Robert Lamoreaux Interview

CatDog writer

1. As an animation writer describe your job tasks. Did you also assist in the animation and drawing?

"Me? Draw? That's a laugh! CatDog would be a vastly different looking show if I drew it. And I don't mean different in a good way."

"My job was basically just to write. CatDog's writing was set up essentially like a sitcom. We had a staff of four writers including a Head Writer. We each wrote our own scripts but punched them up together. Occasionally as shows were storyboarded, the writers would be asked for additional lines of dialogue, but that's about it."



2. Describe your fondest memories working on CatDog. What were some of the craziest and funniest moments?

"CatDog was a great show to work on. Probably my favorite. In fact Nickelodeon in general is just a great place to work. You can't beat free lunch Fridays."

"The craziest moment had to have been when our Head Writer, Vic, kept urging Peter and the other writers to do a CatDog episode based on his favorite play, Les Miserables. He actually stood up and started acting out how CatDog would play the roles. Very peculiar. Needless to say, it never came to fruition."



3. As a later writer, was it difficult at first getting settled in, with the rest of the team?

"No. I had worked on CatDog since almost it's inception, just in other capacities. CatDog was a very comfortable, relaxed place to work. Except that my office was next to Rob Porter's and he had a chronic flatulence problem. That wasn't too pleasant but I supposed that's a story for another time."

4. Out of the episodes you worked on, which seemed to be the most enjoyable to put together and why? Which seemed the most challenging and took more time than others?

"Well, certainly the TV movie was a lot longer and more complicated than the other episodes. It was really cool that we were able to have a cast and crew premier at Paramount on a big screen."

"I also, really liked "Cat Gone Bad." The voice actors are so talented, they really brought the beatnik Cat characters to life (I'd like to see a show based on just those characters). I still haven't seen the episode, but the board and audio were really cool."



5. Describe the story idea and brainstorming process. The writers room.

"Basically, the Head Writer would tell us to come up with ideas. Then we acted like we went into our offices to work but we really snuck out to 7-11 and bought big blue Slurpees. Nothing gets the creative juices going like Slurpees. Then when the end of the day rolled around, we'd look at each other and say, "Oh, no! The premises!" We'd run back to our offices and type like the wind."



6. From the TV movie, "CatDog and the Great Parent Mystery", which parts of the movie can you safely say were your ideas?

"All the good ones!"

"Seriously though, I'd say it was mostly a group effort, but obviously a lot of the credit needs to go to Peter Hannan. He had strong vision of what he wanted -- especially with the musical aspect of the movie."

7. Before joining CatDog, which episodes impressed you a lot as a writer?

"I love "Send In the CatDog."

Also, "The Island." Any of the early shows where Steven Banks wrote songs."



8. The age old question for all fans, Cat or Dog? Which one suits you > more?

"A lot of people identify with Dog. I really like Cat. I have a lot of sympathy for him. No matter how hard he tries to get his house in order; or mingle with the rich and famous; or impress a girl he never gets his way."

9. Name some of your favorite CatDog characters, and why. Which character(s) best fits your personality?

"I love Rancid... what an actor! Sometimes he's very mean and blustery and at other times he's all sparkly and charming. Call me crazy but he reminds me of Sean Connery."

"Winslow was a riot to write for. Also Lube."

10. CatDog, has so many different mysteries and story line ongoing gags added into the mix. What are some of your favorite ongoing gags, and "mysteries"? (such as the bathroom mystery, Shriek's crush on Dog, etc)

"I love the episodes where CatDog are out having an adventure then we cut back to Winslow doing something cryptic and strange in their absence."

11. Have you worked any other positions in animation besides writing, such as sound editing, supervising, etc?

"Not really. Everything I do is related to writing except maybe directing the odd voice session and a little casting. Those are some of the responsibilities you get once you build your credit up to Producer."



12. When did you decide to get involved in the writing, and animation business? Did you study anywhere, and have any special degrees in art or writing?

"I started writing little plays and skits in my bedroom when I was about 7. Boy, the critics (my older brothers) were harsh on my work back then. Eventually I went to film school in New York, but then switched majors to English to satisfy my desire to write, and to satisfy my desire to get away from people who wore big clunky shoes and dressed in all black."



13. What advice would you offer, to those reading that are thinking about a career in animation or television writing?

"I can't really speak intelligently about the artistic aspects of animation. Heck, as you can tell from this interview, I can't speak intelligently about much of anything. But as far as writing -- it helps to watch tons of movies. Read tons of scripts and most importantly write scripts and move to Los Angeles. Oddly, there seems to be a lot of people who want to be writers but they don't diligently write."

"How's someone going to hire you if you don't have any spec scripts for them to read? Unless of course you're like Steven Banks and you can just mime your way through life."

14. Are there any cartoon writers from the past that inspire you most when you are writing for cartoons?

"Until a few years ago, I never knew they wrote scripts for cartoons. When I found out they did, I thought, "Wow! That's a scam I could really capitalize on! Where do I sign up?"

"I really love the writing on the now defunct "Larry Sanders" show. Surprisingly a lot of live-action style writing translates to animation. For example, almost any given episode of Hey Arnold could be live-action. And in many ways CatDog echoes shows like the "Odd Couple."



15. What other projects are you currently working on?

"Right now I'm Head Writer on a new show for Fox Family called "Totally Spies." It's sort of like "Charlie's Angels" meets "Clueless." We just started the second season of writing. It premiers in early September I think. I'm also developing and Producing a show for Fox Kids called "Senior Misterioso." Imagine a Latino "Austin Powers." Hopefully, we'll start writing in the Fall."

"Other than that I've done some "Hey Arnolds," my wife Michelle is a Producer on that and continues to write episodes. I did a few "Angela Anacondas." Other odds and ends."



16. Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans, about your experiences with CatDog crew or anything else?

"Only that working on the show was a great experience. And I'd really like to thank Peter Hannan for giving me the opportunity to contribute."

Thank your Mr. Robert Lamoreaux, for agreeing to this email interview. Your fans appreciate it very much.

Well there you have it fans from a great mind of CatDog!