Biff Tannen interview
Posted by pistonsnation
Who amongst us doesn’t love the “Back to the Future” trilogy? “Hello, McFly” no one doesn’t! It’s a trilogy that has stood the test of time (pun intended). PN caught up with everyone’s favorite bully; “Biff Tannen“, aka Tom Wilson.
What has Tom been up to since rapping up the BTTF series? What hasn’t he been up to is more like it. Tom has accomplishments in all fields of the arts. He’s had parts films such as: “That Darn Cat,” “Born To Be Wild” and “Camp Nowhere“. You might have seen him on television with roles on shows such series as “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch,” “Nash Bridges,” “Do Over“, “Ed“, “Boston Public“, and “Freaks and Geeks.” He’s also done vioice over work for video games and animated series such as “Spongebob Squarepants“. Tom has also authored books, records music, and is an accomplished painter.
PN: Tom, you’ve done many great things, but I have to take the cliché route to begin with and ask you about your character “Biff” from the “Back To The Future” trilogy. Are you still recognized as that character? Are there any interesting “Biff” stories you could share?
TW: I’m still recognized as Biff…a lot. It’s now a part of pop cultural history, and that means that people get to watch me on T.V. over…and over…and over. So yeah, after a while your face sort of sinks in and people remember it. I answer a lot of questions about Back To The Future in the song “The Question Song” available – plug – on my – plug – CD – plug – at www.tomwilsonusa.com – plug complete.
PN: “Biff” was somewhat of a jock; did you play any sports growing up?
TW: I am the absolute opposite of a jock. I was president of the debate team in school, I acted in plays, and I played the tuba in the band. Paint your own picture. The only time I ever wore a mouth guard, my teeth were getting fluoridated.
PN: Would you mind informing the readers of Pistons Nation as to what southern fried delicacy they have you to thank for?
TW: (Drumroll, please) I was the actor in the first commercial that introduced America to the concept of biscuits at Kentucky Fried Chicken. No folks, not just chicken and potatoes anymore! BISCUITS!!!! It was my face that brought news of good cheer to the world. I played a construction worker a bit bored with the same old lunch…but then…A BISCUIT! A Kentucky Fried Chicken BISCUIT popped into my hand. Wow! What a lunch I had after that! …You’re welcome.
PN: Before the “Back To The Future” you did stand up comedy alongside a virtual who’s who of comedians at the famous Comedy Store in L.A. In your opinion who was the funniest person you’ve worked with?
TW: The funniest person I’ve ever worked with is a guy named Barry Fabius, a member of a comedy group called “Mixed Nuts” in Philadelphia in the late seventies and early eighties. In a stroke of good judgement and vast intelligence, Barry became quite a brilliant surgeon and went on to a great career offstage. I’ve also worked with Richard Pryor, Jay Leno, Garry Shandling, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, and lots and lots of other guys that are funny, too.
PN: How would you describe you comedy routine?
TW: It’s tough to describe in a few words, but it’s autobiographical, and energetic, and funny. I play original songs on the guitar as well, and they get big laughs, too. Explaining comedy is wwaaaayyyyyy less funny than doing it.
PN: You’ve done the voice work in many animated series. Most notable probably “Spongebob Squarepants” and “Batman: The Animated Series”, as well as the video games: Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force and Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex. What would be your dream voice-over?
TW: I have a lot of fun doing voice over work, and my dream voice over job is always the next one I’m going to do. Being a part of “SpongeBob” has been such a great experience, that I think that that was my dream voice over job. The people were great, the show is hysterical, it’s already a modern classic and I’m so happy to be a part of it.
PN: Let me just say I love your paintings; they take me back to a simpler time. How long have you been painting?
TW: I’ve been painting for many years now. I studied art at the Art Academy of Los Angeles, and the California Art Institute. I love to paint, and I love to look at paintings – always have.
PN: You seem to give personification to classic toys in your work. What was your favorite toy as a child?
TW: Hot Wheels cars, of course. And a good loop the loop. Aahhhhhhh. Nothing like it. Okay, I was also a frisbee fanatic. I’m a lifetime member of the International Frisbee Association, and still have a few Frisbees lying around from my collection.
PN: Any chance that my all-time fav, He-Man, will make it onto a Thomas Wilson canvas?
TW: It may very well happen. The great part about my paintings is everyone who sees them is blown away – and then they give me ten new ideas for paintings. Thanks!
PN: With all the things you’ve done; film, television, paintings, music, comedy, theatre, among other things, what is left for Tom Wilson?
TW: Well, I’m not done yet! I’m so grateful to be able to have a career in the arts, and pursue my interests, as wide as they are. It’s a great challenge, but what an incredible adventure! I’ll be performing around the country, and painting great pictures, and I hope everybody gets to check out some of the stuff that I do!
You heard the man. Go to www.bigpopfun.com. Now, “Make like a tree, and get outta here”
*this article is a reprint from the Pistons Nation message forum
Tags: 80's, Back To The Future, Biff Tannen
This entry was posted on Friday, November 7th, 2008 at 7:26 pm and is filed under 80's pwns, Interviews, PN Page 2, movies, url steer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
