Essay that Herb Scannell wrote about me
(above: me, Herb, and Craig Bartlett, creator of “Hey Arnold”, watching a Meth Minute)
The following essay that Herb wrote is incredibly flattering, almost to the point of embarrassment. It’s almost ridiculous in it’s levels of flattery. But I’ll blog it because… well, when the guy who put “Spongebob” and “Rugrats” on the air says he likes your work just as much… well, you kinda feel very excited.
Dan Meth, Man of Mystery. Man of Enormous Talent.
The mystery: I first met, or rather saw, Dan two summers ago in my partner and friend Fred Seibert’s office. Dan was mysterious because he didn’t say much. He was always there working. I thought he might be one of the tech guys Fred was surrounding himself with as Fred transformed from a TV guy to an Internet disciple. But Dan wasn’t one of those guys. He didn’t look tech. He looked like a rock star – mutton chop sideburns, black hair parted on the side hanging over one eye.
And then one day the mystery ended. I walked into Fred’s office and everyone was crowded around Dan’s computer. They were watching “Hebrew Crunk” a hilarious video Dan made for a local Jewish organization, that matched a - or rather mismatched - Lil-John-like Crunk music to the Jewish high holidays. It was inspired. I thought what kind of mind conceived something so odd…and so funny.
The talent: So from that point on every time I stopped by Fred’s office I’d ask Dan to show me what was on his computer. Lucky for us at Next New Networks, Fred was two steps ahead of me in recognizing Dan’s talents and commissioned Dan to make The Meth Minute 39 that has rolled out weekly on our own Channel Frederator. So I saw “Internet People”, “Syd Barrett Meets His Accountant”, “Dylan Meets The Beatles”, “Nite Fite”, “Sex Machine”, and many more before the rest of the world saw them on the Internet. And, oh yeah, every time we had a visitor to Next New I’d take them by Dan’s desk and, universally, whether it was luminaries like Michael Eisner, stars like Little Steven, or just my best friend from high school, they had the same reaction — they laughed out loud.
I’ve worked with some great animators, folks who have it all in their heads – the characters, the voices, the soundtracks, the drawings – and when they put them on paper and then onto film/video they make magic and awe you with their talents. People like Steve Hillenburg (Spongebob), Gabor Csupo (Rugrats), and Butch Hartman (Fairly OddParents). I’d add Dan Meth’s name to that list of special talents. He’s that good!
Herb Scannell is CEO and co-founder of Next New Networks. Prior to Next New Networks Mr. Scannell was Vice Chairman of MTV Networks/ President of Nickelodeon Networks and he has also held various marketing and promotional positions in pay TV at The Movie Channel and Showtime.
