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Today's episode features a talented special guest starring in a time travel mystery series and two memorable conversations in honor of Black History month.
Landon Gordon plays Wyatt in The Disney Channel's Secrets of Sulphur Springs, a TV series featuring time travel, town secrets and unexplained phenomenon. After his father unexpectedly moved the famiy away from Chicago, Wyatt and his siblings soon realize their new home (a hotel) might be haunted by a missing girl. As his brother (Griffin) and his new best friend (Harper) investigate the mysteries, Wyatt and his sister set out to get some answers of their own. Landon joins Scott on today's episode to discuss the role, time travel, generating scares and much more.
In honor of Black History Month, Scott also shares his memorable 2013 interviews with two Tuskegee Airmen - Master Sergeant Joseph Montgomery and Brigadier General (then Colonel) Charles McGee. These interviews were conducted in conjunction with the release of the George Lucas movie - Red Tails.
Both men discuss the challenges of fighting wars on a global scale while enduring personal battles at home.
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Remember conventions? Remember when we could go to them? Remember San Diego Comic-Con? Remember hearing all those BIG announcements? Those were the days.
This week, FTN contributors Tiffany Ojeda, Mia Dallas and Nathan Chick join Scott to discuss their convention memories. They'll talk about memorable moments that stand out for the right and wrong reasons, as well as funny stories, celebrity meetings and future hopes (once we can go back). COVID-19 Forced Fan Conventions to Close Their Doors Once the pandemic took hold, people were no longer able to gather at in-person events. Everything from Star Wars Celebration to San Diego Comic-Con were cancelled, and many events went virtual. Even with hopes for things to get better in 2021, some conventions (like the New York Toy Fair) have already cancelled plans for this year. In previous episodes of the podcast, FTN contributors likeElise Baughman shared some advantages to virtual conventions (like accessibility), and Scott talked about finally getting to meet celebrities like Jane Badler and Frank Ashmore (from 'V') through a virtual event. Nonetheless, nerds are waiting with bated breath to see if any conventions will re-open their doors sometime in 2021. Memories Prove the Impact of In-Person Conventions It wasn't difficult for anyone to discuss memories in today's podcast.
Fandoms Applied to other Aspects of Life Anyone who's known Scott for awhile knows he often ties real-life things to movie and television scenes. So, when he was tasked with tying pop culture characters to his Master's Degree, he couldn't wait to jump on it. The assignment was to pick characters from television and movies who demonstrate leadership and highlight their behaviors. He not only had to pick characters, but pick scenes that compliment the selections. His first choice (of three ) was James T. Kirk who's leadership style includes not believing in a no-win situation. While For The Nerd is not the first show to talk to voice actors, oftentimes the emphasis tends to be on TV, movies, and video games. While the guests on this episode have worked on all types of media before, they are perhaps best known for their work on something a little more nostalgic: cereal and fruit punch commercials! Even if we might not think about them much on a day-to-day basis, there are characters out there who've been around for decades and whose catchphrases have been repeated for years by kids and adults alike. Phrases like “Follow your nose!” and “Oh yeah!” are simply part of the vernacular of the Western world now, ingrained into the subconscious of the many people who got a glimpse of those gleaming mascots in store aisles and saw them on their television sets. These are mascots who real people get a chance to embody, as is the case with Matthew Curtis (the new voice of Toucan Sam of Fruit Loops), Robb Pruitt (Frankenberry, Chip the Wolf of Cookie Crisp), and Brock Powell (the new voice of Kool-Aid Man). But before we get to them, you might be wondering: Why are these brand mascots so important to us in the first place? Well, to find the answer to this question, let us cast our minds back to an era when cereal wasn’t just something you ate in the morning - it was an experience.
A Trip Down Memory Aisle
Cereal has a strong association with childhood. This is because it used to be something of a universal language for children. There were Saturday morning cartoons, action figures involved, and so many delicious options that it felt like choosing something at a toy store. In the modern world, there might not be quite the same selection as there once was, but back then, the cereal aisle was a whole magical world to be explored. Granted, in the last few years, the aisle has regained some of its long lost magic, but the selection is neither as creative nor as expansive as it once was. When The Mandalorian gets a cereal, it’s just more of the same in different packaging. Back in the day, there were cereals made for ET, C3PO, the Gremlins - you name it, they had it. Each one was different. They even had one for the candy brand Nerds -- how fitting. It was all so exciting. Yet now, you can take five steps and be pretty much out of the cereal aisle already. The one thing that has remained true in the world of cereal are the advertising icons, the legendary characters that grew up with us. Even now, after so much has changed, they are still around. With different voices, perhaps, but with the same exuberant energy as always.
Speaking of... here are a few thoughts from the voice actors behind some of the most iconic commercial characters on the silver screen, on the ups and downs of a little-talked-about industry.
Building Your Own Brand Taking over the shoes (or beak) like Toucan Sam’s, which formerly belonged to legendary voice actor Maurice LaMarche, is difficult business -- Matthew Curtis can attest to it. Many wonder how you even get a gig like that in the first place, with the competition being so high to be the face of Froot Loops’ new marketing campaign. According to Matt, the biggest thing that’s helped him is being the one to scout out his own jobs. For him, the real tough leg work is in finding the role for himself, before he can start on the meaty work of diving into a character and giving them a voice. But for high profile roles like Toucan Sam, that’s where the importance of agents and managers come into play. Matt says he has his amazing team of agents to thank for his spot as an up-and-coming advertising icon, and that it’s truly incredible how much the voice acting industry has changed in order to allow his contributions to be recognized by a wider audience. Being Up Against the Big-Wigs Not all change is good change. Another big shift in the voice acting industry is a focus on bigger name celebrities over blue-collar voiceover artists. It doesn’t matter what the talent level of the actor is -- if their name can be put up in big font on a poster, then the producers know they have a winner. Matt says he’s felt discouraged by these changes, but that it’s the nature of the industry. Besides, he argues, a lot of celebrities get to where they are by being genuinely talented, so there’s no harm done in the end. At the end of the day, he’s just glad he gets to do what he loves for a living. Bringing Your Own Flavor The first time Brock Powell heard Kool-Aid Man’s signature phrase, he was both horrified and inspired. He had just heard Frank Sims’ deep voice bellowing it out, and although he didn’t know it yet, it would become a well-remembered experience for him. At the end of 2015, Kool-Aid decided to find a new voice for their classic character, and that was when Brock Powell put his admiration for Frank Sims and his own talents to good use. For Brock, it’s all about bringing his own energy, his own character, and his own quirky voice to the mix. Kool-Aid Man has a long history of voice actors behind him, and he stands as an advertising icon for mascots of every brand. So, to put his own spin on the big red pitcher was the only way Brock could see himself leaving a mark on the character’s legacy. Now Bring It Again, and Again Unfortunately for voice actors, one time repeating a catchphrase just won’t cut it. In order to get the part of Kool-Aid Man, Brock had to go through three rounds of auditions, each one making him say those two words over and over again in every possible way. Robb Pruitt, of Frankenberry and Chip the Wolf fame, says that this is what it is to be a voice actor. How easy would it be to simply say two words and leave the studio? Too easy. In order to be the voice of one of these iconic mascots, Robb says that one has to come in ready to do every take a different way until the right way is found. Yet to him, it’s not hard work -- at least, not in the traditional definition of the word. It is difficult and tiresome, but in the end, it’s well worth it to be part of the legacy of such influential advertising icons. If you want to find out more about advertising icons and all the influence they’ve had on the voice acting industry and the world, check out the panel Icons of Advertising, virtually hosted by Galaxy Con on February 14th and featuring all the lovely people you’ve met in this article.
When the trailers for the upcoming Marvel TV shows on Disney Plus dropped last month, some fans were puzzled. If you haven't read the comics, the WandaVision, Loki, and Falcon and the Winter Soldier trailers may have seemed a bit confusing.
Comic book experts and FTN contributors Matt Moore and Regina Davis are here to provide some context for the new Marvel TV shows coming to Disney+ in 2021. Some of the questions they address include: What is happening to Scarlet Witch and Vision? Where is Loki and who are those people that captured him? What are Falcon and The Winter Soldier up to in their new series? Timestamps: • 1:30 News & Reviews • 8:38 Scott talks about Luke Skywalker's appearance on The Mandalorian (reactions & drama) • 17:05 Discussion with contributors Matt Moore and Regina Davis begins • 23:35 Loki • 32:12 Falcon and the Winter Soldier • 39:41 WandaVision • 50:00 How these three shows might be the bridge for phase 4 of the MCU • 53:24 Where else can you find Matt Moore and Regina Davis online right now
In the last episode of 2021, Scott talks about some notable stories and interviews from his podcast experience. Then Lou Mongello (WDW Radio) joins the show to discuss his new book The Disney Interviews: Volume 1 and how his passion for Disney led to some amazing opportunities to speak with some big Disney names. Lou also shares advice for aspiring interviewers and podcasters.
You can find more from Lou at WDW Radio This week, Scott talks about toy collecting from childhood to adulthood. Then, FTN contributor Anita Castellar (FanGirl Consulting and Brand Management), James Zahn (Toy Insider, Pop Insider, The Toy Book) and Jennifer Lynch (The Toy Association) discuss some notable toy trends and some unique toys to find this holiday season. Links: The Toy Association Toy Insider Pop Insider The Toy Book Fangirl Licensing and Brand Management Panda Mony Toys
We are now entering the fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and fans will soon be introduced to some new characters. Well, the characters will be new to the MCU movies, but comic book fans know them already!
FTN contributor and comic book expert Matt Moore stops by to share some thoughts about a couple of MCU movies coming out in 2021. Scott and Matt discuss Shang-Chi and The Eternals. Matt shares why he's excited for these movies, what fans can expect and how they will fit in with other MCU movies and TV shows in 2021. Timestamps • 1:21 News & Reviews • 4:54 Scott talks celebrating the Christmas holiday early and three of his favorite holiday movies • 13:04 Discussion begins Matt Moore about the MCU in 2021 • 16:02 Shang-Chi • 22:36 The Ten Rings • 25:23 The Eternals • 37:20 Where else can you find Matt Moore online right now
Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Paul Watson talks about his book Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition - the historical story behind AMC's The Terror (Season 1).
Scott shares his thoughts about Season 2 of The Mandalorian. This week's special guest is artist Luke Flowers, whose career includes providing artwork for several children's books and popular characters (Mister Rogers, The Muppets, etc.). His latest book, Labyrinth: The ABC Storybook re-tells the story of the iconic Jim Henson movie through the letters in the alphabet. It's a book that should please fans of all ages.
Check out Luke's website - Luke Flowers Creative Get the book on Amazon -The Labyrinth ABC Storybook
Scott shares some pros and cons about every Star Wars trilogy. Then, Dan Zehr and Cole Horton join the show to discuss the exciting and challenging process of creating an in-depth, comprehensive publication focused on the entire Star Wars Universe in The Star Wars Book: Expand your knowledge of a galaxy far, far away.
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