This article appeared in the May, 1992 issue of Nintendo Power magazine
(vol. 36) in the Celebrity Player Profile section.
This article was kindly typed up by Tom Huston
The Celebrity Player Profiles consisted of an interview between Nintendo Power and a different celebrity each month. As anyone can see, most questions concerned video games (Nintendo games of course).
The title of the article is "MELISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL". This title
went across the top of the page, over a large (nearly 1/3 of the page) picture
of Melissa lying on "her" bed (Clarissa's), holding an issue of Nintendo
Power. The interview was conducted during the filming of the episode
where Clarissa writes a "Brother of the Year" essay, in an attempt to win a
car (Episode #115 ).
A small picture in the bottom right corner, is from the
scene where Clarissa is making breakfast for Ferguson. She's standing at
the kitchen counter (with Ferguson opposite her), holding an orange-juice
maker. The caption under this photo reads: "Ferguson (Jason Zimbler)
does some explaining of his own to big sis, Clarissa (Melissa Joan Hart)."
The clothes in the large photo of her on the bed, are the same as those worn
in the kitchen scene. Directly under the large photo is the "Celebrity Player
Profile" logo. The following text was in a column running down the left
side of the large photo (with the interview following in two more columns
under the picture):
So you want to know everything about how you can be a hip teenager,
despite having a dorky little brother and parents whose picture appears
beside the word "embarrassing" in the dictionary? If so, you're not alone.
Plenty of other long-suffering teens tune in weekly to catch the sage advice
of Clarissa in Nickelodeon's Clarissa Explains It All, the surprise Nick hit
now in its second season.
From her vantage point, Clarissa addresses the
audience directly to explain what's going on, and she uses computer games
to illustrate her points.
What makes the show so cool? Melissa Joan Hart,
who plays Clarissa, explains it all: "It has a new perspective. It's the only
show of it's kind with a girl lead, and it focuses on how events affect the
Darling family members, not a bunch of other people."
Just after they filmed the first episodes for this year, we talked with Melissa and co-star Jason Zimbler, who plays her little brother, Ferguson, about the show, each other, and the role video games play in their real lives. We also gave them the chance to play some new games for the Super NES, Lemmings and Super WWF WrestleMania.
Melissa Joan Hart: In some ways I am, but I'm not as much into computers as Clarissa is. We sort of dress alike, but my clothes match!
Nintendo Power: How about you Jason? Are you into computers?
Jason Zimbler: Oh yeah, I'm interested in programming and stuff. I use it for typing things and doing my homework. If I'm not using it for work, I'm playing games on it.
NP: There's a lot of sibling rivalry between your characters in the show. Is there some on the set, too?
MJH and JZ: Yes!
MJH: But mostly there's a lot of joking around. Between scenes, Jason always runs to play games on his Super NES.
NP: What are you playing these days, Jason?
JZ: ActRaiser---it's so cool! I've beaten the first set of monsters and I'm developing civilization in Northwall, if you know where that is.
NP: What did you think of the new Super NES games we sent you?
MJH: I played Lemmings. It was great! I like the challenge. It's really cool how you have to figure out what Lemming you need and put it in the right place. It's kind of hard to tell the different ones apart from their pictures on the screen, though. They were too small. It didn't take long to figure out the Blasters, but some of the others looked too much alike.
JZ: I played WWF Super Wrestlemania. The graphics were fabulous! I liked running and bouncing off the ropes, and the move where you run and jump kick. I didn't play long enough to figure out what the X Button does, though!
NP: Have you ever called a Nintendo Game Counselor when you've been stuck in a game?
JZ: No, I just ask my friends. We trade tips and stuff all the time.
NP: How about you, Melissa? Have you ever called for help?
MJH: No, when I'm stuck I ask my sisters and brother. They know everything about our games!
NP: Your character, Clarissa, creates great video games in the show. If you could create a game, what would it be about?
MJH: I don't know, but the lead would definitely be a girl, and the boys would be enemies. Maybe I'd put Jason's face on a spider or something. (Just kidding, Jason!)
NP: How about you, Jason?
JZ: I like games like ActRaiser---ones that make you think. I'd make it look very realistic, and it wouldn't just be a shoot'em up. It would be a quest, not an action game. You'd have to think and find out what to do next.
Melissa and Jason always give you something to think about in their show, too. Be sure to catch them in the next episode of Clarissa Explains it All, airing Sundays on Nickelodeon.