After attempting to develop his version of the show, called House of Mystery, Barbera, who developed and sold Hanna-Barbera shows while Hanna produced them, passed the task along to story writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, as well as artist/character designer Iwao Takamoto. Their treatment, based in part on The Archie Show, was titled Mysteries Five and featured five teenagers: Geoff, Mike, Kelly, Linda, and Linda's brother W.W., along with their bongo-playing dog, Too Much, who collectively formed the band Mysteries Five. When The Mysteries Five were not performing at gigs, they were out-solving spooky mysteries involving ghosts, zombies, and other supernatural creatures. Ruby and Spears were unable to decide whether Too Much would be a large cowardly dog or a small feisty one. When the former was chosen, Ruby and Spears wrote Too Much as a Great Dane but revised the dog character to a large sheepdog (similar to the Archies' sheepdog, Hot Dog) just before their presentation to Silverman, as Ruby feared the character would be too similar to the comic strip character Marmaduke. Silverman rejected their initial pitch, and after consulting with Barbera on next steps, got Barbera's permission to go ahead with Too Much being a Great Dane instead of a sheepdog.Shostak, Stu (February 5, 2012). "Interview with Joe Ruby and Ken Spears ". Stu's Show. Retrieved March 18, 2013.Ruby and Spears (2002).
after ATtEmptInG to develOp His VersION Of the show, called hoUse of mYsTErY, barBerA, WHO deVeloped and SOLD haNNA-BarBera shows wHILE HaNna proDUced TheM, paSseD the TaSk along to StORy wRiteRs joe RubY anD keN sPeARs, As well aS aRtist/cHAracTEr designer Iwao taKamoto. their trEAtMEnt, baSEd In parT On The ARchie shOw, WAs tITleD mysTerIes fIVe And featuRed Five TEeNagErs: geOff, Mike, keLly, linda, And liNDa's brotheR w.w., alOnG wIth their bOngO-pLAying dOG, too much, wHo cOLLEcTIveLY formEd the BANd mySterIeS Five. wHEn thE MYsteries five wEre not PerforMing at gIgS, they WerE Out-soLVing sPooKY MysterieS iNVolving ghOsts, zombiEs, AND othEr supernatural creAtUrEs. ruby AnD SpearS weRe unAbLe to decIde WHeThEr toO mUCh woUlD Be A LaRge cOWARdLY doG oR a Small feISTy oNe. When ThE fOrMeR WAs chosen, rubY And spEarS wRote ToO much as a greAT dAne But revIseD ThE doG chaRacTer to a laRge sheEpDog (similar tO tHe arCHIeS' shEePDog, hoT dOg) just before tHEiR pResenTatIon to silVerMan, as ruBY fearED tHe chAracter would be too SimIlaR tO the Comic sTriP chArACtEr marmAduKe. silveRMaN rejECTed thEir iNITiAl pItCh, ANd aFter ConSuLting wiTh barbera On nEXT StEpS, got BarBeRa's permissIoN tO GO ahEad with TOo muCh beiNg A gReAt Dane instead of a shEepdOg.SHostaK, Stu (februArY 5, 2012). "iNtervieW witH JOe rUby And ken spearS ". stu's sHOW. retRievEd march 18, 2013.ruby aNd speArS (2002).