Doctor Shemp

Doctor Shemp
OriginalReignited
Species:	Gnorc
Gender:	Male
Home World:	Doctor Shemp
First appearance:	Spyro the Dragon (game) (1998)
Latest appearance:	Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018)

“This guy/Doctor Shemp thinks he's so cool! You don't know what it's been like listening to him over and over! But I'll tell you one thing: he should watch his back.”

– Trondo, Spyro the Dragon (game)

Doctor Shemp is the second boss in Spyro the Dragon and the Reignited Trilogy remake of the first game. He was placed in charge of the Peace Keepers world and can be found in the realm named after him.

Physical Appearance

In Spyro the Dragon, Doctor Shemp is a yellow shaman, with an oval-like body shape. Doctor Shemp wears circular sunglasses, and he has feathers on his head. The front of his body is completely covered by metal body armor, while the back is left uncovered. He wears metal sandals, and he holds a wooden staff in his left hand (like the ones held by the Kamikaze Tribesman), with a green mask hung on it. At the top of his staff is a giant skull.

In the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, he now resembles a gnorc, and he has two teeth sticking out and pointed ears. His head feathers are sticking straight up rather than being puffed up, and his armor is connected to him with a chain and strap. His staff has a more tribal looking mask with leaves poking out behind it, and the skull on top has blue glowing sockets. He has wristbands with skulls on them, and his staff also has more skulls on it.

Personality

Doctor Shemp is an arrogant Gnorc who keeps going on and on about how cool he is; much to the irritation of the nearby captive dragon Trondo.

Story

When Gnasty Gnorc was looking for recruits to defeat Spyro, shortly after he turned all of the other Dragon into crystal statues, he hired Dr. Shemp to stop the young dragon in his tracks. Dr. Shemp waited to confront Spyro at his canyon fortress, where Fat Lady and their kamikaze minions protected the fortress. Spyro confronted Dr. Shemp, and defeated him after flaming his backside.

Strategy

Spyro's battle with Doctor Shemp took place on three platforms, and the boss attacked differently on each platform. At some point at each attack, he exposed his vulnerable backside. Spyro must flame at backside in order to damage him. After each hit, he hopped across the bridge to the next platform. On the third platform, he vanishes upon being burned.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ドクター・クール	Dr. Cool

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Doctor Shemp/Gallery.

Trivia

• Doctor Shemp's name is considered an in-joke at Insomniac Games. The employees used the phrase "got the shemp" whenever a blunder was made. Doctor Shemp was also named after the original third Stooge "Shemp" from the Three Stooges.
• Doctor Shemp's spin attack (performed on the third platform) was identical to the first boss of Crash Bandicoot, Papu Papu.
• The sounds that Doctor Shemp made were later reused for Sleepy Head in Spyro: Year of the Dragon.
• When not attacking, Dr. Shemp may do a finger gun or throat slit gesture, referencing how he thinks he's "cool."
• In Spyro: Year of the Dragon, there was a skateboard move entitled "the Shemp." That could possibly be paying homage to the iconic boss.
• It was possible that the origin of Doctor Shemp's name came from the phrase "Fake Shemp" (named for The Three Stooges actor Shemp Howard, who portrayed "Shemp") used in filming. This is where an actor appears in a film under heavy make-up, filmed from the back, or perhaps showing an arm or a foot. As only Doctor Shemp's back was exposed to attack, it was assumed that his name came from that.
• The fact how Spyro has to hit his exposed backside is similar to Gnorc Sentries.