Optimus: Welcome to Behind the Scenes. I'm your host, Optimus Prime. Today we will look back at three of my co stars from the popular 80's television show "The Transformers": Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. We will go behind the scenes of the show and discuss the current whereabouts of the trio.
We begin with the auditions. The producers knew right away that Starscream would make the perfect antagonist and whipping boy for Megatron.
Megatron: I did not like Starscream from the beginning. His demeanor was quite pompous and arrogant. Many of our on screen quarrels were quite genuine. He made my job rather easy as there was little acting required. I honestly hated the little bastard.
Optimus: Finding wing mates for the self-centered Seeker was not as easy. Thousands of Seekers had auditioned before the producers decided to sign on Skywarp and Thundercracker. Skywarp had been doing stand-up in energon bars all over Cybertron and the producers felt his sense of humor was just what the show needed.
Soundwave: Skywarp is not nearly as ignorant as he portrays. It is part of his act. He is however, genuinely annoying. He would often play pranks on me and the other cast members. Rumble and Frenzy were his favorite targets.
Optimus: Thundercracker was the last Seeker to be signed onto the show as a regular cast member. He lacked the sense of humor that Skywarp had but made an excellent addition to the Decepticons as the broody doubter.
Frenzy: Thundercracker was all right. He didn't say much off camera. He really did hang out with Skywarp a lot. He seemed like a thinker. During down time, if he wasn't hangin' out with Warp, he was off somewhere reading. Some mechs saw him as bein' kinda snobbish, but I think he was just kinda shy.
Optimus: The show's pilot aired on September 17, 1984. The show was as instant success and quickly gained popularity despite the low budget and poor production quality. The producers had intended for the show to be a lesson about good versus evil and were quite stunned at the audience's attraction to the Decepticons. This caused much dissonance between the cast members and the separation between the Autobots and Decepticons played out off camera as well as on.
Prowl: The Autobots and Decepticons didn't hang out together off set. There was an elitist attitude from the Autobots as we were meant to be the stars of the show. The Decepticons resented this and rightfully so. They helped make the show what it was and the audience embraced them. I also heard a rumor that the Autobots got paid more. I don't know if this is true. When I first signed onto the show, I got scale. If this were true for everyone else, then I suppose the Autobots did make more as we were in more scenes.
Optimus: As the show's popularity increased, the Decepticons fought for contract renegotiations. They felt that the success of the show and the products that spawned from it generated enough revenue for wage increases amongst the cast.
Ratchet: I was glad that the Decepticons fought for contract review. When their contracts went into renegotiation, so did everyone else's. I worked too damned hard on that show to get paid scale and I fell I deserved some of the moneys earned from the sales of my toys. It was the best thing that happened to any of us.
Optimus: The produces took advantage of the show's success by improving cast accommodations and adding new cast members. At first, no one objected to the addition of the Dinobots and Constructicons.
Wheeljack: Nobody really objected to the addition of the Dinobots and Constructicons. Most Bots and Cons were happy as they got just as much screen time as before. As the popularity of the Dinobots and Constructicons increased though, some of the other cast members felt slighted. Even some of the Autobots got less screen time.
Grimlock: Me Grimlock was true star of show. Me made show what it is today. If not for Grimlock, show would be nothing.
Optimus: As season one drew to a close, tension began to mount. The producers signed on three new Seekers. Skywarp and Thundercracker were slowly replaced by the new trio as Starscream was given more lines.
Thrust: It wasn't too bad in the beginning. The producers used all five of us equally. But for some reason, they gave Skywarp and Thundercracker less screen time in season two. I think they resented us for it.
Megatron: Starscream was given more and more scenes. Some episodes even revolved around his character. I think this went to his head. He demanded a bigger trailer and his own entourage. It sickened me when the producers gave in. Skywarp and Thundercracker became concerned about their futures on the show. Starscream, Thrust, Dirge and Ramjet as well as Astrotrain and Blitzwing were getting more screen time.
Optimus: As season two drew to a close, talks of a movie began. The entire cast and crew was excited about the new venture. However, the movie was a means of cleaning house for the show's producers. The increased tension and outlandish demands made by some of the cast members had pushed the producers to the breaking point. Test groups showed a lack of interest in Skywarp and Thundercracker as well as some of the other Autobots and Decepticons. They also found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the cost of Starscream's demands.
Brawn: They had test groups and all kinds of bull. They said that some of us had lost our appeal and things needed to change. You know what that means. They decided to kill off all the best characters. I think it was just an excuse to cut costs. Sure, production quality of the show increased in season three but that's because they didn't pay the actors squat. I really felt sorry for the young punks on that show. They knew nothing about contracts. They all got screwed.
Optimus: Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker were renegotiating their contracts with the studio and were unhappy with what they were offered. The studio refused to meet their demands and killed the trio off in the movie. Starscream enjoyed the spotlight too much and agreed to do a few cameos in season three. This caused some problems with the other cast members.
Cyclonus: Starscream was really hard to work with. He was very demanding. I am a seasoned actor and I know what I'm doing. He would throw tantrums in the middle of scenes because he didn't like the direction the rest of us were taking. I was glad when he finally got fed up and left the show.
Megatron: I didn't mind leaving the show if it meant getting away from Starscream. I decided to retire from acting after that. I was asked to return with the creation of Armada but I decided against it. I do regret that decision a bit. I really enjoyed working with Optimus but my agent told me they were bringing back Starscream. If I had known that Starscream would reject the role and that another young actor would be stepping in, I probably would have done it.
Armada Starscream: I grew up watching Starscream and admired him greatly. He was the reason I became an actor. I had big shoes to fill. While filming Armada, Optimus told me of some of the things Starscream did during Generation One. Man, he was a jerk. The producers of Armada tried to get Skywarp and Thundercracker to come back as well. I really wish they had. I would love to work with those two someday. I can't believe the producers killed them off in the movie. It's very sad.
Optimus: So, where is the trio now? Skywarp squandered most of his earnings and returned to the stand-up circuit on Cybertron. He declined an on camera interview but his agent sent us a memo stating that the actor is doing well. Thundercracker left show business after Generation One and invested in a shipping company which he now owns. It is the largest shipping franchise on Cybertron. He too refused an on camera interview but told our producers over the phone that he enjoys what he does and does not regret the decisions he has made over the years. Starscream invested in Starbucks and opened his own franchise on Cybertron renaming it Starscream's. It is the most successful energon bar franchise on Cybertron. Unlike his two costars, Starscream agreed to be interviewed.
Starscream: I was asked to rejoin the cast for Armada but they weren't willing to pay me enough. My time is much more valuable than that. I enjoy being a business owner. I have earned more wealth with my investment than I ever would as an actor. I do miss being in the spotlight but no one could ever afford me.
Optimus: And that is all for this episode of Behind the Scenes. I am your host Optimus Prime.
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