Nickelodeon’s Brand-New TV Special Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling Reunites Original Voice Cast to Reprise Roles
June 22, 2017 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nickelodeon announced today that its brand-new, original one-hour TV special Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, based on the classic ‘90s hit series Rocko’s Modern Life, will reunite the original voice cast members who will bring their iconic characters back to life. The special is written and executive produced by the series’ original creator Joe Murray and will premiere on Nickelodeon in 2018.
The voice actors reprising their famed roles include: Carlos Alazraqui (The Fairly OddParents) as Rocko, Spunky, and Leon; Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Heffer Wolfe, Chuck, and Really Really Big Man; Mr. Lawrence (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Filburt Turtle and Maitre D’; Charlie Adler (Blaze and the Monster Machines) as Ed Bighead, Bev Bighead, Mr. Dupette, Grandpa Wolfe, and Mrs. Fathead; Linda Wallem (Nurse Jackie, executive producer) as Aunt Gretchen and Dr. Hutchinson; Jill Talley (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Nosey and Joe Murray as Ralph. Additionally, Steve Little (Adventure Time) joins the cast as Cowboy and Cosmo Segurson (Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, director) as Pillow Salesman.
Rocko's Modern Life - Static Cling - Rocko Extreme Eye Pose concept art. Photo Instagram /@philrynda.
Just like the original ‘90s series, this hand-drawn special stars Rocko, a wallaby who emigrated from Australia to the United States and enjoys the simple things in life; Heffer, Rocko’s best friend; Filburt, Rocko’s other best friend; and Ed Bighead and Bev Bighead, Rocko’s neighbors; as well as the other colorful characters.
Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling brings the characters back to Earth after being lost in outer space since 1996. Rocko has trouble accepting this 21st century modern life, while Heffer and Filburt embrace every aspect of new technology, social media and the endless diversity of food trucks. Rocko wholeheartedly believes that his nostalgia for the past can save him from the tortures of the modern world.
Originally airing from 1993-1996, the animated series Rocko’s Modern Life follows the adventures of an Australian wallaby named Rocko and his two companions, Heffer and Filburt, through their adventures in their home of O-Town.
Fans can revel in the nostalgia of the original series and catch updates on the new special by following Rocko’s Modern Life on Instagram and Facebook.
The Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling TV special is one of Nickelodeon’s three animated properties from its rich library reimagined for today’s audience, including the upcoming TV movies Hey Arnold!:The Jungle Movie set to premiere this fall, featuring a storyline that picks up from where the original series ended in 2004; and Invader Zim, following the perpetually desperate and delusional Zim as he creates a new and potentially Earth-destroying plan to finally get the attention he deserves from his Irken leaders, the Almighty Tallest.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 38th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated kids’ basic cable network for 22 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).
Also, from Den of Geek:
Rocko's Modern Life Voice Cast Returns, Creator Talks TV Movie Revival
We have the details on the Rocko's Modern Life TV movie revival!
Rocko, Heffer, Filburt, and Spunky blasted off into space 20 years ago. They’ll return to earth for a TV movie on Nickelodeon sometime in 2018, and the network announced they will be voiced by the original cast.
The official title of the movie is Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling. Nickelodeon sent us the official cast release:
Carlos Alazraqui (The Fairly OddParents) as Rocko, Spunky, and Leon; Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Heffer Wolfe, Chuck, and Really Really Big Man; Mr. Lawrence (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Filburt Turtle and Maitre D’; Charlie Adler (Blaze and the Monster Machines) as Ed Bighead, Bev Bighead, Mr. Dupette, Grandpa Wolfe, and Mrs. Fathead; Linda Wallem (Nurse Jackie, executive producer) as Aunt Gretchen and Dr. Hutchinson; Jill Talley (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Nosey and Joe Murray as Ralph. Additionally, Steve Little (Adventure Time) joins the cast as Cowboy and Cosmo Segurson (Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, director) as Pillow Salesman.
In Static Cling, the gang returns to Earth after they jetted off in the series finale in 1996. They’ve been lost space ever since, and upon returning, Rocko struggles to adjust to modern life. Nothing ever changes, really. While Rocko has a hard time, and thinks nostalgia is the key to fixing the problem, Heffer and Filburt embrace new technology, social media, and “the endless diversity of food trucks.”
Joe Murray, the series creator, wrote and executive produced the special. We spoke with Murray about how Rocko would be updated two decades later.
“When we approached the production, we did all the backgrounds the same way, hand painted,” Murray said. “We pulled recurring characters from the old series. It’s pretty close to what it was. It’s the ‘90s show being brought back in 2018. How modern life is now and how the characters would have evolved.”
He went into a little more detail on the movie's plot:
"Rocko is still used to VHS players and he suddenly comes into the 21st century and it’s all new to him. It’s fun to see someone experiencing all this new technology. Filburt and Heffer embrace it and Rocko is adverse to change. That’s really how the story evolves. It’s all about change."
Instead of bringing Rocko back in a series of shorts, Murray opted to take Nickelodeon up on a longform project offer.
“It didn’t seem like such a stretch because we were used to telling three act stories,” he said. “We just expanded it. I came up with the story that was really relevant to what is going on now. There’s a twist in there will be a surprise when it comes out. There wasn’t really anything they had discussed with me as far as what they wanted to do. The wanted to know if I wanted to refresh the series and the characters. I actually wanted it to be as close to the original as possible.”
More Nick: Nickelodeon Presents Sneak-Peek Of "Rocko's Modern Life" TV Movie At Annecy 2017; To Show Sneak-Peek At SDCC 2017!
H/T: ToonZone Forums member PinkiePie97 (II)
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