Cold Pizza
Transcript by Angie
Host: Welcome back to Cold Pizza. The NY Jets have a new marketing tool. They started a saturday morning animated tv show called Generation jets which reaches out to younger fans. Every week Jessica, XL, Spike, Willie, Aska and their dog Blitz interact with real players and coaches. The kids are taught life lessons and the learn the history of some of NY's fabled landmarks. Joining me now to talk about the show one of its stars 1998 Olympic figure skating gold medalist, Tara Lipinski, and the president of the NY Jets, Jay Cross. Good Morning.
Tara: Good Morning.
Host: This is a really interesting initiative for the Jets. What role do you play on the show?
Tara: I play Jessica and I thought it was just really fun it's a great show and it's four kidsyou get them involved and we are all huge fans of the Jets, but it's also really wholeseome. We get to go on cool adventures, it's not dorky and it's cool. It's just a great opportunity.
Host : Sounds like a lot of fun. Let's take a look at Tara Lipinski as the voice of Jessica on the show.
[clip is shown]
Host: Jay, where did the idea come from to do this series?
Jay: Well I think ww realised that we focused almost exclusively on the male 18-34 demographic in football and at the same time we find particularly with female fans that they are not so much fans because of their boyfriends or husbands but because they remember watching football with their fathers. So we originally set out to try and come up with a youth initiative which should target 2-18 year olds. Our producer who does our culture show came up with the idea of the animation series. That really was the key to getting the show off the ground we came up with something really unique that also had some grab power for kids.
Host: one of the things kids love about it is they get to see their favorite Jets interacting with the animated charcters. What do the players think about that?
Jay: I think the players think it is as cool as Tara does. It is really interesting. The animated characters get dropped into a class room at the complex through animation. So the player is talking to the camera but you feel like he is really talking to the animated characters and there is a great rupor going back and forth so it really makes the players more human at a level, which is very different than what you see on normal access to players.
Host: Tara, acting review. How do you think the players are doing?
Tara: I think they are doing great.
Host: Doing a great job.
Tara: Thumbs up.
Host: You are working really hard to get into acting. Now, how do you think skating has helped you to move into this new cycle of your professional career?
Tara: It was kind of a smooth transition. I grew up in front of the camera but other than that after the Olympics I started touring. It was more theatrical, more entertainment driven and doing specials and shows on tv. Just kind of fell into it and then once I was on the set I just loved itand now I am doing it full time so I am having a blast.
Host: Are you training method acting?
Tara: Oh yeah. I have been studying for about five years and am still studying. Working hard. Last year I was on 7th Heaven having really good experiences, so I am having a blast.
Host: Which do you think is harder, acting or skating?
Tara: I have to admit I think it is skating. Just because it is a little more physical in acting you just be yourself and be really free and just have fun.
Host: You are a natural at both I think. This is a pretty novel marketing idea for the Jets. Do you think this is something the rest of the NFL might pick up on?
Jay: I think so we've been really encouraged. Other teams are calling to inquire how we go about it. We've got fantastic support from our partners like WCBS locally, radio disney, daily news. We even had a crazed fan of which we have many write us a letter saying he had seen an article about it in Adweek and he is the Senior VP for marketing for Harsboro Toys and he could help. Eureka. Of course you can help. We've got a great professional response and our ratings have been great, so we really think we have something that will grow.
Host: Fanstastic. It is a cool idea enjoy it and looking forward to seeing you.
Tara: Thank you.
Host: Generation jets airs each Saturday in NY on CBS and regionally on MSG. For information on airtimes visit the shows website www.generationjets.com.
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