Seth Green Surprised Robot Chicken Lasted to 100 Episodes
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June 9 - 15, 2012 | WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA A&E 31 Seth Green surprised Robot Chicken lasted to 100 episodes Nick PATCH The Canadian Press a stunning array of Hollywood A-listers into its cracked world, including Sarah Michelle TORONTO — When Seth Green launched Gellar, Mila Kunis, Snoop Dogg, Megan Fox, Robot Chicken back in 2005, he thought the Scarlett Johansson, Conan O’Brien, Ryan same thing most viewers likely did – that Seacrest and Charlize Theron. the scattershot animated gag machine was a But perhaps the biggest boon to the show’s fun diversion destined for a TV lifespan not fortune was timing. much longer than one of its pithy sketches. Less than a week before Robot Chicken So with the 100th episode of the Emmy- hit the airwaves, YouTube launched and winning troublemaking-with-toys comedy suddenly seized upon and furthered the set to air on Teletoon this Sunday night, the Internet’s collectively voracious desire for 38-year-old is as surprised as anyone by the short-form content. manic show’s longevity. And Robot Chicken’s snickering snippets “It’s super surreal,” marvelled the upbeat were the perfect fit. Green in a recent telephone interview. It was a coincidence that looked like “Because this was just never meant to prescience, Green says. be something that actually was a show, let “Isn’t that weird? It makes us look like alone a series, let alone a long-running se- we really knew what the hell what we were ries. This was such a side project. This was talking about,” he said with a laugh. “No, such a silly thing that we wanted to make. we just didn’t have money to shoot anything “It evolved into something that other peo- longer than four minutes, so we developed ple were watching, and so we realized we rapid-fire short-term content. were making it for all of us.” “When Robot Chicken came around, we The stop-motion sketch series arrived in originally called it ADD TV, because we February 2005. Grown from a short-lived thought that was what it was – it was jokes web series produced by Green and Robot without a laborious setup, all punch lines. Chicken co-creator Matthew Senreich, the It’s straight to the point.” show was aired on Adult Swim before that Green and his collaborators are currently property became a cross-platform cartoon in the process of piecing together the sixth titan producing TV shows, video games and season of the show (which airs earlier in the music. U.S. than it does here in Canada), although SUBMITTED PHOTO Back then, it wasn’t even its own net- Seth Green never would have imagined his Robot Chicken idea would have become he’s focusing his effort on directing a one- work, but just a programming block on the a success. The show begins it’s sixth season on Teletoon. time Robot Chicken special set in the DC Cartoon Network. Comics universe. “We didn’t expect anything,” said Green, going to be around in a couple months. let their childhood obsession with toys fuel Still, the show is in production 11 months the ginger-haired actor best-known for “And we had no idea what we were do- a rapid-fire melange of imaginatively bawdy a year and requires a major commitment roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the ing,” he added, noting that the show’s pro- jokes steeped in geek culture – one sketch of from Green. Austin Powers series, who also provides ducers initially took on an overly ambitious thousands, for instance, depicts a Star Wars “It is literally all my time,” he said, the squeaky voice of dimwitted pubescent production schedule. stormtrooper bringing his poor daughter chuckling. adolescent Chris Griffin on Family Guy. “I actually had a physical breakdown onto the Death Star during take your kids to “I can’t complain. I mean, I could be “Adult Swim was really just taking shape. toward the end of that year.” work day. spending all day digging ditches or busting We weren’t even sure if the network was With Robot Chicken, Green and Senreich Over five seasons, the show has welcomed concrete.” CBC president says Who will win Tony Awards? broadcaster Mark KENNEDY The only thing certain in this can’t be all things The Associated Press category is that the two revivals from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd to all people Webber – Evita and Jesus Christ NEW YORK — There’s Follies Superstar – will cancel each other and then there’s folly. The first out, leaving the prize between a Cassandra Szklarski is a winning revival of Stephen proud, confident Stephen Sond- The Canadian Press Sondheim’s musical that wowed heim revival against the show he Broadway this season. The other denigrated before it opened. That TORONTO — The president is how you can characterize any at- was uncool, especially when the of the beleaguered CBC says the tempt to handicap Sunday’s Tony re-imagined opera turned out to be public broadcaster cannot be all Awards. But here goes. rather stunning as a musical. things to all people. Best Musical But Sondheim’s dirt-throwing Hubert Lacroix, president and Will win: Newsies. Should win: may make Tony voters squeamish, CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, says Once. leaving Follies the win. I Loves expected cuts to staff and services This is the battle of extremes You, Porgy, indeed. will have a significant impact. – the stripped-down, bitter- Actor – Play He outlined upcoming auster- sweet magic of Once versus the Will win: Philip Seymour ity measures in a speech today to pump-you-up appeal of classic Hoffman (Death of a Salesman). the Economic Club of Canada in razzle-dazzle in Newsies. Should win: James Corden (One Toronto. They include plans to Both are a great night out, just Man, Two Guvnors). sell the specialty channel Bold, different. Both came from movies AP PHOTO Actress – Play reduce news, sports and music and only Newsies has new songs The cast of The Paper Mill Playhouse Production of Newsies, star- Will win: Someone who deserves programming, and shift short- written specifically for the stage, ring Jeremy Jordan, centre right, is shown in New York. The pro- it. Should win: Tracie Bennett wave broadcasts of its interna- giving it an edge with Tony voters. duction is nominated for best musical at the Tony Awards, airing (End of the Rainbow). tional radio service entirely to the But Once just makes you feel, Sunday on CBS. Actor–Musical web. It was Lacroix’s first public well, good. As for the other con- Will win: Steve Kazee (Once). address since announcing severe tenders, Leap of Faith doesn’t have Broadway is putting on great Nichols and the performances by Should win: Norm Lewis (The cuts to cope with reduced federal a chance since it’s already closed, American works again. The oh- Philip Seymour Hoffman, Linda Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess). funding. Earlier this year, the fed- and Nice Work If You Can Get It is so-cool Peter and the Starcatcher Emond and Andrew Garfield – that Actress – Musical eral government said it was slash- a fun romp, but not as strong as its and the naughty Venus in Fur are even if one part leaves you cold, Will win: Audra McDonald (The ing about 10 per cent of CBC’s cousin Anything Goes. inventive and bold, but not broad the others will not. Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess). subsidies over the next three Best Play enough to tickle everyone. The revival of Gore Vidal’s The Should win: Audra McDonald. years, amounting to about $115 Will win: Clybourne Park. Revival-Play Best Man was also timely and had Audra McDonald is this year’s million. Should win: Clybourne Park. Will win: Death of a Sales- the season’s most insane collection Sutton Foster – the clear leading The broadcaster then said it Bruce Norris’ sly, edgy gem has man. Should win: Death of a of talented stage actors ever as- candidate. would have to add advertise- the same heat on it that Jon Rob- Salesman. sembled, but it attacked your head. But Jan Maxwell in Follies was ments to CBC Radio 2 and shave in Baitz’s Other Desert Cities had Arthur Miller’s masterpiece is Miller’s play took your guts. astonishing and she’s an honour- 175 hours of original program- when it opened in the winter. timely and there is so much to Revival-Musical able silver to McDonald’s gold. Mc- ming from its TV schedule, in- That doesn’t make it better, like – the recreated original set Will win: Follies. Should win: Donald has four Tonys already, but cluding Battle of the Blades, just fresher. Both plays prove and music, the directing of Mike The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. never for a lead actress. Redemption Inc. and Being Erica. BASKETBALL 6:00 p.m. ( 2012 NBA Finals Game Lions. From BC Place Stadium in 2: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:30) Vancouver, B.C. (Live) (3:00) Saturday 10:30 a.m. _ High School Basketball EQUESTRIAN GOLF American Family Insurance Slam Saturday Saturday Dunk & 3-Point Championship. 1:30 p.m. & 144th Belmont Stakes 12:00 p.m. _ PGA Tour Golf FedEx From New Orleans. (1:30) From Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. St. Jude Classic, Third Round. 5:30 p.m. 6 NBA Basketball Boston (Live) (2:30) From Tournament Players Club at Celtics at Miami Heat. Eastern Con- Sunday Southwind in Memphis, Tenn. (Live) ference Final, game 7. (If necessary). (3:00) 9:00 a.m.