Doo Show, I dunno why I said Mystery Incorporated last time, I guess since I just finished that series I was so focused on it lol. But TSDS is SOO nostalgiac! I remember watching so many episodes when I was little, like the Headless Horseman of Halloween, Harum Scarum Sanitarium, Spirits of 76, Watt a Shocking Ghost, viking Lake, No Face Zomb- actually, there's so much more that I could list that I don't wanna take up time! I love em all! 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? I choose Witch's Ghost and my reasoning behind this is because Witch's Ghost. 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I'd honestly like to see the production companies behind all the Scooby shows and movies and stuff take a break and look at the Scooby media that is generally well known for being good and like take notes. I know this franchise is directed at kids, but Guess Who was just a bit too childish. If Be Cool could do it right, then I don't see why that show, and probably more to come, couldn't. 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? Definitely Shaggy. Let’s just get this fact out of the way first. HE IS A GOD. Second of all, this guy is hilarious. I love his running gags with Scooby a lot! I also like that they don’t dumb him down to the point where his brain is the size of a peanut. He has both a little bit of wisdom and stupidity to make a nice mix of a character. Updated answer: The last time I did this fan spotlight I said Shaggy. And that hasn't changed, he is just AMAZING!!! But, I've also grown a strong liking for Daphne and Fred, and I'm not talking about their MI counterparts where they're all lovey dovey, I think that was a lame excuse for character development, but in BCSD and TNSDM. Fred is a relatable control freak, and also seemingly unhinged, in Be Cool. I love him. Daphne is literally just a weirdo in Be Cool. I love that too. In the New Movies, there's a particular conversation between the two in 'Ghastly Ghost Town' when they're walking through the desert, and white Fred *Does* make a sexist joke which I was shocked about, Daphne gets her payback and it's a back and forth conversation which I think that two close friends would actually have IRL. It's sweet. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? The 10,000 volt ghost. I like the simple design of him and the whole Voltner backstory was great too. Updated answer: The Shark Men from The New Scooby-Doo movies and the Leland Brothers from WNSD. Dunno why, just like em! 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? The Hex Girls! Their music is great and they just have this epic vibe when they appear on screen. I especially like the battle they had with Rude Boy and the Ska Tastics in Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated. Update: Don Knotts. No reason for it. Just Don Knotts. And if you disagree then expect someone at your house at midnight (I'M KIDDING!.....or am I??) 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? I used to have a collection but it’s all gone now. It included: The DVD of Chill out, Scooby Doo! The DVD of Scooby Doo! Pirates Ahoy! The DVD of Scooby Doo! Where’s My Mummy?! ;-) The DVD of a few episodes of The New Scooby Doo Movies I had a few Scooby Doo playsets like a haunted house and a lighthouse. I also had a scooby doo pinball machine! I remember one Christmas at my grandma’s house, I got this scooby doo figure pack, which included the whole gang and a few monsters like red beard and the 10,000 volt ghost. Unfortunately, the dog chewed Daphne! But most special of all was my stuffed Scooby Doo toy. I always played with him and ate dinner with him, and hugged him lots. Heck, we even watched Scooby Doo together sometimes! I lost him one day, and it still upsets me now........ Anyway, moving on! Updated answer: I have LOTS and LOTS of DVDS! And also a cute little Scooby plushie and literal cardboard cutout of the Mystery Machine hahaha. 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? I think it had a good mystery for everyone to enjoy. Let’s face it. One of the key ingredients to an episode is the mystery. It’s kept the viewers using their problem solving skills and knowledge. 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? I make Lego Stop Motions! If you want to check them out, my channel name is Kool Kyas. Updated answer: I'm on the Autism spectrum. So....yeah....*Winces and awkward thumb up* 14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! Here’s something random but I just need to address it. Remember the vampire episode in Be Cool, Scooby Doo!? Did anyone else notice that Pacco completely disappeared after the explanation? I’m worried. Was he arrested or is he still around town doing dodgy stuff? Thank you so much for having me on the spotlight, WWV! Updated answer: As I was talking about before, I do SD fanfiction! They're like fanmade episodes to fanmade series! I currently have 4 series (One is a Be Cool-like collab series which is in the works), and I'd like to talk about 3 of them! First of all, there's Lemme At Em, Scooby-Doo! This series is a reboot of Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo season 1, well I say SEASON 1 because there's only fake ghosts here, but Fred and Velma don't appear so I supposed that wasn't in the og series. Anyway, there's 3 episodes out! Welcome to the Scareline, Build a Scare and Swamp Hermit Scooby, all written by me! Next, there's Scooby-Doo's Famous Friends, a reboot of The New Scooby-Doo movies. This show has 5 episodes released, I've also written another one set to release in the future. It contains guest stars like The Addams Family, George Lucas, Jim Carrey (Who even gets a SEQUEL episode based off Ace Ventura) and I'm also writing an episode with Robin, since I feel he was pretty over looked in those two original Batman and Robin episodes. Finally, I'd like to talk about probably my best series, It's Terror Time, Scooby-Doo! This series has 8 episodes out currently, and there's only 2 episodes left of the first half of the first season! This show is a reboot of Be Cool, sorry if I mislead you with the title, and it is really fun tbh! Controlling Fred is DEFINETELY still here, so is weirdo Daphne, sassy Scooby, childish Shaggy and sometimes we even get socially awkward Velma. Here are some of the best eps of this series: It's Mean, It's Green, It's the Human Machine! Death of the Daphneisms! It's Waffle Time, Scooby-Doo! Thanks so much for having me on fan spotlight for your amazing website, WildwindVampire! Thank you so much for being today’s fan spotlight, BigScoobyDooFan! Feel free to leave him a comment in the section below! :) For today’s fan spotlight, I’d like to introduce you to ScoobyInTheKnow! ScoobyInTheKnow is very active in the Scooby-Doo Twitter fandom and is a big Scooby collector! Without further ado, here’s his fan profile!
1. What is your name? Scoobyintheknow 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? Was shown episodes and movies practically since I was born. 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? Favorite episode: Bedlam in the Bigtop- features one of my favorite Scooby villains. Favorite movie: Witch’s Ghost- fun autumn theme with the Hex Girls and Ben Ravencroft, which are my favorite guest characters and the mystery is so endearing with multiple culprits. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? Right now I am only on Twitter for Scooby fandom, might get an instagram down the line. 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? Best series probably Where Are You, but Mystery Incorporated is a highly honorable mention. Early 2010s DTVs were also very good. 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? I would love more Mystery Incorporated or a sequel to Witch’s Ghost where Ben Ravencroft’s child wants to get revenge. 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I would love to see the gang in more different situations but with their classic look. I always wanted a time travel film of where we see what their future looks like and even a fairy tale film. I would love for Warner Brothers to market Scooby more and get us more products! 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? Scooby of course! No matter what series or movie he is in he is the same wonderful Great Dane that always puts a smile on my face. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? Favorite villains are the Ghost Clown and Ben Ravencroft, and also the Were Cats. 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? Best recurring non-gang member is Charlie the Robot. He has been in other Scooby media like Mystery Incorporated and Scoob, and I think Guess Who. I love seeing those classic villains being canon in the franchise. 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? I have collected a lot of Scoob merchandise that includes plush, action figures, and even the rare movie theater releases like the popcorn bucket I got off eBay. I also love collecting DVDs with different packaging. 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? The classic tropes. Scooby is so unique that it has its own gags that have consistently connected with different generations. 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? I love to draw! 14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! I love being a part of the Scooby fandom! Connecting with other hard core Scooby fans has been amazing, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Scooby-Doo! Thanks so much to ScoobyInTheKnow for participating in this! Feel free to leave him a comment below! It’s officially the weekend, and that also means there’s only one weekend left until Scooby’s 51st anniversary! Today with us is Ashton, who runs the YouTube channel smASH and is a Super Scooby fan with an inspiring history of getting into the franchise.
Here’s Ashton’s profile: 1. What is your name? Ashton, some know me as smASH from my YouTube channel. 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? Funny story actually so here it goes. I was about 3, maybe 4, I don't remember any of this but it's what my parents have told me all my life. I was in the car with my dad as we were driving (who knows where) when we came across a farm that had caught on fire. My dad pulled over to see if he could help get the animals out at least. Neighbors had come out to see what was going on and my dad asked a lady if she could get me away from the smoke. After all that is said and done, they were able to get the fire under control and the lady brought me back to my dad, she told him that she had taken me to her house and turned on Scooby-Doo and I just sat and watched it. From that moment on Scooby and the gang became a part of my DNA, and to this day I wish we knew who the lady was because she has no idea what she did to my life. 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? For a favorite episode I'll probably go with 'A Clue for Scooby-Doo' from the original series. It's one of the earliest episodes I remember watching and one of the first I ever owned to watch again and again. As for my favorite film, it has to go to Scooby-Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed. When it released I wanted to go see it so bad, I reminded my parents when it was coming out for months on end. Now I am the youngest of my three siblings, I have two sisters and one brother. My brother being the oldest, he surprised me and my siblings and his girlfriend at the time, one night with tickets to go see it. This was the first, and last, Scooby anything I saw on the big screen at a theater. I remember going in and seeing all the banners and promotional pieces for the film as we went to our seats. The movie wowed me, seeing these villains I had been watching for a few years now come alive right before me. It just felt so right. Although I love the movie to death and the story it tells, it's not the reason that it's my favorite. My brother as I said is the oldest in the family, we are the furthest apart in age. When I was super young he got addicted to drugs of all kinds, had to be put into rehab, and came home most nights yelling at my parents. I never got to see him, or ever make memories with him because he was never mentally there. As I got older I felt more and more like I never had a brother, and to this day I see my family as my two sisters and I. Going to see this film with him is one of the only memories I have with him, and actually him. He was there mentally, he was excited to surprise me with the tickets and take me, and made sure it was an experience I wouldn't forget. That is why it is my favorite movie, it's the closest thing I have to feeling like I have a brother when all these years I have never gotten to know mine. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? I try to get involved anywhere I can. I'm on many forums, listen to all the podcasts there are, and interact through social media. But I have my own YouTube channel called smASH which isn't exclusively Scooby-Doo related content, but it has leaned towards that more and more as I continue to grow, which I am not against of course. I also have made my own Scooby-Doo podcast called Scooby-Doo Legend of the Podcast. The purpose of my podcast is to dive into the continuity of the Scooby cinematic universe. There's this unspoken timeline of Scooby that I feel like everyone gets too scared or overwhelmed to figure out and that is what my podcast is doing, going through every episode and film to determine how everything connects as one cohesive timeline. 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? This is hard because I love each series of Scooby for a different reason, but I have to say The Scooby-Doo Show. I feel like that is the series they figured out how to blend creepiness and comedy so well together. It's a series I often will put on for some 'Saturday Morning Cartoons' feelings. But I also feel like they figured that out within the early 2010 films as well. 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? Oh boy I usually stray away from talking about sequels after so much hate was put on last year's two films (which I quite enjoyed actually) but there's actually two sequels I would actually like to see. The first one doesn't necessarily have to be a sequel but I have always wanted the return of Crystal and Amber from 'Aliens Invaders.' I feel like they were perfect for Shaggy and Scooby, and I would love for them to come back and ask for the gang's help. The other one is more of just me wanting an explanation for something that can be ignored, but the end credits scene of 'Camp Scare' reveals there is a real banshee, can we please get 'Camp Scare 2' and answer that mystery. 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I would love some spin off series for the franchise. They don't have to be long at all, one season per side character, but I want to get to know The Hex Girls more, get a spin off series for them and see the band growing up and forming. I also would love a 'Mystery Incorporated,' spin off where either each episode or each season, we see the previous mystery solvers stories get told more in depth leading up to the events of the Mystery Inc. we know. 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? My favorite member of the gang is Shaggy. He is always just laid back, goes with the flow, and who doesn't want to own a talking dog? Him and I look very similar, I always get told I look like him and I have just embraced it at this point. I say I am the red shirt Shaggy of this universe. I wouldn't say I am always hungry like him and Scooby, but I would always know there's going to be food about every hour if I ever roomed with him and Scoob. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? This is always a hard one, I love the villains! It's what I look forward to most about any new Scooby, but recently I kind of "rediscovered" a villain I loved. That is the Yowie Yahoo from 'Legend of the Vampire.' He is just so big and not what you think of as a vampire at all. I love that would appear, take care of business and leave. It never talks, and neither does any of its minions. It's this creature you hope to witness and yet when you do you never want to speak about it. I also really enjoyed the fact that at the end of that film there was an "end battle" of sorts between the gang and the vampire, something we don't often see I feel like. Plus Australia is my dream place to go. 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? Scooby-Dum! I miss him so much. I loved his story of wanting to become a police dog despite the fact that he was clumsy. I felt like he got to live out his dream whenever he was with the gang. He was so passionate about finding clues and didn't let any villain stop him from trying to figure it out. He's so cute and a character I think is long overdue for a return. 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? I have quite a few Scooby items, besides DVD's and VHS. I have a handful of the Funko Pop figures, one of which is the green flocked Scooby. I have a handful of fan arts I found at conventions, and a picture signed by Freddie Prinze Jr. Toys, rare VHS, coloring books, blankets, stuffed animals, it goes on and on. 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? There are so many factors to Scooby-Doo that I don't think there is one in particular. I think a big part of it is that there is one of us in each member of the gang. We can relate to one of them and even pieces of each of them that make it feel like we are a part of the gang as well. They are that misfit group of kids that do what they love and don't care what others think. When we feel we don't have anywhere to fit in we can go right into the Mystery Machine with the gang and road trip with them anywhere. I also feel though that the spooky element has kept it resonating for years. It's not scary necessarily but a good introduction to the horror genre, enough to make your mind wander for a moment and then realize it's all fake in the end with the gang pulling off the mask. Yes there are a few where the beings are real, but they are taken down and proven to be not as big of a threat as we imagined in our minds. I think also there is just a Scooby for every generation, whether you grew up with the original, the early 2000's, there are levels of Scooby so you can watch as young or as old as you are and find enjoyment throughout the entire franchise. 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? Not everyone knows this about me, but I was born with only half a heart. I have a condition called Congenital Heart Defect and I have a form called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome which means I am missing the right side of my heart. My parents were told that I wouldn't be born alive or that I would only live for 24 hours. When I was born my family took "family pictures" before they were to believe I would be gone. I won't go into detail otherwise you will be here for hours, but I have had many surgeries throughout my life to help maintain my heart. I wasn't born with a pulmonary artery (which is the vein that pumps blood to the lungs from the heart) so a doctor made me one out of a cow's jugular vein when I was 13, so yes, I am part cow. I have gone into heart failure twice already in my life, the most recent being my junior year of high school. This isn't something that can be 'fixed' so I will have to always go to have surgeries to help maintain my heart and alter how I care for it. It has limited me in my physical activity, I have never been able to run. play sports, or even ride a bike because I don't have the energy to keep up. I was always told I wouldn't make it to adulthood but I am now 22, almost 23 and still going. Scooby-Doo has become a comfort for me, something to turn on whenever I was recovering from surgeries having my chest cut open and my heart played with. When I couldn't go out and play with my friends, I could have adventures with the gang and go wherever they did. Being in the hospital I have seen so many different patients and all their different struggles. It has helped make me be very open minded and accepting of others thoughts and trials. Within Scooby, it has made me very open minded and accepting of what is brought to the table with Scooby-Doo. Like I said earlier, I quite enjoyed last year’s two films, and the Be Cool Scooby-Doo series, and it makes me sad to see so much hate for those recent projects within the Scooby universe. It's not how you envisioned 'Return to Zombie Island,' but we shouldn't bash on it for being different. Now I am just rambling lol, but I hope that all makes sense. 14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! I think that does it for me, I appreciate you thinking of me and reaching out. Thank you so much to Ashton for his thoughtful and inspiring responses. I really appreciate him participating and being so open to sharing his story! Be sure to check back tomorrow to meet another awesome Scooby-Doo fan! Happy Friday! If you’ve known the last three fan spotlights, today is most certainly probably someone you haven’t met yet, but totally should...Sierra! Sierra is an avid Scooby fan that has been a fan of Scooby (and is also a huge Disney fan) for as long as she can remember! Today, the spotlight is on Sierra, so let’s get to know her a little bit better as a Scooby fan!
1. What is your name? Sierra! 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? I’m pretty sure I’ve been into Scooby Doo for as long as I’ve been alive, since I was a child. Scooby Doo and Disney movies were my favorites to watch and still are to this day. . 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? My favorite Scooby Doo film is Scooby Doo & The Witch’s Ghost, partly for the Hex Girls, mostly because it is a childhood favorite of mine. My favorite episode is either In Fear of the Phantom, from SDMI (with yes the Hex Girls) or Night Terrors, it’s just a really spooky episode to me and it’s one of my favorites. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? I didn’t even know there was a Scooby fandom, but I was in the fandom when I was younger, being a Hex Girls fanatic and all (my gay awakening). I’m not really part of any fandoms on Twitter, more on Tumblr. 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? I would say the ones that I grew up with, the straight to video ones like Witch’s Ghost or Alien Invaders etc. Also, when Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated aired in 2010. 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? Alien Invaders. Ever since the sequel to Zombie Island,I’ve always dreamed of a sequel to Witch’s Ghost, I don’t know how it would go but with the Hex Girls it would be perfect! 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I don’t really have a set direction, besides more Hex Girls obviously. I just really want more Scooby movies in the future to further evolve the story so more people can either remember their childhood, or just enjoy whatever his next adventure is! I grew up in the direct to DVD Scooby Doo era but it doesn’t matter which era you started or grew up in because you can still enjoy it all! 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? Velma! I just feel like I relate to her more than anyone else. I love the whole gang, it’s just Velma is like the quiet yet nerdy smart girl (I’m not smart) but I just feel like I could easily fit in her shoes. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? BEN RAVENCROFT BEN RAVENCROFT BEN RAVENCROFT BEN RAVENCROFT Don’t ask me why I just adore him honestly, him and Sarah just because their dynamic is great, they worked together as villains (weren’t they siblings?) I just love everything about them plus they did the twist villain before Disney did which is just funny to me. 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? THE HEX GIRLS!! 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? I have somewhat of a collection, it’s mostly like old Scooby Doo movies, some DVDs of What’s New Scooby Doo, even some of Mystery Incorporated! It’s not that big, just old DVDs I’ve had since I was little. 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? Partly from nostalgia to me but as long as Scooby Doo has gone,it’s mostly been able to keep its charm and that’s why people go back to it, to see and remember the mysterious and adventures the gang went on and to feel like part of a team! With all the movies and shows that have come out there has to be something for everyone! A favorite character to join them, a favorite place (wait for them to go to Disneyland). It’s like watching Disney movies, it’s a new adventure every time you watch! 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? I know this is weird, but in elementary school, kindergarten and third grade maybe, I broke both my arms. It was at the same time in the same play structure thing that has since been demolished as has the school. One was so bad I had to have surgery and a pin for a while! Thanks so much to Sierra for participating as today’s fan spotlight, and be sure to check back tomorrow to meet another amazing Scooby-Doo fan like her! Happy 6th anniversary of ScoobySnax, everyone! Today with us is a good friend of mine, Luis. Luis is a huge Scooby fan that has a very interesting and insightful perspective on the usage of real monsters within Scooby, that admittedly changed the way I think about the franchise a bit, in terms of the perspective that real monsters disrupt the classic formula.
Here’s Luis’s fan profile: 1. What is your name? My name is Luis. 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? Funny story, I was 10 years old and I remember walking into my parents room and my mom was watching it. It was the “Which Witch is Witch” episode. I literally walked in as they did the unmasking. It surprised me that the monsters were fake and I asked my mom, “what it’s fake?” and she answered, “yeah it’s usually a man in a mask they solve mysteries”. Before that I just knew Scooby dealt with monsters but I never knew they were men in masks and that they solved mysteries. That whole premise intrigued me. After that my mom and I would watch Scooby episodes every Friday I was HOOKED. From then on I became a huge fan. My mom and I would try to guess who was behind the mask we made it a mini competition each episode. Great times haha 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? Wow! That’s a hard question I love so many haha. I would have to say one of my favorite episodes would have to be a tie between “Nowhere to Hyde” and “Scared A lot in the Camelot” they are just so classic, spooky, and truly capture the essence of Scooby-Doo. I love the chase scenes and the villains are so well drawn and scary looking. When it comes to film I would have to say “Abracadabra-Doo” I remember being BLOWN away at the change in animation. It was classic but with a modern HD filter on it. Loved that they went back to the flesh colored eyes and man in a mask film. This film proved that you can have a cinema worthy story while retaining the classic man in a mask formula. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve watched that film. Runner ups would be “Camp Scare” and “Legend of the Vampire” but again there’s just so many I love haha. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? I definitely check out your site I love how up to date you are on Scooby news and I appreciate how passionate you are about the show. I also frequent Scooby Addicts and have discussions while sharing my love for our favorite pooch Scooby-Doo. :) 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? Ohh another tough question haha I would say “The Scooby-Doo Show” is my all time favorite Scooby series because it takes the classic formula I know and love but kicks up the plot and story up a notch. The monsters such as the 1000 volt ghost, the ghost of the mad doctor, no face zombie, quarter back ghost, etc all classic Scooby villains that still hold their own to this day. A runner up would have to be “Be Cool Scooby-Doo” I LOVE that series and Jon Colton Barry is a genius. I really wish they would’ve made a third season. Oops I know you said just one but it’s hard to pick he he. 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? I would like them to make a sequel to “The Scooby-Doo Show” I really want Scooby’s cousin Scooby-Dum to make a return. I’d also like them to really go back to those classic spooky mysteries of that series. When it comes to films I’d rather them not make film sequels as I’d rather each Scooby movie stand on its own. Like they can make references or pay homage to past movies but I’d rather each movie be original in its own right. :) 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I would love for them to go back to the tone of “Scooby-Doo Where Are You?” have the gorgeous horror aesthetic background and classic memorable monsters. I also love how the story was fleshed out in that series. I’d probably like them to make it a bit darker and suspenseful with lots of clues and suspects. However, I’d rather they keep the monsters fake. I like my Scooby with fake monsters as I feel it’s the true essence of what he represents. :) I know we have “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who” out there and while I LOVE that series it doesn’t quite capture the dark tone of “Scooby-Doo Where Are You?” so think Guess Who animation but with darker stories, animations, monsters, and more complex mysteries all while retaining the man in the mask formula we all know and love. :) 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? I would say a tie between Scooby and Fred. Scooby is self explanatory because he’s just AWESOME and who doesn’t love Scooby haha. I like Fred because I feel like I relate to him the most. I love sports, gym, and helping my friends. But I can occasionally kinda be a goofball like Fred too. I also really like his positive and kind attitude towards everyone. :) 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? My favorite villain would have to be the ghost of Dr. Coffin. Such a creative yet classic villain. I absolutely loved the design and the backstory and setting was the cherry on top! 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? Scooby-Dum! I loved that character and I really wish he would come back. It’s a shame he was only around for 4 episodes and the Laff A Lympics series. #JusticeforScoobyDum haha 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? I do haha. I have almost all the movies, the James Gelsey books, comics, coloring books, and series collections on DVD. I’ve been collecting since I was a child. :) 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? I think the fact that it’s so timeless. I show the classic SDWAY shows to my little cousins and nephews and they LOVE it. I feel that it attracts adults because it has this spooky element but yet it being a man behind a mask reassures kids that there’s nothing to be afraid of. It teaches that sometimes the real monsters are people but in due time good people overcome that bad. I think that’s a timeless lesson. :) 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? I was raised near the Everglades and I’ve eaten gator before it’s pretty tasty and one of my favorite foods. 14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! Thank you for making this site. It feels great having a place we can discuss Scooby-Doo like a big happy family. :) Thank you so much to Luis for his detailed answers! If you have anything you want to share with Luis, or just want to say hi, feel free to drop him a comment below! For our second fan spotlight, we have a man of many names...but on here, you may know him as John Locke! John is a regular commenter on the blog and has been a Scooby fan for pretty much his entire life. Let’s get to know him a big better through this fan spotlight:
1. What is your name? I go by a few names, in real life I go by Kyle, online I use John Locke. 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? Honestly, I’ve been a fan of Scooby so long I don’t recall, it has always been a part of my life. I have a video tape that was recorded when I was 3 or 4 that has a Halloween block from USA (this was before Cartoon Network even existed) which had the Headless horseman episode from The Scooby-Doo Show, and Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf, among other things no one remembers like Rusty and Buttons. 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? Episode: ‘Spooky Space Kook’ from the original series, I just remember always seeing it in the opening but the episode itself never seemed to be on the air, so it blew my little mind when I finally got to see it. Movie: Just have to go with Zombie Island, loved it since I first saw it and have watched it many times since, love the darkness of the plot (without going too dark), advancing the characters to adults, the stakes, the misdirection on who the villains are, the jokes, making Fred the skeptic for once, just about everything except Billy West as Shaggy, loved it at the time but now I just can’t not hear Matthew Lillard or Casey Kasem in the role. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? Well once I discovered your excellent guide for collecting episodes (Thank you for that it is incredibly useful) I climbed out of my hermit like existence and started chatting a bit. 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? I’m not sure if this is controversial, but I don’t think there’s been a better time to be a Scooby fan than the past 10 years. We’ve gotten 2 fantastic shows (Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc & Be Cool, Scooby-Doo) which press the franchise in different ways, one taking it to a much darker and more referential place, and the other taking the characters and making them funnier than I have ever seen them. On top of this, we’ve gotten films like Scooby-Doo & Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Daphne & Velma (Would love for a sequel), and Moon Monster Madness. Heck, we’ve even gotten new things in the comics with Scooby Apocalypse! We are getting near constant reinvention right now and while it has led to a few duds, on a whole I would say this is better than any time before it. 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? I’d honestly like someone to take a second shot at Curse of the 13th Ghost, like it or hate it, it’s a show that deserves a proper ending, whether you enjoy there being real monsters in your Scooby or not, the show was built on the premise they were real and it should not have been handwaved. 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I would like to see another take on the classic formula, decent mysteries, some comedy and a few less gimmicks. Doesn’t need to be as funny as Be Cool, but more like the original show. If not that, I’d like someone to do another A Pup Named type series, it was fun and I really like when they get meta with the comedy. 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? It varies depending on adaptation, I loved Shaggy most as a kid and even tried to emulate him, now it varies, I love Fred most in BCSD as he balances wacky with still being in charge, Velma most in a Pup Named, as she’s just adorable, and Daphne most in What’s New, as I like her resourcefulness while still being rather girly. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? That’s a tough one! I mean I love the Space Kook because that design is just naturally creepy, and still rather unique. Most of the villains if I saw them coming at me in an alley I’d laugh, him… I’d high tail it out of there and probably not stop till I’m in the next state! 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? I will always have a weakness for Scooby-Dum as an episode with him was on that tape I mentioned, but other than that, I’d say I just love the Harlem Globetrotter episodes of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, they’ve always been some of my favorites! 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? I have a few items, most the DVDs, minus the 2-3 episode ones, a set of action figures of the gang, some pajamas and a mug that came out for Scoob!, and the Witch Doctor from the ‘A Tiki Scare is no Fair’ episode someone gave to me. I also have one of the hardbound books from when I was young, just called “Scooby-Doo.” 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? It’s a unique mixture of comedy and scary. Kids like spooky stuff, adults like spooky stuff (I love horror but never cared much for gore) so I feel it crosses lines and everyone can enjoy it. The Franchise has had infinite variety due to the mixture of the personalities and plots. They can make it more serious and referential; they can make it goofy; they can do comedy. They can split the gang up in different ways, they even had Daphne lead for a bit while they were figuring out Fred, but they never permanently got rid of one of the core 5 and they’ve always found ways to reinvent/improve the characters. 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? I called in to try to win that life-sized Lego Scooby-Doo statue during the Scooby-Doo Project airing. I didn’t win of course, don’t know where I’d even put the thing if I had! 14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! May the next 50 years of Scooby be as good as the last. Thank you so much to John Locke for agreeing to be one of the fan spotlights, and for being such a loyal reader and commenter on the blog all these years. Feel free to share any questions or comments you may have for him in the comment section below, and be sure to check back tomorrow to meet another awesome Scooby fan! Hi everyone! In case you missed the earlier announcement, for the next 13 days counting down to Scooby's 51st anniversary, we are spotlighting a different Scooby fan every day!
To kick off the fan spotlights, and we have a very special person to start things off. I'm so excited for you to meet Alexa! Alexa hosts the Unmasked History of Scooby-Doo podcast, which consists of interviews with various cast and crew members who worked on some of the more recent Scooby incarnations in order to "unmask" the history behind the making of Scooby-Doo! She's an amazing person and I'm delighted for you all to meet her. Without further ado, let's get to know Alexa a little better with our first fan spotlight! 1. What is your name? My name’s Alexa! 2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo? I honestly don’t remember the exact moment. My (much) older brother had a VHS tape with the High Rise Hair Raiser episode on it, and I think that’s how my love of Scooby-Doo started. From there, my parents got me all things Scooby (VHS and DVDs, action figures, games, etc.) as presents for birthdays and holidays, and it just carried on from there! 3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why? I have so many, it’s difficult to pick! I could probably choose a favourite episode from each series, but if I had to pick just one, I’d probably have to go classic and say Jeepers, it’s the Creeper! From Scooby-Doo Where Are You? I’ve loved it ever since I was a kid, and it’s the one that I most often go back to if I’m feeling nostalgic. As for movies, it’s always been a tie between Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase and Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire. Again, those have been my favourites forever! But there’s also been a lot of great ones more recently too, and I love Scooby-Doo Abracadabra Doo and Stage Fright, to name a few. 4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online? I’ve been a long time lurker, just following along with Scooby news and other people’s collections. But when I started my podcast, the Unmasked History of Scooby-Doo, I got way more involved and it’s been great! I love talking to people who also love Scooby as much as I do. 5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby? Oh, man. I think I might have to say What’s New Scooby-Doo? for this one. I love that it gave each of the characters more dimension and life than just the kind of stereotype that they fit into for Where Are You?. It kind of combines all the good things of both Where Are You? and the New Scooby-Doo movies, bringing in fun guest stars (occasionally) while not making them the absolute focus of the show and losing the mystery, while having the charm and spookiness of Where Are You?. Plus, the theme song is just great. But I’d also like to give a nod to Be Cool Scooby-Doo since it quickly became one of my favourite Scooby series from the very first episode. Plus, I don’t think any direct to video movie era can beat Zombie Island-Cyber Chase, but I might be biased since those are the ones I grew up with! 6. If they could make a sequel to one Scooby-Doo series or film, what would it be? Well, for the longest time I wanted a sequel to the 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. And I did mostly enjoy the Curse of the 13th Ghost, but I’d really like a sequel that includes Weerd, Bogel, a bigger role for Flim Flam, and even bringing back Scrappy – if he was able to have some character development like Flim Flam did, where maybe he’s older and less… well, scrappy. Other than that, I’m not sure! Alien Invaders maybe? It would be fun to see Crystal and Amber come back. Maybe the gang could somehow be in space with them, or it could just be another “aliens invading the earth” storyline. 7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future? I love seeing how many different things they can do with the characters! It’s probably an unpopular opinion, but some of the TV series that take a risk and try to do something different are some of my favourites. I love 13 Ghosts, Be Cool, Mystery Incorporated, and I even actually enjoy Get a Clue. As much as I love classic Scooby, I’d love to see WB take a few more risks with the property again. However, mostly, I’d just like to see the franchise go in a direction where it actually gets the promotion and love it deserves. 8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why? For me I think it’s a tie between Daphne and Shaggy/Scooby. I generally just think of Shaggy and Scooby as one entity as opposed to two different characters, because can you even imagine Shaggy without Scooby? And I also just always wanted to be Daphne, especially in the iterations where she has more independence and can get the gang out of a jam with Scooby’s dog tag, dental floss and the credit card in her purse. I love that she can be both girly and smart and resourceful, instead of needing to fit into one of those categories. 9. What is your favorite villain? Why? Another great question! Again, I have so many. Almost all of the Where Are You? Villains, like the Phantom Shadows, the Creeper, the Space Kook, Captain Cutler’s Ghost… they’re all just so iconic, and often quite spooky. I don’t know! Every time I try to answer this question my list just keeps getting longer. 10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise? The Hex Girls of course! But I also love Vincent Van Ghoul and Flim Flam. Again, I just love the 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. 11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it? Yes, of course! I have (almost) all the Scooby-related items I got as a kid, plus things I’ve picked up on my own over the years. But some of my favourite items include a full run of the Scooby Marvel comics, I just love the cover art on those; my Scooby VHS collection; and anything Scooby-Dum related! 12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? This is a question I always ask in my podcast interviews, and therefore my answer will likely be a Frankenstein monster of all the answers I’ve heard haha. But I think mostly, it’s a show that has brought generations of people together. Some parents might have grown up watching it and then showed it to their kids, who grew up and showed it to their kids, and the cycle goes on. I think it’s just always been a show that families can watch together, because it can often keep both the kids and the adults guessing as to who might be behind the mask in the end. Plus, there’s something to love, and potentially relate to, about every single one of the characters. And who doesn’t love a silly, lovable talking dog? 13. What is one fun fact about you in real life? I got my degree in journalism, and in that time in university, I made two documentaries! And not gonna lie, the idea for one of them was very slightly inspired from watching Scooby Doo and the Witch’s Ghost. 14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here! I don’t have much to add! Maybe just a bit of a shameless plug for the podcast. I’ve done a lot of great interviews with all kinds of people who have worked on Scooby, and this month happens to be all Mystery Incorporated themed! If you’re a Scooby fan, I hope you enjoy listening to the interviews as much as I love doing them. Thank you so much to Alexa for her detailed answers, and for taking time out of her busy schedule to do this fan spotlight! Be sure to check back tomorrow for another fan spotlight, but in the meantime, if you have any additional questions you'd like to know about Alexa, feel free to leave her a comment! |
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