Top 10 Things Only Adults Notice in Scooby Doo
#10: Referencing Rorschach “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” (2010-13)
The “Scooby-Doo” franchise is no stranger to crossovers, especially with DC. The mystery gang has met Wonder Woman, fought the Joker, and even teamed up with Batman himself. Nonetheless, we were still surprised by this more obscure, and decidedly more adult, DC reference in “Mystery Incorporated.” After spending the beginning of an episode in disguise, Velma reveals her face with this line: [“Who were you expecting, Rorschach?”]. She’s of course referencing the morally complex protagonist of “Watchmen.” Although it’s possible that kids may be aware of the masked vigilante’s ever-changing face, we hope none of them have actually seen or read from his blood-soaked story.
#9: Spooky Hydrocolonics “Scooby-Doo” (2002)
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When Shaggy explains that he and Scooby-Doo avoid places with spooky-sounding names, it can be assumed that he’s talking about avoiding ghosts, ghouls, and vampires. It’s unlikely anyone expected Scooby to bring up hydrocolonics. And yet, that’s exactly what he does! In case you’re unaware of what a hydrocolonic is, it’s a medical procedure done to clear waste from the large intestine. It involves a long tube being inserted into your nether region, and can notably help people prepare for a colonoscopy. Needless to say, it’s unlikely many kids have had one - or even know what they are - so it’s a pretty strange procedure to name drop in a PG movie.
#8: “Impure” Girls “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” (2010-13)
Most “Scooby-Doo” villains are more concerned with property values than perceived purity, but judge Hebediah Grim proved to be an exception to that rule. With the appearance of an undead pilgrim, Hebediah attacks women for being what he considers “impure,” condemning their behavior. The only woman safe from his wrath is Velma, who he deems to be “plain” and “untempting.” The end of the episode reveals that Hebediah is actually the disguise of two teenage boys. They pretended to save girls from the judgmental judge they created in order to impress them. It’s a pretty twisted motive, and one that would hopefully never be on the minds of the show’s young audience.
#7: Steve Buscemi’s Reputation “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?” (2019-21)
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Steve Buscemi is no stranger to child-friendly productions. He famously provided the voice of Randall in “Monsters, Inc.,” and delivered some memorable lines in “Spy Kids” second and third installments. Funnily enough, when the actor appeared on the cameo-based kids series “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?”, the show decided to reference some of his decidedly more adult roles. Throughout the episode, Steve Buscemi is repeatedly mistaken for a criminal, calling to mind his roles in mature films and series like “Fargo” or “The Sopranos.” It’s not likely young audiences will have seen, or even heard of, these entries in his filmography, so these references seem to just be for the adults in the room.
#6: A Teacher’s Salary “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” (2010-13)
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As a kid, it can be easy to forget that teachers are people too. It’s rare that a child would even sit and ponder what their teacher is having for supper, let alone how much money they’re paid in a year. Unfortunately, the reality for many teachers across America is that what they are making is not enough. When it’s revealed that the villain the “Mystery Inc.” gang have been pursuing is an educator, Daphne is momentarily confused about why a teacher would resort to wrongdoing. That changes once she and her friends remember the occupation’s subpar salary, though. This throwaway line may go over a child’s head, but plays as darkly comedic for anyone in the know.
#5: Scooby Visits the Red Room “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” (2010-13)
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In “Mystery Incorporated”s second season, we go to a room surrounded by red curtains with a zig-zagged black and white floor. Referred to as the “Sitting Room,” wherein a short, middle-aged man dances. For the show’s intended audience, this setting is likely just weird and disorienting, but an older crowd may recognize the location as the Red Room from “Twin Peaks.” The animated setting is lifted almost exactly from Mark Frost and David Lynch’s surreal series. The dancing man is even played by The Man From Another Place himself, Michael J. Anderson. “Twin Peaks” is a series that even some adults struggle to fully understand, so kids would be unlikely to enjoy the layered reference.
#4: Dropping F-Bombs “SCOOB!” (2020)
What’s a guy to do when he’s being attacked by robotic scorpions? Drop some “f-bombs,” of course! The f stands for falcon, of course, although we wouldn’t blame you if you thought otherwise - that was the intention! After Shaggy suggests that Blue Falcon drop some of his f-bombs, the superhero tells him they should “keep it PG,” directly acknowledging the double entendre. Blue Falcon and his father are no strangers to this kind of risky word play, as the film also shows books written by the pair entitled “No Falcon Around” and “Just Falcon Around.” It’s clear that the writers had a falcon good time with this character’s name!
#3: Blair Witch Bumpers “The Scooby-Doo Project” (1999)
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Although the ‘90s aren’t typically regarded as one of horror’s best decades, they did bring about some now-iconic classics. Audiences were introduced to Tim Curry’s Pennywise in “It” and first encountered Ghostface in “Scream.” The decade also revolutionized found footage horror with the release of “The Blair Witch Project'' in 1999. “Scooby-Doo” wanted to recreate some of the latter film’s terrifying energy for an upcoming marathon, and succeeded with “The Scooby-Doo Project.” Originally played out as short segments between consecutive rerun episodes of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!,” it parodied the frightful film months after its release. It’s likely kids at home were unsettled by the segments, which showed the mystery gang lost in the woods, without fully realizing why they were so scary!
#2: Legally…Voting! “What's New, Scooby-Doo?” (2002-06)
Turning eighteen in the US is a big deal. For many, it’s the age at which they’ll graduate high school and embark on a new chapter in their lives. It’s also the year you’re considered “legal” …to vote, that is. In the “What’s New Scooby-Doo?” episode “A Scooby-Doo Halloween,” audiences are introduced to Velma’s newly eighteen-year-old cousin, Marcy. After her age is established, she mentions that she is able to legally vote, with a pause and flirtatious glance back at Fred before the word “vote.” One can infer from her pause that she may have had another, more adult, activity in mind before pivoting to something family friendly. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Reading Marquis de Sade, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-78) You Can Learn a Lot About a Person by the Books They Read “It’s Not Tuesday”, “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” (2010-13) Barty Blake’s Reply Suggests He & His Wife Schedule Their Romantic Moments “Baby Got Back”, “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” (2004) When a Record Player Breaks, Sir Mix-a-Lot Blasts Scrappy-Doo Almost Swears, “Scooby-Doo” (2002) After He’s Caught, Scrappy Calls the Mystery Gang Something Harsher than “Meddling Kids” Fred’s Fruit, “Scooby-Doo” (2002) If the Gang Was a Banana Split, Shaggy Says That Fred Would Be the Banana - A Big One Too
#1: Shaggy Loves Mary Jane “Scooby-Doo” (2002)
There are some fan theories that are so believable they might as well be canon. For “Scooby-Doo,” one of these theories is that Shaggy is a stoner. It makes a lot of sense, especially given the character’s obsession with food. This idea is referenced in the 2002 movie when Shaggy’s love interest introduces herself as Mary Jane, a slang term for the substance, and he tells her it’s his favorite name. Another reference plays out earlier in the film, when smoke can be seen rising from the Mystery Machine. Although it turns out that Shaggy and Scooby are cooking eggplant burgers, the suggestion of them doing something different is still there, with Shaggy proclaiming: [“man, talk about toasted!”]
