Reddit AMA Recap: Squidbillies producers Dave Willis and Jim Fortier talk season eight

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This Sunday Night on Adult Swim starting @ 11:45 pm welcomes the return of Squidbillies! Yep! Season eight is getting ready to unload and producers Dave Willis and Jim Fortier recently took part in a Reddit AMA where they answered questions on the development of the series, and a whole bunch more.

On how the producers got into animation, but only Jim gave his side of the story:

(JF)Dave can tell you his story, but he was working here at Cartoon Network in the mid 90’s (Space Ghost Coast to Coast) and told me they had a job opening. I borrowed the company van and drove on down for an interview. Van ran out of gas on the interstate. Got some dude who stopped to give me a ride the rest of the way. He asked for 20 bucks. It was pouring rain so I had to dry myself off with paper towels in the men’s room. Did the job interview. Got the job. Congratulations, you’re in animation! (your results may vary)

 

How did the idea for Squidbillies come about?

(DW) We were writers on staff (Space Ghost). Lazzo was the one who came up with the title. It made us laugh. He then asked us to make a show around that title, and tortured us for a year until the title made us shiver with nausea. But now everyone is happy with it.

How they came up with the crude animation:

(DW) It’s always how we envisioned it. Beavis and Butthead style. Backgrounds like outsider folk art. Characters like pen sketches on cocktail napkins. I think it plays into the stupid/silly vibe of the show. I love the imperfect eyes of the sheriff, his 2-dimensional charlie brown head. The rough shaky limbs of the Squids. I love the look of this show and I defy you to find a better looking cartoon on TV. Thank you , Awesome Inc!

(JF)Yeah, it’s not due to a low budget, etc. It’s by design. You like it or you don’t. We do. Clean and sharp, for this show, was not as funny.

How the writing process for episodes typically works:

(JF) Depends. One guy is on the keyboard and the other is not. Usually, the keyboard guy gets fewer jokes in, because the non-keyboard guy can just sit back gulping coffee and spouting off from the mouth. Keyboard guy has to type all the stuff and try to fit in jokes. I hate being keyboard guy, Dave’s better at it, too, but it comes with taking turns. Sometimes one guy or the other just gets on a streak and lots of good stuff comes out. Sometimes we stare at each other and decide to go play video games or go to the shooting range. 

Who inspired Granny?

(DW) My Granny was an inspiration for her. She wasnt an actress, but we had her cameo as Sheriff’s mom when she was well in her late 80s. My hope is that my Granny did not have as active of a sex life. Design-wise, I always loved The Far Side characters with glasses, but without pupils – I always loved that oblivious look.

On what it’s like working with Unknown Hinson (Early):

(JF) Unknown Hinson is a very talented musician and voice artist, as well as a great guy. He’s funny, and he brings lots of ad libs to the voice recordings. A lot of Early’s f’d up pronunciations are right from Unknown. He’s not involved in writing the scripts but he adds plenty of funny. He’s also done music for the show. 

Are there more live shows on the way?

(DW) Tentative talks of SF Sketchfest. Maybe a date early next year. And we’re planning a Squids show in October in Atlanta. Details soon.

Dave tells us how the trailer park settings were inspired.

(DW) I used to deliver Domino’s Pizza to a trailer park in Conyers. Made very few deliveries, it was mostly to pick up pizza returns. This was back when Domino’s used to give you a full refund if you returned half your pizza and “were not satisfied” with your “pizza experience”.

On transitioning from the Sheriff in Season One into Season Two:

(DW) We loved LOVED Charles Napier’s voice, but he felt that he had made a mistake working for us in a non-union capacity, so he dropped out. Bobby Ellerbie fell into our lap, and we still can’t believe our luck. Bobby is from Winder, Ga and understands the character on such a deep level. He really added this other dimension.

You can read a bunch more Reddit AMA here, and look out for our review for the new episodes of Squidbillies coming next week!

 

 

 

About John Schwarz

John is the Chief Editor and Founder of Bubbleblabber.com. While at first a part-time project, Bubbleblabber quickly grew into a full-fledged operation and officially became a company in 2014. When John isn't running a business full-time, he likes to go to concerts with your mother.