Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Galo Bertín Launches 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Clothing Range

Mexican fashion designer Galo Bertín has collaborated with Nickelodeon Latin America to launch a brand new clothing collection inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants!


The SpongeBob X Galo Bertín collection features 50 fresh and light garments, in shades of blue, pink and yellow, with each piece featuring SpongeBob and his best friend, Patrick Star, as well as the characteristic details of the Mexican brand. The series includes classic Galo Bertín garments such as bomber jackets, sweatshirts, polo shirts, hoodies jogger pants and is complemented by new garments never seen before in the Mexican designer's collections such as sweatshirts, swimming costumes and Cuban shirts.

The SpongeBob X Galo Bertín range launched during a virtual launch party celebration on Wednesday 14th April 2021, and is available to shop now via https://galobertin.com/collections/bob-esponja.






Galo Bertín se une al gigante Nickelodeon en una colaboración inspirada en Bob Esponja

Galo Bertín ha presentado junto a Nickelodeon Latinoamérica su nueva colección protagonizada por Bob Esponja y los personajes de la famosa caricatura estadounidense. El lanzamiento fue celebrado la noche del 14 de septiembre a través de un cita digital con los medios e invitados de la marca.

Galo Bertín se une al gigante Nickelodeon en una colaboración inspirada en Bob Esponja - Galo Bertín - ViacomCBS

Durante la transmisión del lanzamiento, el diseñador, así como parte de su equipo, compartieron cómo fue la experiencia de trabajar con Nickelodeon, una empresa de talla internacional que cuenta con una amplia red de colaboradores y el reto de reinterpretar al personaje sin perder la esencia que ha caracterizado a la firma.

"Cuando llegó este proyecto la verdad fue un gran reto, y sabíamos que nosotros como empresa, como marca y yo como diseñador, teníamos que dar mucho más que nunca para que esta colección fuera realmente algo único y muy divertido, algo que reflejara la esencia de ambas marcas", compartió Galo, y agregó que entre los desafíos que se topó fue el trabajar con demasiadas personas involucradas no solo en México si no en distintos puntos internacionales, dada la magnitud de Nickelodeon. 

Por su parte, Karla Caballero, directora de producción de Galo Bertín, confesó que se trató de un recorrido bastante intenso a nivel creativo. "Plasmar la personalidad de dos personajes animados en la esencia de la marca, yo creo que ese fue el verdadero reto que se tuvo", explicó. 

"SpongeBob X Galo Bertín" está inspirada en la amistad de dos grandes amigos y la nostalgia de los recuerdos de la juventud del diseñador. Galo Bertín reinterpreta con sus diseños a Bob Esponja, el famoso personaje de pantalones cuadrados y a su mejor amigo Patricio Estrella.

"Realmente la esencia de esta colección era hacer un flashback del hombre 'Galo Bert'ín', de esos momentos en los que somos jóvenes, en los que tenemos la vida por delante, que todo es inocencia, que todo es diversión, y personalmente, utilice muchos recuerdos de mi adolescencia y de mi juventud, donde viví grandes cosas con mis mejores amigos y amigas, y eso fue lo que quise transmitir", reveló Galo Bertín.
 
La colección es protagonizada por un estilo sport chic y se compone de unas 50 prendas frescas y ligeras, en tonos azules, rosas y amarillos que destacan con los estampados de Bob y Patricio, así como los detalles característicos de la marca mexicana. La serie incluye prendas clásicas de Galo Bertín como la bomber jacket o los jogger pants y se ve complementada por nuevas prendas nunca antes vistas dentro de las colecciones del diseñador mexicano como sudaderas, trajes de baño y camisas cubanas; buscando así ofrecer una propuesta versátil y cómoda.
 
Según se ha confirmado, "SpongeBob X Galo Bertín" ya se encuentra disponible a través de la tienda oficial del diseñador mexicano.

###

From ELLE:

¿Están listos, chicos? Galo Bertín lanza una colección con Bob Esponja

¡Sí capitán, estamos listos!, ¡No los escucho!, ¡Sí capitán, estamos listos!

Es momento de que lo admitamos como adultos, si ya estás aquí y leíste las dos últimas líneas cantando en tu cabeza, como nosotros, eres un verdadero fan de Bob Esponja Pantalones Cuadrados, y lo seguirás siendo por siempre, así que mejor es momento de que nos pongamos los pantalones y la camiseta (literalmente) y se lo demostremos a todo el mundo, ¿no lo crees?

Para los hombres que se atreven a construir su propio estilo y están en contacto con su infancia, el diseñador mexicano de moda masculina Galo Bertín ha creado una colección en colaboración con Nickelodeon, inspirándose en la inquebrantable amistad de Bob Esponja y Patricio Estrella, y la nostalgia que traen estos recuerdos para el diseñador, y estamos seguros que a ti también.

A través de una transmisión por el servicio de streaming gratuito de ViacomCBS en el canal Fashionbox, Galo Bertín presentó la nueva colección exclusiva y coleccionable que nació de la colaboración de su marca homónima con Bob Esponja . Durante la transmisión del lanzamiento, el diseñador y su equipo contaron la experiencia de trabajar con Nickelodeon.

Como relataron en la transmisión, para hacer posible esta colaboración inspirada en los icónicos personajes de Fondo de Bikini, Galo Bertín y su equipo se enfrentaron a una serie de retos durante los meses previos, sobre todo al desafío de reinterpretar a los personajes de Bob Esponja y Patricio Estrella sin perder la esencia que caracteriza a la marca de moda masculina.

La colección se compone de prendas simples, ligeras y cómodas en tonos azules, rosas y amarillos que destacan con los estampados abstractos de Bob y Patricio y las flores del cielo de Fondo de Bikini plasmados sobre bomber jackets, pants, sudaderas, trajes de baño y frescas camisas cubanas de manga corta. Ya está disponible en la tienda en línea de Galo Bertín .

###


Originally published: Friday, April 16, 2021.

Additional source: Regard Magazine.

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April 2021 on NickToons Global: Easter and The Loud House

Below is a round-up of Nicktoons Global's programming highlights for April 2021!


More Highlights:



About NickToons Global and this guide: NickToons Global is available in Central Eastern Europe, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia and more. Based on NickToons Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) schedule. All times CET, please check local listings for localised air times. Unless otherwise noted, localised episode titles are Hungarian (Magyar).

--- This March, Nick Toons Global will be airing:

-- A brand new episode of The Loud House:

- 2021-04-14 19:20 3x24 Ki betűt vet, írást arat / A kincsvadászat (The Write Stuff / Racing Hearts)

Note: This episode was initially "banned" from airing on Nicktoons' pan-regional feed due to "Racing Hearts" featuring a same-sex couple, which is unfortunately still frowned upon in some countries that Nicktoons Global broadcasts in.

Update: This episode didn't air, and was replaced with a rerun of episode #101, which is still desynchronized on Polish audiotrack.

"The Loud House" is locally titled "A Lármás család" in Hungary and "Casa Loud" in Romania.

-- The Loud House Marathons:

- 2021-04-05/06/07/08/09 18:00-19:50 A Lármás család: Lincoln Week (Lincoln hete)
- 2021-04-12/13/14/15/16 18:00-19:50 A Lármás család: The Loud Girls (A Lármás lánytesók)
- 2021-04-19/20/21/22/23 18:00-19:50 The Loud House and The Casagrandes (A Lármás család és a Casagrande család)

The Loud House family celebration Promo - April 2021 (NickToons Global)


Dorg Van Dango - Daily on NickToons (NickToons Global)


A Lármás család: Családi ünnep - maraton (2021. április) | Nicktoons


More Nick: ViacomCBS Launches TeenNick Channels in Hungary and Romania!

áprilisi; betiltott; Maratonok áprilisban.

Originally published: Monday, March 29, 2021.

Original source: Mentrum; Update H/T: Anime Superhero Forum /@NewBogus :).

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May 2021 on NickToons Global: It's Pony, Deer Squad + More

Below is a round-up of Nicktoons Global's programming highlights for May 2021!


More Highlights:



About NickToons Global and this guide: NickToons Global is available in Central Eastern Europe, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia and more. Based on NickToons Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) schedule. All times CET, please check local listings for localised air times. Unless otherwise noted, localised episode titles are Hungarian (Magyar).

--- This May, Nick Toons Global will be airing:

-- The brand new show It's Pony:

- 2021-05-03 18:30 1x03-04 Növéényeek! / Heston kabátja (Plants! / Heston's Coat) - series premiere
- 2021-05-04 18:30 1x01 Kotnyeles Póni / Beatrice (Nosy Pony / Beatrice)
- 2021-05-05 18:30 1x05/02  Játékló / Egyszarvú (Game Horse / Unicorn)
- 2021-05-06 18:30 1x06 Horace / A csizma (Horace / The Boot)
- 2021-05-07 18:30 1x07 Zavaró tényezők / A varázsfotel (Distractions / The Giving Chair)
- 2021-05-10 18:30 1x08 Fodrász  / Gerry születésnapja (Haircut / Gerry's Birthday)
- 2021-05-11 18:30 1x09 Házipóni / Kutya nap (Pet Pony / Dog Day)
- 2021-05-12 18:30 1x10 Hasznos-haszontalan / Pata-csata (Useful / Stompy!)
- 2021-05-13 18:30 1x11 Póni futárszolgálat / Annie, a varázsló (Delivery Pony / Magic Annie)
- 2021-05-14 18:30 1x12-13 Undok csirke / Gerry, az idegenvezető (Bad Chicken / Gerry's Tour)

"It's Pony" is locally titled "Itt van Póni" in Hungary and "El este Ponei" in Romania.

-- Brand new episodes of Deer Squad:

- 2021-05-03 07:10 1x11 Double Trouble / Box Not So Clever
- 2021-05-04 07:10 1x12 Sky Art / The Great Race
- 2021-05-05 07:10 1x13 Doctor Steel Little / Astonished And Amazed
- 2021-05-06 07:10 1x14 Attack Of The Drones / Slime Time
- 2021-05-07 07:10 1x15 Captain Steel / Wash Out
- 2021-05-10 07:10 1x16 Gravity Calamity / Ball of Chaos
- 2021-05-11 07:10 1x17 Lola's Air Display / Down The Sewers
- 2021-05-12 07:10 1x18 Small Is Smashing / Pine Cone Power Up
- 2021-05-13 07:10 1x19 Steel Antlers / Berry Bad
- 2021-05-14 07:10 1x20 Turnip For The Books / Magnet Maelstrom - season one finale

"Deer Squad" is locally titled "Szarvas osztag" in Hungary.

-- Special marathons:

- 2021-05-22/23 12:10-16:10 SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton's Best Episodes (SpongyaBob Kockanadrág: Plankton legjobb epizódjai)
- 2021-05-29/30 12:10-14:45 Monday Weekend (Szörny-hétvége)




More Nick: ViacomCBS Launches TeenNick Channels in Hungary and Romania!

Májusi; új sorozat, csatornapremier; évadzáró; Maratonok májusban.

Originally published: Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

Original source: Mentrum.

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Tia Mowry-Hardrict Reveals 'Sister, Sister' Reboot Has Been Put on Hold

Tia Mowry-Hardrict is still hoping for a reboot of her and twin Tamera Mowry-Housley's hit '90s sitcom, Sister, Sister.


During a recent appearance on an episode of PEOPLE's Defend Yourself, the Instant Mom actor said a potential follow-up series was being held up by certain "legalities."

"What's in the way is the rights," she said. "We ended up moving forward with it and we didn't have all of the rights in place — I guess there were still some legalities that needed to come into place that put it on hold."

"And once that put it on hold, then Tamera and I are not just sitting around, you know what I mean?" continued Mowry-Hardrict, 42. "She gets an opportunity, I get an opportunity — but yeah, it's sad."

Tamera Mowry-Housley is not giving up on the possibility of a Sister, Sister reboot with her twin. In a separate interview with NBC LX host Natalie Lizarraga, the actor revealed “I’m still in hopes of making it happen, it’s just I believe in the timing,” adding: “It took years to get Sex and the City to do a reboot, it might take Sister, Sister a bit, but I’m a believer, I’m a believer in it."

Sister, Sister aired for six seasons, from 1994 to 1999. The beloved sitcom starred Mowry-Housley and Mowry-Hardrict as twin sisters Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell, following the two as they reunited 14 years after being separated at birth and moved in together, blending their families. The groundbreaking show featured a predominantly Black cast, including Jackée Harry as Tia's mother, Lisa, Tim Reid as Tamera's father, Ray, and Marques Houston as their annoying neighbor, Roger. The series aired on Nickelodeon UK as well as on Nickelodeon Australia and Nickelodeon Latin America.

Mowry-Hardrict previously discussed a potential reboot of the show during a 2019 interview with PEOPLE.

"I hate to say it, but it's kind of dead," the actress said at the time. "Nothing's going on right now, but that doesn't mean that it's not going to happen at all. Never say never."

In October, her sister Mowry-Housley reflected on the legacy of Sister, Sister, which became available on Netflix for the first time the month prior. 

"To see the younger generation loving it just as much as our generation did, it's really cool to relive that moment," said the former co-host of The Real. "I think in a way [we're] experiencing why something becomes a classic."

"When I was doing Sister, Sister, I never thought of it that way," she added. "But now, watching it and seeing my kids watch it — and they love it — you're like, 'Wow, we really did hit gold there.'"

Update (4/21) - Speaking to BuzzFeed, Tia said: “I hate to be the person to say this, but I don’t think that’s happening right now,” she told Buzzfeed. “There is no reunion whatsoever going on. But Tamera‘s doing her thing and I’m doing my thing, so as it stands for right now, there’s no Sister, Sister reunion and there’s no Twitches 3 reunion.”


Originally published: Thursday, March 11, 2021.

Additional source: Just Jared Jr.

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Ryan Tedder Shares BTS Videos and Pics from the Set of 'Counting Stars'

OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder has shared a few behind-the-scenes snaps and videos from the first few days of filming his upcoming brand new Nickelodeon show Counting Stars on his official Instagram Stories!


First announced at Nickelodeon Upfront 2019 under the working title Simon Fuller/Ryan Tedder-Produced Untitled Project, Counting Stars is a new scripted music series following a group of mega-talented freshmen at the most elite music performance boarding school in the country who compete to perform at the year end talent showcase. Each episode will feature original music. The series is currently filming in Georgia.

In one of his fantastic vids, Tedder revealed that he originally got the idea for Counting Stars whilst on a flight to Toronto 22 months ago, where he quickly made a note of the idea in his iPhone Notes app!

The directors chairs in Tedder's BTS photos also reveal that Nickelodeon is co-producing Counting Stars with TF Productions LLC and Swirl Films.

The pics come as OneRepublic has been nominated for Favorite Music Group in Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2021! Fans can vote for OneRepublic at https://www.kidschoiceawards.com and via Twitter.

Musician Jenna Raine recently revealed on Instagram that the show may have found its cast: dancer, actor and model Liv Simone, America's Got Talent contestant Angie Green, and musician Ben Krieger.


Update (4/21) - Mia Isaac featured in the pilot episode of Counting Stars.



Originally published: Wednesday, February 03, 2021.

H/T: Anime Superhero Forum /@NickRewindRussia.

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Fan Launches Petition to Rename National Airport After JoJo Siwa

A JoJo Siwa megafan has started a to rename a airport after Nickelodeon superstar and social media phenomenon JoJo Siwa!


The change.org petition to rename Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (also known as DCA as well as National Airport) in Arlington, Virginia after the famed teen singer, dancer and actor gained thousands of signatures on Wednesday, April 21. At the time of writing, the petition has received 2,632 signatures.

“Why on earth is there an airport named after this war criminal in an area as liberal as the DMV,” reads the description of the petition.

For those unfamiliar, JoJo Siwa is a 17-year-old pop-star known for her gigantic bows, colorful aesthetic, and whimsical personality that’s captured the undying adoration of millions “Siwanatorz.” She boasts a total of 10 million followers on Instagram, 33.4 million followers on TikTok, and more than 12 million subscribers on YouTube. A dancer, Siwa originally claimed fame on the reality television show Dance Moms before going on to land deals with Nickelodeon and the accessory boutique Claire’s. She eventually released her own music.

Most recently, Siwa came out as pansexual and introduced the internet to her girlfriend, Kylie Prew, further cementing her position as a youth role model for self-expression and acceptance. She’s bouncy, bubbly, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and owns a Tesla with her face on it — basically a diametric opposite to the airport’s current namesake.

The petition’s creator, Georgetown University freshman and California native Dylan Long, told DCist he thought to make the change.org petition on Tuesday, April 20 while talking about the airport on the phone with a friend.

“I always fly in and fly out through Reagan Airport and every time I’m there, I’m sort of reminded of Ronald Reagan and you know, it’s disappointing,” says Long, who currently lives in Georgetown.

A member of the LGBTQ+ community, Long says he didn’t think the airport should hold the name of a figure whose failure to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic harmed that community, and the first replacement that came to mind was Siwa. Long says he was more of an active Siwanator during her Dance Moms days, but admittedly enjoys some of newer music, describing her hit song “Boomerang” as a “good, nice bop.”

The Siwa petition is not the first attempt to remove Reagan’s name from the airport, a touchy (and politicized) debate for locals. Washington National Airport was renamed after Reagan in 1998, but many people refuse to call it so, opting to use “DCA” or “National Airport” instead. A 2015 Washington Post poll found that only 35% of Democrats surveyed referred to it as “Reagan” or “Reagan National,” compared to 72% of Republicans.

The call for a rebrand comes as regional leaders propose rededicating streets, schools, and monuments that bear the names of historical figures with ties to slavery and racism. While Siwa isn’t a historical figure (she can’t even drink legally in the U.S. yet), her legacy as an American LGBTQ+ role model already stands in opposition to Reagan, a conservative Republican president often criticized for his failure to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and racist remarks. (The name rebrand is also timely; the airport just closed its most-cursed gate and unveiled a redesigned concourse).

In the comments of the petition, several people noted the stark differences between the figures as their “reasons for signing.”

“Because Jojo Siwa is an icon to young kids everywhere, and Ronald Reagan was a racist poop head. Thank you for your time,” wrote signer Hattie Weinroth.

“I use this airport frequently and the name disgusts me. Let’s change it to the name of a true American hero, Jojo Siwa,” wrote another supporter.

Others put it more simply: “I’m signing because it’s what’s right.”

It’s unclear what, if anything, could come from the change.org push, and arguably impossible that anyone would be jetsetting from JoJo Siwa Washington National Airport in the near future. When the airport officially took Reagan’s name in 1998, it did so with Congressional approval, and a previous renaming effort called on national lawmakers to make it happen.

It doesn’t seem like Long has a plan forward, either. The petition is addressed to the “Mayor of Arlington” — a position that doesn’t exist. Long wasn’t aware of the error until DCist pointed it out to him, but says he “should probably fix that, though, considering [the mayor of Arlington] is not a real person.”

Neither Siwa nor her manager responded to DCist’s requests for comment, and Long doesn’t think she’s seen his petition. But he’d be thrilled if she did.

“If she interacts with this in any way that’d be amazing,” Long says. “I think that would be my dream.”



Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and JoJo Siwa News and Highlights!

How the New Host of 'Blue’s Clues' Joshua Dela Cruz is Changing the Face of Children’s TV

Originally published: Wednesday, December 18, 2019

How the New Host of Blue’s Clues Joshua Dela Cruz is Changing the Face of Children’s Television


Joshua Dela Cruz hosts the Nickelodeon series [-] Blue's Clues & You. Credit: JAMES JIN

After Blue’s Clues skidooed into television history after six seasons that aired from 1996 to 2006, an entire generation grew up without the excitement of mail time and the satisfaction of figuring out clues.

But last month, the series returned to Nickelodeon as Blue’s Clues & You with a new host, 29-year-old Joshua Dela Cruz.

The Broadway veteran from New Milford, New Jersey, was hand-picked from more than 3,000 hopefuls, among them, WWE wrestler John Cena. But original Blue’s Clues host Steve Burns believed Dela Cruz was destined to don the striped shirt for the next generation.

Casting the Filipino American in the title role has been seen as a major breakthrough for diversity in children’s television, with Dela Cruz being the iconic show’s first Asian American host.

“I never thought in a million years that anything like this would happen,” he said during a phone interview with Forbes. “I used to watch the show with my little sister and never thought that I would be in television. It’s been a really humbling experience.”


Joshua Dela Cruz stars on Nickelodeon's Blues Clues & You - COURTESY OF NICKELODEON

Feeling Blue

Born in Dubai, Dela Cruz was introduced to the theater by his older sister when he was in the eighth grade — and after training at the Paper Mill Playhouse’s musical theater conservatory in Millburn, NJ, he went on to star on Broadway in The King & I and Aladdin.

While he loved working in the theater, he started to itch for a project that could reach wider audiences. “The problem with musical theater is that it's really expensive to see a show and to bring a family to see a show, forget about it,” he says. “I wanted to do something where I could use the gifts and skills that I had learned along the way to help people. And I didn't know what it was.”

When his agent told him about Blue’s Clues, he started reminiscing about the show with his Aladdin cast mates and realized that maybe this was the next step. “This is the thing that I was looking for,” Dela Cruz says.

But he felt the weight of responsibility. “They're such big shoes to fill since they're such important parts of people's lives and and how they grew up that I was definitely hesitant and anxious about doing a good enough job,” he admits.

That all changed during one of the first work sessions. “Steve Burns pulled me aside and was like, ‘We cast you for you. We love everything that you're doing, everything that you bring to the table, so don't feel like you have to copy or replicate anything that I or Donovan Patton did in the past. This is your house now.’”

With that vote of confidence from the original host, Dela Cruz sunk into the role and paved his own way.


NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 28: Joshua Dionisio aka Josh DeLa Cruz attends the 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Diversity Matters

Having worked on stage all his life, the delayed audience response took some patience. Even after the first episode of Blue’s Clues & You aired on November 11, it took some time for the ratings to come and know it was doing well. But then the more impactful feedback started coming.

“I started getting tagged in videos and friends started sending me pictures of their kids watching the show,” he describes. “They’re so immersed in it — playing along, yelling and laughing. It's been such a fulfilling experience for me in every way. And I couldn't be happier.”

But there was another level to the reaction coming from the communities that rarely see themselves on screen, especially on children’s television. “I had friends sending me texts saying, ‘My kid's pointing at the screen saying, ‘He looks like me!’’”

And that’s what makes his role so groundbreaking. At least half of all stories across TV, movies and streaming “fail to portray one speaking or named Asian or Asian American on screen,” according to a study by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. So the fact that a show targeted at preschoolers could be anchored by Dela Cruz is nothing short of historic.

Dela Cruz himself didn’t see Asian Americans on television growing up either. “There were a handful of people that missed my generation,” he says, referring to The Wiggles’ Jeff Fatts and Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka. “But I never experienced seeing somebody like me on TV growing up. That definitely does play a part in why maybe I never even saw myself on television — or even mainstream media.”

One of his early memories of seeing a Asian American performer was when Dante Bosco played Rufio in 1991’s Hook. “He was like a rare butterfly,” Dela Cruz says. But that lack of inclusion is exactly why he never considered a career beyond the stage, where he did at least see Asians Americans in specifically Asian-themed shows like Miss Saigon and The King & I.


NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: Joshua Dela Cruz visits the Build Series to discuss the Nickelodeon live-action/animated interactive educational children’s television series “Blues Clues & You” at Build Studio on November 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

Inclusion at Its Best

Oftentimes, the push for diversity leads to checklist casting — making sure every ethic group is covered, like a United Colors of Benetton ad. While it does lead to diversity on television, it can also feel forced. “I hope that we’re going to continue to evolve and grow as a society and that media will continue to reflect everyday life,” Dela Cruz says, adding that checking off the boxes might be a necessary tool to get to that point.

What makes his role on Blue’s Clues even more unique is that they didn’t have ethnicity in mind. “To be cast in this role, without having to be specifically Filipino or Asian is so important because that is inclusion at its very best,” Dela Cruz says. “It's not like we're hiring you because we need an Asian. We're hiring you because we liked you, and you happen to be Asian which is something we're going to celebrate.”

As proof of a world that’s starting to change, he pointed to Filipino American Jacob Batalon’s role in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and the mainstream acceptance of 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians and this year’s The Farewell.

The Farewell transcends an Asian American story where it's just about family and people,” he says of watching it. “It was very specifically a Chinese thing, but I was laughing because I could relate and my wife [actress Amanda Dela Cruz who recently starred in off-Broadway's Jersey Boys], who is Caucasian, was laughing as well because she could relate to moments in her life.”


Joshua Dela Cruz hosts the Nickelodeon series Blue's Clues & You. Credit: JAMES JIN

Modern Families

To add to the progressive nature of his role on the children’s show, his character is introduced as a “cousin” to the previous two Caucasian hosts, Burns and Patton.

“It is such a great change for our show and for America because I look at my family and everyone is Modern Family diverse,” he says. “We're not just talking about the people that you work with, but the people that you live with. I applaud our creators and Nickelodeon for adding a layer of diversity. We're not explaining it. It wasn't a necessity, it just is.”

The advent of other ways to consume media — through web series, social media and streaming — has also opened up new doors. “Diversity and inclusion is accelerated today because there are so many ways to view it,” he adds. “People are starving for inclusion and they can find places to view it. If we continue to make good content and to challenge ourselves to create not just diverse material but good material, I think that will definitely start to change and it will definitely evolve.”

And as for those kids, who like himself, still don’t see themselves on the shows they love — or even in other fields that they hope to pursue, Dela Cruz encourages them to dream big. After all, it worked for him.

“If you love something and you work hard and are kind, when that opportunity and your preparedness meet, there is no reason that you can't be that person to open the door for everyone else,” the actor says. “Even if you don't see yourself represented, that doesn't mean anything because nobody saw themselves represented on the moon and then all of a sudden we were there.”

From Vizaca:

How Josh Dela Cruz Finds Success in Blue’s Clues – A Complete Story

Monica Thaker by Monica Thaker  April 21, 2021 in Editor's Picks Reading Time: 7 mins read 
Josh Dela Cruz

When Nickelodeon’s breakout hit children’s show Blue’s Clues (1996-2006) returned as the rebooted Blue’s Clues & You! last season, some questioned whether this sweet and occasionally quiet show from the pre-smartphone time could able to take its place in the noise of the “digital age.”

With the charismatic Josh Dela Cruz ’11 as the human sidekick to cartoon puppy blue, the answer is a loud, “Yes!”

Blue’s Clues & You! is a live-action, computer-animated, interactive, educational children’s television series. It is a reboot of the original 1996 Blue’s Clues TV series with a new host, Josh Dela Cruz.

The show rated No. 1 among preschool shows in its initial week, and a second season was planned just eight days after its November 11, 2019, debut.
 
According to critics, one big reason for its wild success is Josh Dela Cruz, whose musical theater chops and natural attractiveness spring from the screen while pulling viewers in.

“He is a good singer!” says 3-year-old Mira, a fan of the show from Millburn, New Jersey, who also likes that “Josh” made a block tower for Blue and his puppy friend Magenta when they were sad. Mira’s mom, Jennifer DiDomenico, says Mira is “obsessed with this show.“

Josh Dela Cruz Finds Success in Blue’s Clues

Choosing the Filipino American in the title role has been perceived as a major breakthrough for diversity in children’s television, with Josh Dela Cruz being the iconic show’s first Asian American host. “I never thought in a million years that anything like this would happen,” he said during an interview. “I used to watch the show with my little sister and never thought that I would be on television. It’s been a really humbling experience.“

About Joshua Dela Cruz

Josh Dela Cruz older sister introduced him to the theater when he was in his eighth grade. After training at the Paper Mill Playhouse’s musical theater conservatory in Millburn, NJ, he went on to star on Broadway in The King & I and Aladdin.

While he enjoyed working in the theater, he began to crave for a project that could reach broader viewers. “The problem with musical theater is that it’s really expensive to see a show and to bring a family to see a show, forget about it,” he says. “I wanted to do something where I could use the gifts and skills that I had learned along the way to help people. And I didn’t know what it was.” When his agent informed him about Blue’s Clues, he started remembering the show with his Aladdin castmates and realized that this was the next step. “This is the thing that I was looking for,” Dela Cruz says.

About Joshua Dela Cruz

But he knew the pressure of responsibility. “They’re such big shoes to fill since they’re such important parts of people’s lives and how they grew up that I was definitely hesitant and anxious about doing a good enough job,” he admits. 

That all changed during one of the first work sessions. “Steve Burns pulled me aside and was like, ‘We cast you for you. We love everything that you’re doing, everything that you bring to the table, so don’t feel like you have to copy or replicate anything that I or Donovan Patton did in the past. This is your house now.‘” With that vote of trust from the original host, Dela Cruz sunk into the role and paved his way.

He was habitual of quick response as he worked on stage all his life; the delayed audience response took some patience. Even after the first episode of Blue’s Clues & You aired on November 11, it took some time for the ratings to come and comprehend it was doing well. But then the more impactful feedback started getting. 

“I started getting tagged in videos and friends started sending me pictures of their kids watching the show,” he describes. “They’re so immersed in it — playing along, yelling and laughing. It’s been such a fulfilling experience for me in every way. And I couldn’t be happier.“

But there was a different level to the reaction coming from the communities that seldom see themselves on screen, especially on children’s television. “I had friends sending me texts saying, ‘My kid’s pointing at the screen saying, ‘He looks like me!” 

And that’s what makes his role so groundbreaking. At least half of all stories across TV, movies, and streaming “fail to portray one speaking or named Asian or Asian American on screen,” according to research by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. So the fact that Dela Cruz could anchor a show targeted at preschoolers is nothing short of historic.

Dela Cruz himself didn’t see Asian Americans on television growing up either. “There were a handful of people that missed my generation,” he says, suggesting to The Wiggles’ Jeff Fatts and Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka. “But I never experienced seeing somebody like me on TV growing up. That definitely does play a part in why maybe I never even saw myself on television — or even mainstream media.” One of his early thoughts of seeing an Asian American performer was when Dante Bosco performed Rufio in 1991’s Hook. “He was like a rare butterfly,” Dela Cruz says. But that lack of inclusion is precisely why he never thought a career beyond the stage, where he did at least see Asian Americans in particularly Asian-themed shows like Miss Saigon and The King & I.

Often, the push for variety leads to checklist casting, ensuring every ethic group is covered, like a United Colors of Benetton ad. While it does direct to variety on television, it can also feel forced. “I hope that we’re going to continue to evolve and grow as a society and that media will continue to reflect everyday life,” Dela Cruz says, adding that checking off the boxes might be a crucial tool to get to that point. 

What makes his role on Blue’s Clues even more unique is that they did not have ethnicity in mind. “To be cast in this role, without having to be specifically Filipino or Asian is so important because that is inclusion at its very best,” Dela Cruz says. “It’s not like we’re hiring you because we need an Asian. We’re hiring you because we liked you, and you happen to be Asian, which is something we’re going to celebrate.“

As proof of a world that’s beginning to change, he pointed to Filipino American Jacob Batalon’s role in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and the mainstream acceptance of 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians and this year’s The Farewell. 

“The Farewell transcends an Asian American story where it’s just about family and people,” he says of watching it. “It was very specifically a Chinese thing, but I was laughing because I could relate, and my wife [actress Amanda Dela Cruz who recently starred in off-Broadway’s Jersey Boys], who is Caucasian, was laughing as well because she could relate to moments in her life.”

To attach to the continuous nature of his role on the children’s show, his character is presented as a “cousin” to the former two Caucasian hosts, Burns and Patton.

“It is such a great change for our show and for America because I look at my family and everyone is Modern Family diverse,” he says. “We’re not just talking about the people that you work with, but the people that you live with. I applaud our creators and Nickelodeon for adding a layer of diversity. We’re not explaining it. It wasn’t a necessity, it just is.”

The advent of other ways to consume media — through web series, social media and streaming — has also opened up new opportunities. “Diversity and inclusion is accelerated today because there are so many ways to view it,” he adds. “People are starving for inclusion and they can find places to view it. If we continue to make good content and to challenge ourselves to create not just diverse material but good material, I think that will definitely start to change and it will definitely evolve.“

And as for those kids, who like himself, still do not see themselves on the shows they love — or even in other fields that they wish to pursue, Dela Cruz inspires them to dream big. After all, it worked for him.

“If you love something and you work hard and are kind when that opportunity and your preparedness meet, there is no reason that you can’t be that person to open the door for everyone else,” the actor says. “Even if you don’t see yourself represented, that doesn’t mean anything because nobody saw themselves represented on the moon, and then all of a sudden we were there.”

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More Nick: Nickelodeon Greenlights Second Season of 'Blue’s Clues & You!' as Series Debuts at Number One!
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Osper and ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK Partner to Bring Leading Nickelodeon Brands to UK Youth Fintech

Osper and ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK Partner to Bring Leading Brands to UK Youth Fintech

Companies ink deal to deliver Nickelodeon-branded debit cards, financial education assets and promotion across TV, Online and Social Channels


LONDON 21st APRIL 2021 – Osper, the parent-managed debit card for young people, and ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK today announced a partnership to bring a range of Nickelodeon properties including SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon Slime, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and JoJo Siwa to Osper’s prepaid debit cards for under-18s. The companies will also work together on a range of co-branded financial education assets for children in the UK and undertake promotion of both services across Nickelodeon TV and digital platforms.

Cash payments are decreasing everywhere, with contactless now representing the dominant form of payment on the high street. However, young people risk being financially excluded from this shift if they are limited to using cash. Osper works by allowing young people to have their own contactless prepaid debit card, which can be instantly topped-up, monitored and managed by parents via a user-friendly app. Osper also automatically blocks payments for age restricted services and gives the option to turn off online spending, giving parents full control of their children’s spending.


“While young people are at the forefront of many of the world’s positive changes, they too face real challenges from the fast pace of change around them,” said Venetia Davie, Vice President, ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK & Ireland. “We believe passionately in supporting today’s children and this partnership is part of that commitment. We’re delighted to be working with Osper to use the reach and engagement of globally recognised properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to help give young people the education and tools necessary to deal with money in an increasingly contactless and digital world.”

“By the age of 8, two things are happening – children are already learning lifelong financial behaviours, and they’re enthused, informed and entertained by world class content from Nickelodeon,” said Giovanni Santini, CEO of Osper. “At Osper we have always been focused on giving young people access to payments that are secure and safe – both online and contactless – combined with the knowledge and education needed to understand money and finance. This partnership will be transformative in increasing the accessibility of young people to develop positive financial habits that will shape their view of money for the rest of their lives. We’re proud to be working with not just a world-leading kids’ entertainment brand, but with a team who share the same values and ambition.”

“Young people today are digital natives and most take a ‘digital first’ approach to whatever they are doing, and this is no different for payments. So it is more important than ever that they have the right tools to stay in control of their money and make payments safely, securely and conveniently,” said Edoardo Volta, Head of Fintech UK & Ireland at Mastercard.

The partnership will see Osper and ViacomCBS Consumer Products working together to deliver co-branded educational materials to help children understand money and develop positive financial habits. Osper customers will also be able to apply for their own prepaid debit card featuring some of Nickelodeon’s most iconic kids’ brands such as SpongeBob SquarePants (yes, you can have a debit card featuring Squidward!), Nickelodeon Slime and JoJo Siwa. Reaching over 13 million homes in the UK, Nickelodeon will promote these co-branded offers across its TV, online and social channels.

Parents can learn more at: https://osper.com/nick
















Nickelodeon
Available in over 13 million homes, Nickelodeon is the place where kids rule and features top shows such as Kids’ Choice Awards, Henry Danger, Game Shakers, SpongeBob SquarePants and School of Rock. Launched in 1993, Nickelodeon brings hit international and locally-produced entertainment content to audiences in the UK and Ireland. Viewers can also watch Nickelodeon in high definition through Nickelodeon HD and have the opportunity to catch up with the schedule through Nickelodeon +1. Exclusive games, behind the scenes clips, show information and more are available on nick.co.uk and Nick Play where viewers can find exclusive content updated daily. Viewers can watch Nickelodeon on Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk, BT Vision, YouView, VUTV on Freeview and on UPC in the Republic of Ireland.

The Nickelodeon Network brings the best in kids’ content to the UK and Ireland with Nickelodeon channels available in over 13 million cable and satellite homes. Nickelodeon UK comprises seven dedicated entertainment channels for kids aged 4-15 and their families, and is a joint venture between Viacom International Media Networks and BSkyB.

About Osper
Osper is the parent-managed prepaid debit card for young people, helping parents turn pocket money into financial education. The prepaid debit card lets young people safely and securely spend their own money both online and in shops using their contactless card. The Osper app gives parents full visibility and control over all spending; it has built-in security features that prevent payments at age-restricted merchants and also provides parents with the controls to block functions such as online spending or contactless payments.

Osper provides a friendly and secure way for parents to educate their children about money and also offers a range of financial education tools for young people.

The Osper Prepaid Debit Card is issued by IDT Financial Services Limited pursuant to a license from Mastercard® International. Mastercard and the Mastercard Brand Mark are registered trademarks of Mastercard International. IDT Financial Services Limited is a regulated bank, licensed by the Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar. Registered Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered No. 95716. All communications should be sent to Osper, Office 13 Telfords Yard, 7-8 The Highway, London, E1W 2BS

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Source: Realwire; H/T: Wales Online.

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