I typed this all up and submitted it to Associated Content all by myself!
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"The Naked Brothers Band" Series Ends on April 11th
With the Finale TV Movie "The Premiere."
By Eli Allen
The Naked Brothers Band was a hit rock documentary musical parody series on Nickelodeon that gave the network its highest ratings, when the series premiered in 2007. It starred two real life brothers who were musical from a very young age while their parents, their mother in particular put the entire show together.
The series was adapted by the pilot episode The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie and was originally independent when it won the Audience Award for Family Feature Film at the 2005 Hamptons International Film Festival. Later on, Nickelodeon decided to develop it into a television series. The real life brothers who live in New York City are Nat Wolff, 14, a singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and guitarist; and Alex Wolff, 11, a drummer and singer-songwriter.
The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie was written and directed by actress Polly Draper-who is Nat and Alex's real-life mom. Draper created, was chief writer, executive producer, and director for the television series. Apparently, Draper didn't star in the series because she was too busy putting the entire show together. Draper was best known for her role as Ellyn Warren on the 1987-91 hit ABC drama series thirtysomething. Draper's guest appearances included being on shows such as Monk and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Draper has also appeared all over Broadway, which included Brooklyn Boy and Getting Into Heaven, which she wrote in 2003 at the Flea Theater. Draper's husband and the brothers' dad Michael Wolff is a jazz pianist and composer who worked with tons of musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Warren Zevon, Wayne Shorter, Christian McBride, B.B. King, and Bobby McFerrin. In 1975, Wolff became the vocalist and musical director for jazz singer Nancy Wilson. Since Arsenio Hall was one of Wilson's opening acts, Hall chose Wolff as the musical director and bandleader of his 1989-94 talk show The Arsenio Hall Show.
Besides being best known for her role on thirtysomething, Draper is also known for producing and starring in her screenwriting debut The Tic Code, in 1998. The film also starred actor-entertainer Gregory Hines and was inspired by Wolff's love for jazz and his struggles with Tourette syndrome. Wolff also contributed the film's score.
On The Naked Brothers Band, Michael Wolff was the co-executive producer, music supervisor and music producer. In addition, he played his sons clueless dorky accordion playing dad. The reason why the band is called The Naked Brothers Band is because when Nat and Alex were toddlers they climbed out of the bathtub shouting, "We're the naked brothers band!" Nat eventually became obsessed with the Beatles and started to constantly write songs and taught himself how to play piano. He then formed a band in pre-school with his best friends. Meanwhile, Alex got so good at playing drums from watching videos in his house of Ringo Starr from the Beatles.
After 9/11 terrorist attacks, Nat, who was 6-years-old at the time, wrote and performed a song called "Firefighters"with his band that was for his charity concert, which was located in the back of his apartment. It ended up making over $45,000 and donated it all to the children of the firefighters that died during 9/11. After that the band performed all over different weddings, birthday parties, and ceremonies.
Eventually, Nat started putting signs on his bedroom door that said: "I Want To Be A Child Star, Mom!" But, Draper refused to¾explaining that it would be too brutal. So Draper decided made a compromise with Nat. In 2003, she let him write and direct a sitcom that was called Don't Eat Off My Plate. In 2004, Ms. Draper's sons' musical talents eventually inspired her to come up with the idea to make a mock documentary home video, which eventually became The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie. Ms. Draper got her celebrity friends to guest star in the film so she can fantasize the idea that the band is world-famous like the Beatles. Those celebrities included Cyndi Lauper, Ricki Lake, Uma Thurman, Arsenio Hall, Nancy Wilson, Julianne Moore, Ann Curry, Tony Shalhoub, and the entire cast of thirtysomething.
Regarding the film winning an award at the Hamptons International Film Festival, Nickelodeon executive Albie Hecht watched the film in the audience. Hecht developed the series by bringing the film to Nickelodeon asking them to do a television series based on it. At first the vice president of Nickelodeon, Tom Ascheim thought kids wouldn't get the whole point of show. Later on, Nickelodeon executives brought the film home for their own children to watch and their kids loved it. Eventually, Nickelodeon persuaded Draper into putting together a television series. Afterwards, Hecht served as the series' executive producer and his production company Worldwide Biggies distributed the series.
The band-members on the series who have known Nat since pre-school were 14-year-old David Levi who played keyboards; 14-year-old Thomas Batuello who played cello; and 14-year-old Cooper Pillot starred as the band's manager. The other band-members were 16-year-old Allie DiMeco starred as Rosalina¾Nat's girl friend, played bass; and 12-year-old Qaasim Middleton played guitar.
Actually, I was an extra on the TV movie Naked Idol, but was edited out. The third season consisted of three holiday specials and four TV movies with guest appearances by Dave Attell, Natasha Bedinfield, Miranda Cosgrove, David Desrosiers, Tobin Esperance, Whoopi Goldberg, Victoria Justice, Simon Kirke, and Leon Thomas III. Now with three completed seasons, soundtrack albums on the #23 Top 200 Billboard Charts-the series, unfortunately, comes to end. Fortunately, that doesn't stop brothers Nat and Alex. Their music will still continue, as they will be releasing their first worldwide, non-soundtrack album. They're also expected to go on tour this summer. The finale television movie of the series The Premiere airs on April 11th.
THE NAKED BROTHERS BAND
The Premiere
Polly Draper, creator, executive producer, writer; Albie Hecht, executive producer; Michael Wolff, co-executive producer, music supervisor, music producer; Bob Mittenthal, co-executive producer; Ken H. Keller, producer, director of photography, camera operator, post production supervisor; Caron Rudner-Keller, producer, line producer; Tim Draper, consulting producer; Michael Rubiner & Bob Mittenthal, writer; Jonathan Judge, director.
Starring: Nat Wolff, Alex Wolff; With: Thomas Batuello, Allie DiMeco, David Levi, Qaasim Middleton; And: Cooper Pillot, Jesse Draper, Michael Wolff.