CoasterRadio.com #601 - How We Met Neil Patrick Harris

Welcome to the Season Six Premiere of Coaster Radio!

EB and Mike are determined to make this season the best one ever!

So, to kick start things off right, the guys are joined by the one and only Neil Patrick Harris!

Neil is known throughout the world for his many roles in the movies, on television and on broadway.

But fans of Coaster Radio also know him as the familiar voice who introduces and ends each and every episode of the Original Theme Park Podcast.

On this week's show, Neil joins the guys for some excellent theme park talk.

He tells the guys about how he first became fascinated with the amusement industry.  He talks about his favorite rides and attractions and what he looks for in a good ride.

He also talks about his "behind the scenes" involvement in some attractions and shows that you have probably experienced yourself.

Neil looks back on the Halloween Yard Haunt that he built in his own backyard and turns to EB and Mike for advice on what rides he should experience with his twin babies.

Plus, there are a lot of other fun topics and surprises!

This is one episode of CoasterRadio.com that you absolutely don't want to miss!

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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Or you can listen online by using the podcast player on the right hand side of this page. 

Talk about this episode by leaving a comment here on the blog.

CoasterRadio.com #506 - Soarin' With Morgan!

Imagine that you were a theme park designer with access to an unlimited budget.

As you began to design rides for your park, you'd probably want to enlist the help of some major celebrities to provide the voices behind your rides.

On this week's show, we gave our listeners a virtual blank check and asked them to match their favorite celebrity with their favorite theme park ride.

We received some very hilarious combinations!

Also, the guys will discuss a new driving simulator from Lexus and how it might be converted into the greatest dark ride system ever!  Will we see an attraction like this within the next five years?

Plus, there is MAJOR news this week in "The Neil Patrick Harris" Project.  CoasterRadio.com has had several milestones over the years, but the 6:43 mark in this week's show might be one of the greatest ones of all!

If that doesn't make you want to take a listen, I don't know what will.

We also have a live trip report from a very odd spot in Carowinds and one of our favorite characters makes a surprise appearance to talk sports.

It's all this week on CoasterRadio.com!


LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Direct Podcast Link

Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.
Click here for our iPhone App.

Or you can listen online by using the podcast player on the right hand side of this page.

Talk about this episode by leaving a comment here on the blog!

Your Ideal Celebrity On-Ride Voice

We've been doing a lot of talking about Neil Patrick Harris lately.

Of course, most of it is because he is the star of our year-long story arc - The Neil Patrick Harris Project.

But this week, he was in the "theme park" news because he has provided the new "launch voice" for California Screamin' at Disney California Adventure.

You can check out the video below to hear NPH in action.

But it got us thinking... if you could match up any actor's voice with any theme park ride, who would you choose and why?

I think there are a lot of interesting combinations that are possible.

This is going to be our "interactive question" for next week's show, so tell us about your "dream match-ups" by leaving a comment on this blog post!

You can also let us know by using Facebook and Twitter. (If you aren't following us there yet, what''s wrong with you?!?!?)

CoasterRadio.com #443 - Bert the Conqueror and Fireworks!

On this week's show, we welcome the host of The Travel Channel's hit show "Bert the Conqueror," Bert Kreischer!

Bert and his crew are in the middle of producing the first season of this new show that takes viewers to the legendary attractions, competitions and adrenaline rushes that you can find all across America.

He joins us from the road to tell us about what he's experienced so far and what crazy feats we can expect to see in the upcoming months.

He'll also tell us about whether he really is terrified to experience all of these thrills or if he is just delivering some academy award winning acting. Plus, you'll be surprised to hear which amusement operators are asking for his advice about future attractions.

Then, we bring back the tradition of celebrating the 4th of July by shooting off fireworks live on the show. We even gave the experience a very Disney-esque name...

The CoasterRadio.com Sparktacular Explosioloosa!

You'll have to hear it to believe it! (And, if you're a fan of ours on Facebook, you can see it too!)

All that, plus a live trip report from Six Flags Magic Mountain and a surprise guest!

Direct Podcast Link

Click here to subscribe through iTunes.
Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.
Click here for our iPhone App.

Or you can listen online by using the podcast player on the right hand side of this page.

Talk about this episode in the CoasterRadio.com Forums.

CoasterRadio.com #428 - Your Ideal Park Celebrity

The Original Theme Park Podcast is back with a new episode!

This week, EB and Mike open the phone lines to hear who you think would make the ultimate celebrity spokesperson for a theme park.

For instance, imagine if Neil Patrick Harris was the spokesman for Cedar Fair parks! Wait until you hear the idea a Coaster Radio listener came up with for NPH!

The guys are also joined by Nick Hutson of Musical Talk and The Season Pass Podcast to discuss British Parks.

Nick also brings along an icon from London's West End to critique Mike on his American Idol Experience audition piece.

Plus, the guys reveal how you can have your questions answered by Six Flags' CEO Mark Shapiro.

Direct Podcast Link

Click here to subscribe through iTunes.
Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.
Click here for our iPhone App.

Or you can listen online by using the podcast player on the right hand side of this page.

Talk about this episode in the CoasterRadio.com Forums.

Goodbye Mr. Six, Hello Balloon Boy

Last year, I wrote a blog article about celebrities that would be good spokespeople for the different theme parks.

Tonight I think we saw the birth of a media celebrity who could take over for Mr. Six.

I think Six Flags needs to sign "Balloon Boy" to an endorsement contact ASAP. He'd be a excellent pitchman.

I saw this kid on CNN and he's brilliant! I especially like where he admits that his family "did this for the show." NICE! (The parents' reaction is friggin' priceless.)

Six Flags should consider it!

They could have a children's play area called "Balloon Boy's Bounce House."

Or how about "Balloon Boy's Bumper Cars?"

How about a roller coaster called "The Balloon Boy Bobsleds?"

If Six Flags wants to pass, perhaps Disney can put his face on the "Character's in Flight" hot air balloon at Downtown Disney! They could just re-theme it to a cheesy mylar UFO balloon and they're in business!

Or perhaps we could forget about The David Arquette Project and focus on getting Balloon Boy on the show.

His dad would probably like the publicity.

Talk about this in the CoasterRadio.com Forums.

Paris Hilton says Magic Mountain is HOT!

Today I saw the ad we all knew was coming.

Eli Manning was on the field after winning Superbowl 42 (I refuse to say XVII), and when asked what he was going to do next, he said he was "Going to Disneyworld!" I'm guessing if you live on the west coast, Eli conveniently says that he's "Going to Disneyland!" Those Disney guys are amazing.

Anyway, the commercial got me thinking. If Disney can get a popular star to help promote their parks, why can't the regional parks?

I think it's time Six Flags, Cedar Fair or Busch Gardens pull out their checkbook and hire a vapid celebrity to be their official spokesperson.

Paris Hilton lives out in Los Angeles! I bet she's at least driven past Six Flags Magic Mountain once or twice. They should scoop her up, pay her some bucks and create some commercials.

They could take a cue from her home video and shoot the commercial in "night-vision!"

I know... I know... Paris Hilton is old news. But I used her for a reason. I didn't want to take away a good idea from you!

On our latest podcast, we hinted that this new blog would be interactive. Today, I'm proud to announce our first interactive posting.

We want you guys to take your favorite park and match it with a celebrity spokesperson. Which celebrity would deliver the best pitch for your park? What would the tag line be? If you want, you can even PhotoShop an image and post it in the forums.

We'll post some of the best answers here next week!

Good luck! Join our discussion on this topic in our forums.