DoodleBob Comes to Life! ✏️ | Season 2 Episode 3 | Pineapple Playhouse | SpongeBob
SpongeBob's new friend seems a little...sketchy. Can SpongeBob and Patrick save Bikini Bottom from the terror of DoodleBob? Presenting Pineapple Playhouse S2E3: Frankendoodle. Which scenes do you want to see recreated with puppets?
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com - SpongeBob face masks now available, with ALL proceeds going to charity!
Katara and Aang were endgame in Avatar: The Last Airbender, but that doesn't mean there weren't a couple red flags throughout their relationship... and that's not just exclusive to those two! Let's take a look at every relationship RED FLAG in Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra!
Did Nick miss any? Let us know in the comments below! ⬇️
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga Collection at San Diego Comic Con 2022 Radical Recap! | Konami
A radical recap of the 2022 San Diego Comic Con celebration where fans got to experience 13 classic games of retro 8-bit, 16-bit, and arcade TMNT titles included in the TMNT: Cowbunga Collection. The Comic Con esports gaming lounge featured hands-on gameplay, tournament giveaways, and an exclusive signing opportunity with TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman!
The TMNT Cowabunga Collection is out August 30th for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam® and Nintendo Switch™.
Stream Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Honor is an ambitious high school senior whose sole focus is getting into an Ivy League college...assuming she can first score the coveted recommendation from her guidance counselor, Mr. Calvin. Willing to do whatever it takes, Honor concocts a Machiavellian-like plan to take down her top three student competitors, until things take a turn when she unexpectedly falls for her biggest competition, Michael.
Honor Society, starring Angourie Rice and Gaten Matarazzo, is streaming July 29th, exclusively on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com
Overachievers to the front!✨ Stream Honor Society on Paramount Plus July 29 | AwesomenessTV
Angourie Rice and Gaten Matarazzo star in Honor Society, streaming July 29 on Paramount Plus!
PARAMOUNT+ REVEALS FIRST LOOK CLIP FROM "MIKE JUDGE'S BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD"
From Creator Mike Judge and MTV Entertainment Studios, the New Series Premieres Thursday, August 4 on Paramount+
July 21, 2022 - Paramount+ today revealed a first look clip from MIKE JUDGE'S BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD during the upcoming series' San Diego Comic-Con panel. Beavis and Butt-Head are back and stupider than ever in MIKE JUDGE'S BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD, which features the iconic duo's first original episodes in over 10 years. The original series will premiere on the service Thursday, August 4 in the U.S. and will also be available to stream internationally in all territories where the service is available.
From creator Mike Judge and MTV Entertainment Studios, the new series follows on the heels of the recently released and critically acclaimed Paramount+ original film BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD DO THE UNIVERSE, which is now available to stream. The service also hosts the 1996 classic movie "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America," as well as remastered versions of the classic series, with the full library available soon.
Created and voiced by writer, producer and director Mike Judge ("King of the Hill"), the characters of Beavis and Butt-Head originated in Judge's 1992 short film "Frog Baseball," which was broadcast by MTV's animation showcase "Liquid Television." After MTV commissioned a full series around the characters, "Beavis and Butt-Head" ran for seven seasons from March 8, 1993, to Nov. 28, 1997. The series was revived in 2011 with an eighth season airing on MTV. During its initial run, "Beavis and Butt-Head" received widespread critical acclaim for its satirical, scathing commentary on society. The show's popularity spawned various related media, including the theatrical film "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America" in 1996.
###
What do #BeavisAndButtHead think of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars? #MikeJudge answers | #shorts
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Honor Society | Official Trailer | Paramount+ UK & Ireland
Honor Society brings together Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things), Angourie Rice (Spider Man) and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad) for a coming-of-age comedy, from the people who brought you To All the Boys I Loved Before. Honor, played by Rice, is a high school senior who strives to succeed at ALL costs. Mr. Calvin (Mintz-Plasse) takes her by surprise when he reveals that she's one of four contenders for his coveted college recommendation. She plans to take down the competition, but things take a turn when she unexpectedly falls for her biggest competition, Michael (Matarazzo).
Discover how it all plays out, in Honor Society, streaming 30th July on Paramount Plus UK! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com
You had us there, Gaten 😉 Stream Honor Society from tomorrow on #ParamountPlusUK
PARAMOUNT APPOINTS PAMELA KAUFMAN TO LEAD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AS PRESIDENT AND CEO, INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, GLOBAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS & EXPERIENCES
NEW YORK, July 29, 2022 -- Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) today announced that Pamela Kaufman, President of Global Consumer Products and Experiences for Paramount, has been appointed President and CEO of International Markets, Global Consumer Products & Experiences, effective immediately. This newly created position reports to Bob Bakish, President and CEO of Paramount, and reflects Paramount's ongoing strategy of globalizing its operations. Raffaele Annecchino has decided to leave the company in his role as President and CEO of Paramount International Networks, Studios and Streaming.
In her expanded role, Kaufman will be responsible for driving the continued growth of Paramount's international business and ensuring the strength of the company's international operations across six continents, including broadcast and cable networks, streaming and studios, and the Company's commercial capabilities. She will work closely with Paramount's international leadership team, as well as the global content and streaming organization to do so, including helping to guide the continued international rollout of Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Kaufman will maintain her current responsibilities overseeing the global multi-billion-dollar consumer products and experiences organization.
"Pam has been the strategic force behind growing and expanding some of the most iconic global franchises and properties in entertainment," said Bakish. "She is a proven and trusted, visionary leader who has transformed our consumer products organization by driving innovation and operating as a global business. Pam is uniquely qualified to lead our international business as we expand and diversify our worldwide footprint and accelerate Paramount's transformation to operating with a truly global approach."
Bakish added, "I want to extend my thanks to Raffaele Annecchino for the critical role he has played in building Paramount's international business and expanding our global footprint. I am grateful for the dedication he has shown throughout his 25 years at Paramount and wish him well in the future."
"I am honored to take on this role at such a pivotal time for Paramount's international business," said Kaufman. "I know firsthand the global strength of our brand portfolio, and I look forward to working with Bob and the incredible International team as we continue pursuing our global growth strategy, investing in key partnerships, furthering our push into mobile and digital platforms in new markets, and operating as one team globally."
In November 2021, Kaufman assumed the role of President of Global Consumer Products and Experiences for Paramount, overseeing worldwide product and business development, marketing, franchise planning, creative strategy, retail sales and consumer insights for all brands in the portfolio. In less than a year, Kaufman has led the transformation of the consumer products business, unifying the organization by placing the full power of the Paramount ecosystem behind its most valuable IP. Her commitment to transformation, innovation and brand building has led to some of the most groundbreaking partnerships in the company's history, including cutting-edge co-branded collaborations with the biggest names in social media. Kaufman was also responsible for Viacom's first direct-to-consumer e-commerce site in 2019 – The SpongeBob Shop – and has since led the expansion to additional online direct-to-consumer business for merchandise tied to various top CBS and Showtime programming, including similar standalone initiatives for brands such as Star Trek, South Park and MTV.
Prior to being named the President of Global Consumer Products and Experiences, Kaufman served as President of Consumer Products & Chief Marketing Officer for Nickelodeon where she was responsible for building some of Nickelodeon's most memorable franchises ranging from PAW Patrol to SpongeBob SquarePants, shepherding them through important tentpole campaigns and milestone celebrations.
Before joining Nickelodeon in 1997, Kaufman held positions at Turner International, Equity Marketing and Grey Advertising. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication from The American University in Washington D.C. and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from The American University in 2019. A committed advocate for gender equality and diversity and inclusion, Kaufman serves on the board of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, as well as Bottomless Closet, a nonprofit that prepares women for workplace success, and the Pace Women's Justice Center.
About Paramount
Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic studios, networks and streaming services, Paramount's portfolio of consumer brands includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others. Paramount delivers the largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the industry's most important and extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, the company provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution, and advertising solutions.
For more information about Paramount, please visit www.paramount.com and follow @ParamountCo on social platforms.
PARA-IR
###
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Rugrats, provided to Creators Syndicate by Nickelodeon, based off the popular animated television series has been created for children and family's to laugh and enjoy together.
Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.
Catch fresh new episodes of That Girl Lay Lay and Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan, premiering Thursday, August 4 starting at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT), only on Nickelodeon! Check out the promos below!:
7:00 p.m. - That Girl Lay Lay - Lay Lay Gets a Pet Pet: When Lay Lay (Alaya “That Girl Lay Lay” High) and Sadie (Gabrielle Nevaeh Green) see Cobo with a cool pet snake, they decide it's time for the Alexander family to adopt a unique pet of their own. (#205)
7:30 p.m. - Tyler Perry's Young Dylan - Dylan & Charlie's Day Off: Faking being sick to stay home from school, Dylan (Dylan Gilmer) and Charlie (Hero Hunter) plan a day of fun, but Rebecca (Celina Smith) tries to expose their lie. (#302)
That Girl Lay Lay & Young Dylan Catch Up Now Promo (That Thursday Night, July 29, 2022)
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
To celebrate the premiere of Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Ghost Island, the upcoming third season of Nickelodeon's beloved anthology horror series based on the series of the same name from the 90s, Nickelodeon has released a spooktacular sneak peek from the all-new season, which you can check out below, courtesy of Collider!
The new 2-minute exclusive clip from the series' premiere episode "The Tale of Room 13/The Tale of the Teen Spirit" is cut into two distinct parts: one being during the day and the other in the dead of night. The clip sees the members of the Midnight Society, Kayla (Telci Huynh), Leo (Luca Padova), Summer (Dior Goodjohn), and Ferris (Chance Hurstfield) sitting around an unlit bonfire on the beach of the titular Ghost Island. After a brief discussion, the group meets Max (Conor Sherry), who joins the group around the campfire as the clip transitions into night. They asked why the island is called Ghost Island, to which Max says it is because of Room 13, a room that the manager had told the other kids didn't exist.
A second sneak peek can be watched on Dread Central!
Additional casting for the series includes Julian Curtis as Stanley Crane, who is the hotel manager at the island resort. This third season of the rebooted Are You Afraid of the Dark? was renewed back in March 2022 and is following up on its second season Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows, which went on to see the series receive a Writers Guild Award and nominations from the Directors Guild Awards and Artios Awards. The original Are You Afraid of the Dark? aired from 1992 to 1996, with the last two seasons running from 1999-2000.
Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Ghost Island is produced by ACE Entertainment, with ACE founder Matt Kaplan and Chris Foss serving as executive producers and Paul Kim as co-executive producer. JT Billings also serves as an executive producer on the series as well as the showrunner along with original series creators D.J. MacHale and Ned Kandel also serving as executive producers. Director of the series Dean Israelite also serves as executive producer. Production of Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Ghost Island for Nickelodeon is overseen by Shauna Phelan and Zack Olin, Co-Heads of Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Live-Action. Brian Banks serves as Nickelodeon’s Executive in Charge of Production for the series
Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Ghost Island is set to premiere on Nickelodeon with a two-hour episode on Saturday, July 30, with the remaining episodes airing Saturday, Aug. 6, and Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movieleaps from the shadows and onto Netflix on August 5, and to celebrate, below is a hand-picked selection of interviews with the cast and crew of the film! COWABUNGA!
Nickelodeon and iHeartMedia today released a trailer for the second season of its fan-favorite original podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements, the official companion podcast for Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. In season two (40 episodes), hosts Janet Varney (the voice of Korra) and Dante Basco (the voice of Prince Zuko) move on to re-watch Book 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, which sees the introduction of beloved characters including Azula, Toph, Ty Lee, and Mai. Co-produced by Nickelodeon and iHeartMedia, the second season of Avatar: Braving the Elements will be available on iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard starting Tuesday, May 3.
Joining Janet and Dante this season as guests are Jack De Sena (the voice of Sokka), Grey DeLisle (the voice of Azula), Cricket Leigh (the voice of Mai), and James Sie (the voice of Cabbage Merchant). Original series creators and co-chief creative officers of Avatar Studios Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko return to share how they felt when the original series was renewed for a second season. Additional guest stars will be announced in the coming months.
Avatar: Braving the Elements extends the Avatarverse for loyal fans who grew up with the beloved franchise. In this weekly podcast, hosts Janet Varney and Dante Basco continue to re-watch every episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender and break down key themes, notable battles, and behind-the-scenes trivia. Special guests from cast members to producers to superfans drop in to explore elements of Book 2 and reveal secrets behind the making of the series.
About Avatar: The Last Airbender
Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender emerged from its three-season run (61 episodes), from February 2005 to July 2008, as one of the most beloved animated properties in history. Honored with a Peabody Award and Primetime Emmy, along with multiple Annie Awards and Genesis Awards, the series follows the adventures of the main protagonist Aang and his friends, who must save the world by defeating Fire Lord Ozai and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation.
In addition to the series’ success, the property has spawned into several bestselling book series, which continue to roll out new original stories. The graphic novel series most recently spent two months on the New York Times Graphic Books Bestseller list in 2020, and the young adult novels have spent 22 cumulative weeks on the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller list and have shipped over a quarter million copies. The DVD and Blu-rays are also incredibly successful, with the “Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Series” generating nearly $38MM in retail sales since its 2015 release.
Avatar: Braving the Elements’ Janet Varney Previews the Podcast’s Season 2
Janet Varney, co-host of the Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast, dives into the show’s upcoming second season with her iconic enthusiasm.
Nickelodeon's Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast takes a look back at the iconic series through episode recaps and interviews. Hosted by Dante Basco, the voice of Avatar: The Last Airbender's Prince Zuko, and Janet Varney, the voice of Avatar Korra in The Legend of Korra, the podcast is now gearing up for its second season covering Book 2: Earth. Varney and Basco bring a camaraderie and delightful sense of humor to the series, sharing behind-the-scenes info and digging up previously unknown facts but also debating the best hybrid animals. With tons of guests from the series and even the occasional quiz show or live episode, Avatar: Braving the Elements is the perfect podcast for the Avatar fan.
Ahead of the release of Season 2 of Avatar: Braving the Elements, Co-Host Janet Varney spoke with CBR about the fan-favorite podcast. She dove into how she got involved with the podcast and how she and co-host Dante Basco established their friendship and rapport over the years. Varney also previewed some of what fans can expect in this second season, including returning segments and brand new guests.
CBR: I'm so thrilled to talk with you today. I'm a huge fan of Korra and also a fan of Escape!, so it's just a delight to talk with you.
Janet Varney: Oh, excellent. Well, that's great because this is gonna turn into an Escape This Conversation. You're gonna have to solve several puzzles. We're not gonna have time to talk about Avatar at all. [laughs]
So you are an obvious choice to host a podcast about Avatar with your association with the series as Korra, but also your work on tons of other podcasts. Can you tell us a little bit about how you did get involved with Braving the Elements?
Yeah, I mean, I gotta be honest, it was something that has been in my wheel of dreams -- that's not a thing, but it is now -- for quite some time. It was something that I casually talked to Mike [Dante DiMartino] and Bryan [Konietzko] about years ago because they were on my other podcast, The JV Club. They knew that I was just a giant ball of enthusiasm about all things Avatar-verse.
When the pandemic happened, even before that, it was something that I was sort of trying to edge towards. It just worked out that my availability and passion for it, revisiting that with Nickelodeon at the perfect time where they were just getting into the podcast space. It was one of those serendipitous, meant-to-be, "Oh my gosh, this is so great that this is happening!" [things]. I've kind of been giddy about it ever since.
It actually is very reminiscent of when I got cast as Korra because it's the same bubbly feeling of like, "I can't wait to talk to everyone about this. I can't wait for people to see it or hear it," and feeling almost like it's too good to be true. In Hollywood, sometimes those things are too good to be true. Time and again, things that I've done with Nickelodeon have been, "Oh my gosh, this is happening!" and it continues on. It's such a light in my life. So it's such a great way for me to continue being a part of this community just on a fan level. It's like, what are my two favorite things? Avatar [and] podcasting. Great, let's put them together.
That's perfect. Can you talk a little bit about how your rapport with Dante Basco has developed over the time recording with him?
Oh, sure. Well, you know, Dante and I have known each other for years. We started meeting when we were doing Comic-Cons maybe a decade or more ago. We always just got along so well. We have such different energies, but we both have such an enthusiasm, not just for the shows but for the fans, because that's the experience that you keep running into over and over again when you do these Comic-Cons.
One of the things that we always would joke about, especially when we would do panels together, is when people would talk about the first show, Avatar: The Last Airbender, I hadn't watched it in a while, and Dante hadn't watched it in a very long time. We were so intimidated and impressed by just the depth of knowledge that people would bring to these panels. So we would joke like, "Oh no, we're learning so much about our own careers from these people who are smarter and brighter and more terrific than we are."
When it became clear that Braving the Elements was going to happen, having that conversation internally with Nickelodeon was like, what a no-brainer to ask Dante to be a part of it. He is such an ambassador for the show and is such a positive influence not just in the Avatar-verse but in Asian filmmaking and in so many other avenues. So I'm so happy that he was into it.
I wasn't super surprised, again, because of so many conversations that he and I had had, and it's been so wonderful to stay connected to him. The pandemic, for so many of us, we just weren't able to see all the people we love to see. We weren't able to do traveling. Dante and I weren't able to do Cons. So having this thing in place where I was constantly seeing him, albeit across a type of Zoom, was really lovely. When we got to see each other for the first time in person, it was very much like, "Oh, you have legs! Of course, we have legs. Why would I have forgotten that?"
You introduce so many different segments during the first season of Braving the Elements. So I'm curious are some of the fan favorites -- Animal Crossing or Share Me the Details -- coming back for the second season? Do you have new ones planned?
Yeah, they are definitely coming back. We haven't dug that deep into recaps yet. We're very much in the beginning of recording Season 2, and we have so many special episodes we wanted to get recorded with new cast members that we've been desperately waiting to have on the podcast when certain ones of them were introduced -- [fake coughs] Toph [fake sneeze], excuse me, and many, many others. We really have gotten some of those locked in, and we haven't done a ton of recaps.
That being said, not to worry -- I always have to have some animal crossing in there. I just need a reason to always talk about those hybrids and non-hybrids. We feel like we got so much... The Most Valuable Bending and Non-Bending is such an integral part of the podcast now because it is this kind of wonderful way of... It's a lens that I especially love looking back at the episode [through]. So there [is] going to be stuff like that. I don't know if there's anything brand new.
To your point, I've really just shoved a lot into that first season. There were definitely moments where it was like, "Okay, we've trimmed down on that." When you start a podcast, you don't know how long it's gonna take to record an episode. You have a sense that you're going to be able to talk about an episode forever, but what if you can't? So we wanted to have a lot of fun avenues into talking. It turns out, it's Avatar, so you don't need a lot of help. That stuff's gonna come up organically.
At the same time, I would welcome people to write me on social media and say, "Hey, I've listened to the podcast. I have a great idea for a segment. Here's the thing: I think you can you have an opportunity to really zero in on every episode or every other episode." The podcast is better because of the people who listen to it and because of the interaction that we've been able to have. So that offer is also out there.
That's wonderful. In addition to the voice actor for Toph, whom I know everyone is eager to hear from, your promo also says you have the voice actor for the Cabbage Merchant, which I think is a huge get.
Yes!
Are there any actors or creators or people involved with this series that you haven't had a chance to talk to?
Oh, for sure. I think just scrolling through social media, you'll kind of see who they are, based on [that] we want the same thing that the fans want, you know? It's a matter of scheduling or a matter of... It's absolutely never a matter of we don't want them on the podcast when people ask about Mai, when people ask about having Jason Isaacs on, or they want to see Mark Hamill. Everyone should know, that is always an open door. We would love to have our heroes on the podcast.
In many cases, they're off directing movies, or they live in a different country, or they're focused really hard on the project they're working on. They're really in that space. People should definitely know, it's never for lack of inviting. It's also no, we're not mad at anybody who hasn't been able to do it yet, or who won't do it. It's just the fandom knows because they're asking for the people that we're like, "No, don't worry, we definitely want them to come on. They're always welcome."
That's excellent. Now that you're branching into a second season, are you planning any additional live shows with Braving the Elements?
Absolutely. I can't tell you exactly where or when yet, because that's something that we're very much figuring out with scheduling and trying to get all the right people in the right room at once. We loved the stuff that we've done live, and I know we absolutely want to do more of it. So now it's just a matter of how and when.
Season 2 of the Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast premieres May 3.
INTERVIEW: Dante Basco travels to the Earth Kingdom for new season of AVATAR: BRAVING THE ELEMENTS podcast
"There are things during certain scenes that come back to mind but also things I don’t ever remember saying."
Earlier this year, the second season of the fan-favorite original podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements, the official companion podcast for Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, launched from Nickelodeon and iHeartMedia. The latest season of the series sees hosts Janet Varney (the voice of Korra) and Dante Basco (the voice of Prince Zuko) continue their examination of the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender with Book Two: Earth.
During SDCC ’22, The Beat had the chance to chat with Dante Basco about working on the podcast, teasing what’s to come, as well as the emotional passing of Uncle Iroh voice actor Mako.
Taimur Dar: I was able to interview both you and Janet Varney at NYCC last year right before you hosted the Braving the Elements podcast for the first time in front of a live audience. Now that you’ve done the podcast live a few times since then, how would you describe the experience?
Dante Basco: I love the energy of the live audience. Janet and I have been having such a great time doing the podcast at home in our studios. But when you do it front of the fans, they really get engaged. We’re fans of the show too as we’re rewatching the show. So it’s really great to connect with the bigger fanbase and dive into some of the questions we all have about the show.
Dar: It’s been more than 15 years since Book Two: Earth aired, so was there anything that surprised you or that you completely forgot during your rewatch?
Basco: So many memories come flushing back in. Like you said, it’s been so long since we did the show. There are things during certain scenes that come back to mind but also things I don’t ever remember saying. It’s a very unique experience for me as an actor to go back and rewatch a project like this and really go through with a fine-tooth comb. Me and Janet get to investigate everything about the characters and themes and be assisted by people like Michael [Dante DiMartino] and Bryan [Konietzko] or the voice actors or musicians. It’s been wild.
Dar: Toph is a character fans have been eagerly awaiting so how has it been to reconnect with the voice actress of Toph?
Basco: I love it! Jessie Flower a.k.a. Michaela Murphy is a dear friend. It’s great to have her on the show because we’ve kept in touch over the years and she’s grown up. When she did the show she was a very young girl like 12-13 years old. For her to go back and relive those days and talk about what that character has meant to her has been wonderful. Toph is the G.O.A.T.!
Dar: Who are some of the other actors whose characters are introduced in this season that will appear on the podcast?
Basco: We have a few people coming up like Phil LaMarr. Of course we have some fan favorites like Jack De Sena. Also Jennie Kwan. Special guest this season is fan-favorite Azula voiced by legendary Grey DeLisle who joins us on the podcast. There are a lot of great guests as far as voice actors. Also not only people who worked on the show but also getting the fans involved in the podcast.
Dar: Were there any guests you had on the podcast who stood out?
Basco: The music is so important so talking with the musicians like Jeremy Zuckerman has been amazing. He was brand new to doing music for television at that time so he explained how he came up with the sounds. I love getting that behind-the-scenes information. As actors we do our thing but to see other people in their respective art add to the show is so fascinating.
Dar: The relationship between Zuko and Iroh in Book Two really grows and develops in ways that pull at the heartstrings. One specific episode “Tales of Ba Sing Se”—
Basco: One of my favorite episodes of the show!
Dar: —Iroh’s segment always brings tears to my eyes.
Basco: You’re giving me all the feels! I think it’s a tearjerker for everybody. That’s one of the great moments and of course the dedication to Mako who originally played Iroh and passed during Book Two. It was an emotional time for us when we were doing the show and it’s an emotional time when you watch the episode. It’s such a beautiful part of the story. It gives everybody the feels for so many reasons.
Dar: Actor Greg Baldwin had the unenviable task of taking over the role of Iroh after Mako’s passing.
Basco: Amazing.
Dar: He knocked it out of the park. Is he someone you’re hoping to get on the podcast?
Basco: Of course. I would love to have Greg on the show. I look forward to talking to him about the character. We’re waiting for him to come onto the show when he actually gets to voice Uncle Iroh. I have so many really great tender moments and memories of him coming onto the show and being so respectful to Mako and Mako’s life and legacy even before he did Avatar. Mako was such a prolific and important actor in the Asian American community. For Greg to come in and voice match him, it was almost emotional the first time we heard him do Uncle Iroh.
Dar: This being the midpoint of the series, it’s always the point in narrative storytelling where the heroes are at their lowest. Look no further than Empire Strikes Back. I think everybody can probably relate to Book Two: Earth more than ever, especially in these last few months. Has the second season resonated with you in any way?
Basco: Like you said with Empire, it’s the middle chapter and it’s so poignant for the days and times we’re living in. I think that’s one of the reasons for the resurgence of Avatar during the pandemic and when it came on Netflix it really hit hard and impacted everybody.
Dar: Finally, I know you still have to finish Book Two but when Braving the Elements gets to Book Three: Fire, are there any episodes you’re eager to examine and watch again.
Basco: The episode “The Beach.” I can’t wait to get to “The Beach!”
Spin Master Games has partnered with motorway service provider Welcome Break to keep families entertained during the summer holidays.
Spin Master Games has partnered with motorway service provider, Welcome Break, to provide a series of fun games at UK services to keep families entertained during long car journeys in the summer holidays.
With millions of Brits hitting the roads for the summer holidays, Spin Master has partnered with Welcome Break for a special roadside treat. Just in time for the big getaway, travellers will be able to relax and have fun with a range of games at motorway pit stops. Spin Master games will be set up in various food courts in Welcome Break motorway service areas across the UK for families to enjoy as they break up long trips.
Games on offer include the all-new survival game, Sink ‘N’ Sand, featuring the iconic and popular Kinetic Sand, which traps characters on a wild jungle adventure. Families can also dream up the next hit show by combining their favourite Netflix content with hilarious plot twists with the Netflix Game. Brothers and sisters can have fun trying to guess what animal or object is on their heads through a series of questions in the Hedbanz game.
Families can also battle for household (or car passenger) bragging rights in Beat the Parents, while solo travellers will be able to test their patience and persistence as they make it through 70 obstacles with Perplexus Rebel. Paw Patrol Puzzles will also be available to give younger passengers a much-deserved break on long car journeys.
Hedley Barnes, SVP International at Spin Master Toys, commented on the partnership: “We know that travelling around the UK with children in tow can be difficult. By adding some of our much-loved games to Welcome Break service areas, we’ll be able to help with some well needed respite on long journeys. From fun challenges and brainteasers to quick question games and puzzles for little ones, there is something for everyone.”
The following service stations will be providing Spin Master Games pit stops in their food halls:
Birchanger Green, Bishops Stortford – M11
Fleet – M3
Gordano – M5
Hopwood Park – M42
Leicester Forest East – M1
Membury – M4
Oxford – M40
South Mimms – M25/A1(M)
Warwick – M40
More information on Spin Master Games can be found on the website here.
Paramount+ UK & Ireland is HERE! Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favourites! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and Jill Talley chat about the legacy of SpongeBob SquarePants and the future of the franchise.
Premiering in 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants was an instant hit for Nickelodeon. It was successful beyond the wildest dreams of the show's dearly departed creator, Stephen Hillenburg. With a consistent main cast that has remained a part of the series since the beginning, the show has evolved over the last two decades to become a cultural touchstone for countless viewers around the world -- and one of the most successful cartoon creations of the 21st century. In recent years, the franchise has continued to expand with new feature films like The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, spinoffs like The Patrick Star Show, and Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, while the original series quietly approaches 300 episodes.
The three are even set for a crossover, the upcoming "Tidal Zone" special. As stars of a genuine multi-generational hit, the voices of SpongeBob SquarePants have become some of the most iconic in modern animation. Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), and Jill Talley (Karen/Squidina) visited the CBR media room at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 to discuss watching the series become a cultural phenomenon. The group dove into finding new layers to their well-worn characters and looked ahead to what the future holds for the citizens of Bikini Bottom.
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com - SpongeBob face masks now available, with ALL proceeds going to charity!
Autobots, Roll Out! The Transformers are coming to Nickelodeon and Paramount+ in their brand new CG-animated series Transformers: EarthSpark this November, and to celebrate, below is a hand-picked selection of interviews with the cast and crew of the all-new series!
SDCC ’22 INTERVIEW: Nickelodeon’s TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK cartoon is more than meets the eye for the cast & crew
Promises a little something for every generation of Transformers fan
During SDCC, Nickelodeon unveiled a first look at the upcoming Transformers: EarthSpark animated series. Debuting this November on Paramount+, EarthSpark will introduce the first generation of Transformers robots born on Earth known as Terrans.
The Beat had the pleasure of interviewing voice cast members Danny Pudi (Bumblebee), Kathreen Khavari (Twitch), Zeno Robinson (Thrash), as well as co-executive producer Dale Malinowski and executive producer Ant Ward to get the inside scoop on Transformers: EarthSpark.
Taimur Dar: Transformers is a franchise much like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Star Trek that is a recognizable brand name. I’m curious what was each of your familiarity with Transformers before EarthSpark?
Dale Malinowski: I think a lot of us here grew up with this property. Beast Wars was the new series that I grew up watching and G1 was on repeat in reruns. What also kept Transformers in my household and in my life were the toys in the brown wicker toy chest in the basement of my parents’ house. My brother had Starscream and I bought him a new one recently that I’m sure his daughters will destroy in time.
Zeno Robinson: I grew up with the Transformers. Of course I had the toys. I had an Optimus Transformer. A lot of my consumption was through TV. There was an obscure anime one I think that was on Kids’ WB or something. That was the first one I watched. Then the movies came out and the movies were instrumental to me as an actor. A dream of mine, and it kind of still is, was to be in one of the Transformers movies. When I work out, I always have to be able to run as long as Shia LaBeouf did in that one scene of Transformers. That’s the goal! [Laughs]. And of course I loved Transformers Prime. I’ve been a fan ever since.
Ant Ward: I’ve been a huge fan of Transformers since my childhood. I grew up in South Africa where the show was on TV and I was a huge fan. Unfortunately it was the only toy that wasn’t on the shelves which as a bit exacerbating as a kid. But once a year we would visit relatives in Ireland and I would be able to stop over by Heathrow where they had a little toy shop and I’d get my Transformers toys. It was just a great adventure to build my collection!
Danny Pudi: My turn! I was a big fan of the show as a kid. Like Dale said, we had the toys. My brother and I would throw them at each other. His Optimus Prime toy was a little bit bigger and more durable. But it’s fun to relive those memories. It’s exciting to be part of this new generation.
Kathreen Khavari: I was an ‘80s baby so I watched the cartoons. For me it’s super exciting to have this childhood connection with something and then to be an adult and be a part of it.
Dar: From what we’ve seen it looks like it’s aimed towards a young audience so I’m wondering if you could speak about the tone and the target audience for Transformers: EarthSpark.
Ward: Going into Transformers: EarthSpark we wanted to make a show that the whole family could enjoy. The show is about family. That’s the core of it. It can be enjoyed by kids [as well as] old and new fans. Everybody is going to enjoy a little something out of it. The target audience is 6-11.
Malinowski: Like Ant is saying, 6-11 is Nickelodeon’s target audience. We’ve got legacy bots like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee involved in our storytelling. So there’s a little something for every generation of fan in Transformers: EarthSpark.
Dar: For the actors playing the new Transformers introduced in this series, could you tell us about your characters?
Khavari: My character is Twitch and she is an Earthborn Transformers robot. They’re called the Terrans which is a new species. She is just discovering who she is through the help of Robby and Mo, the children they’re emotionally connected to, and also Bumblebee—
Pudi: Can’t forget good old legacy bot Bumblebee!
Khavari: You’re kind of a pain sometimes so it’s easy to forget.
[Laughter]
Khavari: Through the support of everyone around them they’re learning how to become Transformers robots and use their powers for good. My character specifically really wants to show the world and everyone else around her what she can do.
Robinson: Very similar to what Kat said, [my character] Thrash is also a Terran Earthborn Transformers robot. He’s bonded to these two human kids. They all are a family now. Thrash is learning about his own emotions and this new world he’s not familiar with. He’s trying to adapt to it but also have fun the whole while and enjoy every bit of it. Twitch is very studious and pragmatic and Thrash is very wild and rambunctious. That’s their dynamic and how they operate.
Dar: Multiple actors have voiced Bumblebee over the years so I’m curious what the description and take was for the character in this version.
Transformers EarthSparkPudi: First of all, I was just super excited to be part of this story and play such an iconic character. [He was] my favorite character of the Transformers robots. It was exciting to try something new. He’s on this secret mission and he’s trying to prove that he’s still got it. I think that’s kind of my catchphrase, “I still got it!” It’s been fun playing this new layer of Bumblebee trying to be this mentor to this group. For me personally, I’m a dad of twins [and] that’s all I do every day to tell them not to do what they’re doing. [Laughs]. But also encourage their individuality and allow them to express themselves. That’s what Bumblebee is trying to do.
Dar: I know that Ant and Dale were previously involved on Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You’ve both been working at Nickelodeon for some time, so was Rise of the TMNT your first project together and how has your working relationship developed since then with Transformers: EarthSpark?
Malinowski: That was Ant and my first creative collaboration. I had previously been at Nickelodeon in a different role and was around other projects that Ant was producing and working on. The first time we got to collaborate was on Rise of the TMNT. I ended up in the writers’ room on Ant and Andy [Suriano]’s show. When EarthSpark came about and we knew were going to get into development, we teamed up immediately and developed the whole thing from the ground up in early 2020 with our other EP and story editor Nicole Dubuc.
Dar: Who’s the voice director for the show?
Ward: The voice director is Kristi Reed.
Dar: I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume you recorded remotely. How was that experience?
Pudi: Literally today we show up and I’m meeting everyone in person for the first time! And we’re all wearing masks too so we show up and I’m like, “Dale?”
[Laughter]
Pudi: It’s a unique process. Over the last couple of years we haven’t been in the same room with each other. It’s just a different way of working.
Khavari: We did at the beginning try to get everyone to record at the same time. There were some familiar faces and we saw a lot of each other on the computer in our closets. That was nice to start off the series being able to work together even if it was through a screen.
Robinson: I think it was very foundational, especially because it’s a show about family, having everybody together in the first records even if it was over Zoom. I think it was very important especially for me building connections with my cast members. Even when there are times when they’re not there, I know what Kat would sound like. I always have this joke. This is my first Nickelodeon show and I’ve never been able to go into the studio! I’ve been there for callbacks but I’ve never been there to record. The pandemic has robbed me of yet another thing. [Laughs]. But I’ve been having a lot of fun with Kristi and Kat and everybody.
Dar: Finally, anything you can tease for the first season that should excite fans? Maybe some familiar faces?
Malinowski: We can promise you lots of humor and heart and action and a lot of surprises coming down the pike that we’re hesitant to spoil. But fans of every generation will be happy.
Ward: For sure! There are going to definitely be some familiar faces. Some are going to be interesting scenarios and adventures. I don’t want to give too much away!
###
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
