Academy Award nominee Chris Miller appeared on Episode #2 of The LCJ Q&A Podcast in 2011 for the release of his DreamWorks feature Puss in Boots. He returns to the animation director's chair for Paramount's Smurfs, which is now playing in theaters nationwide. Just a few hours after I saw the film, we reconnected for a conversation about how working on this adventure 'blue' him away.
For many years he was "The Profit" on CNBC. Now Marcus Lemonis headlines the new reality series "The Fixer", premiering Friday July 18th at 8pm on FOX and next day on Hulu. Lemonis discusses both programs, along with some game shows he's been a part of, and what goes into making great television.
The door is back open! New series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ premieres next Monday July 21st on Disney Jr. and Tuesday July 22nd on Disney+. Emmy-winning executive producer Rob LaDuca and co-producer and story editor Kim Duran share insights on additions to this iconic location and crafting adventures for a new generation of fans.
Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans are the directors of Sony Pictures Animation's "KPop Demon Hunters". Learn all about the energetic action and music filled feature, which premieres this Friday June 20th on Netflix.
Academy Award nominee Vincent Paronnaud is the co-director of the charming new animated feature "Into the Wonderwoods", available on VOD and Digital starting Tuesday June 24th. It's about a 10-year-old boy named Angelo who has quite the adventure. Paronnaud shares what's at the heart of this story and reflects on making 2007's "Persepolis".
Nickelodeon is premiering a new animated adventure comedy this Friday June 6th at 7:30pm. It's Wylde Pak. Creators Paul Watling and Kyle Marshall and executive producer Seonna Hong share how this summer series about half-siblings Jack and Lily will delight families.
The highly anticipated new season of 'Phineas and Ferb' premieres Thursday June 5 on Disney Channel and Friday June 6 on Disney+. Here to talk all about it are creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh, as well as cast members Ashley Tisdale, Caroline Rhea, Vincent Martella, David Errigo Jr. and Alyson Stoner.
"Lulu Is A Rhinoceros" is a new AppleTV+ animated special premiering Friday May 30th. It's about Lulu (voiced by "Moana"'s Auli'i Cravalho) — a dog who sees herself as a rhinoceros and wants to share kindness and the value of self-worth with others in her community. This is adapted from a 2018 book by father-daughter duo Jason and Allison Flom, who are creators and EPs on the special. Allison also serves as head writer and lyricist for the songs.
Robert Valley is an Academy Award nominee for short "Pear Cider and Cigarettes", an Annie winner for the "Tron: Uprising" animated series and an Emmy winner for his work on popular program "Love, Death + Robots". He returns to "LD+R" with a new short for Vol. 4 called "400 Boys". It stars John Boyega and premieres this Thursday May 15th on Netflix.
Oklahoma City's KJ103 film critic and Critics Choice Association member Jason Black returns to The LCJ Q&A for another Summer Movie Preview. This time we dive into what May, June, July and August 2025 have in store in theaters and on streaming — the blockbusters, the indies, the wild cards and our most anticipated releases!
Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band is a new one-hour, jazz-infused special premiering Thursday May 1st on PBS Kids. Creator Kwame Alexander adapts from his 2011 book. Julius Harper serves as executive producer. It’s the story of a young rooster who wants to join jazz animal greats in making fantastic music. This special, and 20 accompanying shorts available on PBS Kids platforms, will show kids the power of collaboration and creating a beautiful tune.
Animated action comedy family series Super Duper Bunny League premieres this Saturday April 19th at 9:30am on Nickelodeon. Creators and EPs Johnny Belt and Robert Scull share insights on bringing to life the adventures of heroic, funny bunnies.
Three-time Emmy winning voice acting icon Keith David and four-time Modern Family SAG Awards winner Rico Rodriguez star in Sneaks. It opens in theaters this Friday April 18th. The animated comedy adventure is about new sneakers won by teen basketball player Edson. The pair is quickly stolen from him — and gets separated. The quest to be reunited in time for a big game is on! David voices "O.G.", and Rodriguez lends his talents to "Ice".
Four-time Best Comedy Album Grammy-winning executive producer Brian Volk-Weiss (of The Nacelle Company) is now the creator and director of RoboForce: The Animated Series, which is taking '80s character toys that didn't get their proper due and giving them a new shot at entertainment stardom. The show premieres this Saturday April 12th on Tubi.
"Iyanu", based on a graphic novel series, is a new animated series premiering this Saturday April 5th at 9am on Cartoon Network, and Sunday April 6th on Max. It's about a special girl who discovers divine powers. Joining me for a quick but deep dive into the show are series writers Kerri Grant and Brandon Easton, supervising director Vincent Edwards and voice director Paula Gammon Wilson.
Emmy-winner Paul Walter Hauser plays iconic "Press Your Luck" contestant Michael Larson in the new dramatic thriller "The Luckiest Man in America", which opens in theaters this Friday April 4th. Hauser and director Samir Oliveros join me for in-depth conversations about bringing this legendary game show story to the screen.
Disney Junior animated series "RoboGobo" — about the rescue pets who rescue pets — makes its Disney+ debut on Tuesday April 1st. Creator and EP Chris Gilligan shares what makes this show so special, along with stories about working on two timeless stop-motion features.
New DreamWorks animated series "BE@RBRICK", based on Medicom Toy's figures, premieres this Friday March 21st on AppleTV+. Showrunner, EP and writer Meghan McCarthy joins me to talk about the show's vision, themes, music and spirit.
I join host Jim Cerqua live on B95.5 (WYJB-FM) for 2025 Oscars predictions and analysis in some of the major categories, plus reflections on the careers of the late Gene Hackman and Michelle Trachtenberg.
New "SpongeBob" spinoff feature film "Plankton: The Movie" debuts March 7th on Netflix. Director Dave Needham ("The Loud House Movie") and stars Mr. Lawrence (Plankton) and Jill Talley (the voice of Karen) join me for a deep dive into the latest Bikini Bottom adventure.
"A Sloth Story" is a new animated comedy adventure about sloths who move to the big city and hope their treasured family recipes make their food truck a major success. It opens in theaters this Friday Feb. 28. Director Tania Vincent shares the many wonderful ingredients that went into creating this grounded and fun film.
New episodes of FOX Animation Domination icon "Family Guy" air Sundays at 8pm through March 23rd. It moves to 8:30pm on March 30th. Three-time Emmy winner Rich Appel and three-time Emmy nominee Alec Sulkin are the showrunners and executive producers, who work closely with creator and star Seth MacFarlane on continuing to deliver quality comedy over a quarter century after the series premiered. But what about a movie? We discuss that and much more.
Viva Kids' new animated feature "Night of the Zoopocalypse", from an idea by Clive Barker and starring the voice of David Harbour, opens in theaters nationwide on Mar. 7. Directors Rodrigo Perez-Castro and Ricardo Curtis, who previously collaborated on several Blue Sky Studios films, share what went into this comedy thriller for families.
Emily Brundige is the Emmy and Annie nominated creator of the new animated family series "Goldie", adapted from her 2019 short. It premieres Friday Feb. 14 on AppleTV+. Brundige shares the inspiration for her show, along with the impact of also working on "Hilda" and "Over the Garden Wall".
"Paddington in Peru", the third installment in the popular family film franchise, opens in North America on February 14th. Dougal Wilson makes his feature film directorial debut and describes what went into this major, complex production.
Jeff Trammell, Emmy and Annie nominated writer on Craig of the Creek, is the creator (as well as EP and writer) of the new Marvel animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. The first two episodes are now available on Disney+. The remaining eight episodes debut over the next three Wednesdays. Trammell shares insights on the show’s story, look, characters and cast, including one of this year’s Oscar nominees, Colman Domingo.
Peter Hastings is a six-time Emmy-winner who’s worked on the DreamWorks Animation Television Epic Tales of Captain Underpants and various Kung Fu Panda spin-offs. Now he’s the director of the studio’s new theatrical Dog Man movie, in theaters this Friday January 31st. Adapted from author Dav Pilkey’s popular books, this is an action and comedy packed adventure about a part-man, part-dog cop who faces-off against a crime-loving cat, with the TV news cameras constantly rolling.
Seth and Peter Scriver are half-brothers and the directors and subjects of the new animated documentary film "Endless Cookie", which premieres in-person Saturday January 25th at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and is available through the online platform during the fest. Seth, who is white, and Peter, who is mixed race (Indigenous and white), share this one-of-a-kind presentation of conversations and stories about their lives and their family in Canada. Cookie Scriver (prominently featured in th...
A group of student government middle schoolers are on a one-of-a-kind island for the summer. New animated series StuGo premieres this Saturday Jan. 11 at 8pm on Disney Channel. Creator and EP Ryan Gillis and Co-EP Sunil Hall ring in the New Year with this adventurous show.
Jeffrey K. Howard, the two-time Emmy-winning "Vegas Film Critic", joins me to discuss 2024 at the movies — our favorite and least favorite films and performances, big surprises and disappointments, early awards season predictions and more!
