The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show - Volume 1

Don Messick
William Callaway
Joan Gerber
Frank Welker
Patricia Stevens

The Richie Rich Scooby-Doo Show was a 1980 Saturday morning regular on ABC television and the hour-long program featured three short Richie Rich cartoons based on the Harvey comics, a very brief Richie Rich Gem, and three short Scooby Doo cartoons with Scooby, Shaggy, and Scooby's nephew Scrappy. This two-disc compilation contains the first seven episodes of the season and finds Richie Rich, his dog Dollar, and robot maid Irona in every imaginable sort of predicament and Scooby, Shaggy, and Scrappy in one spooky locale after another. Richie's extensive home security system is constantly being tested by thieves and updated by the absent-minded Professor Keenbean in episodes like "Piggy Bank Prank," "Robot Nappers," and "The Blur" and Richie's robot maid Irona can always be counted upon to ensure Richie's safety, whether nursing him to health in "Silence is Golden," stopping an out of control road builder in "Constructo," or battling a potential robot replacement in "Miss Robot America." What shines far brighter than the simple safeguarding of wealth throughout each of the episodes is Richie's unfailing devotion to friends, family, and doing good. Everyone knows that Scooby, Shaggy, and Scrappy have an uncanny knack for stumbling upon the creepiest, scariest situations possible and there are plenty of creepy ghouls, scary chase scenes, and funny moments in this compilation which includes "Swamp Witch," "Mummy's the Word," and "Scooby's Bull Fight" among others. What's unique about these Scooby Doo episodes is that they do not include Fred, Daphne, and Velma in the cast like the Scooby-Doo, Where are You? and What's New, Scooby-Doo? series and Scooby, Shaggy, and Scrappy don't really solve mysteries in these episodes as much as careen from one scary situation to another. While these classic cartoons seem dated at times (gas is referenced as "over $1 a gallon" in one Richie Rich episode, and the animation just can't compete with contemporary animation), both programs are classics that will appeal both to adults who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s and a whole new generation of children. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi