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For Rock, 'Merry' is a bit contrary
But, what can he say, the comedian has a soft spot in his heart for the holiday classics.
Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith), Alex (Ben Stiller), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Marty (Chris Rock) save the day in "Merry Madagascar," airing at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC, channel 2, cable 9. Courtesy
By RITA SHERROW World Television Editor
Published: 11/17/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 11/17/2009 8:03 AM
Chris Rock the comedian is known for a lot of things. Great comic timing. Award-winning producing and writing skills. Narrating TV's "Everybody Hates Chris."
But to the kids of the world, he's the too-funny Marty the Zebra in the animated "Madagascar" films and the new special "Merry Madagascar" airing Tuesday on NBC.
Remember, it's Marty who declared: "I'm 10 years old. My life is half over and I don't even know if I'm black with white stripes or white with black stripes!"
In the half-hour special, Marty and his buddies (a giraffe, a lion and a hippo, along with those zany penguins) have to save the day after Santa crash-lands on the island and can't remember what he was supposed to be doing this time of year. They have to deliver all the presents to save Christmas and, along the way, learn that Santa's sleigh might be able to fly to New York City — home of their beloved Central Park Zoo.
The role was an opportunity that Rock, a native of South Carolina, couldn't pass up.
"I'm obviously already in with DreamWorks and Jeffrey Katzenberg and all that," he said in a recent teleconference. This is his third time to voice the role of Marty. "I just want to work with the people. They do really good stuff. And, it kind of gets you some of that 'Hannah Montana' money. So you get in with the kids and that definitely can't hurt."
Lib-erated
In animated films, the voice actors have perks rarely seen on a movie set. They get to wear what they want, avoid time spent in hair and makeup, do multiple takes, and they can improvise lines as they go along.
"There's a lot of ad-lib," Rock said. "But the script is really good so you don't have to do that much."
Ad-libbing is manna to successful comics and, if there's anything Rock loves — besides his wife and family — it's doing comedy, especially off the cuff.
"It's like a calling," he explained. "It's like being a priest for something. You know you will end up there one day.
"I love comedy. Loved comedians. You know like some kids take apart radios and they grow up to be electricians? Well, I would take apart jokes."
Rock said he was inspired by those maestros of funny Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen and Steve Martin — "Guys like that." His goal, he said, is to work hard, do good work and make people laugh.
Marty and Magoo
Even comedy stars like Rock — who has four Emmys and numerous other awards on his resume — have Christmas traditions that include classic TV specials.
"The Grinch, that's my favorite," he said. "And, I like the Charlie Brown one, those are my two all-time favorites. You know what? The 'Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol' is pretty good. I know they are all sweet and they're just really good, especially that Magoo one. I have them all downloaded so I can show them to the kids."
Just to make sure other kids know that Rock plays Marty, he says, his youngest daughter, Zahra, "is a bragger."
"She's very quick to tell people her Daddy is Marty the Zebra."
But, in real life, it isn't the Marty voice that's their favorite.
"They like the mosquito (voice) from the 'Bee Movie,' " he said. "They love that mosquito."
MERRY MADAGASCAR
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: NBC, channel 2, cable
channel 9
Rita Sherrow 581-8360
rita.sherrow@tulsaworld.com
By RITA SHERROW World Television Editor
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