Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Meet The Stars Of Nickelodeon's "Game Shakers"

Entertainment Weekly is reporting the very exciting news that Nickelodeon Star Kel Mitchell ("Kenan & Kel", "All That") Kel Mitchell has signed on to star in Nickelodeon's upcoming brand-new series "Game Shakers"!


Created by hit-maker Dan Schneider ("Henry Danger", "iCarly", "Victorious", "Sam & Cat"), the show centers on a pair of 7th grade girls, Babe (Cree Cicchino) and Kenzie (Madisyn Shipman), who after creating a wildly successful mobile music app called Sky Whale start a gaming company in Brooklyn called Game Shakers with their friend Hudson (Thomas Kuc). Mitchell enters the picture as Double G, a super successful, unpredictable rapper who first threatens to sue the girls after they use a song of his without permission. He then joins forces with them as a partner in the business. Benjamin 'Lil P-Nut' Flores, Jr. will play Double G's son, Triple G.


The full synopsis of Nickelodeon's "Game Shakers" is: When they created Sky Whale for their science project, seventh graders Babe (Cree Cicchino) and Kenzie (Madisyn Shipman) were hoping for a passing grade at best. They never expected their mobile gaming app to become the most popular game of the year! With the profits, Babe, Kenzie and their friend Hudson (Thomas Kuc) start Game Shakers, a super cool gaming company in Brooklyn.


But when superstar rapper Double G (Kel Mitchell) finds out the girls used one of his songs in their game without licensing it, he threatens to sue them for all he is owed! To make things right, Babe and Kenzie decide to make the rap superstar their business partner and hire his son, Triple G (Benjamin Lil P-Nut” Flores, Jr), as a game consultant. Together, Babe, Kenzie, Hudson, Triple G and Double G will work to make Game Shakers a huge success in the gaming world!

"I am so fortunate to be on this show with Kel and working with Dan Schneider," Lil P-Nut told Just Jared Jr. "I grew up watching all of Dan's shows from All That to Kenan and Kel and feel honored to be working for someone that is so caring, a head of the class, who knows what us child actors go through. And, I have always thought that anyone who has the chance to do so would just come out Victorious!"


"I get to play a hip-hop mogul who is the comedic version of artists like Kanye, Diddy, Eminem and 50 Cent," Mitchell tells EW. "Double G is a rapper/singer/dancer/entrepreneur/investor, which gives us great story lines on the show. I love playing such a wild character, because you will see some great physical comedy, but he also has heart; he is a single dad that loves his son, Triple G, played by the very talented Benjamin 'Lil P-Nut' Flores, Jr. There are so many layers to this character that it is one of those dream-come-true roles."

This role brings Mitchell home to Nickelodeon, where he rose to fame in the 1990s as a star of "All That", and "Kenan & Kel". He and Kenan Thompson — who is currently SNL's longest-tenured cast member — also starred in the 1997 big-screen comedy "Good Burger", which was based on an "All That" sketch. Mitchell has popped up briefly on Nick in recent years, guest-starring on such shows as "Sam & Cat" and "The Thundermans". "I fit in well with Nickelodeon — my name is even in the middle of the word Nic-Kel-odeon," quips Mitchell. "It's great to be back on the network that gave me my first big television job. It was an awesome network then and is still an awesome network. Now the whole family is excited to meet me — moms and dads quote my characters from the 90's and their kids are quoting my current characters on Nickelodeon. ... I'm ready to shake up the game again."


"Game Shakers" also reunites Mitchell with Schneider, who was an executive producer of "All That", "Kenan & Kel", and "Sam & Cat", a co-writer of "Good Burger", and is one of the reasons Mitchell chose this show as the vehicle for his return to weekly television. "Dan and I go way back and have a history of great characters together on Nickelodeon," notes Mitchell. "We understand each other's comedic styles and have so much fun on set playing around with different scenes and takes."

Outside of Nickelodeon, Mitchell - who was the subject of a viral Internet death rumor in 2006 - has appeared in the movie "Mystery Men", and voiced characters on the PBS' "Clifford the Big Red Dog", Nicktoons USA's "Wild Grinders" and Netflix's "Veggie Tales". He recently popped up on truTV's "Friends of the People" and Cartoon Network's "Loiter Squad".

Nickelodeon USA is slated to premiere "Game Shakers" (26 episodes) in September 2015!

UPDATE: From Variety, via Toon Zone forum member NickDisneyCartoo:
'Kenan & Kel' Alum Kel Mitchell to Return to Nickelodeon with New Sitcom 'Game Shakers'

Kel Mitchell, who rose to fame on a slew of Nickelodeon's '90s staples, is coming back to his roots for a brand new series at the network, Variety has learned.

Mitchell, who starred on teen sketch comedy "All That," followed by his own show "Kenan & Kel" with "SNL's" Kenan Thompson and feature film "Good Burger," will star in new live-action sitcom "Game Shakers," which follows two 12-year-old girls (Cree Cicchino and Madisyn Shipman) who start a multi-million dollar gaming company and have no choice but to take on rap superstar Double G (Mitchell) as their business partner.

The project not only marks Mitchell's regular return to Nickelodeon, but also a reunion with series creator Dan Schneider who worked on "All That," "Kenan & Kel" and "Good Burger," before creating kids' hits "Victorious," "iCarly," "Sam & Cat," "Zoey 101," "Drake & Josh" and "The Amanda Show."

"When Kel is doing scenes on our new show, 'Game Shakers,' we all laugh so hard on set, just like we did 20 years ago," Schneider tells Variety. "It feels new, but also very familiar. Sometimes I have to think to myself, 'Wait, is this 1995 or 2015?'"

Mitchell is one of many '80s and '90s stars returning to TV in their original or similar roles. Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel, who starred in "Boy Meets World," are now headlining Disney Channel's ensemble "Girl Meets World," while Netflix's "Full House" spinoff is bringing back familiar faces John Stamos, Bob Saget, Candace Cameron Bure and more.

"People have this special place in their hearts for all Kel's work in 'All That,' 'Kenan & Kel' and 'Good Burger,'" Schneider explains of the nostalgia factor, which is rising in television popularity, as of late. "He can't go anywhere without being stopped by fans, asked to pose for selfies and all that stuff."

Schneider tells Variety more about "Game Shakers" and bringing Mitchell back to Nickelodeon.

What is it like to work with Kel again?

If someone were making a list of the Top 10 funniest comedy actors today, Kel Mitchell easily makes that list. It's a privilege to work with anyone that talented. It's the same kind of feeling I've had in the past, working with entertainers like Jack Black and Jim Parsons. But with Kel, there's also this great nostalgic feeling as we work together now. My writing/producing career began back in 1994 when I co-created 'All That' and 'Kenan & Kel' with my friend, Brian Robbins. Kel was a huge part of those shows, and then he starred in 'Good Burger,' the first movie I wrote and co-produced. Even back then in the 90's, working with Kel was magical. You never knew what insane, hilarious comedy he was going to add to scenes. Today, I swear, somehow he's gotten even better.

How did Kel get attached to the project?

A couple of years ago I was writing an episode of 'Sam & Cat.' There was a guest star role for an eccentric rap artist and business mogul, named Peezy B. When I was telling Ariana Grande (who starred in 'Sam & Cat') about the episode and the role of the rap mogul, I mentioned the idea of Kel Mitchel playing the part. Ariana got crazy excited. I didn't realize she was such a huge Kel Mitchell fan...Kel played the role and he was brilliantly funny. Then, a year or so later, when I was creating my new show, 'Game Shakers,' there was a similar role for a regular character named Double G. I asked Kel if he'd be into the idea of doing a weekly television series, playing this crazy, fun, big character. And now, it's happening.

Do you think Kel still has the power to draw in his old fans, along with new viewers?

Good question. Kel remains very popular, to this day…that being said, the audience for Nickelodeon is very young. Some of them know Kel's work, and some don't. But he's so universally popular, I feel sure that will attract viewers.

Any chance for a Kenan reunion on the show?

Almost nothing would excite me more than reuniting Kenan and Kel in a big way. People would go crazy to see them back together making great comedy again. It would be amazing because they're as strong and talented as any male comedy duo that's ever been. There's been talk of various ways to bring Kenan and Kel back together. All I can say is, I can't imagine anything more fun and exciting. I'm in!

Kel Mitchell's Five Favorite 90's Quotes | Nick



Kel Mitchell returns to Nickelodeon on the new show 'Game Shakers!' Watch him share some of his favorite quotes from 'All That' and 'Kenan & Kel!'
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