Scrappy-Doo 1979 had begun to sink to the point of cancellation threats from ABC, who were considering between choosing between Scooby-Doo and an unnamed pilot From Ruby-Spears Enterprises, whose pilot Evanier had also written. He successfully boosted the show's ratings and kept the show alive. Scrappy has a contradicted origin. Originally as shown in the introduction of the series, Scrappy only met his Uncle Scooby as a puppy. However, the December 1980 episode of "Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo" ("Scrappy's Birthday") depicts Scrappy-Doo's birth with both Scooby and Shaggy in attendance. Born at St. Bernard's Hospital to Scooby-Doo's sister Ruby-Doo on December 20,
Scooby-Doo 2002, Jamie Malanowski of the "New York Times" commented that "["Scooby-Doo"s] mysteries are not very mysterious, and the humor is hardly humorous. As for the animation—well, the drawings on your refrigerator may give it competition." By the 2000s, "Scooby-Doo" had received recognition for its popularity by placing in a number of top cartoon or top cartoon character polls. The August 3, 2002, issue of "TV Guide" featured its list of the 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time, in which Scooby-Doo placed twenty-second. Scooby also ranked thirteenth in Animal Planet's list of the 50 Greatest TV Animals. For one year