WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.240 --> 00:00:05.120 How are you doing? Oh dear, it's me Tiger ah Am Dark Wayne 2 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:09.119 Duck. It's me Bunkers keep babcat all right? Yeah? Did it rate 3 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:14.480 your favorite bibly you design? Hold Old not Go. My name is Jim 4 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:21.160 Cummings, and welcome to tune Jin. Welcome everybody to the very first episode 5 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:24.600 of Tuned In with Jim Cummings here on the four Finger Discount Network. I 6 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:27.879 am Brendan Dando, joined right now by several gentlemen, the first of which 7 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:31.039 being the professor of pop culture, mister Guy Davis. Very nice to be 8 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:33.719 here, Brendan. We have got Chris Judge, producer Chris. How are 9 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:35.759 you doing, Chris? Hey good? How are you guys doing? I'm 10 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:37.759 doing very well. And of course, the man of the hour, the 11 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.240 man, the myth of the legend, here is the one, the only, 12 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:43.520 Jim Cummings. How are you my good sir? Oh, very good. 13 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:49.159 Everybody's favorite failed mime. So Hi, good to see you are now, 14 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:51.799 big smile on his face as always, I've never seen you not smiling. 15 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:53.679 But what how's your weight been anyway? So what have you been up 16 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:55.840 to? What's the world of Jim Cummings been like this? Week. Did 17 00:00:55.880 --> 00:00:58.359 you say, how's my weight? Man? Thank you for my week? 18 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:00.799 Oh? My week? Oh wow? Oh okay good? No, No, 19 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.680 it's been another another week in paradise. I had a we're all kind 20 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:11.000 of on strikecare Yeah, as far as recording right now, so, um, 21 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.599 whatever you do, don't let anybody know we're recording this because you know 22 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:19.280 that just probably wouldn't go over well. But but no, it's it's been 23 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:23.439 great, it's been great. Well, how does the writers strike impact you? 24 00:01:23.560 --> 00:01:26.560 Like? So, what were you working on that you're now not? 25 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:30.959 Well, the latest iteration of Mickey Mouse. And there's just one other thing 26 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:36.120 that's I can they don't have a name for um, So we went full 27 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:40.040 bore and now we're sitting around on our hands and twiddling our thumbs and I'm 28 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:44.799 going back to miming apparently I don't know, maybe, but but here we 29 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:49.480 are, Philly Tom starting a podcast. Yeah that's right, Yes, come 30 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:53.040 on, come on, get me while I'm hot. Is the mood on 31 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:56.480 the street gym that the strike is gonna sort of stretch on for a while 32 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:59.920 to thing? Or does it seem like there might be a quick resolution to 33 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:02.840 this one? Boy? Good question. I really have no way of gauging 34 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:07.240 that. I don't even live in that part of the California, but I 35 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:09.520 wish them well, you know, they put it this one. I mean, 36 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:14.919 without our writers were doomed. So I hope that everybody deserves to get 37 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:17.080 paid. But aren't you the man that ad libs everything anyway? Yeah, 38 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:23.719 I'm notorious for you know, not as much with Winnie the Pooh, but 39 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:29.400 but definitely Tigger. Yeah, you know it's he just lends himself to poos 40 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:32.280 a little more like the steady stream going through the woods, and Tiggers like 41 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:37.080 the poo's the eye of the storm. Tigger is the storm for a usual 42 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:40.759 Whinnie script. What percentage do you think is as it was written to Jim's 43 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:45.439 ad lib? Oh gosh, It's got to be ninety five percent as written 44 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:50.800 because you have to serve the story. And you know, I'm not trying 45 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:53.280 to put writers out of business. So they're all my buddies, the very 46 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:57.039 important, Yes I are in day, Yes, they're very important. You 47 00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:59.400 were telling us just off the air before that you had an interesting story you 48 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:01.159 want to bring up. What was that? Told us? Well, yes, 49 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:07.599 you know I had occasion to um make contact with a really interesting man. 50 00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:12.840 His name is Reid Moon and he lives in Utah and he is a 51 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:17.800 collector of rare antiquities and rare books and very old books. And he has 52 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:23.599 in his possession the original A. A. Milne Winnie the Pooh and the 53 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:30.639 Blustery Day and it's signed by A. A. Miln himself, the author, 54 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:32.960 and uh, it's it was just amazing. And then he shows up, 55 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:37.319 pulls up another one and here's Winnie the Pooh and Tiger two and here's 56 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.919 Winnie the Pooh in a day for ere and they're all original and they're just 57 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:46.280 they're pretty pristine. You know, they look they don't look a day over 58 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:51.280 one hundred. But but you know, it was really interesting and uh, 59 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:55.080 and he started telling stories and one of them, well, see, I'm 60 00:03:55.120 --> 00:04:00.280 sure you know a lot of people know that Winnie the Pooh is uh came 61 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.000 from Canada. He's Canadian. A lot of people think he's from England. 62 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.919 Well, the fact is that way back when, there were a bunch of 63 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:11.919 fellas on the train and they were on their way to enlist in the army, 64 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:14.439 and they got off the train because they were kind of you know, 65 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:16.040 they're taking a break and they're out there stretching legs. And sure enough, 66 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:20.879 there's a guy over there standing on the on the breakaway there, and he's 67 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:27.160 holding a little bear, a live bear, a baby bear three or four 68 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.560 days old. And you know, you see a little baby bear three or 69 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:32.920 four days old, you want to go up and go you little you didn't 70 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.199 do all that stupid stuff. And so they did, and they said, 71 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.720 well, you know, I have to ask you, how is it that 72 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:44.160 you came to have this bear? And and he said, well, the 73 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.720 fact is, I'm a hunter and I was out in the forest one day. 74 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:55.560 And let's just say that he ended up without a mother and I was 75 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:58.800 there, so you can add two plus two. And he says, as 76 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:01.399 he was going about his business us he felt these little eyes on him, 77 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:04.800 and he looked up and there was a little baby bear sticking his head around 78 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:08.399 a tree, staring at him. Well, he couldn't leave him there. 79 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:12.040 His mother was no longer there. So he did the right thing. He 80 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:14.680 took took the bear up, and he didn't know what to do with him. 81 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.879 And there he was on the train station the platform, talking with these 82 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:20.720 guys and they said, oh my god, you're kidding. Well, you 83 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:25.000 want to sell them, and he said, you sell the bear, you 84 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:28.040 would you would buy a bear, you know, because they get big. 85 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:32.360 Apparently they grow up and you know you've you've I'm sure you're familiar with that. 86 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:36.480 Lions do that too. It's really weird. Anyway, So they said 87 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:40.279 short and they mustered up twenty dollars, which had to be a lot of 88 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:45.439 money back then. Now they're off off to the army with their mascot bear 89 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:53.360 and they got on they got on the boat from Canada to England and they 90 00:05:53.399 --> 00:05:56.800 smuggled the bear on the boat. Don't I don't know how that could have 91 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.519 been, but they did it. And next thing you know, they're reporting 92 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:03.639 to base and they smuggled the bear on to the base. So a lot 93 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:10.600 of smuggling. Uh, there's some connection to Honda knocking. It's coming to 94 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:16.639 me, but but you know, it's just kind of incredible. And they're 95 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:19.399 shipped off to war, I mean, and they said, well, now 96 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:24.879 what we cannot take this. We're not taking him off to war. And 97 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:27.759 they said, oh, you know what, the London Zoo perfect, let's 98 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:30.360 go to the zoo. They go to the zoo. Would you like a 99 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:35.680 free cute as hell baby bear, and the answer would understandably yes. Well, 100 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:40.439 a little time went by and he became quite an attraction. A few 101 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:44.360 months went by, and he was so friendly because all he knew were people 102 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:47.959 anyway, and people come by and Gucci, Gucci, gu and he'd kind 103 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.399 of do it right back to them. And he's sitting up and he's walking, 104 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:54.720 he's and he's being as cute as you can be and being a little 105 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.879 bear. And one day this fellow decided, well, you know, I've 106 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:01.279 read about him in the newspaper and the London Dispatch and this let's let's let's 107 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:08.120 go see this little bear. And so they go down and he walks up 108 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:12.160 to the cage, waits till everybody's gone, and the bear looks at the 109 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:15.079 little boy. He's about three years old, and the little boy looks at 110 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:20.839 the bear, and the two of them kind of bond. They strike up 111 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:27.920 a relationship right there on the spot. There's a kinship. And you know, 112 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:30.560 to make a long story less long, the man's name was A. 113 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:35.800 A. Milne and the little boy's name was Christopher Robin. We can go 114 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:40.480 ahead of everybody. That's a start. The guy, Yeah, show done, 115 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.879 so yeah, your next incredible, isn't it. Yeah, And if 116 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:47.040 you have goosebumps, goosebumps are invited. They called the bear Winnie because it 117 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.120 was from Winnipeg, right is that why? Oh that's right? Yes, 118 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:55.839 oh, well, yes, win a peg. And but there's something about 119 00:07:55.879 --> 00:08:00.319 the Pooh though, huh. Of course you know Winnie. You know he's 120 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:03.399 played an incredible role in not just your life, but all of our lives. 121 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:05.720 Everyone listening at home now becoming what I believe to be one of Disney's 122 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:11.480 biggest icons. However, well I do too. None of that would have 123 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:13.759 been possible without the perfect man behind the wheel, being yourself. Of course. 124 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:18.000 So since this is the first episode of Tuned Him for Jim Cummings, 125 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:20.639 we think it's only natural that we go all the way back to the late 126 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:24.759 eighties, when the opportunity to audition for the winning the Pooh role first became 127 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:28.160 a reality. Take us there, Where where did you see yourself professionally? 128 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:31.279 At that point? You know you've already done some voice work for Dumbo, 129 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:35.600 Circus Transformers. I saw he'd done some work there, Visionaries, Knights of 130 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:39.720 the Magical Light. But what was life like as a voice actor pre Pooh 131 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:43.639 Like? For Jim Cummings. Oh bother, I'll tell her to remember I'm 132 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:48.039 a better of very little brain, you're know. But yeah, it's it 133 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:50.600 was fine. You know, it was very good to see you. At 134 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:56.519 the time, I should say that Whenny the Pooh wasn't as big as as 135 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:01.120 you know, as he is now take the whole gang and they because it 136 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:05.159 had been winned the Poo in a Day for yor, winned the Poo and 137 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:09.519 Tiger two, and winned the Pooh and the honey Tree. I believe there 138 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:11.200 were the three. They were twenty minute shorts and they put them all together 139 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:18.480 back in I guess the sixties, and they won an Academy Award by putting 140 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:22.320 those three shorts together and turned it into a full length movie. Pretty spot 141 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:26.240 Yeah it was. But then twenty years later and they still hadn't done anything 142 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:30.519 with it. So they just finally got back around to the New Adventures of 143 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.919 Winnie the Pooh. It was what it was called. And so they sent 144 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:39.600 out auditions and there were auditions for the whole crew and and Gopher as well. 145 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:43.840 So I auditioned for Gopher, I auditioned for Eyo, for Tiger and 146 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:48.639 Pooh and I'm pretty sure owl. I didn't audition for Kanga or Real, 147 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:52.559 so yeah, I didn't want to take a clean sweep here. And I 148 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:56.240 came home and I was feeling really good about OR. I thought, oh, 149 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:00.840 man, if I don't get yo. About a week or two went 150 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:03.799 by and I called my agent called me. She's okay, I have some 151 00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:07.480 news. And I said, yeah, okay, good, Well what what's 152 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:11.399 what's the poop? And she said her name was Sandy SNAr And and I 153 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:13.600 said, she said, well, I have good news and I have some 154 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:18.600 not so good news. And I went, oh really. She goes, 155 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:22.159 yeah, all right, give me the bad news. She goes, you're 156 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:28.360 not going to do eor And I said you're kidding. I thought, thanks 157 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:31.600 for notice, and me damn passable? Right? Are you sure you don't 158 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:35.080 eel? But yeah, you know, but uh you know, And I 159 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:37.799 said, well who got it? And said, well Peter Cullen. And 160 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:43.519 Peter Cullen's amazing, he's optimist, prime, he's uh yeah, he's or 161 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:46.279 among tons of other things. And I said, you know, you lose 162 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:48.480 a job to him. You can't can't be too upset and and I said, 163 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:52.399 so what did I end up? She goes, well, you're Tigger 164 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:56.399 and Winnie the Pooh. I said, I'm Tigger and Winnie the Pooh, 165 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:01.480 And I, well, the hell with or he or Schmi or who Who's 166 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:05.759 who is he? Again? I can't remember? And uh and we were 167 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:09.440 off to the races. So when he went into that audition, was that 168 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.960 what was the role you wanted the most or did it not matter to you? 169 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:16.279 Well, you know, I would have loved Tigger. Yep, that's 170 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:18.679 for sure. And I really thought I was a pretty good eyor. And 171 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:22.320 when did the pool you know, I you know, it was weird. 172 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:26.360 I mean, Sterling Holloway got rest a soul he was he was still with 173 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.240 us then, as it turned out, he was quite old, you know, 174 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:31.960 he was. He was a very older, much older man. And 175 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:35.840 Paul Winchell was still there. But interestingly enough, I was only Tigger maybe 176 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:39.039 in the first thirteen shows. I might have been tiggering five or six of 177 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:45.919 them because back then a long time ago, but there was an incredible famine 178 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:50.720 in Africa and people were dying by the thousands, thousands of starvation. And 179 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:52.480 so he went over there and I'll try to make this short, and he 180 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:58.759 developed a little mud skipper, uh, the little critter that lives in the 181 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.600 banks. It's half I don't know what it is, half fish, half 182 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.159 frog, you know, just not the prettiest looking thing in the world. 183 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:11.440 But apparently they're nutritious and you can raise them in mud. That's where they 184 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.759 live. So he developed a thing and he was going back and forth with 185 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:18.600 the good Ship Hope to teach them how to raise them. And it wasn't 186 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:22.120 fine cuisine, but it was cuisine, yes. And so when he was 187 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:26.200 gone, I was Tigger and then I'd do like two shows, then he'd 188 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:31.120 come back for three. Then I'd do one or two more three shows, 189 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:33.360 then he'd come back for four. And that's how we got the first season 190 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:37.240 of the New Adventures of Winning the Pood Done. I was I was. 191 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:41.360 I used to joke around that I was Tigger light and and other people said 192 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:45.159 they couldn't tell the difference. But a boy, it just jumped off the 193 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:48.360 screen at me. So, Jim, I understand that your your brother was 194 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:54.759 a huge Winnie the poof and and he used to entertain slash maybe tease him 195 00:12:54.960 --> 00:13:00.320 using your your Winnie the poof Woods as a youngster. One of the who 196 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:03.240 the first person you may be called was when you when you got the good 197 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:05.879 news? Maybe it was him, and maybe you did it in the poo 198 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:07.799 voice. I mean, who did you call when you got the good when 199 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:13.279 you realize that you'd landed these uh these amazing roles? Sure, well, 200 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:16.159 I called my mom, you know, god resta assul, you know what, 201 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:18.759 called my mom? And nan Grandma, you gotta you gotta call me? 202 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:22.320 Yeah, yeah, and uh but um but yeah. We would be 203 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:26.480 playing Monopoly or something and he'd be he'd be sitting there, have his little 204 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:30.759 poop bear or whatever, and I say, you know, poo's know their 205 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:33.039 name for poop Dutch, you know, Yeah, I don't know if you 206 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:37.120 knew that, but so you like, we need are poop, We need 207 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:41.440 their poop. And like, twenty five thirty years later, that was a 208 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.639 real funny joke. Okay, who do you play again? We need a 209 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:48.200 Who the what? So? I said, yeah, okay, fine, 210 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:52.200 okay, yeah, okay, good guilty. And you were you were married 211 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:54.840 at the time that you got that role here, Yeah, I was, 212 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:56.960 Yes, I was. What did your wife have to say? Well, 213 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:03.759 yeah, her name was need A and she she was she was almost medium 214 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:09.200 whelmed. She wasn't overwhelmed. She was a little bit underwhelmed. There wasn't 215 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:11.039 a lot of whelming that bath in the sixties. What are you talking about? 216 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:16.519 Okay, so you're what now you Winnie the Pooh. Okay, now 217 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:20.440 they're gonna pay you, right, But how are you going to make a 218 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.279 living? I said, no, no, no, this is I've been 219 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:24.879 doing it for a while. Now, you know, I had Dumbo Circus 220 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:28.720 in the can and and uh and it goes yeah, but I mean, 221 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:33.080 but what how it hasn't Bear hasn't been around for like thirty years? And 222 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:37.799 I go, no, twenty, so there and uh and uh, you 223 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:41.960 know she she's okay with it now, by the way, she's still alive 224 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:50.000 and kicking. She's absolutely fine. So that was a good one, Chris. 225 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:52.320 Yeah, but you know we ain't gonna do hey, Jesus had to 226 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:58.080 leave town to make it. Pick an actor's life as a ten pestuous one, 227 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:01.039 shall we say? I mean, there is yeah ocean full of actors 228 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:05.360 for a tea cupful of roles. I mean, you seem like a fairly 229 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:11.960 confident and oh, thank you very much coined that one myself. You seem 230 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:16.399 like a fairly confident kind of chap fairy, secure in your in your skills, 231 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:20.399 and did you ever have any moments of self doubt? I mean as 232 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:24.759 as an actors, like should I maybe selling vacuum cleaners door to door or 233 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.840 something like that. I mean, clearly you shouldn't have, because you know 234 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:31.120 the world would be lesser with that. But did you have any sort of 235 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:33.440 moments of self doubt? And if if you did, how'd you working way 236 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:37.159 through all? Oh? Sure, yeah, absolutely, I mean, um, 237 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:41.799 I mean what it's a very old story, but it's um I was, 238 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:43.919 don't you guys might not even remember this. This is it's kind of 239 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:46.840 old. And it was from an American TV commercial of all things. And 240 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:52.960 it was for the California Raisins and they were a singing group, which it 241 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:56.279 wasn't really a group. We just got together myself, Dorian Harewood, Cam 242 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:03.320 Clark, Um and uh Brian. Oh anyway, there was four of us 243 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:08.720 and uh we were the California Raisins and um. And there was some doubt 244 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:11.840 in there because these are all motown songs. Now, when I was a 245 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:15.639 kid, I was always the white kid in the band. You know, 246 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:18.600 I played drums and I sang, you know, around town back in the 247 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.559 astunt Ohoe, I was a fantastic parrel and a sweet soul spice, So 248 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:26.679 how about that? And um, and so they I got the job, 249 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:30.600 but it was speaking of doubt. I got the job, and they said, 250 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:33.279 okay, good now, um, let's you know, let's get these 251 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:37.799 guys over here, and uh and Jim is this, and Brian is that, 252 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:45.240 and Dorian's that, and Kim's he's what he's white? Jim's white. 253 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:53.559 Jim Cummings is white. And I said, uh, yeah, miss wow, 254 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:00.480 We're gonna have to think about that. So they put the others out 255 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:03.279 all over again. This time. You weren't allowed to say your name. 256 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:06.480 You couldn't say your name on the audition. You had a number. Yeah, 257 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:10.279 okay, and so um, I can tell you what I did from 258 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.759 my audition, and it wasn't grape vine. There was a song by the 259 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:17.680 Temptations called I Can't Next to You Get next to You, in which each 260 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:22.119 one of the temptations comes out and I can turn a gray sky blue a 261 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:26.759 good bigod ring whenever I wanted to, and every single temptation comes out and 262 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:32.680 sings, And so I did them all. I did all five of the 263 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:37.000 Temptations parts. I couldn't do harmonies, but they were all, well, 264 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.480 let's let's get this guy. Who is it? And then I show up 265 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:42.279 and they go, oh, Christ, it's him again, the white guy, 266 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:47.319 white guy in how many times I told you not to be white? 267 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:52.799 And so? But I guess they were able to tolerate me after all. 268 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:56.160 So, well, that's fantastic, and I think that was nice of them. 269 00:17:56.279 --> 00:18:00.200 That was Maddie white of them. That's a funny job. The legendary 270 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.400 Sterling Holloway, you touched on him earlier. You No, he was a 271 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.839 bit too old when I was starting new eventus of Winning the Pooh still a 272 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:08.000 legend, obviously, it was the original voice of Winnie the Pooh. How 273 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:11.519 long did it take you to master Sterling's betrayal, because you've said that you 274 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:15.960 wanted to replicate what he had already done. How long did it take you 275 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:21.559 to replicate that to your satisfaction? Well, you know, I didn't like 276 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:23.720 it when I first started doing it, but the fact is that, you 277 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:29.359 know, i'd be playing Monopoly or something, you know, just sitting around 278 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:32.279 with my family as a young kid. You know, I was in high 279 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:34.880 school or whatever, and I would say, well, I believe I shall 280 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:40.279 buy a park place, and they'd say, okay, Winnie the Pooh, 281 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:42.240 buy park place. And then I'd go, I take him in a bounce 282 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:48.200 rowing over there and cut myself a hotel. Okay, tigger and that's real 283 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:51.759 good. Yeah, thinks he's digger, you know. And uh it was. 284 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.920 I was like the kid that you'd pat on the head. It's gonna 285 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:56.160 be fine, don't you worry. Just him at the child, Yes, 286 00:18:56.279 --> 00:19:00.240 just to him at the child. And so, I mean, I had 287 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:03.880 no idea that it would work out that way. I was just grateful to 288 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:07.440 be working in the business. And then the poor auditions rolled around, and 289 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:11.680 I, like I said, the rest is mystery. How supportive were your 290 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:15.559 family of your talents? Obviously if you're doing that from a young age and 291 00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:19.519 obviously voice acting was your thing. Oh yeah, well they liked it. 292 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:22.119 My dad wasn't too crazy about the fact he had to drive me over to 293 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:26.279 the Youngstown Playhouse when I was in grade school, back and forth. I 294 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:30.200 couldn't drive in fifth grade, and uh, but he had to get off 295 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:33.720 work and then shuttle my little butt on over there to rehearse and then to 296 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:37.119 be in the plays and everything, So he was He could have been a 297 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:41.480 little happier about the drive, but he was very supportive. My family was 298 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.680 They were all for it. And then that comes segues into the yeah, 299 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:47.720 but what are you going to do for a living? Well, just you'll 300 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.599 see kind of like when people say to me, what do you do for 301 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:52.160 a living? Oh? Do some podcasts? Never seriously, what do you 302 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:57.880 actually do for a living? Yeah, that's exactly. But can you remember 303 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:03.359 the process of how you found Sterling's voice or what steps did you go through? 304 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.519 Was it just practicing over and over again from a family or what was 305 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:10.920 the process? And No, I don't know that I practiced it so much. 306 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:15.400 It's just I just kind of spat it out, you know, literally 307 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:19.000 it was doing it was playing Monopoly, yeah, and board games like that, 308 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:22.559 And like I say, I can only imagine how annoying I am, 309 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:27.079 and chrys Wall testify that I'm still annoying as an adult, So that's I 310 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:32.720 got that going for me. But it really was just that simple. It 311 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:36.160 was the things and I've said this thousand times, it's a thing that used 312 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:40.240 to get me kicked out of class. Yeah the dolphins sound right? Yeah, 313 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:44.200 Yeah, the nuns wouldn't all of a sudden they weren't so upset with 314 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:48.200 me when I did a lot of contribution to the school afterwards. If you're 315 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:52.440 enjoying everything we do, hear it tuned in and want access to even more 316 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:56.440 Gym Cummings podcasts, you can support the show today on Patreon. Here you'll 317 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:59.680 not only get early and add free access to the show, but you'll also 318 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:03.160 get access to our exclusive Q and A podcasts prize draws, our exclusive Facebook 319 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:07.039 and Discord communities, as well as that Cummings Commentaries where Jim goes back and 320 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:11.880 records audio commentaries for all those classic Disney Afternoons cartoons and in character. Well 321 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:15.000 kick things off this month with a revisit of an episode of Dark wind Duck. 322 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:18.720 So go ahead and support Jim by becoming a member of the tuned in 323 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:22.359 family today at patreon dot com. Slash Jim Cummings podcast link isn't the description 324 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:27.759 of this show. We're here to pay tribute to Jim Cummings, but we 325 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:32.400 would be remiss if we didn't throw a bit of a shout out to the 326 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:36.759 great Sterling Halloway, as we've been talking about him. Absolutely he metaphorically sort 327 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.799 of passed the torch to your jim, but you never actually sort of got 328 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:42.440 a chance to shake hands or really sort of discuss anything like that. But 329 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:45.599 you didn't meet once or sort of meat once. Is that right? Yeah? 330 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:51.279 Yeah, true enough. This is many years ago, and I wasn't 331 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:53.160 even in the business. It hadn't I was thinking about it, but I 332 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.759 hadn't made my first stem up tape. And my wife an hour done and 333 00:21:56.079 --> 00:22:00.359 Laguna Beach, California, which is where he lived, and we were sitting 334 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:03.200 there thinking that we're in this little diner, thinking we're all alone. And 335 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:07.359 the waitress walks over and says to a corner booth, couldn't see it was 336 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:10.400 in there. Well have we decided yet what we're going to have? And 337 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:17.319 I heard this little voice going, yes, I believe I shall have the 338 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:22.599 choulder, And I looked at her and I went way, you know, 339 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:29.279 and as I very stealthily got up and walked across the restaurant and grabbed the 340 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:32.400 salt and pepper off the table, and I looked over there and there was 341 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:37.759 Sterling and he's sitting there and he's got this gigantic tuft of bright white hair 342 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:41.880 and he was all dressed in white, and you know, it was it 343 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:45.200 was surreal, I mean, because I'd seen him on camera. He did 344 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:49.759 some he was always a character actor anyway, And and he was there, 345 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:52.759 and he gave me a big smile, you know, and I gave him 346 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:57.039 a big smile, you know, idiot smile of mind. And then I 347 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:03.400 went back and I went I'd spitting about oh all the way she said Winnie 348 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:07.559 who Yeah, he know, she'd better not have said that. Now everybody 349 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:11.200 knew, but um, and that was it. And and of course I'd 350 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:15.119 I'd give a lot to go back and relive that moment. I'd say thank 351 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:18.640 you for all the then, you know, but he was alone. He 352 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:22.519 didn't, you know, he didn't didn't look like he felt like being fanned 353 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:26.799 fan boyd, which is what I would have done. What things do you 354 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:30.200 think if you had the chance that both of you would have him had comments 355 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:33.400 to sort of laugh about now about both voicing the character of Winnie the Pooh, 356 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:36.400 if you had have met him after becoming Winnie the Pooh, gosh, 357 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:41.119 uh boy, I don't know. I mean, first of all, I 358 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:45.920 would have thanked him for coming up at the sound of that character's voice. 359 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:49.960 And he was also Car the Snake, and he was also the cheshire Cat 360 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:55.240 from Alice in Wonderland, but three very similar voices. But you know, 361 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:59.759 still that defined character as well. Yeah, yeah, well I always think 362 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:07.640 that the Car the Snake is evil Pooh, you know, and the cheshire 363 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:12.200 Cat is Pooh on acid. And I think I stole that one from Christopher. 364 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:15.640 I could be wrong. It was, yeah, well he's like on 365 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:18.160 acid. I go, yeah, when you landed we need the Pooh, 366 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:22.279 did your brain immediately go, well, I've landed Car as well, right, 367 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.640 and I've landed all the other sterling roles. If you can perfect that 368 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:26.599 role, then surely you've got the other ones, right, Yeah, but 369 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:33.279 they don't work that much. You know, it's not up to me if 370 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.440 hey listen, they do each have their own show if it was up to 371 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:41.000 me. So maybe we can start a campaign, Chris make a note must 372 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:47.000 get new campaign. You know, I read a lovely quote, Jim that 373 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:51.799 you described Stirling Holloway's voice as a gentle breeze blowing through cat toils. I 374 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:55.880 think that is just lovely, so evocative. I mean, thanking how you'd 375 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.680 like your voice to be described? I mean personally, I'm thinking of like 376 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:03.759 a nice last glass of like eighty proof bourbon with a nice dollop of honey, 377 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:07.000 warm honey in there. That's what that's what bring you bring to mind 378 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.640 for me? Well, thank you. I I think a bit more of 379 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:17.519 a claxon horn going off in church. But yeah, you know, oh 380 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:19.119 wait, no that No, that's not me, that's someone else that No, 381 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:22.759 I don't think you know, I don't know. I like yours. 382 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:26.440 I like that one. But one thing that stands out when watching when watching 383 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:30.039 you voice these characters is that you seem to become them as you voice them. 384 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:32.759 Has this always been something that you've done or was something that you sort 385 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:36.079 of learned along the way to help you find tune a role sort of becoming 386 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:38.759 the character. No, it's not. I never knew that I did it. 387 00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:41.880 I remember, in fact, the first time I knew that I found 388 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:47.160 out that I did it was um they were they were doing some behind the 389 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:51.599 scenes footage for the very first Winning the Pooh series, The New Adventures of 390 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:56.640 Winning Poop. I guess it was for et or Entertainment Tonight or one of 391 00:25:56.680 --> 00:26:00.519 those shows. And well, here's Jim Cummings he's the newest voice of Way 392 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:03.960 Boo. And when I was standing and I was doing poo lines, and 393 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:07.559 I'm standing there and my shoulders are kind of slumped back and I'm standing sort 394 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:11.720 of like this, and my belly is pushed out, and I would have 395 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:15.119 never known that I did this, and they're they're playing it, and oh, 396 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:18.839 by the way, Jim has another character on the show. And then 397 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:22.559 I'm tiggering. Now I'm standing there like this, and I got my hands 398 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:25.799 I got you can't see it, but I've got my hands on my hips, 399 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:27.599 you know, standing there, and I got my chest out and I'm 400 00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:30.960 ready to pounce like, you know, bounce around the room. And I 401 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:37.400 saw. I guess body language informs the character. So yeah, I'm sure 402 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:41.680 everyone appreciate you taking your pants off to play Pooh as well. Yes, 403 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:45.799 yes, absolutely, that's a biggie. That's a must. That's why ma 404 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:48.839 I got married you. Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah? 405 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:55.079 Or not? Is the poo voice physically hard to maintain? What are the 406 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:57.279 tricks of the trade to maintain the Jim Cummings with nea the Pooh voice? 407 00:26:57.559 --> 00:27:02.079 Yeah, well, I've never smoked. I've had all the cigarettes I've ever 408 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.839 smoked in my life in my hand right now, So that that I know 409 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:07.519 as a plus. And and you know, I think my own voice itself 410 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:11.720 is kind of in the middle. It's not particularly high, but it's not 411 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:17.440 it's not really all the deep. So it gives me an even a good 412 00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:19.240 starting point. You know, I'm on the fifty yard line, so I 413 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:23.559 only have fifty yards to make a touchdown in either direction instead of a hundred. 414 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:27.759 So um. But I don't really have a regiment, Like I say, 415 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:32.599 I don't yell. And you know, salt water is your friend, 416 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.279 your gargle. So he's saying, Chris has never made you angry. Ever, 417 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:40.759 what a good son? Yeah, yeah, so far as they're good. 418 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.279 How many times have you ever lost your voice? And if you did, 419 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:47.079 was it terrified? Lost? Yeah? Twice, yep, yeah, 420 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:48.200 twice in my life. It was the scariest thing in the world. And 421 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:52.799 once I was just very sick, and once I think I think it might 422 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.720 have been nerves. It was actually, believe it or not, was my 423 00:27:53.799 --> 00:28:00.319 fortieth birthday a long time ago. But I had this great party and I 424 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:04.240 was nervous about it, you know, and I hired this incredible band of 425 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:11.599 musicians called the Jones Boys and and it was just I don't know, I 426 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:15.720 guess it was stress. And I had it in an old theater in North 427 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:19.880 Hollywood. Gosh, I'm forgetting the name of the theater. This is terrible, 428 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.960 but I kind of brought it back and I brought it back to life. 429 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:27.440 It was in Lower Burbank, but it had been closed for like twenty 430 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:30.279 five years, and so I said, well, can I have it here? 431 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:33.640 Because I knew what it looked like on the inside, and it had 432 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:37.279 a nineteen twenties freeze in the background of a street scene and apparently it was 433 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:41.640 the street right outside the theater. And I just thought that was amazing. 434 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:45.880 So I had them clean it up and I had them get the all the 435 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:52.079 concessius stands and everything. Of course, I had a catered and invited like 436 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:57.200 a million people and we just had an absolute ball because you're it's a you 437 00:28:57.279 --> 00:29:00.720 know, it's a big party in a movie theater with a band on the 438 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:04.720 stage instead of a movie and everybody's dancing in the aisles, they're dancing on 439 00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:08.039 the seats. It was. It was really cool. Fortieth birthday And Helen, 440 00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:11.480 did you lose your voice? Fall? About two or three days. 441 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:14.799 I think it was stress. I just imagine that the terror that must be 442 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:18.519 going through your mind at that point. Yes, yes, it's the bread, 443 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:21.880 the butter, and dare I say the honey? Oh yes, yes, 444 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:25.079 you dare say? And you know they wanted me to sing a song 445 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:27.000 with them and I couldn't do it. So I had just r now do 446 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:30.400 it, and he killed it. Let's talk about the reaction from fans when 447 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:33.720 they meet you in person at a comic column or some sort of event and 448 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:37.519 they hear the voice, the wind voice, for the first time. How 449 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:40.440 did they react to They close their eyes you told me. Some people have 450 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:45.240 just broke down crying. Yeah, it's interesting. There's kind of like two 451 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:48.400 two or three categories. Some are just you know, the fans are going, 452 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:52.400 oh that's great. Oh so you sound just like him. That's my 453 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:56.000 favorite thing. Just like him? Wowd you do? Well, it's it 454 00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:00.839 is me. So there's that. And then there are some that are just 455 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:07.759 in love and they just can't a lot of ladies, a lot a lot 456 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:11.319 of women, and and I'll say, well, hello there, my dear, 457 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:18.000 it's so lovely that you came today understanding wo you know, and it's 458 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:22.480 just and you go, oh, it's gonna be all right. I don't 459 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:30.440 worry. It's gonna get to do a little about dinner and and I just 460 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:36.519 get that all the time. Yeah. And then there are some I could 461 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:40.160 tell you this. There was a story of a very very sweet I used 462 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:42.240 to do a lot for the Make a Wish Foundation there and I've got a 463 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:45.400 lot of these stories, but I'll give you a really sweet one here. 464 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:52.160 Uh. I had occasion to I was contacted a mother engaged to Make a 465 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:59.240 Wish Foundation because her little daughter two and three years old, uh was a 466 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:03.119 huge, huge Winnie the Poohan and uh, she wanted to talk to Winnie 467 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:07.400 the Pooh. And they wanted it to happen sooner than later because she had 468 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:14.960 got lesser terminal cancer. So that was a tough one. And uh, 469 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:18.440 and I got up and I got her on the phone, and the mother 470 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:21.079 says, okay, are you ready, because she's just right here. She's 471 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:23.680 right here. And I won't use her name, we'll call her, you 472 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:29.640 know, sal girl, Yeah, a little punkin And uh and I said, 473 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:33.119 well, hello, honey, it's me Winnie the Pooh, and and 474 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:38.319 she and all she can and she said, oh, I love you, 475 00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:45.400 Winny pooh, I love you. I love mommy, I love winning the 476 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:49.599 pool. And she's just sat and sat there for like forty some seconds, 477 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:53.279 going on and on, and I said, and I love you too, 478 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:57.279 oh your sweetest honey, and she just and you know, and the mother 479 00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:04.799 gets on the phone. The mother gets on the phone and she says, 480 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:08.880 well, I just I don't know. I don't know what to say. 481 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:14.480 And I said, oh no, don't, don't say anything. It's fine. 482 00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:17.240 She goes, no, no, no, Um, we haven't heard 483 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:22.839 her voice in a year and a half and she's three, you know. 484 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:30.319 Okay, now I gotta go call me anytime, you know. So, 485 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:37.960 Yeah, the emotional impact, having such a such a role in society must 486 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:42.599 be such a thing to carry on your shoulders, but also such an uplifting 487 00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:44.480 thing to be able to be a part of as well, Like you able 488 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:46.519 to bring so much joy to everybody's lives. But the emotional side of things 489 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:50.319 it must just be draining for you as well. But not to the point 490 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:52.799 where it bothers you, because look at the joy you're bringing. Yeah, 491 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:54.440 yeah, not in a way that it bothers me, that's for sure. 492 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:58.079 Well, you know, I have a. I have a rule that UM 493 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:04.240 conventions are a good way to tell this. Everybody that comes up to the 494 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:07.240 table has to get one hundred percent of everything that they want because they're coming 495 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:13.759 there and they're spending X amount of money. And I mean I even had 496 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:16.680 this one girl who was prepared to spend I won't give you the whole story, 497 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:23.559 but thousands of dollars on voice recordings and apparently they was her sister. 498 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:30.640 They wanted to listen to them because she was going to leave the earth by 499 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:34.960 her own hand. And I said, Okay, we're gonna have to talk 500 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:37.319 about that. And we hugged and we hugged and we hugged, and I 501 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:43.359 feel I feel like, pooh, pooh, not me kind of gave her 502 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:46.440 a jump start. And I don't know how things are now. I can 503 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:51.880 I pray that they're beautiful. But the thing is, you just never know 504 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:55.720 what touches people. You don't know what touches people, what they're going through. 505 00:33:55.880 --> 00:34:00.359 Yeah, yeah, but I can tell you that you know, Taz 506 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:05.799 doesn't get that, sure does. I think he's when you touch somebody at 507 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:09.559 a very early age, when you're preschool, it touches something inside of you. 508 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:15.440 And you hold onto it and you can hold onto it for your whole 509 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:20.320 life. And I'm blessed. I'm thankful, Jim, You're you're giving and 510 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:23.960 giving and giving as Winnie the Pooh. I mean both in the performance end 511 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:28.320 in these personal interactions. I mean, have there roo been in any times 512 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:30.760 when you've sort of had to, I don't know, take lessons from the 513 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:35.559 character for yourself when you've been feeling low or down. It's like, what 514 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:39.400 would Pooh do? Yeah? Yeah, you know, without getting into it 515 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:43.920 a lot, I had a court battle to bring custody in my little ones, 516 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:47.639 and I would go from the courthouse to recording Christopher rob in the movie, 517 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:52.760 and Pooh was a life raft for me. Without getting too deep into 518 00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:55.719 the weeds, it was just nice. It's a nice place to land. 519 00:34:57.480 --> 00:35:00.679 You know. Would you rather be in the hundred acre woods or in a 520 00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:05.239 swamp? Well, I'll take the hundred acre woe and so, without elaborating 521 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:07.199 and making a big deal out of it, it's good. It's a therapeutic. 522 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:10.199 I'll take it. Do you think you've taken on any of the Pooh 523 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:14.840 characteristics as a person over the years. Do you think he's rubbed off on 524 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:16.920 you in any way. You've seen all the honey in my pantry, haven't 525 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:22.719 you? Uh well, I don't know or not just put any of your 526 00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:27.280 characters. Do you think any of them rubbed off on you? Uh well, 527 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:30.519 I can tell you that the closest to my probably my personality would be 528 00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:35.480 dark Wing Duck and Hondo Knacka. They're both kind of wise and high mrs. 529 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:37.800 You know, they're kind of both the irreverent in their own way. 530 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:40.519 I love your face when you're doing dark Wing. You know, you get 531 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:46.960 if you've become do I am the terror? Absolutely and just you always smile. 532 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:51.159 You're smiling as you're doing it always makes me tell it makes you so 533 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:53.440 happy that role? Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, absolutely, Well he 534 00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:58.159 was very very very close to my heart. Yeah yeah, that's a good 535 00:35:58.199 --> 00:36:01.159 one. But that's another show. Oh yes, that is indeed as his 536 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:05.599 Hondo. Yeah yeah, yes, as his Hondo. Jim. You mentioned 537 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:07.440 the movie Christopher Robin a little while ago. What I mean, who has 538 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:12.119 clearly been around for ages and oh yeah, you've been part of his life 539 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:15.760 for ages and vice versa. I mean, I've obviously encountered fans of different 540 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:20.760 ages, different generations. Are they different from generation to generation. I mean 541 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:23.159 people who have grown up with him and they had got a few more miles 542 00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:29.519 on the met or do they react differently to say little kids or is poo 543 00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:34.199 love just you know, the same, only in the sense that, you 544 00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:37.920 know, the little ones are more rambunctious, they're they're more giddy, and 545 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:42.039 they're more But I gotta tell you, you know a lot of the mums, 546 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:45.039 they are right there with them, you know, the hundred acre I 547 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:51.239 always say that there's a new generation of Pooh fans rut every three and a 548 00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:55.239 half four years, So there's an ongoing there's always a new version of there's 549 00:36:55.239 --> 00:36:58.920 always a new new show coming yet, isn't there now they're always updating the 550 00:36:58.960 --> 00:37:00.599 shows. And yeah, but it wouldn't just be the mums. I'm sure 551 00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:04.239 there's met plenty of fathers out there and men that you've brought the tears with 552 00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:07.559 the roles, right Oh yeah, yeah, absolutely, And you know, 553 00:37:07.639 --> 00:37:12.519 and bless their heart, you know, I have so many people, so 554 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:16.519 many beautiful people on the spectrum that come up to shows and uh, you 555 00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:20.679 know, and they're just bubbling over and they're just having the greatest time in 556 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:23.320 their life and they're going, well, you know, the dad's going he 557 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:27.800 really really likes Whin the Pooh. I mean he will watch watch them all, 558 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:30.400 like all day long. And I go, well, God bless you. 559 00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:32.480 Then I tell them we'll keep buying the DVDs, and you know, 560 00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:37.079 you and I you know, I try to lighten it up, but it's 561 00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:39.119 it's I've said it before. It's an honor. You know what could I 562 00:37:39.159 --> 00:37:43.199 tell you? Carry on this great tradition? Speaking of honor, it's one 563 00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:46.320 more final thing here. If you had the honor to meet Winnie the Pooh, 564 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:49.840 what do you think you would say to him? I would say, 565 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:54.960 play your cards right and someday you'll be able to announce the King of England. 566 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:59.079 Yeah, let's let's actually were we go. Let's get into that. 567 00:37:59.199 --> 00:38:02.519 So you know, it doesn't happen very often. They say, no, 568 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:06.440 one's a lifetime, but we're gonna have three two of my lifetime, because 569 00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:07.639 you know, Prince Charles gotta love me. Wip you around or King Charles 570 00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:14.000 just say whop around forever. But mister King Prince, I apologize. I 571 00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:17.599 apologize, but he's the artist formerly known as Prince Yes, yes that's right, 572 00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:22.840 So King Charles now He specifically requested that he wanted We Need the Pooh 573 00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:24.599 to be a part of his coronation. Take us back, how did you 574 00:38:24.599 --> 00:38:27.559 first find out about this? How did that all come about? What? 575 00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:30.400 What? What? Where'd you record that from? Because obviously you went there 576 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:32.559 at Bucking Palace. We Need the Pooh was But had that process all happened? 577 00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:36.599 Well? At first, I was like, I don't know, I'm 578 00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:38.280 busy. I mean, it's not that important, is he really? It's 579 00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:40.840 not. No, it's not that Can I wait till the next one? 580 00:38:42.199 --> 00:38:45.639 Oh? All right? And the fact is I would have stood on my 581 00:38:45.719 --> 00:38:49.960 head to do it, but I made him bay me anyway anyway, uh 582 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:52.400 No, but it was. It was incredible. They showed me, they 583 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:57.440 showed me the footage and it was sweetest can be. And I did not 584 00:38:57.639 --> 00:39:00.519 know. Has everybody have you guys seen it? It's all fable online just 585 00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:06.360 type, it's all on YouTube everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, 586 00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:08.679 because I didn't. I didn't want to give away the ending, you 587 00:39:08.760 --> 00:39:14.400 know, when tiger flies down and swoops away. Oh no, I've said 588 00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:17.679 too much. That's the next That's the next king coronation, isn't it. 589 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:22.400 Yes, yes, it is, um but no. I honestly, I 590 00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:25.840 was just so incredibly honored to be a part of that, you know, 591 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:29.719 and I'm just a little asked to risk. I don't even remember the question. 592 00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:31.840 I'm starting to just the process of how it all came about. Yeah. 593 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:35.800 Yeah, Well they called up and they said, well, what can 594 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:37.719 you do this? Can you do that? And I said, oh my 595 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:39.679 gosh, sure, what am I gonna do? Wait till the next one? 596 00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:43.480 Like I said, no, I said please, yeah, And I 597 00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:49.039 just was flabbergasted. And I had no idea that the King of England was 598 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:53.519 a winning the poo fan. It's crazy, you know. There he's probably 599 00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:57.920 been to play poo sticks on the bridge. I think every person is a 600 00:39:57.960 --> 00:40:00.320 winning the poof fan, right, it's hard not to be. Yeah, 601 00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:05.360 well what you said, Yeah, let's let's spread that you got that world? 602 00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:07.679 Okay? That good la right? Lineup, show of hands? You 603 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:12.639 said you saw the animation? So did you Did they film the animation first 604 00:40:12.639 --> 00:40:15.440 and then you recorded on top of that? So yes, okay, which 605 00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:20.360 is it's very very rare, that's not that's just not how it's done. 606 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:23.639 But they had someone dummy the lines and so it was and you know, 607 00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:28.320 and they had at this point. Everybody can pretty much get into the Pool 608 00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:30.599 rhythm if you will. I'm assuming there was no improvising there. It was 609 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:35.079 just no King wants you to say this, you must say this. Yes, 610 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:38.400 And if you watch it again, you will notice that Pool does not 611 00:40:38.559 --> 00:40:43.960 do a lot of on camera talking. He's not standing there going no, 612 00:40:44.239 --> 00:40:49.800 no, no, He's just kind of you know, his majesty is you 613 00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:52.519 know, and then he turns around and says it's true because you know. 614 00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:58.280 Yes. So they were very clever. Yeah, it's definitely looked like a 615 00:40:58.280 --> 00:41:00.280 different process because you were saying usually record first and an animated after. I 616 00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:04.719 thought, voice isn't moving all that much? His mouth isn't moving that much? 617 00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:07.719 Yeah right, yeah, yeah, that's still incredibly exciting. Yeah. 618 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:12.159 Oh, it was such an honor and I'm sure you'll be invited back. 619 00:41:12.599 --> 00:41:15.400 It all went well, Oh, I have to be. There's enough doubt 620 00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:19.800 about it standing invitation of the palace. Maybe the next king is going to 621 00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:23.719 be a dark Wing Duck fan, though who knows what would what would dark 622 00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:29.800 Wing Duck say the king's coronation? Do you think nice place? Pal I 623 00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:34.599 don't know, you know, so you live here? Yeah? The funny 624 00:41:34.719 --> 00:41:37.159 is my son. Here's four and the role that he's most excited for that 625 00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:42.239 you voice is Tassy Devil of all the roles because he's a big Space Jam 626 00:41:42.280 --> 00:41:46.880 fan. He's just you know, Taggy Devil. It has like well, 627 00:41:46.880 --> 00:41:50.480 I always say, I'm, i'm we need to boo in the anti pool. 628 00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:52.159 Yes. Do you know we're actually having a bit of a controversy down 629 00:41:52.199 --> 00:41:57.159 here in Australia because we have our own version of football called Australian Rules Football, 630 00:41:57.360 --> 00:42:00.320 and we have a state of Australia called Tasmania and Devils are from there 631 00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:05.719 and they have just been given the go ahead to have their own Australian Rules 632 00:42:05.800 --> 00:42:09.880 football team and they want to call them the Tasmanian Devils, but that copyright 633 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:16.480 is owned by Warner so it's a bit of like can we name tell them? 634 00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:21.480 I'm in, but but I want tickets to the opening game, tickets 635 00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:24.800 for like maybe or eight people. It'd be fuenty of people there if the 636 00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:28.559 Taggy Devil is saying, I mean I'm bringing my own people, Chris, 637 00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:31.800 Yeah, let's do that. That's cool. I'm in. Hey, Honestly, 638 00:42:31.920 --> 00:42:35.360 I feel like if the real Taggy Devil endorsed it. Then you can 639 00:42:35.480 --> 00:42:37.199 have many tickets as you want to that game. I'm sure it is. 640 00:42:37.239 --> 00:42:40.840 That's what's gonna be. Oh well, I'll work for free sort of, 641 00:42:42.760 --> 00:42:45.079 you know, you know, well, we'll do a barter system. I'm 642 00:42:45.119 --> 00:42:47.679 sure you can make that happen. Yes, we'll make it happen. But 643 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:52.880 this has been incredibly fun just going back and talking about how you became Winning 644 00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:55.000 the poo Obviously we're going to talk about more Winning the poohs in going on 645 00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:58.280 in future episodes, because you know, this is your podcast. You can 646 00:42:58.280 --> 00:43:00.960 talk about whatever you want to do. That's the next episode of the podcast. 647 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:04.360 We're going to be covering one of your favorites, one of my favorites. 648 00:43:04.519 --> 00:43:07.599 It is Hondo and Arca. I'm sure you decided to delve into this 649 00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:09.320 guy. I understand completely. It's gonna say, give us a bit of 650 00:43:09.360 --> 00:43:13.760 a tease for next week, get Hondo to sort of plug next week's show. 651 00:43:14.039 --> 00:43:15.880 Well, I would, but you see, I'm very busy, unless, 652 00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:21.960 of course, you have some of the elusive spond shallow here. You're 653 00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:25.480 know, I think that we can work something out. You and I now 654 00:43:27.280 --> 00:43:30.960 and me your wallet. Now, speaking of wallets, if you want to 655 00:43:31.039 --> 00:43:35.639 hear that episode. It is available right now early and add free on Jim's 656 00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:38.440 Patreon channel, which you can find at Patreon dot com. Slash Jim Cummings 657 00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:42.440 podcast link for that is in the script of this podcast. You also follow 658 00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:45.119 the show on social media on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and 659 00:43:45.239 --> 00:43:49.440 Facebook at Jim Cummings Pots. Make sure you follow us on there's for weekly 660 00:43:49.519 --> 00:43:52.360 updates little clips from the show. But Jim, once again, it's been 661 00:43:52.360 --> 00:43:54.239 absolute pleasure to talk to you about Winning the Pooh. Looking forward to delving 662 00:43:54.239 --> 00:43:57.760 into next week's episode of Hondo and Narka. Thank you for producer Chris, 663 00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:00.000 Thank you Guy Davis. We'll catch you guys all the next episode of Tuned 664 00:44:00.039 --> 00:44:07.639 In with Jim Cummings. Thanks Jim Abersin m HM.