“I’m almost grateful that I didn’t know Jabberjaw and what they sounded like before. I just went in and did a weird voice!” Comedian and actor Niccole Thurman says about one of the three characters she plays in HBO Max/Warner Bros. Animation’s Jellystone!, a modern-day retelling of several beloved Hanna-Barbera characters.

Nostalgia as a coping mechanism has been a surprising theme to come out of the last two years. Reboots galore are getting greenlit, giving people a sense of normalcy in this crazy, crazy world. Something is comforting about engaging with characters from your childhood, and Jellystone on HBO Max is a great entry into the genre. 

I know that Jellystone was a good opportunity to flex your vocal acting skills, but what was it like to take over these iconic Hanna-Barbera characters like Jabberjaw? 

Jabberjaw was the main one where I was putting myself into it. I‘m not super familiar with a lot of [the characters], so I just did a weird character. That’s what she sounded like in my head. And Squiddly Diddly was just another voice I do to make my mom and aunt laugh. I ended up doing three voices on the show, and all of them are so unique. It’s been just a really amazing experience. 

Do you have a favorite scene or episode that sticks out to you?

It’s actually an episode for season 2 where Jabberjaw plays Lady Danger. The thing about Jabberjaw is that it’s one of those situations where you bring a lot to the character so then the writers start to kind of mold it towards what you’re bringing. I guess I was single at the time because Jabberjaw became very boy crazy, so in the Lady Danger episode she wants to get a kiss and she really loves El Kabong. 

I love how boy crazy she is; high key relatable!

I think it’s so funny. She’s like, ‘y’all can all be my boyfriends!’ she’ll love on everybody!

Do you have anything coming up that we should look out for?

I’ve been working on a new show for Phoebe Robinson called Everything’s Trash, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. 

Jellystone season 2 will premiere on HBO Max Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Interview originally published by Black Girl Nerds on March 15, 2022.