Wednesday, June 03, 2015

NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson To Guest Star In New "Bubble Guppies" Episode "The New Doghouse!", Premiering 6/4 On Nickelodeon USA

USA Today is reporting the exciting news that Six-time NASCAR champion and winner of the SpongeBob 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup, Jimmie Johnson, will be a guest star in a upcoming brand-new episode of Nickelodeon's hit CG-animated preschool series, "Bubble Guppies"!


Jimmie Johnson with eldest daughter Genevieve on June 1, 2014. (Photo: Matthew OHaren, USA TODAY Sports)

In the all-new episode, entitled "The New Doghouse!" (#401), Johnson plays a home improvement television show host enlisted to help rebuild Bubble Puppy's wrecked Dog house. Animated as a lobster and clad in work attire suggestive of his racing sponsor, Lowe's, Johnson deploys "Extreme Dog House: Neighborhood Edition" to make everything right in Bubbletucky!

Johnson's guest appearance on Nick's popular preschool series will premiere on Nickelodeon USA on Thursday 4th June 2015 at 11:00am (ET/PT).

Before lending his voice and persona to a character in "Bubble Guppies", there wasn't so much as a class play on Jimmie Johnson's theatrical credits. Not a Christmas pageant. Not a part as a pine tree in the elementary school Arbor Day festival. There have been a few bit parts on television as himself. And there was some media training 20 years ago as he was preparing for the concurrent life of Sprint Cup driver and sponsor pitchman, learning "how to talk your way out of some hot political question if you needed to." But that's easy. Kid's television, not easy.


Six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson voices the character of a lobster, who happens to be a home improvement TV show host, that helps Bubble Puppy rebuild his dog house on ‘Bubble Guppies,’ a Nickelodeon cartoon. (Photo: Nickelodeon)

Johnson got through it just fine, however. Enjoyed, it, actually. The final verdict will be rendered at 11 a.m. Thursday, however, when 5-year-old daughter Genevieve tunes in for her favorite television show as Johnson makes his voice-over debut on Nick Jr.'s "Bubble Guppies".


Jimmie Johnson says the idea of doing voice work on a cartoon was borne when he was trying to think of something cool he could do for eldest daughter, Genevieve. (Photo: Nickelodeon)

"What's so funny is trying to explain to Genevieve that daddy is going to be on Bubble Guppies," Johnson told USA TODAY Sports. "She's convinced that they're real. So how is daddy on the cartoon? And why is daddy a lobster? Very interesting conversation."

The idea for Johnson's appearance began as he pondered aloud while flying to Los Angeles earlier this year what special thing he could do for his oldest daughter. When "Bubble Guppies" was mentioned, Johnson's media relations assistant emailed a Nickelodeon representative and had received a reply expressing interest within a half hour.

Johnson was ensconced in a Charlotte, N.C., sound studio this spring to perform, with a story board of the characters for inspiration and a two-way connection to the New York-based writers for feedback.



"We were bummed we wouldn't get the instant gratification then and now we're eagerly awaiting the show," Johnson said. "It is not my normal tone and pitch and the way I talk. They had a certain character they needed me to play. Fortunately, it wasn't really a live audience. I couldn't see anyone. I could only imagine trying to act this out on camera. Though this just being audio, it made it easier on me."

Johnson recorded parts for about an hour. The show runs 20 minutes. He does not anticipate an Emmy nomination.

"I don't think the lobster is going to pull that off. But it was a cool experience," he laughed. "We all watch different cartoons and animation and you hear the stories. I think I enjoyed it a lot more than I do shooting a quick commercial. We covered a lot of territory. To do a 30-second TV commercial can easily take two days if you let the group handle it how they want. We did all of that in an hour. From an efficiency standpoint, it was more my wheel house."

Johnson completed his Nickelodeon and aquatic immersion in May by winning the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Though Johnson may inadvertently raise his daughter's expectations for what daddy can pull off — "Frozen 2", anyone? — he eagerly anticipates this premier screening.

"We record it because Genevieve loves it so I know we will have it in our lineup, but it would be fun to sit down and have a proper viewing of it," he said.

Sarah Landy, Vice President, Production and Development, Nickelodeon Preschool, called Johnson "a complete natural."

Six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson voices the character of a lobster, who happens to be a home improvement TV show host, that helps Bubble Puppy rebuild his dog house on ‘Bubble Guppies,’ a Nickelodeon cartoon. (Photo: Nickelodeon)

"He was great," she told USA TODAY Sports. "He was such a pro and such a good sport about it. We were so happy to have him on the show. He did a fantastic job."

Race car drivers have been fairly frequent cameo artists in television and cinema, but generally as themselves, like Johnson's 2006 appearance in an episode of "Las Vegas". Numerous drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Schumacher and Richard Petty — who voiced the prominent Strip "The King" Weathers, a character based on his career — appeared in the 2006 animation film "Cars". Actors Wanda Sykes and Jeffrey Tambor have voiced characters previously on "Bubble Guppies". As is the case with most guest appearances, an already-planned character was tailored to fit the performer. In this case, it was blue and white work attire and a racing-style hat with suitable slits for Johnson's lobster antennae.

"I had to just go somewhere I hadn't before and come up with a voice, and screaming," Johnson said. "Granted, it's a kid cartoon, but it was definitely out of my comfort zone and a fun experience."
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Nickelodeon Africa Taps Dr. Riaad Moosa As Host Of NickFest 2015

Nickelodeon Africa has announced the exciting news that comedian Dr. Riaad Moosa will be the host of Nickelodeon Africa's first ever NickFest, where the award-winning comedian, presenter, writer and actor who also happens to be a qualified medical doctor, too, will raise the roof with laughter at the spectacular, family friendly festival, which is transforming Tsogo Sun's The Globe at Silverstar Casino into a slime-filled Nickelodeon wonderland on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2015!


Dr. Riaad Moosa

Additionally, Nickelodeon Africa has announced the further aweslime news that DJ's Anele Mdoda and Ms Cosmo, MTV VJ Sizwe Dhlomo, Comedian's Trevor Gumbi and Kagiso Lediga, recording artist ProVerb, and model and actress Pearl Thusi will be covered in Nickelodeon's world famous green slime for charity at NickFest 2015! Plus, Nick Africa wants to know who YOU want to see slimed at NickFest! Simply let Nickelodeon Africa on their official Facebook profile page using the #Nickfest hashtag!


Ms Cosmo DJ

Tickets for NickFest are on sale now at Computicket, priced R110 per ticket (entry free for children under 2). A percentage of funds from ticket sales will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust to aid sick children.


Kagiso Lediga

Nickelodeon Africa is giving Nicksters the chance to win tickets to attend NickFest 2015! Head to nickelodeonafrica.com and answer the simple question to enter for your chance to win!


Trevor Gumbi

NickFest will thrill kids and parents alike with its unique combination of live music from SA A-listers, including Cassper Nyovest, The Buzz, the Tsogo Sun Arts Academy All Stars, ProVerb, Morgan Beat Box, celebrity guests, including Olga Lombard and Dr. Riaad Moosa, and character shows and appearances by Nickelodeon superstars SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Packed with fun and interactivity, NickFest promises a fabulous day out for kids of all ages and their families, with designated activities for pre-schoolers, primary school kids, tweens and teens. And of course there’ll be lots of Nickelodeon's trademark slime – tons and tons of gooey green stuff...in the awesome Slime Area!


Anele Mdoda

For more information on NickFest please go to www.nickelodeonafrica.com, like Nickelodeon Africa on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NickelodeonAfrica, or follow Nick Africa on Twitter @NickAfrica and on Instagram @Nickelodeon_Africa. To join the conversation about NickFest, please use the dedicated hashtag #NickFest.


Sizwe Dhlomo

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Nickelodeon Italy To Premiere "Splitting Adam" On Wednesday 10th June 2015

Nickelodeon Italy has announced the exciting news in their new trailer, below, that Nickelodeon Italy (Italia) will premiere and show Nickelodeon's brand-new original TV movie "Splitting Adam", locally titled "Adam & Adam", on Wednesday 10th June 2015 at 7:30pm!

To celebrate, nicktv.it has launched Nickelodeon Italy's official "Adam & Adam" movie website, which features information about the brand new movie, a 'Meet the Characters' section featuring bios for Adam Baker, Lori, Vance Hansum, Adam #2, Winston, Party Boy, Sensibile, Perfetto, Sheldon, Danny, Gillian, and Magic Mitch, and a exclusive "I fail di Adam" photo gallery featuring animated GIF's showcasing some of Adam's biggest fails!:

WizKids Partners with Nickelodeon for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Tabletop Games

Original WizKids Games Press Release via WizKidsGames.com:

WizKids Partners with Nickelodeon for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tabletop Games

TMNT HeroClix and Dice Masters games available this year


JUNE 3, 2015 (Columbus, OH) – At Origins Game Fair today, WizKids announced a partnership with Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, to produce multiple tabletop games based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The first two games developed under this partnership will be a special series of TMNT HeroClix™ figures, and a TMNT Dice Masters™ game, both set for release later this year.

"We are very excited to partner with Nickelodeon on expanding the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand," said Justin Ziran, President of WizKids. "We expect fans of both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and WizKids will be very pleased with the lineup of games we have in store, and we can't wait to get them in players' hands in the coming months."

WizKids has seen great successes in its HeroClix collectible figure-battling and Dice Masters Dice Building™ products, and is very excited to bring fan-favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters, spanning all iterations of the comics from classic to present day as well as the classic cartoon and current hit CG-animated series on Nickelodeon, to both games.

"The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are classic and beloved characters, and we can't wait to see them integrated into WizKids' tabletop games," said Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Global Toys and Publishing, Nickelodeon. "We are as excited as our fans are to see Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, Shredder and more come to life in HeroClix and Dice Masters."

About WizKids Games

WizKids/NECA, LLC, a wholly-owned a NECA, is a New Jersey-based game developer and publisher dedicated to creating games driven by imagination. WizKids first pioneered the Combat Dial system featured in HeroClix, the leading collectible miniatures game on the market, with over 500 million miniature game figures sold worldwide. WizKids continues to produce new proprietary game platforms and properties including the award-winning fantasy board game Mage Knight, the groundbreaking Dice Building Game engine used in the critically-acclaimed game Quarriors and Dice Masters, as well as its widely haled execution of Star Trek: Attack Wing. For additional information, visit www.wizkidsgames.com.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 36th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).

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It's Pizza Time! Meet The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles At Forbidden Planet's London Magastore On Saturday 6th June 2015

It's Pizza Time! To celebrate the launch of Forbidden Planet's brand-new range of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" merchandise range on Saturday 6th June 2015, Forbidden Planet have announced the Turtley Awesome news that Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael will be taking a break from fighting crime to visit their London Megastore!


Drop into Forbidden Planet's London Magastore (179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR) between 10:00am and 3:00pm on Saturday 6th June 2015 to grab a selfie with the Heroes In A Half Shell as well as checking out Forbidden Planet's massive range of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" products, including T-shirts, mugs, kitchenwares, posters, cards, homeware and much more!


FREE GIFTS! Get there early - the first fifty customers to spend over £10.00 on any items from the Forbidden Planet TMNT range will receive a great limited edition tote bag containing a rare action figure! Totally Bodacious!


See Forbidden Planet's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle range here on ForbiddenPlanet.com!


Cowabunga, Dudes!
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