Murphy
HOLLYWOOD -- Eddie Murphy is showing some Donkey love to "Father of the Pride," DreamWorks Television's big-budget CGI-animated skein set to debut on NBC this fall.
Murphy, who stole the show in the studio's original "Shrek" feature with his wise-cracking Donkey, has reprised the role for one episode. No airdate has been set, but it's a good bet it will air during the November sweeps -- and perhaps just in time for the DVD release of "Shrek 2."
A slew of other big names are signed up to supply guest voices, including Lisa Kudrow, Danny DeVito, Matt Lauer, Andy Richter and Christina Applegate. Vice President Dick Cheney, Barbra Streisand and hubby James Brolin also will pop up, though actors will supply those voices.
John Goodman, Cheryl Hines, Carl Reiner and Orlando Jones head the vocal cast (
Daily Variety, May 19).
Skein, about a family of white lions who work as performers in the Las Vegas act of illusionists Siegfried & Roy, is one of NBC's big tentpole skeins as the net starts life after "Friends" (
Daily Variety, April 14).
Despite Roy Horn's near-fatal run-in with one of his own animals, both Siegfried and Roy remain major characters in "Pride," with actors providing their voices. Both men have given their blessing for the show to continue, according to DreamWorks principal Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Pilot episode of "Pride" will subtly acknowledge Horn's accident, but otherwise, the duo are treated as wacky-but-kindhearted CEOs of their own unique empire -- a place where lions and other animals talk to one another but not to humans. Other characters chalk up the two men's eccentricities to the fact that they're German.
During an early preview of footage from "Pride," Katzenberg -- who's taking an active exec producer role on the show -- said it was important that "Pride" be on par creatively with the original "Shrek."
As far as the quality of the animation, "This is better than 'Shrek'," he said, adding that May's "Shrek 2" leaps "further ahead" of both the series and the first pic.
Katzenberg co-created the skein with Jonathan Groff. Both men will serve as exec producers, along with Jon Pollack ("Spin City"); Peter Mehlman will also have an exec producer credit.
Early storylines mix some familiar family sitcom themes with some more bizarre "Simpsons"-style plots. In one seg, Siegfried & Roy see a Big Gulp commercial and head off to a 7-Eleven in order to find the "aaaaaah" one gets after drinking a gigantic cup of soda. Another seg features Cheney as a virtual Siegfried & Roy stalker.
While kids and teens will no doubt end up watching, "Pride" is being targeted for NBC's core demo of adults 18-49.
The NBC Agency has spent months plotting a promo plan for "Pride," and one of the first spots hyping the skein is expected to premiere during the one-hour "Friends" finale May 9. DreamWorks and NBC are also working on a major Olympics campaign.
DreamWorks Television, headed by Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, will play a key part in NBC's post-"Friends" strategy. In addition to "Pride," studio and Mark Burnett Prods. are working on the unscripted boxing skein "The Contender." DreamWorks and NBC Studios also produce "Las Vegas," the net's Monday night drama success.
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