I Was An 'All That' Extra | Ooze News | November 1997

Quick note: This post is currently incomplete, however, to celebrate the debut of Nickelodeon's All That revival, premiering Saturday, June 15 at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon U.S.A., I thought I'd post the main part of the article, which goes behind-the-scenes of '90s All That. I'll update this post will the full issue of Ooze News soon. For now though, please enjoy "I Was An 'All That' Extra"!

Ooze News - November 1997

EXTRA! I WAS AN ALL THAT EXTRA

We sent writer and part-time actor David Lewman to the All That set to find out what it's like to be an extra (a person in a crowd) in a "Good Burger" sketch. In the segment, guest star Sherman Hemsley, of the TV shows Goode Behavior and Amen, plays a food critic who gets served a puppy instead of a burger.

DAVID'S REPORT:

1 Knock-knock

I arrive at All That's greenroom, where I find other extras hanging out. I think they call the waiting room the greenroom because the extras are green with envy of the show's stars. [It's really called the greenroom because the first ones were painted that color.] There's a big TV where we can watch what's happening on stage.

2 Puppy chow

I'm given a script to read while I'm waiting. In it, one actor declares, "Hey, that guy's trying to eat a puppy." The rest of the extras are supposed to react and say stuff like "Huh?" "What?" or "Man!" I decide to say "A puppy?" My first line! Excited, I share my idea with a kid who turns out to be the puppy's owner. Another extra looks on, smiling, and hoping to get her picture in the magazine. (She does.)

3 Getting in character

I explain to my fellow extras how I see my character, a customer at Good Burger: He's hungry, perhaps even thirsty for root beer; he likes puppies.

4 All dressed up

As instructed, I've brought four casual outfits. The wardrobe person quickly picks out jeans and a plaid shirt for me. "Where's my dressing room?" I ask. She points to the men's room.

5 Hanging out

I visit the dressing room of All That stars Lori Beth Denberg and Alyssa Reyes. I ask Lori, who is dressed as a baby for a different sketch, whether she has ever been an extra. "Never," she says. "Well," I think, "at least I don't have to wear a diaper!"

6 Powder my nose

The prop person gives me a backpack to carry. The stage manager tells me when and where to walk. The makeup artist wipes powder on my face.

7 Practice makes imperfect

During rehearsal, I stand behind a fake wall a Good Burger waiting for my cue to walk onto the set. Kel Mitchell, who's always clowning around, says, "Welcome to Bad Burger, Home of the Bad Burger."

8 Advice from the pros

After rehearsal, we go outside while the audience is "loaded" in. Kenan Thompson and Kel ride bikes around the lot. "Do you have any advice for me before I shoot my big scene?" I ask some of the All That cast. "Try not to be awful," cautions Josh Server. Amanda Bynes cheers, "Have fun!" Continued >>

9 Welcome to Good Barker

This is it! The scene starts. From behind the fake wall, I can hear the audience laughing. After Sherman gets his order, I walk over to the counter and look up at the menu.

10 Look, Ma, I'm acting!

I react to the man who says Sherman (seated, left) is going to eat the puppy. After the first take, the director tells us to react even more. In the second take, Kenan and Kel start laughing and we end up doing the scene over five times. This gives me time to get ready to put everything I have into my line. When the moment comes, I exclaim "A puppy?" right on cue. The audience cheers. Hey, I could get used to this.

11 The price of fame

Afterwards, I hand out pictures to my fans...and sign a few autographs. How do you spell superstar?

12 Hooray for Hollywood

I leave the Paramount lot with big plans for my future...maybe next time I'll be an extra on Rugrats.

And All That Jazz

• An All That extra is paid between $70 and $75 for a day's work.
• The burgers behind the Good Burger counter are just wrapped buns.
• The director doesn't say "action" or "cut." The stage manager starts the scene by saying "In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1" and ends it by yelling "clear."
• Extras often don't make it to the final cut of an episode. If you watch David's scene carefully, you'll get a glimpse at one of his legs, but not much else.

-DL

Watch this All That episode on Saturday, November 1, at 8:30 PM *.

  

Baby Talk with the Cast of 'Rugrats' | Ooze News | September 1997

Ooze News - September 1997

In the September 1997 issue of Nickelodeon Magazine's OOZE NEWS:

BABY TALK

Ever wonder who makes Chuckie sound like such as a fraidycat? Or Angelica so bratty? Monica Rizzo went gaga when she interviewed the original voice cast of Rugrats: E.G. Daily (Tommy Pickles), Cheryl Chase (Angelica Pickles), Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil DeVille, Betty DeVille), and the late Christine Cavanaugh (Chuckie Finster).

HEY, HERB!

Nickelodeon president Herb Scannell (the student formally known as Herbert) takes us back to his school days, including class photos! Does he make the grade?

BONUS: SEPTEMBER 1997 CALENDAR

What was happening in September 1997? Find out with Nickelodeon Magazine's handy-dandy pull-out calendar!

The Rugrats are back! Tune into the brand new series, premiering May 27 exclusively on Paramount+! Sign up FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

Hey Arnold! Summer Comic | Nickelodeon Magazine | June/July 1997

Back soon! Meanwhile, want to laugh and feel old at the same time? Check out this Nickelodeon Magazine Hey Arnold! comic from June/July 1997! 😂😂😭

Good Burger: A Movie Well Done - Ooze News - June/July (Summer) 1997

Ooze News - June/July 1997

(Summer Issue)

Good Burger: A Movie Well Done

Good Burger, based on the popular All That sketch, will sizzle on movie screens this summer. Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson star in the full-length feature film as employees of Good Burger, a run-down fast-food restaurant. The movie follows the duo's meatheaded adventures while they try and stop the competition, Mondo Burger, from stealing Ed's secret sauce recipe. Guest stars include Carmen Electra, Sinbad, and Shaquille O'Neal.

David Lewman grilled some of the cast about what makes a good burger and more.

Kel Mitchell (Ed, a Good Burger employee):

Do you eat meat?
Yes, I eat meat! I like meat. It's all right. First time I met meat, or me and meat met, it was neat.

What's the weirdest way you've ever eaten a burger?
When I was little, I'd put my finger through the middle of a burger and eat around it. I'd eat all the way around until the meat was small. I was a weird child.

Kenan Thompson (Dexter, a Good Burger employee):

Would you eat at a place like Good Burger?
Yes, maybe. But if I saw Ed, I might run.

Abe Vigoda (Otis, the oldest Good Burger employee):

What makes a good burger?
A good burger has to be made of very fresh meat, as opposed to a hamburger that is mixed with fillers such as bread and other ingredients. You want all of the patty to be meat, from a big cut of fresh beef. It should be cooked medium rare and juicy.

Josh Server (Fizz, a Good Burger employee):

Have you ever been recognized at a drive-through?
Yeah. I was driving Kenan home from work and the woman in the window at Astro Burger [a Los Angeles fast-food chain] said, "Excuse me, my friend wants to know if you're on TV."

Did she give you extra fries?
All I'm gonna say is, it's not bad being on TV.

Ron Lester (Spatch, a Good Burger cook):

What makes a good burger?
Love, man. When you're done and you realize you've just bitten into a hamburger that was made with love, it's so mmm good.

Would you ever eat at a place like Good Burger?
Oh, absolutely. The hamburgers are made with love.

What do you put on your fries?
Believe it or not, mayonnaise or ranch dressing or ice cream.

What's the weirdest burger you've ever eaten?
I went home to Virginia to see some of my cousins, and they fed me an opossum burger.

How was it?
Hairy.

Can You Figure It Out?

Nickelodeon's newest game show, Figure It Out, allows kids to show off their talents. Each show features two kids with special skills - such as the girl who can fold herself into the shape of a pretzel or the one who can play piano while lying on her back. A celebrity panel tries to figure out what the skill is by asking a series of questions. The longer it takes the panel to uncover the special talent, the more prizes the contestant wins.

Some of the celebrity panelists who'll rack their brains are Curtis Williams Jr., Reagan Gomez-Preston, Taran Noah Smith, and Michelle Trachtenberg. Other panelists include Nickelodeon stars Lori Beth Denberg, Josh Server, Amanda Bynes, Irene Ng, and Danny Tamberelli.

Summer Lovin'

Before becoming the host of Figure It Out, Summer Sanders (above) kept busy. In the 1992 Olympics, she won four swimming medals - two gold, a silver, and a bronze. She's worked as an NBC sports commentator and hosted MTV's Sand Blast. Lindsey von Busch asked Summer some puzzling questions.

Nickelodeon Magazine: Do you do a lot of puzzles?
Summer Sanders: Right before the 1992 Olympics [in Barcelona, Spain], the athletes spent a lot of time resting in the hotel. We'd do enormous jigsaw puzzles.

What's it like being a game show host?
I'm a cheerleader and a traffic cop. I really have to get psyched before the game. I prepare for the show as I would for a race - I jump up and down to build up my energy.

Do you find it hard to keep a secret?
Yes. In real life, I'm the worst. I always give presents early or give hints.

Do the panelists have to follow any rules?
Only one: Questions must be worded so that they get "yes" or "no" answers.

What was your favorite game show as a kid?
I used to watch The Price Is Right when I was little. I knew that show like the back of my hand.

Tune into Figure It Out weekdays at 6 PM, beginning Monday, July 7. On July 19, the show will move into its regular time slot, Saturdays and Sundays at 6 PM.

Show airs one hour earlier in central time zone. Show times subject to change.

Where It's SPLAT

This year, more than 8 million people will visit Nickelodeon's theme park shows and attractions. Here's a guide to the sights.

Totally Nickelodeon at Universal Studios Hollywood [USH] in California

An interactive show where kids control the action - from making a burger to collecting sweaty socks.

What to look for: The Sliminator, a contraption that sprays at least 36,500 gallons of slime per year.

Weirdest items used in the show: Six TV dinners (which are dumped on a couch potato).

Also at USH: Jurassic Park - The Ride.

Nickelodeon Studios Florida at Universal Studios Florida [USF] in Orlando

Nickelodeon's studio headquarters features a backstage tour that includes a peek at the taping of many Nick shows, such as Kenan & Kel and Figure It Out.

What to look for: A 17-foot-tall Green Slime geyser that erupts every 10 minutes.

Famous guest: Steven Spielberg, director of The Lost World, was once slimed at the park.

Also at USF: Terminator 2: 3-D.

Nickelodeon SPLAT Cities at Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, California; Paramount's Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Paramount's Kings Dominion in Richmond, Virginia.

A 25-minute interactive show based on popular Nick series, such as AAAHH!!! Real Monsters and Rugrats.

U Pick Nick at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri; and Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Kids selected from the audience help the hosts of this variety show, which usually features lots of smiling, sliming, and pie-throwing.

Hey, Herb!

Where you ask the president of Nickelodeon, Herb Scannell, anything you want.

Have you ever eaten any bugs?
Not that I know of, but I once ate rattlesnake at a restaurant. It tasted just like chicken.

How do your friends feel about your being the president of a kids' network?
My friends are very supportive of me and think I have a pretty cool job. I get to think about kids and think like a kid all day long...and get paid for it!

Then we asked Herb's friend, Steve Reynolds "Do you tease Herb about being the president of a kids' network?"
I can tease Herb about lots of things, but his job's not one of them. I make fun of him because he likes the New York Mets, who haven't won a game in, like, five years. And I tease him because his jump shot isn't what it used to be. And Herb is forgetful-if it weren't for his assistant, Dana Stern, Herb would probably forget when we plans to do stuff like watch a Knicks game.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO:
Hey, Herb!
Nickelodeon Magazine
1515 Broadway, 41st Floor
New York, NY 10036

NICK IS com.ING

This summer when you're surfing the Net, look for NICK.COM, Nickelodeon's website, where you can customize your screen, play games, and interact with pages based on your favorite shows. While you're there, be sure to check out the magazine's area, which features, among other stuff, "Behind the Zine," a sneak peek at the inner workings of NICKELODEON MAGAZINE.

Let It Beavers - Ooze News - May 1997

Ooze News - May 1997

Let It Beavers

The newest Nicktoon is The Angry Beavers, featuring Daggett and Norbert, beaver brothers trying to make it in the big world - or at least in the forest. We found out how an episode is made.

1. Getting Ready

Before work on a cartoon series can start, the creators need to agree on what the main characters will look like. The pictures below show early versions of Daggett and Norbert and how they ended up [final designs]. Among other changes, Norbert was given more hair so that it would be easier to tell the brothers apart.

2. All Aboard

A script must be written before production of an episode begins. It tells the story through dialogue and action descriptions. Then, using the script, artists create a storyboard (above), which looks like a comic book. The storyboard is the first visual guide for an episode, showing the characters' facial expressions and physical action.

3. For the Record

The actors perform the dialogue in a recording booth. Of the 300 people who auditioned, Richard Horowitz [Richard Steven Horvitz] and Nick Bakay were chosen as the perfect voices for Daggett and Norbert. "No one could play the characters the way they did," says creator Mitch Schauer. "They're just like Daggett and Norbert."

4. Black-and-White Beavers

The director figures out how long the action will take. Then the storyboards are filmed and the recorded lines are added to simulate the final cartoon. The result, called an animatic (right), is sort of a black-and-white comic book in motion. It has no color, music, or sound effects, but it shows how the dialogue and story will fit into a 22-minute episode.

5. In Living Color

The backgrounds for every scene are first sketched and then painted with colors selected by color stylist Geri Rochon (left), who also selects character colors. All the scenery is then finished without any characters. Later, Daggett and Norbert in action will be added on top of the backgrounds. That way, animators don't have to draw the same scenery again and again.





6. At Last, the Animating!

After these steps, which take several months, the storyboards, animatic, and backgrounds are sent to animators in Korea, who produce 26,000 cels. Cels are color drawings on clear plastic sheets. The cels are placed over a background and filmed one after another, which creates the illusion of motion. The whole animation process requires 250 people and takes about three months.

7. Fine-Tuning

When the film returns to the U.S. from Korea, the episode looks like a cartoon (left), but it still needs the sound effects and music. Adding these elements takes another three weeks. Finally, after nearly eight months of work, the episode is ready to air.

Furry Fact File

Do you know a Daggett from a Norbert? Here's a guide:

Daggett

Personality: An overeager beaver with a short attention span; can't stand Norbert's mellowness.

Fur: Brown

Nose: Red

Height: Shorter than Norbert

Hair factor: Slicked back and black

Stuff he would do: Convince himself he's a superhero; annoy other animals; watch weird old movies.

Stuff he says: "This is nuts!" "Easy peasy!"

Norbert

Personality: Laid back; talented; likes to tease his brother.

Fur: Tan

Nose: Lavender

Height: Taller than Daggett by a quarter inch, which annoys Daggett.

Hair factor: Spiky

Stuff he would do: Tease Daggett; calm Daggett down; tease Daggett again; watch weird old movies.

Stuff he says: "Bro" "Wolaboga!"

The Angry Beavers airs on Sundays at 11:30 AM, one hour earlier in the central time zone. Showtime subject to change.

Happy Human

The Angry Beavers creator

Cartoonist Mitch Schauer (left) has worked on shows featuring characters such as Freakazoid and Scooby Doo. We spoke to him about his latest creation, The Angry Beavers.

Nickelodeon Magazine: How did you come up with the characters' names?

Mitch Schauer: I found them in the book 35,000 Plus Baby Names, [which said that] in Scandinavian Norbert means means "brilliant hero" and Daggett means "bright." Although Daggett, the character, is the opposite of that.

Who are the beavers based on? Norbert is based on me, and Daggett is based on Karl Toerge, whom I used to work with at Warner Bros. Television Animation. Karl, like Daggett, is outgoing and enthusiastic. Plus, he wears his heart on his sleeve.

Are any of Norbert's expressions like yours? Norbert and I both use a lot of finger gestures. We both wiggle a finger back and forth to say no.

How did you come up with the idea for the show? I thought I'd do the opposite of what people expect from cartoon characters, which are usually happy animals. I made mine angry. Then I went down through a list of silly animals and decided on beavers.

Do you have any pets? I have a teddy-bear hamster, a dog, a love bird, and two guinea pigs. One of them, Psycho, has the same hair as Norbert.

Hey, Herb!

Where you ask the president of Nickelodeon, Herb Scannell, anything you want.

What is the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you at work?
One day, when I was working at another company, I bent down to pick something up and my pants ripped, just as my new boss was on his way to see me! Luckily one of my coworkers offered to sew them for me. In the meantime, I sat at my desk in my underwear. Fortunately, my boss didn't get to my office until right after I put the mended pants on.

Do you speak any languages other than English?
I learned a little Spanish from my mom, who grew up in Puerto Rico. As a kid, I always knew I was in big trouble when my mom yelled "Guillermo Heriberto," which is my full name in Spanish.

Send your questions to:

¡Hola, Heriberto!
NICKELODEON MAGAZINE
1515 Broadway, 41st Floor
New York, NY 10036

What's New on Nick

Mom's the Word On The Rugrats Mother's Day Special, the Rugrats try to find the perfect gifts for their moms - and they try to find a mom for Chuckie.

Get ready for the episode by doing this Rugrats puzzle. Read each of the clues below to figure out what the rhyming answer is. Hint: One word in each answer is the name of a Rugrat. Answers on page 56.

1. Fortunate Rugrat:

_ _ _ K _ _ H _ _ _ _ _

2. Tommy's five-cent coins:

_ _ _ K _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _ _

3. Lil's brother's milk accidents:

_ _ I _'_ _ P _ _ _ _

The Rugrats Mother's Day Special airs on Tuesday, May 6, at 8 PM; Friday, May 9, at 7:30 PM; and on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, at 8 PM.

All shows air one hour earlier in central time zone. Show times subject to change.

Bonus article - Nickelodeon Magazine's exclusive interview with actor Vanessa Lee Chester (Harriet the Spy, The Lost World: Jurassic Park):

Jurassa Lee Chester

Twelve-year-old VANESSA LEE CHESTER has acted in The Little Princess [(also known as A Little Princess)] and Harriet the Spy. Now she's off to The Lost World as Kelly. We had a raptorvating conversation with Vanessa.

Nickelodeon Magazine: What's your character, Kelly, like?
Vanessa Lee Chester: She's just one of the kids. She's a lot like me. We're both kind of funky.

Did you travel for the movie?
We went to Hawaii. We also filmed on the Universal Studios lot in Hollywood.

Was the Universal lot fun?
Yes. On lunch breaks, I'd ride my bicycle over to stage 35, where they had free Sega games. I was in heaven.

Did you have a favorite scene?
All the dangerous, scary ones where we were chased by dinosaurs.

Was the Tyrannosaurus rex model as big as a real T-rex?
Yes. You can see a T-rex in books and think it's cool, but when you actually see how big it is, it's scary.

What scary stuff did the dinosaur models do?
The eyes could actually move. And some robots could even bleed.

What would you do if you saw a real T-rex?

I would look at it for a minute, then run the other way, because I'd want to live and tell my story.

Did the cast goof around?
Oh yeah. Once, Vince Vaughn put my hand into a dinosaur model that had intestines hanging out. It was so disgusting.

So you didn't feel like the only kid?
I felt like the only adult on the film. Everyone was always playing around, throwing grapes at each other.

How would Janie Gibbs from Harriet the Spy deal with dinosaurs?
That's where her science would stop. She'd just say, "Wow, dinosaurs."

Which role was more fun, Janie or Kelly?
It's hard to compare. In Harriet, I loved my wardrobe. I had some funky outfits. In The Lost World, I had one costume. By the last day, I was really sick of it.

Which dinosaur would you like to be?
Probably a raptor. They're sly and swift. They hunt in packs, and I'm always with my little clique.

But you wouldn't hunt other kids, would you?
No, that's where the line is drawn.

[Bonus Advertisement: Schering Corporation "Young Artists Against Allergies" Calendar Design Contest]

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Additional source: IMDb.