Jeffrey Katzenberg has been aggressively promoting DreamWorks Television's first primetime CG-animated TV series, FATHER OF THE PRIDE, a comedy about the backstage antics of the Siegfried & Roy Vegas act involving the squabbling family of white lions. Already given a 13-episode order by NBC with a September 2004 debut (possibly the coveted Thursday 8:00 pm slot being vacated by FRIENDS, though not confirmed), THE NEW YORK TIMES reports that FATHER OF THE PRIDE is costing between $2 million and $2.5 million per episode. Animation is being split between DreamWorks' Glendale campus and Imagi in Hong Kong. Viewers will reportedly get their first glimpse of the series during the two-hour FRIENDS finale on May 9.
FATHER OF THE PRIDE, with its dysfunctional sitcom-like family, is being touted as a hip 3D cartoon with broad demographic appeal. Katzenberg, who serves as exec producer, likens his brainchild to THE SIMPSONS in that it satirizes show biz and politics.
The show stars Larry (voiced by John Goodman), a hard-working lion in the revue with his wife Kate (voiced by Cheryl Hines). Sarmoti (voiced by Carl Reiner), Kate's father and old Rat Pack-era comic, clashes with Larry on every subject imaginable. Danielle Harris and Jon O'Hurley voice the daughter and son.
The writers are Jonathan Groff (LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN) and Jon Pollack (SPIN CITY and JUST SHOOT ME); Joe Aguilar (co-exec producer on TAKEN) is supervising the animation.
Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn (who is still recuperating from his mauling and subsequent stroke) are consultants and will be featured somehow in the series.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
