Comedy
Synopsis
Now in the care of Dave Seville's nephew Toby (Zachary Levi), chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore enter a battle of the bands contest to save their school's music program.
Cast: Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, Wendie Malick, Anjelah Johnson, Kathryn Joosten, Kevin G. Schmidt, Chris Warren Jr., Bridgit Mendler, Aimee Carrero, Alexandra Shipp, Gregg Binkley
Producer(s): Bagdasarian Company
Crew: Director - Betty Thomas, Screenwriter - Jon Vitti, Screenwriter - Jonathan Aibel, Screenwriter - Glenn Berger, Producer - Ross Bagdasarian, Producer - Janice Karman, Executive Producer - Karen Rosenfelt, Executive Producer - Arnon Milchan, Executive Producer - Michele Stabile, Executive Producer - Steve Waterman, Cinematographer - Anthony Richmond, Production Design - Marcia Hinds, Film Editor - Matthew Friedman, Original Music - David Newman, Costume Designer - Alexandra Welker, Casting - Juel Bestrop, Casting - Seth Yanklewitz, Art Director - Bo Johnson, Set Decoration - Karen Agresti
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 12/23/2009
Running Time: 89 minutes
OFFICIAL SITE
| PG | Parental Guidance Suggested |
Production Notes:
- Notes provided by 20th Century Fox -
In 2007, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, a global phenomenon to generations of fans, became a live action/CGI motion picture event with a contemporary comic sensibility. In the holiday season blockbuster, which grossed over $350 million worldwide, songwriter Dave Seville transformed singing chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore into pop sensations -- while the out-of-control trio laid waste to Dave's home, wreaked havoc on his career, and turned Dave's once-orderly life upside-down.
Before you could say, "Alvinnnnn!!!" talks began about a new ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS movie. Not content to rest on their laurels, the 'Munks are preparing yet another "first": There have been many great movie sequels. There have even been prequels. Now, get ready for the world's first SQUEAKQUEL, in which Alvin, Simon and Theodore finally meet their match - and maybe more - in the newly arrived female trio, The Chipettes.
Alvin and The Chipmunks have been delighting audiences around the world for over 50 years. From the moment they sprung into being with their #1 Christmas hit The Chipmunk Song, the creative brainchild of singer/songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., the 'Munks' catchy sound has been a pop culture mainstay, for both young and old. For the 2007 big screen debut, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, the 'Munks underwent some important stylistic and attitudinal upgrades. Possessing a contemporary edge and attitude, they were more than just your father's Chipmunks.
Having taken Hollywood - and the world - by storm in 2007, the 'Munks and the
filmmakers were eager to produce an even more ambitious and entertaining big-screen
follow-up.
Many of the original 2007 cast and filmmakers return for the SQUEAKQUEL,
including producers (as well as the voices of The Chipmunks and The Chipettes for the
past 30 years) Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Karman, executive producers Karen
Rosenfelt, Arnon Michele Imperato Stabile and Steve Waterman, actors Jason Lee and
David Cross, and 'Munk voice talents Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse
McCartney. New to the SQUEAKQUEL is director Betty Thomas, who is one of today's
top comedy filmmakers ("The Brady Bunch Movie," "Doctor Dolittle", "Private Parts"),
actor Zachary Levi (TV's "Chuck") and "Chipette" voices Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and
Christina Applegate. Herewith are their thoughts about the 'Munk phenomenon and the
making of ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL.
A MOVIE BLOCKBUSTER IS BORN
Janice Karman (Producer): "With [2007's] ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, we set out to capture three generations of Chipmunk fans: those who grew up with The Chipmunks in the '80s [with the hit TV series], their kids, and even those who remember The Chipmunks from the '60s. We just felt that if we made a good movie that had something for everyone, we would have a big audience."
Ross Bagdasarian (Producer): "The theme of family was there in the first film,but where the first film was about a family coming together, Janice wanted to explore the brothers splitting apart as well as their ultimate reunion."
BIGGER/BETTER/MORE
Ross Bagdasarian: "The SQUEAKQUEL has a bigger look, bigger musical numbers, more fun, deeper emotion and more action - including a motorcycle chase, helicopters, and Alvin playing football!
Janice Karman: "And it has twice the number of 'Munks, thanks to the addition of The Chipettes." [The Chipettes are the newest addition to the ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS movie franchise - but they're not new to Alvin's pop culture universe. Karman created the Chipettes in 1982 for a new "Alvin and The Chipmunks" television series that debuted the following year. "We wanted to cover some great 'girl songs'," she says.]
SCHOOL 'DAZE':
In the SQUEAKQUEL, Alvin, Simon and Theodore temporarily put aside pop superstardom, to enroll in school. It's not an easy transition, as the 'Munks experience the various trials and tribulations of school life - the bullies, the cliques, the pranks, the stern principal - that all students experience. Most significantly, their student adventures test their family bond.
Janice Karman: "Putting The Chipmunks in school [for the SQUEAKQUEL], is something everyone can relate to. We've all been in school; we've all had the kinds of insecurities the boys experience in the film. So, again, it's a universal story."
Ross Bagdasarian: "In addition to the great music, we're always looking for some strong emotion in a Chipmunks story. How do you get along in a new school? Is the 'Munks' bond as brothers affected by Alvin's insatiable desire for popularity? Setting the story in school creates opportunities that test the brothers' bond."
"THERE'S DAVE SEVILLE...."
Jason Lee ("My Name is Earl"), who played the 'Munks dad/manager Dave Seville in the 2007 blockbuster, was almost unable to reprise the role in the SQUEAKQUEL, due to a scheduling conflict. But Lee, determined to rejoin Alvin, Simon and Theodore, moved some things around - and was able to squeeze in filming for some key scenes that feature both physical comedy and touching emotional beats.
Jason Lee: "I just sort of follow Ross Bagdasarian on how to approach Dave. Is it a short Alvin scream, or a long ["Allllvvviiiiiinnnn!"] scream? There's a lot of fun playing the physical comedy and Dave's constant frustrations with Alvin. But we also try and make the scenes as warm as possible - and make Dave as likable as possible, considering how much he's always yelling at Alvin!"
Jason Lee: "In the SQUEAKQUEL, Dave and the boys have a great reunion. You come to understand that as much as Dave resisted the boys in the first movie, he's come around and realized how much they mean to him. They're his kids, so to speak. In the new film, we take their family bond to the next level, which is: 'We're together unconditionally, forever.' But...Dave is still up to his neckbrace in all the trouble they cause."
TOBY TAKES CHARGE
Thanks to Alvin's on-stage shenanigans, Dave is laid-up in a Paris hospital. While he's recuperating, his cousin Toby is entrusted with The Chipmunks' care. Zachary Levi, who plays Toby, is best known for starring as the titular hero - a nerdy electronics store employee who unexpectedly becomes a spy -- in the NBC comedy-adventure series "Chuck." In the SQUEAKQUEL, Levi's Toby out-geeks even super-nerd Chuck; Toby is an obsessive videogame player who is totally out to sea when it comes to "parenting" -- and trouble-prone Alvin, Simon and Theodore don't make things any easier for him!
Zach Levi: "Toby is kind of wrangled into a situation where he has to take care of The Chipmunks, a task for which he's initially completely incapable, because Toby's interests extend only to video games."
Zach Levi: "Becoming a part of a new ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS movie was a real trip for me because I'm a huge fan of The Chipmunks; everybody is, at some point in his or her life! As a youngster, I watched the Saturday morning 'Alvin and The Chipmunks' cartoon show, and 'The Chipmunk Adventure' movie, which Janice directed. I also had a great time watching the recent movie. I'm a big fan of movies that entertain both parents and children."
THE 'MUNKS SPEAK!
Three of today's hottest young actors - "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story's" Justin Long, "Criminal Minds'" Matthew Gray Gubler, and pop sensation/actor Jesse McCartney - return in the SQUEAKQUEL to voice, respectively, Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Producers Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Karman continue to be delighted with the work of all three performers - no small thing given that Bagdasarian's father, Ross, Sr., voiced the 'Munks before his untimely passing, with Bagdasarian and Karman performing the voices of The Chipmunks and The Chipettes the past thirty years.
Justin Long: "What makes Alvin stand out? I think Alvin is a born leader, with a lot of charisma and charm. In his mind, he's bigger than life."
Mattthew Gray Gubler: "I'm honored to play the part of Simon because I'm probably the biggest fan The Chipmunks have ever had. I love their music, their life philosophy...everything. I was such a fan that I was worried that no one would believe me when I told them I was cast in the first movie. Before school, I used to watch the 1980s cartoon."
Jesse McCartney: "I remember spending every Saturday morning on the couch with a big bowl of breakfast, and in my PJs, watching "The Chipmunks" - not knowing that one day I'd actually be playing Theodore."
Justin Long: "If Jethro Tull is like the flute kind of rock infusion, then The Chipmunks must be a kind of piccolo shrill rock infusion."
Matthew Gray Gubler: "The Chipmunks resonate with everybody, including my grandfather, father, brother; it's a multi-generational thing. It's amazing to see the reach they have."
Jesse McCartney: "Obviously, I'm biased, because I play Theodore, but I would have named the group "Theo's Trio," and not Alvin and The Chipmunks. Theodore has a lot of lovable qualities. In the SQUEAKQUEL, Theodore's biggest challenge is overcoming certain hurdles during his first year in school. Such as: bullies...and his fear of eagles. But more than anything, Theodore needs the reassurance that he's part of something, and that he has a family."
GIRL POWER! MEET THE CHIPETTES:
The three Chipettes made their debut in 1983 in the animated series "Alvin and The Chipmunks." Created (and voiced) by Janice Karman, The Chipettes provided the opportunity for Karman and Bagdasarian to do some "girl songs." At the same time, The Chipmunks and Chipettes had a fun dynamic, which audiences really responded to. As they had withThe Chipmunks, the filmmakers were able to cast three formidable talents - in this case, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate and Amy Poehler - to voice The Chipettes (respectively, Jeanette, Brittany and Eleanor).
Anna Faris: "Jeanette is different from her siblings in, among other ways, she wears glasses. And her ponytail also reflects her unique, offbeat style. She's a bit of a dreamer, and not as ambitious as her sisters. Maybe, she's a bit nerdier than Brittany and Eleanor. She's incredibly sweet, and has a heart of gold. In some ways, I'm like Jeanette because I, too, can be a little spacey...a little dreamy. And I used to wear glasses. "
Christina Applegate: "Brittany is sassy - and she can definitely back it up. She's got some pipes on her, and some moves. Some amazing moves that I'm still trying to figure out on my own!"
Amy Poehler: "Eleanor is feisty and energetic. And she's short, which always makes for an interesting personality. She's an optimist. She knows how to have fun, and her enthusiasm is contagious."
Anna Faris: "I can't say the word 'Squeakquel' without laughing. And I've probably said it, I don't know, maybe five or six hundred times now. 'Oh, yeah, mom, I'm doing the Squeakquel.' I just start cracking up."
Christina Applegate: "It feels great to be immortalized by voicing a Chipette; it was something always on my to-do list. I loved the first movie and wanted to be a part of this one."
Amy Poehler: "The Chipettes are great fun, and it's also a lot of fun to tell people you're working on a 'Squeakquel." I think the word 'Squeakquel' guarantees fun. 'Sequel' could be a follow-up to a horror movie or emotional drama. With a 'Squeakquel' you know what you're getting into - and that it's going to be a lot of laughs."
'MUNK-IN MUSIC
All singing! All dancing! All Alvin! In ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, Alvin, Simon and Theodore had a brand new sound that incorporated their signature music with modern takes on rock, pop, reggae and hip hop. With the SQUEAKQUEL, the 'Munks, along with executive music producer Ali Dee Theodore, are delivering even more accessible, fun pop music. Here's what in store for 'Munk music fans everywhere, on the Rhino Records soundtrack:
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS; THE SQUEAKQUEL Music From The Motion Picture
1 YOU REALLY GOT ME - The Chipmunks feat. Honor Society
2 HOT N COLD -The Chipettes
3 SO WHAT -The Chipettes
4 YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) - The Chipmunks
5 SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT) - The Chipettes
6 BRING IT ON -The Chipmunks
7 STAYIN' ALIVE - The Chipmunks
8 THE SONG -The Chipettes feat. Queensberry
9 IT'S OK -The Chipmunks
10 SHAKE YOUR GROOVE THING -The Chipmunks & The Chipettes
11 PUT YOUR RECORDS ON - The Chipettes
12 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS -The Chipmunks
13 WE ARE FAMILY -The Chipmunks & The Chipettes
14 NO ONE -The Chipettes featuring Charice BONUS TRACK
15 I GOTTA FEELING - The Chipmunks & The Chipettes
'MUNK MISCELLANEOUS
With today's sophisticated audio technology, you would think the voices of The Chipmunks (and The Chipettes) would be captured via cutting edge techniques. But ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL producers Ross Bagdasarian (whose father created the 'Munks) and Janice Karman insisted on keeping it old school for the boys' signature sounds - which were created exactly the same as Ross, Sr. did it 50 years ago, by slowing down the recordings to half-speed, then playing them back at conventional speed.
Veteran cinematographer Anthony Richmond has shot many memorable films - and is certainly no newbie when it comes to capturing the magic of rock concerts: In 1968, he shot "Let It Be" with The Beatles on a rooftop in London. Over 40 years later, for the SQUEAKQUEL, Richmond shot a key scene on the rooftop of Los Angeles' Sunset Gower Studios. Says Richmond: "From roof to roof, from Beatles to Chipmunks, I don't think I can go wrong!"
'MUNK & CHIPETTE BIOGRAPHIES
ALVIN
Alvin continues to relish - too much - his role as band frontman, and his antics at a charity concert land Dave Seville in the hospital. Much to Alvin and his brothers' chagrin, Dave orders them to temporarily leave pop superstardom behind and enroll in school. The diminutive 'Munk becomes the Big Man on Campus when he befriends the school's jocks and joins the football team. But Alvin's popularity at school doesn't sit well with Simon and Theodore, especially when Alvin lets them down at the big Sing-off against The Chipettes.
SIMON
The brainiest of the terrific trio, Simon's transition to school life is nonetheless a bumpy one. When he's assigned the fictitious honor of being named Litter Monitor, Simon embraces the challenge but soon runs afoul of the school jocks, who embarrass him in front of Alvin. Can the rift between brothers be healed before it's too late?
THEODORE
Known to his fans as "The Sweet One," Theodore is also helpful, lovable, sensitive, gullible, trusting and naïve. (In short, he's everything Alvin's not.). Theodore misses Dave a lot, and his desperate efforts to bond with Toby, who's looking after the boys in Dave's absence, are comical at best. When Theodore runs away from home, he unexpectedly triggers the best in his brothers and in Toby.
JEANETTE
Brainy, bespectacled and absent-minded, Jeanette, loves to sing whether or not it leads to stardom. She's the perfect love connection for Simon - if The Chipettes can escape the conniving clutches of new manager Ian Hawke, and get over their musical rivalry with Alvin and The Chipmunks.
ELEANOR
Rotund and lovable, Eleanor embraces "living large," even as band manager Ian Hawke insists the height-challenged Chipette somehow act taller. She's eager for The Chipettes to achieve stardom, but unexpected complications may stop The Chipettes ascendancy to the music pantheon.
BRITTANY
As lead singer and ambitious leader of The Chipettes, Brittany is always front-and-center in any of the band's activities. Her vocal prowess impresses new manager Ian Hawke, who sees Brittany as his ticket to a return to corporate glory. Brittany's initial encounters with Alvin are rough - but all kinds of sparks are soon ignited.
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHIPMUNKS
In 1958, Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. was a down-on-his-luck musician/songwriter with a family to feed. He was signed with Liberty Records, a struggling label desperate for a hit. In the spirit of a true artist, Bagdasarian, Sr. was a risk taker. He cleaned out the family's savings account and bought a state-of-the-art tape recorder, then he sat down and tried to figure out what he would do with it. Looking around his desk, he saw a copy of a book called Duel with the Witch Doctor. That was his inspiration for the number one hit song "Witch Doctor," an instant smash that everyone knows by its nonsensical refrain: "OO EE OO AH AH ting tang wal-la wal-la bing bang."
Bagdasarian employed a simple technique for the voice of the Witch Doctor. He slowed the tape recording speed down and recorded the lyrics in a slow, low voice, then played it back at regular speed. This technique would come to define the unique voices of Alvin, Simon and Theodore.
As "Witch Doctor" surpassed the million-selling copy demarcation, Liberty Records found themselves flush with cash. But the money wasn't enough to save the label indefinitely and Liberty soon needed another hit ... so they called on Bagdasarian.
Tapping back into his surroundings for inspiration, Bagdasarian found himself listening to the insistent refrain of his four-year-old son begging to know when it would be Christmas - this was in the heat of summer 1958 - and he penned the perennial Christmas favorite, "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" ... but he didn't title it that because The Chipmunks didn't exist yet.
Bagdasarian loved the voice he created for the Witch Doctor, but he wanted to take it somewhere new, imbue it with personality, he just didn't know in what way. One day, as he drove through Yosemite National Park, a chipmunk ran in front of his car, stopped in the road, rose up on its haunches and seemed to challenge Bagdasarian to pass. The rest is history ... as that little chipmunk became Alvin.
Bagdasarian created two sidekicks for the mischievous Alvin: Simon, the intellectual and practical one; and Theodore, the giggling one that loved to eat. Together they were Alvin and The Chipmunks, deriving their names from three of the executives at Liberty: Al Bennett, Si Waronker and Theodore Keep. A few years before, Bagdasarian began recording under the stage name, David Seville. So this new musical act was born, David Seville and The Chipmunks.
Although it was a bit of a struggle to get "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" radio air play in the beginning, Bagdasarian found a small station in Minneapolis willing to play it before the Christmas season officially began. The switchboards lit up, and word of mouth got the song rotation on more and more stations until it became the fastest-selling number one hit single up to that time, over four and a half million copies in seven weeks (that milestone was eventually surpassed by The Beatles with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964), and would go on to win three Grammy® Awards and be nominated for a fourth.
The Chipmunks made their network television debut - as puppets performing with "Dave Seville" (Bagdasarian) - on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Again, they were an immediate success. People were clamoring for more of the 'Munks, and a look was designed that was very different than what we have come to associate with The Chipmunks. In the beginning, The Chipmunks looked, well, very much like chipmunks ... not quite photo-realistic, but based more on the animal than on a plushy derivative. A cottage industry ensued with all kinds of 'Munk toys and memorabilia, and of course, records.
The Chipmunks were huge. People couldn't get enough of them. After the 1960 release of the single "Alvin for President," Bagdasarian received a letter of support from then senator John F. Kennedy, a Presidential candidate. Kennedy wrote back to Bagdasarian saying that he was glad to know he had at least one worthy opponent. There seemed to be no limit to their popularity. In three short years, The Chipmunks had sold sixteen million records, won several Grammys among numerous nominations, and were riding the crest of an unprecedented merchandising campaign. It was time to bring them to life in a dynamic, visual medium.
The Alvin Show debuted on television in the fall of 1961 and with it, a new look for Alvin, Simon and Theodore - and for that matter, Bagdasarian since the character of Dave Seville was now born into the world of animation.
MUNKOGRAPHY: A CHIPMUNK TIMELINE -HIGHLIGHTS
1958 -"Witch Doctor" released "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" released Chipmunks first appear as puppets on The Ed Sullivan Show
1959 -"The Chipmunk Song" is nominated for 4 Grammys and wins 3 of them Chipmunks release their first album Let's All Sing with The Chipmunks Chipmunk merchandise licensing campaign launched
1960 - "Alvin's Harmonica" wins a Grammy® "Alvin for President" released; JFK writes to Bagdasarian, Sr.
1961 - "The Alvin Show" debuts in prime time on CBS "Let's Sing with The Chipmunks" wins Grammy "Alvin for President" nominated for two Grammys
1962 -The Alvin Show album nominated for a Grammy 1963 -The Chipmunk Songbook nominated for two Grammys 1964 -The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles' is released and goes multi-Platinum. 1965 -"The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles" wins Grammy (for best engineered recording-special or novel effects) 1966 -"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is nominated for a Grammy 1972 -Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. passes away 1978 -Ross Bagdasarian & Janice Karman plot the rebirth of The Chipmunks 1980 -"Chipmunk Punk" is released goes Platinum and wins NARM's Best Selling Children's Album 1981 -"A Chipmunk Christmas" animated special airs on NBC. The companion soundtrack album goes Platinum.
"Urban Chipmunk" is released goes Platinum and wins NARM's Best Selling
Children's Album 1983 -"Alvin and The Chipmunks" animated television show debuts on NBC and is immediately a runaway #1 hit seen by more than 10 million viewers per week.
The Chipettes are introduced 1985 -"Alvin and The Chipmunks" is nominated for an Emmy® 1987 -"The Chipmunk Adventure" animated theatrical feature is released Jackson, Charlie Daniels, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, Aaron Tippin and Billy Ray Cyrus. 1994 -"A Very Merry Chipmunk" is released. It features Celine Dion, Alan Jackson, Kenny G, Gene Autry and Patty Loveless. 1995 -"When You Wish Upon A Chipmunk" is released 1996 -"Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes" is released 1998 -"The A-Files: Alien Songs" is released 1999 -"Alvin and The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein" video is released 2000 -"Alvin and The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein" wins Golden Reel Award
"Alvin and The Chipmunks" is nominated for a second Emmy
"Alvin and The Chipmunks" is nominated for a Young Artist Award
1988 - "Alvin and The Chipmunks" is nominated for a third Emmy
"The Chipmunk Adventure" is nominated for a Young Artist Award
1990 - "Rockin' with The Chipmunks" special for NBC features Will Smith.
1992 - "Chipmunks In Low Places" is released and goes Platinum. It features Alan
"Alvin and The Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman" video is released 2007 -ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS live-action film w/ redesigned CGI Chipmunks becomes a blockbuster motion picture event.
#1 Family/Comedy DVD of 2008 (and #3 overall) Platinum soundtrack album. Wins Best Soundtrack Album at the 2008 American Music Awards Wins Favorite Movie at 2008 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, beating out the likes of
Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. 2008 -50th Anniversary of The Chipmunks 2009 -ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL in theaters everywhere.
ABOUT THE CAST
ZACHARY LEVI (Toby) stars on the hit NBC series "Chuck," soon to begin its third season. Levi's titular hero is a self-conscious regular guy whose life gets scrambled when he inadvertently has government secrets downloaded into his brain while reading an email sent from a long lost "frenemy." "Chuck" has been a media and fan favorite since its fall 2007 debut.
Levi starred with Amber Tamblyn in the feature film "Spiral," which he also produced through his production company Coattails Entertainment. This independent feature, about a psychologically imbalanced artist, was co directed by Joel David Moore and Adam Green. Levi starred opposite Sarah Shahi in the independent film "Shades of Ray," which explored the cultural issues surrounding a half Pakistani man and his upcoming wedding. Previously, Levi starred opposite Martin Lawrence, in the 20th Century Fox-Regency Enterprises hit comedy "Big Momma's House 2."
Levi was a producer on the critically hailed album "Grown," by Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Kendall Payne.
Levi starred for four seasons on the ABC sitcom "Less than Perfect," as the quick witted, scheming Kip Steadman. Other television credits include ABC Family television movie "See Jane Date," where Levi portrayed a potential boyfriend of Charisma Carpenter's character, Jane. He earned strong reviews for his appearances on the series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Division" and for his supporting role in the FX television movie "Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie."
Levi grew up in Ventura County, California. He began acting in theater at the age of six, performing lead roles in regional productions of "Grease," "The Outsiders," "Oliver," "Godspell," "The Wizard of Oz," "Big River" and "Marvin's Room." It was this early training that ultimately brought Levi to the attention of Hollywood casting agents and producers.
DAVID CROSS (Ian), who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, made his way to Boston to study film at Emerson College, but quickly dropped out and started doing stand-up comedy full time. He moved to Los Angeles to write on "The Ben Stiller Show," where he shared the "posthumous" Emmy (it was given after the show was canceled) with the show's other writers.
Continuing in the sketch tradition, he created (along with Bob Odenkirk) the groundbreaking show for HBO, "Mr. Show with Bob & David." The series ran for four years and garnered several Emmy nominations. He has also released two comedy CDs on the Subpop label, "Shut Up You F.....g Baby" and "It's Not Funny." "Shut Up..." was nominated for a Grammy Award. Both continue to sell exceptionally well and have received rave reviews.
Cross appeared in the films "Men in Black," "Men in Black II," "Waiting for Guffman," "Ghost World," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "School for Scoundrels" and "Curious George." Most recently he appeared in Todd Haynes' rumination on the life of Bob Dylan, "I'm Not There," which won a Spirit Award, and in Twentieth Century Fox's blockbuster comedy "Alvin and The Chipmunks." More recently, he had a role in the comedy "Year One" directed by Harold Ramis.
On television, Cross appeared in the Emmy-winning comedy, "Arrested Development," as Tobias Fünke. Most recently, he wrote, produced and starred in the Comedy Central animated series "Freak Show," which was co-created by Cross and Jon Benjamin, and he will be shooting "Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret" for Channel 4 in London.
Cross's book I Drink for a Reason was published earlier this year.
JASON LEE (Dave Seville) has a flourishing career that includes an Independent Spirit Award for his performance in writer-director Kevin Smith's "Chasing Amy" and memorable roles in features for noted directors like Smith, Cameron Crowe and Lawrence Kasdan.
Lee starred in and produced the half-hour NBC comedy series, "My Name is Earl," about a hapless crook who has an epiphany after winning a small fortune in the lottery. Lee received two Golden Globe® and SAG Award™ nominations for his role of Earl Hickey. In 2007, Lee starred in the blockbuster comedy "Alvin and The Chipmunks," for Twentieth Century Fox.
Previously, he co-starred as the voice of Syndrome in Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar's Award-winning animated feature "The Incredibles." Lee also voiced a character in Sony's animated feature "Monster House" about three teenagers who discover their neighbor's house is a monster. He also voiced the title character in "Underdog," Spyglass Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures' live-action adaptation of the classic 1960s cartoon.
Born and raised in Huntington Beach, California, Lee turned a childhood pastime of skateboarding into a professional career. After moving to Los Angeles, he developed an interest in acting. Lee appeared in commercials and music videos, before his big break came in 1995 with the lead role in writer-director Kevin Smith's comedy, "Mallrats," in which he deftly portrayed the inconsiderate slacker, Brodie. Lee went on to star in Smith's "Chasing Amy," for which he won an Independent Spirit Award for best supporting male for his role as Ben Affleck's insecure, outspoken roommate Banky. Lee then showcased his intuitive timing as the demonic Azrael in Smith's supernatural comedy "Dogma." He reunited with Smith in the comedies "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and "Clerks II."
Lee starred in writer-director Cameron Crowe's ensemble feature "Almost Famous," in the role of Jeff Bebe, the lead singer of a 1970s rock band called Stillwater. The film won the Golden Globe award for Best Film. He then re-teamed with Crowe on the writer-director's "Vanilla Sky."
After working with director Lawrence Kasdan in the ensemble comedy "Mumford," Lee reunited with Kasdan on the suspense thriller "Dreamcatcher."
Other film credits include writer-director Rebecca Miller's "The Ballad of Jack and Rose" with Daniel Day-Lewis and Catherine Keener, director Barry Sonnenf
