Reviewing the hottest video games, running a YouTube channel, playing with high-profile YouTubers and athletes and visiting gaming companies are all in a day’s work for teens Jesse Sakunda, Ian Duchene and Julia Schwartz on Disney XD’s new live-action, news style series GAMING SHOW (IN MY PARENTS’ GARAGE). In the show’s premiere episode, which airs tonight (November 16) at 6 p.m. ET on Disney XD, Jesse visits LEGOLAND, Julia races the national karting champion in Mario Kart 8 and with a little help from a few internet pals, the trio launches the Gaming Show YouTube channel.
THE MAGAZINE chatted with Julia and Ian to learn more about dancing with Patrick Chan, their favourite games, and why GAMING SHOW (IN MY PARENTS’ GARAGE) is the best show.
Tell us about GAMING SHOW (IN MY PARENTS’ GARAGE) and what viewers can expect.
Julia: The show is geared towards to 6-11 year olds who love gaming. Jesse, Ian and I run a YouTube channel out of Jesse’s parents’ garage. Throughout the show we collaborate with some of the biggest YouTubers and other celebrities. There are a lot of fun things that happen.
Ian: Our show has a lot of interviews with gaming companies that make the actual games and with different athletes and celebrities. With our characters, we don’t have to change very much because our characters are really built off of what we are like in real life.
Tell us about some of the video games you have reviewed on the show.
Julia: We did Mario Kart, which I loved, and that was featured on our YouTube channel, which is kind of a spin-off of the show.
Ian: We also did NFL Madden 15. We’ve done a bunch of fun, challenging games including Forza and Fez.
You have had quite the selection of celebrity guests on the show, including the Toronto Raptors and Patrick Chan. What was your most memorable visit?
Julia: I raced the national karting champion in Mario Kart 8 which was awesome. That was definitely a highlight for me.
Ian: Playing Just Dance with Patrick Chan. I had a great time. He was a great guy to dance with and that whole video and the whole dancing part was fun and crazy. It was just amazing when I picked him up and spun him around and he started dancing.
If you could have any celebrity on the show, who would you choose and what game would you play?
Julia: Zac Efron, hands down! He is my celebrity crush. I would probably play Just Dance! I would do a slow dance with him.
Ian: I would pick Aaron Rodgers or Clay Matthews from my favourite football team, the Green Bay Packers, and play football with them.
What are some of your favourite video games?
Julia: I love Mario Kart!
Ian: I love all of the sports games, but my favourite one would have to be NFL or NHL.
Do you remember the first video game you played?
Julia: Super Smash Bros. with my cousin.
Ian: Wii Sports or Super Smash Bros.
Tell us about the online “Video Game Builder” and how this allows viewers to get involved in the action.
Julia: We have a game called “The Gaming Game” and it’s coming soon so that’s going to be really fun! You create your own game for yourself and you interact with other people’s games that they have created. I think that’s going to bring a lot of people together and it will be a fun way to connect with our viewers.
Ian: “The Gaming Game” will allow you to build your own character. You can name him, choose what he wears and what his background is going to be. Then, as you progress in the game you get to add more stuff to your character.
Christmas is coming up. What video games would you recommend for people this holiday season?
Julia: Just Dance is a fun one because it brings everyone together. You can keep yourself active in the winter time when you’re not really getting outside much.
Ian: There are a lot of new Nintendo games coming out for the Wii. There’s a new Sonic and a lot more games like NHL and stuff on all the systems that will be really fun for kids to have during the holiday when they are snowed in.
Julia: The new Super Smash Bros. game would be a really fun one for Christmas because they have these new controllers that come with it.
Ian: The controllers were originally from one of their older systems and they brought it back because everyone loved them.
Are there any games you are asking for this Christmas?
Julia: I actually still don’t have Mario Kart, even though I love it. That is definitely on my list.
Ian: I am asking for FIFA 15 because that’s a good game to play with your friends and family and everyone can learn how to play it.
Tell THE MAGAZINE readers why they HAVE to watch GAMING SHOW (IN MY PARENTS’ GARAGE).
Julia: It’s pretty much the best show in the world and you will never see another show better than this! If you love video games, this will be better than ALL of the video games. It will be like all of them combined. Also, there’s a lot of behind the scenes footage that I think is unique to this show.
Ian: If they really love video games, we get all the inside scoop on new video games. Also, we visit a lot of celebrities and athletes, review the games, find out how they are made and find out what’s coming out in the future.
Thank you, Julia and Ian! Catch GAMING SHOW (IN MY PARENTS’ GARAGE) Sundays at 6 p.m. ET on Disney XD, and keep checking http://promo.disneyxd.ca/contests/gaming-show/ to find out how you can win some amazing prizes!