Fans of SpongeBob SquarePants have a new animated series on Nickelodeon to look forward to in the upcoming Middlemost Post. Led by executive producers Dave H. Johnson and SpongeBob storyboard artist John Trabbic III, the series follows Parker J. Cloud, his best friend Angus, and their pet walrus Russell as they deliver mail across the town of Middlemost Mountain. With 20-episodes on the way, Middlemost Post will arrive on July 9th on Nickelodeon.
Becky Robinson and John DiMaggio provide the voices of Parker and Angus. Robinson previously voiced Jenny Droneberg on Doug Unplugs, while DiMaggio is a name well-known to SpongeBob fans for providing the voice of his cousin Blackjack. For fans of animated adventures, Middlemost Post promises to be the same kind of blast of wackiness that made SpongeBob one of Nickelodeon's longest running series.
We talk to Robinson and DiMaggio about their roles as Parker J. Cloud and Angus on Middlemost Post, what some of their favorite moments of the show were, and what Nick viewers and SpongeBob fans can expect from the show.
Becky, John, nice to see you guys today, and yeah, why don't we start off with Middlemost Post, what can people expect from the show, what's the essence of your role in it?
John: Well, I guess I'll start. It's wonderful story, Becky actually pretty much nailed it. It's a story about a reformed cloud who ends up putting pirate ship - not a pirate ship, a mail ship on the top of a pirate ship. Ding dong, there's no pirates. There's not a pirate in the show, actually maybe there is a pirate - I'm not saying anything! Listen, the story is...
Becky: Just take it from the top John!
John: I've got to take it back! Hold on a minute Brad! Listen, you can at least put on a Henley, kid! Come on, you know, I saw you, you looked at yourself and you were like 'Oh man. (grumble) Jerk.'
Listen, Middlemost Post, reformed cloud, wonderful character, adorable. Parker J. Cloud, the best. He used to come from a dark place, and then he has a storm and he ends up putting this mail ship on the top of this mountain. I play Angus, who's the mailman, and my sidekick is a walrus named Russell who's actually my mailbag, too. But we end up staying together and we all become friends and we all go on adventures and deliver the mail, and it's pretty awesome. And the art direction is fantastic.
Becky: Amazing.
John: And Becky is amazing as Parker J. Cloud, cause it's this beautiful, wonderful, energetic positive character, and nobody else could do it like my pal Becky right there. So that's pretty much Middlemost Post.
Becky: And I learn a lot of lessons from Angus, and I'm neither he nor she. I'm a little nimbus, as Angus calls me.
John: A little nimbus right there.
Becky: Because, you know, I like to have fun, I like the make people happy, and sometimes, that ends me up in hot water, and Angus is the first to, you know, yell at little Parker. But we learn a lot of lessons together, we have a lot of laughs, and you know, we see a lot of people. We meet a lot of fun, interesting, wacky characters all across Mount Middlemost. It's fantasy rooted in reality, and there's some very, very fun characters that you'll see along the way and you might recognize some voices and it's a lot of fun.
John: Yeah.
What would you say is maybe your favorite episode to voice of the show?
Becky: Oh, I know what mine is.
John: Oooh, um, one just came to me, and I can't bring it up because of who is in the cast. So, I gotta, I gotta (locks mouth shut). Plus, I can't, like, give away something that's like 'This is episode 12, the one you were supposed to wait for and I'm going to tell everyone about it!' So, yeah, no. They're really great stories and really funny characters, I will reiterate the fact that the town of Middlemost, you know, it's hilarious. The art direction, I mean, John Trabbic just did an incredible job, and I read something the other day that he talked about, and it really...Parker's him, and it's really kind of cool like how, you know, he used to be in a dark place himself and now he flipped over to the light, and he let's Parker be that guy, and it's his baby. He did art direction for SpongeBob SquarePants, which is nothing to scoff at! He did a lot of work on that show, and I'm proud and so is Becky that we're bringing it to life. It's really a special show about a special relationship in a special place, across the board.
Becky: It's been really fun getting to know the creators of the show, too, and my favorite episode is one where, Parker transforms a lot, but there's one where Angus and Parker go through a situation where, I'm a stand-up comedian and John does a ton of stage performing, as well, and there's an episode where I can't say too much, but the giving away too much of yourself type of thing happens, and it can happen sometimes I think in stand-up or comedy, sometimes you can give away too much of yourself and you go home and you just, sometimes after we finish recording, there's just so much energy out, there's just so much laughing and so much crying that I just like flop onto my couch. And I remember after this episode, we put so much into it, that it was like 'Oh, I got nothing left!' And sometimes, you can feel like that when you get offstage, and there's an episode where Parker transforms because of that happening into a specific way that is so funny, and Angus responds in such a classic way that I think parents will really resonate with. But I can't say the name of it, cause I don't want to get in trouble! But there's a lot of really fun episodes to look forward to, so we're excited.
John: And a lot of great imagery and a lot of great comedy, and a lot of great things that kids will be able to relate to. It hits on many levels, and that's the sign of a good show. I've been fortunate enough to be involved with a lot of projects that do just that, many generations watching the same show, and I have a feeling that this is going to be the same situation.
Well, I look forward to that. And yeah so, Becky, John, thank you so much for your time today, and look forward to seeing it drop in July!
Becky: Thank you so much, Brad!
John: Absolutely, thank you Brad, you're a good sport. I'm sorry I, like, took you too the roads. I apologize, that was really rude!
Take care!