Akadot - Fun Features: Q and A

Kei in "Oh, My Goddess" and Belg in "Blue Submarine," Scott Simpson is one of the stars in the east coast dubbing circuit. And he is coupled with the "Goddess" to his "Oh, my," Juliet Cesario. We spoke with him for a few minutes about his agent's shortcomings and what he wouldn't do for an apple.

What is your favorite anime?

SS: My standard response when this question comes up in the theatre (what's your favorite play?) is that my favorite is whatever I'm currently working on. That's mostly true of anime also. But there are a number of titles that I'd call favorites that I didn't work on: "Gun Smith Cats," "Eva," "Ghost in the Shell," "You're Under Arrest," "Starblazers." Favorites in the "shows I was in" column: certainly "Goddess," "Shinesman" and "Blue Sub No. 6."

What kind of car do you drive?

SS: A bicycle actually whenever possible.

What is your most embarrassing acting moment?

SS: : God, they're all such LONG stories. I've had most of the classic garden-variety actor's nightmare moments. I've had a few David Lynch-like experiences where I had to make a last minute dash to the store, in costume, for some forgotten/lost prop. Standing in line at the Food-Mart, wearing biblical robes, buying a single red apple. That turned a few heads.

On what TV cop show would you most want to be a cast member?

SS: They're all so depressing. I could have played the overly eager crime scene photographer on Barney Miller (note to self; get agent with time machine).

What is your greatest achievement?

SS: Resisting the urge to take a serious stab at this question.

What is your favorite Stanley Kubrick movie?

SS: "Dr. Strangelove!!!"

Do you believe in aliens and have you ever had an alien experience?

SS: : The implant prevents me from commenting on that at length. But the answers would be respectively "yes" and "every time I hear Bjork."

What article of the constitution outlines the system of checks and balances?

SS: Hey! Is that a trick question? The C&B system is interwoven through most articles of the Constitution. The list below was taken from http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/4516.

States and Territories pitted against the Central Government through the separation of powers vertically.

- The Senate against the House (takes both houses to pass bills).
- The President against the Congress (Veto power).
- The Judiciary against the Congress (Power to declare laws unconstitutional).
- The Senate against the President (all appointments and treaties have to be ratified by the Senate).
- The people against their representatives (The house is elected every 2 years).
- The State legislatures against the Senate (originally Senators were elected by State Legislators).
- The Electoral College against the People (Republic v. Democracy).
- The People against the Central Government (Jury nullification).
- Both Houses against the President (Impeachment).

How long will you go without doing your laundry before you cave in?

SS: : Speaking of Checks and Balances, the real question is always how long can I go before Juliet starts giving me "the look?"

What's up doc?

SS: : Sadly, our time. But I think we've made some real progress here today. Now let's all hold hands and recite the Dead Parrot sketch.

In addition to his on-going work as an anime voice actor, Scott is Special Projects Producer for WHQR - public radio in Wilmington, North Carolina. He has just completed work on "North Carolina Bluenotes," a series spotlighting the lives and music of fifteen Jazz/Blues artists born in North Carolina. Scott is also Artistic Director of Theatre Exchange Society whose first two productions will be "A Christmas Carol" in December of 2001, and "Hamlet" in October of 2002. His most recent film work includes the soon to be released "Altar Boys," starring Jody Foster. And he can be seen as Richter in "Ambushed," available at Blockbuster.