Critical Role today announced Weird Kids, an original podcast video series starring Critical Role founders and self-described “lifelong weird kids” Ashley Johnson (The Last of Us, Blindspot) and Taliesin Jaffe (Hellsing, The Legend of Vox Machina). Premiering March 20, Weird Kids is an “intimate, hilarious, and tug-on-your-heartstrings” exploration into the experiences of former child actors navigating the entertainment industry.
Johnson landed her breakout role at just six years old as Chrissy Seaver on the hit sitcom Growing Pains. She went on to appear in live-action roles in The Avengers, Fast Food Nation, and The Killing, with key voice acting roles in Recess, Teen Titans, Ben 10, King of the Hill, and Infinity Train. Meanwhile, Jaffe made his big-screen debut alongside Michael Keaton in Mr. Mom and appeared in television series like The Facts of Life, St. Elsewhere, and She’s the Sheriff, earning two Young Artist Awards.
“We wanted to create a space where we could share the ridiculous, surreal, and deeply personal stories that come with growing up in the industry,” said Ashley Johnson. “Weird Kids is for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit in—and we can’t wait for people to join us at the table.”
“Weird Kids is a bit of nostalgia, a bit of history, plus a helping of personal issues and the inevitable eccentric trauma that comes along with it,” shared Taliesin Jaffe. “I’m proud to bring you the conversational equivalent of watching a vintage moped run head first into the back of a comically 1930s produce truck.“
To celebrate the premiere, Ashley Johnson and Taliesin Jaffe will host a Weird Kids launch party on Thursday, March 20th at 7PM PT via Beacon (beacon.tv), YouTube (youtube.com/criticalrole), and Twitch (twitch.tv/criticalrole). The live stream will share behind-the-scenes details about the making of the show, a Q&A with fans, and the premiere episode of the Weird Kids series. The video-on-demand will then officially release Tuesday, March 25th at 5AM Pacific on Beacon, YouTube, and podcast platforms.
After this, new episodes will be released every Tuesday at 5AM Pacific, exclusively on Beacon, where subscribers will also gain access to extended cuts and bonus content. You can also catch bite-sized moments from the show on Instagram @theweirdkidspod and YouTube @TheWeirdKidsPod. Plus, keep an eye on Beacon and Critical Role’s social channels for additional content rolling out periodically.
Images via Critical Role
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