SCOOBY DOO
Here is another cartoon classic that continues to draw new young audiences while maintaining the interest of the nostalgic adult audience. CBS approached Hanna-Barbera about a funny mystery series as they felt that the superhero genre needed a rest. It turned into a story about four young people and a dog that traveled around the country in their *mystery van* to solve all kinds of supernatural puzzles.
The show made its premiere in 1969 and was an instant hit. Scooby Doo is named after a nonsense phrase in Frank Sinatra’s song, "Strangers In The Night". The supernatural happenings always turn out to be bad guys up to their usual tricks but something about these lovable characters and the irresistible Scooby make the show a success up to this day. Hanna-Barbera copied the formula into many of their other cartoons like *Josie and the Pussycats* and *The Addams Family*. Scooby is the most popular of any of these characters. In 1972, the show expanded into an hour-long show and the budget increased as well making it possible to have famous guest stars from other television shows. In 1976, *The Scooby Doo/Dynamutt Hour was another hit along with the two-hour, *Scooby’s All-Star Laff-a-Lympics* released in 1977. Scooby-Doo is very much in the public eye today and it looks like he is here to stay. | 
