Nickelodeon will premiere Santiago Of The Seas: Pirate Treasure Playoff, a special game show edition of the network's hit CG-animated preschool series on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT!
In Santiago Of The Seas: Pirate Treasure Playoff, Santiago, Tomás, and Lorelai have been trapped by Bonnie Bones and her crew. Play along to see if you have what it takes to set them free! (#99830)
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows on Paramount+ and Noggin! Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
LIVERPOOL, SYRACUSE, NY — Since 1993, the Syracuse Area Music Awards have been bestowed upon a wide variety of area musicians and music-industry professionals.
Founded by Frank Malfitano, then director of the historic Landmark Theatre, the awards were modeled after the Grammys or the Oscars. Like those famous awards, at the early Sammys local music professionals voted for the winners in wide number of categories and genres. In recent years, however, the awards have focused specifically on recorded work.
A committee assesses submitted CDs from more than 150 area artists, and makes nominations in 11 recording categories, from Best Jazz to Best Hip-Hop. This year, there are 47 nominees overall, which can be viewed by visiting syracuseareamusic.com.
The 2022 Sammy Awards show will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, March 4, at the OnCenter Crouse Hinds Theater, 411 Montgomery St. in downtown Syracuse. Tickets cost $25 at ticketmaster.com. Online streaming will also be available for $15.
The show will be headlined by Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas, a Los Angeles-based pop-soul outfit. In the 1980s, Kenny fronted a Syracuse pop band called The Tearjerkers and was a member of the Generic Comics. After moving to California, Kenny became an actor and in 1999 was hired to voice the title character of Nickelodeon’s animated smash hit, SpongeBob SquarePants, a job he has held for nearly a quarter century.
The awards show will also feature performances by Jon Rogalia & The Swamp Boys, Letizia and The Real RAW Breed. Awards will be presented in 11 recording categories, as well as the People’s Choice awards for Best Artist or Band, Best Event or Music Series, Best Academic or Musical Organization and Best Venue. The Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist sponsored by CNYAlive.com will also be announced.
Readers can get in on the Sammys’ action by voting in the annual People’s Choice categories. Each year the web-based competition allows fans to support their favorites in four categories: Artist or Band, Event or Music Series, Academic or Musical Organization and Venue. Voting is free and open to the public through Feb. 28 at syracuseareamusic.com/peoples-choice.
Hall of Fame inductees
The day before the awards show, at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, Kenny will be among five inductees to the Sammys Hall of Fame, Upstairs at the Dinosaur Barbecue, 246 W. Willow St., downtown.
Kenny, 59, is being honored for his lifetime achievements. Liverpool bagpiper and teacher J. Avery Head will accept the music educator of the year award. The other HOF inductees are roots-rock band Los Blancos (Colin Aberdeen, Mark Tiffault and Steven T. Winston), trumpeter Jeff Stockham, drummer Bobby Avery, real name Bob Tousignant, who recorded hits with such bands a The Music Explosion and Crazy Elephant, and Among the new inductees is yours Russ Tarby, longtime music critic and promoter Russ Tarby.
‘Best job ever’: Tom Kenny credits ‘SpongeBob’ success to Syracuse roots (interview)
“SpongeBob SquarePants” star Tom Kenny is back in his hometown of Syracuse, N.Y., to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Syracuse Area Music Awards, the local version of the Grammys known as the “SAMMYS.”
Kenny, a 1980 graduate of Bishop Grimes High School, will be honored Thursday night during the SAMMY Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and then attend the 2022 SAMMYS on Friday, where local musicians will receive awards for recordings released in the past year. He’s previously won three Annie Awards (for his work as a voice actor on the animated series “Adventure Time” and as the voice of SpongeBob) and two Emmys, but there’s something special about being recognized where he grew up.
“It feels great. It’s just really nice and it makes my mom proud,” Kenny said in an interview with syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.
“Syracuse is in my bones, it’s where I grew up. My mom still lives in the house from when I was born,” he continued. “It’s a great place. Really, Bobcat (Goldthwait) and I talk about this all the time. This place made us. It formed us. Syracuse is the — I want to say petri dish, but — the oven or refrigerator, that we were formed in... It’s more of a freezer than an oven.”
Kenny is especially fond of the people, and the teachers, that encouraged him and Bobcat Goldthwait to pursue their careers, even when they were just high school students trying to get started in standup comedy. For a time, Kenny performed as “Tomcat” alongside his best friend and Bishop Grimes classmate, who first developed his gruff, high-pitched “Bobcat” persona in Skaneateles with Barry “Bearcat” Crimmins; “Tomcat” and “Bobcat” also formed the local comedy sketch troupe “Generic Comics.”
“A lot of people in other towns would’ve said get out of here, but they said yes,” Kenny recalled.
Kenny also loved music, joining the local Charlie Robbins-founded rock band The Tearjerkers at the suggestion of The Flashcubes’ Gary Frenay. Today, he writes songs for “SpongeBob” and other projects, plus performs live as the frontman for Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas; the high-energy 12-piece band from California will perform at the 2022 Syracuse Area Music Awards show at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater on Friday.
Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas will also headline a concert at the King of Clubs in downtown Syracuse on Saturday night; tickets are on sale for $10. Special guest Andy Paley, who co-wrote classic “SpongeBob” songs like “Don’t Be A Jerk, It’s Christmas” and “Best Day Ever” with Kenny, will also perform with The Damselles.
Kenny, who lives in Los Angeles, has been in Syracuse since Sunday, though an extended visit doesn’t leave him with enough time to do all the things he wants to do. His first priority is to see friends and family, but he also expressed love for Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Heid’s hot dogs, and the famous frittata at Mother’s Cupboard.
“There’s never enough time when I’m here,” Kenny admitted. “There’s sisters and brothers and nephews and nieces and cousins, and the time goes very quickly, you know?”
Kenny’s also very busy in general — which is a good thing in his line of work. He’s done more than 500 movies and TV shows, including the still growing “SpongeBob SquarePants” universe where he voices SpongeBob, Gary the Snail and other characters. A fourth “SpongeBob” movie is headed to theaters and multiple spinoffs and films are also coming to Paramount+, in addition to the still-running Nickelodeon series that premiered in 1999; he also became the show’s voice director, which he said makes him feel like he’s doing a 1950s radio play with other voice actors.
“This is the best job ever,” Kenny said.
His credits also include “Adventure Time,” “Powerpuff Girls,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Transformers,” “Ultimate Spider-Man,” “Rick and Morty,” “Scooby-Doo,” “Woody Woodpecker,” “Doc McStuffins,” “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” “American Dad!” and the animated “Guardians of the Galaxy.” He’s also had a handful of live-action roles, such as in Goldthwait projects like “Shakes the Clown,” “Misfits & Monsters,” “God Bless America” and “World’s Greatest Dad.”
The one project he wishes more people saw was the original “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” the ‘90s sketch comedy series starring Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. Kenny was a regular cast member on the Emmy-nominated HBO show, along with his wife Jill Talley, but it was never as successful as later Odenkirk and Cross projects, like “Better Call Saul” and “Arrested Development,” respectively; Kenny reunited with them for a brief revival series, “W/ Bob and David,” in 2015.
“That did not get an audience at the time,” Kenny said. “It was under, under the radar.”
The life of an actor often includes auditions, rejections and overall anxiety about where your next job is coming, whether a pilot will get picked up for a series, or whether a series will get another season order. But Kenny didn’t have to audition for “SpongeBob,” as he previously worked with series creator Stephen Hillenburg on “Rocko’s Modern Life” as the voice of Heffer; Hillenburg asked Kenny to bring SpongeBob to life, a gift he’s forever grateful for.
Kenny said he’s forever grateful to Hillenburg, who died in 2017, for the “amazing” show and would be devastated if it ever ends: “I’ve been mentally preparing myself for ‘SpongeBob’ to end since, like, season 3.”
In fact, Kenny loves the job so much that he doesn’t mind that he had to work while in Syracuse this week, turning his childhood bedroom closet into a temporary recording studio.
“One thing the (Covid-19) pandemic taught us is we can work from anywhere,” Kenny said of being a voice actor for cartoons. “It’s probably the one thing in show business, the one kind of show that you can make 100% remotely.”
His mom still lives in the East Syracuse house where he grew up, so he put blankets up on the wall and connected a microphone to his laptop, right next to where he shared a room with his brother.
“It’s pretty weird,” Kenny acknowledged, recalling screaming in the closet like James Brown as a kid. And now he screams like SpongeBob in that same closet, as a 59-year-old man today.
“In a weird way, this is what I always wanted,” Kenny said.
“For me, the work is the reward... I love voice acting, I love doing cartoons, I love working with animation and (making) a product that makes people happy and smile when they need it.”
Tickets are still available for Friday night’s SAMMYS award show at syracuseareamusic.com/tickets; prices are $25 for admission and $15 to livestream the event online. Thursday’s Hall of Fame Induction Dinner is sold out, but can be streamed online at https://www.facebook.com/SyracuseAreaMusic starting at 8 p.m.
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
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Animation Magazine has announced Dale Malinowski, a Co-Executive Producer on Nickelodeon and Hasbro's upcoming CG-animated Transformers: EarthSpark series, as one of 2022's Rising Stars of Animation!
Animag’s 2022 Rising Stars of Animation feature also honors Karissa Valencia, the creator of Spirit Rangers for Netflix, who started her career at Nickelodeon as a “Nick-tern” for the Talent Development Department, and Ruolin Li, director of Abominable and the Invisible City for DreamWorks Animation Television, who started her career working as a storyboard revisionist for Nickelodeon’s 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series!
A huge congratulations to Dale, Karissa, Ruolin, and everyone honored in Animation Magazine's 2022 Rising Stars of Animation feature! You can read more about each honoree at animationmagazine.net.
First time I knew I wanted to work in animation: I loved animation and comics from a very young age. I would trace comic-book covers and interior splash pages, I would draw characters I loved from the shows I was obsessed with, and I would staple together drawings of original characters I created to assemble their stories in DIY comic books. I knew I wanted to be a storyteller as a kid but I didn’t know how to convert my fantasy into a career. That path came into focus at school, so I put in the work and followed opportunities that led me to animation. Luck and timing played a role in my journey, too!
First animation job: Assistant to three current series executives at Nickelodeon. I didn’t know what ‘current series’ was before the interview, and I showed up sporting a black eye from a freak softball collision — not a good look walking into a children’s entertainment company. Still, those three executives took a chance and hired me. They were phenomenal bosses and mentors who taught me everything about animation production. I was vocal about my passion for writing and they encouraged me to pursue it. After a few years (and many failed interviews), I landed a job as a script coordinator and finally made it into a writer’s room. That was on Andy Suriano and Ant Ward’s Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and it was a dream come true.
Fave animated shows growing up: My favorite animated shows were the ones whose characters lived in my toy chest: TMNT, The Real Ghostbusters, Batman, X-Men, and Transformers, to name a few.
What I love about my job: I love writing for these characters. The Transformers are beloved, and contributing to their legacy is a privilege. I smile every time Final Draft auto-fills ‘Optimus Prime’ in the character field. I also love storyboard launch meetings. That’s the production milestone where written material begins its transition into a visual language. Discussions about character, intent, and how to communicate “what it’s about” are always enlightening because so many of my co-workers are masters of their craft.
Challenges: The job has many challenges, but they’re relative. We spend our days (and nights and weekends!) making animation for a kid audience, so maintaining perspective makes even the toughest moments feel surmountable.
Animation idols: I admire everyone I’m working with right now. Many crew members are the most talented people I’ve never met! Someday, we will all gather and be merry — I will probably cry.
Best career advice: You are more important than your work. Take care of yourself and ask for help when you need it.
ViacomCBS Networks Russia (Россия) and Pioneer Film Company have extended their partnership which will see "Nick Jr. at the Cinema" return to Russian cinemas in November 2021! The "Nick Jr. at the Cinema" initiative, brings some of Nickelodeon's top-rated preschool series to the big screen, including brand new episodes and specials before they air on the Nick Jr. channel. The 2021 edition of Nick Jr. at the Cinema" will kick off on November 4 with PAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue, with new releases each month going forward.
Update (4/3/22) - Due to Russia's continued illegal invasion of Ukraine, Paramount has decided to pull content out of Russian theaters, including PAW Patrol. The news was announced on Thursday, March 3.
Since launching in March 2019, around one million moviegoers throughout Russia have seen their favourite Nick Jr. shows on the silver screen thanks to "Nick Jr. at the Cinema", earning more than 161 million rubles at the box office.
Information about the project, as well as a list of participating cinemas will be available on the official "Nick Jr. at the Cinema" website, https://nickjrvkino.ru, soon.
Official ViacomCBS Networks Россия press release:
ПРОЕКТ «NICK JR. В КИНО» ВОЗВРАЩАЕТСЯ В КИНОТЕАТРЫ С 4 НОЯБРЯ
Кинокомпания Пионер и ViacomCBS возобновляют сотрудничество над проектом «Nick Jr. в кино», стартовавшем в начале марта 2019 года. В рамках ежемесячного кинотеатрального релиза «Nick Jr. в кино» дети дошкольного возраста и их родители смогут посмотреть новые серии популярных мультсериалов на больших экранах, в том числе до официального выхода некоторых их них в эфир телеканала Nick. Jr. Новый выпуск - специальный эпизод «Щенячий патруль: улётная помощь» - с одними из самых популярных героев телеканала Nick Jr. покажут в кинотеатрах с 4 ноября 2021 года.
С начала старта проекта кинокомпания Пионер выпустила 11 выпусков с анимационными шоу канала Nick Jr., собрав в прокате более 161 млн рублей. Выпуски детского сборника посмотрело около 1 млн кинозрителей по всей России.
Новые выпуски проекта «Nick Jr. в кино» будут выходить каждый месяц. Помимо «Щенячьего патруля», российские кинотеатры покажут анимационные шоу «Вспыш и чудо-машинки» о бесстрашном пикапе-гонщике, «Сантьяго и его моря», историю о приключениях восьмилетнего пирата и его друзей, и многие другие. Юные зрители узнают, как важно развивать уверенность в себе, быть трудолюбивым и помогать окружающим.
«За последний год мы часто получали от партнеров и кинотеатров запросы о возобновлении показов нашего чудесного проекта, и сейчас мы очень рады перезапустить Nick Jr. в кино. Благодаря удобному хронометражу выпуска, их регулярности и узнаваемости бренда возвращение проекта на российские экраны станет отличным подарком для детей и их родителей. Для многих малышей «Nick Jr. в кино» становится опытом первого похода в кинотеатр», − уверена генеральный директор кинокомпании Пионер Александра Геллер.
«Мы очень рады продолжению сотрудничества с кинокомпанией «Пионер», ведь благодаря ему у маленьких зрителей и их родителей есть возможность посмотреть любимые мультсериалы не только в эфире Nick Jr. и на VOD-платформах, но также и на больших экранах в самых разных городах страны. Наш предыдущий проект оказался очень успешным: около миллиона зрителей побывали в кинотеатрах и посмотрели выпуски сборника, – уверены, что новый этап нашего сотрудничества также привлечет большое внимание аудитории», - отметила Елена Бальмонт, старший вице-президент и генеральный директор ViacomCBS Networks International в России, СНГ, Украине, Грузии и странах Балтии.
Подробности проекта, а также адреса кинотеатров, где пройдут кинопоказы, скоро будут доступны на официальном сайте проекта.
New Braunfels, Tx - The 2022 Hill Country Comicon will be hosting a Avatar: The Last Airbender reunion panel on Sunday, March 6 at 2:00pm in Panel Room A!
"Avatar the Last Airbender has been captivating fans since it hit the screen in 2005 on Nickelodeon. We laughed and cried as Aang embarked on his epic journey out of the ice to reach his full Avatar potential. With the help of his companions Sokka, Katara, Toph, and of course Appa and Momo he learns how the world has changed since he initially ran from the overwhelming responsibility of taking on the mantle of The Avatar. Join voice actors Greg Baldwin (Uncle Iroh), Jesse Flower (Toph), Olivia Hack (Ty Lee), and Jack De Sena (Sokka) as they talk about the series that captured the hearts and minds of fans for the last seventeen years."
The ATLA reunion panel is one of the convention's most buzzed about events, according to Jennifer MacPherson, the digital media director for Hill Country Comicon. “It was just perfect timing,” voice actor Greg Baldwin told Herald-Zeitung Online. “What’s happening to the show is that a completely new generation has been exposed to it and loving it just as much as their parents did.”
Baldwin voiced the fan favorite character Uncle Iroh for the final season of the animated epic, and the actor feels blessed to have voiced such a wise character that has been an instrumental part of people’s lives.
Baldwin will join fellow cast members Jack De Sena, who played Sokka, Olivia Hack, who voiced Ty Lee, and Jessie Flower, who lent her voice to earth-bending prodigy Toph and will be accompanying Baldwin on the convention floor dressed as their respective characters.
“There’s what I call a radical freedom that exists at these places where you can literally let your freak flag fly,” Baldwin said. “You can wear whatever you want, be your inner self, and no one is going to judge you for it.”
In addition to the Avatar: The Last Airbender reunion panel, Hill Country Comicon 2022 will also host a Power Rangers panel on March 6 at 3:00 p.m. in Panel Room A, which will be attended by Space Cases star Walter Jones. There will also be a Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Challonge tournament on March 5. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.hillcountrycomicon.com.
