Doug Walker (comedian)

Last updated

Doug Walker
Doug Walker Comic Con 2022.png
Walker at the Grand Rapids Comic-Con in Michigan on November 13, 2022
Personal information
Born
Douglas Darien Walker

(1981-11-17) November 17, 1981 (age 42) [1]
Naples, Italy
NationalityAmerican
Education Northern Illinois University (BA)
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • film critic
  • actor
  • media personality
  • YouTuber
Spouse
Robin Poage
​
(m. 2012)​
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2008–present
Genre Film reviews
Subscribers1.36 million [2]
Total views1.17 billion [2]
Associated acts
Last updated: April 7, 2024

Douglas Darien Walker (born November 17, 1981) is an American comedian, film critic, actor, filmmaker, and YouTuber. Walker is best known for creating and starring in the satirical film review web series Nostalgia Critic , wherein the titular character reviews nostalgic media in an angry or profane manner. [3] After an initial run on YouTube, Walker co-created the website That Guy With The Glasses (later merged into Channel Awesome) in 2008, where he and the series gained wider popularity. The site also presented other media critics of whom created similar content, including Lindsay Ellis and Angry Joe. Walker and his series returned to YouTube in 2012. [4] [5]

Contents

Early life

Walker is the son of Barney (b. 1946), a naval officer and musician, and Sandra Ruth (née Polkow) Walker (1947–2016), a therapist. [6] Both parents, as well as Walker's older brother Rob (b. June 5, 1979), would later appear regularly in his videos. Due to his father's career, Walker was born on a naval base in Naples, Italy, and moved frequently as a child, spending parts of his childhood in Rhode Island, Washington, and Jacksonville, Florida before moving to the Chicago, Illinois area in his teen years.

Walker attended and graduated from Northern Illinois University, majoring in mass communication and minoring in visual art, also serving as an editor and cartoonist for the school newspaper. [7]

He is a descendant of German composer Heinrich Schütz. [8] [ self-published source ]

Nostalgia Critic

The Nostalgia Critic (right) with James Rolfe as the Angry Video Game Nerd The Nerd and the Nostalgia Critic Face to Face.jpg
The Nostalgia Critic (right) with James Rolfe as the Angry Video Game Nerd

After graduating college, Walker worked as an illustrator and janitor. He started making videos on the then fairly new video sharing site YouTube in his spare time. Although his early "Nostalgia Critic" videos were popular, Walker claims his rise to internet fame first came from the success of his "5 Second Movies" edits. Walker has stated that the Nostalgia Critic character is primarily inspired by Daffy Duck and the Queen of Hearts, as well as by comedians Lewis Black, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Murray. [9]

In 2008, Walker moved his skits from YouTube to independent site That Guy With the Glasses, later renamed Channel Awesome, with videos hosted via Blip.tv. [10] The majority of his skits have since been reuploaded to YouTube, and form a full web series spanning several seasons. Walker now works as a full-time content creator and staff member of Channel Awesome in Chicago, under the leadership of CEO Mike Michaud. [11]

In September 2012, Walker announced that the Nostalgia Critic series would be ending and that he and his brother would create the sketch comedy web series Demo Reel. In January 2013, however, Walker released "The Review Must Go On", a short film announcing that the series would continue. The new incarnation would co-star Malcolm Ray and Rachel Tietz of Demo Reel, playing fictionalized versions of themselves as well as performing in sketches. Tamara Chambers would later join the series following Tietz's departure. [12]

Criticism

In March 2018, numerous former Channel Awesome contributors and employees accused the company of widespread mismanagement and mistreatment, culminating in the Twitter hashtag #ChangeTheChannel and a Google Doc entitled "Not So Awesome" chronicling the complaints of over 20 contributors. [11] [13] [14] While many of the allegations were directed at Michaud, former contributor Allison "Obscurus Lupa" Pregler, who had been critical of the site since leaving in 2015, [11] [14] said that Doug and Rob Walker were "complicit" and had failed to address complaints about Michaud's behavior. [15] [16] Another former contributor, Lindsay Ellis, described filming conditions on the Walker-directed Channel Awesome anniversary films as "grossly unprofessional", lacking film industry standards such as craft services and safety insurance. [16]

Following the allegations and several poorly received statements from Channel Awesome management, many contributors left the site, with only Walker, Brad Jones, and Larry "Guru Larry" Bundy Jr. remaining by the end of April. Walker later acknowledged the controversy in a 2021 interview with Korey Coleman for Double Toasted , admitting that Channel Awesome had gotten "too big", resulting in poor communication among staff and producers, and that he had since been consciously trying to "keep everything closer and more personal". [17]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010KickassiaNostalgia Critic / Spider Smith / Chester A. Bum / Ask That Guy with the Glasses / DominicAlso director, editor, executive producer, and writer [18]
2011Suburban KnightsNostalgia Critic / Ask That Guy with the Glasses / Chester A. BumAlso cinematographer, director, editor, executive producer, and writer [19]
2012To Boldly FleeNostalgia Critic / General Zodd / Chester A. Bum / Ask That Guy with the Glasses / Himself / Additional VoicesAlso camera operator, director, editor, and writer
2013SonicG.U.N. SoldierShort film
2014 Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie HimselfCameo
2015Atop the Fourth Wall: The MovieDominic / Lori Prince / Nostalgia Critic
2016 Room Full of Spoons HimselfDocumentary film [20]
2017Jesus, Bro!Samuel Tobinski / Kendrick Tobinski [21] [22]
DiscoRudy
2019Another Cinema Snob MovieBally Joe
2022Adam Heatherly's Frankenstein!Professor William Barter [23]

Web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007–present Nostalgia Critic Nostalgia Critic / VariousAlso director, writer, editor, and producer
2012–2013Demo ReelDonnie DuPre/Doug Walker/Nostalgia CriticAlso director, writer, editor, and producer [24]
2010–present The Cinema Snob Nostalgia Critic / Chester A. Bum / Luigi Mario / Christopher Walken's Arm / Ask That Guy with the GlassesAlso writer
2012; 2013 Joueur du Grenier Nostalgia Critic2 episodes
2014 Everything Wrong with... HimselfEpisode: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2015James and Mike MondaysHimself4 episodes
2016 Honest Trailers HimselfEpisode: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of Their Shells (feat. The Nostalgia Critic)
2018–2020CinemassacreHimself / Nicolas Cage 6 episodes [25]

Discography

Studio albums
TitleAlbum details
Nostalgia Critic's The Wall [lower-alpha 1]

Singles

TitleSong Details
"The Real Chipmunks Movie" [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 3]

Personal life

Walker has been married to clinical social worker & therapist, Robin Poage since 2012. [30] [31] [32] Walker and his wife have two cats, Chaplin (a rescued tuxedo cat whom they named after Charlie Chaplin that they adopted in 2018) [33] and Buster (a smaller orange cat whom they named after Buster Keaton that they adopted in 2020). [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toilet humour</span> Type of off-colour humour dealing with defecation, urination and flatulence

Toilet humour, or potty or scatological humour, is a type of off-colour humour dealing with defecation, diarrhea, constipation, urination and flatulence, and to a lesser extent vomiting and other bodily functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Lee (actor)</span> American actor, producer, writer, photographer and skateboarder

Jason Michael Lee is an American actor, filmmaker, photographer, and former professional skateboarder. He is known for playing Earl Hickey in the television comedy series My Name Is Earl, for which he was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy TV series in 2005 and 2006 by The Golden Globes, and Dave in the live-action films, Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009), Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011) and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blip.tv</span>

Blip was an American media platform for web series content and also offered a dashboard for producers of original web series to distribute and monetize their productions. The company was founded on May 5, 2005, and it was located in New York City and Los Angeles. It was financed by Bain Capital Ventures, Canaan Partners, and Ambient Sound Investments. Blip's mission statement was "to deliver the best original web series to audiences across multiple platforms." The site showcased a wide variety of dramas, comedies, arts, sports and other shows. Blip was acquired by Maker Studios in 2013 and shut down by them on August 20, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Bailey (animator)</span> American animator and film director

Chris Bailey is an American animator and film director.

<i>Angry Video Game Nerd</i> Comedy web series about video games

The Angry Video Game Nerd, originally known as The Angry Nintendo Nerd, is an American retrogaming review comedy web series created by and starring James Rolfe. The series centers on Rolfe's titular skit character, often simply shortened to "the Nerd", a short-tempered and foul-mouthed gamer who delivers commentary on retro games of poor quality. While the series began with Rolfe simply playing games while providing retrospective commentary, the show has grown in scope to encompass sketches featuring guest characters, reviews of gaming consoles and peripherals, and short lectures about video game history and culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Key of Awesome</span> Comedy YouTube channel (2007–2018)

The Key of Awesome was a YouTube channel that produced comedy videos starring writer/performer Mark Douglas. "The Key of Awesome" was created by Mark Douglas and Ben Relles and is the channel's most popular series, mainly producing viral music videos and parodies. Barely Political was created in June 2007 by Ben Relles and subsequently debuted its first music video, "Crush on Obama", starring Amber Lee "Obama Girl" Ettinger, created by Ben Relles and Jake Chudnow. Videos on the channel have been seen over 3.37 billion times online. "The Key of Awesome" became the central identity of the channel.

Nostalgia is a sentimentality for the past.

Channel Awesome, Inc. is an American online media production company based in Lombard, Illinois. The company was created in 2008 by Mike Michaud, Mike Ellis, and Bhargav Dronamraju. Channel Awesome operated the That Guy with the Glasses website until late 2014, when it was phased into the Channel Awesome website. The site is best known for the comedic film review series Nostalgia Critic, starring Doug Walker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Ellis</span> American author and film critic (born 1984)

Lindsay Ellis is an American author, film critic, and video essayist. Her debut novel, Axiom's End, published in July 2020, became a New York Times Best Seller.

<i>Nostalgia Critic</i> American review comedy web series

Nostalgia Critic is an American review comedy web series created, directed by, and starring comedian Doug Walker. The series initially launched on YouTube on July 3, 2007, before moving to Walker's own site, That Guy with the Glasses, and finally to the online production company Channel Awesome. The show follows Walker as the title character, a bitter and sarcastic critic who reviews films and television shows from his childhood and recent past, usually with comically exaggerated hysteria. The show focuses on analysis of the episode's subject, often incorporated with sketches, rants, or embedded storylines. Many of the films reviewed—such as Exorcist II: The Heretic, The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, Batman & Robin, and Foodfight!—are generally considered as the worst films ever made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Rolfe</span> American filmmaker and online personality

James D. Rolfe is an American YouTuber, filmmaker, and actor. He is best known for creating and starring in the comedic retrogaming web series The Angry Video Game Nerd (2004–present). His spin-off projects include reviews of retro films, television series, and board games. He is considered a pioneer of internet gaming videos, and is noted for his widespread influence on YouTube content after the series premiered on the site in 2006.

<i>Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie</i> 2014 American science fiction adventure comedy independent film

Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie is a 2014 American independent science-fiction adventure comedy film written and directed by James Rolfe and Kevin Finn. It is based on the web series of the same name, also created by Rolfe, with himself as the lead character alongside Jeremy Suarez, Sarah Glendening, Stephen Mendel, Time Winters, Helena Barrett, David Dastmalchian, Robbie Rist, and Eddie Pepitone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robby Novak</span> American actor (born 2004)

Robby Novak is an American actor and media personality best known for portraying Kid President on YouTube and on television.

<i>Too Cool! Cartoons</i> TV series or program

Too Cool! Cartoons is a series of adult animated shorts on the YouTube channel Cartoon Hangover. It was created by Fred Seibert and produced by Frederator Studios. The series premiered on April 4, 2013, with the short Our New Electrical Morals. It was planned to feature 39 shorts but ended up releasing only 11 shorts.

<i>Bee and PuppyCat</i> American-Japanese animated web series

Bee and PuppyCat is an American adult animated television series created and written by Natasha Allegri. The series revolves around Bee, an unemployed woman in her early twenties, who encounters a mysterious creature named PuppyCat. She adopts this apparent cat-dog hybrid, and together they go on a series of temporary jobs to pay off her monthly rent. These bizarre jobs take the duo across strange worlds out in space. The original series was produced by Frederator Studios with the animation initially outsourced to South Korean studio Dong Woo Animation.

Double Toasted is an entertainment website based in Austin, Texas. The site hosts weekly podcasts covering current events, pop culture, movie reviews and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Scallon</span> American musician and YouTuber (born 1990)

Robert Andrew Scallon is an American YouTuber, musician, and multi-instrumentalist based in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for several viral videos featuring his music, including heavy metal songs played with traditionally non-metal instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First of October (band)</span> American music duo known for producing albums in a day

First of October is an American-Canadian indie rock duo formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 2018. It was formed between musical YouTubers Rob Scallon and Andrew Huang from an idea where they would go into a recording studio and write and record a 10-track album in a 10-hour recording session. The duo's name is derived from the day that they recorded their first album, Ten Hours. The band recorded and released four more albums of the sort in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, with plans to repeat the project annually.

<i>Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers</i> (film) 2022 film by Akiva Schaffer

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers is a 2022 American live-action/animated adventure comedy film based on the characters Chip and Dale and loosely based on the 1989 animated TV series of the same name, excluding the duo's previous filmography. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, the film stars John Mulaney and Andy Samberg as the voices of the eponymous pair, respectively, with KiKi Layne, Will Arnett, Eric Bana, Flula Borg, Dennis Haysbert, Keegan-Michael Key, Tress MacNeille, Tim Robinson, Seth Rogen, and J.K. Simmons. Walt Disney Pictures co-produced the film in association with The Lonely Island and David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman's Mandeville Films.

References

  1. ↑ "Yep, it's my birthday. I'm 35 today. Time for my wall to be filled with well wishes and silly imagery. I say bring it on!". facebook.com.
  2. 1 2 "About ChannelAwesome". YouTube.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Brian (November 5, 2014). "The Nostalgia Critic Interview". Empty Lighthouse Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  4. ↑ Blevins, Joe (February 17, 2016). "YouTube's Nostalgia Critic offers an emergency crash course in fair use". The A.V. Club . Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  5. ↑ Huller, Jacob (April 10, 2018). "Taking a stance against Channel Awesome". The Hofstra Chronicle. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Sandra Polkow Walker". Daily Herald . Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Doug Walker Q&A at Northern Illinois".
  8. ↑ "The History of Nostalgia Critic Sneak Peek". amm2media.wordpress.com. June 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Doug Walker's Character Origins" – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ↑ Gutelle, Sam (July 6, 2017). "Nostalgia Critic Celebrates Ten Years Of Videos With A Much-Requested Review". Tubefilter. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 Schroeder, Audra (April 4, 2018). "Former contributors allege mismanagement and misconduct at Channel Awesome". The Daily Dot. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Get to know the man behind 'Nostalgia Critic'". WBEZ Chicago. November 21, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  13. ↑ Tamburro, Paul (March 26, 2018). "Channel Awesome Criticized by Former Contributors for Alleged Mistreatment". GameRevolution. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Shaffer, Claire (April 29, 2019). "After many called out Channel Awesome for workplace issues, they're finding similar issues with YouTube". Polygon. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  15. ↑ Pregler, Allison (April 8, 2018). #ChangeTheChannel: What Happened with Channel Awesome?. YouTube. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Not So Awesome". Google Docs. April 7, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  17. ↑ DOUG WALKER (NOSTALGIA CRITIC) INTERVIEW | Double Toasted. YouTube. Double Toasted Interviews. August 2, 2021. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  18. ↑ "A Critic's Critique of Critics: Doug Walker". www.filmsfatale.com. August 5, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Suburban Knights (2012) Directed by Doug Walker". twitter.com.
  20. ↑ "Clip 08 - The Nostalgia Critic - Room Full of Spoons 2016 The Room Documentary HD". youtube.com.
  21. ↑ "'Jesus, Bro!' is now available to purchase! Check it out, it is Santa Christ approved!". facebook.com.
  22. ↑ "BRAD JONES ON "JESUS, BRO!"". indie-outlook.com. May 25, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Adam Heatherly's Frankenstein! (2022)". www.avclub.com.
  24. ↑ "Share if you're excited for DEMO REEL!". facebook.com.
  25. ↑ "Cinemassacre Podcast #11 – Crazy Convention Stories (With Nostalgia Critic)". cinemassacre.com. October 19, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Nostalgia Critic's the Wall". Spotify. September 8, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Nostalgia Critic's the Wall". music.apple.com.
  28. ↑ "The Real Chipmunks Movie - Doug Walker & The Chipmunks". spotify.com.
  29. ↑ "The Real Chipmunks Movie - Single". music.apple.com.
  30. ↑ "Robin Poage (she/her) LCSW Accepting Clients". www.therapyden.com.
  31. ↑ "Robin Poage Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW Verified by Psychology Today 1 Endorsed". www.psychologytoday.com.
  32. ↑ "Doug Walker COMEDY Biography". Viralmango.com.
  33. ↑ "Look out Lloyd...there's a new cat coming to Channel Awesome". facebook.com.
  34. ↑ "Buster and Chaplin Neighborhood Cat Watch #nostalgiacritic #channelawesome #dougwalker #cat #cats_of_world #cats_of_instagram #catsofinstagram #catlife #cats". instagram.com.

Notes

  1. ↑ This album also featured other artists such as Corey Taylor and Rob Scallon.
  2. ↑ Credited as "Doug Walker & The Chipmunks".
  3. ↑ Featured performers in the song include; James Jarosz, Rob Scallon, Tamara Chambers, Aiyanna Wade, and Heather Reusz.

Wikiquote-logo.svg Quotations related to The Nostalgia Critic at Wikiquote

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.