“Do you could have it?” It’s a query requested by Nickelodeon to those that competed on GUTS, the favored competitors sequence that originally excited Nick children from 1992 to 1995. Soundstage 21 at Common Studios Florida was remodeled into the “Excessive Enviornment,” the place a crowd cheered on the younger members as they squared off in varied impediment course-style challenges.
All of it led to the second everybody waited for, the ascent up the mountainous Aggro Crag. Yeah, cash can be good for profitable. However let’s be trustworthy what these teenagers wished was that coveted neon inexperienced Aggro Crag trophy. Now nearly 30 years later, Mike O’Malley (who co-hosted the present with Moira Quirk) appears to be like again on this nostalgic period fondly.
The actor and author nonetheless meets followers at conventions who inform him in regards to the influence the sequence had on their childhood. He is now married with three youngsters. For O’Malley GUTS got here early on in what turned out to be a massively profitable profession.
He starred as Jimmy Hughes within the comedy Sure, Pricey for six seasons and was nominated for an Emmy as Burt Hummel on the favored Fox sequence Glee. His work behind the scenes is equally as spectacular, writing for acclaimed reveals like Shameless. To not point out creating and government producing Survivor’s Regret and the scrappy underdog Starz sequence Heels. Most not too long ago O’Malley’s performing credit additionally prolong to Snowpiercer and a recurring function in Abbott Elementary.
For sure, he has been busy, which is why we’re grateful he sat down with us to reminisce in regards to the making of GUTS.
I do know you had a present previous to this in Get the Image, however what have been your first impressions about doing GUTS whenever you have been approached?
Mike O’Malley: I met with Albie Hecht, who was an government producer who’s a really charismatic man. He defined the dimensions and scope of the present he wished to do. The concept was this was an motion sports activities fantasy present for teenagers. Youngsters wish to know what it’s wish to dunk a basketball, effectively we’re going to present them the chance to try this. I assumed it was nice. The concept that I might be the sportscaster and do all of it. The interviewing, the sideline reporting, the play-by-play and coloration commentary. I don’t assume I spotted that till we began moving into it. I assumed it was an ideal match for me. I cherished sports activities. I used to be about 24 years outdated. It was time to be that type of a number on that present. I used to be like an enormous brother, camp counselor type of dude.
Aggro Crag (Nickelodeon)
How was it strolling into the soundstage for the primary time? It appears to be like so large whenever you’re a child watching at dwelling.
I believe at the moment it was the most important soundstage on the East Coast. It was simply large…I believe you stroll in and see the Aggro Crag. It’s actually huge. You assume that is only a actually cool thought for teenagers.
Speak about your dynamic with Mo and the way that advanced over time.
I met Moira. Her nickname was not Mo at first. I believe we simply stated, “Let’s go to Mo.” I used to be making an attempt to think about one thing humorous to say after we went to her. That’s what it was and ended up being now, “Hey, what’s up with Mo?” She is simply nice. She has an awesome humorousness. She may be very humorous. That didn’t come throughout on the present, perhaps it did afterward after we joked. We simply had nice camaraderie. We have been the grownups doing this present. Right here we have been each in Florida. She is an actor too. It was working at Common Studios. It was simply a good time to be down there as a teenager who wished to be concerned in present enterprise as a result of there have been a number of alternatives, particularly at Nickelodeon, to get your foot moist.
Did you could have a favourite problem?
I believe the Aggro Crag was the very best a part of it. It was very sophisticated. You needed to go up in a zigzag and hit these actuators and then you definately needed to climb. You have been operating. There was an incline, however then you definately had these knuckleheads on the prime who have been throwing these styrofoam boulders at you. There’s mylar confetti and smoke and water blowing all over the place. You’ve got these goggles on. I can’t think about the strain these children felt. Hear, they received a observe run at it. Clearly, not with the entire particular results and nuclear flying crystals and water and fog. The Aggro Crag was the very best factor.
Nonetheless, individuals ask me the place they’ll get a chunk of the Aggro Crag. It was fascinating for me as a result of it was a enjoyable present to make. I’ve pals I made for all times. I’m nonetheless in contact with these I labored with making that present. We’re nonetheless shut. The making of it was a really collegial expertise. I believe everybody working for Nickelodeon on the time was very high-minded about creating stuff that was a cool place with children in cost. It was actually nice. No person ever talked right down to the children or used kiddy voices. It’s the age in sixth and seventh grade the place you wish to be handled with respect.
Mike O’Malley speaks onstage through the 2024 Shine International Resilience Awards at Paramount Photos Studios on October 15, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photograph by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Pictures for Shine International Inc)
Something you saved from the set?
I nonetheless have my IDs. I did preserve a few the jerseys. I’ve my hockey jersey from International GUTS. I believe I’ve one other one that’s upstairs in my home I wore within the first season. I didn’t take any piece of the set or something. I like operating into grown women and men who’re simply profitable adults and say, “I cherished you on GUTS.” Final 12 months, I met Joe Mazzulla. The coach of the [Boston] Celtics at an occasion, and he shook my hand. I’m an enormous fan of the Celtics and Joe. We had chuckle. I used to be with my sons. They watch his crew each recreation and love the Celtics. Now right here is he telling me that when he was a child, he cherished watching GUTS. It gave me the chance to smile with my children there. That was good.
Pat McAfee has a chunk of the Aggro Crag, no?
He has a chunk of the Aggro Crag. I ought to get him a few of the GUTS memorabilia to get on his present. It’s humorous as a result of he has given such a outstanding place on his desk to the Aggro Crag. People who find themselves over 45 don’t actually know what it’s. So after I’ll be out you’ll hear from somebody who says, “Hey man, Aggro Crag.” Individuals my age don’t know something about it or perhaps know I used to be on this present. Then different individuals are like, “Hey, GUTS!”
Had you tried climbing the Aggro Crag your self?
Not with all of the situations. I did attempt to climb it as soon as, however it was sophisticated. It was not straightforward. I love what these children needed to undergo.
Have you ever stayed in touch with any previous members?
Jana “The Warrior” Waring (Helms) was a star when she gained. Then she got here again for the All-Stars model particular for the house video we recorded and gained that once more. She was then concerned in a tragic accident the place she was paralyzed from the waist down and in a wheelchair now. I co-wrote the ebook for the Broadway musical Escape to Margaritaville, and there was a man who was within the Broadway refrain of the workshop musical we have been doing. He gained. Greg (Haney). Small world.
GUTS (Nickelodeon)
Have you ever been requested to host once more or acquired pitches?
Nothing concrete so far as them saying, “Hey, we’re making one other season of GUTSi. Do you wish to try this?”
I do know there was a more moderen iteration My Household’s Obtained GUTS in 2008, however do you see the unique idea working in at the moment’s tv panorama?
You and other people your age who grew up watching Nickelodeon on the time have a shared expertise as a result of there was a monoculture. A shared viewing expertise that everybody across the nation was watching. You have been a child, you have been watching Nickelodeon…I all the time assume that children wish to watch programming the place they get to do the stuff they by no means thought doable. I believe there may be all the time a possibility for that. The more durable factor is making an attempt to get individuals to point out as much as watch that factor and make them conscious…That’s the problem.
