The Scooby Gang is a fictional group of friends featured in the Scooby Doo animated franchise. They first appeared in the pilot episode of the children’s' animated series Scooby Doo, Where Are You! entitled, "What a Night for a Knight". The Scooby Gang are so-named because of their association with the Great Dane, Scooby-Doo. The Scooby Gang, or Scoobies, make up a team of ghost hunters, which they refer to as Mystery, Incorporated, who drive about the country investigating various supernatural phenomena, most of which, turn out to be hoaxes perpetuated by greedy opportunists. In addition to Scooby-Doo, the members of the group consist of Frederick "Fred" Jones, Jr., Norville "Shaggy" Rogers (Scooby's owner), Velma Dinkley and Daphne Blake. On occasion, the group is assisted by Scooby's ubiquitously irritating nephew pup, Scrappy Doo. Other acquaintances that are regarded as honorary members of the Scooby Gang include Scooby's cousin, Scooby-Dum, his brother Yabba-Doo and distant cousin Scooby Dee. Human associates of the Scooby Gang include Blue Falcon and Dynomutt and Batman and Robin.
The term "Scooby Gang" has become a common phrase in various pop culture, and may refer to any well-knit group of friends. The term has been applied to several characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Specifically, those who were friends with Buffy Summers. The characters have also been collectively referred to as the "Scoobies". The original scoobies consisted of Buffy, Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg and Cordelia Chase. Later members include Daniel Osbourne, Faith Lehane, Anya Jenkins, Tara Maclay, Dawn Summers, Riley Finn and Andrew Wells. Allies of the Scoobies include Angel, Spike and Rupert Giles. The term was first coined by Xander Harris, but has since been used by others when describing the group.
On the 2005 relaunch of the popular British science fiction series Doctor Who, a character named Pete Tyler referred to a group of freedom fighters known as the Preachers as the "Scooby Gang". [1]