logo
Eric Bauza Voices Bugs Bunny and More Looney Tunes Greats

Eric Bauza Voices Bugs Bunny and More Looney Tunes Greats

New York Times12-03-2025
'We all want to be like Bugs, but we're all really Daffy,' said the voice actor Eric Bauza with a hearty laugh during a recent interview in Los Angeles.
For the past five years, the Canadian performer, 45, has played both the clever rabbit and the hyperactive duck. He has won two Children's & Family Emmy Awards for voicing these pair, as well as other characters, in the series 'Looney Tunes Cartoons' and 'Bugs Bunny Builders.' Video
transcript 'Eh ... What's up, doc?'
Eh ... What's up, doc? 'Eh ... What's up, doc?'
Over the years he's also summoned Sylvester, Tweety, Foghorn Leghorn and Elmer Fudd.
In the director Peter Browngardt's 'The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie' (in theaters March 14), Bauza voices both Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. Distributed by Ketchup Entertainment, the first fully-animated original feature starring these characters to get a theatrical release is a zany, hand drawn, sci-fi romp in which buddies Daffy and Porky must defeat a malicious alien invader.
Sitting in a meeting room at the Garland Hotel in North Hollywood, and wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with Wilma Flintstone (Hanna-Barbera's 'The Flintstones' is among his favorite classic cartoons), Bauza recalled first watching 'Looney Tunes' on Saturday mornings growing up in Scarborough, Ontario. The wacky violence and daring humor of those cartoons enticed a young Bauza.
As he recounted one of his favorite 'Looney Tunes' shorts, 'Long-Haired Hare,' in which Bugs Bunny torments an opera singer, Bauza seamlessly shifted into singing in the voice of the famed animated wise guy, 'Music hater and a rabbit hater too, apparently,' he recited.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Justin Bieber impersonator tricks Vegas nightclub into letting him perform, runs up $10K bar tab
Justin Bieber impersonator tricks Vegas nightclub into letting him perform, runs up $10K bar tab

New York Post

time3 hours ago

  • New York Post

Justin Bieber impersonator tricks Vegas nightclub into letting him perform, runs up $10K bar tab

Un-belieb-able. A Justin Bieber impersonator ran up a $10,000 bar tab after he tricked staff at a Las Vegas nightclub into believing he was the Canadian pop star — even getting up on the stage for an impromptu performance. The bizarre incident took place at the five-star Wynn Las Vegas, where LA-based DJ Gryffin was performing at XS Nightclub. Gryffin was told that Bieber, 31, was in town and wanted to make a surprise appearance during his Saturday night show. Believing he was the real Biebs, he invited him into the DJ booth, TMZ reported. 4 A fake Justin Bieber fooled a Vegas nightclub into believing he was the real pop star. TikTok / @isaagonzalezz_ 4 The scammer got on stage to perform a song and allegedly ran up a $10k bar tab. Instagram / @gryffin Video posted on social media shows the shirtless, tattooed impersonator, wearing dark shades and low-slung blue jeans, belting out a version of Bieber's 2015 hit 'Sorry' in front of a packed nightclub crowd, all of whom appeared oblivious about the scam. The shameless scammer, identified as 29-year-old Dylan Desclos, sang a couple of Bieber's songs before Wynn staff realized the truth and kicked him off the stage. Gryffin jokingly dubbed the prank 'Beibergate' in an Instagram post, explaining that a 'dark venue and loud music didn't help.' 4 The real Justin Bieber was not in attendance. BACKGRID Gryffin shared a video showing him hyping up the French fake Bieber's performance before being told the news of the devastating dupe. 'I literally thought, 'he's put on a lot of weight since the album dropped,'' Gryffin said at the end of the video. Social media clips also show the Desclos posing for selfies and browsing stores with his 'security guards' during the Vegas trip. He and his entourage ran up an almost $10,000 bar tab during their stunt, which the fake Bieber eventually paid as he was kicked out, Neon reports. Desclos, who has shared a number of videos in recent years of him pretending to be Bieber, even got similar tattoos and a matching buzzcut as the real mega star. Last year, the impersonator caught the attention of Bieber's wife, Hailey Bieber, after he was spotted on a train in his native France. 'I'm scared…' Hailey commented on a TikTok of an impersonator. 4 The prank took place at Wynn Las Vegas on Saturday. eqroy – The nightclub has responded to the prank. 'After an elaborate and multi-step ruse by him and his advance team, a Justin Bieber impersonator was granted access to the XS stage,' a representative for Wynn and XS Nightclub told TMZ. 'As soon as the error was recognized, he was removed from the resort and denied future entry.' Representatives for Desclos did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Aubrey Plaza opens up to Amy Poehler about grief over losing husband
Aubrey Plaza opens up to Amy Poehler about grief over losing husband

CNN

time4 hours ago

  • CNN

Aubrey Plaza opens up to Amy Poehler about grief over losing husband

Aubrey Plaza opens up to Amy Poehler about grief over losing husband Aubrey Plaza spoke about her grief after losing her late husband Jeff Baena on "The Good Hang with Amy Poehler" podcast. In the episode she used "The Gorge" film as an analogy to describe her grief. 00:56 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 12 videos Aubrey Plaza opens up to Amy Poehler about grief over losing husband Aubrey Plaza spoke about her grief after losing her late husband Jeff Baena on "The Good Hang with Amy Poehler" podcast. In the episode she used "The Gorge" film as an analogy to describe her grief. 00:56 - Source: CNN Federal immigration agents open fire on a family's vehicle Federal immigration agents opened fire on a family's vehicle during a targeted operation in San Bernardino, California. The Department of Homeland Security says that it was an act of self-defense after a man "struck two CBP officers with his vehicle." 01:45 - Source: CNN Nationwide demonstrations across Israel demanding hostage deal A planned nationwide strike in Israel on Sunday saw hundreds of thousands take part to call on the government to bring the remaining hostages in Gaza home. CNN's Oren Liebermann reports from Tel Aviv. 01:23 - Source: CNN Zines not hashtags: Gen-Z's new protest playbook Gen-Z activists are rethinking protest tools. Opting to go offline over concerns of misinformation and surveillance, zines offer another way to organize. For the latest "The Assignment" podcast episode, CNN's Audie Cornish speaks with artist and organizer Kennedy McDaniel about what's prompting the shift from hashtag activism. 01:51 - Source: CNN Canadian government orders end to Air Canada strike After more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants went on strike seeking wage increases and paid compensation for work when planes are on the ground, the Canada Industrial Relations Board has ordered them to return to work according to an announcement by Canadian Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu. 01:05 - Source: CNN Spike Lee's Reaction to Trump's Smithsonian Orders 'To roll back the clock' says Director Spike Lee to CNN's Victor Blackwell in response to President Donald Trump's Smithsonian orders. 01:14 - Source: CNN Russian media reacts positively to Trump-Putin Summit Russian state TV gave a positive coverage of the outcome of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, celebrating the handshake between the two leaders. Russian officials also stated that the meeting resulted in progress on sanctions and opened up room for future negotiations. CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports. 01:23 - Source: CNN London's toxic trash 'volcano' Arnolds Field landfill on Launders Lane in east London is better known to locals as the 'Rainham volcano.' The site was used as an illegal dump for years and now, every summer, it bursts into flames, sending plumes of acrid smoke over nearby homes, parks and schools. CNN's Laura Paddison speaks to residents who feel abandoned and trapped. 02:05 - Source: CNN Hong Kong twin pandas turn one Giant panda twins Jia Jia and De De celebrated their first birthdays in Hong Kong on Friday. The cubs were born last August to Ying Ying, who became the oldest giant panda on record to give birth. 00:43 - Source: CNN Football player's emotional press conference sparks conversation University of Nebraska freshman punter, Archie Wilson, left his home in Australia to play for the Cornhuskers. During a press conference, a reporter asked Wilson how he was doing being so far away from his family and his emotional reaction sparked a conversation around masculinity. Writer and philosopher Ryan Holiday joined CNN's Boris Sanchez to discuss. 01:29 - Source: CNN McDonald's Japan causes Pokémon food waste frenzy Piles of untouched Happy Meals littered sidewalks outside McDonald's restaurants in Japan over the weekend, as frenzied customers scrambled to buy limited-edition sets with Pokémon cards. CNN International Correspondent Hanako Montgomery has the story. 00:55 - Source: CNN Taylor Swift unveils album details on boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album 'The Life of a Showgirl' will be released on October 3rd. Swift made an appearance on the podcast 'New Heights,' hosted by her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce where they discussed the album 00:48 - Source: CNN

Could this movie based on a Hindu epic become India's ‘Avatar?'
Could this movie based on a Hindu epic become India's ‘Avatar?'

Los Angeles Times

time4 hours ago

  • Los Angeles Times

Could this movie based on a Hindu epic become India's ‘Avatar?'

Movies from India's prolific film industry have found success on the world stage before. 'RRR,' an over-the-top Telugu-language action film, energized audiences in the U.S. and elsewhere a few years ago, even scoring a history-making Oscar for its original song 'Naatu Naatu.' Hindi screenings have long drawn crowds to American multiplexes. But the filmmakers behind 'Ramayana' — an upcoming two-part epic based on one of the most important ancient texts in Hinduism — have something more ambitious in mind. The massive productions — each estimated to cost $200 million to $250 million — are aimed not merely at an Indian audience, nor are they meant to appeal primarily to Hindus, who number an estimated 1.2 billion globally, according to Pew Research Center. Rather, the goal is to turn 'Ramayana,' with its grand-scale adventure story and high-tech computer-generated effects, into a full-blown international blockbuster, filmed specifically for Imax's giant screens in what is intended to be the largest-ever rollout for an Indian film, according to its backers. Executive Namit Malhotra — who is financing and producing the project through his firm Prime Focus — set the bar high in a recent interview with The Times, comparing his film to the likes of James Cameron's 'Avatar,' Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator' and the movies of Christopher Nolan. While Hollywood studio bosses talk about reaching all four demographic 'quadrants' (men and women, young and old) with their tentpole movies, Malhotra wants to draw two additional categories: believer and nonbeliever. For such a so-called six-quadrant movie to work, to use Malhotra's terminology, it would have to succeed in the U.S. 'In my mind, if people in the West don't like it, I consider that as a failure,' Malhotra told The Times recently. 'It is meant for the world. So if you don't like it, shame on me. We should have done a better job.' It's a major gamble for Malhotra, who founded Prime Focus in Mumbai in 1997. The firm expanded significantly when it acquired British effects house Double Negative, and rebranded as DNEG. Malhotra owns nearly 68% of the parent company, Prime Focus Ltd. He's going to great lengths to make sure his big bet pays off. DNEG, headquartered in London with offices in India, Los Angeles and elsewhere, is handling the visuals. The firm has produced special effects for global studio features for years, creating Oscar-winning work for such movies as Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune: Part Two' and Nolan's 'Tenet.' 'Ramayana' is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the man behind 2016's 'Dangal,' the highest-grossing Bollywood film ever, including huge sales in China. Hans Zimmer and prolific Indian musician-composer A.R. Rahman ('Slumdog Millionaire') are collaborating on the score, while the visual effects and production design team includes veterans from 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' 'Avengers: Endgame' and the 'Lord of the Rings' franchise. The success of 'RRR,' which told the story of two Indian legends with larger-than-life abilities fighting British imperialism, is one reason Malhotra is confident that 'Ramayana' might connect with Westerners more familiar with the Bible and 'The Odyssey' (the subject of a much-hyped 2026 Nolan film) than with Hindu mythology. U.S. cinephiles have in the past embraced mythical Asia-set films such as Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and 'Life of Pi.' So why not 'Ramayana?' After all, family, good vs. evil and personal striving are all key themes that transcend national borders. 'Emotions are universal,' said Tiwari in a video call. 'If the audience connects with you emotionally, I think they will connect with the whole story. Emotions have powers to travel across boundaries.' Filmed entirely on soundstages, the first part of 'Ramayana' is scheduled to hit theaters next year, with a significant push from Imax. 'Part 2,' currently in production, is planned for 2027. Each part is timed for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The films do not yet have a U.S. distributor. This comes as Imax has beefed up its clout as what is increasingly seen as a linchpin component for the release of big-screen movies, not just for Hollywood spectacles but also, lately, for local language films. Imax showcased just a handful of Indian movies on its screens in 2019, according to Chief Executive Richard Gelfond. Last year, the company played 15. So far this year, international films made in their local language have accounted for more than 30% of Imax's total global box office revenue, Gelfond said. Much of that tally came from 'Ne Zha 2,' a Chinese-produced animated film that grossed roughly $2 billion worldwide, mostly from its home country. As such, Gelfond has high hopes for 'Ramayana.' 'Judging from what we've seen, this has all the elements to be a global success,' Gelfond said. At its core, 'Ramayana,' based on the epic poem from thousands of years ago, tells the story of Hindu deity Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, and his quest to rescue his love Sita from the demon king Ravana. A three-minute teaser trailer introduced the concept, emphasizing the big names attached (including actors Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana), displaying some 'Game of Thrones' opening credits-style visuals and conveying the tale's historical importance. 'Our truth. Our history,' reads the onscreen text. The video has 9.4 million views on YouTube. 'Ramayana' is a quintessentially Indian story. It has been adapted for stage and screen before, perhaps most notably as a series for Indian TV in the late 1980s. For the new version, Malhotra wants to eliminate any language barriers. DNEG is using syncing technology from its Brahma AI unit to seamlessly present the film in local languages for international audiences. In the U.S., for example, the movie will screen in English. 'It's a global film from the day we start,' he said. 'I'm not trying to make it to appease Indian people in India. … If you go and watch 'Ramayana' and your family watches it, and people in India watch it, what's the difference? It should speak to you like any other film.' Airing election misinformation continues to be expensive for cable news networks. Newsmax will pay $67 million to settle a defamation suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems over false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election that aired on the right-wing news channel. The network announced the settlement with the voting equipment maker Monday but did not apologize for its reporting. Fox News settled a similar case with Dominion in 2023 for $787.5 million after it aired incorrect election claims. Newsmax is much smaller than Fox, which continues to battle a lawsuit from another voting machine company, Smartmatic. Streaming is getting closer to another major milestone. According to Nielsen's the Gauge report, streaming services accounted for 47.3% of U.S. TV usage in July, compared with 22% for cable and 18.4% for broadcast. That's what happens when there's new 'Squid Game' on Netflix and there's not much on regular TV. Listen: No Joy, 'Bugland.' Excellent '90s-style rock.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store