Meeting the cast of Nickelodeon’s ‘Albert’
Judah Friedlander, left, Sasheer Zamata and Bobby Moynihan, with Kidsday reporters from left, Megan Sebesta, Maggie Coats, Jacob McEnroe and Joey DeRosa, at the Nickelodeon offices in Manhattan. Credit: Newsday / Pat Mullooly
We went to the Nickelodeon offices in Manhattan to interview three great comedians who are starring in a new Nickelodeon movie, “Albert.” Bobby Moynihan (from “Saturday Night Live”) is the voice of a little Douglas fir tree named Albert who wants to become the Empire City tree. The weed, Gene, who lives in Albert’s planter, is played by Judah Friedlander (“30 Rock”), and Albert’s friend, Maisie, the palm tree, is played by Sasheer Zamata (“Saturday Night Live”).
Albert is a little tree that lives in Vermont. He wants to do something more than live in a house. He wants to be the Empire City tree. So Albert and his friends, Maisie and Gene, find a way to the city by hitching rides on trucks. On their way they encounter Cactus Pete who wants to destroy the Empire City tree. Albert and his friends kept meeting Pete who kept trying to hurt Albert’s ornaments. The trio finally makes it to Empire City where Albert is determined to become the Empire City tree. We think this was a great movie because the moral of the story is that even if you are small you can do big things. We think other kids would like this movie because it had a lot of action, a good plot, it was very funny and it had a nice message.
One of our favorite parts of the movie was the attack of the bunnies. A huge group of bunnies attacked them because they wanted to eat their friend’s leaves.
We talked to Judah, Sasheer and Bobby and asked them a few questions about this fun movie:
What is your favorite scene in the movie?
Bobby: The first song when they are all getting ready to go on their adventure is pretty fun. There are fun action scenes at the end, but we don’t want to give away too much.
What do you love about the character you played?
Judah: I played the weed. And weeds are often something that most people don’t want. It is something bad or unwanted. A weed has to fight for himself and can’t rely on other people. Have to have strong personality and a lot of confidence.
Sasheer: I love that my character is a really good friend and is supportive. That is what is needed for a lot of people.
Bobby: I liked Albert because he just wants to have a good time. Albert is all about having fun!
Why do you think kids will like to see “Albert”?
Sasheer: I think it is a very fun story. It has a really good moral and it is always good to see an underdog win. It is a really cool looking cartoon.
Bobby: It has fun songs.
Judah: And it has a dancing Christmas tree!
What is different from a cartoon movie and a regular movie?
Bobby: When we make animated movies you can be silly and you find yourself jumping around and doing things you wouldn’t normally do.
We think you should watch “Albert,” which airs Dec. 9 on Nickelodeon at 7 p.m.
