Doug Walker (comedian) explained

Doug Walker
Birth Name:Douglas Darien Walker
Birth Date:November 17, 1981[1]
Birth Place:Naples, Italy
Nationality:American
Education:Northern Illinois University (BA)
Channel Direct Url:ChannelAwesome
Years Active:2007–present
Genre:Film reviews
Subscribers:1.36 million
Views:1.17 billion
Stats Update:April 7, 2024

Douglas Darien Walker (born November 17, 1981) is an American comedian, film critic, actor, and YouTuber. He 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.[2] 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.[3] [4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

Nostalgia Critic

See main article: Nostalgia Critic. 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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] [12] 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, said that Doug and Rob Walker were "complicit" and had failed to address complaints about Michaud's behavior.[13] [14] 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.

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".[15]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010KickassiaNostalgia Critic / Spider Smith / Chester A. Bum / Ask That Guy with the Glasses / DominicAlso director, editor, executive producer, and writer[16]
2011Suburban KnightsNostalgia Critic / Ask That Guy with the Glasses / Chester A. BumAlso cinematographer, director, editor, executive producer, and writer[17]
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
2014HimselfCameo
2015Atop the Fourth Wall: The MovieDominic / Lori Prince / Nostalgia Critic
2016Room Full of SpoonsHimselfDocumentary film[18]
2017Jesus, Bro!Samuel Tobinski / Kendrick Tobinski[19] [20]
DiscoRudy
2019Another Cinema Snob MovieBally Joe
2022Adam Heatherly's Frankenstein!Professor William Barter[21]

Web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007–presentNostalgia CriticNostalgia Critic / Chester A. Bum / Devil Boner / Raoul Puke / VariousAlso director, writer, editor, and producer
2012–2013Demo ReelDonnie DuPre/Jimmy Boyd/Doug Walker/Nostalgia CriticAlso director, writer, editor, and producer[24]
2010–presentThe Cinema SnobNostalgia Critic / Chester A. Bum / Luigi Mario / Christopher Walken's Arm / Ask That Guy with the GlassesAlso writer
2012; 2013Joueur du GrenierNostalgia Critic2 episodes
2014Everything Wrong with...HimselfEpisode: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2015James and Mike MondaysHimself4 episodes
2016Honest TrailersHimselfEpisode: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of Their Shells (feat. The Nostalgia Critic)
2018–2020CinemassacreHimself / Nicolas Cage6 episodes[25]

Discography

Singles

Influences

Doug Walker has cited to have many influences on his acting and style of comedy, including Mystery Science Theater 3000, Monty Python, The Simpsons, Lewis Black, Tom and Jerry, Mel Brooks, South Park, Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Rowan Atkinson, Bill Murray, Animaniacs, Dave Chappelle, Robin Williams, and especially Looney Tunes (particularly Daffy Duck).[30]

Personal life

Walker has been married to clinical social worker and therapist Robin Poage since 2012.[31] [32] [33] Walker and his wife have two cats, Chaplin (a rescued tuxedo cat whom they named after Charlie Chaplin that they adopted in 2018)[34] and Buster (a smaller orange cat whom they named after Buster Keaton that they adopted in 2020).[35]

Walker has often noted that his favorite film of all time is the 1985 Terry Gilliam film Brazil.[36]

In August 2023, Doug Walker contracted shingles on his head, which he explained hurt so badly that he couldn’t put on his signature hat or glasses, which got in the way of his progress in releasing videos.[37] In his Nostalgia Critic review of The Land Before Time which was released in April 2024, he has mentioned that he very likely has ADHD and OCD.[38]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 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. Web site: Johnson . Brian . The Nostalgia Critic Interview . November 5, 2014 . Empty Lighthouse Magazine . November 7, 2021.
  3. Web site: Blevins . Joe . YouTube's Nostalgia Critic offers an emergency crash course in fair use . . February 17, 2016 . November 7, 2021.
  4. Web site: Huller . Jacob . Taking a stance against Channel Awesome . The Hofstra Chronicle . April 10, 2018 . November 7, 2021.
  5. Web site: Sandra Polkow Walker . . March 7, 2022.
  6. Web site: Doug Walker Q&A at Northern Illinois .
  7. Web site: Doug Walker's Character Origins. www.youtube.com.
  8. Web site: Gutelle . Sam . Nostalgia Critic Celebrates Ten Years Of Videos With A Much-Requested Review . Tubefilter . July 6, 2017 . November 7, 2021.
  9. Web site: Schroeder . Audra . 2018-04-04 . Former contributors allege mismanagement and misconduct at Channel Awesome . 2022-10-19 . The Daily Dot . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2013-11-21 . Get to know the man behind 'Nostalgia Critic' . 2023-04-27 . WBEZ Chicago . en.
  11. Web site: Tamburro . Paul . 2018-03-26 . Channel Awesome Criticized by Former Contributors for Alleged Mistreatment . 2022-10-19 . GameRevolution . en-US.
  12. Web site: Shaffer . Claire . 2019-04-29 . After many called out Channel Awesome for workplace issues, they're finding similar issues with YouTube . 2022-10-19 . Polygon . en-US.
  13. #ChangeTheChannel: What Happened with Channel Awesome? . Apr 8, 2018 . Pregler . Allison . YouTube . 2022-10-18.
  14. Web site: April 7, 2018 . Not So Awesome . 2022-10-19 . Google Docs . en.
  15. DOUG WALKER (NOSTALGIA CRITIC) INTERVIEW Double Toasted . August 2, 2021 . Double Toasted Interviews . August 6, 2021 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/CLqtV9fai8w . 2021-12-21 . live . YouTube.
  16. Web site: A Critic's Critique of Critics: Doug Walker . www.filmsfatale.com. August 5, 2020 .
  17. Web site: Suburban Knights (2012) Directed by Doug Walker . twitter.com.
  18. Web site: Clip 08 - The Nostalgia Critic - Room Full of Spoons 2016 The Room Documentary HD . youtube.com.
  19. Web site: 'Jesus, Bro!' is now available to purchase! Check it out, it is Santa Christ approved! . facebook.com.
  20. Web site: BRAD JONES ON "JESUS, BRO!" . indie-outlook.com. May 25, 2017 .
  21. Web site: Adam Heatherly's Frankenstein! (2022) . www.avclub.com.
  22. Web site: Doug Walker in Smiling Friends . youtube.com.
  23. Web site: Doug Walker Explains SMILING FRIENDS CAMEO! . youtube.com.
  24. Web site: Share if you're excited for DEMO REEL! . facebook.com.
  25. Web site: Cinemassacre Podcast #11 – Crazy Convention Stories (With Nostalgia Critic) . cinemassacre.com. October 19, 2021 .
  26. Web site: Nostalgia Critic's the Wall . Spotify . 18 November 2022 . en . 8 September 2019.
  27. Web site: Nostalgia Critic's the Wall . music.apple.com.
  28. Web site: The Real Chipmunks Movie - Doug Walker & The Chipmunks . spotify.com.
  29. Web site: The Real Chipmunks Movie - Single . music.apple.com.
  30. Web site: Doug Walker's Top 15 Comedic Influences . youtube.com.
  31. Web site: Robin Poage (she/her) LCSW Accepting Clients . www.therapyden.com.
  32. Web site: Robin Poage Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW Verified by Psychology Today 1 Endorsed . www.psychologytoday.com.
  33. Web site: Doug Walker COMEDY Biography . Viralmango.com.
  34. Web site: Look out Lloyd...there's a new cat coming to Channel Awesome . facebook.com.
  35. Web site: Buster and Chaplin Neighborhood Cat Watch #nostalgiacritic #channelawesome #dougwalker #cat #cats_of_world #cats_of_instagram #catsofinstagram #catlife #cats . instagram.com.
  36. Web site: tgwtg top 20 movies . .
  37. Web site: Top 11 Tom and Jerry Episodes - Nostalgia Critic . .
  38. Web site: The Land Before Time - Nostalgia Critic . .