I wonder if there was ever a piece of commercial copy that Ernie liked? I think he considered copy writers clueless. Trying to jam sixty seconds worth of copy into a thirty script. Some things never change.
I agree w/ mrgiosb123, its as if this was 4 or 5 decades ago. The work he had to do to just get one in the can! Today they'd NEVER spend that time on just one promo, they'd punch in wherever they can, get it done and MOVE ON!!! To me HE was THE BEST!
I used to do similar types of promos for Fox Kids (Sat morning cartoons) and getting it to time can certainly be a beeeatch!
We had by then gone all digital, so (although you always try and avoid it) we now have the ability to add a tiny bit of "time compression, (to squeeze the audio to fit picture). This could have made this session go MUCH smoother (and faster with less frustration:-) That said the video was indeed edited badly as Mr. Anderson pointed out.
Wow, no headphones, slouching in a chair, and a pencil mic. I can't believe he is laying down his voice track right on the video with no cuts. All the new school folks with their fancy studios and editing equipment need to take heed...it's all about the voice!
Nope. It's all about the acting. There are a ton of great voice actors out there who have "great voices" but they would never be stopped on the street and told that. Same thing with Ernie, really. If he was just checking out of a grocery store and said "thank you" to the cashier, I don't think the cashier would be like, "Whoa, he should do commercials." Good voice actors--like Ernie--are good because they know how to USE and CONTROL their voice.
I'm not certain what you mean, so feel free to clarify. What I was saying was that Ernie Anderson was indeed a great voice actor, but it was because he knew how to act and how to use his voice. I'm just saying that one can't be a good voice actor solely by having a "good voice"--it's not about the *voice* is what I was saying. It's about how one utilizes their voice.
And actually, that "pencil mic" is the Sennheiser 416 shotgun mic. One day Ernie decided he didn't want to work in the booth anymore, so he demanded to work in the Engineer's room. Somebody went over to a nearby TV set, found a 416 (known for its ability to hone in on a single sound source and cut through the background noise) and tested it on Ernie. They thought he sounded good, so they re-fitted the Engineer's room with acoustic foam (the black stuff on the walls)...and that was that!
Still, though. I'm glad I can go back and rerecord three words and seamlessly splice it in to save me shitloads of time. That said, this man is truly a beast.
tim conway jr got me hip to ernie and his former sidekick brian whitman can really sound like him...and since i was born in la county in 1982...i grew up with him on ch 7...mannnn i miss the old skool guys ...
@mrgiosb123 Thank you! Great research (especially considering that "Have Faith" was only on for a short time)! It still amazes me how different things are today when it comes to producing network promos. Back then, there were only a few people producing these, now there are "banks" of edit bays cranking these out. You have to wonder, is it really better today? Ernie was such a great talent.
I worked with Ernie at Buzzy's Recording in Hollywood in the late 70's. I agree he acted like an a-hole but really was good person and had a great sense of humor. There are some great outtakes of his out there somewhere. I have some from whn I worked with him. One of the one I have that I liked was his read for the trail er for the Movie called Frogs. His comments about the copy in between takes was priceless.
If he thought the copy was so bad, why not re-write it? Why curse and complain when you're just sitting and reading? Looks like an easy day at the office to me...
@JKing3340 You can't re-write the copy. It's already been approved by the network, it's set in stone. Also promos are done in just hours sometime minutes before they air.
It looks like an easy day, but it's not, which his why he's complaining because they try to cram a lot of information in a small space. Ernie is also working without beeps, though the engineer is counting him down.
what a great inside look to how they did that production then. these days the VO guys just cut tracks and if i'm not mistaken they fit everything together on Final Cut or Avid... he was going straight to the tape...he was the king, no doubt.
To say he was the Don LaFontaine of his time might be a misnomer. Ernie was the last of the big network guys who hung their hat in a post room like that for ten hours a day. Danny Dark was another. I heard Ernie was making $2M in the 70s and early 80s...so I can only imagine what he was making toward the end of his life. A pleasure to hear...always.
This is a GREAT inside look at the golden age of big-time network voiceovers, circa 1980's. It takes me back to my own days of working frequently with crusty yet lovable Ernie as studio manager of Mel Blanc Audiomedia, Beverly Hills. Before there was Don Lafontaine, Ernie was the king. He wanted no part of on-camera commercial fame. "I don't want to float in the crapper as the Tidy Bowl man!" he told me. Awesome post - thanks! Chuck McKibben voice artist/VO coach, voiceoverisland.
@VoiceoverIsland Thanks. Ernie was my mentor. If you didn't know the guy, he could come on as being a real a-hole. But he wasn't. He had a great heart, and he took the time to help others. Funny as hell too. His son is Paul Thomas Anderson, the director of THERE WILL BE BLOOD and BOOGIE NIGHTS. Their will never be another one like him.
Really? That's very interesting. I'm a voice-over artist myself, and I recently asked a question on a LinkedIn group about the Sennheiser 416 Shotgun microphone. I was told that it became popular because Ernie Anderson used it. When I asked why he used a shotgun mic, they responded, "Because he was difficult to work with and refused to work inside the booth eventually, and they needed a mic that could cancel out the background noise." You say he was fun to work with, though?
@TheShockMaster Yes, Ernie could be difficult to work with, but considering the type of people who he worked with in the industry (many arrogant and obnoxious) that was somewhat understandable. He was a bit like an old beatnik. He had a very wry sense of humor, but once you got to know him, you realized that he really WAS a nice guy. But, he wouldn't put up with any BS. It was both a hindrance and a wonderful part of who he was. He was the best. ABC promos haven't been the same since he left.
@VoiceoverIsland That's awesome, Ernie had a voice that could cut glass. We don't seem to have those anymore, everyone sounds too smooth and nice. I remember as a kid in the 80s, Ernie doing the ABC voice overs. Like the ABC Sunday Night Movie for JAWS, or SUPERMAN. Now THAT'S an announcer.
sounds you'll never hear again: capstan motors...
shnewsman 2 weeks ago
Must be nice to be endowed with a deep voice, arrogance and a potty tongue. HA!
Glinkaism1 3 weeks ago
Look at the equipment. It's like a pawn shop
Moooo53 1 month ago
"Who the f**k wrote this?"
"God this is Terrible!"
"What A Piece of Shit."
Imagine if they used that in the promos
QAMaster1138 2 months ago
What bullshit! Should have recorded his lines wild and on time. Then merely edited his VO. They are doing this the hard, old way.
Or--since he DID have several lines right on time, just edit it the one or two lines.
And not do the entire VO in realtime to picture. What a fucking retard way to work!
Glinkaism1 2 months ago
@Glinkaism1
Yeah, well, back in the day, that was how things were done.
DaveWallaceVoiceOver 3 weeks ago
Sweet, and I remember the Pilot of the Powerpuff Girls where he was the announcer.
newstarcadefan 2 months ago
I wonder if there was ever a piece of commercial copy that Ernie liked? I think he considered copy writers clueless. Trying to jam sixty seconds worth of copy into a thirty script. Some things never change.
epgrove1961 2 months ago
"Who the fuck wrote this!" sounds like he's channeling Orson Welles.
QAMaster1138 4 months ago
I agree w/ mrgiosb123, its as if this was 4 or 5 decades ago. The work he had to do to just get one in the can! Today they'd NEVER spend that time on just one promo, they'd punch in wherever they can, get it done and MOVE ON!!! To me HE was THE BEST!
FamousTVvoice 5 months ago
Camera shy?
mikeqc2002 6 months ago 2
So, that's what Ernie looked like when he was around. How did he get to be 'The Voice Of ABC'?
jhshifris1 6 months ago
I used to do similar types of promos for Fox Kids (Sat morning cartoons) and getting it to time can certainly be a beeeatch!
We had by then gone all digital, so (although you always try and avoid it) we now have the ability to add a tiny bit of "time compression, (to squeeze the audio to fit picture). This could have made this session go MUCH smoother (and faster with less frustration:-) That said the video was indeed edited badly as Mr. Anderson pointed out.
voicetube 6 months ago
Comment removed
voicetube 6 months ago
Wow, no headphones, slouching in a chair, and a pencil mic. I can't believe he is laying down his voice track right on the video with no cuts. All the new school folks with their fancy studios and editing equipment need to take heed...it's all about the voice!
Crommy5 8 months ago
@Crommy5 You got that right!
howellfilm 8 months ago
@Crommy5
Nope. It's all about the acting. There are a ton of great voice actors out there who have "great voices" but they would never be stopped on the street and told that. Same thing with Ernie, really. If he was just checking out of a grocery store and said "thank you" to the cashier, I don't think the cashier would be like, "Whoa, he should do commercials." Good voice actors--like Ernie--are good because they know how to USE and CONTROL their voice.
TheShockMaster 4 months ago
@TheShockMaster, you missed my point. Though you agreed with me in your last sentence.
Crommy5 4 months ago
@Crommy5
I'm not certain what you mean, so feel free to clarify. What I was saying was that Ernie Anderson was indeed a great voice actor, but it was because he knew how to act and how to use his voice. I'm just saying that one can't be a good voice actor solely by having a "good voice"--it's not about the *voice* is what I was saying. It's about how one utilizes their voice.
TheShockMaster 4 months ago
@TheShockMaster You are right. Anyone can read a script. Voice Actors use inflection and give life to the copy.
epgrove1961 2 months ago
@Crommy5
And actually, that "pencil mic" is the Sennheiser 416 shotgun mic. One day Ernie decided he didn't want to work in the booth anymore, so he demanded to work in the Engineer's room. Somebody went over to a nearby TV set, found a 416 (known for its ability to hone in on a single sound source and cut through the background noise) and tested it on Ernie. They thought he sounded good, so they re-fitted the Engineer's room with acoustic foam (the black stuff on the walls)...and that was that!
TheShockMaster 4 months ago
@Crommy5
Still, though. I'm glad I can go back and rerecord three words and seamlessly splice it in to save me shitloads of time. That said, this man is truly a beast.
420squeeg 3 months ago
@Crommy5 And arrogance and a potty mouth.
Glinkaism1 3 weeks ago
Wow, Ernie got frustrated easily here.
samsticka 10 months ago
tim conway jr got me hip to ernie and his former sidekick brian whitman can really sound like him...and since i was born in la county in 1982...i grew up with him on ch 7...mannnn i miss the old skool guys ...
562vert 1 year ago
Ah the good ole days when we used Analog and Non-Linear systems.
TheUOFG 1 year ago
Who's The Boss - Ode To Angela
The Wonder Years - Square Dance
Rosanne - Let's Call It Quits
Have Faith - The Window
Thirtysomething - Courting Nancy
mrgiosb123 1 year ago
@mrgiosb123 Thank you! Great research (especially considering that "Have Faith" was only on for a short time)! It still amazes me how different things are today when it comes to producing network promos. Back then, there were only a few people producing these, now there are "banks" of edit bays cranking these out. You have to wonder, is it really better today? Ernie was such a great talent.
howellfilm 1 year ago
I worked with Ernie at Buzzy's Recording in Hollywood in the late 70's. I agree he acted like an a-hole but really was good person and had a great sense of humor. There are some great outtakes of his out there somewhere. I have some from whn I worked with him. One of the one I have that I liked was his read for the trail er for the Movie called Frogs. His comments about the copy in between takes was priceless.
AIMDigitalVisions 1 year ago
@AIMDigitalVisions You MUST upload it!!!
sgtpepper1138 9 months ago
If he thought the copy was so bad, why not re-write it? Why curse and complain when you're just sitting and reading? Looks like an easy day at the office to me...
JKing3340 1 year ago
@JKing3340 You can't re-write the copy. It's already been approved by the network, it's set in stone. Also promos are done in just hours sometime minutes before they air.
It looks like an easy day, but it's not, which his why he's complaining because they try to cram a lot of information in a small space. Ernie is also working without beeps, though the engineer is counting him down.
Michaeldair 1 year ago
what a great inside look to how they did that production then. these days the VO guys just cut tracks and if i'm not mistaken they fit everything together on Final Cut or Avid... he was going straight to the tape...he was the king, no doubt.
gio92profm 1 year ago
I can't believe he's been gone as long as he has. He and Don LaFontaine are sharing stories.
johnt1000 1 year ago
To say he was the Don LaFontaine of his time might be a misnomer. Ernie was the last of the big network guys who hung their hat in a post room like that for ten hours a day. Danny Dark was another. I heard Ernie was making $2M in the 70s and early 80s...so I can only imagine what he was making toward the end of his life. A pleasure to hear...always.
shnewsman 1 year ago
The greatest ever, bar none.
JimmySand9 1 year ago
@JimmySand9 Agreed!
turbovoice 1 year ago
I love how everytime he was done he said "fuckin piece of shit" and sometimes it got recorded in the promos lmfao Ernie was a legend!
djkrueger6 1 year ago
This is a GREAT inside look at the golden age of big-time network voiceovers, circa 1980's. It takes me back to my own days of working frequently with crusty yet lovable Ernie as studio manager of Mel Blanc Audiomedia, Beverly Hills. Before there was Don Lafontaine, Ernie was the king. He wanted no part of on-camera commercial fame. "I don't want to float in the crapper as the Tidy Bowl man!" he told me. Awesome post - thanks! Chuck McKibben voice artist/VO coach, voiceoverisland.
VoiceoverIsland 1 year ago 2
@VoiceoverIsland Thanks. Ernie was my mentor. If you didn't know the guy, he could come on as being a real a-hole. But he wasn't. He had a great heart, and he took the time to help others. Funny as hell too. His son is Paul Thomas Anderson, the director of THERE WILL BE BLOOD and BOOGIE NIGHTS. Their will never be another one like him.
howellfilm 1 year ago 2
@howellfilm
Really? That's very interesting. I'm a voice-over artist myself, and I recently asked a question on a LinkedIn group about the Sennheiser 416 Shotgun microphone. I was told that it became popular because Ernie Anderson used it. When I asked why he used a shotgun mic, they responded, "Because he was difficult to work with and refused to work inside the booth eventually, and they needed a mic that could cancel out the background noise." You say he was fun to work with, though?
TheShockMaster 11 months ago
@TheShockMaster Yes, Ernie could be difficult to work with, but considering the type of people who he worked with in the industry (many arrogant and obnoxious) that was somewhat understandable. He was a bit like an old beatnik. He had a very wry sense of humor, but once you got to know him, you realized that he really WAS a nice guy. But, he wouldn't put up with any BS. It was both a hindrance and a wonderful part of who he was. He was the best. ABC promos haven't been the same since he left.
howellfilm 11 months ago
@VoiceoverIsland That's awesome, Ernie had a voice that could cut glass. We don't seem to have those anymore, everyone sounds too smooth and nice. I remember as a kid in the 80s, Ernie doing the ABC voice overs. Like the ABC Sunday Night Movie for JAWS, or SUPERMAN. Now THAT'S an announcer.
sgtpepper1138 1 year ago