So how, you ask, can I make such a bold statement that Voice Over Acting is the best gig in entertainment? One word….Simpsons.

The Fox animated TV series, The Simpsons is reaching a new milestone… TV’s longest-running scripted nighttime series marks its 450th episode!

After 20 years these animated characters (and the Voice Actors behind the animation) can easily claim the title as TV’s longest-running scripted nighttime series — period…. With the same Voice Actors that started it all! That the great thing about Voice Acting….you can play roles outside your age, gender or even species!

Had this not been an animated series, no doubt the actors would have been written out because they started aging or gaining weight, etc. But not so in Voice Acting! You can forever be the same lovable character you were 20 years ago…(as long as you keep training and exercising your intrument(s)).

So, that is why Voice Acting is the best gig in entertainment….the opportunities are endless!

Congrats to the Simpsons…. Dan Castellaneta  as dimwitted dad Homer, Julie Kavner is mom Marge, Nancy Cartwright is first-born Bart and Yeardley Smith is daughter Lisa…Also regular Voice Actors - Hank Azaria, for numerous characters including police Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy and convenience-store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, and Harry Shearer, whose stable of roles includes Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Kent Brockman, Dr. Hibbert and Principal Skinner….Plus EVERY celebrity in the last 20 years has made guest appearances.

Here’s to another 20!

Animation Voice Acting, In The News, Personalities Animated Tv Series, Animated Tv Series The Simpsons, Comic Book Guy, Dan Castellaneta, Dr Hibbert, Entertainment One, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner, Kent Brockman, Mr Burns, Nahasapeemapetilon, Nancy Cartwright, Police Chief Wiggum, Principal Skinner, Reverend Lovejoy, Tv Series The Simpsons, Voice Actors, Waylon Smithers, Yeardley Smith

A legend in the world of broadcasting has been replaced.

     vs      

Water Cronkite was the Voice Over for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. However, since his death in 2009, the network has decided to replace his voice with that of actor, Morgan Freeman.

This is not meant to be a diss on the TV legend, but a decision based on the fact that if they need customized intro’s to the CBS News, in the future, they’ll need a voice actor who is………well……Alive.  Morgan Feeman is a great choice, in my book. Good luck!

In The News, Personalities Actor Morgan Freeman, Cbs, Cbs Evening News, Cbs Evening News With Katie Couric, Cbs News, Cronkite, Evening News With Katie Couric, Good Luck, Katie Couric, Morgan Feeman, Morgan Freeman, Voice Actor

Sad news in the world of Acting and Voice Over…

32 year old Brittany Murphy, who starred in movies like Clueless and Girl Interrupted, as well as the voice of Luanne in the animated series King of the Hill, (in which she won a 2005 Annie Award for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production), was found unconscious in the show, early this morning by her mother.

After a call to 911 from her Los Angeles home, paramedics were not able to revive her and she was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead of cardiac arrest at 10:04am.

Animation Voice Acting, In The News, Personalities 911, Acting, Actress, Animated Television Production, Annie, Brittany Murphy, Cardiac Arrest, Cedars Sinai Medical, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Clueless, Girl Interrupted, King Of The Hill, Luanne, Paramedics, Sad News, Sinai Medical Center, Voice Acting

So…. For years it always rubbed me the wrong way when I’d see famous actors getting these awesome Voice Over roles for big Disney or Pixar animated movies or series…or for major, national ad campaigns. I always thought that the famous actors should just stay in their own field and leave the “voice over” jobs to the Voice Over pros.

But recently it hit me. Since I’ve really started blogging and coaching so much more…I’ve been heavily emphasizing that this is Voice Over ACTING…Not just a disconnected voice, over some cartoon or visual imagery. It’s ACTING…and in the truest form!

So…That being said…I guess I really have no right to be upset or deny a fellow actor the right to practice his or her craft. We’re all in the same pool…just different areas. And if you really want to look at it as: “The glass is half full”, this is really a great wake up call to a lot of the seasoned voice actors to step it up…go back to get some more training/coaching…expand your offerings, etc.

Whatever the case… Don’t let this deter you from pursuing the dream and becoming the absolute best and most successful Voice Actor you can be! Bring on ALL contenders! Famous actors or not! 

Animation Voice Acting, In The News, Personalities, Recodring Blogging, Cartoon, Contenders, Disney, Doing Voice Overs, Famous Actors, Fellow Actor, Gor, Jobs, National Ad Campaigns, Offerings, Pixar, Pixar Animated Movies, Pool, Training Coaching, Visual Imagery, Voice Acting, Voice Actor, Voice Actors, Voice Over Jobs, Wake Up Call, Wrong Way

Animation’s highest honor…The Annie Awards have announced their 37th Annual Nominations. Here are the Voice Acting category nominees:   (You can find a complete nominee listing here.) 

Voice Acting in a Television Production

• Danny Jacobs – Voice of King Julien – “Merry Madagascar” — DreamWorks Animation
• Nicky Jones – Voice of Chowder – “Chowder: The Dinner Theatre” — Cartoon Network Studios
• Tom Kenny – Voice of SpongeBob – “SpongeBob SquarePants — Truth or Square” — Nickelodeon
• Dwight Schultz – Voice of Mung Daal – “Chowder:The Party Cruise” — Cartoon Network Studios
• Willow Smith – Voice of Abby – “Merry Madagascar” — DreamWorks Animation

Voice Acting in a Feature Production

• Jen Cody – Voice of Charlotte – “The Princess and the Frog” — Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Dawn French – Voice of Miss Forcible – “Coraline” — Laika
• Hugh Laurie – Voice of Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. – “Monsters vs. Aliens” — DreamWorks Animation
• John Leguizamo – Voice of Sid – “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur” — Blue Sky Studios
• Jenifer Lewis – Voice of Mama Odie – “The Princess and the Frog” — Walt Disney Animation Studios

Congrats and best of luck to all the nominees!!

Animation Voice Acting, In The News Animation Studios, Animation Voice, Annie Awards, Blue Sky Studios, Cartoon Network Studios, Coraline, Danny Jacobs, Dawn French, Dreamworks Animation, Dwight Schultz, Feature Production, Hugh Laurie, John Leguizamo, King Julien, Odie, Party Cruise, Princess And The Frog, Tom Kenny, Walt Disney Animation, Willow Smith