Do you remember when the Addams Family met Scooby-Doo?

You can't find this lost episode on DVD.

Hanna-Barbera

In the Seventies, Scooby-Doo was all about crossovers. The Harlem Globetrotters, the Three Stooges, even Don Knotts stopped by. But there's one crossover you might have forgotten.

In September of 1972, The New Scooby-Doo Movies came out with their third episode. Entitled "Wednesday is Missing", the episode had the gang get the Mystery Machine stuck in a ditch. A helpful Lurch brings the gang to the Addams mansion, where they meet Gomez, Morticia, Grandmama, and the rest of the family. When Wednesday goes missing, Scooby has to track down the wayard Addams and unmask the culprit.

This was an interesting episode for fans of The Addams Family TV show. The creepy clan looked more like the original Charles Addams cartoons than their TV counterparts. However, it wasn't a departure from the show. In fact, four members of the original cast — John Astin (Gomez), Carolyn Jones (Morticia), Jackie Coogan (Fester), and Ted Cassidy (Lurch)— all returned to reprise their roles.

Lisa Loring (Wednesday) and Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley), were reportedly too old to come back for their childhood roles, so they were replaced by Cindy Henderson and a young Jodie Foster. Yes, that Jodie Foster. She voiced Pugsley.

It turned out that this crossover was actually a sneaky pilot for the 1973 Hanna-Barbera Addams Family cartoon, which ran fewer than twenty episodes.

But there's something else different about this cartoon. If you look for it on DVD, you won't find it. Even the complete collection of The New Scooby-Doo Movies has 23 out of the 24 produced episodes — minus "Wednesday is Missing".

It's a simple matter of an intellectual property dispute. While "Wednesday is Missing" may have been released on VHS at some point (we know it was released in Australia as Scooby Doo Meets the Addams Family), it has never been released on digital home release. As of this writing, the Charles Addams estate still refuses to release the rights to the characters for a DVD, Blu-Ray, or digital release.

The episode has been uploaded here and there online, but an actual official release still eludes us. Do you remember this semi-lost media from 1972?

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52 Comments

JoeSHill 28 months ago
In actuality, this was officially the first time that "THE ADDAMS FAMILY" cast (minus the two original children and the Blossom Rock actress) returned to Primetime since their ABC/Filmways show was canceled in 1966. Devid Levy, the executive producer of the original series was retained as a consultant. As far as the NBC/Hanna-Barbera cartoon series from Fall 1973 was concerned, it wasn't really that great, especially with Lennie Weinrib voicing "Gomez", and Janet Waldo voicing "Morticia", it just wasn't the same! John Astin returned to voice his "Gomez" character in 1991, but that was it! "THE ABC SATURDAY SUPERSTAR MOVIE" had aired "The Mini-Munsters" film on October 27, 1973, that was produced by Fred Calvert's Farmhouse Films in association with Universal, which was a shallow and uncomparable version of the original TV series, so "THE ADDAMS FAMILY" cartoon series was the better of the two! Ted Cassidy, who played "Lurch", was a solid voiceover actor for Hanna-Barbera and other animation studios at the time, even having his very own Hanna-Barbera TV series, "THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN" for NBC in 1968, as both the voice and likeness of "Injun Joe". But the second reunion with The Addams Family on Primetime was NBC's TV special, "HALOWEEN WITH THE ADDAMS FAMILY", that aired on October 30, 1977, that Charles Fries Productions produced.
MOT1970 30 months ago
I remember watching it on tv when I was a kid.
Mario500 30 months ago
"so they were replaced by Cindy Henderson and a young Jodie Foster. Yes, that Jodie Foster. She voiced Pugsley."

(imagines a different version of this part of the article (so they were replaced by Cindy Henderson and Jodie Foster.))
Brucewayne 30 months ago
It doesn’t make sense that the Addams estate is holding it up because the entire Addams Family cartoon series from H-B is out on DVD. Either John Astin or Carolyn Jones’s widower must be the one stopping the episode from being released because Astin and Jones were the only ones involved with the Scooby-Doo episode but not the subsequent series.
Bricat2001 31 months ago
I'm trying to remember if I saw it on boomerang when I was little cuz the episode seems familiar
lynngdance 31 months ago
Just a repost of the bonus vids.

Billy Joel randomly playing “Darktown Strutter’s Ball” on an abandoned piano


Behind the Scenes of “We Are The World”
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
What would you do For a Few Dollars More. Well these boys play for keeps. Watch and see.


For A Few Dollars More (1965) 2 hrs 11 min-Western
Director: Sergio Leone
Cast:
Clint Eastwood
Lee Van Cleef
Gian Maria Volontè
Two bounty hunters with the same intentions team up to track down a Western outlaw.

https://archive.org/details/FrAFwDlrsMre1965
lynngdance 31 months ago
We have a winner! It’s PacificSun! And the answer was “Ringo Starr”! Congrats!
texasluva lynngdance 31 months ago
Such nice awards too. She'll frame it on her wall along with the others. She won my MQ last Friday. On a roll .
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
Middle of the Week Fun----

Movies coming to your screen this weekend.
.


13 Ghosts (1960)-More of a fun type of Horror Movie. Don't be scared- Maybe you can outwit or dodge all 13.....Martin Milner and a kid are in this. You won't need your viewer for when the screen turns blue or red.

.

Where's the Fun???? Oops. Fun below

A Night Like This.
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
Weekend Movie Bonanza coming your way.

Have you ever looked in your purse or pocket for a few more dollars? Look no further. You have more-For a Few Dollars more. Yep. Just check this weekend and you'll find it.
.

Weekend movie 2. We are going for fun and here is where you find it-Tin Men-Danny Divito and Richard Dreyfuss.
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
!!Wanted!! but preferred Alive
Those that wish to participate in the Weekly Movie Quiz.
Reward:
Conversation as to what this movie might be
Winners name in MeTV Lights
Just plain ole fun
Let's Do it at: Can you match these cartoon homes to the right Looney Tunes characters?
Friday @ 10:00 P.M CT
The Show Must Go On-Another knock down quizorama and entertainment.
One of our Bonus Movies will be- JAWS------
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
You're going to have trouble rooting for one or the other. Maybe even changing during the movie. They are both jerks! So for some laughs and crazy antics this is one movie to see.

Tin Men (1987) 1 hr 52 min-Comedy, Drama
Director: Barry Levinson
Cast:
Richard Dreyfuss
Danny DeVito
Barbara Hershey
John Mahoney
Seymour Cassel
J.T. Walsh
A minor car accident drives two rival aluminum-siding salesmen to the ridiculous extremes of man versus man in 1963 Baltimore.

https://archive.org/details/tinmen1987
Pacificsun 31 months ago
Ahhh MeTV Writers, you did your homework well! True you can only find a trailer on YouTube. Any more and the copyright "bots" would've stopped it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv-56vFK1rw&ab_channel=megancraycraft

However, trust that some industrious fan of both series, has a copy sequestered away on a VHS Tape, they just can't share it publically!

"Bad, Bots, Bad!"
texasluva Pacificsun 31 months ago
Hey partner. If you look below I have accommodated said video. Full version. I only found out about the episode a couple of hours ago and found it in a few minutes on IA. See below Lynn's Quiz. I am still trying to figure her Quiz out.
lynngdance 31 months ago
Quiz time!
Load previous comments
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
Weekend Cinema

Identity (2003) -1 hr 30 min-Mystery-Thriller
Director: James Mangold
Cast:
John Cusack
Ray Liotta
Amanda Peet
John Hawkes
Alfred Moli
Clea DuVall

Stranded at a desolate Nevada motel during a nasty rain storm, ten strangers become acquainted with each other when they realize that they're being killed off one by one.

https://archive.org/details/identity-2003-1080p-blu-ray-yts.-mx_202106
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
Are you ready for Spook Night-Don't go to bed before watching.................


13 Ghosts (1960) 1 hr 24 min-Horror-Mystery
Director: William Castle
Cast:
Charles Herbert
Jo Morrow
Martin Milner
Rosemary DeCamp
Margaret Hamilton



https://archive.org/details/13.-ghosts.-1960.1080p
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
Movies coming to you this weekend.

Two wonderful movies for your weekend viewing.

The Illusionist (2006)
.

Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
texasluva lynngdance 30 months ago
Movies coming to you this weekend. Are here!

Two wonderful movies for your weekend viewing.

The Illusionist (2006) 1h 50min-Drama-Fantasy-Mystery
Director: Neil Burger
Actor:
Edward Norton
Jessica Biel
Paul Giamatti
Rufus Sewell

In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing.

https://archive.org/details/ti-2006_202103


Shadow of a Doubt (1943) 1h 48min-Film-Noir-Thriller
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Actor:
Teresa Wright
Joseph Cotton
Macdonald Carey
A young girl, overjoyed when her favorite uncle comes to visit the family, slowly begins to suspect that he is in fact the "Merry Widow" killer sought by the authorities.

https://archive.org/details/shadowofadoubt1943_202003
texasluva 31 months ago
For those who wish to watch this episode I have it here at the IA site. Though I am not actually showing it but just giving you the location to watch it. I do not claim to own it nor upload it. After getting to the location just click on the arrow and then the out pointing arrows to get it full screen. The New Scooby-Doo Movies - S01, E03 - Wednesday Is Missing (1972). Enjoy.

https://archive.org/details/extremely-rare-the-new-scooby-doo-movies-wednesday-is-missing-1972-geor4745nius-ultra-hq
Pacificsun texasluva 31 months ago
Very cool indeed.

I ran the link, and you're right!!
Runeshaper 31 months ago
I don't think I've ever seen that movie, but I bet it was GREAT! (-:
jaelinsmith40652 31 months ago
Yes I do remember the time I watched that episode that time it was on the boomerang.
MrsPhilHarris 31 months ago
I wonder if I saw it. 🤔
texasluva MrsPhilHarris 31 months ago
I think I might have this episode. If so I will post above
Moriyah 31 months ago
Was Gomer Pyle mentioned in any cartoons other than the Simpsons? (Let me know)
harlow1313 Moriyah 31 months ago
None that I know of. Had they put him in a cape and tights, he would have made an excellent cartoon hero, spreading his kindness to an unkind world.
Moriyah harlow1313 31 months ago
That sounds like an amazing idea! I would love to see something like that!
Pacificsun Moriyah 31 months ago
The only tie-in I could find between Gomer Pyle and the Cartoon Universe is a MeTV story at this link:
https://www.metv.com/stories/did-gomer-pyle-say-shazam-because-of-the-comic-book-character-probably-yeah

Before looking it up, does anyone know what "Shazam!" stands for? You will find the answer in the link. Or upon request, I'll post it in another comment!

I don't have this answer to this question however: does anyone know why Gomer used the word "Shazam!" (?)
Delmo Pacificsun 31 months ago
Shazam-Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury! Gomer probably said Shazam because he was a fan of the comic book. Only the writer who wrote the episode where he first said it would know for sure.
Pacificsun Delmo 31 months ago
Exactly! I thought that was a neat backstory, and fun for his fans!!
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