Given that Disney Junior‘s “Sofia the First” is supposedly set in this fantasy world filled with costumed balls & formal ceremonies, it only made sense that Enchancia’s newest princess (who — prior to her mother marrying King Roland — had just been a regular kid, the daughter of the kingdom’s shoemaker) would really need some help when it came to deciding which gown to wear for what occasion.
“And since there was always going to be this aspect of ‘Sofia the First’ that involved fashion … Well, as I was initially working on this show, my mind kind of drifted to ‘Project Runway’ and how much I enjoyed that moment in every episode where Tim Gunn comes into the workroom, checks out all of those work-in-progress dresses and then offers advice or a sympathetic ear to the designers,” Craig Gerber, the co-executive producer and writer of this smash hit Disney Junior series recalled. “And I couldn’t help but think about how cool it would be if there was someone on the castle staff who could fill that exact same role on our show. Be that sympathetic non-parent who could offer Sofia support and suggestions. Help her find her way when it came to Sofia’s new life in the castle.”
But when it came time to find someone to actually voice this “Sofia the First” character that was inspired by Tim Gunn, Craig admits that he was initially at a loss.
“I mean, we talked about maybe hiring a voice actor to do kind of a Tim Gunn impression. But that just didn’t seem right for some reason,” Gerber continued. “In the end, I think it was Jamie (Mitchell, director of “Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess”) who said ‘Well, why don’t we call Tim Gunn and see if he’d be interested in doing it?’ “
So that’s just what Craig did. He arranged a meeting with Tim and then explained what they were looking to do with Baileywick, the castle steward. Who was — in essence — supposed to be an animated version of this Emmy Award winner.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
How did Gunn react to this obviously affectionate animated caricature of his “Project Runway” persona? “I was thrilled,” Tim admitted in a recent interview. “I mean, how often in life are you presented with an opportunity like this? To be the voice of a character who looks & sounds just like you, only handsomer and with a fuller head of hair?”
Just so you know: When it comes to Baileywick, Gunn, Gerber and Mitchell kind of have this mutual admiration society thing going here. For — as obviously excited as Tim is to be part of this hit Disney Junior animated series — Craig & Jamie just can’t say enough nice things about what a pleasure it’s been to work with this “Project Runway” star.
“I just can not begin to tell you how accommodating Tim has been. The guy hasn’t said ‘No’ to a single request that we’ve made of him,” Gerber gushed. “I mean, we asked him if we could make Baileywick look just like him and Tim immediately said ‘Yes.’ And then we asked if we could have Baileywick use his ‘Project Runway’ catchphrase, ‘Make it work.’ And Tim said ‘Of course.’ “
Tim Gunn in the recording studio, working on “Sofia theFirst.” Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
“Well, how could I not? They were offering to make me a member of the Disney fairytale family. My character was going to be the first friend Sofia makes when she arrived at the castle,” Gunn enthused. “And since this show began airing on Disney Junior last year … Honestly, I’ve never gotten a reaction like this before. I’ll be on the subway and these little kids will see me, suddenly go wide-eyed and then bleat ‘Baileywick?!’ It’s just so much fun.”
“More to the point, I just love the whole idea behind ‘Sofia the First.’ It’s feel-good family television with these little morality tales stuffed inside,” Tim explained. “If I were a parent, this is just the sort of show that I’d want my kids to be watching. Which is why it was genuinely a thrill when Disney asked me to be part of this project like this. But then when ‘Sofia the First’ just took off and then became this phenomenal success … I mean, I was just over the moon.”
But that said, how does Gunn feel about becoming part of the Mouse’s merchandising machine? To already have the Baileywick character appearing in theaters around the country as part of Feld Entertainment‘s “Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate and Princess Adventure” show? When asked what it was like to see his likeness in “Sofia the First” storybooks, Tim got somewhat philosophical.
The version of Baileywick that appears in the recently launched “Disney Junior Live on Tour” show. Copyright Feld Entertainment. All rights reserved
“Look, you have to understand that I spent the bulk of my career as an educator. The ‘Project Runaway’ people didn’t find me until I had turned 50. So to have this level of success so late in life … Look, I’m proud to be the age that I am — I just turned 60 in July — and to have the experiences that I’ve had over the past decade and to have achieved everything that I’ve achieved, it’s all such a gift,” Gunn stated. “And just when you think that things can’t get any better, an opportunity like ‘Sofia the First’ comes along. Which then introduced me to this whole new audience. I’m just grateful that — at a time in one’s life when the doors typically begin closing — all these new opportunities keeping popping up for me.”
And — as it turns out — Gunn may soon be adding a third hit television series to his resume. For earlier this week, it was revealed that this Emmy Award winner would be joining forces with the Weinstein Company and Bunim / Murray Productions to create a brand-new fashion competition show, “Under the Gunn.” This 13-week series — which will begin shooting at LA’s Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising later this month — is expected to premiere on Lifetime in Mid-January.
Of course, if you just can’t wait ’til early 2014 for a Tim Gunn fix, I guess there’s always “Sofa the First: The Floating Palace.” The first primetime special for this hit Disney Junior series premieres on November 24th at 7 / 6 C and will feature Baileywick in a way that you’ve never seen this character before: sea-sick.
Just so you know, there are other reasons to check out “Sofia the First: The Floating Palace.” Like the very first appearance by the Little Mermaid on this hit Disney Junior series. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
But you can bet that — even when this animated version of Tim Gunn looks a little green-around-the-gills — “Sofia the First” ‘s designers will still find a way to “make it work.” Making sure that the castle steward’s face is at least a shade of green that compliments Bailewick’s very fashionable attire.