Director Mike Caron on Bringing “The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder” To Life

by Noah Golden

The first thing director Mike Caron and I talked about was nostalgia. I am a child of the ‘90s, raised on shows like “Rugrats,” “Even Stevens,” and, a bit later, “The Fairly OddParents.” He grew up obsessed with “Star Wars.” His daughters loved “iCarly” and “Victorious.” The media of our youth holds a singular place in our hearts. They are works that helped define our sense of humor or worldview and often feel like a long-lost friend from a simpler time, one you can reunite with using just a YouTube link or the click of a remote. It was a fitting start since Caron is now a professional in the nostalgia business.

The St. Louis native and long-time Los Angeles resident has been at Nickelodeon since 2005, working his way up from second assistant director and assistant director on beloved children’s shows “Drake & Josh,” “Zoey 101” and “Sam & Cat” to directing episodes of “Game Shakers,” “Henry Danger” and “Danger Force” which he also is a producer.  Now, he’s an executive producer on “The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder” a live-action sequel to the Butch Hartman-created animated series that ran from 2001-2017. Caron also directed the season’s first and last episode, which are now available on Paramount+. The weight of crafting content that shapes childhoods isn’t lost on Caron, nor is the responsibility of tinkering with a much-beloved cartoon. But it’s a job he clearly loves and his passionate enjoyment for his work radiated off the Zoom call. During our conversation, Caron was brimming with comments, stories and thoughts about his work on the “Fairly OddParents,” delivered in a warm stream-of-consciousness that all seemed to come back to one simple but salient point. He had a great time making “Fairly OddParents” (and his other Nick shows too) and hopes the viewers have just as much fun watching them. Our conversation was edited for length and clarity. 

What was it like translating “The Fairly OddParents” from cartoon to live-action?

Mike Caron [MC]: It was a lot of fun being at the ground level of a show that has its own rich history and cannon as well as working with Showrunner and EP Chris Nowak. When you're taking it to live-action, you're creating new characters, developing the art direction. Chris and I spent hours talking to our production designer Tristan Dalley about the different looks. That was very creatively gratifying. There's a line that Audrey has at the end of the pilot: "Dimmsdale's weird, man." We came at it from the point that Dimmsdale itself was a character and the people that live in Dimmsdale are just as crazy, bizarre and over-the-top as the town is. 

Then, of course, we need the fairies, which were never there until it got to the mix. So, that was the first real challenge when we started putting it up on its feet. We designed two cardboard Cosmo and Wandas on metal poles and we hired two amazing actors to move with the kids on set. Once we started rolling, the kids had it in their muscle memory where Cosmo and Wanda were. It's quite a process. It's just a blank slate that you, as an artist, get to start drawing and creating. Truly creating. You're literally putting stuff where you want it to.

Tell me about the cast?

MC: They are extraordinary. Audrey [Grace Marshall, playing Viv] has the toughest role in the show. We are seeing Dimmsdale through Viv's eyes as she’s reacting to all the magic and crazy stuff going on. Then you bring Tyler [Wladis] in, who plays her stepbrother Roy. He's just a non-stop comedy machine. This kid is just amazing. Imogen [Cohen] is glorious. I can't say enough. Then we just hit the jackpot with the parents, RJ [Ryan-James Hatanka] and Laura Bell Bundy. In episode 13, there's this wonderful moment with them on the couch as a family. In the end, most of these things are truly about family. It's fun seeing Audrey get accepted into the family.

Then you round it out with your guest cast. You had Mary Kate [Wiles], who played Vicki. What a revelation, taking an animated character so beloved for so long and being given the reigns to bring her to life. That's intimidating for anyone. Mary Kate just owned it. Then Carlos [Alazraqui], who plays Mr. Crocker. He's the Mr. Crocker from the animated series. When he walked on stage and said, [Mr. Crocker impression] "Hello Vicki," it's like Mr. Crocker's alive. I got goosebumps. It was that kind of show. Every rehearsal, every shoot, you always want one more take. It was so much fun. 

Many cast members – from Laura Bell Bundy to Lesli Margherita – have serious musical theater cred. Were you aware of them before casting? Did that influence the decision to create musical numbers for the show?

MC: Absolutely. And Tyler is on Broadway right now in "Mrs. Doubtfire." When the casting started coming together and Laura Bell Bundy popped up, it was like, "I'm sorry, the Laura Bell Bundy?" It's interesting because with multi-camera television, you are kind of putting on a play. The cameras are capturing it in real-time, as opposed to single-camera where you're building it more in editing. To have these theatrically trained actors was an important part of what we were doing. In the pilot, we leaned into the fact that the parents love to dance. It's such a fun and exciting thing to see. 

The musical part is Samantha Martin, the other EP. She’s a musical genius. There's no other way to put it. She did "Henry Danger: The Musical." For the last episode, Sam wrote a musical number that we had a lot of fun shooting. Carlos, Mary Kate, RJ and LBB just owned it. Sam has a very specific vision of how it's supposed to be. I tried to really capture it with my cameras. I employed a bigger, longer techno gib and followed shots just to really help pump up the song visually. The singing and dancing is a through-line throughout the piece. I think it makes it unique. That's what happens in Dimmsdale. People suddenly just start dancing. Dimmsdale’s weird, man.

The show dropped on Paramount+ on March 31st. What has been the reaction like with both new audiences and ones, like myself, that grew up on the original cartoon?

MC: "Fairly OddParents" is a beloved show, so any time you take something people grew up on and have a very specific memory of, it's a responsibility that we didn't take for granted. Butch [Hartman, the creator] was a producer as well. We wanted very much to pay homage to the original, but at the same time create these new characters that fit in it. The comments have been just overwhelmingly positive. Parents are going, "I never thought in a million years I'd hear Cosmo and Wanda's voice again. I have a seven-year-old and they're also watching it and loving it." There's that connection that a parent can have with your child through a television show. It's been great. 

You have over 6 million followers on TikTok and Instagram. Where did the impetus to start posting on social media come from?

MC: "Henry Danger" was a very special show. We had so much fun on set. I still don't know how we ever filmed anything 'cause we goofed around so much. I was never a social media person. But I realized young me would have loved to have had Instagram and seen Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher screwing around on the set of "Star Wars" or some show I loved. Seeing true behind the scenes, not just scripted, "hey, tune in this Saturday to watch 'Henry Danger.’” With everyone's permission, I started this account and I post how much fun we have. Kaboom, it just took off like a rocket ship. I found myself connecting with kids around the world who will never have a chance to come to the Burbank studios. Now I’m at 6.2 million followers on TikTok. That responsibility of having that many people follow you isn't something I take lightly. I try to answer as many messages as I can. We don't have a show unless there are fans. I am extremely grateful for their support. They're the ones that are tuning in and commenting and posting and telling their friends to watch. I take that so seriously. I look at it as a thank you for the fans. 

What advice do you have for young people who want to be a director or work in TV?

MC: Hollywood is a very non-linear business. Look at my path. I studied acting in college and landed a part on the soap opera "The Young And The Restless." I met a producer who knew there was an opening for a stage manager on "Passions." From there, a friend recommended me to Nickelodeon. I went from an actor to a stage manager, second-second AD to first AD to then director and producer. Always do the best job you can, whatever role you’re in. Keep your eyes open, ask questions and develop relationships. Contrary to popular belief, everyone wants to see you succeed.

Anytime someone asks me a question, I'm more than happy to answer because I was once a 21-year-old who was walking onto sets and auditions scared out of my mind. You cannot make a TV show or a film without the whole team. That's everybody. If you come into a show with that understanding, then how could you not do the best job you could do? Whether it's props, grips, electrical. There are thousands of jobs. It's such a group effort. The last thing I always tell kids about directing is that with your phone you can act, direct, edit, do special effects, produce and distribute. You constantly have to be working on your craft. To me, the phone is everything. It's such a good tool. When I started out, you had to rent an expensive camera. Now everyone's got a really good camera that shoots in 4K. Use it. 

You can follow Mike Caron on TikTok and Instagram at mikecaron_LA. “The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder” is streaming now on Paramount+.