Weekly Poll #289

6/29/2025

I'm only going to include inedible sludge or toxic waste monsters in this poll, so I excluded stuff like "The Haunted Candy Factory" and "Wanted Cheddar Alive" that had goop-covered monsters. Thanks to Shadowscooby for suggesting this week's poll! Next week, we're going to start another poll series that I'm excited about!

The results are in for last week's poll, and it's really interesting to compare it to the original poll results from five years ago with every special. Last time, Spooky Scarecrow was in the lead, but we have a new winner for this poll!

What is your favorite Scooby direct-to-video special?
Haunted Holidays - 21
Spooky Scarecrow - 17
Spooky Games - 12
Beach Beastie - 9
Mecha Mutt - 3
Ghastly Goals - 1

25 Comments

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2025 08:19:16 am

6. The Tar Monster - Probably an unusual choice for last place, but I never was huge on this episode. As I said when it appeared in the poll from a couple weeks ago, the first half is solid but the second half feels like it gets bogged down in mostly running around.

5. The Sludge Monster from the Earth’s Core - This is a really cool episode! I liked the TARDIS logic used for Scooby’s doghouse, and the villain has a really neat design. I also thought they did an amazing job creating a creepy atmosphere despite the setting being Shaggy and Scooby’s house.

4. Camp Comeoniwannascareya - I really like this as a novelty episode! The villain’s design is actually my favorite one of this set, but in terms of episode quality for the theme, I think three rise slightly above it.

3. A Bicycle Built for Boo - This is a great series premiere! I feel it establishes the vibe of the series super well, and the villain/setting are both awesome.

2. Beware the Beast from Below - Similar to #3, this is another excellent series premiere. Honestly, it’s probably one of the strongest series premieres of the franchise in how well it sets the tone of the series and allows you to get to know each gang member as they’re characterized in the series. I feel the slime mutant’s design is very close to rivaling the Toxic Mutant in “Camp Comeiwannascareya.” I also love the way that Mr. E and the overarching mystery are established here.

1. The People vs. Fred Jones - It may not be my favorite villain design, but this episode is easily my favorite of the bunch. Having the episode set up as a courtroom drama is such a unique idea! The execution is so fun and it’s easily one of my favorite episodes of Be Cool for how different it is.

Spooky Space Ghost

6/29/2025 10:18:45 am

A super interesting poll! All of these episodes are pretty fresh in my memory, which makes my choice easier.

I'm going with A Bicycle Built for Boo. I'm a huge fan of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo! The Tex Avery-esque style of humor in this series is more my style than Be Cool. I finished A Pup Named Scooby-Doo about a month ago, and it's probably the series I'll miss the most. I remember how much fun it was. On Sundays before a school break, I would grab my two DVDs of the series, set up the TV in the basement, and just enjoy the moment.

I love ALL the characters in this series. Shaggy and Scooby-Doo are so funny when they're scared (the bulging eyes are probably a tribute to Tex Avery, who worked for Hanna-Barbera for the last year of his life. RIP), Fred is hilarious with his monster theories, Daphne, while not at her best, really shows off Freddy (I wonder how she ended up falling in love with him haha), and Velma's unique walk always makes me smile.

The monsters, besides being original, are also quite funny. Just to name a few: Chickenstein, Burger Monster, and Stinkweed. I also appreciated the effort to create a unique song for each of them.

There are also the wonderful supporting characters like Red Herring (I love the scene where he gives Fred a trophy), Velma's relatives, who are relatable and all walk like Velma, Fred's uncle, and my favorite, the news presentator ! I really like both episodes in this poll, but I chose A Bicycle Built for Boo simply because of Red Herring's presence.

It's strange to say, but A Pup Named Scooby-Doo is a top three pick for me. I think my ranking of my favorite shows would look something like this:
1. What's New Scooby-Doo
2. A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
3. Scooby-Doo Where Are You
4. Laff-A-Lympics
5. 13th Ghosts
6. Mystery Incorporated
7. The Scooby-Doo Show
8. Scooby-Doo and Guess Who
9. The New Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show
10. The New Scooby-Doo Movies (sorry about that, I agree it's too low :)
11. Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo
12. Be Cool Scooby-Doo
13. Velma
A bit of a strange ranking, isn't it?

Anyway, I really like A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. When I wrote about my vision of the franchise universe, my thoughts were largely based on this optimistic and innocent series.

I don't know if you agree, but I still don't understand why Warner Bros. is still trying to produce a new version of the meeting of the members of Mystery Inc. I haven't seen The Mystery Begins yet, but this film and the Netflix series erase the existence of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. If Mystery Inc. formed when the gang members were teenagers, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo simply can't exist. I wish the Netflix series had been about something else. Well, I'm complaining, but I don't have Netflix, so I won't even be able to watch this series, haha!

Thanks for this survey. I really enjoyed writing about A Pup Named Scooby-Doo :) I don't know if I can write this, but when I compare American children's shows, like A Pup Named Scooby-Doo or Flintstones Kids, to what the United States is becoming today, it saddens me...

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2025 10:45:28 am

I love A Pup Named Scooby-Doo too! I've got a lot of nostalgia of buying the volume sets when I was younger around the time they first came out. I could never find volume 1 and 2 for whatever reason, and rented them from my local library. I never ended up finding them, but I bought the two season sets when they were released. Pup being so character-driven is one of my favorite things about the series too! I love all the gang's quirks in the series, and agree with you that Red Herring is an iconic character.

I enjoyed reading your rankings! No need to apologize for putting The New Scooby-Doo Movies so low haha. We all have our own tastes, and whatever you like is totally valid. :) I think a lot of people would rank the series much lower than I would. If you're interested, here are my rankings from a few years ago: https://scoobysnax1.weebly.com/blog/a-re-ranking-of-the-scooby-doo-series

I personally don't mind them creating series with that premise, since I've wanted a live-action show for a while, but I totally understand why you wouldn't want another series that's an origin story. Between Scooby Goes Hollywood, Pup, Mystery Begins, and Scoob!, I agree the origin story plot has been used a lot at this point, but I'm still interested to see a different take on the gang's origin story and how they handle a live-action series. I would have preferred a premise that hadn't already been done, but I also don't mind that they're reusing it personally.

No worries on the political stuff, and admittedly I also haven't been too happy with what the US is becoming. As long as it doesn't become a big political conversation/debate (since I think many people like having a break from thinking about political stuff when talking about their interests/hobbies with how polarized things have gotten), or go into the territory of sexist/homophobic/racist stuff, it's fine. :)

Matt

6/29/2025 04:32:18 pm

Side note, but I forgot that What's New didn't make your top 5 series. Personally, even more so since What's New took my number 2 spot back on that post like 3 years ago, What's New is actually neck and neck with Where Are You for my number one spot now.

It's biggest disadvantage against Where Are You (as well as The Scooby Doo Show, even though it was still ahead of it) for me were that it didn't have quite as many all timers, and while it still probably doesn't for me, with the way episodes like Mummy Scares Best and High Tech House of Horrors have grown into genuine top 20 of all time candidates for me, which is probably jarring even from my top 100 list from just last year, it has pulled a lot closer. And the consistency for a 42 episode run is just insane. I'm not sure it has passed Where Are You (yet) for me, but it is super close

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2025 05:18:09 pm

It was super close, and I would consider all of my top 6 to be amongst my favorites. Occasionally, the series do switch around a bit, so there have been many times where I'd rank it amongst my top 5, but I'd say my list there is pretty accurate as of right now.

That is really surprising that those two episodes have risen that much for you in such a short period! I'd agree with it not having quite as many all timers, although I think the consistently excellent quality all throughout is a big bonus in its favor that almost makes up for that.

Matt

6/29/2025 07:53:51 pm

I guess looking back, Mummy Scares Best was already up towards the top 20 on that list (it was 24), but High Tech House of Horror has really skyrocketed. I feel like I used to completely underrate that episode in the first place, but I also feel like it has aged in a really fascinating way, especially living in a time where AI is so prevalent, it adds another layer of interesting to an already phenomenal episode

Sometimes real life things can affect opinions on episodes, mostly for the better, though there are a few times not as much. I don't like getting political talking about Scooby Doo like you two mentioned, but I'll just say, in past years I may watch Night Louse at the White House or Spirits of 76 or even The Loch Ness Mess on 4th of July, which is coming up this week obviously. Given circumstances, I'm not exactly rushing back to do that this year. I don't like these episodes any less necessarily (especially not The Loch Ness Mess), but it kinda affects that experience

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2025 09:03:17 pm

Completely agreed, I already loved the episode but having written that "Depictions of the Future in Scooby-Doo" article earlier this year, I feel like it's only grown on me more from how interesting it is to view through the lens of current times.

Yeah, I feel similarly to you about watching those episodes around the holiday. I don't plan to watch either of them this year.

6/30/2025 04:57:30 am

"rented them from my local library" I have some bad news for you about that....

Matt

6/29/2025 10:40:04 am

Pretty decent set of episodes here, but this falls out pretty definitively for me

6. Camp Comeoniwannascareya- Despite being the first episode that comes to mind, this is pretty easily in last here. I hold Camp Comeoniwannascareya as a bottom 3 What's New episode, it doesn't work for me like it seems to for a lot of people. I feel like this episode, to me, proves how vital the rest of the gang is to this series, as this one just doesn't have the same What's New charm most of the series has for me. With that being said, there is no "bad" episode of What's New. This episode is fine, but that is the extent of it for me, and that doesn't stack up against the rest of these, personally

5. The People vs Fred Jones- This is one of those episodes that really makes me appreciate and miss the creativity and heart that went into Be Cool, even if this isn't necessarily a favorite of mine. It is good, but it doesn't land quite as much as How To Train Your Cowards or Party Like It's 1899 or something, but that is a pretty high bar. Still though, this is the kind of creativity that we are desperately missing nowadays

4. Beware the Beast From Below- It is kind of funny that we have two pilot episodes in this poll, and two of the all time greatest, at that. Like the other one that is higher on this list, this episode does a spectacular job at setting up the vibe and structure of the series. To the point where I'd say it takes a while to get to an episode that is better in the series, though there are still some really good ones that get close.

3. The Tar Monster- By all accounts, The Tar Monster isn't that different from the season 3 episodes I am much harsher on, but I don't know, I really like The Tar Monster. I guess I could say that the villain is amazing and iconic, but I could say the same for Iron Face and I have that one much lower than most seem to. I can't quite put my finger on why, but this is one of my favorite Scooby Doo Show season 3 episodes regardless

2. The Sludge Monster From the Earth's Core- Yep, A Pup Named Scooby Doo wins out for me this week. I adore these two episodes. I have always said that the first four episodes of A Pup Named Scooby Doo are a sneaky pick in the discussion of greatest 4 episode stretches in the franchise. Not my pick, but way higher than most would expect for episodes from A Pup Named Scooby Doo. I would actually say this is the least strong of those four, but this is still a phenomenal episode. Scooby's doghouse is one of the most fun settings of the franchise, and still manages to have a decently creepy atmosphere as well, it is a favorite setting of mine. This is just a Pup classic

1. A Bicycle Built For Boo- Despite my favorite episode of all time being High Rise Hair Raiser, I might say this is the greatest series pilot in the franchise in terms of how it works as a pilot. That is a high bar with the aforementioned Beware the Beast From Below, as well as What a Night for a Knight, High Rise Hair Raiser (it is still up there as a pilot), The Scarab Lives, There's No Creature Like Snow Creature, Mystery 101, the list goes on. But there is not a pilot that sets up its series as well as A Bicycle Built For Boo, in my opinion. It establishes the vibe and humor and flow of the series extremely well. I think this is the best episode of A Pup Named Scooby Doo and an all time great, pretty easy choice for me at the end of the day, even if I'm sure it will not be the most popular choice

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2025 10:59:49 am

5. I also really miss this type of creativity in the franchise. You can tell that so much heart went into Be Cool, and I would love if one of the upcoming series featured this kind of writing again. I really hope that all the upheaval at WB-Discovery will lead to a Renaissance where we're getting more projects with the level of heart that Be Cool has.

3. I feel that unlike some of the other season 3 episodes that we dislike, the first half of this episode is pretty decent and has a strong atmosphere (especially the scenes at night with the Tar Monster trying to get into their tent, and the part where the gang goes to the tar pits). Unfortunately, the second half devolves into Shaggy and Scooby running around, and doesn't really have the same level of atmosphere imo. I feel it's a bit like "The Creepy Heap from the Deep" and "The Warlock of Wimbledon" to a lesser extent, although the drop in quality is much more subtle imo.

1. I'd also rank all of the ones you mentioned as the best pilots of the series, although I'd add "Happy Birthday Scooby-Doo" to that list personally.

Matt

6/29/2025 04:10:30 pm

5. We can always hope, it is hard for me to believe it until I see it given the current circumstances. I hope that it happens though, I'll wait as long as it takes. I'd rather wait for greatness than get more mediocrity quickly

3. That is pretty accurate. I guess ultimately, for me, it doesn't bring it down as much as it does for the other two (Although Creepy Heap is still obviously better than The Tar Monster regardless imo)

1. I always forget about Happy Birthday Scooby Doo for pilots because it doesn't really feel like one, probably because The New Scooby Doo Mysteries serves as a direct follow up to the New Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show, and some even consider it season 2. With that being said, Happy Birthday Scooby Doo is up there as well just in how great of an episode it is

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2025 05:20:49 pm

5. Completely agreed. I doubt anything's happening right now considering how much the merger has shaken things up, but I hope that the writers use this period of no DTVs to come up with something amazing to reboot them with.

3. Creepy Heap and Tar Monster are on polar opposite ends of my series ranking lol, so yeah, definitely agreed that Creepy Heap is way better despite Tar Monster not having quite as much of a quality dip.

Matt

6/29/2025 07:58:06 pm

3. It is definitely much closer for me, especially given how much steeper the drop off is in Creepy Heap for me, but most season 2 vs season 3 episode comparisons are going to season 2 for me lol

ZoinksMan

6/29/2025 10:48:44 am

i gotta go with Beware The Beast From Below that monster has an amazing design and it's the amazing start of Mystery Incorporated my 3rd favorite Scooby show

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2025 11:00:17 am

Completely agreed on the Slime Mutant having an amazing design (and that it's a great start to the show)!

Shadowscooby

6/29/2025 01:22:11 pm

I’m going for Beware The Beast From Below. The fact that he can cacoon you in slime is scary.

JakeSDfan27

6/29/2025 04:12:53 pm

Terror of the Tar Monster (Great)

A Bicycle Built for Boo! (Great)

The Sludge Monster from the Earth's Core (Great)

Camp Comeoniwannascareya (Great)

Beware the Beast from Below (Great)

The People vs. Fred Jones (Great)

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2025 05:21:05 pm

Thanks for sharing your ratings!

Scooby snacks

6/30/2025 01:13:33 pm

The people vs. Fred easy! 😊

Boo Brothers #1 Fan

7/1/2025 08:27:33 pm

Saw the tar monster first and didn't need to read any other options. One of my all time favourite scooby villains (top 10 easy) and one of my top 10 favourite episodes as well. PLUS I count his appearance in cyber chase as just extra points to his awesomeness

JakeSDfan27

7/2/2025 10:36:16 am

Not to be nitpicky but... looking back on it now I feel like the title of the WNSD episode (Camp Comeoniwannascareya) sounds a tad bit too much of a mouth full and maybe too hard for some younger viewers to pronounce.

So I came up with a new title for the episode just to make it simple and easy go understand.

It's called (Creepaway Camp)

WildwindVampire link

7/2/2025 01:09:01 pm

That's a good title, thanks for sharing!

sdf

7/4/2025 05:16:09 pm

6)The Tar Monster: This is easily in last place for me. It’s a fine episode, but it’s the weakest of the bunch and one of my least favorites in the series. That said, it did have the most iconic villain.

5)A Bicycle Built for Boo: A cool series premiere with a fun episode and a decent villain.

4)The Sludge Monster from the Earth's Core: Another neat A Pup Named Scooby-Doo episode with an interesting mystery and tons of great humor.

3)Beware the Beast from Below: Another series premiere, and another one that sets the tone for the rest of the series perfectly. The villain was very cool here too.

2)The People vs. Fred Jones: pleasant surprise and a very unique episode—definitely one of the best in the series.

1)Camp Comeoniwannascareya: I’ve always loved this episode. It has a great plot, even without the rest of the gang, and the villain has a great design. But most importantly, it always gives me a warm, nostalgic summer feeling.

JakeSDfan27

7/18/2025 07:27:17 am

I really like the art design for the Toxic Mutant from TP vs FJ. He kind of looks a little bit like The Creeper from SDWAY only bigger and more ugly looking.

WildwindVampire link

7/18/2025 09:10:38 am

Agreed the design is great!

Weekly Poll #289

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