Pop Culture Collision:
Gary Coleman, Robotech and C.C. Banana
Here at Pop Life Re-Cap, we pride ourselves on shining a spotlight on virtually every aspect of pop culture. From television to music to sports to comics, we give them all their moment to shine. However, never before have such diverse corners of the pop culture universe converged with such high unlikelihood. In the following exclusive Pop Life Re-Cap interview, a former child star discusses his favorite animated television series with an improv comic best known for ambushing rock bands while dressed as a giant banana. Feel free to take notes if you think it will help.
For those of you who have been out to lunch for the past few decades, actor Gary Coleman is best known for starring in the sitcom sensation Diff'rent Strokes for NBC. Sure, he's done lots of other things over the past 20 years (most notably running for governor of California in 2003) but it was his endearing portrayal of orphaned tyke Arnold Jackson that garnered him the elusive status of America's Sweetheart. As for C.C. Banana... he's a bit tougher to sum up. Needless to say, the Banana has racked up quite a reputation for snagging the unlikeliest of interviews with some of the biggest names in rock & roll.
Long story short: both individuals found themselves at the Jacob Javits Convention Center for the recent New York Comic Con when fate conspired to push them together. Ostensibly, C.C. Banana was at the event to land a spot on the hit Sci-Fi Channel reality program Who Wants to Be a Superhero? (for which he was one of only a handful of applicants chosen to audition for comic book demigod Stan Lee himself). While there, C.C. made the most of the occasion by conducting a few irreverent interviews of his own, including the following encounter with convention guest Gary Coleman.
Though initially uncertain as to what he would ask the esteemed Mr. Coleman during their exchange, a quick chat with the actor revealed a surprising passion for Japanese animated programs of the 1980s, specifically Robotech. While hardly an expert on the subject, C.C. Banana proceeded to rummage through his head for whatever Robotech tidbits he could find before the tape recorder began rolling. He also jotted down a few bits of Gary Coleman trivia and mixed in a few questions about comic books and current events, making up the rest as he went along. So if the following reads less like a formal interview and more like a casual conversation between two 30-something fanboys, just keep reminding yourself that one is a Z-list celebrity going largely unnoticed at a comic book convention... and the other is Gary Coleman.
In any case, enjoy.
Gary, what is your impression of the New York Comic Con?
This is my very first day. I've actually never been to a Comic Con before! So far it's a little quiet because it's Friday, but I've been told that Saturday and Sunday are going to be really busy.
Are you a comic book fan?
Well, I had some Spider-Man comics years ago but I have no idea where they are now. I don't think anyone knows where their original Spider-Man comics today.
Do you have a favorite superhero?
Spawn was my favorite for a while but now I'm really digging the Fantastic Four. I actually liked that movie. I also liked the original Fantastic Four animated series. That was the best thing Hanna-Barbera ever did, besides The Flintstones.
Did you ever dress up as a superhero for Halloween as a kid?
No, I didn't.
As an adult, perhaps?
No.
Never even worn a pair of superhero pajamas?
Nope.
You mention that you're a fan of anime.
Yes, I'm actually a big Robotech fan. I used to read a lot of the Robotech comics when they first came out. I figured the comics would have more of the characters' back story. Robotech really inspired me and gave me my start in anime. I also used to watch that other show... what was it called? It had those people who were some kind of super force, with the birds and the special spacecraft...
Thunderbirds?
No.
SilverHawks?
Oh, God no!
TigerSharks?
Actually, I think it might have been called "Galaxy Force."
Galaxy Rangers?
No, not Galaxy Rangers! But that's another one that I liked. What a great show that was! I wish they'd done more of those. They only have 4 of them on DVD. That was a show that never really had a chance to get going. It was a little too mature for its time. Then there was that other show that I can't remember... I keep wanting to call it "Galaxy Force."
Battle of the Planets?
Yeah, that's it! Battle of the Planets! It always came on at 6:30 in the morning, which I never understood. I think the version I have on DVD must be newer, Battle of the Planets was the original from the 1970s. There were a lot of Japanese animated series that I had the pleasure of growing up with. Those shows will always be the best because I'm so tired of ninjas and samurais.
Ninjas and samurais?
In modern anime, everybody always has swords. They're all samurais or ninjas or something. I'm sick of that! I'd rather they go back to the big robots and planes and all that technological stuff. That's the kind of Japanese animation I like!
You yourself have been animated a number of times in your career.
I was animated in The Simpsons twice and in my own TV show based on The Kid with the Broken Halo. It was done by Hanna-Barbera, who was notorious for leaving the backgrounds blank. As far as I know, those are the only times I've been animated.
Have you seen those new Voltron DVD box sets shaped like the various lions?
Now there's a series that was really weird! At first the robot was made up of vehicles, then it was made up of lions. Or did the vehicles come afterwards? Actually, I think the lions came first, then came the cars and trucks.
Lions and cars and trucks, oh my.
Yeah, so that was weird. I liked the lions better.
At this point, the interview is momentarily interrupted by fans eager to pose for a photo with Gary... all of whom ready and willing to hand over $5.00 for the privilege. As such, C.C. Banana is called into action as Gary's unofficial photographer (and cash handler). After the influx of enthusiasts subsides, Gary continues to reminisce.
Do you know what show I miss that I can't find on DVD anywhere? Thunderbirds 2086. I thought that was a really good series. Robotech gave me my start in anime but Thunderbirds 2086 capped it off.
Actually, I don't think that show is officially available on home video. But there is a new Robotech DVD that just came out. It's called The Shadow Chronicles and it's all-new, taking place after the Invid invasion in the year 2044.
Well, they've been trying to do more Robotech for the past 15 years but it never quite gets off the ground. So I'd be excited to see that. I used to watch Voltron and all those other Japanese animation shows but when Robotech first came on TV, I watched it with my mouth hanging open! I just loved it. I used to tune in every day at 4:00 PM on channel 11 in Los Angeles.
Have you ever gone back as an adult and re-watched the Robotech episodes?
Yes. And I still sit there with my mouth hanging open!
So if you had your druthers... Lynn Minmei or Lisa Hayes?
Oh, Lisa Hayes! Every time I saw Lynn Minmei, I wanted to choke her. She was just a troublemaker. I don't know what Rick Hunter ever saw in her. Lisa was the good one. Any time you have a female commanding officer, that's who you should date.
So you're saying that Rick slept his way to the top?
Well, I don't know if that was on his mind at the time. He did make his way to captain but I don't think Lisa had anything to do with it. It was because of his skills.
We again feel the need to point out the absurdity of this situation, which now sees actor Gary Coleman and a man in a banana suit debating the pros and cons of cartoon characters dating one another.
Rick ultimately became an admiral, you know.
Yes, but I never saw those episodes! I'll have to go through my DVDs again.
That actually happened in Robotech II: The Sentinels. Although it always seemed odd to me that they put a number in the title, considering that it took place between other chapters of the series.
I think Harmony Gold may have lost focus with that. If you're gonna pull together multiple Japanese sci-fi series, you have to make sure it all makes sense.
It actually holds up fairly well, for the most part. You should check out The Protoculture Collection, it's a huge box set of all the original Robotech episodes. You can pick it up for about $100 and then you can watch the whole saga in one fell swoop.
Yeah, for about a week and a half!
Less if you don't go to the bathroom.
Well, hopefully that protoculture set will pull it all together.
I always thought protoculture sounded like it would taste good, like it was a kind of yogurt or something.
Well, I know it was green. Or maybe it was blue. If it was blue it would probably be sweet, but if it was green it would probably be minty. Otherwise it might taste like peas.
Finishing up with a few from the grab bag...
Okay.
If someone were to make a Gary Coleman action figure, what would its action feature be?
Disintegration.
Your action figure would disintegrate?
No, the figure wouldn't disintegrate. But the power of my character would be disintegration.
Name one good thing and one bad thing about working with Charlotte Rae.
It's hard to think of anything bad about Charlotte Rae. She was quite a character and very funny. She had to be! She was on TV making people laugh every week.
Which impending rock reunion are you more excited about, Van Halen or The Police?
I'm not really into rock music. I'm more into new age and light jazz, maybe some soft rock.
In that case, who's in your CD player right now?
Ramsey Lewis.
Why do you think Britney Spears shaved her head?
Because she was probably high and didn't realize what she was doing. Either that or she didn't know what she was getting into -- as far as the fame was concerned -- and it's driven her completely insane. She's like me in that respect. I'm insane, but no one would ever know it.
I could see you being a little insane.
It could happen!
What is your favorite fruit?
Peaches.
Finally, what type of project would be a good vehicle for Gary Coleman at this point in your career?
Something where I can disintegrate people!
So this would be some kind of superhero adventure or sci-fi epic?
Something like that, but I'd want to be the bad guy!
Speaking of which, did you feel bad for leaving too many scales in that last batch of lizard meat hamburgers you made for Buck Rogers?
Uh... you went to the center of the earth to find that question, didn't you?
And with that last obscure reference to Gil Gerard, the interview drew to its natural (albeit twisted) conclusion. Gary wished the Banana luck in his Who Wants to Be a Superhero? aspirations and in return C.C. Banana promised to make Gary his official sidekick (G.C. Banana) should he in fact get the nod. C.C. also returned later with an autographed copy of the aforementioned new Robotech DVD cover insert, personalized to Gary by all the creators in attendance that day. Confident that the world would no longer be left wondering as to Gary Coleman's opinions of old Japanese cartoons, the yellow fruit went about his merry way... proceeding to harass convention guests and attendees while dressed as the Spirit of Vengeance. Pop Life Re-Cap would like to thank Mr. Coleman for taking a moment to share his passions with a six-foot fruit, although we would caution him about exploring his seeming obsession with disintegration.
For more unlikely adventures with C.C. Banana, including encounters with the likes of Kiss, Twisted Sister and even George Lucas, visit his official website or MySpace page below. Also, be on the lookout for more Pop Life Re-Cap contributions from C.C. Banana in future... just as soon as he gets his computer caught up with the rest of 21st century.
Fun Fact! Despite being a longtime fan of the series, C.C. Banana's primary claim to Robotech fame stems from the publication of a single letter to editor Diana Schutz in an issue of Comico's original Robotech comic book series. The Banana also prides himself on having attended in 1986 the world's first -- and presumably only -- Robotech convention, an event that inexplicably featured actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner as its special guest. Coincidentally, years later C.C. would graduate from the film division of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts alongside the former Cosby kid, though their paths never once crossed while in those hallowed halls.
C.C. Banana (in superhero mode) with reality TV heroes Major Victory and Feedback
C.C. Banana and Gary Coleman at the New York Comic Con
The only known evidence that Gary Coleman has ever worn superhero-themed attire.
A previously unseen "bananimation" cel from Gary's cartoon series.
(image appears courtesy Banana-Barbera)
Gary Coleman playing the Robotech: Battlecry video game at the E3 Expo in 2002
Gary Coleman as Heironymous Fox, the time-displaced super genius who shared Buck Rogers' fondness for 20th century delicacies and pop culture
C.C. Banana as Ghost Rider at the New York Comic Con