Powerpuff
Girls Update: Craig McCracken Responds; and Answers to other Rumors
and Questions
Gookie
Thurs., Jan 18 5:26 2001
Here's update on the Powerpuff Girls voices situation,
directfrom creator Craig McCracken, posted 1/14/01 (4:12 PM) to the
GIRLTALKmessage
board at powerpuff.com:
As you probably already know the recasting rumor is true but Iwanted
to write and set the record straight. No one at Cartoon Network is
happy with the thought of recasting the Girls, especially me. Everyone
absolutely loves the work that they do and we want to continue working
with them into the future. Theyare all great talents and a big part
of the show's success. The issue of recasting is strictly a buisness
[sic] one and not a creative one. At this point we are in negotiations
and are trying to come to an agreement where both parties are satisfied.
But when the time comes to record if negotiations have not been settled
we need to have a back up plan. As they say the show must go on.
But on a more personal note, all of us working on the film are pushing
ourselves to produce the best work we possibly can in the hopes that
the film will be the ultimate PPG experience.But if I'm in the booth
on the day of recording and Tara, E.G.,and Cathy aren't there I think
I'll be sick to my stomach because I'll then know that despite all
our efforts the movie will be seriously lacking. All I -- or should
I say we-- can hope for at this moment is that an agreement can be
reached that everyone involved feels is fair.
Thanks,
Craig
Because of resulting questions, he followed up with a secondpost (10:57
PM):
I fear my first post may have been slighty [sic] vague. I would like
to reiterate these points:
1. Believe me, Cartoon Network does NOT need to be convinced that
these are the right voices they want them as much as I or even YOU
do.
2. The only people who can solve this issue are the actors and Cartoon
Network. We are simply dealing with talent trying to GET a fair deal
and administration trying MAKE a fair deal. Nobody, I repeat nobody
is the bad guy here.
3. Recasting is ONLY an option if an agreement CAN'T be reached. It
is something NONE of the parties involved wants andthe only reason
they have begun now is auditioning takes timeand we can not wait a
week before recording to start the process. It would greatly throw
the already tight movie schedule off by about 4 months.
4. Negotiations ARE happening, so sit tight, relax, and wait. Which
is what I'm doing, and if you think your [sic] worried imagine how
I feel.
Thanks again,
Craig
Since Craig McCracken came forward to address this, there have been
new rumors that The Powerpuff Girls will end after the 4th season.
Marla Charendoff, Tara Strong's sister, posted to thethe
Tara Strong Fan Club in reply to this that "rumors are uncomfirmed
at this point. If the film does well and with it's original cast,
then the show will go on."
Other rumors and questions have been going around since this news
first broke. An inside source has offered some answers to clear these
issues up.
Rumor: The entire cast "walked out" when this situation first occurred.
Fact: "There was no walk out."
Question: How many actors in the cast are involved?
Answer: All of them. "The producers and agents have not
reached a deal, so the producers decided to [hiresound-alikes for]
the entire cast. This is really unnecessary as the [Powerpuff Girls]
team is [a] successful team. Thepeople in Burbank and Atlanta seem
to feel that the voices weren't an intricate part of that success.
They need to know differently. The whole crew put their best creative
talents together and made the show what it is."
Question: Are these negotiations over the movie, the 4thseason
of the show, or both?
Answer: Everything: the movie, the show, the merchandise -"the
whole shabang".
Question: What's the deadline before there's no more timefor the
actors and Cartoon Network to negotiate?
Answer: "The sooner the better." Timing is critical "with the possible
actors strike pending in June". Everyone involved wants the deal to
be done "ASAP".
Fans are already rallying to support the actors. A petition toCartoon
Network is underway, and just in the past few days, aSave
The Powerpuff Girls Cast website and a Save
Our Girls Yahoo! Club have been created to support the effort.
Voice actor enthusiasts have also expressed their concern overthis
situation on the Voice
Actor Appreciation Mailing List, and even professional voice actor
Maurice LaMarche came forward to post his opinion on the issue to
the list, urging his fellow voice actors not to audition. "Let's get
the actors....who made these characters the pop-culture icons that
they are, paid what they're worth. This picture will make tens, if
not hundreds, of millions of dollars. These actors are being offered
a pittance by comparison."
Please see our previous news item in the link below for contactinformation
and other details in ways that you can help show your support for
the actors.
Toon
Zone News (1.14.2000): Powerpuff Girls May Lose TheirVoices
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