The podcast that shares stories
Ali discusses Tiny Toon Adventures created by Tom Ruegger, sharing her appreciation for these Looney Tunes counterparts chock-full of slapstick gags, meta humor and fourth wall breaking commentary, plus her love of the catchy theme song and being confused as to what “no relation” meant when she watched the show in reruns on Nickelodeon as a little kid. She also talks about that one banned episode, as well as the fun direct-to-video movie, Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation.
Ali discusses the creative cartoon about a global coalition of adult-fighting kids, Codename: Kids Next Door, created by Mr. Warburton. She reminisces about watching the pilot back when it originally aired that won the Cartoon Network viewers’ poll to be made into a series. She talks about favorite episodes she loved as a kid, plus a bunch she’d never seen until now, all the while sharing her thoughts on the dynamics of the five main characters, Numbuhs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. She also discusses the series finale, “Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S,” and she touches on the attempted spin-off series, Galactic: Kids Next Door.
Ali interviews animator and director, Aaron Long. He shares how he became a director on BoJack Horseman, memorable episodes and scenes he’s worked on for the show, his favorite contributions to Tuca & Bertie thus far, the inspiration for his indie cartoon series, Sublo and Tangy Mustard, favorite episodes and funny character names, as well as the character he relates to the most from his show. He also shares his thoughts on cartoon reboots, some of his all-time favorite cartoon characters and advice for young animators and creators.
Be sure to check out Aaron’s site, aaronlongcartoons.com, as well as his YouTube channel. You can also follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
Ali discusses some of her personal favorite bottle episodes from various TV shows and what makes them so interesting, whether it’s hilarious character interactions, building tension between two characters or raising the stakes as an episode plays out in real time.
Ali discusses the defining moments of Beatrice Horseman (née Sugarman) as seen in flashbacks of BoJack’s terrible childhood, her own tragic childhood depicted in the season 4 episode, “The Old Sugarman Place,” further exploration of pivotal points in her life that led to her bitter adulthood all shown through her shaky memories in the fantastic penultimate episode of season 4, “Time’s Arrow,” BoJack delivering her eulogy in the standout episode of season 5, “Free Churro,” and finally her last appearance in the phenomenal penultimate episode of the series, “The View From Halfway Down.”
Be sure to also check out The Final Season of BoJack Horseman + “Nothing Unsaid” and BoJack Horseman + “Temporarily Forget.”
Ali discusses what goes into writing a TV comedy pilot for this special 100th episode of the podcast! She talks about the two main things any pilot should accomplish as well as the difference between a premise pilot and an episodic pilot, drawing examples from some of her favorites while also talking about how the television landscape has changed over the years.
Here’s the article Ali mentions at the beginning of the episode: Good Place Creator Michael Schur on What We Lose When TV Gets Shorter.
Ali discusses the hit ’90s Nickelodeon sitcom, Kenan & Kel, created by Kim Bass and starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. She reminisces about watching the show as a kid on the SNICK lineup each week, sharing clips from some of her favorite episodes that showcase the silly storylines and iconic lines that anyone who grew up with this show can still quote to this day. Aw, here it goes!
Ali discusses the musical dramedy series, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, created by Austin Winsberg. She shares how it captivated her from the start, praising the show’s moving themes, beautiful choreography and talented cast while sharing her favorite moments of empathy and character growth throughout the first season.
Here’s the article Ali talks about at the beginning of the episode: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist creator reveals the emotional true story behind NBC’s musical drama.
Recommended videos to check out/revisit:
Learn more about PSP by visiting psp.org.
Ali discusses the wonderful show, Schitt’s Creek, created by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, praising the series for its realistic character growth while highlighting its perfect blend of heart and humor as she shares her favorite hilarious moments and emotional scenes that make this show the epitome of love and joy.
Ali discusses the long-running family mockumentary series, Modern Family, created by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd. She shares how she got into the show, scenes that always make her laugh, favorite emotional moments and episodes with clever storytelling methods, plus her thoughts on the series finale.
Storytelling Saga 