The writing for the Simpsons is more important because voice actors for cartoons have to adhere to the script pretty strictly. They add flavor to the characters, but can't improvise anything.

And they never broadcast cartoons live because it puts a terrible strain on the animator's wrists. -wink-

Wow, this was totally lame...why did I stay up until midnight for this crap. None of them even looked like they even remotely wanted to be there...especially Azaria...if I wanted to hear the voices I would just watch the show.

I worked with Dan Castelleneta a few years ago. He was the voice talent in a radio spot I wrote. After we got the spot done, i asked him to do a voicemail message for me as Homer.

His improvisation was very, very funny. And I had the coolest voicemail in the whole office.

Pretty bad. The clips were driving me crazy. And I thought this was going to be a real interview, not just a "let's listen to them all talk in Simpsons voices while we watch silent clips from earlier seasons." -rolleyes-

And this from such a typically quality show like Inside the Actors Studio. Dissapointing.

I agree with most of you, pretty much a letdown. It was very interesting to see them doing the voices, but there was very little of this. It was, "cut to clips"...and the stuff being asked and answered was hardly funny at all.

It's like Bravo couldn't decide what they wanted to do, hear Simpsons' characters catchphrases from the people, ask questions that are bound to get disappointing responses, or find out about the actors behind the voices.

So, overall a letdown, but it was cool to see some of the cast do the voices, and switch from character to character. They're talented.

This was the first "Inside the Actor's Studio" that I've seen, and I was quite disappointed. Aside from the fact that James Lipton is really an annoying host, the actors really were not that entertaining.

Wouldn't it have been better if it was simply an animated special with the characters being interviewed, rather than the actors? Of course, FOX wouldn't allow that, but still, I bet it would be more interesting. Plus, the writers could actually create an enjoyable, or at least funny interview.

For those who missed it, I think Bravo is airing it at 7 PM tonight, or around an hour from now EST.

I looked at Inside the Actor's Studio .com and they list Drew barrymore as the new one coming up and Will Smith and Benecio DelToro as the encores for the enxt few weeks. I dont see a rerun of this episode coming for awhile.

SPY

I thought Hank Azaria and Nancy Cartwright seemed like they were genuinely having fun. The others seemed just ok with being there and Julie seemed not happy at all. I think I only saw her smile once, while reacting to someone else doing a voice.

It did grow old quickly. I just found Nancy to be so happy to BE Bart and her "transformation" from her voice to his, was like so cool, man. I couldn't get enough of her. Some of the voices didn't even sound that good live, especially the Homer voice, but Bart was totally amazing. I think she seemed REALLY excited and proud to be a part of the Simpsons.

The questions were horrible. As mentioned, why not ask questions about the illusion of the face and the voice? Julie Kavner sounds exactly like Marge, so does she not speak to people because that might ruin the illusion? Ridiculous. But at least make it part of the discussion.

It was fun because there's nothing else to compare it to, but it was choppy and forced and not insightful, really, other than to marvel at hearing them do the voices. Especially Bart.

Russell Crowe on Inside The Actors' Studio
 

Anyone watch this last night? My opinion of Crowe (which was already pretty high) went up a few more notches...seems like a great guy.

I saw part of it at the beginning. He seems kind of shy in that type of situation from the little that I watched

Re: Russell Crowe on Inside The Actors' Studio
 

Nevermind those moments of arrogant douchebaggery in real life he tends to have. :lol:

Re: Russell Crowe on Inside The Actors' Studio
 

I agree. This leads me to believe that the news accounts of his obnoxious hijinks may be exaggerated.

Crap - I missed this. Hopefully I can catch the encore.

Re: Re: Russell Crowe on Inside The Actors' Studio
 

I've always thought that.

He's never struck me as anything but an actor that takes his job very seriously.

I just wanted to revive this thread because I'm watching the 10th anniversary show on Bravo and I've never seen the show before. James Lipton is a very good interviewer. (Now I understand why Will Ferrell's impression is so good) He seems to pull something really deep out of the interviewee even though they're in front of a huge audience.

I do have a question though. They're showing the clips where all the actors start crying. It seems as if every interviewee who is on the show starts crying. Is this a fair assumption? Is that part of the charm of the show, how intimate the interview gets?

The best Actors Studio episode was when they had the entire cast of the Simpsons on, all doing their voices, etc. It was, to say the least, AWESOME.

shaun, that was great but I found it odd that Julie Kavner did not want her face being shown when she spoke as Marge. And then she left (I forgot why...it has been a while since I saw that one) and was a let down. Thank GOD Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer saved the day on that one. Yeardley Smith was just.... BORING!

All De Niro did was shake his hands and clear his throat every 5 minutes.


The funniest Will Ferrell lipton impersonation was when he interviewed Billy Bob Thornton on SNL.


I heard De Niro is extremely shy when it comes to interviews.


Then again when he was promoting Ronin on CNN a couple of years ago he was saying how other countries are laughing at us (The US) because we were going to impeach Clinton for infidelity.


When will Pacino do the show?

I'm doing the survey...and my 300th post.

What Is Your Favorite Word?

Peace

What Is Your Least Favorite Word?

Fart (a truly ugly word)

What Turns You On?

A bright smile

What Turns You Off?

Stubborn ignorance

What Sound Do You Love?

When a really cute girl lets out a little giggle

What Sound Do You Hate?

A high-pitched squeal

What Is Your Favorite Curse Word?

JAMF (stolen from Clint Eastwood)

What Profession Other Than Yours Would You Like To Attempt?

A carpenter

What Profession Would You Not Like To Participate In?

A Cop

If Heaven Exists, What Would You Like To Hear God Say When You Arrive At The Pearly Gates?

This is it.


P.S. Charlie Rose is my favorite interviewer, but I rarely catch his shows. I'm always thrilled to see a film's DVD include an interview, especially since some go a way back.

Inside the Actor's Studio: Dave Chappelle (2/12/06)
 

Did anyone catch this last night? It was cool to hear his side of everything, because until now it's been pretty much Hollywood gossip.

Charlie Murphy! rotfl

Missed it. Can you post a review, or point to an article discussing the show?

How was he on it? I really believe that he was stoned on Oprah.

haha. thats what i thought too. I said to myself, "Something doesn't seem right with him." plus, his eyes were all glossy and a lot of what he was saying wasn't really making sense to me. matt

Articles:

http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et...,1047120.story
http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...happelle_x.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11259024/

Maybe some video...my crappy computer at work doesn't have the latest flash:

http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Ac...happelle.shtml

If you didn't catch it or know about it (like me) according to my DVR it is going to be on tonight at 9.

No offense to Dave Chappelle or Martin Lawrence or even Jay Leno, but this show used to have some great actors, and now they are just getting anyone and I believe Rosie O'Donnell was on last season? What was she talking about her demanding role in Sleepless in Seattle?

This show used to get A-List actors like DeNiro, Jodie Foster, Tom Hanks, Spielberg, and Anthony Hopkins, now Lipton is getting anyone to keep the show going. It used to be real interesting, now you have a bunch of B-actors and comics talking about their craft? Jumped the shark.....

That Mr. Show sketch in which Lipton washes the feet of some guy who acts in commercials was more prescient than I thought.

this show was a trainwreck. chappelle looked drugged out of his mind.

Drugged out of his mind? I didn't get that vibe at all. He looked very coherent and I thought rather funny.

So what are they suppose to do? Keep interviewing the same people over and over again? It's either let lesser talented or known actors on or cancel the show.

There was an episode with Elton John not so long ago.

Were you watching the same episode I was? Chapelle was acting a bit like Tyrone Biggums.

Or Lipton basking in the genius that is Charles Nelson Reilly on SNL.

The show definitely suffers when they book a second-rate comic rather than a genuine movie star.

I don't think it has jumped the shark, but I agree that Lipton should try to get better actors. He recently interviewed J-Lo. What has she done. Most of her films are crap (Gigli anyone).

There are several actors and actresses who haven't been interviewed yet, like Clooney, Brad Pitt, Keira Knightley, Salma Hayek, Benicio del Toro.

I agree. It was a bit weird that they spent all that time talking about his parents, but I guess that's what this show does.

As for only having A list actors on the show, who says they have to be dramatic actors? Having the #1 selling TV on DVD ever is no small feat, and there were millions of people in this country who were interested in hearing what Dave had to say. I think on Oprah (though I haven't seen it) you'd feel like you're doing Barbara Walters in the afternoon.

Here is a link to the full Oprah interview w/Chappelle and commericals are cut out:

http://www.youtube.com/?v=WDC1SLPYvl4

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mopower

So what are they suppose to do? Keep interviewing the same people over and over again? It's either let lesser talented or known actors on or cancel the show.

---

Yes, it had a nice run, but a majority of the guests are not that interesting. I forgot about J-Lo, and he also interviewed Ben Affleck, he is the biggest no talent. Sure he'll get a couple of good guests like Charlize Therion, but I think he is searching for talent that isn't there anymore.

I used to watch this show every week to see some great actor talk about their classic movies, now we have Ben Afflect talking about his craft in Pearl Harbor? Great show that had a great run, put a fork in it, all great things have to come to an end.

Next week on Inside the Actor's Studio, Chris Kattan.

Coincidentally, I believe they recently replayed Lipton's interview with that famous actor, Barbara Walters. ;)

Who will be next? Paris Hilton? :lol:

There are tons of good actors out there who I'm sure would love to do his show. Has Julianne Moore been on? Philip Seymour Hoffman?

How about some younger, talented actors? Evan Rachel Wood, Sara Polley, Cillian Murphy?

Yes and yes. I saw the Chappelle interview and he didn't seem drugged at all -- it seemed like he had made the decision to "be real" onstage and went for it. I don't care for Dave Chappelle very much, but I thought it was a great interview.

Lipton had Liza Minnelli for 2 hours a few weeks ago and it was VERY interesting to hear about her mother, her career and growing up in old Hollywood -- she was NOT that goofball that we've been seeing for the past few years, but was coherent, funny and insightful to the students; they loved her.

But most of you guys are right that the guests lately have been a bit, shall we say, odd to be on Inside the Actors Studio. I think Lipton has had every A-lister there is except maybe Brad Pitt (I guess he's still an A-lister). Personally, I would like to see more directors on there -- Scorsese has been there, but I don't recall any others.