When Scooby-Doo Looked Like Family Guy (Kinda?)

[@NICKtendoReviews]

Hey, I just wanted to correct a little assumption I made that Mindy Cohn retired from her role as Velma. It’s implied that she was replaced outright due to how when Matthew Lillard was recast in SCOOB, she tweet with a reply that said “been there, it sucks”. In my defense, her Twitter account no longer exists & this hasn’t been outright confirmed, but it’s safe to assume, especially with how the Scooby-Doo VAs were suddenly recast for SCOOB. Sorry for any confusion, I would’ve mentioned this had I known. Hope y’all still enjoy the video!

[@itsjayden8002]

@@From_Here_Till_Then Why would someone tell you that you’re wrong about you wanting a reboot of those shows?

[@Hi_Just_Fred]

Oof yeah that shit sucks when companies just replace ya suddenly from a role you've been doing for so long. There's some recent examples of it not quite being the case, Bayonetta VA drama, but stuff like that where it was some major BS like the Sonic Adventure Voice Cast getting dropped in favor of the 4Kids dub cast is definitely some shitty company behavior. Sucks to lend your talent to something for so long and get attached only to be cast aside as if you were totally disposable and your time lending your voice to that role meant nothing.

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

I still never had a problem with Mystery Inc. and (sometimes) Scrappy-Doo potraying them in any form of Media

[@robbiewalker2831]

In all fairness, in the case of this show's artstyle, these designs work better than the *actual* Family Guy designs; because these official redesigns in Be Cool looked like a moderation: exaggerated to a comedic style while retaining the sense of depth they have.

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

@@robbiewalker2831 Seems like its fair

[@WaksWorld05]

I love how the Scooby Doo show that looks like an adult cartoon is a better written than the actual Scooby Doo adult cartoon.

[@James.99]

I'm used to adult cartoons looking more like 1969 style Scooby Doo. Sealab 2021, Harvey Birdman, Space Ghost, The Venture Bros, and even the human character models in Aqua Teen Hunger Force all come to mind

[@kirinbobarcana]

To be fair, be cool scooby doo has writters that actually give a crap about writing a story and not about being hip, or woke, or whatever the hell Velma was doing.

[@kirinbobarcana]

To be fair, be cool scooby doo has writters that actually give a crap about writing a story and not about being hip, or woke, or whatever the hell Velma was doing.

[@toon4thought]

NGL, while this show still doesn't strike me as my thing, every single clip you showed convinced me the voice cast had the time of their life here.

[@bobmanperson599]

It looks more like Paradise PD or Brickleberry than Family Guy. It has that generic "2010s adult cartoon" art style despite not being aimed at adults.

[@mitchfletcher2386]

Well, the character designer also worked on Brickleberry.

[@fernie-fernandez]

Even John K. made an interesting criticism about FG’s art-style by saying: “You can draw 'Family Guy' when you're 10 years old. You don't have to get any better than that to become a professional cartoonist. The standards are extremely low.” He even warned FG is a bad influence to future-animators.

[@whiteroach3]

@@fernie-fernandez I hate that I have to agree with that man.

[@KatieLHall-fy1hw]

I we Brickleberry, but the eyes still give me Family Guy

[@invaderpez12]

​@ferniefernandez6930 although this isnt exactly a wrong statement, I wouldn't really trust anything John K says

[@AniToonimationKawaii]

The show really is an underrated gem on the franchise with how funny and enjoyable Be Cool can be. As many didn't like it just because of the artstyle and how it came after Mystery Inc. It's an example not to judge a book by it's cover.

[@zeospark9715]

I honestly feel the same about Shaggy and Scooby Doo Get a Clue people HATE on the artstyle and it's opening theme a lot but I feel like it can be a charming show and it was the first series in a long while to truly focus on Shaggy and Scooby (since 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo but it literally lasted for 13 episodes lol)

[@bigrat_]

i agree, this is my 2nd favourite scooby-doo show (mystery incorporated is obv the best) it was actually pretty entertaining ngl, especially as a kids show, the ending (besides the 2 part episode) was actually really good.

[@TheDanTheManShow]

Thanks for giving this one another look, Nick. Just finished the show up for the first time much earlier this year and I really enjoyed it for what it was trying to pull off. My personal favorite is “Trading Chases”, I think that probably had Fred at his best.

[@jaquayveonharvey3419]

Ur chanel is so underrated

[@genemelendez368]

I’m glad more people are giving this show a chance. This show coming right after Mystery Incorporated and airing at the same time as Teen Titans Go, when it was still vehemently hated, did not do them any favors

[@unityedits3722]

Okay but the “eyeglasses are a prescription mask!”/“Velma Dinlkey??” bit actually made me laugh hard as fuck lol I genuinely might check it out

[@mattpiercey1576]

That and Fred's line about Scooby and Shaggy "not signing the contract" to force them to solve mysterys has completely sold me on the show

[@RetiredAccount3737]

I remember people judged it and were all like "Shaggy got double jointed knees" originally, but after Velma we realize how good this was

[@EmployeeAMillion]

I’ve never seen this show, nor more than a couple episodes of any Scooby-Doo, but the thumbnail had saw much raw energy that I was compelled to see what this show was like.

[@NICKtendoReviews]

Mission accomplished.

[@pugman9672]

That’s the power of the dramworks smirk

[@eixd3396]

The show is really funny i definitely recommend it

[@BrickbyBrick_Productions]

This show was a diamond in the rough, and I will always love it. It was a different and underrated take. Got hate when most people didn’t give it a chance.

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

Thankfully, now that HBO's Velma is a plague that's steadily growing, we can appreciate Be Cool Scooby Doo much more!

[@OrangeOctopi7]

This is one of the most underrated iterations of Scooby Doo. I watched this a couple of episodes at a time after going through Scooby-Doo and Guess Who, and it was a breath of fresh air after how hit-or-miss that show was.

[@itsjayden8002]

I liked *Be Cool Scooby-Doo* before it was cool. This show is place firmly in my *Shows That People Blindly Hated On And Realized Were Good Way Too Late* collection.

[@Yammerzaki123fr]

Realest

[@XX-sp3tt]

Velma did for this show what it did for Scrappy Doo. Make people realize that maybe it wasn't so bad.

[@apodcastnamedscooby-doo236]

Hey, Nick! Thanks for the shoutout and glad some of the interviews helped inform your backstory deep dive. I really enjoyed the video and think this is one of the overall fairest and most accurate takes on the series and its production. Hope this leads to more people discovering this diamond in the rough of a show. Good stuff!

[@NICKtendoReviews]

You’re welcome but once again thank you! Wouldn’t have been able to be as thorough without ya! Made my job so much easier.

[@geno7_]

it makes so much sense in hindsight that the show was originally gonna have more of a 60s throwback look but family guy crew members being brought on forced them to compromise, the art style does kinda feel like a halfway point between family guy and paul coker's design work, especially with stuff like the hatching on shaggy's nose. also i always love andy sturmer im so happy hes still at it

[@NICKtendoReviews]

It’s interesting that you can still see remnants of that original idea. The “summer vacation” premise is still in some descriptions for the show. Also, I specifically did pickups lines just to give Andy Sturmer more credit once I actually dug into his credits so I’m glad you appreciated that.

[@darkmask5933]

This feels like the Legend of Zelda Windwaker of Scooby Doo cartoons. People immediately wrote it off solely on its design and it didn't get a chance until much later.

[@neplicot]

Hey, Nick! Thanks for the great review. This is very well done.

[@Coopcole26]

I liked this show. it's a shame people didn't give it a chance due to the art style it got some pretty good laughs out of me. I think the show would have done better if it didn't just come of the heals of mystery incorporated

[@Coopcole26]

Also, I thought a fresh take was almost necessary at the time due to mistery incorporated, taking all the characters to the extreme already

[@destiny_ultimatedork675]

I loved this show but people literally judge it by its artstyle instead of its comedy which I absolutely love out of any series. Looking forward to this video‼️

[@SirKackington]

NICK!!! Really great video! I don't recall seeing much of this show outside of the fact that people couldn't stop comparing the art style to primetime shows. You made me wanna give the show a watch!!

[@paperluigi6132]

This and Mystery Inc were the only two Scooby Doo shows I watched growing up. I thank Velma for making people more appreciative of these two series.

[@trifurobert1349]

I actually watched the og first , the whole series on tv in the early 2010s

[@thehonoredone2361]

I actually liked this version of the gang pretty well not my favorite but not the worst thing ever. And it's actually pretty hilarious and Daphne is a vibe and my favorite. I mean I would rather rewatch this 100 times in a row then rewatch Velma once.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

I always remember when the show was labeled Family Guy Scooby-Doo by many people online. However, much like rise of the tmnt, people have been coming around back to this one and really enjoying it! I personally have been laughing my butt off re-watching it on max, and really really like daphne! I never thought I'd love this crazy Ginger, but here I am!❤

[@masterplay148]

Always liked this show. Glad I wasn’t the only one to notice the Phineas and ferb humor. Great review nick.

[@enchilad6799]

Honestly when you get past the art style, this show has genuinely really funny writing

[@pyrolee17]

Heres my theory, on its way to its next season, Mystery Incorporated was struck by lightning and was split in to two halves. The first half was Be Cool, a really funny show with terrible visuals. The other half became Velma, a show with terrible writing but surprisingly good visuals.

[@schmingbeefin4473]

3:13 This single line made me go crazy, I had to search just to reassure myself $10 and $5 bills exists.

[@awesomeocelot7475]

Honestly I love how Daphne is an adorable weirdo in this show!

[@GamerSlyRatchet1]

I would've been curious about a season 3. Apparently they had plans to do their own version of Scrappy Doo, which interests me since usually modern Scooby Doo versions either mock or ignore him

[@youdontknowsponge6218]

Considering all the attention Scrappy has gotten recently with being in merch, on Velma and in a CN Twitter post in a positive way, wondering if Scrappy will make a come back in the next classic styled animated series though I doubt he'd appear in the upcoming Netflix live action adaption.

[@logannottheonefrommarvel9917]

Oh I've been waiting for you to cover this one. Such an overlooked and underappreciated version of Scoob

[@biblesforbreakfast]

Goofy fun with memorable repetitive gags on a tight budget is probably the most classsic production schedule for a Scooby-Doo project. But you can tell the writers really did everything with the more limited means available.

[@ThatOrangeGhost]

So happy this is a show praising how good Be Cool really is. It’s honestly the Scooby doo I prefer to watch these days because it is such a fun time

[@linguicaguy]

I remember checking out this show when it was new, being put off by the visuals, but surprisingly charmed by the writing.

[@soltandvinegar]

I do actually like the art style! As someone who started watching the show as a kid with NO context as to what family guy or Rick and Morty looked like, I thought it was weird but still enjoyable. Especially the big goofy face Scoob had.

[@bullmonty764]

The best thing about this show is that it helped Kate Micucci go down the path that led to her voicing Webby Vanderquack (aka the best moe girl in post-Gravity Falls Disney history) (And yes I did see the reference at 13:04 why wouldn’t I?)

[@youdontknowsponge6218]

Oddly if this had gotten a third season, Scrappy would be back in the franchise.

[@ricardonb6375]

We could've had the Hex Girls as well. But they never did show up.

[@edmilmaldonado5756]

"Be Cool, Scooby-Doo" has always been my favorite Scooby-Doo incarnation. It does have it's flaws, but it's perks help more than make up for it. I've been a fan since it's premiere.

[@Raeismee]

It’s always a good video when Billiam makes a cameo

[@onufrm]

22:28 Did you cut together two identical being-chased-by-a-robot scenes? Brilliant

[@NICKtendoReviews]

that cut is in the show, but I'll take credit for it. It was all me, actually.

[@TheCartoonGamer8000]

11:07 RETIRED?!! OOOOOOOHHH YOU JUST DON'T KNOW 17:38 Or you were in Canada. But great stuff again, Nick. You manage to make me interested in things that most other people wouldn't even make an attempt for, even for a Scooby Snack or whatever.

[@NICKtendoReviews]

Oh noooo I shouldn’t have assumed, it makes so much sense thst fur seems to have been replaced

[@thebaker525]

I think the most astonishing thing about this show is that it’s NOT tweened and is actually hand animated.

[@NICKtendoReviews]

I thought so too at first but I tried to spotlight lots of fluid/well animated moments in here to squash that myth

[@thatguybrody4819]

when it was first airing, i was skeptical and hesitant seeing what the film industry had been doing and then seeing the artstyle. but it was family dinner and we decided to give it a try. the puppet gag kept me invested and the series surprised me with how funny it could get. turned out to be a pretty good series and i'm glad we gave it a chance.

[@honeylemon237]

Awesome re-look into this under appreciated show. It’s a fun take even if the art style isn’t for everyone

[@bigthecat4408]

I like how this dude put all this energy into trying to convince me this doesn't look like family guy only for me to sit here and say this still looks like family guy

[@meathead2934]

Me to be Cool Scooby Doo after I watched Velma: "Perhaps I treated you too harshly."

[@appledognugget2267]

The whole time I was thinking “hey this has Billiam energy” AND THEN HE SHOWED UP

[@matti.8465]

This version of the gang is so dysfunctional but in a really fun way. I love how Daphne does a new weird bit everyday and the others are so used to the nonsense that they try to not engage.

[@Gabo2oo]

Way too often I see people saying "it's good compared to Velma" when it's a genuinely great show on its own accord. It doesn't need by any means to be put against the worst Scooby-Doo iterarion ever to look "good" in comparison.

[@NICKtendoReviews]

Thank you!

[@shaggypoo4120]

Never seen Velma tv show nor seen the controversy before and I still know it's great on its own.

[@charliemacsart]

11:07 I don't think Mindy Cohn retired, I think Velma was just recast. Mindy hasn't outright said she was replaced but back when Matthew Lillard found out he was recast for the Scoob movie, she responded to his tweet with "Been there... it sucks."

[@MightyMurloc]

I'll admit, I was one of the many totally put off by the series by its Art Style. But after watching this, it genuinely looks like good, goofy fun that I think the Scooby franchise SHOULD go for.

[@Elvusmiw]

I'm glad this show is getting the love and respect it deserves. Moral of the story. Dont judge a book by its cover

[@JeskidoYT]

This was when all millennials and some boomers looked at Scooby Doo shows in disgust and never looked back I feel bad for the creators of Guess Who Scooby Doo reboot :(

[@bebecranney8740]

This review was really funny. Be Cool is a fun watch

[@pierrefrancois7396]

Before Velma: Be Cool Scooby Doo is the worst! After Velma: We take back everything

[@projp9057]

More like Brickleberry to me

[@bobmanperson599]

And/or Paradise PD. They're basically the same show anyway, even down to the actors...

[@Elvusmiw]

At least this incarnation of scooby doo is actually charming

[@adamgrunther1367]

This show had the best version of Daphne by far. I will die on that hill.

[@thetechnocrat4979]

I will join you on that hill.

[@Crescent1400]

When I first saw Daphne from Be Cool Scooby Doo I immidiately thought she looked like Francine from American Dad.

[@CartoonistGamerOfficial]

im so glad someone pointed it out, the art style kinda reminds of me of modern adult animation on TV.

[@BenMathes-f7n]

I personally thought and still think that the art style looks more like American Dad

[@E.L.SProductions]

13:08, Great, Thank's Nick. Now Every-time Velma Talks I'll Just Be Thinking About Webby From Ducktales Instead.

[@Elvusmiw]

Dont forget steven universe. Sadie?

[@dancesmokesmile344]

I don’t see family guy, but I see a mix of those “new” adult cartoons, like brinkleberry, with Cow and Chicken lol

[@c-handle2676]

Coming over from the Billiam video, and enjoyed my stay. For that Lost joke, take my subscription 😂

[@faniskouklas]

Small sidenote but I absolutely adored the Crash music throughout the whole video! Just like Be Cool, Scooby-Doo, both COTT and MOM were underrated and underappreciated games! Or well, at least MOM was 😂

[@PercyFromNowOn]

oh my god, this reminded me that when I forgot the name of this cartoon I called it "be more chill Scooby-doo"

[@Pililikestodraw]

My dad didn’t allowed me to watch it bc he thought it was an adult swim version😭😭

[@EyyEyeNerd]

I gave Be Cool a chance because I knew nobody else would, and honestly I loved it a lot

[@JT-xn9ei]

Thanks for showcasing this again, might give it a chance for the comedy alone (What put me off was the eyes, man. I just wish they changed the eyes). A goofier Daphne seems like a nice change but I don't know if I'd like a more manic and self-absorbed Fred. Scooby and Shaggy costumed moments and cutaway gags was a connection that surprised me, hope they managed to not overstay or over-saturate.

[@becuaseimbored3481]

You're right, it doesn't look like family guy. It looks like Paradise PD.

[@AFox-xi9bg]

This is latterly one of my favorite shows ever, I remember watching it in like 3-4 days only

[@StudioCONGO40]

OH JOY nicktendo makes a video on something I've been PREACHING was a good show

[@Oblinski]

Honestly I gotta give it to be cool its actually really funny and I love the direction of each character. With a more appealing art style this may have been one of the most fondly remembered adaptations.

[@vao519]

my favorite ep is the scooby snack one where they tackle the moraity of bribing shaggy and scooby but turns out they always become monster bait, it s just now with scooby snacks they get yummy food out of something that happens anyway

[@Missingno0479]

wow I really wish you talk more about that random character with your hair. Its shockingly looks like you OC just jumped into the cartoon.

[@NICKtendoReviews]

He’s only in 5 shots of a cold open I think. I stuck him in the thumbnail though

[@Missingno0479]

@@NICKtendoReviews when I saw the thumbnail I thought you had an artist commissioned to have your OC in the shows art style lol

[@wildfire9280]

2:55 I read this as “raow!” before going back. …I shouldn’t have gone back.

[@shaggypoo4120]

I was one of the people who bashed the art style but I gave it a chance after the disappointment from Mystery Inc. But I became a solid fan after a few episodes. I liked the show so much that I tracked down early episodes that didn't release officially in the US aka the high seas lol I got old clips to show it! Can't believe that was actually 7 years ago! Now I'm just happy people finally got into it after being so underappreciated over the years. Thanks for the video nicktendo!

[@FanSeitz]

0:49 There was a moment in that episode where Veiner literally reminded me of an unfunny joke in the shitty later seasons of Family Guy that went on for far too long.

[@another-derpycrafter]

i really hope you do a video on Shaggy and Scooby Doo get a clue, it feel like its one of the best spin off series, i mean, they took the 2 most scared characters, and gave them a spin off with an evil villian. i feel like it deserves a video for going so far.

[@dajnor]

Had never heard of this version. Good video. That last song sounds like a lost Kenny Loggins track.

[@artzyyangel]

i loved this show when it came out, it was absolutely amazing! and it's good to see people noticing the humor and how well-written it is

[@xavier_a.h]

What's weird to me is that the show chronologically ends with Fred blowing up.

[@YourLocalSilentProtag]

I thought was the most unique Scooby-Doo we had ever gotten in terms of how the gang is characterized and comedy, and I'm glad people came around to liking it. Though people only eventually came around after watching a much worse Scooby-Doo show. You know the show I'm talking about.

[@gothicsloth4552]

I enjoyed this show a lot. It could be really funny at times, like the entirity of 'The People vs Fred Jones', Daphnes characterisation etc. My favourite episodes were the murder mansion one, the restaurant one and the hotel one (can't remember episode names sorry).

[@weirdproq]

Very nice video. I should go back and watch all of Be Cool, Scooby-doo sometime. I was liking it.

[@JB18.]

3:17 are you sure about that?

[@ProtoGhostal1701]

Just wanna say that the lil montage at the end with I'm Done playing over it has CEMENTED my belief that there needs to be another Scooby Soundtrack release (especially since i've been dying to get the Transylvania Polka without sound effects dammit)

[@theethicalostrich1388]

Be Cool Scooby Doo is one of the BEST Scooby Doo shows ever. It took me a long time to actually watch it because of the art style, but once I gave it a chance, I was hooked. Easily in my top 3 Scooby Doo shows. It is also one of the most rewatchable versions of Scooby Doo.

[@erikperez4829]

i was going a fan of this show at first but that episode where Daphne had the puppets had my cracking up

[@gummyworm2664]

if i’m being honest, as a massive scooby doo and mystery inc. fan since childhood, I definitely hated on this show ever since it’s initial airing purely because of the animation style. I only decided to watch it a while back because I didn’t have anymore content to watch and this was such an unexpected gem.

[@Burro..]

15:50 -Shows Mexico -"South American" Velma, you are supposed to be the smart one...

[@williamdaviddiazcuchimaque7511]

Personas en 2015:que rayos es eso Personas en 2023:no quiero que me perdones solo quiero que entiendas

[@mychannel323]

This show should have had Teen Titans Go’s spot

[@Godzillakuj94]

I always thought it looked more like Brickleberry than Family Guy

[@Spacething7474]

best scooby-doo bar none. hearing that there couldve been a season 3 delights me, especially since those 2 11-min segments would make more sense as the start of s3 instead of being the end of the series (which as a title rightfully belongs to professor huh? parts 1 and 6 3/4, which probably has my favorite scooby-doo storyline ever). 22:03 yes you should give kid danger another look (id argue it can get as hilarious as be cool can), as long as it comes with a fuller look at henry danger in general

[@CalvinNoire]

Fred's mentally ill dad was very funny.

[@catholiccontriversy]

Family Guy or not, the art style was just a bit much for me. I eventually watched it on boomerang and really enjoyed the whole self aware aspect of it, but I just had trouble looking at it some times. Bear in mind, I also had some trouble with Mystery Incorporated, and anything that isn't "full HB designs" with them as "tall people" (pup named scooby doo I gave a pass because everyone was young elementary age), because I had just gotten so used to them looking like that. I know not to judge a book by its cover, but when a kid dresses in all black with an SOD shirt and dyed black hair with a red stripe, one can't be faulted for thinking the kid is going through "teen sad personality" and be surprised when the kid is actually bubbly and thinks life is great.

[@LightsCameraKonkle]

I’m glad you enjoyed the show. Great essay.

[@TheSoulvian]

The Real Ghostbusters already did the concept of a Christmas special where a famous ghost hunting team takes down the ghosts from a Christmas Carol and saving Scrooge from them. I had no idea this show recycled that (very funny) idea. I doubt anybody grew up with both though. The generation gap is big.

[@Chrisscreases2]

3:15 “Daphne says she’s dropping $15 but there’s no way 2 bills could equal that amount” …. a $10 and a $5 bill totally exist fam..

[@T-mack56]

To this day, I still can' believe that this version of Velma is shares the same voice actress as Sadie from Steven Universe.

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

If there's one thing that Mindy Kaling's Monstrosity Velma gave us, is a deeper appreciation for Be Cool Scooby Doo. Hell, I'd even watch Shaggy and Scooby Doo Get a Clue these days...

[@barneypurple3435]

It took something so bad for the Scooby Doo franchise for people to start and look back and see that Be Cool Scooby Doo and Scrappy aren't so bad as that show.