Well, this is interesting. I haven't mentioned this on my site, but since last May, I have had no official relationship with VeggieTales. The deal I signed right after Big Idea Production's bankruptcy had an option in it to renegotiate after two years, and last April I exercised that option. So for the last eight months neither Lisa nor I have had any participation in VeggieTales (other than the Pirate Movie and that NBC thing, which were separate deals) while we tried to work out a new deal with Big Idea. As of a month or two ago, it looked like it wasn't going to happen and Bob and Larry and I would go our separate ways. That would have been rather sad, don't you think? But as of last week, we finally worked it out.
So for the next three years (at least), Lisa and I will continue to voice our characters (Jr., Bob, Pa, Lunt, Archie, Nezzer, Jimmy, Phillipe, etc., etc.), and I will be heavily involved in the scripts of the new videos. Actually, more heavily involved than I was over the last few years (the only script I really had significant input into was Lord of the Beans). Lisa and I also worked it out that we would have enough time left over to launch some new ideas, which can happen with Big Idea, Inc. or out on our own.
So… it's all good, I think. This week I rewrote the next veggie script headed into production. I'll tell you about it more later. It's silly.
And God is showing up on NBC and Universal is excited about the next veggie movie and Madonna had to take her mirrored cross elsewhere.
What do you know about that?
I have always wanted to write you guys, and I have never had the chance, so I will take it now.
I am a the biggest Veggie Tale nerd ever. I am 17, and I have been watching Veggie Tales since I was 6. My friends all know me by my amusing excitement over the show, and they all love Veggie Tales, too. Each holiday we celebrate is accompanied by a new Veggie Tale movie.
I really appreciate all you have done, and I pray that you will continue to follow God’s direction in your life.
God bless.
How awsome! Looks like it’s a early Christmas present for you and us too! Isn’t it fun to see how God works things out in His time and way when we trust Him.
May God grant you even more joy this blessed season!
Julie Beth
Great news phil! I’m glad we will get to see/hear more of you in the futrue! 🙂
Phil,
Good to see those old ties w/B.I. are still there. And a silly script will be a nice change, you guys are getting far too serious … 🙂
Crank ’em out, amigo. They’re majour laughs and evangelical ammo (“Praise the Lord and pass “The Sumo”.)
Great news!!! God really does provide for thoes who love him! Can’t wait to hear more.
Jordan
I’m glad to hear things have been working out so well for you as of late. My kids still love to watch the Veggies, even though they are 8 and 5, and we DVR every Saturday morning for them.
I look forward to hearing more about projects in the future!
God bless, and merry Christmas!
phil!
this is great.
and it’s all good news . . . you at Big idea, God on NBC, no Madonna mirrored cross, and Uni excited about pirate veggies.
so glad for ya!
🙂
all the best to you and the gang at Big Idea.
have a great Christmas holiday.
take care and God bless,
mike kunkel . . .
Wahooooooooooooo! There is no one that can do Bob or Junior or all the other characters that you both do. I mean, sure they can replace them, but it wouldn’t be the same! That is really neat how God worked everything out! He is always on time!
I want to let you know my favorite Veggietales episode to this day is A Snoodle’s Tale.
I’m really glad that you will be more creatively involved and be able to do some new ideas!!! YES!
I’m very excited for all of you and look forward to hearing more. Thanks so much for keeping us updated!
God Bless all of you and Merry Christmas!
Yeah! Cant wait to see the new script!
Phil,
How God answers prayer!! Now you get to do the fun stuff without all of the stress!
May Jesus bless Christmas for you and your family!
Woo, thats great news Phil! God is great! Have a great Christmas.
That sounds great Phil!!
May the Lord bless you and have a very Merry Christmas!! 😀
Very good news Phil! So enjoyed your talk at the NYWC in Cincy. Thanks for signing my book! (well, your book, my copy!)
Can’t wait to see what’s next. Thank you for being faithful! (and so very creatively inspiring!)
Wow thats amazing Phil! It would have been rather sad, wouldn’t have it? Well, so much good news!! Does this mean you will appear in the Behind-the-scenes features more often?
Hey Mr. Phil! We’ll keep you and Mrs. Lisa in prayer, that you would be blessed in every endeavor.
Yay! That is great news. So glad it all got worked out.
There’s another issue here as I noted. Vivendi (which owns 20% of NBC) is purchasing Bertelsmann’s music publishing arm. You wouldn’t want Brentwood-Benson management going after the NBC over its censorship of Biblical messages when that is supposed to be Brentwood’s purpose. I think VeggieTales’ music properties will be sent to Brentwood because NBC would want VeggieTales’ music to be copyrighted by Vivendi.
I think Brentwood Music management would have gone ballistic if NBC had kept censoring the VeggieTales because Vivendi just bought Brentwood, and Vivendi owns 20% of NBC.
Dear Phil and Lisa,
God is good,isn’t He? We have been Veggie fans from the very beginning with show 1. We are glad to hear that you and Lisa will still be involved in the near future. As many dips and turns the last few years have been for you both and B.I. the wonderful thing, is that the kid-fans would NEVER know it. My kids, now 7, 4, and 2, think Veggie has become “bigger than ever”, and we are proud of you for always standing for integrity. And you know what, even if the kids did come to understand the difficulties and injustices you have faced, it would only reinforce what it means to trust in God for that which we do not see. We have EVERY DVD, and my kids watch EVERY, (and I mean EVERY) little dvd feature over and over again. We pray that God will continue to strengthen you and Lisa, and your kids as you continue your ministry. Thank you for the sacrifices, and thank you always for your honesty.
Phil~This is just another sign of how God blesses His children when they remain faithful. We will be very excited to see the next Veggie and your continued work.
All right, Phil’s back! Congratulations!
It’s like when Bo and Luke returned to the Dukes of Hazzard after those two other guys filled in.
But without the bad eighties hairdos.
frankly Veggie Tales would be over then wouldn’t it? wow that would have been sad! anyway, all is once again right in the land of animated vegetables, and I for one am very glad
Good news indeed.
I can’t help but think that this whole bankruptcy ordeal has been similar to Israel’s capture into Babylon. Sure they weren’t in their own land and were subject to a foreign king, but God preserved and protected them.
VeggieTales appears to be prospering under the current situation, too. It’s far better than having Bob and Larry fade away.
Phil,
May God give you your heart’s desire. You have been a blessing for so people and opened up the doors wider for God’s messages to be spread.
I think that rocks!! Looks like God is really leading you guys and taking you by the hand in this journey. It`s amazing to see the patience that you`ve had through all this time!
I think your renewed involvement with Big Idea is a testimony to the way you owned up to where you went wrong and allowed the Lord to grow you through the trials you experienced. God is so faithful to redeem our past when we come running back to him and apply the lessons we’ve learned from his loving discipline. I look forward to seeing how God uses your gifts in even “bigger” and better ways now that you have an attitude of total surrender toward Him. I know it’s a daily (actually moment by moment) thing, so I will try to remember to keep you and your family in my prayers.
dear phil
i am so happy to hear of your latest success (lisa’s too)
i know you probably hear this all the time, but my son is your biggest fan. he has watched veggies since he was 6 months old. he is now 8. see our son zachary is special, he is autistic. we have been through so many traumatic events and if it wasnt for bob and larry………………….
my son is pretty much non verbal. but because of “bob and larry’s abc’s” he has learned to read, because of “how many veggies” , he has learned to count, etc, etc, etc. he had to have emergency surgery when he was 1 yr 1/2. we were in the hospital for a week. every time he started to cry his dad or i would just have to say “if learning your letters is part of your job” and he would calm down.
i thought you would like to know how you have touched my son’s life. (and ours!!!!) keep doing what you’re doing, it is such a blessing.
May GOD Bless you and your family
thanks phil!!!!! you rock our world!
love
sue vawter
Praise the Lord that your hand will be back with the Veggies! My son is now 4. He saw his first Veggie when he was 6 months old. As a highly functioning autistic/sensory processing disorder child, he has been absorbing the Veggies for years. SInce he is very highly auditory, he has only needed to hear a Veggie Tale once before it is completely absorbed into his psyche and vocabulary. You (and your wife’s) work on behalf of the Lord has helped my child in so many ways! Praise Him for your servanthood and for how wonderfully He has made all of us.
Hey Phil – Great News! I was worried about what would happen to the Veggies if Bob Dylan got the contract for Bob’s voice and Jeff Foxworthy became Mr. Lunt. Thank goodness now we won’t have to find out! Looking forward to the next DVD release and for those Pirates to come sailling our way in 2008!
OY! I am glad I didn’t know this before the fact I would have freaked! I can’t imagine the Veggies without you in there somewhere. Its great your staying involved ~ it might seem unconventional but as we know God works in strange ways and mostly if we are following his lead we just hang on for the ride.
I have never written before so I must say that Jonah is a masterpiece, I love it, maybe all the more because I know it came into being with so much sacrifice and loss. Birth can be like that.
God Bless,
Jenn
Hi Mr. Phil,
I am 7 years old and Larry Boy is my hero!!!!! I love Veggie Tales.I have almost all the Veggie Tale videos, CD’s, books,and stuff. I am glad you are still doing Veggie Tales, don’t ever quit!!!!! My Mom read your book and told me some of the hard things that happened to you(I am the type of kid that has to know everything).
Remember, “God made you special and He loves you very much”.
Some day I would like to work with Veggie Tales, I want to work with you. You do really cool things for kids. We need Christian heros, like Larry Boy!!!!!! Thanks, Brenton
I’m very happy to hear that you and Lisa will still be working on VeggieTales. It just wouldn’t work without you guys.
Hey Phil,
I’m thrilled to hear it! I LOVE VeggieTales! I have been watching them and loving them since 1995 and my daughter wasn’t even born until 2000!
I am an ambassador and have been since Jonah.
I can’t image VeggieTales without you or Lisa. I didn’t realize that all of this background trumoil was happening, but I’m glad it is coming back around for you.
May God richly bless you and yours in the year to come. I look forward to more and more VeggieTales…it would be great if 321 Penguins could come back someday too…I really miss them.
God made you special and you have blessed us VERY much!
In Christ,
Lori
I forgot to mention that A Snoodle’s Tale is my FAVORITE VeggieTales of all time…and that says quite a bit because they are all so great. I cried so hard the first time that I watched it…it hit home more than I ever expected it to. I find myself watching it whenever I need to be reminded WHOs opinion of me really is most important.
Thanks again,
Lori
age 37…
i am glad and thankful for veggie tales as they’re so great and they have taught me a lot in the short time i have discovered these funny and loveable characters. God does work in wonderous ways and He had given you such a gift of talent to bring veggie tales
Phil,
My kids were raised on VeggieTales and we still quote lines around the house. I just finished reading “Me, Myself and Bob” today… Wow what a ride!
I’m still “processing” your story, and what you learned, in light of my life, dreams and passions. Thanks for taking the time to share your hard-won insight.
Glad we’ll still hear your voice coming from the lips of the veggies we love.
Big Hugs from Dayton, OH,
Allan
age 48
What else can I say? Praise God!
I was sad to hear that you were no longer the Top Tomato at Big Idea but am glad that you and Lisa are stil involved with the Veggies that we all know, love and sometimes eat. Especially since all five of my kids are huge Veg-Heads (not that they have gigantic-veggie-shaped noggins but are actually rabid fans). My 5-year old son, Seth, says to tell you that “Larryboy is so cool!”
Glad Veggie Tales got the spot over Madonna’s mirrored cross. I was hoping NBC would drop that.
Also like to say it’s too bad I never got to meet you guys–my family started attending FBC Wheaton soon after you moved out of town. Rob Yonan, all the youth folks.
God Bless you guys Phil.
Ben.
I’ve always wanted to write to you guys. I’ve loved Veggie Tales for years, and it is exciting to hear that Phil and Lisa will still be voicing their characters. I don’t think that they could be done by anybody else. I also wanted to let you know that I watch all of the audio commentaries, and love them. It’s so fun to find out all the behind the scenes stuff. Keep making more! Also just wanted to let you know that i’m in college and we listen to veggie tales on the choir bus!
Jackie
I bought your autobiography this afternoon. I just finnished reading it and loved it. We Christians keep getting out of balance, as you said in your book, we start worshiping and following the standards of the world instead of truely following and living the life Jesus has for us! I can so relate to you talking about the peace that passes understanding that you were talking about in the last chapter of the book. By the worlds standards it makes no sense when the world comes smashing down on a person time and time again, that sometimes just to trust God is enough. There comes a peace that shouldn’t be there. If we seek God first, he will give us the desires of our hearts. It is not Jesus’ will for us to die from a heart attack when we are 45 years old from doing more than God wants us to do.
it is realizing that Walt Disney was a self proclaiming athiest when he died, to the point that he left strict orders that a church will never be built in his theme parks. We can’t take worldly accomplishments to heaven with us. Disney worked all of his life to leave a legacy. What good is it now for him?. Thank you for bearing your heart and your soul. the growth and wisdom of your endevers is awesome to read about. I do pray that God will alow you to bless us more with the man God is making you into. i am a 40 year old veggie fan who has also been greatly touched by your testimony. Walt Disney is dead. Phil Vischer is becoming more alive and more of a testimony of a man learning daily to follow Jesus. That to me is more incredible than anything Disney has ever done! again, thank you for bearing your heart and your soul! many of us out here are praying for you!
I am blessed that you’ll be more involved in the company that you dreamed up. I wondered why I hadn’t heard your funny jokes in the commentaries. I have loved some of the shows from the last couple of years – I cry when I watch “A Snoodle ‘s Tale”. Thanks for staying faithful under pressure from our adversary.
i can totally relate to your story. i was also let go by a company that is in the mist of a downward spiral after years of success( toys r us) 700 managers layed off in one day. but i do remember with joy on finding god in your videos. we love veggie tales in my house, especially larry boy. it sadden’s me of what happen. but i am glad that it is all done with. you have found some peace. although you don’t head big ides any more, i still see and hear you, lisa and mike. i hope and pray that big ideas continue to exist, and that you and your family will be part of it. i wish you and lisa the best in your new venture in jellyfish, just dont foreget what you learned.
thank you for the memories lionel torres
I am glad – as I only recently discovered VeggieTales. It is one of the few videos I encourage my 3 year old son to watch. The comment regarding Plato in the 10 year anniversary edition of God is Scared – finally made my husband realize why I was so protective of what my children watch.