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TV: N is for...

New Schmoo, The

GROTESQUE GALUMPHING cartoonery about a sub-SCOOBY DOO gang of kids (with a fat, Hawaiian-shirted git – see PLASTIC MAN – in the comedy Shaggy role) and a white shapeshifting blob who could turn itself into various useful shapes, e.g. key, rope, ink blotter. The “new” appellation was apparently to distinguish said amorphous critter from Al Capp’s ‘Lil’ Abner’, long-running American newspaper comic which mocked Arkansas and its ways via a cast of characters including the Schmoo: an animal so cute, so obliging (it would turn itself into a steak if you confessed to being hungry) and downright good that it was rendered extinct by humanity. Not that anyone on this side of the Atlantic was any the wiser, but at least Will and Joe were being particular. Particularly irksome, that is.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Droogie

    June 21, 2021 at 8:28 am

    Al Capp was a fascinating if unpleasant character. His L’il Abner strip was a powerful satire that poked fun at conservative America during the McCarthy years. Unfortunately Capp took a huge political lurch to the right in 60’s, hating hippies especially. ( there’s notorious footage of him being nasty to John and Yoko during their bed-in phase). He also had a reputation as a sexual predator, including once propositioning the young Goldie Hawn and threatening to ruin her career when she rejected his advances.

  2. Richardpd

    November 4, 2023 at 11:44 am

    I didn’t know anything any the background of the character back in the day, though H-B had the chance to get some more mileage out of some Scooby Doo scripts with this show.

    A few cartoons had titles including things like “All New” in them, which were baffling to the average pre-teen this side of the pond.

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