Media Maniacs
This isn’t a rags to riches story. Mainly because the stars of this story didn’t exactly begin in rags, and have not yet ended in riches.
But for local TV personalities Lucas Ross, Ryan Bellgardt and Anthony Sedlacek, no matter where they end up once the final stage is set, it’s not about the money.
Two Movie Guys
Ross and Bellgardt, who star as Edmond’s local “Two Movie Guys” on Channel OK-43 say it’s all about having fun and doing what they love.
The Two Movie Guys’ comedy skits range anywhere from posing as brides in light saber battles (a spoof on the movie Bride Wars), to explaining Angelina Jolie’s special effects in a deliberately low-tech way that has viewers busting at their seams.
“We just have fun doing it. … It’s about trying to be funny and make people laugh. We’re like little kids playing with a video camera and instead of getting to show it to the whole family, we get to show it to the whole state,” says Ross, who describes himself as the “deer in the headlights” of the pair, while Bellgardt is the “loose canon.”
The duo even filmed an episode with Conan O’Brien and two of their videos have been featured on Will Ferrell’s Funny or Die website.
Ross graduated from Oklahoma Christian University and studying for a year in California, where he interned for That 70s Show and Grounded for Life. Ross met up with Bellgardt at Channel 43 where the 20-somethings teamed up as the “Two Movie Guys.” Edmond Memorial High School graduate Bellgardt is also the production manager with Boiling Point Media, and creator of the well-known Edmond Hyundai jingle.
Inspired by legends like Steve Martin and Jim Henson, Ross’s comic theater combines with Bellgardt’s audiovisual production and unique humor to make for some pretty funny television.
Contrary to popular belief, the Two Movie Guys don’t actually pick the movies to mirror the skits, or vice versa. In fact, they’ve even gone so far as to make their skits as unrelated to the movie as possible to “see if people would notice.”
The Two Movie Guys can be found Saturday nights at 7 p.m. on Channel 43, as well as in their movie review segments scattered within the Rise and Shine show on Friday mornings.
Visit their website at www.twomovieguys.com to view their videos.
Emmy-Nominated Pitchman
Thirty-year-old Anthony Sedlacek has seen his face appear in the media ever since he was a baby when his great-grandmother mailed his baby picture into the National Enquirer, mistaking it for the
local news.
Now a local talent actor/promoter for CW34 and the John Vance Auto Group, Sedlacek continues to enjoy being in front of a camera.
In his most famous performance, Sedlacek starred in a CW34 commercial announcing the afternoon line up in a style distinctly reminiscent of the SlapChop pitchman. The 30-second “pitch” went on to win an OAB award and was even nominated for an Emmy.
Sedlacek is “home-grown talent” — while born out of state, he grew up in Edmond, taking various news production and media classes while attending Edmond North High School and the University of Central Oklahoma.
There are many exemplary people Sedlacek credits for his success, including his inspiring 11th grade English teacher Judy Ackerman, and KWTV News 9 helicopter pilot Mason Dunn.
It was a TV news production class at UCO that first got Sedlacek started on the path to stardom. With a press pass to cover the April 19, 2000 dedication of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, he was surrounded by all the big networks including CNN and NBC, but he managed to align next to the White House media. Sedlacek even shook Bill Clinton’s hand while he was President.
After UCO, Sedlacek went on to work as an associate producer for News9 until he was approached with the CW34 position. While his parents may not have pegged him a future “actor” as a child, they definitely knew he would use his outgoing personality for a job working with and relating to people.
Sedlacek agrees. For him, Edmond will remain “home” even if his career someday takes him to his ultimate destination. “My dream is to one day host Saturday Night Live,” says Sedlacek. To see his commercials, search for “CW34 Pitchman” on YouTube.
