New Canadian Docutainment Series 'Tooned!' to Feature VAs
Posted by
Kristy Sproul
on March 6, 2010 at 1:59 PM
From the Breakthrough Films & Television press release:
TORONTO (March 4, 2010) – Breakthrough Films & Television’s live-action factual series, TOONED!, is scheduled to debut on Canada’s TV Tropolis on Friday, March 19, 2010 during the 11:30/19:30/22:00 time slots, it was announced today by Ira Levy and Peter Williamson, executive producers and founders of Breakthrough.
TOONED! (13 x 30’) is a half-hour "docutainment" series all about your favorite cartoon shows and the stars, voices and visionaries that filled your Saturday mornings and shaped your childhood.
TOONED! pays tribute to the cartoon creators who gave life to our animated heroes, explores the myths and mythmakers then tops it off with a sugary frosting of fans, factoids and celebrity cameos.
Every episode of TOONED! Is driven by a theme (Love, Sidekicks, Superheroes and of course Villains & Bad Guys), which informs the feature stories, intimate interviews and behind the scene profiles. We’ll hear from comedians, cartoon moguls and Hollywood stars: voice legend June Foray, Howie Mandel, William Shatner, Nancy Cartwright, Gilbert Gottfried, Lo Bosworth, Leonard Matlin, Stan Lee, Vivica Fox, Andrea Martin, Janeane Garofalo, Shannon Tweed, Don Hahn and Cheech & Chong to name just a few. We also pay tribute to legends like Mel Blanc, Hanna & Barbera, Chuck Jones and Jay Ward – cartoon geniuses who in many ways gave us our funny bone and whose characters live on and on.
Howard, the hilarious host of TOONED! Is a bit of a cartoon character – literally. After years of slogging it out, as an Animated Extra (that’s Background Performer buddy!) He’s finally landed his first “marquee gig”. Hey, it’s not like he didn’t earn it: he can do every character, and catchphrase, act out every cartoon cliché and talk (endlessly!) about cartoon trivia. Howard combines an insider’s knowledge with the bitter insights of a perennial wannabe in an animated personality that is anything but 2-Dimensional.
TOONED! reintroduces us to a world where logic plays second fiddle to laughs, where reality is elastic and death a temporary inconvenience. Viewers will be tickled at how many lines they remember – and like a reunion of old friends, the characters, stories and memories will all come tumbling back.
The series is produced by Breakthrough Films & Television in association with Dale Burshtein Productions and Canwest Media.
“So many of us had this shared experience – waking up early to watch a marathon of Hanna Barbara, Jay Ward and Looney Toons, and the rest of the line-up – we all had the same references and iconic catchphrases growing up; we were all in our pajamas, eating sugar cereals and seeing shows that stayed with us forever. This show is very nostalgic and it’s cool to see that no matter who we talked to, we all have those shared memories. The work that was created then was hilarious, irreverent and obviously has enormous lasting power. Superstar cartoon shows of today continue to pay tribute to this time and these characters,” said Dale Burshstein, the series creator and co-producer.
More Celeb Voice Casting for 'The Smurfs' Announced
Posted by
Kristy Sproul
on March 4, 2010 at 11:48 PM
In more stunt casting news, Variety reveals the most recent set of celebrities cast in Sony's upcoming CG/Live-Action Smurfs: The Movie.
Joining Jonathan Winters as Papa Smurf will be Alan Cumming as the voice of Gutsy Smurf, comedian George Lopez (who was announced earlier this week to voice another classic character, Speedy Gonzales) will voice Grouchy Smurf in the new film, and finally, in perhaps the most baffling casting move of all, pop singer Katy Perry is in talks to voice Smurfette, a role previously held by the legendary Lucille Bliss.
Additionally, it was announced yesterday that Neil Patrick Harris will fill the lead live-action role in the film.
Directed by Beverly Hills Chihuahua's Raja Gosnell, Smurfs: The Movie is slated for release in 2011.
Mad Men's Jon Hamm the New Voice of Mercedes-Benz
Posted by
Kristy Sproul
on March 3, 2010 at 2:02 PM
During ABC's broadcast of the Academy Awards on Sunday, Mercedes-Benz USA will launch its new commercial spot promoting its new hybrid vehicle. The voice? Actor Jon Hamm, best known as Don Draper on AMC's award-winning series, Mad Men.
Hamm has been dubbed the new spokesperson for the car company, replacing Richard Thomas (who played John-Boy on The Waltons).
According to The New York Times Media Decorder Blog, vice president for marketing at Mercedes-Benz USA, Stephen Cannon, says that Hamm has "a terrific, very resonant voice with a lot of gravitas to it," and will have the ability to "reach out to a younger, more vibrant audience."
Jon Hamm will also be heard later this year as the "Good Looking Ogre" in Dreamwork's final installment of their Shrek series of films, Shrek Forever After.
Dude! Jess Harnell Fronts New Pop/Metal Band Rock Sugar
Posted by
Kristy Sproul
on March 2, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Musician and voice actor Jess Harnell, has joined forces with his previous Loud & Clear bandmates Chuck Duran (guitar) and Alex Track (drums), as well as bassist Johnny Five, to remind us that "Pop Rocks!" Their new band, Rock Sugar, mashes together classic metal riffs with 80s pop tunes to create a sound that's addictive.
Their single "Don't Stop the Sandman," takes listeners for a ride as the hard strumming of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" suddenly goes off course, diverting into Journey's mega-hit, "Don't Stop Believing" (watch the song's music video and an amazing acoustic version that really showcases the band's talent). Another, "Shook Me Like a Prayer," mixes together the unlikely combination of AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long" and Madonna's "Like a Prayer" (watch it here). Songs that you might never consider to be complimentary are talentedly blended by the group, morphing into a brand new favorite.
Through word-of-mouth and social networking, Rock Sugar is creating a buzz online and beyond. A new movement, "Share the Sugar," is already proving successful in getting the band played on the radio. Here's Jess talking about it:
Rock Sugar's debut album, Reimaginator, can be purchased at their website, RockSugarBand.com. Upcoming tour dates and the band's amusing backstory can be found there, as well.
Jim Cummings Narrates Documentary on His Hometown
Posted by
Kristy Sproul
on March 2, 2010 at 1:34 PM
Youngstown: Still Standing is an 89-minute documentary Youngstown, Ohio, a city that was once a center of U.S. steel production, until the industry's decline in the 1970s. Produced by former boxing champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, the film will feature interviews with experts from the local university, political leaders, and others on the city's history.
Youngstown native and veteran voice actor Jim Cummings will narrate the film along with actor Ed O’Neill.
The Cleveland International Film Festival will host the documentary's world premiere March 24-25. It's also being shopped around to various cable networks and PBS stations for hopefully a wider distribution.
From the Breakthrough Films & Television 
In more stunt casting news, 
During ABC's broadcast of the Academy Awards on Sunday, Mercedes-Benz USA will launch its new commercial spot promoting its new hybrid vehicle. The voice? Actor 
Musician and voice actor 
Youngstown: Still Standing is an 89-minute documentary Youngstown, Ohio, a city that was once a center of U.S. steel production, until the industry's decline in the 1970s. Produced by former boxing champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, the film will feature interviews with experts from the local university, political leaders, and others on the city's history.
