Okay, that title was corny. But that doesn’t make it any less true. Of all the national Top 40 radio announcers I have enjoyed, Casey Kasem surely ranks at the top. (Can’t really think of any others, but that is beside the point). I do in fact have really swell memories of my Sunday morning paper route with my Mom or my Dad, listening to Casey Kasem’s top 100 or top 40 countdown, whichever it may be, and his soothing voice which blended with the aroma of my parents’ morning coffee as we puttered along dispensing the Dayton Daily News at the crack of dawn.
At that time I didn’t even realize that he had also been the voice behind Shaggy in Scooby Doo, Where Are You?,which I had watched afterschool on occasion for years. Of course once you know, it’s easy to pick out that familiar voice. And by the way, I’m always willing to do my impression of Shaggy saying “Like WOW!” when asked…or if it annoys you, when unprovoked.
Over the years, Kasem has appeared here and there in other programs I’ve enjoyed as well: the Top Sitcom countdown on Nick at Nite New Year’s Eve, episodes of Saved by the Bell, and even some voices on Sesame Street. His wife Jean had a significant role on Cheers too, but more about that later.
I had acquired the print below of Scooby-Doo and friends from my friend Stephen Cox, which had already been signed by the voice of Scooby himself, Don Messick. When I sent this off in the mail in November of 1997 to Casey Kasem, I was pleased that he not only signed it (adding his character name), but also sent the nice photo above, designating me as #1 in his inscription. It came back quickly too – on November 24. Okay, enough #1 jokes, but truly Casey Kasem ranks at the top as far as I’m concerned.
Autographs of 1997 will continue…
Casey’s great but he evidently has a temper. Have you ever heard the blooper where he complains about having to do a sad story about a dog dying right after a happy, uptempo record? He really goes ballistic. Pretty funny stuff.
Randy Skretvedt
March 18th, 2009