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INTERVIEW WITH PHIL BARON (2007)

Q:
    
First off, if you would like, just tell us a little about yourself, maybe things we wouldn't know about you otherwise, and a little bit about your history in the entertainment industry and what you're up to these days.
 
PHIL:
I became a professional musician at age 16.  I originally played violin, and aspired to be like my father, an accomplished violinist. Eventually I switched to guitar because it was easier to sing at the same time. I always sang, from the time I could talk, and this always got the biggest reaction from people.  I sang on records, films, and many commercials before I started doing voice-over work.  My first voice gig was as Piglet for the Disney Channel’s “Welcome to Pooh Corner.”  Coincidently, Ken also worked on that series early on when they were developing their audio-animatronic characters, but we didn’t meet until later.
 
 
Q:
How did you first hear about Teddy Ruxpin and how did you become his voice?
 
 PHIL:
One night about 10:30 I was watching TV with my wife when the phone rang. It was George Wilkins, who I had met at Disney.  George said he was working on a new toy project and the guy they had doing the voice was not a singer.  He asked if I could come in and do the singing for him.  I said “Sure, when?”  He said “right now!”  So I got dressed and headed over to North Hollywood to what was then Emmy Lou Harris’ studio.  After doing some singing, Ken asked if I could read some lines.  After a brief conference somebody asked if I was busy the next day.  I came back and replaced all of Teddy’s lines, did the singing, and that’s how it started.
 
 
 
Q:
     It's been widely reported that you and Will Ryan (Grubby's voice) have been longtime friends, how did you meet and are you still in contact these days?
 
PHIL:
Prior to Teddy Ruxpin, Will and I had an act for about 6 years called Willio and Phillio.  We played around the mid-west and in LA, recorded 2 albums, had our own daily radio show in Cleveland, and did weekly TV appearances back there.  We came out to LA together to because Disney had bought several of our songs, and we were also recording with the Disney characters.  It was a very exciting time.  We still see each other occasionally, and it’s always great fun when we get together.
 
 
Q:
     What is your favorite memory/experience of being Teddy Ruxpin's voice?
 
Having the opportunity to touch children’s lives was, and is, an ongoing privilege.  Specifically, getting to work with Will and Tony (Pope) was such a riot.  The 3 of us had done another TV show together (The Rainbow Patch for NBC) and also several Disney albums (Tony was the voice of Goofy).  Also, amazingly, we were all from Cleveland.  So the rapport was terrific.  It’s a wonder anything got recorded because we were so busy laughing and telling stories.
 
 
Q:
    What is your favorite Teddy Ruxpin storyline/tv episode
 
PHIL:
I particularly like the episode when Teddy discovers who he is.  He meets his father (although his father doesn’t know who he is at first) and eventually goes back to Rillonia and we meet the whole Ruxpin family.  By the way, a bit of trivia -- my wife Michelle was the voice of Teddy’s mother.
 
Q:
Have strangers ever recognized you as Teddy's voice or as a familiar voice in your everyday life?
 
PHIL:
No.  But if the subject comes up with people of a certain age (say 20-25) they basically go crazy when they find out.
 
Q:
When you recorded for the Adventure Series and the TV series, did the voice actors record seperately or together?
 
PHIL:
We were almost always together, although occasionally there were “pick-up” lines that were added later.
 

 
Q:
When the TV series ended after episode 65, was it a planned exodus or just a hiatus that Teddy just never came back from? The last episode seemed to lend itself to a continuing plot rather than wrapping things up.
 
PHIL:
Ken wanted to leave the story open-ended to imply more adventures to come.
 
Q:
Ken has filled me in on the majority of the talent behind the Adventure Series and the toy products, but as busy as he was during that time didn't spend a lot of time with the TV series people so he's been less informative about those things. Do you remember exactly who voiced what character and did you ever meet any of the other castmembers other than Will Ryan? Particularly I think based on seeing him in other projects that the actor Les Lye must have voiced Quellor, was wondering if you could confirm that.
 
PHIL:
Will and I went to Ottawa to record with the Canadian cast.  We took, I think, 12 trips up there and did roughly 5 episodes each time.  We actually got quite close with the cast.  If you showed me the names I could tell you who was who. Yeah,  Les Lye was Quellor.
 
One funny episode was when the heat went out in the studio.  This was the middle of winder in Ottawa, and let me tell you it was freezing -- even for a couple of Clevelanders.  There is a photo somewhere of me at the microphone in my long winter coat, hat, and scarf.
 
Q:
You came back and recorded new material in 2005 for Teddy's newest release. Was that the first time you had done Teddy's voice professionally since the TV show ended? If so you didn't miss a beat.  How do you feel about the re-release and the updated stories and artwork? 
 
PHIL:
There were a few other opportunities to voice Teddy over the years.  I did a project for Yes! Entertainment which was a kind of interactive video product for which I did quite a lot of new recording.  Maybe Ken has a copy of that. I love the new toy.
 
Q:
Since you have a wonderful new calling/career, would you return as Teddy's voice on a larger scale if a new project, say a movie or new TV show, came to fruition?
 
PHIL:
I’m still doing Teddy.  In fact, I did a session a few months back for Back Pack’s new Teddy computer program.  Teddy lives!
 
 
Q:
If anything, what do you miss most about being Teddy's voice / a full-time voice actor / in the entertainment industry.
 
PHIL:
The checks! (kidding!)  When you are identified with a character like Teddy, it’s possible to move people in a way that’s difficult in regular life.  Actually, my profession as a member of the clergy is about as close as it gets.
 
 
Q:
What advice would you give to individuals wanting to break into a career in children's entertainment, voice acting, or just the entertainment industry in general?
 
PHIL:
Despite my earlier quip, don’t do it for the money or the fame, because that may never come.  You have to want to be a vehicle for positive messages.  Unfortunately, much of children’s entertainment has grown coarse, cynical, and dark.  Be a light.
 

Q:
in the Adventure Series  Will Ryan did the voice of Tweeg but was replaced
in the TV series by John Koensgen for Tweeg's voice, do you know why they made the switch? 
 
PHIL:
This was a “Canadian content” production, partly underwritten by the Canadian government, so a certain percentage of people working on the show had to be Canadian citizens.  That’s also why I was called “story consultant” instead of head writer, and some of our American writers got no credit at all (including my wife Michelle).  Also, George Wilkins did all the song tracks but I believe he was uncredited.
 
 
 
 
Q:
Other than Teddy, did you voice any other characters?  Ken and I were watching some episodes and both thought you must have
voiced Teddy's father as well.
 
PHIL:
Right, I was Teddy’s father, and we both voiced incidental characters.  I do remember Will doing the little character in the Ying Prison.  I really wanted someone to sing the song “Freedom” who could get the right feeling from it, so we snuck Will in there.
 
 
Q:
I read that you were a Henson employee, if so what kinds of things did you do there?  
 
PHIL:
I was a puppeteer on Muppets Tonight. I Worked on 8 Episodes.

 
Q: Here is the cast list, matched up with some characters from IMDB info. If you can fill us in on any of the voices we're not sure about.
 
John Stocker- Gimmick
John Koensgen- Tweeg (and also the Wizard)
Robert Bocksteal- LB
Les Lye- Quellor
Rick Jones-
Rick did various funny characters.
I’d have to watch the episodes to tell you which ones, but his voice is very distinct.
Abby Hagyard- Tweeg’s mother and various females
 

You left out Pierre Cole (Paquette) who did Wooley.



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