May 2010 VAs on TV Highlights

“VAs on TV” has long been a feature in this blog’s history, but I normally highlight more notable ones as individual posts.

I’ve been wanting to introduce this as a monthly, comprehensive feature rather than just the occasional post, but with the time and effort involved in maintaining it I make no promises about keeping it updated regularly.

All times listed are EST (Eastern Standard Time). Please be sure to check your local listings for showtimes in your area. And I will continue updating this page throughout the month of May, which will be posted via Facebook and Twitter.

Additionally, as new info on upcoming on-camera and voice “appearances” is released but the scheduled airing is not yet known, they will be added at the close of this article.

5.01 — William Shatner interviews Weird Al Yankovic on Shatner’s Raw Nerve at 9:30 AM (EST) on the Biography Channel.

5.02 — Guest voices on the 8:30 PM episode of The Cleveland Show (FOX):

– Jason Sudeikis as Holt and Terry
– Jamie Kennedy as Federline
– Kanye West as Kenny West
– Taraji P. Henson as Chanel
– Jason Alexander as Saul Friedman
– Bebe Neuwirth as Sarah Friedman
– Al Thompson as Walt
Also listen for Kevin Michael Richardson as Bea Arthur.

(Previously reported here.)

: On Adult Swim, The Boondocks returns with the season three premiere at 11:30 PM. It features the voice talents of Regina King (Southland) as Huey and Riley Freeman; John Witherspoon (Friday After Next) as Granddad; Gary Anthony Williams (Boston Legal) as Uncle Ruckus; Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911) as Tom Dubois; Jill Talley (American Dad) as Sarah; and Gabby Soleil (Johnson Family Vacation) as Jazmine.

5.03 — The JEOPARDY! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational airs May 3-7 and features Harry Shearer, Neil Patrick Harris, Michael McKean and Cheech Marin competing in a trivia match for their favorite charities. More details and video on this event are available in my previous report. [Update 5.03 @ 10:00 PM: Unfortunately, Shearer lost to Jane Curtin in the first round of the tournament.]

: At 9:30 PM (EST) on CBS, Yeardley Smith (voice of Lisa Simpson) guest stars on a repeat of The Big Bang Theory. [Thanks to Jon B. for the heads-up.]

: Discover why so many recent voiceover auditions ask for a “Morgan Freeman type” as Freeman guests on CBS’ Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.

5.04 — Brad Garrett (voices in Ratatouille, A Bug’s Life, Eek! The Cat, Schnookums & Meat Funny Cartoon Show) guest stars as “Doug” in a rerun of Rosanne (ep. # 3.25 “The Pied Piper of Lanford” @ 12:30 AM on TVLand. Repeats @ 11:30 PM).

: The Biography Channel profiles Adam West (voices on Family Guy, The Fairly Odd Parents, Meet the Robinsons) at 9:00 AM (EST). Includes interviews with Burt (“Robin”) Ward, Frank (“The Riddler”) Gorshin, and Julie (“Catwoman”) Newmar. Repeats at 3:00 PM; 5.05 @ 4:00 AM.

: Michael McKean (voices on Harvey Birdman, Justice League, Family Guy) competes on the second round of JEOPARDY! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational. More details and video on this event are available in my previous report. [Update: 5.04 @ 11:00 PM — Winner: Michael McKean!]

: A new episode of WordGirl airs on PBS at 4:00 PM (EST) with guest stars John C. McGinley (Scrubs) as Whammer, animation voice actor Grey DeLisle (Scooby-Doo, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Wow Wow Wubzy) as Ms. Question and comedian/impressionist James Adomian as Joe the Guard.

It’s followed by another new episode at 4:30 PM (EST) guest starring Daran Norris (The Fairly OddParents) as Seymour Orlando Smooth and Grey DeLisle as Beatrice Bixby/Lady Redundant Woman.

: Samuel L. Jackson (Afro Samurai, The Boondocks) guests on The Ellen Degeneres Show (in syndication, check local listings).

: On Comedy Central at 10:00 PM (EST), the former FOX animated show Sit Down, Shut Up makes its cable network debut. It features the voices of Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Kristin Chenoweth, Will Forte, Nick Kroll, Kenan Thompson, Cheri Oteri and Henry Winkler.

: Impressionist Frank Caliendo (MAD TV) guests on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

5.05 — Look for Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) as Persky in a repeat episode of Just Shoot Me (ep. 2.13 “Pass the Salt”) on TBS @ 11:00 AM.

: Neil Patrick Harris (voices on Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Penguins of Madagascar, Robot Chicken, Family Guy, Spider-Man) competes on the third round of JEOPARDY! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational. More details and video on this event are available in my previous report.

: “Pixar Movie Mission,” a repeat episode of Dinner Impossible (FOOD TV) airs @ 10:00 PM (EST) and features Pixar founder John Lasseter, director/writer/animator Brad Bird (voice of The Incredibles‘ Edna Mode), and Lou Romano (voice of Linguini in Ratatouille). Repeats: 5.06 @ 1:00 AM; 5.08 @ 4:00 PM.

: Dana Delaney (Superman: The Animated Series) guests on PBS’ Tavis Smiley.

: Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show) guests on CBS’ Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.

: Samuel L. Jackson guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

5.06 — Mike Judge (King of the Hill, Beavis & Butthead) has a cameo on Spy Kids (2001) airing on Showtime @ 8:00 AM. Repeats: 5.12 @ 9:30 AM; 5.16 @ 12:05 PM.

: John DiMaggio (Futurama, Gears of War series, Chowder) has a brief role as “Officer Ross” in a rerun of My Name is Earl (ep. 1.23 “BB”) @ 8:00 AM on MyNetworkTV.

: Tim Daly (Superman: The Animated Series) guests on ABC’s The View.

: Samuel L. Jackson (a busy man on the talk show circuit this month) guests on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

5.07 — On the 8:00 PM (EST) episode of Smallville (The CW), Michael McKean (voices on Harvey Birdman, Justice League, Family Guy) guest stars as Perry White.

: Comedian Steven Wright (voices in Babe: Pig in the City, Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist, The Swan Princess) guests on CBS’ Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.

5.08 — Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity airs on Comedy Central at 9:00 PM (EST).

5.09 — The Biography Channel profiles Bill Cosby at 12:00 PM (EST), followed by the two-hour special The Cosby Show… A Look Back at 1:00 PM.

: Phil LaMarr guest stars as “Kurt” on a rerun of According to Jim (ep. 6.17 “Any Man of Mine”) @ 1:00 PM on The CW.

: Guest voices on the 8:30 PM episode of The Cleveland Show (FOX):

– Jason Sudeikis as Holt
– Jamie Kennedy as Federline
– Connor Rayburn as Dylan
– Aseem Batra as Kendra
– Glenn Howerton as Ernie
– Alec Sulkin as Angus
– Alex Borstein as Mrs. Lowenstein
– John Viener as Gordy
Also listen for Kevin Michael Richardson as Uncle Thomas the Tank Engine and Flava Flav.

(Previously reported here.)

5.10 — Judy Greer (voices on Archer, Glen Martin DDS) guest stars on a repeat of The Big Bang Theory at 9:30 PM (EST) on CBS.

5.11 — William Shatner interviews Tim Allen (Toy Story series, Home Improvement) on Shatner’s Raw Nerve at 11:00 AM on the Biography Channel, followed by Shatner’s interview with Jason Alexander (Duckman, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) at 12:00 PM. (Repeats between 5-6 PM.) You can also watch Tim Allen’s interview online at Biography.com.

5.12 — Johnny Depp narrates “The Doors” documentary When You’re Strange on American Masters @ 9:00 PM (EST) on PBS. A preview of the film is available on PBS.org.

: The Simpsons‘ Hank Azaria and Matt Groening are guest judges on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters @ 10:00 PM.

5.14 — George Takei (Oh, my!) guest stars on a scifi fantasy episode (“Starship Tipton”) of The Suite Life on Deck @ 8:00 PM (EST) on the Disney Channel. Although famous for his role as Sulu in the Star Trek franchise, Takei has voiced many animated productions: Disney’s Mulan film series, The Super Hero Squad Show, Chowder, Transformers: Animated, Kim Possible, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

5.16 — Wilmer Valderama (voice of Handy Manny) and Handy himself team up for ABC’s season finale of Extreme Makeover Home Edition at 8:00 PM (EST).

And stay tuned to ABC at 9:00 PM for a guest appearance by Dan Gilvezan (original voice of Bumblebee on Transformers) on the season finale of Desperate Housewives. [Thanks to the official Dan Gilvezan Fan Page for the news!]

: On FOX at 8:00 PM (EST), Kelsey Grammer reprises his role as Sideshow Bob in an all-new episode of The Simpsons.

Immediately following @ 8:30 PM (EST) is a new episode of The Cleveland Show (FOX) guest starring Arianna Huffington, Aseem Batra and Ted Lange (The Love Boat).

Adult Swim premieres the first episode of Squidbillies‘ sixth season @ 12:00 AM guest starring rockers Widespread Panic and featuring the voices of Unknown Hinson as Early Cuyler, Daniel McDevitt as Rusty, Dana Snyder as Granny, Todd Hanson as Dan Halen, Patricia French as Aunt Lil, Scott Hilley as Reverend, Mary Kraft as Krystal, and Bobby F. Ellerbee as Sheriff.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes video from 2008 featuring Unknown Hinson and Dana Snyder:

5.20 — On the 8:00 PM (EST) two-hour season finale of Smallville (The CW), Phil Morris (The Secret Saturdays, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) guest stars as John Jones, and Britt Irvin (George of the Jungle, X-Men: Evolution, Sabrina: The Animated Series) as Star Girl.

: Lenoard Nimoy (Star Trek, Transformers: The Movie, Atlantis: The Lost Empire) guest stars on FOX’s Fringe at 9:00 PM (EST).

5.21 — James Arnold Taylor (Star Wars: The Clone Wars says (via his official Facebook fan page) that he will be singing both The National Anthem and “God Bless America” for “Clone Wars Day” at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home game against the Detroit Tigers and adds that “it will be televised.”

5.23 — The 8:00 PM (EST) season finale of The Simpsons (FOX) features American Idol judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson.

And stay tuned to FOX for the 8:30 PM episode of The Cleveland Show (FOX) with the following guest stars:

– Jason Sudeikis as Holt
– David Lynch as Gus
– Frances Callier as Cookie
– Craig Robinson as Freight Train
– Corey Holcomb as Robert
This episode also features a “special musical number by Earth, Wind & Fire” as well as cameos by Family Guy‘s Peter Griffin and Quagmire (voiced by Seth MacFarlane).

(Previously reported here.)

Additional notes and upcoming appearances:

– John Goodman (voices in The Princess and the Frog, Monsters, Inc., The Emperor’s New Groove film and TV series, The Jungle Book 2, Bee Movie, and the upcoming animated feature film Bunyan and Babe) is narrating the TLC series Best Food Ever. It premiered May 3rd and currently airs in regular rotation on the network. Visit TLC.Discover.com for the schedule.

– I’ve updated my feature article on Nick’s Big Time Rush with appearances by Tara Strong, Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor, Phil LaMarr, Daran Norris, Carlos Alazraqui and Ahmed Best. Because these episodes are broadcast in regular rotation on Nick, I’ve decided not to list them in this feature. But if you’d like to see when they air, check Nick.com’s TV Schedule page. Some episodes from the first season are also available online @ Nick.com.

– NickandMore.com shares via Twitter that Tom Kenny has appeared twice on Nick’s True Jackson, VP in the episodes “Saving Snackleberry” and “True Royalty.” Check this page on IMDb.com for future airings.

– Phil LaMarr posted via his official Facebook fan page on 5.03 that he “Spent the AM @ Cartoon Network working on the very fun GENERATOR REX” and added later that he recorded with Grey Delisle, Carlos Alazraqui and Marion Ross (Happy Days).

Since making its debut on Cartoon Network, Generator Rex now airs regularly on the schedule and features the voices of Daryl Sabara as Rex, John DiMaggio as Bobo Haha and Skalamander, Fred Savage as Noah, Tara Strong as Alan, Grey DeLisle as Dr. Holiday, Wally Kurth as Agent Six, Troy Baker as Van Kleiss and Biowulf, J.K. Simmons as White Knight, Tom Kenny as Scorpio, and Hynden Walch as Breach.

Sources: TVGuide.com, Interbridge.com, TheFutonCritic.com, IMDb.com

Voice Cast Cavalcade: The Cleveland Show

Next in my series of “Voice Cast Cavalcade” features…

I’ve noticed that I’m getting search hits almost daily from fans looking for “cleveland voice actor” or similar search terms.

I’m always willing to oblige my readers by providing more info on popular blog searches, but I’ve previously profiled Mike Henry, voice of Cleveland Brown and co-creator of The Cleveland Show. And I mentioned some of the celebrity guest voices in my February coverage.

Without getting into the debate over the show being “too derivative” of Family Guy (a common criticism which is also said of American Dad), as an animation fan (and critic) I have to say I am enjoying it much more than I ever did Family Guy. I didn’t think Cleveland was a strong enough character to carry the series as the lead, and wow was I proven wrong.

I feel The Cleveland Show also is better written and has stronger characterizations than Family Guy, mainly because Peter Griffin is the most inconsistent character in animated history (and one of the most obnoxious as well). Cleveland’s like the polar opposite of Peter, and he’s actually likable.

And supporting the solid writing are entertaining performances by the voice cast. But since I’ve mentioned the cast here previously, I thought I’d bypass the commentary and offer you the chance to see the cast in action.

So, following a little news on upcoming episodes of the show, you’ll find a series of behind-the-scenes videos and interviews I’ve been collecting in my backlogged bookmarks.

That said, TheFutonCritic.com has details (via FOX press release) on the guest voices for new episodes of The Cleveland Show airing May 2nd and 9th:

+ “Brotherly Love”, airing 5.02 at 8:30 PM (EST) on FOX:

Voice Cast:
– Mike Henry as Cleveland Brown and Rallo Tubbs
– Sanaa Lathan as Donna Tubbs
– Kevin Michael Richardson as Cleveland Jr., Lester, Julius and Bea Arthur
– Reagan Gomez as Roberta Tubbs
– Seth MacFarlane as Tim

Guest Voice Cast:
– Jason Sudeikis as Holt and Terry
– Jamie Kennedy as Federline
– Kanye West as Kenny West
– Taraji P. Henson as Chanel
– Jason Alexander as Saul Friedman
– Bebe Neuwirth as Sarah Friedman
– Al Thompson as Walt

+ “Brown History Month”, airing 5.09 at 8:30 PM (EST) on FOX:

Voice Cast:
– Mike Henry as Cleveland Brown and Rallo Tubbs
– Sanaa Lathan as Donna Tubbs
– Kevin Michael Richardson as Cleveland Jr., Lester, Uncle Thomas the Tank Engine and Flavor Flav
– Reagan Gomez as Roberta Tubbs
– Seth MacFarlane as Tim

Guest Voice Cast:
– Jason Sudeikis as Holt
– Jamie Kennedy as Federline
– Connor Rayburn as Dylan
– Aseem Batra as Kendra
– Glenn Howerton as Ernie
– Alec Sulkin as Angus
– Alex Borstein as Mrs. Lowenstein
– John Viener as Gordy

Additionally, FreakinSweetNews.com reports that the May 23rd episode will feature “a special musical number by Earth, Wind & Fire.”

Now, onto the videos…

In April 2010, Mike Henry was interviewed by BackStage Casting:

And these are all from the official FOX Broadcasting YouTube Channel and most of them from 2009:

And finally, from The Hollywood Reporter:

I’ll continue to update this page over time to add photos, videos and related interviews. And I’m still trying to find photos/videos from The Cleveland Show panel featuring cast members Mike Henry and Kevin Michael Richardson at the 2010 Chicago Entertainment and Comic Expo.