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American Morning

Interview With Kathleen Herles, Brown Johnson

Aired October 10, 2003 - 09:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Dora's her name, exploring's the game. She is the star of her own animated television series and she is a heroine to millions of children. "Dora the Explorer" tells the adventures of a bilingual 7-year-old Latina. Kathleen Hermes has given Dora her voice since the show began back in the year 2000. And here's a look at Kathleen at work.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHLEEN HERLES, VOICE OF "DORA THE EXPLORER": Hola! Soy Dora! Hola, soy Dora! Hola. Soy Dora! Hi! I'm Dora! Hi, I'm Dora. Hi. I'm Dora!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: And joining us this morning the voice of Dora, Kathleen Herles who's 12-years-old, not like the 7-year-old Dora that we see. And also Brown Johnson is the executive vice president of Nick Junior. Nice to have you both.

What do people say to you, Kathleen, when they realize that you are the voice of Dora the Explorer?

HERLES: They go crazy because they never actually met anyone who's famous. But eighth graders, they come up to me they and have printables, Dora printables. Can you sign this for me? But they're like older than most little kids and I can't believe that they watch these shows.

O'BRIEN: What was it like when you first saw the finished product? Your voice on Dora's little body and bob-cut and her little monkey Boots with her?

HERLES: It was amazing because I never thought as a little kid that I would be a voice on a TV show. And it's so amazing that out of so many kids that auditioned for this show, that I was the one that got picked.

O'BRIEN: Are people surprised that you don't sound like Dora? I mean I got to tell you, truly I thought maybe you'd have the bob-cut, which, of course, you don't. You're an actress.

HERLES: People they're like, no, you can't be the voice of Dora. You don't even sound like her. A lot of people say that.

O'BRIEN: Do a little for me.

HERLES: Hi. I'm Dora! Swiper, no swiping!

O'BRIEN: My favorite part.

Brown, I want to ask you about the business that is Dora. Because we are talking about a business projecting a billion dollars in sales. When you were first pitched this idea, were you concerned? You're talking about a Latina heroine. You're talking abut a show where they speak Spanish and English interchangeably. And got some characters on the show who don't speak English at all. Were there some people who said, oh, I don't think so.

BROWN JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE V.P., NICK JR.: Well actually, it was our idea. We were looking for a new sort of game format show to follow "Blue's Clues." And our inside producers created a show with, --starring a little girl who had adventures in the jungle -- or in the forest, rather.

And then I went to a conference in California where the people from Children Now talked about race and gender on TV for little kids. And then, you know, it is or the of no secret there are few Latino characters on television.

O'BRIEN: You got good advice from the folks from Mr. Rogers?

JOHNSON: Yes. We got really good advice.

O'BRIEN: What did they say?

JOHNSON: Well, we asked them what the best way to communicate information to kids was. And they said two things. Basically, make it playful. So it's playing to learn, which all of our shows on Nick Junior are. And also if it's important, have the main characters say things three times.

O'BRIEN: Which brings us back to Dora, or Dora's voice. Kathleen, sometimes you say the same phrase over and over again. And I think for a parent, it could drive you nuts. There also are big pauses when Dora says, "What was your favorite part?" Pause, pause, pause, pause, pause, pause. But those are all teaching tools?

JOHNSON: Very much so. In research when we show the show to parents, parents are like...

O'BRIEN: Hello? Move it along.

JOHNSON: My child won't watch this. It's too slow. But we show it to kids and kids are thinking really hard. They're like, OK, my favorite part was -- and the may not say it then and there. But half an hour later, hey, Mom, I liked it when...

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I got to tell you, people have said it's great because it teaches pride in knowing another language. Teaches pride in being thoughtful and kind and smart. All things I think you embody, Kathleen. It's nice to have you this morning. Brown, as well. HERLES: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Thanks for joining us. We sure appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 10, 2003 - 09:50   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Dora's her name, exploring's the game. She is the star of her own animated television series and she is a heroine to millions of children. "Dora the Explorer" tells the adventures of a bilingual 7-year-old Latina. Kathleen Hermes has given Dora her voice since the show began back in the year 2000. And here's a look at Kathleen at work.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHLEEN HERLES, VOICE OF "DORA THE EXPLORER": Hola! Soy Dora! Hola, soy Dora! Hola. Soy Dora! Hi! I'm Dora! Hi, I'm Dora. Hi. I'm Dora!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: And joining us this morning the voice of Dora, Kathleen Herles who's 12-years-old, not like the 7-year-old Dora that we see. And also Brown Johnson is the executive vice president of Nick Junior. Nice to have you both.

What do people say to you, Kathleen, when they realize that you are the voice of Dora the Explorer?

HERLES: They go crazy because they never actually met anyone who's famous. But eighth graders, they come up to me they and have printables, Dora printables. Can you sign this for me? But they're like older than most little kids and I can't believe that they watch these shows.

O'BRIEN: What was it like when you first saw the finished product? Your voice on Dora's little body and bob-cut and her little monkey Boots with her?

HERLES: It was amazing because I never thought as a little kid that I would be a voice on a TV show. And it's so amazing that out of so many kids that auditioned for this show, that I was the one that got picked.

O'BRIEN: Are people surprised that you don't sound like Dora? I mean I got to tell you, truly I thought maybe you'd have the bob-cut, which, of course, you don't. You're an actress.

HERLES: People they're like, no, you can't be the voice of Dora. You don't even sound like her. A lot of people say that.

O'BRIEN: Do a little for me.

HERLES: Hi. I'm Dora! Swiper, no swiping!

O'BRIEN: My favorite part.

Brown, I want to ask you about the business that is Dora. Because we are talking about a business projecting a billion dollars in sales. When you were first pitched this idea, were you concerned? You're talking about a Latina heroine. You're talking abut a show where they speak Spanish and English interchangeably. And got some characters on the show who don't speak English at all. Were there some people who said, oh, I don't think so.

BROWN JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE V.P., NICK JR.: Well actually, it was our idea. We were looking for a new sort of game format show to follow "Blue's Clues." And our inside producers created a show with, --starring a little girl who had adventures in the jungle -- or in the forest, rather.

And then I went to a conference in California where the people from Children Now talked about race and gender on TV for little kids. And then, you know, it is or the of no secret there are few Latino characters on television.

O'BRIEN: You got good advice from the folks from Mr. Rogers?

JOHNSON: Yes. We got really good advice.

O'BRIEN: What did they say?

JOHNSON: Well, we asked them what the best way to communicate information to kids was. And they said two things. Basically, make it playful. So it's playing to learn, which all of our shows on Nick Junior are. And also if it's important, have the main characters say things three times.

O'BRIEN: Which brings us back to Dora, or Dora's voice. Kathleen, sometimes you say the same phrase over and over again. And I think for a parent, it could drive you nuts. There also are big pauses when Dora says, "What was your favorite part?" Pause, pause, pause, pause, pause, pause. But those are all teaching tools?

JOHNSON: Very much so. In research when we show the show to parents, parents are like...

O'BRIEN: Hello? Move it along.

JOHNSON: My child won't watch this. It's too slow. But we show it to kids and kids are thinking really hard. They're like, OK, my favorite part was -- and the may not say it then and there. But half an hour later, hey, Mom, I liked it when...

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I got to tell you, people have said it's great because it teaches pride in knowing another language. Teaches pride in being thoughtful and kind and smart. All things I think you embody, Kathleen. It's nice to have you this morning. Brown, as well. HERLES: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Thanks for joining us. We sure appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com