Fan Spotlight 2021 Day 12: Cameron Bates

It’s hard to believe that in less than 24 hours, Scooby-Doo will have been on the air for 52 years! For one of our last fan spotlights of this year, I’d like to introduce you to Cameron! Cameron is a cattle rancher who is a big Scooby-Doo fan. Cameron runs his own social media page, @ScoobyandCam where he shares his Scooby collection and other Scooby-Doo related content. He’s also a co-host of the ScoobyAddicts Scooby Panels. Here’s Cameron’s fan spotlight:

1. What is your name?
My name is Cameron Bates and I run an account called “Scooby-Doo & Cameron Too”.

2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo?
When I was little, my mom would always turn on the ABC network and The Scooby-Doo Show would come on. She would let me watch Scooby-Doo when it came on from start to finish. She said I never wanted to finish other cartoons, like I did with Scooby. She even gave me a portable tv when I was a kid, that way I could tune into ABC in the mornings and watch Scooby. I told my family and friends that I loved Scooby-Doo, so from then on, everyone started buying Scooby-Doo merchandise for me left and right. I had Scooby themed birthday parties, Scooby toys, books, clothes, movies, cds, and much more. Honestly over my 23 years of living, I never stopped loving Scooby-Doo and that’s why I am still collecting till this day!

3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why?
My favorite Scooby-Doo episode is “Vampire Bats & Scaredy Cats” from The Scooby-Doo Show! It’s my favorite episode, because Its such a dark/fun episode. You have an amazing story with spooky elements and I love how scary the vampire is. I also love this one, because we really get to see Scooby-Doo & Scooby-Dum work together to solve the mystery! My favorite film is Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase”. This is my favorite movie, because I grew up watching this all the time and I love how the gang get trapped in a video game. The story of them having to stop a virus while in the cyber world is just amazing! I also love how they interacted with their classic selves and how the old villains from the classic series came back!

4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online?
I run a social media page called “Scooby-Doo & Cameron Too”. My name is Cameron and I wanted to create an account that I could connect with other Scooby fans/lovers like myself to share news, projects and my Scooby-Doo collection. My pages are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube! I’m also a co-host on the Scooby Panels by Nikki Blake with Scooby Addicts! I’m very blessed to be apart of this community!

5. What one Scooby-Doo series or film would you want a sequel to someday?
I would have to say that the 60s/70s era of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” & “The Scooby-Doo Show” were the absolute best! They were the originals and they paved the foundation for the franchise of 50+ years of Scooby-Doo!

6. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future?
If I could make a sequel in the Scooby Universe, I would have to say a sequel to “Scooby-Doo and the Boo Brothers”. I think this would be cool to see Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy team up with the Boo brothers again to solve another mystery. Hopefully this time with the whole gang out in the country and make it fun and nostalgic for all of us fans to watch.

7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future?
I would personally like the franchise to keep going at the rate they are going. I just want the Scooby-Doo franchise to stay safe and clean for the kids and for the whole family!

8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why?
I would have to say Scooby-Doo is my favorite character, because he is just the must loyal, kind, and courageous cartoon dog that I have ever seen. Growing up with tons of cartoon dogs on the TV, Scooby has always stood out to me. I wish he was a real dog, so I could give him a big ole hug!

9. What is your favorite villain? Why?
My favorite villain is Charlie The Haunted Robot from “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” season 1, episode 8 titled “Foul Play in Funland”. He is my favorite villain, because he was such a classic and he was being controlled by someone else to drive people away from the funland. That episode really showed how people are the true villains using masks, costumes or robots to do their dirty work. The setting of this episode with the colors and how they made it was just such a fun episode to watch.

10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise?
In my opinion the best recurring character was Scooby-Dum. Now I know he was part of the gang while they were traveling, but to me he didn’t get to stay for everything. I love Scooby-Dum, because i felt that he was so fun and pure and innocent. I love the relationship that Doo & Dum both had with each other. Each episode of the “The Scooby-Doo Show” and “Laff-A-Lympics” with Scooby-Dum I will forever cherish. I just hope they bring back that lovable Sherlock Holmes Dimwitted Mystery Solving Pooch again soon!

11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it?
I do have a Scooby-Doo Collection! It’s very large and I am proud of it. I have been collecting ever since I was born. My mother started collecting stuff for me and then I took off and kept up with since I could walk. We would go to garage sales, estate sales, thrift shops, stores and look on EBay for Scooby items. I collect anything and everything Scooby-Doo licensed merchandise. I’m trying my best right now to become the World’s Largest Scooby-Doo Collector and I hope one day I can succeed with that! In my collection, I have some really cool pieces. I own a lot of cool Scooby-Doo Live Action Movie Props and stuff used in the movie. I also own some cool one of kind statues. My favorite piece by far is the Scooby-Doo Ride Along Mystery Machine. This Mystery Machine was Scott Innes and it was signed by him and it was also used on a TV Show called “Pawn Stars” which is big here in the South. It’s one of my prized possessions. I honestly just love collecting and it just comes natural to keep doing it!

12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years? 
I truly believe that keeping Scooby-Doo pure and clean all these 52 years has kept Scooby-Doo going strong to this day! When you watch Scooby-Doo there is no cussing, sex, or violence. It’s all good hearted fun with 4 teenagers and a talking dog. They are warm, kind, funny and always putting a smile on our face. I also think all the cool mysteries they solve has made them the best mystery solvers in the history of mystery solvers. When you turn on Scooby-Doo, it’s like all the worries of the world go away and you are right there with the gang to solve the mystery! He brings so much joy and excitement into my life and I know he does the same for millions of fans across the globe!

13. What is one fun fact about you in real life?
I am a cattle rancher in NorthEast Texas. When people ask me personally who I am and what I do with my life, I tell them that I live on a ranch. People don’t believe me and think that since I collect and love Scooby-Doo, I live in the city. Not true! I live out in the Country where I raise Cattle and Horses. I love my life and Scooby falls into well with balance. I work on my ranch in the mornings and collect Scooby-Doo by the evenings!

14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here!
I would just like to say that I am truly blessed to be apart of the Scooby Community. When I started a couple of years ago with my page “Scooby-Doo & Cameron Too” I never thought in a million years to be surrounded by such amazing people with the love for Scooby-Doo & Mystery Inc. I appreciate ScoobySnax.com for this amazing fan spotlight edition and for asking me to be apart. I have really enjoyed this! If anyone loves Scooby-Doo, please feel free to find me on all Social Media Platforms by using the “@ScoobyandCam” username to find me. Please stop by and say Hello! Always love to connect with Scooby-Doo Fans!!!

Thank you so much to Cameron for being today’s fan spotlight! Be sure to check back tomorrow for our final fan spotlight of the year!

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