Robin Dunne is the star of the SyFy hit series “Sanctuary”.  The show recently completed it’s fourth season.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Robin about the season, his first effort directing and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: You star in “Sanctuary” but what made you turn to directing this season?
Robin Dunne: I have always had this approach to the business, which is to diversify. Some actors just want to be actors and I am a little jealous of them sometimes. I have always wanted to act and write and I have done both now. So I thought the next natural step for me was to direct. Working on “Sanctuary” was the best possible place to get my feet wet, everyone knew each out and works so well together. I have never been more prepared for something in my life. My only fear on directing was to not let my whole team down. I am really happy with the way the episode came out. The whole crew and team really wanted me to succeed.

MG: Who is the better director you are Amanda (Tapping)?
RD: [laughs] I think Amanda is more experienced at it. It is interesting because every director has style and approach. I didn’t even know what my style was going to be until I got out on the floor and started directing. Amanda tends to be more of a technical director then me. She is very specific and uses cranes for different shots. I am not quite there yet. But let me tell you that directing is a blast.

MG: Any future plans to direct more episodes?
RD: I would love to direct more. Should we get a season five, I would love to take on a few more episodes.

MG: On a production side of the show, it doesn’t seem like there is as much CGI as there used to be; can you reflect?
RD: It on scale actually. There are some episodes that are very heavy in CGI and others are very little. The reason for that is because there is such a time crunch that we are under to deliver the show to the network. The visual effects company gets so bogged down. There is a delicate balance of keeping all the visual effects in the show as possible without but also not hurting ourselves that the episodes won’t be ready in time. In terms of directing, the visual effects was also another great educational process. I learned that during certain shots, if I put the camera in one spot then this (pointing) whole section by the window is going to need visual effects. You might want that though, but if it is not entirely necessary you can move the camera over slightly away from the window and not need all that effects done. When we started the show, it was only a two hour pilot, so we could spend a much time as we needed on the effects.

MG: Have you ever considered crossing over into other Syfy shows?
RD: I have thought about directing an episode of “Warehouse 13” just to give them the hardest time ever [laughs]. I would love to bust Eddie (McClintock)’s chops. It is one thing to walk on a set that you have been working on for years but it is another thing walking on a set that is brand new to you. It would be a whole different challenge.

MG: What is your favorite episode from season four?
RD: You know, I really like the episode that I directed, episode six titled “Homecoming”. I think my favorite episode of the season, actually of the whole series to date, is episode eight titled “Fugue”, which is our musical episode. It was such an amazing thing to do. It took all of us out of our comfort zones. Being in the recording sessions were great. Being on stage with the little ear piece playing that music that only you can hear, while trying to sing and act at the same time. It was such a challenge but such a fun episode. There is something about singing that brings out a certain emotional level in people. It works so well into the story that the audience is barely going to notice the music. They are not going to be able to notice when we are breaking into song. It definitely has to be one of my favorites.

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Parker Young plays the role of Ryan Shay on the ABC series “Suburgatory”. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Parker about his work on the show and what may be in store for his character.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your role on “Suburgatory”?
Parker Young: The show is basically about a father who moves his daughter from the city to the suburbs after finding a box of condoms in her room. Little does he know that the town they moved to is completely ridiculous and filled with a bunch of insane characters. It’s not as perfect as he had imagined. My character Ryan Shay is the first boy that Tessa the daughter meets. I am the high school jock and Tessa and have a little bit of a fling. She finds out I am super dumb and realizes she was only attracted to my body. (Laughs)

AL: How did you initially get involved with the show?
PY: I went through the standard audition process after receiving the script. The role is obviously a high school jock role and there were a bunch of younger looking guyswho also had shown up to read for the part. I didn’t think I had a shot because I thought I looked just a little too old. I met with the casting director and the audition went great. I met with a few more people involved with the show and ended up getting the phone call telling me I was the guy.

 AL: What do you like most about playing the character of Ryan?
PY: It is so much fun. I enjoy the freedom of the character. Originally when I auditioned the character wasn’t so dumb and innocent. He sort of became that way. I am happy with the character and how he is so child like. Ryan gets to say what’s on his mind. It’s just a fun character to play and I think the writers have fun writing for the role.

AL: What can we expect to see from your character this season?
PY: There is an episode this season called “The Body”. I am the body. (Laughs) Ryan has been trying to prove to Tessa that he is the guy for her. You can expect to see Ryan make another attempt and winning over Tessa. There also is an episode where my character is hurt during a wrestling match which leads to Ryan being disowned by his family. George takes Ryan under his wing and teaches him a thing or two. In the future Ryan is going to use his new arsenal of good to win Tessa over.

AL: How does working on this show compare to your work on previous films and television shows?
PY: This show has been such a blessing. I have learned so much and developed some great relationships. You become part of a family. It’s a fun creative process. It’s a cool experience to watch everything unfold. I feel very close to all the actors and our crew is amazing. I think the show has hit its stride as of late.

AL: What was it like working on “Gingerdead Man 2”?
PY: (Laughs) at the time it was great. I had just moved out west and it was cool to be out there and be in a film. Looking back on that now I am not too sure what I was thinking. (Laughs)

AL: Do you have any other upcoming projects?
PY: We are just wrapping up the 22^nd episode of “Suburgatory”. When that is completed I will have the time to start looking for new projects. There are some things set to air however I can’t say anything about those right now. I will be ready for pilot season and hopefully auditioning a bunch. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

For more info on Parker Young you can follow him on Twitter at @Parker_Young

NEW YORK, NY – March 6, 2012 – Actress Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on the popular Cartoon Network animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, had the ultimate cosplay experience recently when she dressed up in full make-up and costume as the Star Wars character she brings to life on the show. She documents her experience and the world of cosplay in a new blog she has written exclusively for CNN Geek Out! online and shares photos of the finished product.

Cosplay, short for “costumed play,” is the experience that thousands of fans participate in each year at conventions around the world where they dress up as their favorite character from a sci-fi or fantasy movie, TV show, anime, video game or book. It attracts both young and old alike.

Those outside the world of cosplay don’t always understand the attraction fans have for bringing their favorite characters to life, however, Ashley, in her CNN Geek Out! blog explains why she not only understands their passion and enjoyment but embraces it. She reveals that she has secretly wanted to dress up as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan learner, Ahsoka Tano, for years.

“As the voice of Ahsoka, I simply go into the recording studio and record my lines for the show,” Ashley relates in her CNN Geek Out! blog. “There is no need to ever dress up as the character because they only need our voices to bring the character to life. However, I am also a fan, and year after year I have been going to conventions seeing hundreds of girls dressed up as Ahsoka, secretly wishing I, too, could someday try on the costume. Well, with the help of my friends, my wish was granted, and I got to dress up as Ahsoka for the day!”

When not recording the voice of Ahsoka, Ashley oversees her company, Her Universe, which produces fashionable sci-fi apparel and accessories for fangirls. To see the latest releases in the line visit http://www.heruniverseshop.com/starwars.aspx . To read Ashley’s full cosplay blog and to see more photos of Ashley as Ahsoka Tano visit CNN Geek Out!

Arthur Rankin, Jr. is part of the duo team Rankin/Bass. He is a legend and does not need any introduction. Rankin/Bass created the timeless holiday specials “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “The Year Without Santa Claus” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, just to name a few. Media Mikes had a once in a lifetime chance to chat with Arthur about his work and how it has and will continue to entertain generation after generation.

Mike Gencarelli: Let’s start with “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Why do you think this special has become timeless after almost 50 years?
Arthur Rankin, Jr.: I really don’t have an answer to that. I think because it was the first special of its kind…I think that, in looking for something to watch for Christmas, parents put their children in front of the television. And the word went out that this was a nice show, etc., etc, etc. and so next year it had a bigger audience. And as the audience grew, so did the children that watched it. They grew up to become mothers. And they grew up to become grandmothers! And they also put their children and grandchildren in front of the television set. That’s been going on for all of these years. It’s a pattern. That’s why Disney keeps re-releasing it’s old pictures. Because there’s an audience. The theatre may have a child whose having his first experience with the film while his grandmother is having her fourth or fifth experience with it. And that’s what our audience consists of. It’s a memory of life. To many people, “Rudolph” means Christmas.

MG: Why did you choose to work with stop motion animation, which you refer to as “animagic,” as opposed to conventional animation?
AR: A trade delegation had come to America from Japan. There was one gentleman who represented the steel industry…another who was in textiles. And a third who represented their motion picture industry. The motion picture representative had a studio he wanted to promote. He asked a friend of his in Washington D.C. if he could be introduced to one of America’s foremost animators. And by mistake he was led to me (laughs). We got along very well. He had been born in the U.S. and after he graduated college he went back to Japan. We became close friends. He invited me to come over, look at his studios, and tell him what I thought. I did. I went over, toured the studios and saw an example of stop motion, which hadn’t been done in a long time and not in any great depth. I was very taken by it…I thought it was a new approach. Of course I got to re-design it but I used the technique. We started out making some short films and they turned out very well. I made a series that I syndicated about Pinocchio. And then Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer lit up his nose. I lived in Greenwich Village at the time and my neighbor down the block (Johnny Marks) had actually written the song. I called him up and told him that there was a character there that would make a nice Christmas show. He was reluctant to do it at the time – do you know what ASCAP is? (NOTE: ASCAP is the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. It is through this group that songwriters earn their royalties). “Rudolph” was a very successful song at Christmas time and he was afraid to jeopardize that income by doing anything with the song. I finally convinced him that the show would promote the song more. I took my idea to General Electric and they sponsored it. They put it on NBC for the first time in a spot they had used for “The College Bowl” – Sunday afternoon at 4:00. (NOTE: “The General Electric College Bowl” could best be described as the collegiate version of “Jeopardy.” It ran on NBC from 1959-1970). Now normally no one is watching television on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 but they were that day…”Rudolph” earned the highest rating of the week. And the rest is, “let’s have some more of those!”

MG: Your next Christmas project was “Frosty the Snowman,” which took a more traditional animation route. Why not stop motion?
AR: Because the subject lent itself better to the medium. Besides, by then I had several other films in production at my studio in Japan. I had no more room! We were into doing a feature in stop motion.

MG: You created so many great specials over the years. One of my favorites is “The Year without a Santa Claus.” Can you share any fun stories from that production?
AR: There’s a man who wrote a book about the motion picture industry. He said, “Remember one thing…nobody knows anything!” (NOTE: The book Mr. Rankin is referring to is “Adventures in the Screen Trade,” written by Academy Award winning screenwriter William Goldman. It is a must read for anyone curious about the inner workings of Hollywood). And it’s true. You never know when you’re going to have a hit. There was a time when you could put Barbra Streisand up against a curtain and have her sing and you’d have to lock the doors because she had so many fans. And then time goes on. It is true. In this business you take your best shot. That’s what I did. I rounded up all of the Christmas songs I thought could be made into a Christmas show…we acquired the rights to almost all of the ones that I wanted.

MG: In today’s world of television ratings are everything. Were these specials successful? Did any disappoint?
AR: All of them were successful in their original run. That’s why they’re still on the air today. Warner Brothers distributes them for me. All during the Christmas season they run my shows. And they pay for that (laughs). A penny here…a penny there.

MG: What has happened to the puppets, sets and props used in these productions?
AR: Well what happened is that after awhile those things wear out. They have wire armature inside…they have faces made out of plastic that has been carved. The clothes were made by little ladies but, just like people that work too hard, they fall apart. Of course we always had a couple of standbys waiting. I have here in my home Rudolph pulling Frosty on a sleigh.

MG: Besides time constraints, what was one of the most difficult aspects of creating these specials?
AR: When we did “Year Without a Santa Claus” we had to invent new characters. We had these two brothers, Heat Miser and Cold Miser. They just jumped off the screen and became cult figures. And we just came up with them one afternoon while designing the picture…”let’s do this…Mother Nature has two sons and they don’t get along…one’s in charge of heat…OK, put that in.” (laughs)

MG: How did creating your feature film, “Mad Monster Party,” compare versus working on the television specials?
AR: First off, it was the first time it had ever been done in a long time. Not since Abbot and Costello met Frankenstein. And I thought I would be able to take so many more liberties with the stop motion process.
I concocted the idea and then got a couple of boys from “Mad” magazine (Harvey Kurtzman, who created the magazine, and Len Korobkin) to write it with me.

MG: “Mad Monster Party” was showcased in Rick Goldschmidt’s recent book “The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass.” How did you come to work with him?
AR: He called me one day. He had gotten an introduction from some one. And he was very knowledgeable. I usually don’t encourage people to do these things. First off, I can’t figure out why the hell they’re so interested. (laughs) But Rick had an awful lot of details. He sent me an outline of what the book would be like. He lives outside Chicago and I flew up to meet him. One of the rooms in his house is like a shrine. He had everything…things I had thrown out years ago. Old storyboards….he still gives me things he’s found that I had forgotten ever existed. He was very enthusiastic and wanted to do the book. So I told him “o.k.” but told him not to do the story of Arthur and Jules (Bass). You do stories on the pictures (the various specials/films). You have photos to go along with them and you’ve got a portfolio. He did that and it worked. It’s a great record of our work over the years.

MG: Have you ever considered writing your own memoirs?
AR: I’ve considered it because it’s been suggested before. But if I did it I’d want it to be straight…a lot of my old friends are still alive and what I might say about them wouldn’t be…(laughs)

MG: I read that you attempted to re-create “Mad Monster Party” using computer generated effects. What ever happened to that?
AR: We did. We made a test and it looked good. I went around Hollywood to the studios to see if they wanted to do it. Two of the studios said yes. But I was given to secondary people to deal with and I had to leave. It was no good. A studio will take your work away from you and do it themselves. They’ll rewrite. When I acquired the rights to “The King and I,” that was a very difficult property to acquire. I had to convince the families of (Richard) Rogers and (Oscar) Hammerstein that I knew what I was talking about. And I did. I wrote a script and they liked it. I was going to make that picture with my own investment with a co-partner in Japan. We were all set to do it. Then Warner Brothers calls up. They say “you don’t have to pay for it…we’ll pay you to do it for us.” “For us” meant here comes fourteen people that think they can do it better then I do. I’m not very proud of that picture. They changed a lot of the script and I was embarrassed for the Rogers and Hammerstein estate. (NOTE: The 1999 film, which was co-produced by Mr. Rankin’s production company, was both a financial and critical failure. The estates of Rogers and Hammerstein have since refused to allow any of their shows to become animated features).

MG: This coming year there are no less than three stop motion films being released, including Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie.” Do you think this process will continue to inspire?
AR: You’d think there were a lot of people that could do stop motion but they just don’t exist. This is the tech age. Computer animation…those with a technical background find it much faster. Stop motion animation is a devilish job. I’ll tell you how we worked. We would have a figure…or a group of figures…on a stage in miniature. Each figure had a human person assigned to it. And the way you get it to work…the camera clicks off one frame…the human person goes up and changes the figure ever so slightly…microscopically. The camera clicks off another frame. The human person goes over and changes it again. If a character is lifting a glass to his lips, you may have as many as 250 “motions.” The human person didn’t have anything on a computer. He knew in his mind what he had to do. Just like as if he was an actor. And we’d have to finish the scene in one day. There was no taking a break or going home for dinner and coming back the next day. We would try to start a scene as early in the morning as possible because we knew we could be working late into the evening…all night if necessary if the scene wasn’t finished.

MG: Have you ever considered returning to the business to produce or direct again?
AR: Not this Christmas, but next, I’m going to do a play in Bermuda. Everyone asks me why I’m doing it in Bermuda. We have a wonderful theater here…the Town Hall Theater. It seats around 700 people. Much bigger then many of the off-Broadway theaters with great acoustics. And if I say I want to do a Christmas play they’ll throw open the doors for me. It’s wonderful to have such cooperation. And anybody who works on the play, both on and back stage, works for nothing. All box office proceeds go to whatever charity I choose. Everybody jumps in. It’s what keeps me kicking my heels!

MG: This interview wouldn’t be complete without asking if you have a favorite project and, if so, why?
AR: I don’t have a favorite. They’re all my children. I don’t want to sound self-serving but they have remained in the public’s hearts for decades. It’s like a great painting by van Gogh or Reubens. There work is still in the public eye…the public has recognized their work for centuries. Maybe the measure of success is longevity. Things that last must be better then things that don’t!

James Tupper is currently playing the role of David Clarke in ABC’s hit show “Revenge”. Last year, he co-starred with Jim Carrey in “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with James about working on “Revenge” and what we can expect this season.

Mike Gencarelli: What drew you to the character of David Clarke?
James Tupper: I had seen some of the pilot prior to my scenes being shot. Madeleine Stowe, who was nominated for a Golden Globe this year, is on the show and I realized that every scene required me to be in bed with her. I figured I could probably swing that [laughs].

MG: How much information did you receive about the show’s plot prior to working on it?
JT: We only get the script we are shooting at that time. We shoot our scenes and then piece all the details together. Phillip Noyce who has directed a bunch of great films actually directed some of the pilot. To be able to get that caliber of director was really great. Phillip is one of those guys that is on another level.

MG: Where you able to work with Emily VanCamp at all during the season so far?
JT: I get to work with her younger self. [Laughs] We haven’t crossed paths yet but I would be worried about her because she’s kick ass.

MG: What can we expect from the rest of season one?
JT: There is an incredible downhill crash and every character has something going on. I feel like when I am reading the scripts each episode feels like it’s a season finale. I wish I could tell you more of what is going to happen but I just can’t. I will tell you that some people end up in jail.

MG: How does working on “Grey’s Anatomy” compare to working on a show like “Revenge”?
JT: “Revenge” has all this energy going on and it feels like I am working with the next generation of actors. Everyone is young and full of energy. When I worked on “Grey’s Anatomy” the show had a real ensemble feeling led by Patrick Dempsey. The acting was very deep and everyone on that show really knows how to work a scene. It has a totally different feel.

MG: How was it working with Jim Carrey on “Mr. Poppers Penguins”?
JT: I had to go to set the day before just to meet Jim because I knew I would be nervous. He is an icon. He is a guy that is funny all the time. Jim really understands comedy. When I first met him he slapped me on the back and asked if I like to be called Jim or James? I figured because he was Jim Carrey, so I decided I would stick with James.

MG: What else do you have planned for 2012?
JT: I just finished shooting a film with Jessica Biel and Gerard Butler called “Playing the Field”. That should be out in a few months. It’s a really funny film. I play Jessica Biel’s lover. No one is going to believe that Gerard Butler can take a woman away from me. [Laughs] I don’t think America is ready to see that.

Sammy Stephens is known best for his YouTube video “It’s Just Like a Mini-Mall”.  The video has received almost 8 million hits and rocketed Sammy into pop-culture history.  Since then “It’s Just Like a Mini-Mall” has been featured “The Ellen Degeneres Show” and even parodied in “The Cleveland Show”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Sammy about his success and what he has planned for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: Give us the origin of how you came up with the tagline “It’s just like a mini-mall”?
Sammy Stephens:I used to do commercials for the flea-market. I used to always say, “The Flea Market Montgomery, it’s just like…it’s just life a mini-mall.” The reason why I said that is because when I took over the flea-market, it was only selling antique stuff and people weren’t supporting the Flea Market at that time. So, I said I was going to bring in some new merchandise along with other venders and it will be like a mall, and that is how the mini-mall terminology was born. I was seriously talking with myself about the idea, and I said, “Sammy, how are you gonna make this work?” And then I decided to develop the tagline that we now know and love today. But I figured that this alone was not going to catch the people’s undivided attention, so I figured I needed to repeat myself and make it memorable. I wanted something that would stick in the people’s minds and whenever they heard it, they would automatically think of Flea Market Montgomery. I said, “When it comes to saving money, there’s only one place to shop in Montgomery, and that’s the The Flea Market Montgomery…it’s just like…it just like a mini-mall. Oh yeah!” So that’s how that tagline and the beginnings of a very popular commercial jingle came about.

MG: Tell us about your process creating the rap and the video for the commercial?
SS:A friend of mine came to me one day, and he had this jingle. I liked it, but I wanted something more upbeat. So one night, we were in the studio in his house, and he told me we where going to cut some tracks. He told me that when he plays the music, he wanted me to talk over it. So I said “Living rooms, bedroom, dinettes. Oh yeah. You can find it at the market. We’re talkin’ ‘bout Flea Market. It’s just like…it’s just like a mini mall. Oh yeah.” I thought it sounded really cool with the music. I did the line in a few different voices, so when you listen to the song you hear all these different voices in the background and they are all me. We had about 32 seconds, so I told him I was going to buy sometime on the radio and make a rap out of it. Then I hired this guy from the TV station to help me make the video. We shot the video, edited it, and put it together and that’s the video you see on You Tube. But the real video is only 30 seconds, which is what they played on TV here in Montgomery. The original video is about 2 minutes and 2 seconds long on You Tube.

MG: What was your reaction when this video became viral on You Tube?
SS: When I made the video, I just knew it was going to be a hit. I had a feeling in my heart because it was so unique. What happened was that Ellen Degeneres got a hold of it. She asked her viewers to send in their favorite commercials. So, some young woman sent in my commercial, and Ellen played it on her television show. She said that out of all the videos that she received, mine was the only one she really liked. From there, I started to get phone calls from radio stations and text messages from all over. The first call I got was from a radio station in Florida, and they also wanted to interview me on the air and it just blew my mind.

MG: Tell us about your experience then going on “The Ellen Degeneres Show”?
SS: Well, she called me and invited me to “The Ellen Degeneres Show”. It was quite an experience. She and I were dancing together of course. It was just such a rush and an amazing time. She is a really nice woman, and I was lucky to be on that show. I hope to be on the show again in the near future. Thanks so much again Ellen. Call me.

MG: How did you get involved with the AMC Sprint Commercial shown in theaters? Tell us about that experience?
SS: That was a really great experience as well. They flew me down to California and treated me to the works. They took me to this huge theater, and they had rented out the entire place for us to shoot the Spring commercial. It was a lot of fun and very impressive. The only thing is that it is not being shown at theaters down here in Montgomery, Alabama, so a lot of people I know haven’t had a chance to see it yet.

MG: What else do you have planned for 2012?
SS: I am trying to get an internet radio show going currently. So when I get that accomplished, I am going to be live at 5 in the morning for the morning drive at 5. It will be called “The Sammy Stephens Morning Show.” If you go to YouTube and look up “The Sammy Stephens Morning Show,” you can see one of the shows that I did last year. I think it will be a really big hit. I also have a new single that is coming out as well. It is going to be great. So I’ve got a lot of things coming up this year for sure! Stay tuned, and remember, log on to sammystephens.com.

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John Jacobson has been trust into the spotlight since his YouTube video “Double Dream Hands” has exploded on YouTube. John has worked for kids for many years with his company “America Sings” and through his teachings of music and dancing. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with John about his rise to stardom and what he has planned for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: What inspires you most to work with kids through music?
John Jacobson: I have always been kid oriented and I have been singing and dancing since I was a kid myself. Apparently I never got the memo that I was supposed to quit. Through my experience of being a performer and later as I teaching I know what it does for kids. I know it’s a really positive and wonderful thing in their lives. It helps the kids become better, healthier people. That’s a contribution I really want to make.

MG: How did you actually start “America Sings”?
JJ: I used to judge a lot of choir competitions. I was never a real fan of the competitive nature of those. I feel like the arts are the one place in a kid’s life where everyone can be a winner. I think it’s good to learn about winning and losing but there are other areas where you can learn to do that. I would watch 40 choirs in a competition and one would go home feeling great while the other thirty nine went home feeling like losers. That’s not the contribution I wanted to make to music and education. We came up with the idea for a non-competitive choral festival. I thought kids would become just as motivated by helping others as they would if they were to win a big trophy. We put the festival together where the kids are doing community service projects and getting to sing and dance. This was done on a whim twenty five years ago thinking I would be lucky if one choir from every state would show up. The first year we had 435 choirs and 15,000 kids show up. We knew we were on to something very positive.

MG: How did you come up with Double Dream Hands! And tell us about its road to pop-culture?
JJ: It’s kind of wild as you couldn’t plan this if you wanted to. I work on a magazine called “John Jacobson’s Music Express”. It’s a magazine where I write lessons and music for teachers to use. For all the songs we make video tapes of me showing a dance that corresponds with the song. We have around 3 million kids use this program around the world. Someone took one of those songs of our website and put it on YouTube. They called in Double Dream Hands because there was one move in the dance that I had no other idea as to what to call it so that’s what I called it. The video ended up being labeled that on YouTube. I got a call from my publishing company stating my dance was overdubbed with LMFAO’s song “Planet Rock” and that the video had gotten 36 thousand hits. By 5 o’clock that same night we were up to 100 thousand hits. I think now it’s up to around 5.2 million hits. We originally made this dance video for our target audience which is 3^rd-6^th grades. Those aren’t the people watching YouTube. That demographic is the 18-35 year old male. It was really surprised that many people in that age range wanted to learn the Double Dream Hands dance.

MG: Double Dream Hands! Is now also available on the iPhone, tell us about that?
JJ: I write for a publishing company by the name of Hal Leonard Publishing Company. One of the app companies came to them and asked if it was ok to make an app out of the video. I thought it was kind of funny. People have started to do funny things to the app like putting their own head on my body and things like that. People are having a lot of fun with it. It’s harmless and no one is getting hurt.

MG: Tell us about how you got involved with AMC Theater’s Sprint Commercial?
JJ: I had gotten a call about the YouTube clip being used in a commercial. Honestly I have been asked by quite a few companies to use the video but they didn’t fit my message of promoting kids health and fitness. When I was contacted by Sprint I reallyliked their idea of bringing people together through technology. They were great and I think they did a classy job. I was glad to be a part of it.

MG: What would you say has been the most interesting thing to happen since becoming a YouTube sensation?
JJ: The most surprising thing for me is how it has opened up a whole new audience for me. I have always gone around the country teaching however a whole new audience is knowing about things like my books “A Place in the Choir” and “Double Dream Hands”. More people seem to be reading those which have really allowed me to spread my message about kid’s health and adult fitness. I get messages from all over the world about people using Double Dream Hands which is great.

MG: What other projects do you have planned for 2012?
JJ: I have been doing this for a long time and we have always had a lot of good feedback from young people. When we started getting feedback from other ages about Double Dream Hands we put together a 30 minute video of songs like that for a work out DVD. It’s called “Double Dream Hands: Work-Out Songs for Fun and Fitness”. It’s a really neat thing that is fun and a good work out. I have an inspiration book out called “Double Dreams” that I am really excited about. There also will be some new YouTube videos coming out as well. We are going to be tailoring those more to our YouTube audience. I am having a lot of fun with all of this and other people are as well so why not!

Bob Odenkirk is known best for his skit series “Mr. Show with Bob and David” with David Cross. He has worked on Adult Swim shows like “Tom Goes to the Mayor” and “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” He has also has recurring roles on TV shows like “How I Met Your Mother” and “Breaking Bad”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bob about his TV work and also his new upcoming pilot for Adult Swim.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about working on the “Breaking Bad”?
Bob Odenkirk: I love being a part of that show. It was something that came out of the blue and just fell on my head. It is different from all my other work as it is a drama. The show has a bunch of great actors and writers who work extremely hard. I don’t know if my character will continue to be a part of the show as I don’t really know what happens. Every year I will go down and hang out with the writers just to talk about writing. I guess while I am down there I will see if my characters name is up on any of the walls. I’m guessing they wouldn’t have me come over for lunch if my character wasn’t going to be around anymore. (Laughs) I really want to be a part of the show as I love playing the character. I have such respect for the challenge of making the show that I am for whatever they want to do with my character.

MG: What do you like most about playing the sleazy Saul Goodman?
BO: I want to play the sleazy guy. I love reading the script and asking myself what Saul is really trying to get done. He only is telling people what they want to hear or what will get them to do whatever it is he wants. It’s always fun to think about what he is really after.

MG: How does it compare to working on a show like “How I Met Your Mother”?
BO: The energy is different. There is a more relaxed feeling on a show such as “How I Met Your Mother”. “Breaking Bad” consists of a great group of people but in order to get the show done within the time constraints you have to work really hard. You have to show up knowing your lines and be ready to go. If that didn’t happen the show would just never get done. It’s a pretty serious place. It’s a challenge that is fun.

MG: Tell us about your recent stand up tour with the Birthday Boys, called “Seven Man Sweater”?
BO: The Birthday Boys are a sketch group here in Los Angeles that are really funny. We did a show earlier this year called “The Heroic Man”. We are currently working on coming up with a television show as well. I also did a show for Adult Swim called “Let’s Do This” that will air on their website next week. I want people to go to the site, check out the video and if they like it tell Adult Swim they want it made into a series.

MG: How did you get involved working with Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim?
BO: Tim and Eric are amazing, funny guys. They amaze me and are real artists. I think I am good at helping them with the tools that make a good show. They have a vision and a voice that is very distinct and unique. It’s an inspiration to work with guys like Tim and Eric. I envy them.

MG: Are you still writing for “Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule” season 2?
BO: I don’t. I think I helped with the first season by making some observations. I think I also talked with them about the point of view. That’s pretty much what I do with Tim and Eric as well. The episodes are pretty well completed and I just give them some notes.

MG: Are you going to be directing anymore films?
BO: Yes. When I finished “Brother Salomon” I felt like I really needed to step back from teachers and think about what I am doing there, why I am doing it and what will my next film be. I think I have a lot of fans that look at the 3 films I have done and they don’t really see my voice. It’s certainly not as potent as it was on “Mr. Show” and that’s understandable. I think the next movie I am going to make is going to be more of what you would want from me. I have a couple scripts out there and am actually meeting on one tomorrow. I also am shooting a short for “Funny or Die” next month which will be a lot of fun.

MG: Tell us about your role for the upcoming film “Movie 43”
BO: I am not in that but, I did direct a short for that film. Peter Farrelly is producing that and the film is made up of a variety of short comedy films. I gave them some stuff to look at and they picked one thing out of what I gave them. That film is pretty much out of my hands.

MG: What else do you have planned for 2012?
BO: David Cross and I are performing at the Amnesty International Ball with Cold Play. It’s nothing really big. (Laughs) David and I are also going to Vancouver where we are doing a show as well. I also will be recording my first Mr. Blow podcast which will be on Ear Wolf. Mr. Blow will be a podcast featuring people who wrote, were in or saw the live version of “Mr. Show”. The cast will not be about “Mr. Show” but about life now.

Howy Parkins is the supervising director for Disney Junior’s “Jake and the Never Land Pirates”.  He has his hands in pretty much every aspect of the show, which recently just began it second season.  Howy has been working with Disney for around 15 years and also recently worked on its series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Howy about this wonderful show and what we can expect this season and going forward.

Mike Gencarelli: “Jake and Never Land Pirates” returns for Season 2 on Monday, February 20, tell us about that season?
Howy Parkins: For the second season, we really branched out. That is the beauty of Never Land and the Never Sea, it is just so vast. We will take the kids to some very wonderful and magical places. You look at the island and ask “Where can you have a mountain range…or a desert?”, but that is the beauty of the show being able to explore and go on adventures.

MG: Tell us about Peter Pan returning to Never Land?
HP: We were thrilled when we got the green light to bring Peter Pan physically into the show. With Never Land, we had Captain Hook and Mr. Smee already, which just made for the perfect circle. I think we mentioned him a few times in the first season. So when we found out we were actually able to bring him into the show, we got busy right away. Again, it is a Disney classic character, so we were respectful but also very honored that we were able to bring that character into the show with such fan following of so many generations.

MG: Tell us about your general role on the show?
HP: I am the supervising director. I came out of animation school many years ago. I’ve story boarded and been around designer. I have directed at Disney for around 15 years. With this show, I am just thrilled to be a part of and I enjoy coming to work every day. I work with a great team of designers on this show. We really tapped into our knowledge of Disney and wanted it to look like a really rich Disney-esque show. I feel we really captured that.

MG: Take us through the production process for one episode of “Jake and Never Land Pirates”?
HP: When we get final script, we go into our preliminary design meetings. In the second season, we do go to some new places, like we have an underwater episode. We have new characters coming up. So with those situations, I would sit with my crew and sketch out ideas and refine them. The voice talents come in next and then we move to storyboard, which takes about five weeks. We scan the boards into our editing bay and with the adding of voice recording we have what we call a “like reel”. It is essentially the show, but in its bare-bones form of black and white line drawings. From that I can work on the timing, staging and cinematics aspects of the show. Once we lock that show and we send it to an animation studio in Canada and I believe they get twelve weeks to do full animation. By the time it gets back, we have about six to eight weeks to finish up. Then we give our musicians a few weeks to score the episode and then we move to sound effects, which I also sit in on. Then we polish it up and make it nice and shinny and off it goes. I would probably about three or four months per episode. We stagger them, obviously, so we have many going on at the same time.

MG: Why do you think a show like “Jake and Never Land Pirates” has been so successful?
HP: When we started talking about doing the pilot, there is just something about pirates for boys or even girls ages 3-7 years old . Also coming on the heals of “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, it is such a fresh subject matter. I think because the three kids on the show are so adorable, so much character and so fun, who wouldn’t want them to hang out with. They are a nice allure for the kids at home. Also for the parents, we try to put positive messages into each episode. Their mannerisms and attitudes are just so enjoyable. There are just so many assets that come together as a package.

MG: The show was just green lit for a third season already, can you reflect on that news?
HP: It is very early and we are not used to that kind of thing. We are still in the midst of the second season. We are excited because now we get to plan in advance and discuss where we want the show to go now and who do we want for reoccurring characters etc. We are just rolling with it and I think we can definitely keep this exciting for at least another 37 episodes. In Never Land, there are many places we can still discover. It is definitely a challenge but we are all up for it.

MG: You’ve worked on shows like “The Simpsons”, “Recess” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”; how does this show compare?
HP: I think when my son came along, who is now almost 11 years old, I got vested in the subject matter of what I work on now. Back in the day, working on “The Simpsons” was a great experience. I also worked on same Nickelodeon shows, it was fun but it was an older audience. With this show I am happy because we hook in the kids, but also the older brother/sister and even parents can watch as well and get just as much out of it. I think we discovered this formula where the entire family can watch, which is a really hard this to do. As much as I enjoyed the others, this one is really special.

MG: Besides just the television show, what else can expect from “Jake and Never Land Pirates”?
HP: Definitely there is some great merchandising being launched. It really brings the show into people’s home and they are able to buy toys and play with them while watching the show. When we are sitting in the design meetings, we think about “can this make a good toy?”, so we try and plan ahead. I know there is also a lot of on online stuff right now for the show as well. We were even reading tweets about our show, which has never happened before. That was really exciting. So there is just a lot to look forward to and I am really happy to be a part of it.

Patrick Muldoon is known best for his roles in the original “Melrose Place” and “Starship Troopers”. Patrick currently returned to his role on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” after a 16 year break. Media Mikes had a chance to chat about his return to soaps and also his connection to Casper Van Dian.

Mike Gencarelli: How has it been returning “Days of Our Lives” after a 16 year break?
Patrick Muldoon: I kind of compare it to what it would be like if you went back to high school 15 years later and all of the same people are there. It’s almost like a family reunion. The halls and dressing rooms are still the same. It was really bizarre in the beginning but there was still that feeling like I never left. I am loving it!

MG: What would you say is the most challenging aspect of working in soaps?
PM: It’s much different. I have been used to working with just one camera. It’s taken some getting used to again. There is a lot of memorization happening. A movie you get four months to work on your lines and memorize them but on soaps you only get one day. Everyone works really hard and we all do our best. It really has the feel of a theater company and a live show

MG: Was it hard picking up the character of Austin Reed after so long?
PM: With soap operas they write the character and as it progresses they write in aspects of the actor playing the role. They did that for me originally so I am really familiar with this character. I played Austin for 3 years which is the longest role I have ever played. It’s weird how emotionally everything reattaches.

MG: You have done TV and movies, what do you look for more in a role or character?
PM: I tend to look at things backwards. When you get a part there is something going on within that character. There is a question that the character is living at that time. There is probably something you need to look at from your own personal life. As things come to you I kind of look at it on a spiritual tip a little bit. Whatever obstacle that character has to face somehow I am being asked to look at that in my own life. In order to be able to play the part you have to look at it from your own life. That is generally what I pay attention to when a part comes across the desk.

MG: You recently reunited with your “Starship Troopers” co-star Casper Van Dien on “Born to Ride”, tell us about that project?
PM: That film actually just got released last year however it was shot almost 7 years ago. It may have been longer than that. I don’t know what exactly happened with the film being tied up for so long. Casper and I are great friends. Neither one of us knew how to ride a motorcycle when we started shooting that. I started out doing circles in a parking lot and then I was going 70 miles an hour down a road. It was such a rush. By the grace of god we got out of that movie alive as neither of knew how to ride.

MG: You starred in 2007’s “Ice Spiders” and you got “Spider 3D” coming up, what can you tell us about that?
PM: I’m not sure why spider science fiction movies find me. (Laughs) We shot “Spiders 3D” in Bulgaria last year. It is really cutting edge technology. This was a role where you either had to hire Casper or myself. I got this one.

MG: Do you find that working on creature films pose any difficulties to CG effects added later?
PM: It’s all fun. It’s like when you see kids in playgrounds shooting each other with sticks. We are just doing the same thing but we are in out 40’s. It’s fun for me. I have been an athlete all my life so when I get to do the action stuff I am very happy.

MG: What else do you have stirring for 2012?
PM: It’s mainly just “Days of Our Lives”. I also am a musician and I will be going to Nashville on one of my breaks from the show to record a solo record. It’s going to have a southern rock vibe to it however it’s still a little early to be talking about that just yet.

Al Jean is known best for his role of Writer, Executive Producer and Show Runner of “The Simpsons”. The show is currently in its record breaking 23rd season and celebrating its 500th episode on February 19th, 2012. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Al about his job with “The Simpsons” and what we can expect from it’s future.

Mike Gencarelli: You wear many hats on “The Simpsons”, how do you juggle them all including executive producer and show runner?
Al Jean: I came up as a writer, so the most important thing for me is being head writer. There all these other aspects of it that I feel take away from main job of writing. Not that working on budgets and boards aren’t important but I have just always felt that way.

MG: How do you feel that the show still holds up and is relevant this long after 500 episodes?
AJ: It’s crazy since nothing in television lasts this long. The fact that we still get to do these stories that we think are interesting and relevant is a tribute to the way the show is created. The cast all works really hard.

MG: The 500th episode airs on Feb.19th, tell us about what we can expect from the episode and what cameo voices?
AJ: Julian Assange will be voicing himself in a cameo. We have also enlisted another hard to find person for a brief appearance as well. The basic premise of the episode is that the Simpsons find out they are being kicked out of town for the things they have done over the years.

MG: How can you reflect on the recent Guinness World Record breaking Simpsons Ultimate Fan Marathon?
AJ: I was actually there for that. I think they could have gone longer but cooler heads prevailed. I am glad no one went crazy and started shooting people. (Laughs) Of course congratulations to the two men last standing.

MG: What else can we expect from the rest of this season?
AJ: We have guest stars such as Brian Cranston, Steve Carell, Zooey Deschanel, and Lady Gaga set to appear this season. Lady Gaga is actually playing herself while the others are playing characters. We also have a Halloween show based around the Mayan prophecy of 2012. This year is going to be really exciting.

MG: When you started out with this show many years ago, did you ever think you would see this landmark?
AJ: No. If I had said that you would have put me in an institution. I would have been ecstatic if you had said 50 at the beginning. Matt (Groening) thought it was going to be a hit but I don’t think anyone else thought it would reach this point.

MG: How do you think that creating the shows now differs from when you started?
AJ: Things have changed very little. At the beginning there was incredible attention being paid to it but you know that won’t last. It has been replaced by this feeling of acceptance and that it is part of people’s lives. It’s a wonderful thing.

MG: Is there ever any hopes for a sequel to “The Simpsons Movie”?
AJ: Yes there is hope. We aren’t working on it now because it is very draining to work on the movie and the television series at the same time. I think we would all be better off if we waited until the show ended before we start another movie…but who knows when that will be.

MG: The show will continue another two seasons until season 25, what do you foresee for the future?
AJ: We are going to episode 559 for sure. It will depend on the economics at that point. We had to decrease our budget to get these extra two seasons. There may be another reduction as television is not as profitable as it once was. I wouldn’t count the show out though.

Bridgit Mendler is known best for here role of Teddy Duncan on Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie”.  She also starred in Disney Channel’s recent hit movie “Lemonade Mouth” and also appeared on “Wizard of Waverly Place”.  Bridget is currently promoting her role of voicing Arrietty in Disney’s “The Secret World of Arrietty”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bridgit about voicing the character and she also revealed some update for this coming season of “Good Luck Charlie”.

Click here for our Film Review “The Secret World of Arrietty”

Mike Gencarelli: What did you enjoy most about voicing Arrietty in “The Secret World of Arrietty”?
Bridgit Mendler: I really enjoyed voicing that character. It’s always fun to play a character that is different from you. Arrietty is really fun to explore because she is so small and has a different perspective of the world. I wasn’t physically in any of her world I was able to use my imagination to be able to do that.

MG: Have you seen the Japanese version of the film and how do you feel it translates to US audiences?
BM: I have. I think there is a good chance for this film as Studio Ghibli has released some other films in the states. The film has a really great Japanese style to the animation and storyline however the characters are voiced by American actors. In this case a lot of comedic actors are doing the voices which I think lightens the movie and makes it more accessible to American audiences. This is really fun because you get something visually that you may not be accustomed to but the voices are familiar.

MG: What was the most challenging part of doing the voice work?
BM: I would have to say the dubbing. It was a fun challenge though and it really wasn’t that bad. We had to just match up our lines with the animation which was already there but with Japanese language. They sometimes had to adjust what we were saying so that everything matched up. It was a fun challenge overall.

MG: How long did it take to record your work on the film?
BM: I finished the movie in just three days.  Yep, those are the benefits of working on an animated film.

MG: I am a big fan of the film’s music, like “Arrietty’s Song” by Cécile Corbel. Since you are no stranger to music, tell us about your song for the film?
BM: The interesting thing about the song I did in the movie, called “Summertime”, was that I had worked on it prior to starting on the film. It was already there and was something they listened to and saw potential for. It was really thanks to the producer for how it fits in with the movie. I was very happy to include the song and they did a great job matching up the sound.

MG: You worked again with “Wizard of Waverly Place” co-star David Henrie, did you record together?
BM: We weren’t. I didn’t get to work with anyone else from the cast. It was kind of a bummer because the cast is really cool. It’s an interesting way to go about the project as it allows for a lot of imagination and personal attention for each actor.

MG: Are you a fan of any other Studio Ghibli films?
BM: Of course! I think the most popular one would have to be “Spirited Away”. When I was younger I was a big fan of their films as well. “Kiki’s Delivery Service” was one of my personal favorites.

MG: When can we expect your debut album through Hollywood Records?
BM: I am telling people it will be out around June or July. The challenge is I am shooting “Good Luck Charlie” at the same time. The album isn’t able to be my primary focus because I have other commitments. But the album will be out this year and I am very excited for everyone to hear it.

MG: What can we expect from the third season of “Good Luck Charlie”?
BM: For those who have followed the show, in the recent “Good Luck Charlie” movie there is a pregnancy. In season 3, you are going to see her dealing with the pregnancy. We actually just shot the episode where the new baby arrives. It’s an exciting time for the Duncan family and we are glad to share it with the viewers.

Sails to New Heights as Disney Channel’s #1 Preschooler Series of All Time with 100 Episodes and New Consumer Products Line

Disney Junior has ordered a third season of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” its #1 series and cable TV’s #1 series among Boys 2-5, bringing the episode tally to 100 thus far, it was announced today by Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide. The series revolves around a crew of kid pirates – leader Jake and pals Izzy and Cubby – and follows their Never Land adventures as they work to outwit two infamous characters, the one and only Captain Hook and Mister Smee, from Disney’s classic “Peter Pan.” The stories emphasize teamwork and features original pirate rock music performed by Sharky and Bones of The Never Land Pirate Band.

Kanter said, “The series is connecting with kids on every level and brings them closer to characters they’re already familiar with and introduces them to new, original characters they have made their friends.” She continued, “The storytelling is adventurous and heartfelt and embeds the kind of learning that we know is important to parents. We’re pleased to be extending viewers’ experience with the stories, allowing them to play the ‘Jake and the Never Land Pirates’ experience.”

The memorable Disney stories and characters, both classic and contemporary, have connected strongly with kids age 2-7 and their parents, and that connection has also led to the creation of brand extensions in other Disney businesses. “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” is a prominent part of the popular Disney Junior Live on Stage! attraction at Disney Parks & Resorts, and is featured in a Disney Junior magazine from Disney Publishing, in a soundtrack and DVD from Disney Studios and a Disney Consumer Products line set to debut in stores nationwide in spring 2012. Included are multiple product categories: party supplies, apparel (sleepwear, daywear), room décor and plush. An exciting toy line releasing in June and showcased this week at American International Toy Fair, will feature plush, role play and accessories from Just Play and action-oriented play sets and figures from Fisher-Price, including Jake’s Pirate Ship, designed after Bucky, Jake’s ship in the series.

A hit since its premiere in February 2011, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” is cable TV’s #1 series among Boys 2-5 and Disney Channel’s #1 preschool series of all time among Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49.

The series airs daily during Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming block for kids age 2-7 and will have a major presence on the new 24-hour Disney Junior channel launching in the U.S. on Friday, March 23. The series stars Cameron Boyce as Jake; Madison Pettis as Izzy; Jonathan Morgan Heit as Cubby; David Arquette as Skully; Corey Burton as Captain Hook; Jeff Bennett as Mister Smee and Bones and Loren Hoskins as Sharky. Many of the key creative professionals behind Disney Junior’s Emmy-nominated series, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” are behind “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” including executive producer Rob LaDuca, producer/story editor Mark Seidenberg and director Howy Parkins. The series is produced by Disney Television Animation.

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior’s animated and live action series blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network’s biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49 and increased by double-digit margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels. On March 23, 2012 Disney Junior will add a basic cable and satellite channel in the U.S.

*UPDATE 3-8-12* Bob Odenkirk’s “Let’s Do This” Debuts On AdultSwim.com!

Adult Swim, which is the more mature programming on Cartoon Network, will be airing “Let’s Do This” this month online, which is a new live-action comedy pilot created and produced by Bob Odenkirk, Brian Jarvis and Jim Freeman.. The show resolves about Cal McKenzie Goldberg (Odenkirk) who is running a movie studio, Cal-Gold Pictures, in a strip mall in North Hollywood. In the pilot, Cal is hired to make a wizard movie from an Uganda drug lord. You can only imagine how that turns out.

Bob Odenkirk is known best for his skit series “Mr. Show with Bob and David” with David Cross. He has worked on Adult Swim shows like “Tom Goes to the Mayor” and “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” He has also has recurring roles on TV shows like “How I Met Your Mother” and “Breaking Bad”.

We will be posting a link on Media Mikes to let you know when you can check out this show. If you like it please let Adult Swim know that you would like to see this pilot turn into a series. I have seen the pilot and it is very funny and definitely has a lot of potential.

Photos credit: Robb Rosenfeld – http://www.robbrosenfeld.com

Carla Renata has appeared in dozens of television shows and commercials. She also has voiced several video game characters. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Carla recently about some of her previous work and what she has planned for 2012.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your recent appearances on “Raising Hope” and “Up All Night”?
Carla Renata: The episode I was on of “Raising Hope” aired a week or so ago. I played a shopper who basically made fun of one of the characters that was talking about how smart his baby was. My character asks the question of how smart is he? (Laughs) On “Up All Night” I play a TSA Agent who is not under any circumstances letting Christina Applegate and Will Arnett through so they can catch their flight.

AL: How did working on these two shows compare to some of the work you have done on other shows?
CR: On “Shake It Up!”, I play a mom and on “Hart of Dixie” I play a hairdresser. These roles are much different than the ones I recently played. The TSA agent is a real hard-nosed character with no sense of humor. On “Raising Hope” my character was empathetic with a slight bit of sarcasm. My hairdresser role is a fun role where I sit and do hair while getting all of the town gossip even though there isn’t a lot of gossip to get. On the Disney show I play a mom where I am the support for my children. My recent roles are quite different.

AL: Do you find it harder working on a set as a guest star rather than as a series regular?
CR: It depends on the show. I have been on some shows where they treat you like gold. They make you feel like you are a regular cast member that is coming back next week even though everyone knows you are not. I have also been on some sets where there was almost a click with the regular cast. You have to know how to feel the room and know when you can be friendlier or when you should just stay in your trailer till they need you. (Laughs)

AL: How did you get involved with doing voice over work?
CR: I was living in New York at the time and had agents that booked me for television commercials.  I would stop by their office quite often as a lot of the auditions I went on were in the vicinity of the office. I would stand around and talk and tell jokes to the people there.  The guy who was running the voice over department at the time heard me talking and asked me if I had done voice over work before. I told him no but he said he wanted to send me out for some voice over jobs. I ended up booking all the ones he sent me to.

AL: What do you like most about that type of acting?
CR: You can do it in your pajamas! (Laughs) When I first started there were very few people who had home studios as they were really expensive. Now it’s so much easier because of technology and the internet. You can just plug a microphone into the computer and click a few buttons. I love voice over work. I will roll out of bed, walk down to my office, record a couple tracks and then go back to bed. I am getting paid while in my pajamas. (Laughs)

AL: What was it like working on “Elvira’s Movie Macabre”?
CR: That was a lot of fun! What I didn’t know at the time and I probably should have was that Elvira and a couple other girls on the show all came from The Groundlings improv school. I had studied there as well. I never knew that Cassandra had created the Elvira character while studying there. I found that really amazing. Our shoot was all improv. It was scripted originally but none of us stuck to it. (Laughs) I think that’s what really made it fun. You couldn’t pay for that kind of acting class.

AL: Do you prefer an improv type script over one that is more rigid and strict?
CR: It depends. I come from a theater background where if you mess up your lines you have to say something. You can’t just stand there in the middle of the stage waiting for someone to give you your lines. I will just make stuff up if I have to because I have that ability.(Laughs) It really depends on the situation and what type of characterization you are going to bring to that piece of script.

AL: Do you have any other projects coming out that we can be watching for?
CR: I am taping a new episode of “Shake It Up!” next week but I‘m not sure when it will air. The episodes of that show we have previously shot air all the time. It looks like I am always on the Disney channel even though I am really not. (Laughs) I haven’t shot a “Hart of Dixie” episode in some time so that should be coming around shortly. Pilot season is coming up so you never know. I could be popping up anywhere. I do have some commercials for Progressive Insurance, Tidy Cat Kitty Litter and Hunt’s Tomato Sauce that will be airing around the country so people can definitely see me on those.