Ooze News - October 1996
TV Goes
KABLAM!
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| Action League Now!'s Thundergirl, Meltman and Justice blast off. |
KABLAM! isn't just the sound of exploding dynamite; it's also the name (and noise) of Nickelodeon's new Friday night show, which starts October 11 at 8 PM*.
KABLAM! is a half-hour cartoon variety show hosted by two wisecracking cartoon kids named Henry and June. The show crams at least five cartoons into each episode. Plus, KABLAM! looks totally different from other shows because it mixes all kinds of animation.
Here's a look at some of the cartoons that go KABLAM!
HENRY AND JUNE
Starring: Henry and June
What it's about: Henry and June are best friends who live inside a comic book. They pop up a few times each episode - letting their imaginations run wild, dreaming up nutty situations, and introducing the other KABLAM! segments.
Get used to hearing: "Kablammy" and "Kablammerific" to describe anything that's good or funny.
How it's done: Computer animation: The pictures are hand-drawn and then animated using computers.
SNIZ AND FONDUE
Starring: Sniz, Fondue, Bianca, and Snuppa
What it's about: Sniz and Fondue are two wacky cats who get into a lot of trouble. Sniz, who's smaller (and louder), drags the nervous Fondue into the thick of things.
Get used to hearing: "Cut me an over-sized wedge!" which is Sniz and Fondue's way of saying "Give me a break!" When Sniz is very excited, he says, "Snap me down!"
How it's done: Cel animation. Several slightly different character drawings are made on celluloid (clear plastic sheets). One at a time, the drawings (or cels) are placed on a background drawing and then photographed. When all those photos are run in order, it looks like the character is moving. Cel animation is used to make many cartoons, including Rugrats.
ACTION LEAGUE NOW!
Starring: Thundergirl, Meltman, The Chief, The Flesh, Stinky Diver, Justice, and The Mayor
What it's about: A motley crew of action figures clumsily tries to make the world a better place.
Get used to hearing: "Ouchies!" after The Flesh has been crushed. The Chief yells "Blast it!" when he's in fear of being blown up.
How it's done: CHUCKIMATION and stop-action. CHUCKIMATION is pretty low-tech. To make the characters look like they're flying, people off-camera throw (or chuck) the action figures into the camera frame.
In stop-action animation, 3-D objects (such as the action figures) are photographed each time they are moved. When all those photographs are seen in rapid succession, the figures look like they're moving on their own. James and the Giant Peach was filmed using stop-action.
Also look for:
Prometheus and Bob
Life With Loopy
Plus Angela Anaconda, The Offbeats, and Patch Head.
* All times are for eastern and Pacific time zones. Show airs one hour earlier in the central time zone. Times subject to change. Check your local listings for details.
Hey, Herb!
Where you ask the president of Nickelodeon, Herb Scannell, anything you want.
What is the worst Halloween costume you have ever worn?
When I started working for Nickelodeon, I went to a party as the color orange. All my clothes - including my socks and shoes - were orange. I even painted my hands, neck, face, and ears with orange greasepaint. And when I got home, I tried to wash the paint off, but my ears stayed orange. They looked like they were radioactive. It took about a week for me to get all the paint off.
What was your favorite candy as a kid?
Sweetarts were my favorite candy until I was about nine years old. One day I bought a giant Sweetart. I ate about half of it and couldn't eat any more. The other half sat in the fridge for almost a year, until it was finally thrown away. That Sweetart conquered me.
Do you have any questions for Herb? Send them to:
NICKELODEON MAGAZINE
1515 Broadway, 41st Floor
New York, NY 10036
What's New on Nick
You don't have to wait much longer for More Nick. Starting Monday, October 7, Nickelodeon stays tuned until 8:30 PM* - that's an extra half hour filled with new shows and episodes. Here's a schedule:
Hey Arnold! makes Mondays and Wednesdays fantastic.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are superpowered by The Secret World of Alex Mack.
Fridays explode with KABLAM!
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss will wow on Sundays.
All shows begin at 8 PM*.
SNICK Picks
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell (Mavis and Clavis on All That) star in their own comedy, Kenan and Kel, about two bungling buddies. It begins Saturday, October 12, at 8 PM*. And then at 8:30 PM*, Space Cases relaunches with new episodes.
* All times are for eastern and Pacific time zones. Shows air one hour earlier in the central time zone. Show times subject to change. Check your local listings for details.
Bonus articles:
MESSAGES FROM BEYOND
by David Lewman
IT'S HALLOWEEN, but your home isn't completely decorated until you've recorded a seasonal message on your family's answering machine. Here are two scripts to get you started, but feel free to write your own. (Note: Be sure to get a parent's permission.)
Message #1: Pumpkin Talk
For this message, you need two people.
Actor One: Hi, this is [your name].
Actor Two: And this is Jack O. Lantern.
Actor One: We can't answer the phone right now, because we're busy carving.
Actor Two: Obviously we've already done my wonderful mouth.
Actor One: I think we made it too big. What kind of nose do you want, Jack?
Actor Two: Oh, something Tom Cruise-ish.
Actor One: How about a triangle?
Actor Two: What?! Are you kidding? Hey, not the knife! Ouch!
Actor One: Please hold still, Jack! And please leave us a message.
Actor Two: You know, you didn't scrape out all of my goop.
Machine: *Beep!*
Message #2: At the Sound of the Beep, Howl.
In this message, you play a werewolf.
You: Hello, this is [your name]. I'd love to talk, but there's a full moon tonight. (Growl a little.) Oh, no - I'm getting hair all over the answering machine again. (Growl and howl.) Oops, here come the fangs... and there goes my retainer. (More growling and snorting.) Boy, I could really go for some Ken-L Ration. (Lots of growling.) Please leave a message at the sound of the (long howl).
Revolting But True Facts
by Ruth Lindy and Saun Ellis
Until five years ago [1991], Bat poop was used as an ingredient in eye makeup.
There are fungi that can trap and eat live animals.
The human stomach secretes about a quart of mucus and acid each day.
When a Hydra (a simple freshwater creature) is cut in two, the bottom half grows a new top and the top half grows a new bottom.
The Capybara is the world's largest rodent, weighing 100 pounds. It looks like a cross between a Guinea Pig and a Hippopotamus.
[Bonus: Half of a Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation advertisement for Lunchables.]
