Jay Edwards is currently editor and producer of the television series “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” on Adult Swim. Jay also served as supervising editor and producer on the feature film “Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters.” Outside of Adult Swim, Jay also wrote, produced, directed and edited “Stomp! Shout! Scream!” a beach party rock and roll monster movie.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Jay about working on “Aqua Teen” and also his live-action work.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with “Aqua Teen” and Adult Swim?
Jay Edwards: I went to college at Auburn University. I majored in Public Relations because I wasn’t really a “business” guy and I wasn’t really an “engineering” guy, which is really all that’s there at Auburn! And I went in one Sunday morning and I took an editing class. That first day I edited for twelve hours straight. I forgot to eat. I forgot to pee. Time just disappeared. So the next day I changed my major to communications and decided I should be an editor for a living. And I’ve been doing it ever since. When I graduated in 1991 I came to Atlanta and got a job with a small post-production house. I was the gopher. I picked up a lot of lunches. I made a lot of dubs. And while I was there I trained on the first non-linear editor that was becoming the standard in post production. So I learned that system and became sort of the “night manager” guy. I would load the footage into the computer overnight for the next days editing sessions. And after doing that…doing a little bit of everything…for three and a half years I got a job at Turner Broadcasting. They had two editing suites but they really didn’t know how to manage them. So I came in and got them cleaned up and organized and started editing full time. And within about a year “Space Ghost From Coast to Coast” was in production and they were looking for editors. I thought I was getting on the bandwagon really late but I ended up editing episode seventeen or eighteen with Carrot Top, which was pretty early in the run. That was the first episode I edited. It was a really difficult show to edit. Number one, you’re trying to tell this really weird, timed, broad comedy. Technically it’s a really difficult show to put together. They do the interview first and someone pretends to be Space Ghost. Then they transcribe the interview and intentionally rewrite all of the questions for comedic effect. You’re trying to edit based on the voice over by George Lowe, who’s the voice of Space Ghost and this kind of finite interview. You’re trying to make it sound like a natural conversation and there’s nothing natural about it. You have to have comedic timing but it’s also very complicated. The background of “Space Ghost” are composites on top of one another. So we animate Space Ghost by using a series of two frame edits…back to back to back to back. Technically it’s very complicated but for some reason I was able to do it and I stuck around. We burned through a lot of editors that tried and didn’t want to do it…it was too hard of work for them…or they weren’t right. But I stuck around and over the next four or five years I edited over thirty “Space Ghost” episodes. Then in 2000, when Adult Swim was just an idea, Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro were creating a new show…kind of a spin off based on an unused “Space Ghost” script. At the time it was called “Master Shake.” But we ended up changing the title because the Cartoon Network had a show called “Master Flake,” a show about the world of cereal mascots. So “Master Shake” became “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” I left my staff job at Turner and started editing the pilot for “Aqua Teen.” That was the summer of 2000. Nobody thought it was a good idea. “You’re leaving this really cushy good job to go do WHAT?” (laughs) But it worked out. I went free lance haven’t looked back. I’ve been full time free lance for nearly eleven years now. I do work in different departments. I edit and produce “Aqua Teen” but I also produce extra content for the DVDs. I stay free lance so I can do as much work as I can. If I was on staff I wouldn’t be able to do that. And we’re still going. The show is entering season eleven and a DVD, volume eight, comes out in the fall. It’s a two disc set. One disc is “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” – Final Season and the other disc is “Aqua Unit Patrol Squad” – Season One.

MG: Is there a different feeling working on this season with the new title or do things feel the same?
JE: It’s exactly the same. The only thing that’s different are the opening credits. The credits are different but the show itself is written and produced exactly the same.

MG: I spoke with Dave Willis and he told me you guys were thinking of possibly changing the credits again?
JE: I wouldn’t be surprised. (laughed) Yes, we’re been green-lit for another ten-twelve episodes for 2012. And please note this: “I AM JAY EDWARDS…FREE LANCER. I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR CARTOON NETWORK IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.” It’s not that it’s off the record, I’m just not speaking as a representative for Cartoon Network or Time Warner. (laughs)

MG: Your primary focus on the show has been producing and editing. Do you find one more difficult then the other?
JE: That’s interesting. I get a producer credit but I mainly just edit the show. But the show has been going on for so long. And Dave and Matt trusted me in the beginning. They write the scripts and do the voice overs. Writing the script is the hardest part in the whole process. I don’t want to belittle that but I’m not involved so I can’t talk about what is involved. But that is usually the hardest part and I want to give them all of the credit in the world. But after they write the scripts, all of the voice characters are recorded separately. So I might get eight or ten or fifteen reads of every line in the script. Plus they take a lot of different detours between what they come up with in the script because they also do a lot of the voices themselves. Then they had it to me and I go to work for two weeks. Two weeks later they come back and want to see something put together. So they hired me and they use me because I think they’re funny and I get what they’re going for. The scripts are pretty loose. They might read: INTERIOR – AQUA TEEN HOUSE and then have three pages of dialogue. Not a lot of scene descriptions. So I either have to give them some busy work or pull out of the dialogue and ad-libs what the action is that they’re doing and try to come up with a visual that isn’t too complicated and can be done on our limited budget and time but also isn’t so static that it’s visually boring. So that’s my job…to take the first path to directing the show essentially. Dave and Matt actually direct it…they give notes and it becomes their vision of what the show should be. But I get first crack at it. So that’s really where I get my producer credit. I keep the machine moving.

MG: You also worked on the “Aqua Teen” feature film. Was that a different experience for you?
JE: During that process we had to go from Standard Definition to High Definition to get it on to film and make it look good. So we essentially had to recreate all of the elements. Getting all of the backgrounds redrawn…characters essentially redrawn and re-scanned to an HD resolution. Just doing that was it’s own process. Then we had to figure out how to get it from inside a computer to film that could be distributed to theatres. We basically made an HD master and then transferred that to film. There are all kinds of variables about what kind of film stock you can use based on what kind of look you want. It gets really, really complicated. Showing a film in a theatre is really a part of 100 year old technology. It’s all chemical and analog as opposed to digital. That was complicated. There was also the storytelling…telling a story that was much longer then twelve minutes. I actually worked on the “Aqua Teen” movie pretty much full time, if not overtime, for two and a half years. And at the same time, currently, I produced and directed “Stomp! Shout! Scream!” and it premiered. Personally, I got divorced. It was a really stressful period of my life. My body fell apart. I’m super proud. I think that this past season of “Aqua Teen” was awesome. But I think the “Aqua Teen” movie was one of the best things I’ve ever done.

MG: Do you think you guys will do another “Aqua Teen” feature?
JE: I don’t think they would ever let us do another one (laughs). We would do another movie in a heartbeat! We think it’s a no brainer money maker to do another one! But it was pretty clear going through that painful process…we didn’t know how to distribute it to movie theatres…we didn’t know anything about that. We were all on a very steep learning curve. As soon as it was in theatres it was decided that we are a television company not a movie company. We know how to make television shows. I think it was a good experience for everybody to go through. The movie made money. Not a lot but it was definitely in the black. Especially when you consider DVD sales. I think the “Venture Brothers” has a long format project in the works as part of their next season but I don’t know if it’s going to be more then a T V special and a DVD. They may have some select screenings. Who knows how they’ll market it? I don’t think they’ll try to distribute it in theatres.

MG: With the success of “Stomp! Shout! Scream!” do you have any plans to direct in the future?
JE: Of course! That’s what I’ve been working towards ever since I finished “Stomp! Shout! Scream!” It premiered five or six years ago and I’ve been very actively taking it to film festivals…trying to market it and get it seen…trying to get a distribution deal. But that’s like a whole ‘nother full time job. Even after your film premieres you’re only really half way done. It’s been a ton of work. It’s not something that I made because I thought I could make a ton of money off it. It’s something I had to do. I was able to make the movie I wanted to make based upon my abilities of the time. I’m very proud of it. I know it’s proud but I’m really proud of it. The film did get a distribution deal about two and half years ago by a group called Indican Pictures. Because it was an older title they re-branded it and gave it a new title. It’s available on Netflix and, supposedly, big box stores as “Monster Beach Party A Go-Go.” Indican didn’t do a whole lot to market it, and I was so out of energy that I didn’t do much either. I’m hoping to move on to my next screenplay that I’ve been working on for a while. It’s set in the early 1960s. It’s about a late night horror host. You get to see a lot of his on air bits as well as bits and pieces of the movies that he shows. But instead of licensing old clips I wrote original movie titles and the scenes that the audience will see I’ve actually started production on the film this year. I went out and shot all of those “B” movie scenes. It was super fun. I spent five days in the studio and shot fifteen scenes from fifteen different movies. In five days. I had miniatures. Sets. Night exteriors Ed Wood style…we literally had three lights and seventeen potted plants. It was a lot of fun. A producer friend of mine helped me put it together. The crew I had was incredible. I’m really excited about putting that stuff together. The script needs one more revision. That was going to be my summer but I’m a little behind on that. So I’m putting the script together with those “B” movie horror scenes. The late night horror host is kind of an endearing ass hole. Everybody loves him. Because back in the 60s shows like that were super rebellious. They would talk honestly. It was like Adult Swim. It talks plainly and honestly to their viewers, which was very rebellious at the time. I’ve already cast Dana Snyder, the voice of Master Shake, as the host. Because nobody mines the comedy of the ass hole more then Dana. In real life he’s one of my best friends. One of the nicest guys I know. The movie’s title is “The VanderGhoul Twist.” It’s got its own pop song, which is a version of “The Twist” but you dance with knives. The song is called “The VanderGhoul Chop!” My plan is to shoot Dana Snyder as VanderGhoul and put it together with the “B” movie stuff and try to raise money to get the script made. Hopefully that will happen this year.

Cory Almeida is the host of the TV series “Pictureka”.  He has worked with shows like “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Cory about “Pictureka” and what else he is currently working on.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you initially get into the entertainment business?
Cory Almeida: I went to school in Boston and came out to Los Angeles to become an actor. I ended up being a Hip/Hop dancer for a few years. Anyone who knows or studies the business knows that all big actors got their break doing the same thing. Pitt, DeNiro they were all Hip/Hop dancers. (Laughs) Music has always been a big part of my life. I was an on air DJ at a station in Boston. I was doing a little bit of acting here and there and, one day went to my agent and said I didn’t want to do it anymore. All I wanted to do was host. I started out hosting a show about ten years ago called “The Hi-Fi Room”. We got to shoot with a ton of really great artists. The production team for that show split up and some of them ended up going to work on “American Idol”. About two season in they were putting together a holiday special and they needed someone to keep the crowd going between acts. One of the guys on the production team mentioned my name. I went in for the holiday show and everyone had a blast! After that they asked me if I would be interested in doing the same thing for season 3. I have been there ever since. Once I did “American Idol” all the other shows saw me and wanted me for their shows. It’s been great! For the past 8 years I have been super steady doing the warm up thing. Now I am making the transition back to hosting.

MG: How did the show “Pictureka” come about?
CA: “Pictureka” came about by one of the producers of the show seeing me at a “Dancing with the Stars” taping. They told me that the chances of anything happening with the show were pretty slim but, would I be willing to jump on board. I was happy to help them out. On April fool’s day they called and told me the show got picked up for 65 episodes and they wanted me to host it. We both thought it was either the best or worst April fool’s joke however the show was really good to go. The show actually got nominated for a day time Emmy. Things are going really great. It’s a hustle but I am really enjoying it.

MG: What has been one of your biggest challenges on “Pictureka”?
CA: There are a lot. That show is like being the ring leader of a six ring circus. You have to balance all these different aspects. Everything is done live and on the fly. It is literally the craziest boot camp for television hosts. I have no problem jumping on a show like “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent” where I am just prompting artists. I have a lot of fun being at the helm of that show.

MG: What has been the best/hardest part of being the host of the show?
CA: The hardest part for me is that I really route for these guys! I love giving away the networks money. You want the players to win. The best reaction is when you flip that card and the contestants get the right answer and win a prize. It’s just an awesome moment. I love working with the kids and their families.

MG: What other upcoming projects do you have going on?
CA: Right now we are on hold with “Pictureka” as the response for the show has been so overwhelming that the show is being aired twice a day. The producers are trying to figure out what will be the best move for the show. It’s been great though because while we are on hold I have been able to take off and go do some cool things. I shot a pilot in Hong Kong with the producers of “The Bizarre Food Show”. This show is a twist on that as it will be based around comfort food from around the world. In Hong Kong they eat things like pig intestines as comfort food. The stinky tofu was probably the worst. I seriously thought I was going to throw up.

Russell Hornsby is co-starring in NBC’s new series “Grimm”. Russell is playing David Giuntoli’s partner in the show. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Russell about the new show and what we can expect from his character this season.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background on how you got involved with “Grimm”?
Russell Hornsby: I auditioned for the role during pilot season. There were about twenty scripts that I auditioned for during that time. There were about five of those roles that I really wanted and “Grimm” happened to be one of them. I loved the concept of the show as well as the characters. I also felt there was a lot of room for my character to grow. I felt the idea of the show was something the fans could really take to.

MG: How has it been working alongside David Giuntoli?
RH: I am the guy who is in the real world. David and I are just partners working together to solve crimes. For my character it’s a real procedural world. I look at David’s character and realize he is special but I have no idea of the powers he has.

MG: Are we going to see your character Hank get involved with the supernatural side?
RH: I think possibly indirectly. I feel for the show to be believable we have to believe Hank is really entrenched in his job and has no clue about what David’s character is going through.  I also think that’s the hard part for the writers. The questions is: “How do you create that and keep both of our characters on separate sides of the line?”

MG: What can we expect from season 1?
RH: I think we can expect seeing that this world has criminals obviously. However they have this alter ego. It’s kind of like the arcade video game “Altered Beast”. These people can change into all these different creatures but what it is at its core is it’s the human condition. We are both good and bad. David’s character is able to see people for who they really are.

MG: How has the production process been for you so far?
RH: It’s been difficult. There have been a lot of long hours. We are sometimes shooting 14-15 hrs a day. But the reality of it is don’t get into the game if you don’t want to play. We are here to work and put the best product on the screen. The most important thing is that we got what is needed and it looks good.

MG: Do you have a favorite episode that you have shot so far?
RH: They all are special. I think we are delving into a world and genre that people haven’t seen. The show is going to be suspenseful. I think each show gets better and better.

MG: How many episodes have you shot thus far?
RH: We have shot seven episodes so far and I go in tonight to shoot our 8^th.

Related Content

• Interview with Maxim Knight
• Interview with Michael Steger
• Interview with Ioan Gruffudd
• Interview with Colin Egglesfield
• Interview with Andy Sipes & Dana Snyder

David Giuntoli is the star of NBC’s new series “Grimm”. The show is described as “a cop drama—with a twist…a dark and fantastical project about a world in which characters inspired by Grimm’s Fairy Tales exist”. The show co-stars Russell Hornsby, Bitsie Tulloch, Silas Weir Mitchell, Sasha Roiz and Reggie Lee. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with David about his role in the show and also what he has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background on your new show “Grimm”?
David Guintoli: The show is a cool mix of genre and procedural. It’s “CSI” meets “X-Files”. There is crazy stuff going on but it’s based here in the real world. It’s about a regular guy trying to sort out some new rules he has learned about. The show has some action mixed with some horror. It’s really neat in those ways.

MG: What drew you to the character of “Nick”?
DG: Most roles in Hollywood you are playing are an attorney, cop or doctor. This role right of the bat is one of those gems where the lead character starts his quest immediately. In the pilot episode the main character has something happen to him and the following episodes will be how he is dealing with his new identity. This is one of those special parts that if you are lucky comes around maybe once or twice in a lifetime.

MG: How was it for you taking the lead in the show?
DG: I was completely nervous. On one end I was ready but at the same time it was the first time taking the lead. It was a big responsibility.

MG: What can you tell us about the episodes that have aired so far?
DG: My character Nick has come to terms with this new world where characters from the Grimm fairy tales are trying to kill him. Nick has very few resources to find out about what is going on. Nick does have his aunt (played by Kate Burton) and a small library where he goes to try and figure out his responsibilities. The character Eddie Monroe played by Silas Weir Mitchell also helps my character navigate this new world. You will see me learn how to decide who is good and who is bad. Each episode has a crazy crime going on.

MG: How do you feel this show differs from shows like “Supernatural” and “Fringe”?
DG: They are all quality shows. I think “Grimm” will push the gore factor a little more. The more of these types of shows the merrier since I believe Friday night is a perfect night for these shows.

MG: What can you tell us about your upcoming film “Caroline and Jackie” which also stars Bitsie Tulloch?
DG: We filmed that prior to us working together on “Grimm”. We played boyfriend and girlfriend and we had good chemistry. The film is kind of like a Woody Allen comedy, where an intervention goes completely awry.

Silas Weir Mitchell is playing Monroe in the new show “Grimm” on NBC. His character is similar to the “big bad wolf” from the Grimm world. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Silas about his role and what we can expect from season one.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with the show “Grimm” playing Monroe?
Silas Weir Mitchell: I had previously worked with Jim Kouf who is one of the creators of the show. He and I had hit it off and we have a great working relationship. They called me in and it was a good fit.

MG: What has been your greatest challenge playing the role?
SWM: The best part for me has been the inner conflict that the character has. He is a reformed criminal and I have to fight against my criminal urges. My character is really trying hard not morph as he is all done with those things.

MG: What has it been like working with the CG and make-up effects?
SWM:  I haven’t had to wear the prosthetics that much. It takes so long to get everything on that they have come up with a way to use both CG and make-up. They have a system that works really well. A lot of the time I just have markers glued to face for the computers to read.

MG: How has it been working with David Giuntoli?
SWM: We have had a great time working together. We are very lucky here as we have fun and everyone gets along. David is perfectly cast for this role. He has charm and a sort of haunting quality which is perfect for his character of Nick. Our relationship in the story is very unique and almost like a chess match. David and I really enjoy that.

MG: What can we expect from the first season?
SWM: In the first few episodes, the writers are definitely hitting the fairy tales that we know. The writers are changing them though. They are using the original stories as a foundation. The episodes are sort of jumping off points as opposed to a re-telling. There is a mythological quality to what is going on without using the humanity.

MG: How does this show compare to your other work?
SWM: It’s different for me as I have been in on this show from the start. I came in on the ground floor. Every other series I have worked on I have come in later in the process. When I did “Prison Break”, I originally was only supposed to do a couple episodes but it worked out to where I was around for awhile. I didn’t come in knowing I was going to be in every episode. With “Grimm” it’s been great knowing that I have steady work. There is also just so much to chew on as the character is very rich.

Related Content

• Interview with Bitsie Tulloch
• Interview with Comedian Eric Schwartz
• Interview with Comedian Sandy Bernstein
• Interview with Reggie Lee
• Interview with Kate Burton

Bitsie Tulloch is playing the role of Juliette on NBC’s new series “Grimm”. Her character is the girlfriend of Nick, played by David Giuntoli. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bitsie about her role in the show and what we can expect from season one.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role of Juliette Silverton on “Grimm”?
Bitsie Tulloch: I play a veterinarian on the show that is dating lead detective Nick Burckhardt. One of the reasons I was attracted to the role is because of the six regulars on the show that role is not a cop or a monster. I am thinking that with my character being a vet I might be helpful with some of the creatures down the road. Right now they are enjoying coming up with creative ways Nick can lie to me. When I read the script the first time I was shocked at how dark the show is. I knew enough about the original stories to know that the stories were pretty gruesome. I thought the idea to add a crime procedural element to these stories was fantastic. The show is just really smart and how they are reinterpreting these classic stories is great.

MG: Tell us about working with such a great cast including David Giuntoli & Russell Hornsby?
BT: It’s great. I am the only woman on the show who is a series regular. It’s not hard getting out of the bed in the morning. (Laughs) They guys are all great and different from each other. I love it. They all are so sweet. I have never been on a show or movie where everyone is this close.

MG: What has been the most challenging part of working on the show so far?
BT: Having to move to Portland was my biggest challenge originally. Now I think it’s the least challenging as I love the city so much. It’s been pretty amazing shooting up here with the five guys. We all live within about four blocks from each other.

MG: How do you feel that the show stands out from the standard cop procedural?
BT: It’s not your standard cop procedural by any means. One of the things that I think is really cool about the show is the fans that I think will be drawn to this show are the best type of fans. I think there will be a lot of artistic, passionate people watching the show. The turnout at Comic-Con was amazing! There are about eight different genres blended together into this one show. Something like this has not been done before.

MG: Tell us about your film “Caroline and Jackie” with “Grimm” co-star David Giuntoli?
BT: That was a film I actually co-produced. It’s an indie drama about two sisters who relationship is unfolding. The film takes place over the course of one day. We had a period of about six months where David and I weren’t shooting together and when we got back together the chemistry was still there. David plays my boyfriend and his character is really great.

Related Content

• Interview with Silas Weir Mitchell
• Interview with Rachel Federoff
• Interview with Brad Neely & Daniel Weidenfeld
• Interview wtih Amanda Detmer
• Interview with Melissa Cowan

Reggie Lee is playing Sgt. Wu on NBC’s “Grimm”, which premieres on October 28th.  Reggie is also co-starred in Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Reggie about his new show and what we can expect from season one.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you tell us about working on the series “Grimm”?
Reggie Lee: It’s going great. We are now filming our third episode and the show is what we call a procedural cop drama that takes fairy tales and drops them on their head. The series is from the creators of “Angel” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. People are expecting this sort of dual world thing. This series is a little darker than the creator’s previous works and leans more to an “X-Files” type theme. The story follows Nick Burckhardt played by David Giuntoli who starts to see people transform into characters from the Grimm fairytales. He is the only one who can see these people transform so it creates an interesting dynamic between him and the other detectives. Everything is an adventure on this show.

MG: What can you tell us about your character?
RL: I play Sgt. Wu and he is basically a smart ass sergeant. The character is a lot of fun and he technically really smart but he also has some great one liners. We find out as the series progresses that he has an addiction problem that is tied to one of the other characters on the show.

MG: What has it been like filming in Portland?
RL:  Portland is unbelievable! It’s just really great! Portland is almost like the 7^th lead character in the show. The landscape really lends to the story. Everything about the city is just great.

MG: What has it been like working with the rest of the cast?
RL: It’s been great. I have known Silas Weir Mitchell for quite awhile and it’s been great being back on a show with him again. David Giuntoli is a fresh new face and he has done really well. We are all on the same level in with our careers so there really isn’t one person who gets more attention than another. We have been really close since the start and I think both of these things have helped the show.

MG: How does this series differ from the others you have been involved in?
RL: This one is different because I have been with it from the ground up. The other shows I have worked on I have joined in the second season or there was a story arc that I was involved in as a reoccurring character. The other great thing about “Grimm” is that they created this character specifically for me after I had auditioned for a different role that I did not get. This character is really fun. I generally always play assholes and this character is nothing of the sort. I have a role in a film coming out Oct. 28 called “Safe” and I love it because I am finally being given characters that are diverse. My previous roles were just killing the guy and have no remorse. These recent roles are more like real life and I get to branch out.

MG: Since the character was created for you were you allowed any creative control?
RL: When you go with a series you almost always do. After an episode or two the writers start to write for your voice. Before I jumped into the project I wanted to know what exactly the character was going to be like. Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt who have been in the business for some time now have not one ounce of ego. They are the most collaborative people along with Sam Raimi that I have ever worked with.

Kate Burton is known for her role of Margo in John Carpenter’s “Big Trouble in Little China”.  Kate is co-starring in NBC’s new show “Grimm”, playing the character Marie.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Kate about working on “Grimm” and also some of her upcoming projects.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background about your new show “Grimm”
Kate Burton: The story is an updated/modernized version of the Grimm fairy tales. I play Marie, who is the aunt of the main character Nick. Aunt Marie is sick with cancer and she tells Nick that he is a Grimm. Being a Grimm means Nick has supernatural powers which allow him to see things that normal people can’t. I have been in a lot of pilots and this is one of the best I have ever been in. The way the story is told is very gripping and funny. There is a little bit of a “Twin Peaks” feel to it but a little less perverse. My character was originally meant to be killed off in the pilot but it was decided against, so I return for the first episode and I am also going to also be in some dream sequences.

MG: You are currently shooting now correct?
KB: Yes. I just filmed the first episode in August and they have been filming ever since. I think they are going to be shooting 12 episodes plus the pilot. The show has been picked up for the beginning of the season and we will see where it goes from there.

MG: What do you think makes this show stand out and will make people want to watch it?
KB: Anyone who is interested in sci-fi/supernatural stories or magical themes, I think will like this show. I really think the show could take off! There are some really good stories. The Brothers Grimm really knew what they were doing. It’s just an interesting and gripping series.

MG: What was it like working on “2 Days in New York”?
KB: That was really fun as I don’t get to do comedy very much. Julie Delpy is very specific and knows what she wants. I worked for 2 days on the film on some really funny little scenes. Julie is really great and inspiring. The cast on the film is really great and a lot of fun.

MG: Can you tell us about another project of yours titled “Puncture”?
KB: That was a lot of fun. We shot that film in Houston about a year ago. The Kassen brothers were a lot of fun and really nice. It was a very happy experience. I have a wonderful scene with Chris Evans. I wish I was going to be able to go to the premier but I am shooting another television titled “Scandal”?

MG:  What can you tell us about that show?
KB: The show is a mid-season replacement and I am not really sure when it’s going to air. I start shooting later in the week.

MG: Can you tell us about the film “Liberal Arts”?
KB: That’s a great movie that I really love. We shot in Ohio with director/writer/actor Josh Radnor. The film has a great cast which features Zack Efron, Allison Janney, Richard Jenkins and Elizabeth Olsen, who is an up and coming actress. Josh was really great to work with and our location was really great as well.

MG: What can you tell us about working on “Big Trouble in Little China”?
KB: That film is such a cult classic and it was my first movie. Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall and I were the only three white people in that movie [laughs]. Everyone else was Asian and I got to meet practically every Asian actor that was working in Hollywood at the time. We also met a lot of great actors that came over from China to be in the film. John Carpenter was fantastic to work with as he is such a pro. My character was really fun to play. We didn’t know how great the film was as it came out the same day as “Aliens”. The film has really endured and people just love that film. Victor Wong was so funny!

Christopher Moynihan & Dan Fogler are the stars of ABC’s new comedy “Man Up!”, playing the roles of Craig and Kenny (respectively).  Christopher is also the creator and writer on the show.  Dan Fogler is known best for his roles in films like “Balls of Fury” and “Fanboys”.  The show is one of the funniest shows on TV right now easily.  It airs on ABC on Tuesday nights and their second episode is “Star Wars” themed so check it out.  Media Mikes had the chance to chat with Christopher (again) and Dan about the show and what we can expect from their characters.

Mike Gencarelli: You have have been filming for a while now, would you say that you are comfortable with your characters?
Dan Fogler: I think it is growing. Each episode it gets more hysterical and we get more into our skin. As you can tell from the pilot right of the bat it looks like we have been going this for a while. Everyone was really cohesive.  The chemistry from day one was great and we are just having a great time. I think that is going to come through when you watch the show definitely.

MG: You both have love troubles in the pilot, are we going to see any new love interests from your characters?
DF: Yeah!
Chris Moynihan: It is a good question Mike, actually we are going to be seeing quite a few new love interest for me and Dan.  We actually have a new girl for both of us for each episode.  At one point we are dating the girls who work the money and food windows at the local drive-in.  I am dating the first girl and we call her money because she takes out money [laughs].
DF: I date the second girl.  We call her food because she give me my food [laughs].
CM: So every week we have a different set of girls we are going after.
DF: It is like “Three’s Company” in here man.
CM: But…it is like Two’s Company with two more women…like four.
DF: And it all CHRISSIE! [laughs]

MG: Every show has its challenges, what are some of yours for this show?
CM: The truth is from a creative stand point, the only challenge is making something that you like and I think we have done that.  Actually the big challenge is getting people to watch it and getting the network to give it an honest shot.  I think the pilot tracked well, people watched it and hopefully more people will tune it each week.  Hopefully the network will give us a little time while to get our legs.  I have no doubt that we could be a show that people will really dig.
DF: My concerns are that I am hairy like a werewolf. I am really concerned about continuity day to day.  There is a lot of shaving going on.  I think that is going to get weird on my skin after a while.

MG: Dan, what drew you to work on this show?
DF: My wife. She forced me.  No, I loved the show.  I read the script and I thought it was hysterical.  I have been doing a lot of film and I thought it was time for me to break into TV.  I think I picked a winner with this show. I am really excited.  It is my first TV venture and it is really hysterical.  They are really letting me play and I love coming to work.

MG: Tell us about the transition with the character Grant joining your group?
CM: It was tricky thing from a writing stand point.  This is a guy who is sleeping with Kenny’s ex-wife. It was hard bringing him into the group without a little bump. What we did was we had it that Craig and Will really like Grant. He is a good guy.  He is going to be part of the family because Bridgette is going be part of the family because she is the God parent to Will’s kids. That was out way in.  In the second episode, we all sit down to watch “Star Wars” because Grant never has seen it. We figure since he has never seen it, he will watch it and love it and him and Kenny will have something in common. Of course it all goes array.  Our job as writers is to make him part of the group and make it feel organic and natural.  By the third or fourth episode, it is the four of us together and you don’t even question whether Grant should be there.

MG: The promos that you guys have done have been killer, any more plans for those?
CM: We are going to be doing as much as we can.  If you do on YouTube, we have been shooting some fun behind the scenes stuff like Teri Polo naked.  Really if you go on YouTube you can see it. We are trying to get people to watch by lying to them [laughs].  We are going to try to shoot at least one a week and keep posting them and trying to make it go viral.

MG: Any cool guest stars coming up that you want to tell us about?
CM: The big one is Billy Dee Williams.
DF: Yeah, we had Lando come on.  It was awesome. I worked with on “Fanboys”.  We have this sweet scene with him and I together and my God he is one manly space scallywag [laughs] if I have ever seen one.  Working with him was like being on cloud city [laughs].
CM: And Billy does some great dialogue from “Empire Strikes Back”
DF: Yes, there is a lot of “Star Wars” love. So if you are fan…tune it in.

Brad Neely & Daniel Weidenfeld are the guys behind Adult Swim’s new show “China, IL”. Brad is the writer, producer and star of the show and Daniel is the executive producer. The show just started airing on Adult Swim every Sunday, be sure to check it out. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with the guys about the new show and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about the journey for “China, IL” starting as web series to airing on Adult Swim?
Daniel Weidenfeld: I had worked with Brad on the shows at Super Deluxe. We had been talking about doing a four part episode. We wanted to do a television show however Super Deluxe wanted it to be a web series. We had this super complex story where we had a  four part show but in each part there were three acts. It was a very confusing. About a year and a half later, Adult Swim came to Brad about doing the show. I came on a short time after. Together we did a pilot titled “Professor Brothers”. The show ended up being picked up for series and Adult Swim wanted to develop it further. We made the show more about the world and added pupils to the characters which gave them a little more life. We also changed the name to “China, IL” and that’s where we are today.

MG: Brad, you not only write and produce the show but also voice the main character, How do you juggle those roles?
Brad Neely: It’s fun! You have to just put on different hats. Of course it’s not all just me either. While I am in doing voicing, Daniel is on the other side of the glass directing me. We have a lot of people working on the show that have editorial input.
DW: The crew here adds a lot to each frame of the show. It’s really great and we are very lucky.

MG: How did you get involved with Titmouse and Tommy Blanca who voiced the Mayor?
DW: Shannon and Chris (Prynoski) have been friends for a long time. They have done a lot of work with Adult Swim. There was a time when it looked like the show was going to be picked up just based on the written scripts. They were the first people we called.
BN: They were actually the first people I ever met with. I couldn’t imagine doing the show elsewhere. They presented a studio that had a booth in house. They were also able to do revisions and pickups on the fly. We were able to make everything run like a well oiled machine.
DW: With Tommy for the episode “Dean vs. Mayor” we had initially wanted to get Macho Man Randy Savage to go head to head with Hulk Hogan. However we couldn’t find him at the time and that was prior to him passing away. The next person we called was Tommy who used to be the head writer for the WWE. We knew he could bring that spirit to the episode. The voice he brought killed it! You’re going to be seeing a little bit more of the Mayor in the future.

MG: Tell us how Hulk Hogan came aboard to voice The Dean?
DW: It was tricky but we got him. We had to appeal to him in a way where it wasn’t about the money. He cares about doing awesome stuff! We sent him the script and he told us it was the weirdest thing he had ever seen in his life and  he wanted to be a part of it. It took some massaging and to this day we are still massaging.
BN: He has a comedy personality in him. He doesn’t just come in and do his lines. Hulk is a funny performer.

MG: Any other guest voices to keep an eye out for this season?
DW: Oh yeah!
BN: One of our favorite things about the show is the voice talent. We have Jason Alexander doing a voice in episode four.  We have Jeffery Tambor playing Baby Cakes’ dad.
DW: We also have Natasha Leggero and Chelsea Peretti doing voices. We are trying to stack the deck as much as we can. It’s been awesome!

MG: How long does each episode take from script to screen?
BN: It’s different with each as the writing process is unique for each episode.
DW: We started production in October of 2010.
BN: Right now we are finishing the tenth episode. While everyone is working on the first episodes we are writing the second half.

Rachel Federoff is known best for working with Patti Stanger at her The Millionaire Club and the reality series “The Millionaire Matchmaker”.  Rachel is married to Destin Pfaff, who is the COO of The Millionaire Club and also writer and producer of upcoming film “Sushi Girl”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Rachel about working with Patti Stanger and also what else she has planned.

Mike Gencarelli Did you have a role in helping your husband, Destin Pfaff on his upcoming film “Sushi Girl”
Rachel Federoff: I did a little bit. I was originally going to do a lot of the make-up on it but I didn’t get to do that much because our son was really sick. I was at home taking care of the little guy. I did write some fun little extras that I am hoping will be put on the DVD. It will be my writing debut because I am also a writer. Destin and I are like the Jack and Jill of all trades. What do we not do? We do everything [laughs]. That was my little addition to the film but my biggest part though of “Sushi Girl” is just being a supporter for them. I will be helping in any way I can. It is an AMAZING movie. It is awesome and no words can describe it.

MG: Tell us how you became involved with Patti Stanger, The Millionaire Club and “The Millionaire Matchmaker”?
RF: Well at the time I was dating Destin Pfaff, who was already working for with Patti at The Millionaire Club. I was really interested in matching couples and when I finally met Patti, she said I should come on board. At first Destin thought it was a terrible idea but it would be great as did Patti.I had already been doing some matching on the side with my friends, so it was something I really enjoyed. She gave me a board and I learned how to match for the club and eventually I became the VP of Matching. I really love it.

MG: What is the hardest part on your job as the VP of Matching?
RF: The hardest part is probably taking care of the girls that cause trouble. Sometimes we are left with girls who needs us to play mommy for them. We have strict rules in our club and all we ask is that people follow them. Some people just do not follow the rules and need to be taken care of. Patti is great though she just tells it like it is. We are not trying to be mean to some girls. We are honestly trying to help them and

MG: What is one of the biggest perks getting to work on “The Millionaire Matchmaker”
RF: The best for me is the end result and the success stories. I love when we have couples come back saying that they decided to take it to the next level and/or continue dating. That is really why I enjoy doing this. The show does show some of that but reality TV works better when you have more drama then happy endings. But we do get quite a few of the success stories and that is my favorite part.

MG: After co-starring in the show, do you actually watch the show when it airs?
RF: Oh yeah, we watch it all the time. Destin and I also blog about it on the Bravo website. We watch them and blog and also have been doing live tweeting during episode which has been really awesome. It is almost like a chat room. People can do to our twitters which is @RachelFederoff and watch the show with us. We talk smack on the show, the characters and ourselves. We answer peoples questions and it is really a lot of fun.

MG: Tell us about the PSA you recently did for mylifemypower.org and SFK (Success For Kids)?
RF: Being a mom now and a child and a victim of bullying pretty much my entire life, it is really crazy intense and horrible bullying has become. It went from me being followed home and threatened and now people are being beat up until they are dying or in the hospital. It is really horrible. It goes back to me being a people person. I am such an advocate for the gay and lesbian community and anti-bullying. I am a big supporter for the organization that help fight cancer for kids and illnesses. I have a child and God forbid something happens to him, I wouldn’t know what I would do. I think it is really important to help kids and let kids know that you are not alone especially with the bullying. I think it is a big deal. I think it is awesome that I can use my celebrity status to really promote it. It is a really important thing for me.

MG: Tell us about your role in “Deader Living Through Chemistry”?
RF: Well I was in it when we did the short for George Romero’s film “Diary of the Dead”. We are looking into making the short into the feature. Besides being on a reality show and a matchmaker…acting has always been a huge passion of mine. Ever since I was little I was always a ham and putting on shows. “Deader Living” was my first taste and getting my feet wet. I was in that short before even “The Millionaire Matchmaker”. I love making movies and I love being in them. I love all the aspects from zombies to comedies to whatever. The short was fun. George Romero had the contest…we entered and won first place. So it is on the DVD for the film. We want to make it into a full length because it is such a cool idea.

Preston Strother is currently appear in the Hallmark Channel film “Oliver’s Ghost”.  He also recently voiced a character on “Batman: Brave and the Bold”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Preston about his new film as well as what he has planned upcoming.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background on role as Tony in “Oliver’s Ghost”?
Preston Strother: I play the bully who picks on Oliver. Oliver is a kid that moves into a haunted house near Halloween. I play the ghost who lives in the attic. At first I try to scare Oliver and his family away but we become friends and I end up helping him solve problems.

MG: What did you like most about working on the film?
PS: It was a tone of fun. We shot it in California and I met a lot of good people. I filmed for a week and it was really great?

MG: When can we expect to see the film?
PS: The film is going to be shown on the Hallmark channel on October 22nd.

MG: How did you get involved with the game show “Brain Surge”?
PS: That was a show where they get a bunch of kids together and compete for a bunch of different prizes. I didn’t quite make it to the final round sadly.

MG: How did you enjoy doing voice work on “Batman: Brave and the Bold”?
PS: That was one of the best times I have ever had filming. I play Aquaman’s son. Everyone there has the coolest voice. It was a blast!

MG: What are your other passions outside of acting?
PS: I like to draw, play guitar and football.

Hayley Holmes is known best for her role of Harper on “90210”.  This year she also recently appear in the film “Rubber” and the web series “The Guild”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Halely about her roles and also what she has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about experience working on “The Guild”?
Hayley Holmes: My manager submitted my reel for the audition. I love “The Guild”, I have been watching it since season one. I am huge fan of Felicia Day. When I had the opportunity to audition for it I was very thrilled. I was lucky to book the role and I got to meet everyone on set and it was all very exciting.

MG: How was it working with such a fun cast?
HH: It was amazing working on it. They are such great comedians. A lot of them also do writing as well. Every time you are on set someone is cracking a joke or coming up with a funny one-liner. It was just a great group of people.

MG: How did you become involved with the film “Rubber”? and what did you think about the film?
HH: Before I even auditioned I read the script for that and I thought it was such an interesting idea for a movie. It is something that has totally never been done. It was completed different from anything I have ever done. I was a fan of the director Quentin Dupieux and have seen his other work. I thought if anyone could do it Quentin could. When I was able to come on it was great. We filmed in Palmdale in the desert. We were almost living the circumstance that were in the film.

MG: You appeared on the show “90210”, how was working on that show? Any plans for this season?
HH: They just started filming season four but there are definitely plenty of options for my character Harper to come back. She likes to stir the pot with the other characters. It was so much fun and I love playing her. She is such a type-a nerdy person and I am so not that girl, so it was very fun to get on everyone nerves and push the envelope. Everyone on the set was so cool, laid back and fun. It was nice to see that coming from such a hit show.

MG: From teen to tween, how was it working on Disney Channel show “Good Luck Charlie”?
HH: It was great and such a different dynamic. The vibe is just so friendly and everyone is hanging out and having fun. It is also cool because you get to film in front of a live audience. It is almost like theater.

MG: Tell us about your work as a contortionist?
HH: Oh yeah. My mom enrolled me into gymnastics when I was 3. I started liking it. I would do backbends and my teacher told me it was amazing. I started to build upon it and practice and working the flexibility in my back. My parents didn’t think it was a skill that anyone would ever utilize but I have use it so much in so many different projects so far. It has been really cool.

MG: What else do you have planned next?
HH: I also recently learned that this McDonald’s commercial I was in was up for an Emmy this year, so that is really exciting. I am currently out auditioning and trying to get a TV show to work on and along those lines.

Mather Zickel is starring in ABC’s new comedy series “Man Up!”, along with Christopher Moynihan and Dan Fogler.  The show is one of the funniest new shows on television.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Mather about his new show and what we can expect from season one.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing Will Keen in “Man Up”?
Mather Zickel: I like the character because I think he is a decent honest guy. I like playing a guy with the struggles that he has. He is someone that likes the life he created. He works hard and I think he is just a responsible honest guy. I think the character doesn’t feel that he is a man in the more traditional sense. I think he has some lingering insecurity about himself. I think he is a guy caught between generations in a funny way.

MG: It looks like the show is a lot of fun to shoot, tell us about the production?
MZ: We have shot about seven episodes so far and we are about half through this shooting block. I have been very impressed with the scripts and I think they are very funny. I think they always take a premise for each episode that is very germane to the show and to the idea of the show. I think they are very relatable and share a common place but then think the writers expand on it in a very silly way. I think the jokes are just great. Every script takes a turn that I never see coming…which I like.

MG: We spoke with Amanda Detmer and she said the woman rule on the show [laughs], any comment?
MZ: [Laughs] Well I guess they think they do [laughs]. The thing that I love about all of the characters, both men and women, they are both always trying to get away with something. All of the characters have their weaknesses and all of the characters mess up. Everyone is vulnerable and everything it puts themselves inthese silly situations. Teri (Polo) and Amanda are very funny on the show. I think they calls the shots often but they then will get busted doing other stuff. It all comes around full circle. The thing I like most about my relationship with Teri s that I think the characters still love each other and they are a team. I think they like their lives together and they both kind of jockey in the position of who is calling the shots. I think that Will has to often pick his battles and  ask himself [laughs] “Is this worth sleeping on the couch or not?” I think they do sling stuff back and forth in a fun way. They are a real team.

MG: Since Christopher Moynihan created and stars in the show, do you guys have a lot of room for ad libbing?
MZ: No we don’t ad lib, if we do it is very little. It is very tightly scripted and we are kept to the page.

MG: What has been your favorite episode to shoot so far in season one?
MZ: Actually yes there is. There is one we just did [laughs]. I think it is called “Disciplining The Keens”, which I particularly liked. The premise is that our son is not showing up for his science club and I am upset because I think he doesn’t have a discipline to stick with something. If it was my father he would never let me quit something and would be on my ass. The truth is that we discover he has an allergy to gluten and he is actually getting stomach aches. The doctor tells him he has to quit gluten and I tell him it is all about will power and the whole family is going to go off gluten. I have no idea what gluten is or how many things it is in. Within days everyone is starving and going crazy. It is this whole episode about how the whole family is cheating trying to find ways [laughs] to get away with eating gluten. I think it is a very funny episode.

MG: How do you feel this comedy will stand out amongst other comedies on TV?
MZ: I think it is strike a good balance between something that feels naturalist, relatable and very silly. I think it is a very funny show and the jokes are really strong. I find all the characters very appealing. I have seen some of it and I think it looks like our director of photography did a really nice job. The lighting also feels natural and layered. I think it is going to be really easy and fun to watch.

MG: How did you get involved with playing Louis La Fonda in “Children’s Hospital” reprising from the movie “The Ten”?
MZ: [laughs] Yeah, Louis La Fonda. He came from “The Ten”, which was written by David Wain and Ken Marino. Marino is a regular on “Children’s Hospital” and David is a director and producer on “Children’s Hospital”. David loves just bringing characters back even when it totally doesn’t make sense. He created this bizarre universe with repeated characters and that is what happened with Louis La Fonda. I have have two episodes now and he just does what he does.

Amanda Detmer is playing Bridget in new comedy TV series “Man Up!”. This show is easily one of the funniest new shows on TV this Fall. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Amanda about her role in the show and what we can expect from season one.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing the role of Bridget in “Man Up!”?
Amanda Detmer: Bridget is funny and quick witted. Dan Fogler, who plays my ex-husband on the show, has a very similar sense of humor as me.  When you see us on the show you can totally see why they were married but at the same time you can see why they got divorced. Henry Simmons is the most serene person I have ever been around. I think he is going to win an Emmy. Every time he finishes a scene I am always laughing and he asks me why and I tell him “Because you’re so frickin funny!” Terry Polo is really great to work with and I am looking forward to our first fight on the show [laughs].

MG: You start to see some relationship drama between Kenny and Grant. Can we expect more of that throughout the season?
AD: It takes some twists and turns for sure! At first the guys aren’t really sure what to think of Grant.  He ends up being so endearing that as the season progresses you see the other guys try to get Kenny to see that Grant is not that bad. It’s total man drama! [laughs]. It’s man love gone awry.

MG: What’s it like being one of the female co-stars in a man led show?
AD: You just wait! The women will rise. The guys think it’s always about them but I am just waiting for them to realize that’s totally not the case [laughs].

MG: Will the guys getting in trouble be a common theme throughout the season?
AD: There are many situations that the guys get themselves into it. This group of actors have all done other work and had some success are still coming into the project as people you haven’t met yet in a way. Each character is so distinct and different. Chris and the team of writers are so great! They really write for the characters rather than just writing something that as actors and actresses have to make work. It’s so fun which is what it’s supposed to be.

MG: Have you had a favorite moment from shooting yet?
AD: There was a scenario that didn’t get cleared by the network where Chris Moynihan is singing to a group of women. He wrote a certain song so he could get a reaction from them. The song spelled out vagina and I was like what are you doing singing a song like that! I didn’t know that he was going to sing to this group of lesbians. (Laughs) I just lost it. There was also a great scene with my character and Kenny where you see just a glimpse of them getting along.

MG: How do you feel this show stands out from other comedies on television right now?
AD: I think we are people who get to be introduced as our characters as opposed to being known from a previous role. I think it’s hard sometimes for people to see an actor or actress outside of previously popular role and who are now playing a different role. We are sort of being introduced and we haven’t really been known to well as anyone else. The show is genuinely funny and you just can’t help but laugh. I love that I get a bird’s eye into the guy’s world.